bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Proliferative Sickle Retinopathy: A Case Series
Authors: Cai Cindy X. , Linz Marguerite O. , Scott Adrienne W.
Published: November 2017

Purpose:

To report outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy for proliferative sickle retinopathy (PSR).

Methods:

A retrospective, interventional case series. Five eyes of 5 patients with PSR were managed with intravitreal bevacizumab therapy over a 13-year period at a single institution.

Results:

Four patients had sickle cell-hemoglobin SC disease and 1 had sickle cell-beta thalassemia disease. Four of the patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection were treated for recurrent vitreous hemorrhage and 1 was treated for new peripheral sea fan neovascularization. In those patients treated for vitreous hemorrhage, there was improvement in visual acuity as early as 2 weeks after treatment. Only 2 of the patients had documented recurrent vitreous hemorrhage during the period of follow-up after the initial injection. In 1 patient, the vitreous hemorrhage did not recur until 13 months after the injection. All patients showed an anatomic response to intravitreal bevacizumab therapy with partial regression of the peripheral sea fan neovascularization. All patients tolerated the injections without any complications.

Conclusions:

Intravitreal bevacizumab injections appear to be well tolerated and may be an effective treatment of PSR. Regression of peripheral sea fan neovascularization and decreased duration of vitreous hemorrhage may be observed. Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to further clarify the role of bevacizumab in PSR.
Editorial: Resolving herpes-induced, ocular pathology: can fish oil really do that?
Authors: St. Leger Anthony J
Published: November 2017

Discussion on how resolvins, a derivative of fatty acids from fish oil, can alleviate pathology associated with ocular HSV-1 infection.
Seismic-scale petrophysical interpretation and gas-volume estimation from simultaneous impedance inversion
Authors: Wollner Uri , Arevalo-Lopez Humberto , Dvorkin Jack
Published: November 2017

Simultaneous impedance inversion was performed to obtain the seismic-scale P- and S-wave impedances as well as the bulk density volumes from seismic angle stacks at a siliciclastic turbidite offshore gas reservoir. To translate these variables into seismic-scale total porosity (φ), clay content, and water saturation (Sw), we used a deterministic rock-physics model established at the well. A crucial input into this model is the bulk modulus (Kf) of the brine/gas system. We need to link it to Sw at the seismic scale. This link can be one of simple mixing laws, such as harmonic and arithmetic. Alternately, it can be derived at the well by using upscaled variables and ensuring that they obey the well-data-driven rock-physics model. These different Kf-Sw relations produce different interpretations for φ and Sw thus allowing one to assess the variability in the estimates of the gas volume in place that is proportional to the product of φ and (1 − Sw).
Comparison of model-based generalized regression neural network and prestack inversion in predicting Poisson's ratio in Heidrun Field, North Sea
Authors: Keynejad Saba , Sbar Marc L. , Johnson Roy A.
Published: November 2017

Drilling wells in the oil and gas industry is a substantial process, whether they are appraisal wells drilled for reservoir-characteristic assessments at the exploration stage or production wells drilled following prior assessments. The challenge has always been to reduce drilling-related expenses and natural/environmental hazards by reducing the number of wells drilled, and to evaluate reservoir characteristics with as few calibration wells as possible. Physical and mathematical modeling of seismic data can help us understand the geologic and structural formations with minimal wells, and interpolate reservoir characteristics across large areas between a few drilled wells. In a new comparative approach, simultaneous prestack inversion and artificial neural network (ANN) methods are used to create 3D Poisson's ratio (PR) models built upon low-frequency initial models (IMs). Training the ANN on IMs similar to those used in the inversion has improved its performance while creating a valid base of comparison between the two methods. The inversion method was able to model the PR around four wells that had been used in creating the IMs. The generalized regression neural network that was trained on a PR IM, along with other seismic attributes, gave results that were consistent with the existing wells. The results of both methods confirm the existence of a strong relationship between PR and known hydrocarbon presence in these wells. However, examining the results with a blind well showed that the ANN was notably more successful than inversion in extrapolating the results beyond the logged sections in the wells and away from control wells. While this particular conclusion cannot be generalized, and the results obtained from the same methodology may vary from one reservoir to another, such results suggest that this procedure can become a robust part of a predrilling reservoir-evaluation phase in developing hydrocarbon fields.
Integration of computational stratigraphy models and seismic data for subsurface characterization
Authors: Amaru Maisha , Sun Tao , Goggin Lisa , Harris Ashley
Published: November 2017

