bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chest infection within 30 days of acute stroke, associated factors, survival and the benefits of stroke unit care: Analysis using linked data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry
Authors: Chapman Chantelle , Cadilhac Dominique A , Morgan Prue , Kilkenny Monique F , Grimley Rohan , Sundararajan Vijaya , Purvis Tara , Johnston Trisha , Lannin Natasha A , Andrew Nadine E
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Chest infections following acute stroke contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate factors associated with chest infections that occur within 30 days of stroke, the impact on 90-day survival, and the role of stroke unit care.

Methods

Patient-level data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (2010–13; 23 Queensland hospitals), were linked with Queensland hospital admission, emergency department (ED), and national death registry data. Acute chest infections were determined using ICD-10 codes from the stroke admission, hospital readmissions, ED contacts, and cause of death data. Patients aged ≥18 years without a prior stroke or chronic respiratory condition were included. Multilevel (hospital and patient) multivariable regression and survival analysis were used to identify associated factors and the influence on 90-day survival.

Results

Overall, 3149 patients (77% ischemic stroke, 47% female, median age 74 years) were included; 3.1% developed a chest infection within 30 days. Associated factors included: admission to intensive care (OR: 8.26, 95% CI: 4.07, 16.76); and urinary tract infection (OR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.89, 5.04). Patients not treated in stroke units had a two-fold greater odds of chest infections (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.05). Chest infection afforded a greater hazard of death at 90 days (HR: 1.42, 95% CI 1.04, 1.93). This was reduced for those admitted to a stroke unit (HR: 1.31, 95% CI 0.99, 1.75).

Conclusion

Results emphasize the need for active prevention and highlight the importance of stroke unit care in mitigating risk and improving survival in those with stroke-related chest infections.
Agenda divergence in a developing conflict: Quantitative evidence from Ukrainian and Russian TV newsfeeds
Authors: Koltsova Olessia , Pashakhin Sergei
Published: February 2019

Although conflict representation in media has been widely studied, few attempts have been made to perform large-scale comparisons of agendas in the media of conflicting parties, especially for armed country-level confrontations. In this article, the authors introduce quantitative evidence of agenda divergence between the media of conflicting parties in the course of the Ukrainian crisis 2013–2014. Using 45,000 messages from the online newsfeeds of a Russian and a Ukrainian TV channel, they perform topic modelling coupled with qualitative analysis to reveal crisis-related topics, assess their salience and map evolution of attention of both channels to each of those topics. They find that the two channels produce fundamentally different agenda sequences. Based on the Ukrainian case, they offer a typology of conflict media coverage stages.
It’s About Time: Readiness, Commitment, and Stability in Close Relationships
Authors: Agnew Christopher R. , Hadden Benjamin W. , Tan Kenneth
Published: February 2019

Timing matters in relationships. People vary in their sense of when they think the time is right to be involved in a committed relationship. We propose and examine the construct of commitment readiness and its role in predicting important relationship outcomes including commitment level, maintenance processes, and stability among involved intimates. Data from five independent samples obtained with various methods revealed, as hypothesized, that readiness (a) predicts commitment, maintenance processes, and actions toward ending a relationship; (b) serves to moderate commitment in predicting maintenance processes (self-disclosure, accommodation, sacrifice); and (c) serves to moderate commitment in predicting leave behavior, with those reporting both higher commitment and higher readiness being more likely to enact maintenance behaviors and least likely to enact leave behavior. We discuss the importance of considering one’s readiness for commitment within ongoing involvements.
Dysfunctional devices in the classroom meet the habitus of the new
Authors: Johnson Nicola F
Published: February 2019

New media has enabled users to informally learn, consume, create and produce in many different ways and forms at (almost) any time. In 2013, Papacharissi and Easton further theorised Bourdieu’s notion of habitus to embrace new media in the 21st century, coining ‘habitus of the new’ focusing on the novelty and practices surrounding new media. This article explores the digital practices inside of school, and the ways young people use new media on their digital devices (including their smartphones). The article points to some dysfunctional practices that practically occur when endeavouring to incorporate these individual devices for learning purposes. Drawing upon a large study utilising ethnographic studies of three public secondary schools located in the state of Victoria, Australia, I provide four vignettes highlighting how and when students used their digital devices for learning, leisure, and social interaction, performing the habitus of the new, and working around teacher directives.
Artificial intelligence in radiology: friend or foe? Where are we now and where are we heading?
Authors: Pakdemirli Emre
Published: February 2019

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has been rapidly progressing in medicine, particularly in radiology. AI has also been the source of great innovation and a prominent topic of discussion within radiology societies and ground-breaking research in recent years.

Despite the risks and quality assurance issues involved in AI, it offers tremendous opportunities for changing how radiological services are delivered. Moreover, it is conceivable that AI could become a reliable, hard-working friend to the radiologist rather than a foe, in addition to being a useful training tool for radiologist trainees.
Influence of Pitching Release Location on Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Risk Among Major League Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Portney Daniel A. , Buchler Lucas T. , Lazaroff Jake M. , Gryzlo Stephen M. , Saltzman Matthew D.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction is a common procedure performed among Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers. The etiology of UCL injury is complex and is not entirely understood.

