bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
I’m Sorry I Don’t Have a Story
Authors: Miles Adrian
Published: May 2020

I don’t know what this is, which is a strange place from which to begin. This is unsettling, for as an academic I am trained and acculturated to displaying a certainty of manner — a certainty that many of my students and conference colleagues would attest I have down pat. It begins from Bristol. It begins from Alisa Lebow’s presentation at the 2016 i–Docs conference about her interactive documentary Filming Revolution. It begins from what I was reading during my thirty hours of travel between Melbourne and Bristol. It begins from the question that gnawed and nagged at me after Alisa’s keynote in Bristol. It begins in my body. Not much of an introduction, is it? This writing reintroduces hypertext as a specific and material way of making and performing knowledge and proposes it as a valuable precursor to interactive documentary and what I am describing as computational nonfiction. What I say here about hypertext, Filming Revolution as an interactive documentary, and story, are a prolegomena toward what computational nonfiction might be as a broader field that might encompass computers, technodigital practice, and networks. Oh, it was originally written as hypertext, and translating it into something more linear and sequential sees its looping rhythms, redundancies, and recursiveness become clumsy stutterings and repetitions.
A Slippery Slope
Authors: Cardini Daniela
Published: May 2020

Prior to the mid-nineties, Italian television did not produce any soap operas. Daytime serials were imported mainly from the USA. Unexpectedly, the most commercial television genre was produced for the first time by the public service broadcaster: Un posto al sole was aired by RAI in 1996. The commercial competitor Mediaset immediately responded with Vivere in 1998 and CentoVetrine in 2001. Today, Un posto al sole is still on air, while both Mediaset’s soaps were cancelled. The paper will focus on the rise and fall of domestic long-running daytime serials, on the different choices taken by the two competitors and on the perspectives of the genre in Italian schedules.
The Winding Road on the Media Landscape
Authors: Jõesaar Andres
Published: May 2020

This article aims to explore the ways in which Estonian broadcasting (with a focus on television) tackled the challenges of transforming from a monopolistic party propaganda machine into a modern dual media system in which public service broadcasting and newly created private enterprises coexist; and how this process evolved in a small post-communist country. This article argues that the Estonian government’s ‘idealisation’ of market forces supported by the European Union media policy, which is driven by common market ideology, did not take into account the market’s limitations and media companies’ actual capability to provide a large range of media services. The research methodology is based on an analysis of EU media policy documents, Estonian media legislation, the protocols of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Estonia, protocols of the broadcasters’ licensing committee at the Ministry of Culture and the broadcasters’ annual reports from the period 1992 - 2015. The article analyses the key trends in Estonian media development and policymaking during the last 25 years.
Архітектурно-художня канва просторової організації НАУ
Authors: Bolotov Georgiy , Pershakov Valeriy , Pylypenko Oleksandr
Published: May 2020

Стаття присвячена актуальним аспектам гармонізації архітектурного середовища Національного авіаційного університету (НАУ) за рахунок створення потужної  художньо-естетичної канви, яка включає архітектурно-художню інтерпретацію забудови, доречну ландшафтну організацію території, пластично-декоративну наповненість інтер’єрного простору, художньо-декоративну символіку в діловій сфері. Наведені ілюстрації, які дають змогу оцінити художньо-естетичні якості ландшафтної організації території, архітектури споруд і інтер’єр них просторів. Наведені головні автори, які створювали це архітектурне середовище.
DIMENSION OF ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR AND ITS EFFECT TOWARD EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE AT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LICENSING SERVICE OFFICE SOUTH BURU DISTRICT
Authors: Arsad Rahawarin Mohamad , Zacharias Tehubijuluw , Yusriadi Yusriadi , Rianti Marlia
Published: May 2020

Purpose of the study: Analyze the dimensions of OCB (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and transformational leadership) on employee performance at the Department of Investment and Licensing Services of South Buru District.Methodology: Explanatory research conducted for four months from June to September 2017, the population in this research is all Government employees of the Investment and Licensing Service of South Buru District as many as 303 people. This stratified sampling technique proportionately based on the percentage in the population with the number of samples based on the sample tables developed by Issac and Michael for 189 people.Results: 1) Job satisfaction variable, organizational commitment, and transformational leadership through OCB variable simultaneously have a positive and significant effect on employee performance variables. 2) The transformational leadership variable's considerable contribution to OCB is 52 percent. 3) The direct and indirect influence of job satisfaction variable, organizational commitment, and transformational leadership on performance through OCB variable of 93 percent.Applications of this study: Variable of transformational leadership shows that the power of transformational leadership is a booster for work satisfaction and organizational commitment in increasing employees’ OCB, direct effect and indirect work satisfaction Variable show that the employees’ performance increased through OCB strengthening in the form of work satisfaction, organization commitment, and transformational leadership.Novelty/Originality of this study: The organization will function more effectively if employees contribute beyond their formal tasks. Therefore, it takes a transformer-minded leader, thereby increasing the satisfaction and commitment of the organization.
UTILIZATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIAL SECURITY IN FISHERMEN FAMILIES ON SALEMO ISLAND AND WEST RANGAS, SOUTH SULAWESI PROVINCE
Authors: Hasbi  , Tang Mahmud , Fauzi Sukimi Mohamad , Dwi Wibowo Aryo , Yusriadi
Published: May 2020

Purpose of the study: This study aims to reveal the social security of traditional fishers in Salemo Island and West Rangas, South Sulawesi Province.