Computational stratigraphy provides a method to model depositional and stratigraphic processes on a grain size scale while honoring physics-based flow dynamics. Using rock-physics equations and assumptions, these computational stratigraphy models can be converted to rock properties such as velocity and density. The rock-physics properties are in turn used to generate synthetic seismic data, which allow studying the seismic expression of stratigraphic features on different scales. These models and their application to existing hydrocarbon reservoirs can provide new insight into connectivity and other characteristics of subsurface reservoirs that are not provided by traditional reservoir-modeling approaches.
Schizophrenia — an anxiety disorder?
Authors: Hall Jeremy
Published: November 2017

Anxiety and affective symptoms are prominent features of schizophrenia which are often present in the prodromal phase of the illness and preceding psychotic relapses. A number of studies suggest that genetic risk for the disorder may be associated with increased anxiety long before the onset of psychotic symptoms. Targeting anxiety symptoms may represent an important strategy for primary and secondary prevention in schizophrenia.
Bortezomib Prescription Pattern for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma by Hematologists in Nigeria
Authors: Korubo Kaladada I. , Madu Anazoeze J. , Okoye Helen C. , Nwogoh Benedict
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Novel therapy has dramatically changed the outcome of patients with myeloma. Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines give bortezomib-based combinations a central role in the management of multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of this survey is to assess the use of bortezomib for the treatment of MM by hematologists practicing in Nigeria.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross-sectional observational survey. A structured, prevalidated questionnaire was self-administered to different cadres of hematologists. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 (IBM, Chicago, IL).

Results

There were 54 respondents from 24 centers across the country. The most frequently used drugs for first-line therapy were thalidomide (66.7%), dexamethasone (54.2%), and bortezomib (48%), and a combination of bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (16.7%) was the most frequently used first-line regimen. Of the 54 hematologists, 39 (72.2%) had prescribed bortezomib previously; no one had used bortezomib as monotherapy. Drug unavailability (86.7%) and cost (46.7%) were the major reasons for those who had not prescribed bortezomib. Approximately 56.4% of responders had patients who had experienced adverse effects, of which neuropathy was the most common (86.3%).

Conclusion

Bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone was the most frequently used first-line regimen to treat myelomatosis. Thalidomide and dexamethasone were the most frequently used drugs in myeloma treatment. Despite poor access to health care, coupled with the high cost and poor availability of bortezomib in our low- or middle-income country, those who prescribed bortezomib did so frequently (in more than half of their patients).
Weibel−Palade bodies at a glance
Authors: McCormack Jessica J. , Lopes da Silva Mafalda , Ferraro Francesco , Patella Francesca , Cutler Daniel F.
Published: November 2017

The vascular environment can rapidly alter, and the speed with which responses to both physiological and pathological changes are required necessitates the existence of a highly responsive system. The endothelium can quickly deliver bioactive molecules by regulated exocytosis of its secretory granules, the Weibel−Palade bodies (WPBs). WPBs include proteins that initiate both haemostasis and inflammation, as well those that modulate blood pressure and angiogenesis. WPB formation is driven by von Willebrand factor, their most abundant protein, which controls both shape and size of WPBs. WPB are generated in a range of sizes, with the largest granules over ten times the size of the smallest. In this Cell Science at a Glance and the accompanying poster, we discuss the emerging mechanisms by which WPB size is controlled and how this affects the ability of this organelle to modulate haemostasis. We will also outline the different modes of exocytosis and their polarity that are currently being explored, and illustrate that these large secretory organelles provide a model for how elements of secretory granule biogenesis and exocytosis cooperate to support a complex and diverse set of functions.
Brexit: The Economics of International Disintegration
Authors: Sampson Thomas
Published: November 2017

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on its membership in the European Union. Although most of Britain’s establishment backed remaining in the EU, 52 percent of voters disagreed and handed a surprise victory to the “leave” campaign. Brexit, as the act of Britain exiting the EU has become known, is likely to occur in early 2019. This article discusses the economic consequences of Brexit and the lessons of Brexit for the future of European and global integration. I start by describing the options for post-Brexit relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union and then review studies of the likely economic effects of Brexit. The main conclusion of this literature is that Brexit will make the United Kingdom poorer than it would otherwise have been because it will lead to new barriers to trade and migration between the UK and the European Union. There is considerable uncertainty over how large the costs of Brexit will be, with plausible estimates ranging between 1 and 10 percent of UK per capita income. The costs will be lower if Britain stays in the European Single Market following Brexit. Empirical estimates that incorporate the effects of trade barriers on foreign direct investment and productivity find costs 2–3 times larger than estimates obtained from quantitative trade models that hold technologies fixed.
Enrollment without Learning: Teacher Effort, Knowledge, and Skill in Primary Schools in Africa
Authors: Bold Tessa , Filmer Deon , Martin Gayle , Molina Ezequiel , Stacy Brian , Rockmore Christophe , Svensson Jakob , Wane Waly
Published: November 2017