Hypothesis:

To better understand risk factors for requiring UCL reconstruction, we hypothesized that pitchers who eventually undergo the procedure will exhibit different throwing mechanics as measured by pitch-tracking data points, such as velocity and release location.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Pitch-tracking and demographic data were gathered for 140 MLB pitchers who had undergone UCL reconstruction between the 2010 and 2017 seasons. Pitch type, release location, and velocity were compared between the surgical cohort and a matched-control cohort.

Results:

When compared with controls, the mean pitch release location for pitchers who required UCL reconstruction was 12.2 cm more lateral in the year immediately preceding surgery ( P = .001). Furthermore, within the surgical cohort, the horizontal release location was 3.4 cm more lateral immediately preceding surgery compared with 2 years earlier ( P = .036). Binary logistic regression indicated an odds ratio of 0.51, suggesting a roughly 5% increased odds of UCL reconstruction for every 10 cm of increased lateral release location ( P = .048). Both the surgical and the control cohorts threw similar rates of fastballs and had similar mean pitch velocity and fastball velocity. Control pitchers displayed a significant decrease over time in mean pitch velocity ( P = .005) and mean fastball velocity, while pitchers in the UCL reconstruction cohort did not ( P = .012).

Conclusion:

Pitch tracking indicates that the mean release point is more lateral in pitchers preceding UCL reconstruction as compared with controls, suggesting that a more lateral pitch release location is an independent risk factor for UCL injury and reconstruction.
Can Tele-Health Support Self-Care and Empowerment? A Qualitative Study of Hip Fracture Patients’ Experiences With Testing an “App”
Authors: Jensen Charlotte M. , Overgaard Soren , Wiil Uffe Kock , Clemensen Jane
Published: February 2019

Telemedicine or tele-health is increasingly used to help meet challenges in health care linked to demographic changes and an aging population. This study aimed to investigate whether a tele-health solution, an “app” presented on a tablet, can assist patients in their recovery following a hip fracture and accommodate individual learning and health literacy needs to support them in self-care and empowerment. Twenty patients with a hip fracture were informed and educated using an app during hospital admission and for 3 to 4 weeks after discharge. A qualitative approach employed field observation and individual interviews with patients and their relatives. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Patients found that the app supported their ability to perform self-care and their desire for autonomy. They would not have downloaded the app by themselves but found the use of the app presented on a tablet very supportive in their everyday life while rehabilitating after a hip fracture. Findings indicate that health-care professionals can support information and education for patients with a hip fracture using an app that accommodates different learning styles. This demonstrates that apps used for the dissemination of health knowledge can be used by elderly hip fracture patients even if they are not used to technology.
Can Equalizing Educational Endowments Between Men and Women Create More Female Self-employed Value in Nigeria?
Authors: Olarewaju Tolu I. A.
Published: February 2019

This article empirically investigates if women would be able to create more self-employed value if they had the same educational endowments as men in the unique gender disparity context of Nigeria. The article uses probit and Blinder–Oaxaca multivariate decomposition models to empirically conduct this analysis in a developing country taking advantage of two rounds of survey data. The analysis confirms that women would be able to create more self-employed value, particularly higher education self-employed value, if they had the same educational endowments as men. The article also highlights why gender parity does not exist in Nigeria and emphasizes the benefits of gender parity in this context.
Ocular Venous Air Embolism (OVAE): A Review
Authors: Morris Robert E. , Boyd Gwendolyn L. , Sapp Mathew R. , Oltmanns Matthew H. , Kuhn Ferenc , Albin Maurice S.
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to review and analyze reported cases of ocular venous air embolism (OVAE) to develop a reliable clinical definition of OVAE and effective prevention strategies.

Methods:

We reviewed all reports of suspected air embolism during vitrectomy published in PubMed since the introduction of pars plana vitrectomy, and 5 cases found elsewhere and separately reported concurrent with this review.

Results:

OVAE is a precipitous drop in end-tidal CO2, a choroidal detachment, or a choroidal wound, followed by signs of impending or actual cardiovascular collapse, during vitrectomy air infusion. In each case meeting the above clinical definition, entrained air was found whenever it was sought (8/8, 100%), either by antemortem imaging or postmortem forensic investigations. Most OVAE cases were fatal (9/13, 69%), with 8 of 9 deaths (89%) occurring the day of surgery.

Conclusions:

OVEA is a rare but usually fatal complication of air infusion into the eye during vitrectomy. Although received with skepticism when first reported (2005), OVAE may be the most lethal type of surgical air embolization because of its high entrainment pressure and proximity to the heart. Because the effective response time to avoid a fatal OVAE outcome can be less than 1 minute, use of preventive measures is critical—most notably a “time out” before air infusion to confirm infusion cannula positioning, and immediate cessation of air infusion if choroidal detachment is detected.
Surgical Resection and Pazopanib Treatment for Recurrent Cardiac Angiosarcoma
Authors: Nakamura Yuki , Toda Koichi , Miyagawa Shigeru , Yoshikawa Yasushi , Hata Hiroki , Domae Keitaro , Matsuura Ryohei , Sawa Yoshiki
Published: February 2019