Methodology: The research method used is descriptive qualitative with a type of case study research. The research location was determined purposively, namely on Salemo Island, and West Rangas. Informants chose purposively, those who deserve used as sources of information. Data collection by in-depth interviews and observations, collect community ideas collectively with a Group Discussion Forum. Data collected and then reduced to the main findings following the focus of research.

Main Findings: The utilization of income for social security’s is done by helping small fishers by providing loans for money to buy the equipment needed, among other anglers, borrowing mechanisms, especially fishermen who open businesses selling goods for daily necessities. Social securities are still running, such as fishers get a lot of results from the sea handing out their fish.

Applications of this study: The implications of this research can be a social function in overcoming the basic needs of community members to be used as a strengthening of the nation's character. Salemo Island fishers traditionally use local assets to use the environmentally friendly fishing gear as a form of local cultural wisdom of coastal communities.

Novelty/Originality of this study: The use of environmentally friendly fishing gear by Salemo Island fishers needs to be used as a model to be applied to other fishing communities, to avoid using explosives (fish bombs, anesthesia, and trawl) to catch fish.
Psychology of the Game in the Works by L. Panteleev about Childhood
Authors: Batova Olga S.
Published: May 2020

The article focuses on the game, which becomes one of the plot components of L. Panteleev’s works and helps to reveal the inner world of the characters-children more deeply. Special attention is paid to the time of the analyzed works, which reflects the days of peace («Honest word»), as well as the era of wars and revolutions («Chief engineer», «Lenʹka Panteleev», «Republic SHKID»), which helps to trace the link between historical time and the game of children, which is perceived by them as a true reality or conditionally.
Describing Common Errors in the Speech of Iranian Students of Russian Language from the Viewpoint of Intercultural Incompatibilities (Putting forward the Problem)
Authors: Shodzhai M.
Published: May 2020

Based on the errors that many Iranian students of the Russian language make in their speech, the author demonstrates intercultural incompatibilities that cause such errors. In this relation it was focused that, although the wrongful statements are grammatically correct, they are natively and culturally «non normative» and «inappropriate». In this regard the author uses the criterion of different «distribution» rules among different languages. At the end of the article the author concludes that in teaching Russian language to the Iranian students when ignoring the cultural aspects of the language will bring stability of demonstrated errors in the speech of the students.
Communicatively Meaningful Silence as a Way to Express the Emotional States of Characters in the Novel of Mikhail Sholokhov «And Quiet Flows the Don»
Authors: Korostova Svetlana V.
Published: May 2020

Silence is a communicative phenomenon with its own psychological meaning and evaluative semantics. The article treats silence, when it replaces speech, as a zero verbal reaction, the meaning of which depends on the specific communicative situation and on the previous phrase of the dialogue. The research of communicatively meaningful silence in the novel of Mikhail Sholokhov «And Quiet Flows the Don» suggests that it is closely connected with the cultural and ethnic norms of behavior that are common among Don Cossacks. Emotive silence that means a threat and evaluative silence as a reaction to the previous phrase of a dialogue are two of the typical ways to express the emotions of characters that Mikhail Sholokhov uses in his novel «And Quiet Flows the Don». The analysis of such dialogical fragments of the novel that represent communicative situations of conflict made it possible to single out several functions of silence that are typical of this text, and the actualization of these functions helps to express emotive-evaluative meanings. Primarily the expressive and the evaluative functions of silence help the text of the novel to depict a living communicative situation.
The Impact of Speech Clichés (on the Material of Constitutions of the Soviet and Post-Soviet Periods)
Authors: Basenko Gyulnara V.
Published: May 2020

Speech impact with the anthropocentric approach significantly expands its boundaries. Studying the ideologically oriented Constitutions of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods from the position of pragmalinguistics, a speech impact was revealed through an ideologized speech cliche. This concept is understood as a ready-to-use speech formula that is deliberately introduced into the collective subconscious of the speakers of a given language and capable of exercising an emotionally-evaluative impact on the text recipient. A perlocutionary pragmalinguistic experiment was conducted to determine the emotional-evaluative attitude of representatives of two different generations (retired military and graduates of secondary schools) towards ideologized speech cliches in the Constitutions of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. In this experiment, the preambles were investigated - the introductory parts of five Constitutions (K. of the RSFSR of 1918, K. of the USSR of 1924, K. of the USSR of 1936, K. of the USSR of 1977, and K. of the Russian Federation of 1993), in which many ideologized speech clichés were concentrated.
Vowel Values in L2 Speech: A Case Study of Faro-Danish / Sjálvljóðavirði í føroyskum-donskum
Authors: Nyholm Debess Iben , Saxov Lamhauge Sandra , Petersen Hjalmar P.
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this article, we ask how asymmetrical bilinguals with Faroese (FA) as their L(anguage)1 and Faro-Danish (FADA) as their first L2 pronounce the Danish (DA) long vowels. We investigate which of the following three alternatives reflects the actual situation: 1. there is an interaction between the two phonetic subsystems; 2. speakers use Danish pronunciation; or 3. they simply impose the Faroese phonological system onto their Faro-Danish pronunciation.By describing the vowel system of Faro-Danish, this study contributes significantly to the yet unexplored field of Faro-Danish phonetics, as well as revealing some of the linguistic dynamics that characterizes the bilingual situation in the Faroe Islands.ÚrtakHer verður kannað, hvussu asymmetriskir tvímælingar við føroyskum sum M(ál)1 og føroyskum-donskum sum M2 bera fram donsk sjálvljóð. Vit kanna, um sínámillum ávirkan er ímillum tær fonetisku skipanirnar, ella um talandi nýta eina danska úttalu ella ota føroyskar framburðarvanar niður yvir føroyskt-danskt.Henda lýsing okkara av føroyskum-donskum leggur eitt klípi afturat lýsingini av hesum variantinum av donskum.
Presentación
Authors: Nóbile Carla
Published: May 2020

