bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Man with the Movie Camera
Authors: Roberts Graham
Published: November 2019

The KINO Russian Cinema series has been expanding to provide students and general readers with readable companion handbooks to important and interesting films of Russian cinema from its beginnings to contemporary times. This volume investigates the production, context and reception of the film The Man with the Movie Camera directed by Dziya Ventov, the people who made it, and the film itself, including its place in Russian and World cinema.
Shakespeare’s Body Language
Authors: Thomas Miranda Fay
Published: November 2019

Why do the Capulets bite their thumbs at the Montagues? Why do the Venetians spit upon Shylock’s Jewish gaberdine? What is it about Volumnia’s act of kneeling that convinces Coriolanus not to assault the city of Rome?

Shakespeare’s Body Language is a ground-breaking new study of Shakespearean drama, revealing the previously unseen history of social tensions found within the performance of gestures – and how such gestures are used to shame those within the body politic of early modern England. The first full study of shaming gestures in Shakespearean drama, this book establishes how shame is often rooted in the gendered expectations of the Renaissance era. Exploring how the performance of gestures such as figging, the cuckold’s horns, and even the in-action of stillness created shaming spectacles on the early modern stage and its wider society, Shakespeare’s Body Language argues that gestures are embodied social metaphors which epitomise the personal as political. It reveals the tensions of everyday life as key motivators behind the actions of Shakespeare’s characters, and considers how honour and its opposite, shame, are constructed in terms of gender norms.

Featuring in-depth analyses of plays across Shakespeare’s career, this book explores how the playwright’s understanding of shame and humiliation is rooted in performance anxiety and gender politics, explaining how theatrical gestures can create dramatic tension in a way that words alone cannot. It offers both rich insights into the early modern context of Shakespeare’s drama and confirms the startling relevance of his work to modern audiences.
The substructure of extremely hot summers in the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Röthlisberger Matthias , Sprenger Michael , Flaounas Emmanouil , Beyerle Urs , Wernli Heini
Published: November 2019

Abstract. In the last decades, extremely hot summers (hereafter extreme summers) have challenged societies worldwide through their adverse ecological, economic and public health effects. In this study, extreme summers are identified at all grid points in the Northern Hemisphere in the upper tail of the July–August (JJA) seasonal mean 2-meter temperature (T2m) distribution, separately in ERA-Interim reanalyses and in 700 simulated years with the Community Earth System Model (CESM) large ensemble for present-day climate conditions. A novel approach is introduced to characterize the substructure of extreme summers, i.e., to elucidate whether an extreme summer is mainly the result of the warmest days being anomalously hot, or of the coldest days being anomalously mild, or of a general shift towards warmer temperatures on all days of the season. Such a statistical characterization can be obtained from considering so-called rank day anomalies for each extreme summer, that is, by sorting the 92 daily mean T2m values of an extreme summer and by calculating, for every rank, the deviation from the climatological mean rank value of T2m. Applying this method in the entire Northern Hemisphere reveals spatially strongly varying extreme summer substructures, which agree remarkably well in the reanalysis and climate model data sets. For example, in eastern India the hottest 30 days of an extreme summer contribute more than 70 % to the total extreme summer T2m anomaly, while the colder days are close to climatology. In the high Arctic, however, extreme summers occur when the coldest 30 days are substantially warmer than climatology. Furthermore, in roughly half of the Northern Hemisphere land area, the coldest third of summer days contribute more to extreme summers than the hottest third, which highlights that milder than normal coldest summer days are a key ingredient of many extreme summers. In certain regions, e.g., over western Europe and western Russia, the substructure of different extreme summers shows large variability and no common characteristic substructure emerges. Furthermore, we show that the typical extreme summer substructure in a certain region is directly related to the region’s overall T2m rank day variability pattern. This indicates that in regions where the warmest summer days vary particularly strongly from one year to the other, these warmest days are also particularly anomalous in extreme summers (and analogously for regions where variability is largest for the coldest days). Finally, for three selected regions, thermodynamic and dynamical causes of extreme summer substructures are briefly discussed, indicating that, for instance, the onset of monsoons, physical boundaries like the sea ice edge, or the frequency of occurrence of Rossby wave breaking, strongly determine the substructure of extreme summers in certain regions.
Determinants of Allocative, Cost and Scope Efficiencies: A Comparative Analysis of Banks and Insurance Companies in Pakistan
Authors: Haroon Maha , Ahmed Siddiqui Danish
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this research paper is to empirically investigates determinants of allocative, cost and scope efficiencies as well as impact of financial crisis and stock market performance on efficiencies. Pakistan’s banks and insurance companies’ sector were taken for the purpose of comparative analysis. For this objective both Islamic/takaful and conventional sectors were occupied. Twelve years data (2007-2018) of PSX’s banking and insurance sector was taken. Two stage non-parametric efficiency analysis was done, in the first stage, estimation for efficiency scores we used DEA for both sectors. In second phase, efficiency scores are regressed on the selected determinants by Tobit Regression. For measuring stock market performance CASR is calculated. Inadequate efficiency in insurance sector is evidenced against banking sector. Efficiency of takaful firms as new entrants of the market was not good comparatively to conventional insurance firms. Islamic and conventional banks are operated at almost same efficiency level. Performance of stock market has inverse and both (significant and insignificant) relationship with efficiency, means different events and fundamentals don’t affect the performance of sectors that is why efficiencies are not hit by this way. As well as determinants have different relationship with allocative, cost and scope efficiencies scores.
A Bi-Objective Approach to Evaluate Highway Routing and Regulatory Strategies for Hazardous Materials Transportation
Authors: Rahman Ashrafur , Fiondella Lance , Lownes Nicholas E.
Published: November 2019

Hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation is of concern to policymakers because of the serious safety, health, and environmental risks associated with the release of hazmat. One effective approach to minimize risks associated with hazmat transport is the prohibition of hazmat transportation on higher risk links that either pose safety hazards or increased exposure by traversing densely populated areas. Because of high risk, there are multiple stakeholders involved in hazmat transportation. While shippers and carriers are directly involved in making routing decisions, regulatory agencies influence this decision by imposing routing restrictions. In this paper, we apply a bi-objective shortest path problem to evaluate routing and regulation plans for hazmat transportation. We characterize the cost objective as the shortest path between an origin and a destination. The risk objective is to minimize the risk of exposure by restricting the link with the highest risk on the best available path from an origin to a destination. We formulate the bi-objective model and apply it to a test network. Solutions consider multiple origin-destination pairs and present a non-dominated frontier to establish routing and regulatory strategies for hazmat transportation.
An Optimization Approach Applied to Fair Division Transportation Funding Allocation Models
Authors: Chang Carlos M. , Montes Edith
Published: November 2019

The problem of multiple necessities and limited funds is common in the transportation field. Funding allocation for a transportation agency often involves prioritizing the allocation of funds across a number of participants who have their own needs and preferences. If a participant believes that the final allocation is unfair, then this perception could result in the generation of envy. In this paper, a genetic optimization technique is applied to a Fair Division Transportation Funding Allocation Model (FDTFAM) to minimize the total envy based on the participant’s own priorities and the budget constraints.
Determinants of Per Capita Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): The Case of California
Authors: Woldeamanuel Mintesnot , Kent Andrew
Published: November 2019

This study uses multivariate regression to isolate determinants of per capita VMT in California from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), as well as a Chow Test to identify structural change between the 2001 and 2009 NHTS. Results across the 2001 and 2009 NHTS data sets indicate certain determinant variables have emerged over time and others have changed in strength of impact. Our findings support mixed methods VMT reduction strategies to achieve near- and long- term GHG targets.
Review, Experimental Evaluation and Policy Considerations of a Directional Time of Day Truck Restriction on Highways
Authors: Bassan Shy
Published: November 2019

The paper reviews several strategies of restricting or separating trucks from the regular traffic stream. Typical truck restriction policies focus on leftmost lanes restriction, which has been shown by several studies to have some advantages. However, those studies clearly show that vehicle queue lengths in the vicinity of critical merging areas increase significantly as the percentage of trucks increases. Therefore, this study examines a different policy—one which investigates traffic efficiency gained by restricting heavy truck traffic in one direction—in this case, westbound on Highway 1 in Israel—during afternoon peak hours. Similar policies of utilizing a specific vehicle category (e.g. passenger cars or trucks) in different daily time periods or physical separation of homogenous traffic of passenger cars in the inner lanes and mixed traffic in the outer lanes, were recommended in Italian motorways and in New Jersey Turnpike dual-dual freeways respectively.Highway 1 is a freeway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv that passes by Ben-Gurion International Airport. The major objective of this study is to estimate the benefit of restricting truck traffic in the traffic stream according to three traffic-flow parameters: average travel time, total travel time, and average traffic speed. Analysis of the results, which consider the significant differences of 30-minute time period samples (“before-after” truck restriction), shows that prohibiting trucks in all lanes in one direction during the peak afternoon period of 16:00-18:00 improved all three traffic flow parameters by 8%-12%. Generally a steep grade from which truck traffic is banned is correlated with an improvement in traffic flow. In our case, Highway 1 road segments 1 and 2 and 4, which have steep grades (longitudinal grades), incorporated the most significant improvements in the traffic stream parameters examined.
Northern Plains Grain Farm Truck Marketing Patterns
Authors: Vachal Kimberly
Published: November 2019

A survey of farm operators in the Northern Plains Region was conducted to gather information about on-farm storage and truck markets. The objective of the study is to provide information about farm truck grain marketing patterns in the Northern Plains. There is no other source for this information. It should be complementary to other farm-to-market information and national commodity flow publications. Farmers may use the results for their own investment and productivity assessments. Local and regional planners and policy makers can use the information in calibrating travel demand and freight flow models for investment and asset management choices.
Pilot study: Decreasing parental anxiety during peanut oral immunotherapy
Authors: Olson Kinga P. , Rosenblum Ruth
Published: November 2019