Cardiac sarcoma treatment is challenging for surgeons because of frequent tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. In addition, optimal management of recurrences is not well established. The multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pazopanib, was recently approved for soft-tissue sarcoma. Herein, we present a case involving recurrent cardiac angiosarcoma where the patient survived for 2 years with complete remission of disease after repeated surgical resection and treatment with oral pazopanib. Based on our experience, aggressive surgical resection combined with pazopanib may be a valid treatment for recurrent cardiac angiosarcoma to improve patient survival.
dStruct: identifying differentially reactive regions from RNA structurome profiling data
Authors: Choudhary Krishna , Lai Yu-Hsuan , Tran Elizabeth J. , Aviran Sharon
Published: February 2019

RNA biology is revolutionized by recent developments of diverse high-throughput technologies for transcriptome-wide profiling of molecular RNA structures. RNA structurome profiling data can be used to identify differentially structured regions between groups of samples. Existing methods are limited in scope to specific technologies and/or do not account for biological variation. Here, we present dStruct which is the first broadly applicable method for differential analysis accounting for biological variation in structurome profiling data. dStruct is compatible with diverse profiling technologies, is validated with experimental data and simulations, and outperforms existing methods.
Longitudinal data on parental religious behaviour and beliefs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Authors: Iles-Caven Yasmin , Gregory Steven , Northstone Kate , Golding Jean
Published: February 2019

There is evidence that, in general, the West is becoming more secular. Religious belief has been shown in some studies to positively impact on outcomes such as coping with serious illness and other life events and general well-being. In this paper, we describe the data collected from parents enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) on their religious behaviour and beliefs on three occasions. These data are available for researchers to use in association with other longitudinally collected data on social, biological, genetic and epigenetic features of this culturally largely protestant Christian population. Data were collected antenatally and then subsequently at 5 and 9 years post-delivery from self-completion questionnaires completed by each parent independently.  Strong sex differences (all P<0.001) were noted regarding religious beliefs and behaviour: for example, 49.9% of women stated that they believed in God or some divine being compared with 37% of men. Almost twice as many men (28.6%) than women (14.9%) declared they were atheists. Men were less likely to have stated that they had been helped by a divine presence; to appeal to God if they were in trouble, to attend religious services or obtain help from members of religious groups. Among the 6256 women and 2355 men who answered the questions at all three time points, there was evidence of a slight reduction in professed belief and a slight increase in the proportion stating that they were atheists. Information is available from this resource, which is rich in data on the environment, traumatic incidents, health and genetic background. It can be used for research into various aspects of the antecedents and consequences of religious belief and behaviour.
Personal management
Authors: Резник Семен , Reznik Semen , Бондаренко Владимир , Bondarenko Vladimir , Чемезов Игорь , Chyemyezov Igor
Published: February 2019

History, essence and content of personal management, management of own career, organization of working time and technologies of planning of personal work of the head, information and communication support, ways of rationalization of managerial work, efficiency and personal self-control in work of the Manager are considered.
The textbook was prepared by an interregional team of authors-teachers of universities included in The educational and methodical Association for education in the field of management. The textbook became the winner of the competition for the best scientific book in 2004, held by the Foundation for education development.
For students enrolled in the field of training "Management". It can be used by students of other economic and technical specialties.
W poszukiwaniu tzw. centrum toponimii (wczesno)słowiańskiej – przypadek ziem polskich. Cz. I
Authors: Babik Zbigniew
Published: February 2019

This two-part paper presents the theoretical assumptions, and gives an account of the current progress of a Slavistic appendix which is being prepared by the present author for an as yet unwritten Dictionary of Polish topolexemes, an attempt to inventory and describe the entire lexical deposit of potentially Proto-Slavic origin contained in Polish place and terrain names. The aim of this research is to determine, based on the varying degree of its preservation in the toponymy of different regions, the place where Proto-Slavic vocabulary was formed. The first part presents the history of research together with a criticism of previous attempts, and explains the main methodological rules, focusing on the reconstruction of words which are not attested in Polish as appellatives. It also discusses the state of the source base, and problems which arise during work with various types of Polish toponomastic sources.
Gramatyka historyczna języka polskiego Witolda Mańczaka na tle innych podręczników akademickich
Authors: Kleszczowa Krystyna
Published: February 2019

Professor Witold Mańczak authored many academic textbooks, mostly concerning Romance languages, but also a historical grammar of Polish. This textbook focuses on the interpretation of linguistic, phonetic and morphological changes and on their subordination to general laws of language. According to Professor Mańczak, laws apply to all or the majority of languages; regularities observed in a single language can be granted no higher status than that of rules. Mańczak viewed laws as residing on a very high level of generalization, and he believed their verifiability lies in statistical circumstances. He wrote that linguistic problems should be formulated in such a way that they can be solved using statistics; those that cannot be solved using statistics are not worth the consideration. He saw the development of linguistics as tied to the progress in electronics. Professor Mańczak was an individuality in Polish linguistics who did not follow the linguistic fashion; he was never a structuralist and all the more a cognitivist. But it transpires that he was also an individuality in academic teaching. This author inferred his stance by delving into the specificity of the textbooks he authored: an Italian, French, and Spanish textbook, but also historical grammars of French and Polish.
Transitional foreign policy: actors, institutions and norms
Authors: Moreira Diogo
Published: February 2019