Presentamos en esta ocasión el segundo número del año 2019, dando continuidad al nuevo carácter semestral de nuestra publicación Anales de Investigación en Arquitectura perteneciente a la Cátedra de Historia y Teoría de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad ORT Uruguay.

Contamos en esta edición con investigadores internacionales, así como también con la participación de egresados de nuestra facultad. La Dra. Claudia Shmidt indaga en el rol de Uruguay en la historiografía de la arquitectura moderna a través de un recorrido por diferentes representaciones entre la pertenencia rioplatense y la singularidad uruguaya. Dra. Lorena Marina Sánchez propone una aproximación a la preservación patrimonial residencial desde la concientización y participación del usuario como protagonistas de las acciones contemporáneas en el barrio histórico Loma Stella Maris de Mar del Plata. Dr. Horacio Caride investiga sobre los ámbitos de diversión nocturna vinculados al tango del Buenos Aires de comienzos del siglo XX donde se desarrollaron formas de sociabilización para una población principalmente inmigrante y masculina, marginada en su mayoría, del proyecto modernizador al que se enfrentaban. Arq. Ana Villalobos y Arq. Pablo Bianchi estudian las transformaciones en el Valle de Cacheuta en la provincia de Mendoza a partir de la modernidad de fines del siglo XIX con la incorporación de nuevas infraestructuras edilicias y de servicios para la consolidación del territorio.

Continuamos con la difusión de trabajos realizados por los recientes egresados de la Facultad de Arquitectura con la participación de Arq. Mariángeles Longo y Arq. Irene Ríos en una reformulación en formato artículo de su memoria final de carrera donde abordan el programa entendido como estrategia táctico- operativa, como herramienta proyectual clave para la conceptualización del espacio en la arquitectura contemporánea.

El Consejo Editorial y la Dirección reiteran su invitación a los investigadores a presentar sus trabajos que posibiliten, en próximas entregas, una vez analizados y evaluados, acrecentar el intercambio conceptual y la difusión de la arquitectura latinoamericana.
Uruguay en la historiografía sobre la arquitectura en América Latina
Authors: Shmidt Claudia
Published: May 2020

La historiografía sobre la arquitectura en América Latina conforma de por sí un corpus controversial. Entre la adjetivación latinoamericanista en búsqueda de una esencialidad existencial y la aspiración a un supuesto internacionalismo, encuentra en su propia delimitación un problema de difícil solución. Si se puede consentir que hay una unidad geográfica, cuál podría ser su alcance continental. Pero, si se tratara de una suma de países ¿cómo pesarían en la arquitectura sus historias nacionales respecto de los distintos procesos de colonización y modernización? ¿México, Perú o Surinam tienen un pasado diferente al de Brasil, Argentina o Chile? ¿Hay una América Latina precolombina, colonial o una moderna tout court? ¿Uruguay es un “caso particular”? Varios de estos interrogantes atraviesan aún hoy los debates en el campo de la cultura arquitectónica. En el marco de la construcción de una historiografía sobre la arquitectura en América Latina, se propone recorrer el caso de Uruguay a través de diferentes representaciones que van, desde la pertenencia “rioplatense” o la “singularidad uruguaya”, hasta el inexorable “destino moderno” de la mano de la abstracción a partir de la contribución crítica que la historia aún puede ofrecer.
Seven decades of climate change across Mexico
Authors: Murray-Tortarolo Guillermo N.
Published: May 2020

Due to its geographical location, Mexico is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. However, we currently ignore the exact magnitude and particularities of past climate change in the Mexican territory and are missing a country-level spatially explicit analysis based on observed data. To fill this gap, I analyzed how temperature, precipitation and the water balance of Mexico changed over 1951-2017 at interannual and seasonal scales. My results show a clear national increment in temperature (+0.71 ºC) but no modification in annual mean precipitation. At the seasonal scale, the wet season (June-November) had higher rainfall (+31 mm) and no change was detectable on the dry season (December-May). However, when the full water balance was seasonally accounted for (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration), the trend resulted in a wetter wet season and a much drier dry season across the country. Regionally, seasonal changes in water balance were larger in the area surrounding the Gulf of Mexico and positive in the Yucatan Peninsula and the central highlands. My results help explaining the recent increase in drought, storms and intense rainfall across Mexico and suggest even more extreme seasonal weather in the future if climate change exacerbates.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF STRUCTURAL NANOCOMPOSITE TITANIUM DIOXIDE COPPER-DOPED USING THE IMPREGNATION METHOD
Authors: La Ode Asmin  , Isa La
Published: May 2020