School enrollment has universally increased over the last 25 years in low-income countries. Enrolling in school, however, does not assure that children learn. A large share of children in low-income countries complete their primary education lacking even basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. Teacher quality is a key determinant of student learning, but not much is known about teacher quality in low-income countries. This paper discusses an ongoing research program intended to help fill this void. We use data collected through direct observations, unannounced visits, and tests from primary schools in seven sub-Saharan African countries to answer three questions: How much do teachers teach? What do teachers know? How well do teachers teach?
Selection in Health Insurance Markets and Its Policy Remedies
Authors: Geruso Michael , Layton Timothy J.
Published: November 2017

Selection (adverse or advantageous) is the central problem that inhibits the smooth, efficient functioning of competitive health insurance markets. Even—and perhaps especially—when consumers are well-informed decision makers and insurance markets are highly competitive and offer choice, such markets may function inefficiently due to risk selection. Selection can cause markets to unravel with skyrocketing premiums and can cause consumers to be under- or overinsured. In its simplest form, adverse selection arises due to the tendency of those who expect to incur high health care costs in the future to be the most motivated purchasers. The costlier enrollees are more likely to become insured rather than to remain uninsured, and conditional on having health insurance, the costlier enrollees sort themselves to the more generous plans in the choice set. These dual problems represent the primary concerns for policymakers designing regulations for health insurance markets. In this essay, we review the theory and evidence concerning selection in competitive health insurance markets and discuss the common policy tools used to address the problems it creates. We emphasize the two markets that seem especially likely to be targets of reform in the short and medium term: Medicare Advantage (the private plan option available under Medicare) and the state-level individual insurance markets.
The protective effectiveness of control interventions for malaria prevention: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Kesteman Thomas , Randrianarivelojosia Milijaona , Rogier Christophe
Published: November 2017

Background: Thanks to a considerable increase in funding, malaria control interventions (MCI) whose efficacy had been demonstrated by controlled trials have been largely scaled up during the last decade. Nevertheless, it was not systematically investigated whether this efficacy had been preserved once deployed on the field. Therefore, we sought the literature to assess the disparities between efficacy and effectiveness and the effort to measure the protective effectiveness (PE) of MCI.

Methods: The PubMed database was searched for references with keywords related to malaria, to control interventions for prevention and to study designs that allow for the measure of the PE against parasitemia or against clinical outcomes.

Results: Our search retrieved 1423 references, and 162 articles were included in the review. Publications were scarce before the year 2000 but dramatically increased afterwards. Bed nets was the MCI most studied (82.1%). The study design most used was a cross-sectional study (65.4%). Two thirds (67.3%) were conducted at the district level or below, and the majority (56.8%) included only children even if the MCI didn’t target only children. Not all studies demonstrated a significant PE from exposure to MCI: 60.6% of studies evaluating bed nets, 50.0% of those evaluating indoor residual spraying, and 4/8 showed an added PE of using both interventions as compared with one only; this proportion was 62.5% for intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women, and 20.0% for domestic use of insecticides.

Conclusions: This review identified numerous local findings of low, non-significant PE –or even the absence of a protective effect provided by these MCIs. The identification of such failures in the effectiveness of MCIs advocates for the investigation of the causes of the problem found. Ideal evaluations of the PE of MCIs should incorporate both a large representativeness and an evaluation of the PE stratified by subpopulations.
Low Health Literacy Is Associated with Increased Transitional Care Needs in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Boyle Joseph , Speroff Theodore , Worley Katherine , Cao Aize , Goggins Kathryn , Dittus Robert S. , Kripalani Sunil
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND

In discharge planning, a patient needs assessment helps to identify risk factors that should be addressed to promote a safe and effective transition in care. Low health literacy is associated with worse postdischarge outcomes, but little research has examined its relation to other addressable risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of health literacy with the number and type of transitional care needs (TCN) among patients being discharged to home.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

A cross‐sectional analysis of patients admitted to an academic medical center.

MEASUREMENTS

Nurses administered the Brief Health Literacy Screen and documented TCNs along 10 domains: caregiver support, transportation, healthcare utilization, high‐risk medical comorbidities, medication management, medical devices, functional status, mental health comorbidities, communication, and financial resources.