Foreign policy analysis (FPA) has traditionally focused its attention in consolidated political regimes, either democratic or autocratic, thus leaving the study of transitional regimes almost exclusively to comparative politics. This study attempts to counter that trend by demonstrating that a conceptual study of foreign policy decision-making during regime transitions is possible if part of the elements of some of the tools of analysis utilized by FPA are altered, specifically the decision units framework' (Hermann and Hermann 1989). We plan on utilizing the recent innovations in political sociology on the nature of the state (Mann 1993) and its differentiation from the regime (Mazzuca 2003), the state crisis methodology applied recently to popular mobilization under democratic transitions (Duran 2001), as well as the traditional theoretical models of regime transition (e.g. Linz and Stepan 1996; Schmitter, O'Donnell and Whitehead 1986), in helping to study the formulation and implementation of foreign policy decisions during the Portuguese regime transition (1974-76) that started the third wave of democratization.
Pengaruh motivasi konsumen, sikap konsumen, dan persepsi terhadap pemilihan lembaga Arva School of Fashion Surabaya
Authors: Ismiar Rosida Ajeng Lailil
Published: February 2019

Salah satu persaingan usaha yang semakin ketat dan saling bersaing, dapat menimbulkan perilaku konsumen dalam mengambil keputusan untuk membeli suatu produk. Selain itu, dengan perkembangan jaman yang membuat teknologi semakin canggih dan dinamis, konsumen atau dituntut dengan cepat dan tidak salah untuk bertindak agar tidak kalah bersaing dengan konsumen yang lain. Begitu pula pada sektor garment atau konveksi, dimana setiap pengelola garment atau konveksi akan selalu berpikir dan melakukan inovasi untuk bersaing dan lebih baik.Para pelaku bisnis garment juga memilih tempat belajar untuk mendalami teknik dan teori tentang perkembangan dunia fashion. Hal itulah yang membuat para pelaku di bidang fashion untuk terus belajar dan menggali potensinya lebih banyak lagi mengembangkan  bisnisnya. Salah satu cara mereka adalah dengan mengikuti kursus atau belajar di lembaga Arva School of Fashion Surabaya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh perilaku konsumen yang meliputi motivasi konsumen, sikap konsumen, dan persepsi terhadap keputusan pemilihan Arva School of Fashion Surabaya. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa dan alumni Arva School of Fashion Surabaya dengan sampel sebanyak 130 orang responden yang rata-rata mereka berdomisili sekitar Surabaya. Teknik analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis deskriptif dan analisis regresi linier berganda untuk menguji motivasi konsumen, sikap konsumen, dan persepsi  yang signifikan baik secara simultan maupun parsial terhadap keputusan siswa dan alumni memilih Arva School of Fashion Surabaya. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian statistik, menunjukkan bahwa variabel motivasi konsumen, sikap konsumen, dan persepsi secara bersama-sama mempengaruhi keputusan pemilihan Arva. Selain itu, motivasi konsumen, sikap konsumen, dan persepsi secara parsial berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keputuan pemilihan Arva.
Mengelola kinerja bisnis UMKM: Peran diferensiasi asosiatif dan keunggulan posisional diferensiatif
Authors: Sitaniapessy Rainier Hendrik
Published: February 2019

Penelitian ini bermula dari adanya kesenjangan penelitian hubungan antara inovasi proses dan kinerja bisnis. Dari kesenjangan penelitian tersebut maka penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan model teoritikal baru dengan mengembangkan konstruk diferensiasi asosiatif  yang berupaya untuk menyelesaikan kesenjangan hubungan inovasi proses dan kinerja bisnis tersebut.  Sampel sejumlah 166 UMKM Batik yang berada di Indonesia (Pekalongan,  Solo, DI Yogya)  dengan menggunakan teknik analisis Struktural equation modeling (SEM). Hasil menunjukan bahwa inovasi proses (IP)  berpengaruh signifikan terhadap diferensiasi asosiatif  (DA) serta diferensiasi asosiatif (DA) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keunggulan posisional diferensiatif (KPD) yang pada akhirnya meningkatkan kinerja bisnis.(KB). Hasil lain yang mengejutkan adalah kualitas posisioning produk (KP) berpengaruh positif tapi tidak signifikan terhadap diferensiasi asosiatif (DA) serta diferensiasi asosiatif (DA) bepengauh positif tetapi  tidak signifikan terhadap kinerja bisnis (KB).
El pediatra en la encrucijada. La atención de los neonatos extremadamente pequeños: problemas éticos en la sala de partos
Authors: Duro Eduardo Alfredo , Sotomayor María Angélica , Niño Moya Rosa , Sorokin Patricia
Published: February 2019