Objective: Peanut allergies are common in the pediatric population. Peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) can cause anxiety for children and families. A pilot study was conducted to determine what elements parents consider most useful in reducing anxiety within a newly implemented OIT program.Methods: A convenience sample of parents (n = 15) was surveyed to measure perceptions of specific anxiety-reducing elements at a private allergy practice.Results: The 10-question parent survey utilized a Likert Scale measuring how various elements of the OIT program reduced their anxiety. All elements that were provided directly by the clinic received favorable ratings.Discussion and conclusions: Commercially prepared peanut OIT will soon receive FDA approval, and allergy clinics will consider implementing this new therapy for peanut allergic patients. Food allergies invariably cause anxiety for parents and children, therefore careful consideration of how to decrease anxiety during OIT therapy was examined in this pilot study.
Civilní proces na brněnské právnické fakultě mezi světovými válkami
Authors: Lavický Petr
Published: November 2019

Článek se zabývá osobnostmi, které se věnovaly civilnímu právu procesnímu na brněnské právnické fakultě od jejího založení až do jejího dočasného zrušení nedlouho po druhé světové válce. Předmětem výkladu je stručný nástin života a díla Františka Vážného, Adolfa Procházky, Karla Gerlicha a Hynka Bulína mladšího. Zatímco Vážný i navzdory působení na fakultě zůstal tělem a duší právním praktikem, tři naposled uvedení autoři se pod vlivem Františka Weyra a jeho ryzí nauky právní pustili do promítnutí poznatků této teorie do oblasti civilního procesu. Článek si dále všímá především pojmu právního řízení, z nějž představitelé této teorie vycházeli, a odezvy, kterého se dočkal v odborné literatuře.
Genome-wide identification of C2H2 zinc-finger genes and their expression patterns under heat stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Hu Xin , Zhu Lili , Zhang Yi , Xu Li , Li Na , Zhang Xingguo , Pan Yu
Published: November 2019

The C2H2 zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factor family regulates the expression of a wide variety of genes in response to various developmental processes or abiotic stresses; however, these proteins have not yet been comprehensively analyzed in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). In this study, a total of 104 C2H2-ZFs were identified in an uneven distribution across the entire tomato genome, and include seven segmental duplication events. Based on their phylogenetic relationships, these genes were clustered into nine distinct categories analogous to those in Arabidopsis thaliana. High similarities were found between the exon–intron structures and conserved motifs of the genes within each group. Correspondingly, the expression patterns of the C2H2-ZF genes indicated that they function in different tissues and at different developmental stages. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results demonstrated that the expression levels of 34 selected C2H2-ZFs are changed dramatically among the roots, stems, and leaves at different time points of a heat stress treatment, suggesting that the C2H2-ZFPs are extensively involved in the heat stress response but have potentially varying roles. These results form the basis for the further molecular and functional analysis of the C2H2-ZFPs, especially for those members that significantly varied under heat treatment, which may be targeted to improve the heat tolerance of tomato and other Solanaceae species.
Magnesium Sulphate Treated Severely Asphyxiated Neonates, Their Characteristic and Outcome
Authors: Pius Simon , Bello Mustapha , Ambe Jose Pwavimbo , Yenti Machoko , Genesis Rhoda , Clement Adama Yusuf , Kamas Mark Inusa
Published: November 2019

Introduction: Perinatal asphyxia is a common neonatal problem and contributes significantly to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Encephalopathy occurs in 50% to 60% of patients with severe perinatal asphyxia. Moderate hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), 10% to 20% die and 30% to 40% develop neurodeficits, whereas 50% of those with severe HIE die and almost all survivors develop neurodeficits. The systematic administration of magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) after perinatal asphyxia has shown effective resolution of neuronal injury.  We have conducted this study to validate the effect of MgSO4 in severely asphyxiated neonates, so as to utilize its benefits on ameliorating the outcome associated with severe perinatal asphyxia/HIE.

Objective of the Study: To determine the characteristics and outcome of magnesium sulphate on neurological outcome in severe perinatal asphyxia

Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study of magnesium sulphate treatment of neonates with severe perinatal asphyxia conducted over one year period from 1st August 2017 to 31st July 2018.

Results: Of the 52 neonates, male 34 while there 18 female giving a ratio of (M: F is 1:1.8).  There were 30 (57.7%) in-born and 22 (42.3%) out-born, the total asphyxia cases (30/144) giving the incidence of 20.8% among in born. About one half (55.8%) of the patients commenced MgSO4 therapy at < 6 hours after birth, while 30.6% and 16.6% commenced MgSO4 therapy at 6 - < 24 hours and > 24 hours after birth respectively. About one half (49.0%) commenced enteral feeding within 5 – 7 days while 36.7% and 14.3% commenced enteral feeding at 4 < days and at > 7 days respectively. Majority of the patients commenced full enteral feeding at either between 5 – 7 days or > 7 days while only 36.7% of the neonates commenced full enteral feeding before 5 days. Equally, primary outcome, fully recovered and initiation breast feeding.