Nanocomposite Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) doped Copper (Cu), Cu-TiO2 is synthesized by the impregnation method. This study aims to determine the effect of adding Cu to the TiO2 structure. 1, 3, and 5 Cu with% TiO2 dissolved in 50 ml of deionized water, and 3 grams of TiO2 added. The compound is then stirred for 2 hours at 900C and dried in an oven at 1100C for 30 minutes. Drying samples were calcined at 5000C for 3 hours. Cu-TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDX Mapping, and FTIR. The XRD analysis results show that Cu-TiO2 nanocomposite has a high level of crystallinity and has an anatase phase structure. The size of TiO2 crystals decreased with Cu doping and increased from 49.66 nm to 49.68 nm, with an increase in the composition of the doping mass of Cu. The SEM-EDX Mapping results show that all samples tend to clot, and Cu dopants evenly distributed on the surface of TiO2. FTIR analysis explained the presence of hydroxyl ions in the sample marked with the appearance of the absorption peak at 1658.78 cm-1 associated with -OH bending of Ti-OH.
SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF SPUTTERED TITANIUM-ALUMINUM-NITRIDE COATINGS
Authors: Budi Esmar , Razali M. Mohd. , Nizam A.R. Md.
Published: May 2020

A study on the surface morphology of sputtered TiAlN coatings is presented. The coatings were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on tungsten carbide insert tools. The surface morphology was characterized by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and the surface roughness was indicated by RMS roughness value. It was observed that the TiAlN coating surface morphology was rough as the negative substrate bias and nitrogen flow rate are increased. The evolution of the sputtered TiAlN coatings surface morphology was due to the competition between particle diffusion and re-scattering effect during the sputtering process. At high negative substrate bias and nitrogen flow rate, the re-scattering effect was prominent, leading to the high roughness of the sputtered TiAlN coating surface.
Modelado de la corrosión de la armadura y estado límite de deterioro
Authors: Andrade Perdix Carmen
Published: May 2020

En el presente trabajo se analizan las limitaciones de los modelos de iniciación de la corrosión con indicaciones prácticas para superarlas. Es una tendencia mundial el desarrollo de normativa basada en prestaciones como se plasmó en el Código Modelo MC2010 del fib. Sin embargo, los modelos de predicción todavía adolecen de mucha incertidumbre cuando se aplican a una estructura específica, a pesar de lo cual es creciente el número de especificaciones en grandes infraestructuras que exigen 100 años o más de vida útil. También se comentan la etapa de despasivación y el período de propagación con consideraciones sobre su tratamiento probabilístico. Se propone considerar el inicio de la corrosión como un "estado límite de deterioro o iniciación" (DLS o ILS) con un ejemplo de cálculo.
Physical and chemical effects of limestone filler on the hydration of steam cured cement paste and mortar
Authors: Aqel Mohmmad , Panesar Daman
Published: May 2020

The aim of the paper is to decouple the physical and chemical effects of limestone filler (LF), when used as a cement replacement. The effects were decoupled using LF and a chemically inert material (brucite Mg(OH)2). Paste, and mortar specimens were steam cured for 16 hours at 55°C. The heat of hydration, thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and compressive strength, were evaluated at 16 hours and at 28 days. LF can adversely affect the properties through dilution effect. However, heterogeneous nucleation compensates for the dilution effect at 16 hours while the production of mono-carboaluminate compensates for the dilution effect at 16 hours and 28 days. The study could be broadened by considering a wider temperature range. The originality lies in the method of decoupling the physical and chemical effects. Measurable effects of the physical and chemical contribution of LF are evident on the mechanical and transport material properties.
THE INFLUENCE OF DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND BASIN HISTORY ON THE TAPHONOMY OF MAMMALIAN ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE BARSTOW FORMATION (MIDDLE MIOCENE), CALIFORNIA
Authors: LOUGHNEY KATHARINE M. , BADGLEY CATHERINE
Published: May 2020