RESULTS

Among the 384 patients analyzed, 113 (29%) had inadequate health literacy. Patients with inadequate health literacy had needs in more TCN domains (mean = 5.29 vs 4.36; P < 0.001). In unadjusted analysis, patients with inadequate health literacy were significantly more likely to have TCNs in 7 out of the 10 domains. In multivariate analyses, inadequate health literacy remained significantly associated with inadequate caregiver support (odds ratio [OR], 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37‐4.99) and transportation barriers (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.04‐2.76).

CONCLUSIONS

Among hospitalized patients, inadequate health literacy is prevalent and independently associated with other needs that place patients at a higher risk of adverse outcomes, such as hospital readmission. Screening for inadequate health literacy and associated needs may enable hospitals to address these barriers and improve postdischarge outcomes.
Treatment Trends and Outcomes in Healthcare‐Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Haessler Sarah , Lagu Tara , Lindenauer Peter K. , Skiest Daniel J. , Priya Aruna , Pekow Penelope S. , Zilberberg Marya D. , Higgins Thomas L. , Rothberg Michael B.
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND

The American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for management of healthcare‐associated pneumonia (HCAP), first published in 2005, have been controversial regarding the selection of empiric broad‐spectrum antibiotics, whether the criteria for HCAP predicts the likelihood of infection with multidrug resistant organisms, and whether HCAP patients have improved outcomes when treated with empiric broad‐spectrum antibiotics.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study at 488 US hospitals from July 2007 to November 2011. Patients who met criteria for HCAP were included. Guideline‐concordant antibiotics were assessed based on guideline recommendations. We assessed changes in hospital rates of concordant antibiotic use over time and their correlation with outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 149,963 patients with HCAP, 19.6% received fully guideline‐concordant antibiotics, 21.7% received partially concordant antibiotics, and 58.9% received discordant antibiotics. Guideline concordance increased over time. Rates of fully or partially concordant antibiotics varied across hospitals (median 36.4%; interquartile range 25.8%‐49.1%). Among patients who received discordant antibiotics, 81.5% were treated according to community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines. On average, the rate of guideline concordance increased by 2.2% per 6‐month interval, while hospital level rates of mortality, excess length of stay, and progression to respiratory failure did not change.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, nationally representative cohort, only 1 in 5 patients with risk factors for HCAP received treatment that was fully in accordance with guidelines, and many received CAP therapy instead. At the hospital level, increases in the use of concordant antibiotics were not associated with declines in mortality, excess length of stay, or progression to respiratory failure.
FiberSCIP—A Shared Memory Parallelization of SCIP
Authors: Shinano Yuji , Heinz Stefan , Vigerske Stefan , Winkler Michael
Published: November 2017

Recently, parallel computing environments have become significantly popular. In order to obtain the benefit of using parallel computing environments, we have to deploy our programs for these effectively. This paper focuses on a parallelization of SCIP (Solving Constraint Integer Programs), which is a mixed-integer linear programming solver and constraint integer programming framework available in source code. There is a parallel extension of SCIP named ParaSCIP, which parallelizes SCIP on massively parallel distributed memory computing environments. This paper describes FiberSCIP, which is yet another parallel extension of SCIP to utilize multi-threaded parallel computation on shared memory computing environments, and has the following contributions: First, we present the basic concept of having two parallel extensions, and the relationship between them and the parallelization framework provided by UG (Ubiquity Generator), including an implementation of deterministic parallelization. Second, we discuss the difficulties in achieving a good performance that utilizes all resources on an actual computing environment, and the difficulties of performance evaluation of the parallel solvers. Third, we present a way to evaluate the performance of new algorithms and parameter settings of the parallel extensions. Finally, we demonstrate the current performance of FiberSCIP for solving mixed-integer linear programs (MIPs) and mixed-integer nonlinear programs (MINLPs) in parallel.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2017.0762 .
Emergency Train Scheduling on Chinese High-Speed Railways
Authors: Zheng Yu-Jun
Published: November 2017

China has recently developed a large-scale high-speed railway (HSR) network that not only revolutionizes the perception of long-haul transport but also fundamentally improves the emergency response capability of the country. This gives rise to a problem of scheduling a set of emergency trains within the predefined HSR timetable. According to different degrees of disturbance of the timetable, this paper identifies three kinds of solutions, named, ideal, quasi-ideal, and feasible solutions, to the problem. We define a “headroom” function for computing the maximum number of emergency trains that can be inserted between two adjacent regular trains without any disturbance, from which a linear algorithm for finding ideal solutions is derived. By identifying the scope of changes to each regular train, quasi-ideal and feasible solutions can be found based on the ideal solutions on a set of alternative timetables. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our method is very efficient for supporting near-immediate emergency responses. We have used the solution method to evaluate the emergency capacity of most HSR lines in China. In particular, we successfully applied the method to schedule emergency trains in the rescue operation of the 2015 Tianjin chemical explosion.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2017.0794 .
KARAKTERISTIK SENSOR KAPASITIF PELAT SEJAJAR DALAM APLIKASINYA SEBAGAI INSTRUMEN PENGUKUR CURAH HUJAN BERBASIS ARDUINO UNO
Authors: Cahyono Bowo Eko , Supriyadi Supriyadi , Rofiq M. Ainur
Published: November 2017