Conclusion: Of the fifty two patients managed, 5 (9.6%) died during the treatment period after 8th day of admission and at follow up, while 47 (90.4%) survived. Also greater 50% of the survivors commenced breast feeding within five days of admission and were clinical normal at follow up clinic. Whether this coincidental or a true effect of MgSo4, a future prospective randomized controlled trial may make the picture clearer
Successfully Treated Case of Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Meningitis in an Otherwise Healthy 5 Months Old Infant: A Case Report
Authors: Hannan Sana , Sohail Abdul Ahad
Published: November 2019

Acute bacterial meningitis in infants is a medical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and early institution of empirical antibiotic therapy. Non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS) is a major cause of uncomplicated infectious diarrhoea worldwide; however NTS meningitis is extremely uncommon beyond the neonatal period with very few cases being reported in the literature and has been associated with increased mortality and morbidity with mortality rates of up to 40-70% reported in recent studies. NTS being a facultative intracellular organism does not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy and therefore failure and relapse rates are higher particularly with meningitis. We report a rare case of a five month old infant with non-typhoidal salmonella meningitis who was successfully treated with prolonged duration of antibiotic therapy.
Impact of Nutrition Education Program on Diet Quality Score amongst Adolescent Girls between Age Group of 16 to 17 Years in Mumbai
Authors: Nandu Miloni , Sengupta Rupali
Published: November 2019

Aim: To See The Impact Of Nutrition Education Program On Diet Quality Score Amongst Adolescent Girls Between Age Group Of 16 To 17 Years In Mumbai.

Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at Dr B.M.N. College of Home Science (Mumbai) in India between November 2018 to February 2019.

Methodology: 3 Day 24 hour Diet record was taken where energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat were calculated and with the help of 3 day diet record Healthy Eating Index Score of Adolescent was assessed and Nutrition Education Program was imparted for the duration of 2 months.

Results: The results of the study showed that consumption of Energy was 1715 Kcal, Carbohydrate 226 gm and Protein 43 gm was low in pre tests which significantly increased in post tests i.e Energy was 1959 kcal, Carbohydrate was 250 gm and Protein was 49 gm, hence showed significant results (p=0.05). However consumption of fat was high in pre test i.e 41.25 gm which significantly reduced in post test i.e 39 gm which showed no significant results (p= 0.05). It was observed that the Healthy Eating Index score for pre test was 45.15 which was considered as “Poor Diet” and Healthy Eating Index score for post test was 52.45 considered as “ Need for Improvement” and high significant difference was observed (p= 0.05).

Conclusion: Thus the study concluded that after giving Nutrition Education Program to the subjects there was increase in the Healthy Eating Index Score. There was also increase in the consumption of energy, carbohydrate, protein and decrease in fat consumption and thus Nutrition Education Program had positive effect on the subjects.
The Assessment of the Acceptability of Behavior Management Techniques for Pediatric Patients by Their Mothers Referred to a Pediatric Dental Clinic in Tehran
Authors: Forghani Nazanin
Published: November 2019

The use of behavior management techniques for the treatment of children who are uncooperative with a dentist is inevitable. Behavior management techniques are the methods that the dental health team could effectively treat the child and inspires a constructive dental attitude.

Objective: Determining the acceptability of behavior management techniques by mothers referred to a pediatric dental clinic in Tehran (2017).

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a pediatric dental clinic in Tehran. A film, including 4 different behavior management techniques such as general anesthesia(GA), parents’ separation(PS), Tell-Do-Show and voice control(VC) was produced. Before showing each method, a brief explanation of the characteristics and purposes of methods was given by a pediatric dentist in the film. A total of 50 mothers, referred to this private dental clinic, completed a questionnaire after observing any method in this film. The data were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square

Results: 56% of the children were boys and 44% were girls, and they were in the age group of 3 to 10 years old, and children are ranked from first to fifth in the family. Mothers with a primary to postgraduate education were between the ages of 23-50 and had up to 5 kids. The acceptance of Tell-Do-Show by mothers was 100%, Voice Control was 92%, separating the child from parents was 50%, and General Anesthesia was 30%. There was a significant correlation between acceptance of voice control method with child's order, child's age and the number of children in a family, and also between the acceptance of general anesthesia by mothers with mother's education level and child's order (p <0.05).