Los dilemas éticos no son nuevos en la medicina perinatal. Aún frente a las nuevas técnicas y avances en el cuidado de la madre gestante, los pediatras se encuentran frente a niños extremadamente pequeños, en el límite de las posibilidades de sobrevida postnatal. Con padres informados de los riesgos de las secuelas graves en estos niños y con la decisión de los padres de continuar o no la asistencia, las decisiones éticas se plantean en la sala de partos. Allí el pediatra junto a los progenitores debe tomar decisiones según la mejor evidencia disponible y el enfoque ético que se establece sobre las relaciones, en lugar de enfatizar la autonomía, privilegia en gran medida la compasión frente a los seres humanos protagonistas.
Análisis hermenéutico de los dilemas bioéticos en la atención médica de los adolescentes en México
Authors: Ordonez-Azuara Yeyetsy , Rodríguez Alanís Martha Marcela , Gutiérrez Herrera Raúl Fernando , Aguilera Portales Rafael , López Cabrera Norma Guadalupe
Published: February 2019

A través de un análisis cualitativo de contenido bioético y biojurídico desde la hermenéutica crítica e interpretación de textos, logramos el objetivo de identificar los dilemas bioéticos que confronta el profesional de la salud durante la atención médica al adolescente y los elementos para su resolución, estableciendo que los dilemas son inherentes a la vulneración de la confidencialidad del adolescente por la presencia de un tercero, a la toma de decisiones de tres actores en una relación médico-paciente adolescente y a la actitud del profesional de la salud ante situaciones que implican juicios de legalidad, en el acto médico.
The nature of minority languages: insights from Scotland
Authors: McLeod Wilson
Published: February 2019

The Gaelic language in Scotland presents a useful case study for the conceptualisation of minority languages. A key issue has been the extent to which Gaelic is understood as belonging to a discrete minority within Scotland and a bounded territory in the northwest of the country, or as a national language of significance to all of Scotland. Using the most obvious, demographic criterion, Gaelic is an extremely minoritised language, now spoken by barely 1.1 % of Scotland's population, and not spoken by a majority for at least five hundred years. Yet Gaelic was formerly the principal language of the Scottish kingdom, until processes of minoritisation began in the twelfth century. The concept of Gaelic as Scotland’s ‘true’ national language has been retained and refined, but co-exists with other interpretations that see Gaelic as belonging only to the territory that retained Gaelic after language shift occurred elsewhere. In recent decades, revitalisation initiatives (loosely connected with growing awareness of Scottish cultural distinctiveness and moves towards self-government) have promoted Gaelic as a language of national significance, an important resource for all Scots. Contemporary government policies advance this understanding even as speaker numbers continue to decline and many Scots view Gaelic as distant or irrelevant.
A semi-empirical integrated microring cavity approach for 2D material optical index identification at 1.55 μm
Authors: Maiti Rishi , Hemnani Rohit A. , Amin Rubab , Ma Zhizhen , Tahersima Mohammad H. , Empante Tom A. , Dalir Hamed , Agarwal Ritesh , Bartels Ludwig , Sorger Volker J.
Published: February 2019

Atomically thin 2D materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) provide a wide range of basic building blocks with unique properties, making them ideal for heterogeneous integration with a mature chip platform for advances in optical communication technology. The control and understanding of the precise value of the optical index of these materials, however, is challenging, as the standard metrology techniques such as the millimeter-large ellipsometry is often not usable due the small lateral 2D material flake dimension. Here, we demonstrate an approach of passive tunable coupling by integrating few layers of MoTe2 onto a microring resonator connected to a waveguide bus. We find the TMD-to-ring circumference coverage length ratio required to precisely place the ring into a critical coupling condition to be about 10% as determined from the variation of spectral resonance visibility and loss as a function of TMD coverage. Using this TMD-ring heterostructure, we further demonstrate a semiempirical method to determine the index of a 2D material (n
MoTe2 of 4.36+0.011i) near telecommunication-relevant wavelength. The placement, control, and optical property understanding of 2D materials with integrated photonics pave the way for further studies of active 2D material-based optoelectronics and circuits.
Quantum Chemical and Electrochemical Evaluation of Alkyl Phosphine Oxide in Corrosion Inhibition of Carbon Steel in Formation Water
Authors: Nour A. M. Abdel , Negm N. A. , Sayed G. H. , Tawfik S. M. , Badr E. A.
Published: February 2019

In this study, quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations studies of a series of five nonionic surfactants namely: dimethyl alkyl phosphine oxide surfactants (C10-18PO) containing decyl, dodecyl-, tetradecyl-, hexadecyl-, and octadecyl alkyl chains were implemented using the density functional theory (DFT) method to interpret the correlation between the inhibition efficiency and the molecular structure of the different inhibitors in formation water. The global quantities including: highest occupied molecular orbital energy (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (LUMO), energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ), total energy (TE), ionization potential (I), electron affinity (A), electronegativity (χ), chemical potential (π), global hardness (η), global softness (σ), global electrophilicity (ω), polarizabilities <α> and fraction of electrons transferred (ΔN) were calculated for the different inhibitors in formation water. The dependence of surface activities of the nonionic surfactants on the alkyl chain length was studied in distilled water. The surface activities and surface parameters of the studied surfactants were described using: surface tension and interfacial tension measurements. The determined surface parameters of the studied surfactants were surface tension, critical micelle concentration, effectiveness, efficiency, maximum surface excess and minimum surface area at 25 °C. The thermodynamic evaluation of the surfactants was performed by calculating the standard free energies of micellization and adsorption. The structure-corrosion inhibition performance was estimated using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance measurements and quantum chemical studies at 25 °C in true sample formation water.
Sleep Quality and Quantity of International Rugby Sevens Players During Pre-season
Authors: Leduc Cédric , Jones Ben , Robineau Julien , Piscione Julien , Lacome Mathieu
Published: February 2019