The Barstow Formation in the Mojave region of California was deposited in an extensional-basin setting of the Basin and Range province and preserves diverse middle Miocene mammalian assemblages. Six facies associations represent the dominant depositional environments in the basin, which changed through time from alluvial-fan and playa-dominated settings to floodplains and spring-fed wetlands. The majority of fossil localities and specimens occur in later-forming facies associations. We analyzed the taphonomic characteristics of fossil assemblages to test whether basin-scale facies associations or locality-scale facies exert more control on the preservational features of mammalian assemblages through the formation. We documented the facies settings of 47 vertebrate localities in the field in order to interpret depositional setting and the mode of accumulation for fossil assemblages. We evaluated skeletal material in museum collections for taphonomic indicators, including weathering stage, original bone-damage patterns, hydraulic equivalence, and skeletal-element composition. We evaluated four alternative modes of accumulation, including attritional accumulation on the land surface, accumulation by fluvial processes, carnivore or scavenger accumulations, and mass-death events. The majority of localities represent attritional accumulations at sites of long-term mortality in channel-margin, abandoned-channel, poorly drained floodplain, and ephemeral-wetland settings. Skeletal-element composition and taphonomic characteristics varied among facies, indicating an important role for depositional setting and landscape position on fossil-assemblage preservation. We find that locality-scale facies have a greater influence on the taphonomic characteristics of fossil assemblages; the taphonomy of each facies association is influenced by the facies that compose it. The facies composition and distribution within facies associations change through the formation, with a greater variety of depositional settings forming later in the history of the basin. Heterogeneous landscapes present more settings for fossil accumulation, contributing to the increase in fossil occurrence through the depositional history of the formation.
SKELETAL TRAUMA WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR INTRATAIL MOBILITY IN EDMONTOSAURUS ANNECTENS FROM A MONODOMINANT BONEBED, LANCE FORMATION (MAASTRICHTIAN), WYOMING USA
Authors: SIVIERO BETHANIA C.T. , REGA ELIZABETH , HAYES WILLIAM K. , COOPER ALLEN M. , BRAND LEONARD R. , CHADWICK ART V.
Published: May 2020

This study presents evidence of pre-mortem traumatic injury and its sequalae on multiple Edmontosaurus annectens skeletal elements recovered from a largely monodominant Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) bonebed. The sample consists of 3013 specimens excavated and prepared from two quarries, of which 96 elements manifest one or more macroscopic bone abnormalities and 55 specimens display pathology attributable to physical trauma. Evidence of traumatic pathology is strongly associated (P < .05) with body region, occurring disproportionately in the caudal vertebrae. Pre-mortem fractures with subsequent bone remodeling and hypertrophic ossification of caudal neural spines are present principally in the middle and mid-distal regions of the tail, while fractures of the vertebral centra are present primarily in the distal tail region. Other skeletal regions, such as chevrons, phalanges of the manus and ribs display unambiguous evidence of healed trauma, but with less frequency than the tail. These findings, in combination with current understanding of hadrosaurian tail biomechanics, indicate that intervertebral flexibility within the middle and mid-distal region of the tail likely rendered these caudal vertebrae more susceptible to the deleterious effects of repeated mechanical stress and subsequent trauma, potentially accompanying running locomotion and other high-impact herd interactions. Healed fractures within the region are also suggestive of accumulated injuries due to a combination of tail usage in defense and possibly accidental bumping/trampling associated with gregarious behavior.
Evaluation of radioactive 125I seed implantation for the treatment of refractory malignant tumours based on a CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique: efficacy and safety
Authors: Zhao Guang Sheng , Liu Song , Yang Liang , Li Chuang , Wang Ruo Yu , Zhou Jun , Zhang Yue Wei
Published: May 2020

Background: To observe the medium- and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of radioactive 125I seed implantation for refractory malignant tumours based on CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique. Methods: Twenty-five patients with refractory malignant tumours who underwent radioactive 125I seed implantation based on CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique were selected. The post-operative adverse reactions were recorded. The number of puncture needles and particles used in the operation, dosimetric parameters, post-operative physical strength scores, and tumour response were statistically analysed. The overall survival time and survival rate were calculated, and the effect and prognosis were assessed. Results: 125I seed implantation was successful in all patients, and no serious complications occurred. The average number of implanted puncture needles was 17 (19.12±13.00), and the median number of particles was 52 (55.12±32.97). D90 in the post-operative clinical target volume (CTV) (93.24±15.70 Gy) was slightly lower than that in the pre-operative CTV (93.92±17.60 Gy; P>0.05). The D90 in the post-operative planning target volume (PTV) (142.16±22.25 Gy) was lower than the pre-operative PTV (145.32±23.48 Gy; P>0.05). The tumour responses at 6 months post-operatively: complete remission (CR), 20% (5/25); partial remission (PR), 48% (12/25); stable disease (SD), 24% (6/25); progressive disease (PD), 8% (2/25); CR+PR, 68% (17/25); and local control rate, 92% (23/25). The 6-, 12-, and 24-month survival rates were 100%, 88%, and 52%, respectively. The post-operative physical strength score (Karnofsky performance score, KPS) exhibited a gradual trend towards recovery, which rose to the highest value 12 months after seed implantation and then decreased slightly, but the average score was still > 90 points. There was one intra-operative pneumothorax, and two patients with superficial malignant tumours developed skin ulcerations. Multivariate analysis of prognosis showed that tumour sites and types were independent risk factors affecting survival. The number of needles and particles and template type were not factors that affected prognosis.Conclusions: 3D template combined with CT-guided radioactive 125I seed implantation can improve the rational distribution of radiation dose in the tumour target area because accurate radioactive 125I particle implantation was achieved. This technique has fewer complications and can further extend the overall survival and improve the quality of life.
Comparing video-based versions of Halsted’s ‘See One, Do One’ and Peyton’s ‘4-step Approach’ for teaching surgical skills: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Seifert Lukas Benedikt , Schnurr Benedikt , Stefanescu Maria-Christina , Sader Robert , Rüsseler Miriam , Sterz Jasmina
Published: May 2020