Conclusion: According to the findings, Tell-Do-Show method was the most common method which was accepted by mothers, and general anesthesia was the least accepted method by the mothers.
Biologic Therapies in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Comparison of Long‐Term Safety Data from the German BIKER Registry
Authors: Klein Ariane , Becker Ingrid , Minden Kirsten , Hospach Anton , Schwarz Tobias , Foeldvari Ivan , Huegle Boris , Borte Michael , Weller‐Heinemann Frank , Dressler Frank , Kuemmerle‐Deschner Jasmin , Oommen Prasad Thomas , Foell Dirk , Trauzeddel Ralf , Rietschel Christoph , Horneff Gerd
Published: November 2019

Objective

Biologics have an important role in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Long‐term safety data are limited. Direct comparison of different agents regarding occurrence of adverse events (AEs), especially of rare events, requires large quantities of patient years. In this analysis, long‐term safety with regard to AE of special interest (AESI) was compared between different biologics.

Methods

Patients with nonsystemic JIA were selected from the German BIKER registry. Safety assessments were based on AE reports. Number of AEs, serious AEs, and 25 predefined AESIs, including medically important infection, uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease, cytopenia, hepatic events, anaphylaxis, depression, pregnancy, malignancy, and death, were analyzed. Event rates and relative risks were calculated using AEs reported after first dose through 70 days after last dose.

Results

A total of 3873 patients entered the analysis with 7467 years of exposure to biologics. The most common AESIs were uveitis (n = 231) and medically important infections (n = 101). Cytopenia and elevation of transaminases were more frequent with tocilizumab (risk ratio [RR] 8.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.2‐15, and RR 4.7, 95% CI 1.8‐12.2, respectively). Anaphylactic events were associated with intravenous route of administration. In patients ever exposed to biologics, eight malignancies were reported. Six pregnancies have been documented in patients with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. No death occurred in this patient cohort during observation.

Conclusion

Surveillance of pharmacotherapy as provided by the BIKER registry is an import approach, especially for long‐term treatment of children. Overall, tolerance was acceptable. Differences between biologics were noted and should be considered in daily patient care.
Effective handling of substantial arterial air embolization during extracorporeal perfusion
Authors: Izzat Mohammad Bashar
Published: November 2019

This report highlights the need for a coordinated approach to substantial arterial air embolization, considering the high risk of neurologic injury. Appropriate management may involve systemic hypothermia, hyperoxia, and retrograde cerebral perfusion.
Transition Metal Selenides for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Feng Wenshuai , Pang Wenbin , Xu Yan , Guo Aimin , Gao Xiaohui , Qiu Xiaoqing , Chen Wei
Published: November 2019

Electrolysis of water is regarded as an attractive and feasible way for producing hydrogen. So far, various non‐noble metal nanomaterials have been reported as excellent electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Especially, due to the low cost, earth‐abundance and tunable properties, transition metal selenides with different compositions, sizes and structures have been explored broadly as efficient catalysts with the relatively high activities, high stabilities and high efficiencies in full pH range of electrolyte for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction. Thus, in this Minireview, after introducing several commonly used electrochemical terms about hydrogen evolution reaction, we mainly focus on various kinds of the transition metal selenides that have been documented as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. Particularly, the merits and demerits of transition metal selenides for hydrogen evolution reaction are systematically discussed. Moreover, we also analyze the encountered challenges and present an outlook for the rapid development of transition metal selenides. We hope this Minireview can bring some fundamental understanding for the readers interested in the transition metal selenides and hydrogen evolution reaction.
Estimation and navigation methods with limited information for autonomous urban driving
Authors: Chipka Jordan B. , Campbell Mark
Published: November 2019

Autonomous driving in dense urban areas presents an especially difficult task. First, globally localizing information, such as GPS signal, often proves to be unreliable in such areas due to signal shadowing and multipath errors. Second, the high‐definition environmental maps with sufficient information for autonomous navigation require a large amount of data to be collected from these areas, significant postprocessing of this data to generate the map, and then continual maintenance of the map to account for changes in the environment. This paper addresses the issue of autonomous driving in urban environments by investigating algorithms and an architecture to enable fully functional autonomous driving with little to no reliance on map‐based measurements or GPS signals. An extended Kalman filter with odometry, compass, and sparse landmark measurements as inputs is used to provide localization. Real‐time detection and estimation of key roadway features are used to create an understanding of the surrounding static scene. Navigation is accomplished by a compass‐based navigation control law. Experimental scene understanding results are obtained using computer vision and estimation techniques and demonstrate the ability to probabilistically infer key features of an intersection in real time. Key results from Monte Carlo studies demonstrate the proposed localization and navigation methods. These tests provide success rates of urban navigation under different environmental conditions, such as landmark density, and show that the vehicle can navigate to a goal nearly 10 km away without any external pose update at all. Field tests validate these simulated results and demonstrate that, for given test conditions, an expected range can be determined for a given success rate.
Data Collection Methods Used to Maximize Response Rates on NCES Postsecondary Surveys
Authors: Hustedt Beth , Franklin Jeff , Tate Nicole
Published: November 2019