Leduc, C, Jones, B, Robineau, J, Piscione, J, and Lacome, M. Sleep quality and quantity of international rugby sevens players during pre-season. J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1878–1886, 2019—The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of training load on objective and subjective sleep measures among elite rugby sevens players during pre-season. Nine international male rugby sevens players participated in this study. Actigraphic and subjective sleep assessment were performed on a daily basis to measure sleep parameters. Training load was measured during the entire pre-season period, and sleep data from the highest and lowest training load week were used in the analysis through magnitude-based inferences. During the highest training load, likely to possibly small, moderate decreases in time in bed (effect sizes; ±90% confidence limits: −0.42; ±0.44 for session rating of perceived exertion [sRPE], −0.69; ±0.71 for total distance covered [TDC]) and total sleep time (−0.20; ±0.37 for sRPE, −0.23; ±0.35 for TDC) were found. Possibly small (−0.21; ±0.35 for high-speed distance, −0.52; ±0.73 for acceleration/deceleration [A/D]) and likely moderate (−074; ±0.67 for TDC) decreases were observed in subjective sleep quality. Possibly small to very likely moderate changes in sleep schedule were observed. Sleep quantity and subjective quality seem to be deteriorated during higher loads of training. This study highlights the necessity to monitor and improve sleep among elite rugby sevens players, especially for the intense period of training.
Effect of a Supplementary Periodized Complex Strength Training and Tapering Period on Postactivation Potentiation of Sport-Specific Explosive Performance in Adolescent National-Level Fencers
Authors: Kontochristopoulos Nikolaos , Bogdanis Gregory C. , Paradisis Giorgos , Tsolakis Charilaos
Published: February 2019

Kontochristopoulos, N, Bogdanis, GC, Paradisis, G, and Tsolakis, C. Effect of a supplementary periodized complex strength training and tapering period on postactivation potentiation of sport-specific explosive performance in adolescent national-level fencers. J Strength Cond Res 35(6): 1662–1670, 2021—This study examined the effects of strength training and tapering on countermovement jump (CMJ), change of direction (COD), and step-lunge (SL) after a conditioning activity in adolescent fencers. Twenty fencers (age: 15.8 ± 1.2 years) were randomly assigned to experimental (EXP, n = 10) group and control (CON, n = 10) group. EXP and CON groups performed 8 weeks of fencing training (4 times per week), while EXP group performed a supplementary strength training program twice per week, including a hypertrophy (first 2 weeks) and a complex strength training period (6 weeks). A 14-day tapering period with reduced training volume was then applied in both groups. Conditioning activity consisted of 3 × 3 seconds of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC; half-squat; knee angle = 90°), followed by either CMJ or COD or SL performance measurements in 3 different testing sessions 24 hours apart. There was no performance enhancement in all tests for both EXP and CON groups, after the conditioning MVIC before training (p > 0.05). After training, half-squat dynamic strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM]) was significantly increased only in the EXP group (from 74.8 ± 20.0 to 127.0 ± 28.9 kg, p = 0.001) and maintained after tapering. After tapering, baseline CMJ height was significantly increased only in the EXP group (from 27.2 ± 4.6 to 30.9 ± 3.8 cm, p = 0.003). Contrary to our hypothesis, the increase in 1RM and CMJ was not followed by a postactivation potentiation enhancement in all tests (p > 0.05), possibly because of the relatively low strength and jumping performance of fencers. Thus, adolescent high-level fencers do not exhibit a performance increase after MVIC, and this was not modified by the supplementary strength training protocol used.
Oxygenation Responses While Wearing the Elevation Training Mask During an Incremental Cycling Test
Authors: Romero-Arenas Salvador , López-Pérez Emilia , Colomer-Poveda David , Márquez Gonzalo
Published: February 2019

Romero-Arenas, S, López-Pérez, E, Colomer-Poveda, D, and Márquez, G. Oxygenation responses while wearing the elevation training mask during an incremental cycling test. J Strength Cond Res 35(7): 1897–1904, 2021—The Elevation Training Mask 2.0 (ETM) is a commercial training mask that purportedly simulates altitude training, although their effects have not been conclusively demonstrated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of wearing the ETM on muscle and brain oxygenation responses during a maximal incremental cycling test, as well as the influence of this device on the heart rate (HR) response, perception of effort (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), blood lactate (La+), and performance (POpeak). Fourteen active males completed an incremental cycling test to volitional exhaustion in 2 separate and counterbalanced conditions, wearing the mask set at 9,000 feet (i.e., 2743 m) and a control condition (CTR, without ETM). During the trial, muscle and cerebral oxygenation were monitored continuously using near-infrared spectroscopy. Heart rate, RPE, and SaO2 were also recorded from the beginning of the test until the volitional exhaustion. La+ was measured at the end of each test. Wearing the ETM significantly reduced the POpeak by −6.9 ± 6.6% (p = 0.002) and this was accompanied by lower La+ values (−12.8 ± 21.6%; p = 0.027). SaO2 was also significantly lower at maximal intensity in comparison with the CTR condition (−1.5 ± 0.3%; p = 0.028). However, both HR and RPE showed a similar trend during both sessions, as well as muscle oxygenation. Nevertheless, the mask caused an increase in brain oxygenation compared with the CTR condition (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that wearing the ETM causes a pronounced increase in O2Hb and tHb in the frontoparietal cortex without any change in the muscle oxygenation.
A Longitudinal Study of Identifying Critical Variables Influencing Patient Safety Culture from Nurses’ Viewpoints in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Yii-Ching , Huang Chih-Hsuan , Wu Cheng-Feng , Hsueh Hsiu-Wen , Wu Hsin-Hung
Published: February 2019