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari karakteristik dari kapasitor pelat sejajar sebagai sensor dalam alat ukur curah hujan berbasis Arduino dengan tampilan LCD. Alat ini mampu membaca dan menampilan tegangan keluaran, nilai kapasitansi, konstanta dielektrik dan tinggi level curah hujan akibat adanya perubahan komposisi bahan dielektrik di antara pelat kapasitor. Sistem yang didesain telah diuji dalam 3 tahapan yaitu, uji akurasi pembacaan nilai kapasitansi, nilai ketinggian air, dan pengujian di lapangan. Nilai-nilai kapasitansi sensor yang ditampilkan dalam LCD dibandingkan dengan nilai kapasitansi sensor yang diukur dengan menggunkan kapasitansi meter CM-3300A. Dalam pengujian ini didapatkan hasil bahwa nilai-nilai kapasitansi yang diukur dengan dua etode yang berbeda tersebut saling berdekatan. Selisih tertinggi adalah 20,97pF pada ketinggian 15cm. Tinggi level air yang terbaca dibandingkan dengan pembacaan menggunakan penggaris dan hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa selisih terkecil yaitu 0,19 mm dan selisih terbesar 4,93 mm. Selanjutnya berdasarkan pengujian langsung di lapangan didapatkan selisih yang tidak terlalu jauh, dengan rata-rata selisih yang diperoleh kurang dari 5 mm. Secara umum, sistem alat ukur curah hujan telah menunjukkan kinerja yang bagus  saat dilakukan pengujian dan diaplikasikan pada kondisi hujan secara langsung di lapangan. Hasil tersebut telah menunjukkan bahwa sistem alat ukur curh hujan telah sesuai dengan apa yang diharapkan.
Osteogenic Potential of Caspases Related to Endochondral Ossification
Authors: Janečková Eva , Bíliková Petra , Matalová Eva
Published: November 2017

Caspases have functions particularly in apoptosis and inflammation. Increasing evidence indicates novel roles of these proteases in cell differentiation, including those involved in osteogenesis. This investigation provides a complex screening of osteogenic markers affected by pan caspase inhibition in micromass cultures derived from mouse forelimbs. PCR Array analysis showed significant alterations in expression of 49 osteogenic genes after 7 days of inhibition. The largest change was a decrease in CD36 expression, which was confirmed at organ level by caspase inhibition in cultured mouse ulnae followed by CD36 immunohistochemical analysis. So far, available data point to osteogenic potential of pro-apoptotic caspases. Therefore, the expression of pro-apoptotic caspases (-3, -6, -7, -8, -9) within the growth plate of mouse forelimbs at the stage where the individual zones are clearly apparent was studied. Caspase-9 was reported in the growth plate for the first time as well as caspase-6 and -7 in the resting zone, caspase-7 in the proliferation, and caspase-6 and -8 in the ossification zone. For all caspases, there was a gradient increase in activation toward the ossification zone. The distribution of staining varied significantly from that of apoptotic cells, and thus, the results further support non-apoptotic participation of caspases in osteogenesis.
Ação de fungos micorrízicos e biofertilizante em solo contaminado com diesel
Authors: Camargo Isabela De , De Oliveira Mariana Facchin , Reganhan-Coneglian Cassiana Maria , Régo Ana Paula Justiniano , Quiterio Gabriela Mercuri , Bidoia Ederio Dino
Published: November 2017