We discuss methods that can improve response rates in large‐scale cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies. Regardless of the specific study topic, sample member population, or method of contact, data collections should be designed with certain core principles in mind: legitimizing the study to prospective participants; presenting study information in various formats; and minimizing the effort required by respondents. We outline strategies for using specific contacting methods including mail, e‐mail, text, and phone, as well as various tracing methods that can be used to effectively gather contacting information, which increases the chances of reaching sample members. We also discuss the use of monetary incentives to reduce nonresponse and bias. This discussion ultimately serves to give the researcher strategies and ideas regarding how best to craft contacting materials, utilize tracing resources, and design incentive offers to increase sample member participation.
Microwave‐assisted Vilsmeier‐Haack synthesis of Pyrazole‐4‐carbaldehydes
Authors: Kumari Poonam , Sood Sumit , Kumar Anil , Singh Karan
Published: November 2019

The synthesis of 4‐formylpyrazoles using Vilsmeier‐Haack reagent is a common protocol in pyrazole chemistry. An efficient microwave‐assisted synthesis of 4‐formylpyrazoles by employing Vilsmeier‐Haack reagent (OPC‐VH) derived from phthaloyl dichloride/dimethylformamide has been described. This method offers the advantages of operational simplicity, avoiding the use of POCl3 as toxic reagents and reuse of the by‐product in the preparation of phthaloyl dichloride.
Differential adaptation strategies to different levels of soil water deficit in two upland and lowland genotypes of rice: a physiological and metabolic approach
Authors: Abdirad Somayeh , Majd Ahmad , Irian Saeed , Hadidi Naghmeh , Hosseini Salekdeh Ghasem
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND

Upland genotypes of rice are less sensitive to soil water deficit (SWD), making them suitable candidates for revealing the strategies underlying plant tolerance. The physiological factors, the biochemical traits needed to withstand oxidative stress, and the metabolite fluctuations of an upland genotype (Azucena) and an intolerant lowland genotype (IR64) genotype were measured under two levels of SWD (withholding water for 7‐ or 14 days) to identify SWD‐responsive strategies associated with tolerance.

RESULTS

After withholding water for 7 days, no significant changes in physiological and biochemical traits of Azucena were observed, whereas in IR64, significant decreases in physiological factors were recorded along with increases in oxidative‐stress indicators. However, the root length of Azucena increased significantly, showing a clear stress avoidance strategy. Under a prolonged treatment (14 days), IR64 entered an oxidative‐damage stage, whereas Azucena exhibited a highly efficient antioxidant system. Our metabolite analysis also revealed two different enriched pathways. After a 7‐day SWD, the sugar levels were decreased in the leaves of Azucena but increased in IR64. The reduction in the sugar levels (up to 1.79‐log2FC) in the Azucena leaves may be indicative of their transport to the roots, supplying the carbon source needed for root elongation. Under a 14‐day treatment, proline and aspartate family members accumulated to the highest levels in Azucena, whereas an increase in the levels of aromatic amino acids with key roles in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites was detected in IR64.

CONCLUSION

The adaptation strategies identified in two types of rice genotypes in confronting SWD may assist researchers in finding the proper indicators for screening more tolerant genotypes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Liver Transplant Tourism
Authors: Hindi Zaid , Congly Stephen , Tang Ephraim , Skaro Anton , Brahmania Mayur
Published: November 2019

Liver transplant tourism is travel for transplantation involving organ trafficking and/or transplant commercialism. Various medical, financial, and organizational factors play a role in transplant care including waiting lists, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease scores, and financial aid. We outline the international experiences with transplant tourism (TT) and its effect on their medical communities and patients. For clinicians providing care to patients involved in TT, we also discuss pretransplant counseling and posttransplant care.
Bio‐SCOPE: fast biexponential T1ρ mapping of the brain using signal‐compensated low‐rank plus sparse matrix decomposition
Authors: Zhu Yanjie , Liu Yuanyuan , Ying Leslie , Liu Xin , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a fast imaging method based on signal‐compensated low‐rank plus sparse matrix decomposition to accelerate data acquisition for biexponential brain T1ρ mapping (Bio‐SCOPE).

Methods

Two novel strategies were proposed to improve reconstruction performance. A variable‐rate undersampling scheme was used with a varied acceleration factor for each k‐space along the spin‐lock time direction, and a modified nonlinear thresholding scheme combined with a feature descriptor was used for Bio‐SCOPE reconstruction. In vivo brain T1ρ mappings were acquired from 4 volunteers. The fully sampled k‐space data acquired from 3 volunteers were retrospectively undersampled by net acceleration rates (R) of 4.6 and 6.1. Reference values were obtained from the fully sampled data. The agreement between the accelerated T1ρ measurements and reference values was assessed with Bland‐Altman analyses. Prospectively undersampled data with R = 4.6 and R = 6.1 were acquired from 1 volunteer.