This study uses longitudinal data from a regional teaching hospital in Taiwan to analyze how nurses with different demographic variables perceive patient safety culture from 2010 to 2016. The results show that nurses with different demographic variables have different perceptions of patient safety from year to year. The supervisor/manager is the most essential variable influencing patient safety culture. Nurses who are supervisors/managers are more satisfied in six dimensions from 2010 to 2016. Experience in an organization is identified as the second essential variable to influence the patient safety culture. Nurses who have much experience in an organization tend to have higher satisfaction in five out of six dimensions of patient safety culture from 2012 to 2016 in general. In contrast, nurses who have less than six months of experience in an organization also have better perceptions. In summary, hospital management needs to pay attention to supervisor/manager and experience in an organization factors, both of which have significant impacts on patient safety culture from nurses’ viewpoints.
Microscopic Characteristics of Field Compaction of Asphalt Mixture Using Discrete Element Method
Authors: Liu Weidong , Gong Xing , Gao Ying , Li Limin
Published: February 2019

To investigate microscopic characteristics of the field compaction of asphalt pavement, a three-dimensional (3D) compaction model of asphalt pavement considering morphological characteristics of aggregate and temperature effect was established by distributed load and time equivalence principles using Particle Flow Code in Three Dimensions (PFC3D). The microscopic parameters of hot asphalt mixture were determined with a dynamic modulus test based on the time–temperature superposition principle. Aggregate motion, contact force, and the evolutional mechanism of energy were monitored during the virtual compaction process. This indicated that the motion displacement, angle, and stress are positively associated with load direction. It is necessary to select the proper plane angle with the load direction to evaluate the 3D motion of the aggregate with the two-dimensional (2D) plane angle. During the compaction process, the contact compressive force is mainly produced between aggregates, and the evolution laws of contact force and stress tensor can be used to reasonably interpret the aggregate motion within the asphalt mixture. Additionally, the work of external force, kinetic energy, and strain energy can be employed to precisely demonstrate energy conversion for the developed compaction model. Indexes including motion displacement and angle, contact force, and energy can reflect the microscopic characteristics of asphalt mixture during field compaction. It is rational and feasible to analyze microscopic behavior of asphalt pavement with the proposed pavement compaction model using the discrete element method (DEM). The DEM is a significant tool of investigation of microscopic characteristics of asphalt pavement.
Preoperative Statin Treatment Is Not Associated with Reduced Postoperative Mortality or Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Isolated Valve Surgery
Authors: Durand Michel , Machuron Caroline , Guillet Laura , Moury Pierre-Henri , Martin Cécile , Payen Jean-François , Chavanon Olivier , Albaladejo Pierre
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that statin use before coronary surgery decreases the mortality and morbidity. This benefit was not clearly detected in isolated valve surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preoperative statin therapy on postoperative complications and mortality in a large group of patients undergoing valve surgery.
Patients, Materials, and Methods: The data of consecutive patients undergoing isolated valve replacement during an 8-year period were retrospectively reviewed from a prospective database. Mortality was compared between the patients who received preoperative statin (statin group [SG]) and those who did not receive statin (control group [CG]) after adjustment on EuroSCORE. Main postoperative complications and mortality were compared between the 2 groups by using a propensity score analysis.
Results: During the study period, 1115 patients were prospectively included, 796 in the CG group and 319 in the SG. The SG patients were significantly older, had more cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, and weight) than the CG patients, and benefited from more elective surgery or aortic valve replacement. No difference in mortality was found between the groups: 4.4% in the SG and 4.5% in the CG, P = .95. Multivariate analysis also revealed no effect of statin on mortality, according to the type of surgery (aortic valve surgery alone or any kind of valve surgery) (P = .93), or the elective or urgent nature of the surgery (P = .67). Statin did not predict mortality after stratification with the EuroSCORE or the Parsonnet score. No difference was found between the 2 groups for postoperative complications (24-hour bleeding, atrial fibrillation, renal failure, length of mechanical ventilation, or hospital stay) and mortality after adjustment with a propensity score.
Discussion: This study found no difference in mortality or morbidity associated with preoperative statin therapy after isolated valve surgery.
Fast Estimation of Recombination Rates Using Topological Data Analysis
Authors: Humphreys Devon P , McGuirl Melissa R , Miyagi Miriam , Blumberg Andrew J
Published: February 2019