Background: Teaching complex motor skills at a high level remains a challenge in medical education. Established methods often involve large amounts of teaching time and material. The implementation of standardized videos in those methods might help save resources. In this study, video-based versions of Peyton’s ‘4-step Approach’ and Halsted’s ‘See One, Do One’ are compared. We hypothesized that the video-based ‘4-step Approach’ would be more effective in learning procedural skills than the ‘See One, Do One Approach’. Methods: One-hundred-two naïve students were trained to perform a structured facial examination and a Bellocq’s tamponade with either Halsted’s (n = 57) or Peyton’s (n = 45) method within a curricular course. Steps 1 (Halsted) and 1-3 (Peyton) were replaced by standardized teaching videos. The performance was measured directly (T1) and 8 weeks (T2) after the intervention by blinded examiners using structured checklists. An item-analysis was also carried out. Results: At T1, performance scores significantly differed in favor of the video-based ‘4-step Approach’ (p < 0.01) for both skills. No differences were found at T2 (p < 0.362). The item-analysis revealed that Peyton’s method was significantly more effective in the complex subparts of both skills. Conclusions: The modified video-based version of Peyton’s ‘4-step Approach’ is the preferred method for teaching especially complex motor skills in a large curricular scale. Furthermore, an effective way to utilize Peyton’s method in a group setting could be demonstrated. Further studies have to investigate the long-term learning retention of this method in a formative setting.
Is the allocation of medical and health resources effective? Characteristic facts from regional heterogeneity in China
Authors: Yi Ming , Peng Jiachao , Zhang Lian , Zhang Yao
Published: May 2020

Background: Over the last decade, the expenditure on public medical and health has increased greatly in China, however, problems as low efficiency and unfairness still exist. How to accurately describe the effectiveness of existing medical and health resources in combination with regional heterogeneity is of great significance to China's medical and health reform.Methods: Based on provincial panel data for the period of 2005 to 2017, combining expected output and unexpected output, this paper constructs a super-efficiency three-stage SBM-DEA model, to measure and analyze the spatial-temporal heterogeneity characteristics and influencing factors of public medical and health efficiency (PMHE). Results: (1)After the impacts of random error and external environmental factors are removed, the mean value of overall PMHE is 0.9274, failing to reach DEA efficiency, and PMHE shows a fluctuated downward trend. (2) The adjusted PMHE level shows a prominent spatial imbalance at the stage 3. The average efficiency level is ranked by the East > the West > the Central > the Northeast. (3) The increases of GDP per capita and population density are beneficial to the improvement of PMHE, while income level and education level are disadvantageous to PMHE, and last, the urbanization level, an uncertain effect. (4) There is no σ convergence of the PMHE in the East, the Central and the West, that is, the internal differences may gradually expand in the future, while the Northeast shows a significant σ convergence trending of PMHE. (5) The state's allocation of medical and health resources has undergone major changes during “The Twelfth Five-Year Plan”.Conclusion: This study innovatively incorporates undesired outputs of health care into the efficiency evaluation framework by constructing the main efficiency evaluation indicators. The results of the robust evaluation conclude that China's existing investment in medical and health resources is generally not effective. Therefore, although China's health care reform has made certain achievement, it is still necessary to expand the investment in health care resources.
Clinical validation of full genotyping CLART® HPV4S assay on SurePath and ThinPrep collected screening samples according to the International Guidelines for Human Papillomavirus Test Requirements for Cervical Screening
Authors: Ejegod Ditte Møller , Lagheden Camilla , Bhatia Ramya , Pedersen Helle , Boada Elia Alcañiz , Sundström Karin , Cortés Javier , Josë F. Xavier Bosch , Cuschieri Kate , Dillner Joakim , Bonde Jesper
Published: May 2020