Results

T1ρ‐weighted images were successfully reconstructed using Bio‐SCOPE for R = 4.6 and 6.1 with signal‐to‐noise ratio variations <1 dB and normalized root mean square errors <4%. Accelerated and reference T1ρ measurements were in good agreement for R = 4.6 (T1ρs: 18.6651 ± 1.7786 ms; T1ρl: 88.9603 ± 1.7331 ms) and R = 6.1 (T1ρs: 17.8403 ± 3.3302 ms; T1ρl: 88.0275 ± 4.9606 ms) in the Bland‐Altman analyses. T1ρ parameter maps from prospectively undersampled data also show reasonable image quality using the Bio‐SCOPE method.

Conclusion

Bio‐SCOPE achieves a high net acceleration rate for biexponential T1ρ mapping and improves reconstruction quality by using a variable‐rate undersampling data acquisition scheme and a modified soft‐thresholding algorithm in image reconstruction.
Influence of pediatric cancer–related financial burden on parent distress and other stress‐related symptoms
Authors: Santacroce Sheila Judge , Kneipp Shawn M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Pediatric cancer–induced financial burden is source of stress for parents, particularly mothers, single parents, and parents with lower incomes. This financial burden has been linked to poorer family quality of life (QOL) in terms of new onset material hardships, and could also affect individual QOL in terms of parents’ stress‐related symptoms. Our purpose was to describe pediatric cancer–induced financial burden among parents of children with that diagnosis, its effects on their stress‐related symptoms (distress, anxiety, cognition impairment, sleep impairment), and associations between select risk factors (relationship to the child, marital status, income) and the extent that financial burden affected parents’ symptoms.

Procedure

We recruited via two parent‐led groups and collected data using an online survey. We calculated frequencies of demographic characteristics, financial burden, and symptoms. We used chi‐square statistics to examine bivariate associations between the risk factors and extent that cancer‐related financial burden affected parents’ symptoms.

Results

Most (63.6%) respondents reported that pediatric cancer severely affected their finances. The majority (50.23‐69.86%) also reported that this burden severely affected their symptoms. Marital status, income, and, for some symptoms, relationship to the child were associated with the extent that financial burden affected the symptoms. Greater proportions of mothers (53‐73.5%), divorced/single parents (69.2‐90.4%), and parents in the lowest income category (77.3‐95.5%) experienced severely affected symptoms compared to fathers (41.7‐59.5%), married/partnered parents (41.7‐59.5%), and parents in the highest income category (28.6‐42.9%).

Conclusion

Financial burden and symptoms are fitting targets for interventions to improve family and individual QOL in the context of pediatric cancer.
Unified concepts for understanding and modelling turnover of dissolved organic matter from freshwaters to the ocean: the UniDOM model
Authors: Anderson T. R. , Rowe E. C. , Polimene L. , Tipping E. , Evans C. D. , Barry C. D. G. , Hansell D. A. , Kaiser K. , Kitidis V. , Lapworth D. J. , Mayor D. J. , Monteith D. T. , Pickard A. E. , Sanders R. J. , Spears B. M. , Torres R. , Tye A. M. , Wade A. J. , Waska H.
Published: November 2019

The transport of dissolved organic matter (DOM) across the land-ocean-aquatic-continuum (LOAC), from freshwater to the ocean, is an important yet poorly understood component of the global carbon budget. Exploring and quantifying this flux is a significant challenge given the complexities of DOM cycling across these contrasting environments. We developed a new model, UniDOM, that unifies concepts, state variables and parameterisations of DOM turnover across the LOAC. Terrigenous DOM is divided into two pools, T1(strongly-UV-absorbing) and T2(non- or weakly-UV-absorbing), that exhibit contrasting responses to microbial consumption, photooxidation and flocculation. Data are presented to show that these pools are amenable to routine measurement based on specific UV absorbance (SUVA). In addition, an autochtonous DOM pool is defined to account for aquatic DOM production. A novel aspect of UniDOM is that rates of photooxidation and microbial turnover are parameterised as an inverse function of DOM age. Model results, which indicate that ~ 5% of the DOM originating in streams may penetrate into the open ocean, are sensitive to this parameterisation, as well as rates assigned to turnover of freshly-produced DOM. The predicted contribution of flocculation to DOM turnover is remarkably low, although a mechanistic representation of this process in UniDOM was considered unachievable because of the complexities involved. Our work highlights the need for ongoing research into the mechanistic understanding and rates of photooxidation, microbial consumption and flocculation of DOM across the different environments of the LOAC, along with the development of models based on unified concepts and parameterisations.
Conductive Black Titania Nanomaterials for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants
Authors: Bi Qingyuan , Huang Xieyi , Dong Yanchun , Huang Fuqiang
Published: November 2019