Accurate estimation of recombination rates is critical for studying the origins and maintenance of genetic diversity. Because the inference of recombination rates under a full evolutionary model is computationally expensive, we developed an alternative approach using topological data analysis (TDA) on genome sequences. We find that this method can analyze datasets larger than what can be handled by any existing recombination inference software, and has accuracy comparable to commonly used model-based methods with significantly less processing time. Previous TDA methods used information contained solely in the first Betti number (β1) of a set of genomes, which aims to capture the number of loops that can be detected within a genealogy. These explorations have proven difficult to connect to the theory of the underlying biological process of recombination, and, consequently, have unpredictable behavior under perturbations of the data. We introduce a new topological feature, which we call ψ, with a natural connection to coalescent models, and present novel arguments relating β1 to population genetic models. Using simulations, we show that ψ and β1 are differentially affected by missing data, and package our approach as TREE (Topological Recombination Estimator). TREE’s efficiency and accuracy make it well suited as a first-pass estimator of recombination rate heterogeneity or hotspots throughout the genome. Our work empirically and theoretically justifies the use of topological statistics as summaries of genome sequences and describes a new, unintuitive relationship between topological features of the distribution of sequence data and the footprint of recombination on genomes.
Estudio de la movilidad peatonal en un centro urbano: un caso en Costa Rica
Authors: Fernández-Garza Ana , Hernández-Vega Henry
Published: February 2019

Se analizó la movilidad peatonal en el centro urbano del distrito de Guadalupe de Goicoechea en San José, Costa Rica; el cual incluye: la caracterización de los usuarios y sus flujos, el volumen peatonal y los niveles de servicio peatonal en las aceras estudiadas. Se obtuvieron los volúmenes peatonales mediante contadores automáticos, además se realizaron conteos manuales para evaluar el desempeño del equipo utilizado. Se efectuó una encuesta con el propósito de caracterizar a los usuarios y sus viajes y conocer la percepción acerca de la infraestructura peatonal. El estudio muestra que la población peatonal es muy diversa, aun así, se pueden observar comportamientos como: la disminución en el número de peatones conforme aumenta la edad de la población encuestada después de los 55 años. Los peatones usualmente caminan en la zona de estudio entre cinco y 35 minutos (distancias cortas), un 79 % de los viajes caminado son intermodales siendo el bus el principal modo de transporte relacionado con la movilidad peatonal en el sector. El Tráfico Promedio Diario Semanal (TPDS) para la zona en estudio se encuentra entre los 170 y los 6 517 peatones por día. Las aceras permiten el flujo de peatones que transitan por esta, obteniendo un nivel de servicio peatonal adecuado de acuerdo a los análisis de capacidad realizados.
Dinámica de uso de suelo y sitios prioritarios para la restauración forestal del Corredor Biológico Río Tibás, Costa Rica.
Authors: Calvo-Villalobos Jossy Esteban , Bermúdez-Rojas Tania , Vega-Bolaños Hannia
Published: February 2019

Se evaluaron elementos paisajísticos (uso de suelo, vías de acceso, pendientes y fragilidad ambiental) y tendencias de uso de suelo durante el periodo 2005-2016 en el área propuesta para el Corredor Biológico Río Tibás (CBRT). A partir de ellos, se aplicó una metodología de selección de sitios prioritarios (SP) para la restauración de cobertura vegetal, y se realizó un diagnóstico social para valorar la percepción y anuencia de sus respectivos propietarios. El CBRT posee una distribución casi equitativa entre el uso urbano, agropecuario y natural, con una concentración importante de cobertura boscosa en su zona alta. No obstante, en 11 años ha experimentado un proceso de urbanización hasta tres veces más acelerado que otras zonas de la región, siendo los usos agropecuarios los más vulnerables al cambio. La aplicación de la metodología delimitó 20 SP de manejo, de los cuales, en 10 se realizó el diagnóstico social. El 94 % de los propietarios están anuentes a la restauración, motivados, principalmente, por la conservación del agua, biodiversidad y paisaje.
Territorio comunal: acuerdos locales para el aprovechamiento del bosque en la comunidad indígena de San Juan Pamatácuaro, México.
Authors: Sandoval-Contreras Rigoberto
Published: February 2019

Este artículo aborda los acuerdos locales que norman y regulan el aprovechamiento del bosque en la comunidad indígena de San Juan Pamatácuaro en el Estado de Michoacán México, el cual goza de un territorio prácticamente cubierto de bosque templado, mismo que está dividido en dos extensiones: las parcelas y el área de uso común. Cabe decir, que hay escasos espacios destinados al uso agrícola. Los comuneros tienen derecho a una parcela para la extracción de madera y así obtener ingresos para el sustento de la familia, es parte de los acuerdos que se conforman a partir de un sistema normativo de usos y costumbres que determinan la organización del territorio y de la comunidad en aspectos como: la familia, el trabajo maderero, proyectos productivos, entre otros. El trabajo de campo y observaciones desde marco conceptual fortaleció el análisis y desarrollo de la investigación.