Background To ensure the highest quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in primary cervical cancer screening, novel HPV assays must be evaluated in accordance with the international guidelines. Furthermore, HPV assay with genotyping capabilities are becoming increasingly important in triage of HPV positive women in primary HPV screening. Here we evaluate a full genotyping HPV assay intended for primary screening.Methods The CLART® HPV4S (CLART4S) assay is a newly developed full-genotyping assay detecting 14 oncogenic (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68) and two non-oncogenic HPV genotypes (6, 11). It was evaluated using SurePath and ThinPrep screening samples collected from the Danish and Swedish cervical cancer screening programs, respectively. For calculation of sensitivity, 81 SurePath and 80 ThinPrep samples with confirmed ≥CIN2 were assessed. For clinical specificity analysis, 1,184 SurePath and 1,169 ThinPrep samples from women with <CIN2 histology were assessed. Sensitivity and specificity of the CLART4S assay was compared to an established reference test; the MGP-PCR (Modified General Primers GP5+/6+ with genotyping using Luminex). Inter and intra laboratory reproducibility of the assay was assessed using 540 SurePath and 520 ThinPrep samples, respectively. The genotype concordance between CLART4S and MGP-PCR was also assessed.Results In SurePath samples, the sensitivity of CLART4S was 0.90 (MGP-PCR =0.93) and the specificity was 0.91 (MGP-PCR=0.91); In ThinPrep samples the sensitivity of CLART4S was 0.98 (MGP-PCR=1.00) and specificity was 0.94 (MGP-PCR =0.87). The CLART4S was shown to be non-inferior to that of MGP-PCR for both sensitivity (p=0.002; p=0.01) and specificity (p=0.01; p=0.00) in SurePath and ThinPrep samples, respectively. Intra-laboratory reproducibility and inter-laboratory agreement was met for both media types. The individual genotype concordance between CLART4S and MGP-PCR was good agreement for almost all 14 HPV genotypes in both media types.Conclusions The CLART4S assay was proved non-inferior to the comparator assay MGP-PCR for both sensitivity and specificity using SurePath and ThinPrep cervical cancer screening samples from the Danish and Swedish screening programs, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate clinical validation of a full-genotyping HPV assay conducted in parallel on both SurePath and ThinPrep collected samples.
Integrating clinical and research training in child psychiatry: fifteen-year outcomes of a federally supported program
Authors: Calhoun Amanda , Bloch Michael H. , Stubbe Dorothy , Leckman James F. , Martin Andres
Published: May 2020

Background The Albert J. Solnit Integrated Training Program (AJSP) is a training initiative designed to prepare physician-scientists for independent careers in the investigation and treatment of childhood psychiatric disorders. Methods We compared fifteen cohorts (each representing a consecutive year of matriculation) of AJSP trainees and graduates (n=30) to peers who were comparably ranked in our original match lists but ultimately pursued residency programs elsewhere (n=60). Outcomes of interest between the two groups included professional affiliation, as measured by: 1) membership in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP); and 2) certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), as well as three domains of research productivity: 1) Competitive awards received from AACAP; 2) Publication-related metrics derived from the National Library of Medicine (NLM); and 3) Federal grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Results AJSP participants were more commonly affiliated with AACAP and board certified in CAP. AJSP graduates and trainees outperformed their control group peers in several research outcomes: 1) Receipt of AACAP awards and number of awards per recipient were higher, and time to first award shorter in the AJSP than in the control group; 2) AJSP participants had more publications in PubMed, more first-authored publications, a higher h-index, and a shorter time to first publication than participants in the control group; and 3) NIH K- or R-series funding success rate was higher among AJSP participants (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions A program designed to support the development of clinician-scientists specifically dedicated to childhood mental health needs has been successful in fostering scientific creativity, productivity and independence. The expansion and replication of similar training initiatives will be an in important step forward to address the high level of morbidity and mortality associated with child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.
Preliminary evaluation of a candidate international reference for Epstein–Barr virus capsid antigen immunoglobulin A in China
Authors: Chen Hao , Zhong Qiaohua , Wu Xiaobin , Ding Yanling , Chen Qi , Xue Ning , Xu Yi-Wei , chen Shulin
Published: May 2020

Background: The detection of the Epstein–Barr capsid antigen (VCA) immunoglobulin A (IgA) is widely used inthe diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC),but a reference standard for evaluating the presence of VCA-IgA isnot yet available. Therefore, a reference standard is urgently needed for a uniform and quantitative detection of VCA-IgA.Methods: A mixed reference serum from three NPC patients diluted with healthy subject serum was made as a potential first international standard for VCA-IgA. VCA-IgA was detected in twenty NPC patients by four ELISA kits and two chemiluminescent immunoassays kits using the reference as a calibration curve. The performance of these six kits was evaluated, and the quantitative results were compared. Results: Our results showed a good linearity of the reference in different kits. Without reference, the difference of the total coefficient of variation (from 3.98% to 43.11%) and Within-run coefficient of variation (from 2.47% to 19.66%) was large in the 6 kits. The positive and negative coincidence rate between the 6 kits and indirect immunofluorescence for NPC diagnosis was 75% overall agreement, but a difference among the six kits was found, ranging from 55% to 90%. The concentration of VCA-IgA in the 20 NPC samples led in the division into three categories such as negative, low, or medium/high positive, but these concentrations were significantly different within these three categories depending on the kit used of the 6 considered. However,a good correlation (R2=0.986) was observed between Antu and Beier ELISA kits.Conclusions: The reference serum mightbe used as a reference standard for a better comparison of the results from different kits/laboratories.However, the quantitative results of some kits are still inconsistent due to the diversity of VCA antigens.
Association of DNA repair gene variants with colorectal cancer: risk, toxicity, and survival
Authors: Salimzadeh Hamideh , Lindskog Elinor Bexe , Gustavsson Bengt , Wettergren Yvonne , Ljungman David
Published: May 2020