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as an important semiconductor is widely used in the fields of solar cell, solar thermal collectors, and photocatalysis, but the visible-light power harvest remains insufficient due to the little effective visible-light absorption and many carrier-recombination centers originating from the wide band gap structure. Herein, conductive black titania (BT) nanomaterials with crystalline-TiO2-core/amorphous-TiO2−x-shell structure prepared through two-zone Al-reduction route are found efficient in photocatalyzing the degradation of organic pollutants to environmentally friendly products under full solar and even visible light irradiation. The unique core–shell structure and numerous surface oxygen vacancies or Ti3+ species in the amorphous layer accompanying prominent physicochemical properties of narrow band gap, high carrier concentration, high electron mobility, and excellent separation and transportation of photoinduced e−−h+ pairs result in exceptional photocatalytic efficiency. The optimized BT-500 (pristine TiO2 treated at 500 °C during two-zone Al-reduction process) catalyst achieves superior photocatalytic degradation rates for toluene and ethyl acetate as well as an excellent photostability with high degradation efficiency of 93% for the 6th reuse.

Graphic Abstract
Bevacizumab suppresses the growth of established non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastases in a hematogenous brain metastasis model
Authors: Masuda Chinami , Sugimoto Masamichi , Wakita Daiko , Monnai Makoto , Ishimaru Chisako , Nakamura Ryo , Kinoshita Mari , Yorozu Keigo , Kurasawa Mitsue , Kondoh Osamu , Yamamoto Kaname
Published: November 2019

Brain metastases are common in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The efficacy of bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) humanized antibody, has been demonstrated in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. We established a transplantable NSCLC cell line (Nluc-H1915) that stably expresses NanoLuc® reporter and confirmed the correlation between total Nluc activity in tumor and tumor volume in vivo. SCID mice inoculated with these cells through the internal carotid artery formed reproducible brain metastases, in which human VEGF was detected. Next, after metastases were established in the model mice (15–17 days), they were intraperitoneally administered weekly doses of human immunoglobulin G (HuIgG) or bevacizumab. Nluc activity in the brain was significantly lower in bevacizumab-treated mice than in HuIgG-treated mice. Additionally, bevacizumab concentration in the brain was higher in mice with brain metastasis than in normal mice, and bevacizumab was primarily observed in brain metastasis lesions. The microvessel density in brain metastasis was lower in bevacizumab-treated mice than in HuIgG-treated mice. We believe bevacizumab’s anti-proliferative effect on brain metastasis is due to anti-angiogenic activity achieved by its penetration into brain metastases; this suggests that a bevacizumab-containing regimen may be a promising treatment option for patients with NSCLC brain metastasis.
Formalizing Kant’s Rules
Authors: Evans R. , Sergot M. , Stephenson A.
Published: November 2019

This paper formalizes part of the cognitive architecture that Kant develops in theCritique of Pure Reason. The central Kantian notion that we formalize is therule. As we interpret Kant, a rule is not a declarative conditional stating what would be true if such and such conditions hold. Rather, a Kantian rule is a general procedure, represented by a conditional imperative or permissive, indicatingwhich acts must or may be performed, given certain acts that are already being performed. These acts are not propositions; they do not have truth-values. Our formalization is related to the input/ output logics, a family of logics designed to capture relations between elements that need not have truth-values. In this paper, we introduce KL3as a formalization of Kant’s conception of rules as conditional imperatives and permissives. We explain how it differs from standard input/output logics, geometric logic, and first-order logic, as well as how it translates natural language sentences not well captured by first-order logic. Finally, we show how the various distinctions in Kant’s much-maligned Table of Judgements emerge as the most natural way of dividing up the various types and sub-types of rule in KL3. Our analysis sheds new light on the way in which normative notions play a fundamental role in the conception of logic at the heart of Kant’s theoretical philosophy.
The future of barriers and trapping methods in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control program in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors: Miehls Scott , Sullivan Paul , Twohey Michael , Barber Jessica , McDonald Rodney
Published: November 2019

A major duty of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), created in 1955, was the development a program of eradication or management of sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes for the protection of the Great Lakes fishery. Beginning in the 1980s the GLFC shifted sea lamprey control to an integrated pest management model seeking to deploy control measures which target multiple life stages. Currently control efforts focus on limiting the area of infestation using barriers to migratory adults and eradication of larvae from streams using selective pesticides. Feedback on program effectiveness is obtained by trapping migratory adult lamprey at a series of index sites around the basin. The GLFC continues to support multiple research initiatives to develop additional control, improve current control measures, and further advance the sea lamprey control program. During the past six decades sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes has evolved as the research program has identified technological advances. Here we summarize the current state and recent advancements for two of the sea lamprey control program’s core elements, barriers and traps, highlight challenges to be addressed to continue the advancement of these program elements, and provide a series of research questions to spur interest within the research community. Further, because considerable information about these program elements is scattered among grey literature and technical reports, we summarize the history of barriers and traps in sea lamprey control in the included appendices to provide relevant program background to anyone interested in pursuing these research topics.