A biorremediação é a tecnologia que faz uso de microrganismos como agentes recuperadores do solo ou outros meios contaminados. A comunidade microbiana do solo possui grande influência no destino de xenobióticos descartados no ambiente. As micorrizas, associação mutualística de fungos com raízes de plantas, possuem a capacidade de recuperar áreas degradadas. Uma dessas associações são os fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs), os quais absorvem água e nutrientes para as plantas, protegendo-as contra patógenos e auxiliando no crescimento da vegetação. Este estudo tem como objetivo inocular FMA`s em solo contaminado com diferentes concentrações de óleo diesel e, em determinadas amostras, adicionar biofertilizante, verificando a evolução das sementes de Zea mays (milho). Considerou-se o desenvolvimento das mudas através da análise do comprimento da raiz, caule, peso fresco e peso seco, quantificação da população de bactérias e fungos presente no solo. O óleo diesel provocou efeitos tóxicos às mudas, influenciando no comprimento e peso. A adição de biofertilizante contribuiu para o crescimento radicular e caule em relação ao inóculo de FMA’s, no desenvolvimento de Z.mays. Assim, a bioestimulação e a bioaumentação atuaram de forma eficaz na remediação de solo contaminado com diesel.
The Long Ecological Revolution
Authors: Foster John Bellamy
Published: November 2017

From an ecological perspective, the Anthropocene marks the need for a more creative, constructive, and coevolutionary relation to the earth. In ecosocialist theory, this demands the reconstitution of society at large—over decades and centuries. However, given the threat to the earth as a place of human habitation this transformation requires immediate reversals in the regime of accumulation.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
One Big Union, One Long Fight
Authors: Young Robert
Published: November 2017

As the global economy grows increasingly unstable, undermining job security and the dignity of work, the IWW's pioneering tactics, and perhaps even the union itself, may again be the means by which working people of all walks secure "the good things in life" while building "a new society within the shell of the old."Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
Layanan Infrastruktur Komputasi Multitenant dengan OpenStack di Lingkungan MaaS
Authors: Panggabean Joan Ricard , Prasetijo Agung Budi , Widianto Eko Didik
Published: November 2017

The growth of high-quality computing needs triggers the development of infrastructure that requires huge costs and resources. This research applied OpenStack in Metal as a Service (MaaS) environment to provide multitenant infrastructure services in the form of virtual machines (IaaS). The capacity of this IaaS system can be configured based on the needs of the computing resources (CPUs, memory, storage, and network interfaces). Users within the tenant can request infrastructure services as their needs without requiring human interaction with each service provider.Meningkatnya kebutuhan komputasi berkualitas tinggi mendorong pengembangan infrastruktur server yang membutuhkan biaya dan sumber daya besar. Penelitian ini mengaplikasikan OpenStack dalam lingkungan Metal as a Service (MaaS) untuk menyediakan layanan infrastruktur multitenant berupa mesin-mesin virtual sebagai Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Kapasitas sistem layanan IaaS ini dapat dikonfigurasi berdasarkan kebutuhan sumber daya komputasi (CPU, memori, ruang penyimpan, dan antarmuka jaringan). Pengguna dalam tenant dapat meminta layanan infrastruktur secara mandiri dengan kapasitas komputasi sesuai yang dibutuhkan.
PENGARUH KONSENTRASI NaOH DAN WAKTU PENAHANAN TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK ZEOLIT YANG DISINTESIS DARI LIMBAH GEOTHERMAL
Authors: Sulardjaka Sulardjaka , Fitriana Deni Fajar
Published: November 2017

Abstract THE EFFECT OF CONCENTRATION OF NaOH AND HOLDING TIME ON CHARACTERISTIC OF ZEOLIT SINTHESIZED FROM GEOTHERMAL WASTE. Objective of this research is to investigate the effect of concentration of NaOH and holding time on the characteristic of synthesized zeolite from geothermal waste. Geothermal waste was used as silica source and hydrothermally processed for zeolite synthesized. Variation concentration of NaOH was 1.67, 3, and 5 M and variation of holding time are 1, 3, and 5 hours. Synthesized products were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM photomicrograph. It can be concluded that the rise of concentration of NaOH reduce the cristalization time and crystal size. Increasing of concentration of NaOH and holding time produce divers zeolite structure. At holding time 5 h and NaOH 1.67 M produces zeolite A. At holding time 5 h and NaOH concentration 3 M produce zeolite P. Sodalite is produced at concentration NaOH 5 M with holding time 5 h. Keywords: hydrothermal; geothermal waste; zeolite   Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meneliti pengaruh konsntrasi NaOH dan waktu penahanan terhadap karakteristik zeolit yang disintesis dari limbah geothermal. Limbah geothermal dipilih sebagai bahan silika pada sintesis zeolit dengan metode hidrothermal. Penelitian dilakukan dengan variasi konsentrasi NaOH: 1,67, 3, dan 5 M, dan variasi waktu penahanan 1, 3 dan 5 jam. Produk hasil sintesis dikarakterisasi dengan XRD, FTIR dan foto SEM. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa  tinggi konsentrasi NaOH kristalisasi zeolit A semakin cepat, sehingga ukuran kristal semakin kecil. Konsentrasi NaOH yang semakin tinggi dan waktu penahanan yang semakin lama, menghasilkan  jenis struktur zeolit yang lebih beragam. Pada waktu penahanan 5 jam, variasi konsentrasi NaOH 1,67 M menghasilkan zeolit A, variasi konsentrasi NaOH 3M menghasilkan zeolit P (NaP1) dan pada variasi konsentrasi NaOH 5M menghasilkan sodalit. Kata kunci: hydrothermal; limbah geothermal; zeolit
KARAKTERISTIK FISIS ALUMINOSILIKAT GEOPOLIMER BERBASIS SILIKA SEKAM PADI UNTUK APLIKASI FAST IONIC CONDUCTOR
Authors: Riyanto Agus , Sembiring Simon , Junaidi Junaidi
Published: November 2017