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair genes have a potential clinical value in predicting treatment outcomes. In the current study, we examined the association of SNPs in the genes XRCC1-rs25487, ERCC1-rs11615, ERCC2-rs238406, and ERCC2-rs13181 with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity during chemotherapy.Methods: SNPs were analysed in 590 CRC cases and 300 controls using TaqMan technology. The association of SNPs with CRC risk and toxicity during chemotherapy was analysed using Chi2 test. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test was used to measure the effects of the SNPs on RFS and OS.Results: The CC genotype of ERCC2-rs238406 and the ERCC2-rs13181 C allele were associated with a significantly increased risk of CRC. The ERCC1-rs11615 genotype T/T was associated with stomatitis in adjuvant chemotherapy (p= 0.03). Also, more patients with the ERCC2-rs13181 C allele needed dose reduction compared to patients with the A/A genotype (p= 0.02). In first line chemotherapy, more patients with the ERCC1-rs11615 C allele suffered from nausea compared to those with the T/T genotype (p= 0.04) and eye reactions and thrombocytopenia were more common in patients with the ERCC2-rs13181 C allele compared to the A/A genotype (p= 0.006 and p= 0.004, respectively). ERCC2- rs238406 C/C was also associated with a higher frequency of thrombocytopenia (p= 0.03). A shorter 5-year OS was detected in stage I & II CRC patients with the ERCC2- rs238406 C allele (p= 0.02). However, there was no significant association between the SNPs and 5-year RFS.Conclusions: Both SNPs in ERCC2 were associated with risk of CRC as well as toxicity during first line treatment. In addition, ERCC2- rs238406 was linked to OS in early stage CRC. The ERCC1-rs11615 variant was associated with toxicity during adjuvant chemotherapy. The results add support to previous findings that SNPs in ERCC1 and ERCC2 have a prognostic and predictive value in clinical management of CRC.
Infrared photovoltaic detector based on p-GeTe/n-Si heterojunction
Authors: Zhao Yiqun , Tang Libin , Yang Shengyi , Lau Shu Ping , Teng Kar Seng
Published: May 2020

GeTe is an important narrow bandgap semiconductor material and has found application in the fields of phase change storage as well as spintronics devices. However, it has not been studied for application in the field of infrared photovoltaic detectors working at room temperature. Herein, GeTe nanofilms were grown by magnetron sputtering technique and characterized to investigate its physical, electrical and optical properties. A high-performance infrared photovoltaic detector based on GeTe/Si heterojunction with the detectivity of 8×10 11 Jones at 850 nm light irradiation at room temperature was demonstrated.
Kethoxal-assisted single-stranded DNA sequencing (KAS-seq) for capturing transcription dynamics and enhancer activity
Authors: Wu Tong , Lyu Ruitu , He Chuan
Published: May 2020

We describe a rapid and sensitive labeling of single-stranded DNA for sequencing (KAS-seq), based on a kethoxal-guanine reaction. KAS-seq procedure involves N3-kethoxal labeling, DNA isolation, biotinylation, fragmentation and enrichment, library preparation and sequencing. The whole process can be finished in a day. KAS-seq enables rapid measurement of the dynamics of transcriptionally-engaged Pol II, transcribing enhancers, Pol I and Pol III activities, and non-canonical DNA structures involving ssDNA simultaneously in situ, by using as few as 1,000 cells or mice tissues. The robust and tissue-friendly nature coupled with low input material requirement make KAS-seq a method that can be broadly applied. This step-by-step protocol is related to the publication “Kethoxal-assisted single-stranded DNA sequencing captures global transcription dynamics and enhancer activity in situ” in Nature Methods.
Our First Review: An Evaluation of Effectiveness of Root Cause Analysis Recommendations in Hong Kong Public Hospitals
Authors: Kwok Andy Yick Ting , Mah Alastair Pui Yan , Pang Katherine Mo Ching
Published: May 2020

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of root cause analysis (RCA) recommendations and propose possible ways to enhance its quality in Hong Kong public hospitals.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed across 43 public hospitals and institutes in Hong Kong, reviewing RCA reports of all Sentinel Events and Serious Untoward Events within a two-year period. The incident nature, types of root causes and strengths of recommendations were analysed. The RCA recommendations were categorised as ‘strong’, ‘medium’ or ‘weak’ strengths utilizing the US’s Veteran Affairs National Center for Patient Safety action hierarchy.Results: A total of 214 reports from October 2016 to September 2018 were reviewed. These reports generated 504 root causes, averaging 2.4 per RCA report, and comprising 282 (49%) system, 233 (46%) staff behavioural and 22 (4%) patient factors. There were 658 recommendations identified in the RCA reports with an average of 3.1 per RCA. Of these, 18 (2%) recommendations were rated strong, 116 (15%) medium and 626 (82%) weak. Most recommendations were related to ‘training and education’ (466, 61%), ‘additional study/review’ (104, 14%) and ‘review/enhancement of policy/guideline’ (39, 5%).Conclusions: This study provided insights about the effectiveness of RCA recommendations across all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The results showed a high proportion of root causes were attributed to staff behavioural factors and most of the recommendations were weak. The reasons include the lack of training, tools and expertise, appropriateness of panel composition, and complicated processes in carrying out large scale improvements. The Review Team suggested conducting regular RCA training, adopting easy-to-use tools, enhancing panel composition with human factors expertise, promoting an organization-wide safety culture to staff and aggregating analysis of incidents as possible improvement actions.