The study aims to investigate the effect of calcination temperatures on the phase formation and electrical properties of aluminosilicate geopolymer prepared from rice husk silica and sodium aluminate. The samples were calcined at temperature from 150 oC to 550 oC, the development of structures was characterized using x-ray difraction (XRD) and the electrical properties were measured by LCR meter. The result obtained indicated the significant role of calcining temperature on phase transformation of boehmite and quartz into aluminosilicate geopolymer, in which at calcining temperatures from 450 oC to 550 oC, and  the samples were dominated by semicrystal to amorphous phase which indicated that the aluminosilicate geoplymer has been formed. The presence of aluminosilicate geopolymer resulted in increased ionic electrical conductivity and dielectric loss factor as well as decrease dielectric constant. Ionic electrical conductivity of the calcined sample at 450 oC is 4,49.10-5 S/cm at frequancy of 5.106 Hz, and XRD analysis demostrated that the main structure is phase of semicrystal aluminosilicate geopolymer. Based on these character, the sample was considered is very suitable used to the fast ionic conductor materials.Studi ini bertujuan untuk menginvestigasi efek suhu kalsinasi pada formasi fasa dan sifat listrik aluminosilikat geopolimer yang dipreparasi dari silika sekam padi dan sodium aluminat. Sampel dikalsinasi pada suhu 150 oC – 550 oC, perubahan struktur dikarakterisasi menggunakan x-ray difraction (XRD) dan sifat listrik diukur menggunakan LCR meter. Hasil yang diperoleh mengindikasikan pengaruh yang signifikan suhu kalsinasi pada transformasi boehmite dan quartz menjadi aluminosilikat geopolimer, dimana pada suhu kalsinasi 450 oC – 550 oC didominasi oleh fasa semikristal hingga amorf yang mencirikan terbetuknya aluminosilikat geopolimer. Terbentuknya struktur aluminosilikat geopolimer diikuti dengan peningkatan konduktivitas listrik ionik, penurunan konstanta dielektrik, serta peningkatan faktor rugi dielektrik. Nilai konduktivitas listrik ionik sampel kalsinasi 450 oC ialah 4,49.10-5 S/cm pada frekuensi 5.106 Hz, dan analisis XRD menunjukkan struktur utamanya berupa fasa semikristal aluminosilikat geopolimer. Berdasarkan karakteristik tersebut, sampel yang ditinjau merupakan material dengan konduktivitas ionik yang tinggi sehingga sampel tersebut sangat potensial untuk dimanfaatkan sebagai fast ionic conductor.
A Statistically-Oriented Asymmetric Localization (SOAL) Model for Neuronal Outgrowth Patterning by Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-5 (UNC5) and UNC-40 (DCC) Netrin Receptors
Authors: Limerick Gerard , Tang Xia , Lee Won Suk , Mohamed Ahmed , Al-Aamiri Aseel , Wadsworth William G
Published: November 2017

Neurons extend processes that vary in number, length, and direction of “outgrowth”. Extracellular cues help determine outgrowth patterns. In Caenorhabditis elegans, neurons respond to the extracellular UNC-6 (netrin) cue via UNC-40 (DCC) and UNC-5 (UNC5) receptors. Previously, we presented evidence that UNC-40 asymmetric localization at the plasma membrane is self-organizing, and that UNC-40 can localize and mediate outgrowth at randomly selected sites. Here, we provide further evidence for a statistically-oriented asymmetric localization (SOAL) model in which UNC-5 receptor activity affects patterns of axon outgrowth by regulating UNC-40 asymmetric localization. According to the SOAL model, the direction of outgrowth activity fluctuates across the membrane over time. Random walk modeling predicts that increasing the degree to which the direction of outgrowth fluctuates will decrease the outward displacement of the membrane. By differentially affecting the degree to which the direction of outgrowth activity fluctuates over time, extracellular cues can produce different rates of outgrowth along the surface and create patterns of “extension”. Consistent with the SOAL model, we show that unc-5 mutations alter UNC-40 asymmetric localization, increase the degree to which the direction of outgrowth fluctuates, and reduce the extent of outgrowth in multiple directions relative to the source of UNC-6. These results are inconsistent with current models, which predict that UNC-5 mediates a “repulsive” response to UNC-6. Genetic interactions suggest that UNC-5 acts through the UNC-53 (NAV2) cytoplasmic protein to regulate UNC-40 asymmetric localization in response to both the UNC-6 and EGL-20 (Wnt) extracellular cues.
Intermittent Hypoxemia in Preterm Infants: Etiology and Clinical Relevance
Authors: Abu Jawdeh Elie G.
Published: November 2017

Intermittent hypoxemia (IH), episodic drops in hemoglobin oxygen saturation, is a common problem in preterm infants. The extent of IH is not apparent clinically because accurately documenting cardiorespiratory events for day-to-day patient care management is challenging. Multiple factors place preterm infants at high risk for increased IH. These factors include respiratory immaturity, lung disease, and anemia. Brief episodes of oxygen desaturation may seem clinically insignificant; however, these events may have a cumulative effect on neonatal outcomes. There is mounting evidence from both animal models and clinical studies suggesting that IH is associated with injury and poor outcomes such as increased inflammation, impaired growth, retinopathy of prematurity, and neurodevelopmental impairment. In this article, the author reviews the etiology and consequences of IH in preterm infants.
Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Gentile Douglas A. , Bailey Kira , Bavelier Daphne , Brockmyer Jeanne Funk , Cash Hilarie , Coyne Sarah M. , Doan Andrew , Grant Donald S. , Green C. Shawn , Griffiths Mark , Markle Tracy , Petry Nancy M. , Prot Sara , Rae Cosette D. , Rehbein Florian , Rich Michael , Sullivan Dave , Woolley Elizabeth , Young Kimberly
Published: November 2017

The American Psychiatric Association recently included Internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a potential diagnosis, recommending that further study be conducted to help illuminate it more clearly. This paper is a summary of the review undertaken by the IGD Working Group as part of the 2015 National Academy of Sciences Sackler Colloquium on Digital Media and Developing Minds. By using measures based on or similar to the IGD definition, we found that prevalence rates range between ∼1% and 9%, depending on age, country, and other sample characteristics. The etiology of IGD is not well-understood at this time, although it appears that impulsiveness and high amounts of time gaming may be risk factors. Estimates for the length of time the disorder can last vary widely, but it is unclear why. Although the authors of several studies have demonstrated that IGD can be treated, no randomized controlled trials have yet been published, making any definitive statements about treatment impossible. IGD does, therefore, appear to be an area in which additional research is clearly needed. We discuss several of the critical questions that future research should address and provide recommendations for clinicians, policy makers, and educators on the basis of what we know at this time.
Parenting and Digital Media
Authors: Coyne Sarah M. , Radesky Jenny , Collier Kevin M. , Gentile Douglas A. , Linder Jennifer Ruh , Nathanson Amy I. , Rasmussen Eric E. , Reich Stephanie M. , Rogers Jean
Published: November 2017

Understanding the family dynamic surrounding media use is crucial to our understanding of media effects, policy development, and the targeting of individuals and families for interventions to benefit child health and development. The Families, Parenting, and Media Workgroup reviewed the relevant research from the past few decades. We find that child characteristics, the parent-child relationship, parental mediation practices, and parents’ own use of media all can influence children’s media use, their attitudes regarding media, and the effects of media on children. However, gaps remain. First, more research is needed on best practices of parental mediation for both traditional and new media. Ideally, this research will involve large-scale, longitudinal studies that manage children from infancy to adulthood. Second, we need to better understand the relationship between parent media use and child media use and specifically how media may interfere with or strengthen parent-child relationships. Finally, longitudinal research on how developmental processes and individual child characteristics influence the intersection between media and family life is needed. The majority of children’s media use takes place within a wider family dynamic. An understanding of this dynamic is crucial to understanding child media use as a whole.
Screen Violence and Youth Behavior
Authors: Anderson Craig A. , Bushman Brad J. , Bartholow Bruce D. , Cantor Joanne , Christakis Dimitri , Coyne Sarah M. , Donnerstein Edward , Brockmyer Jeanne Funk , Gentile Douglas A. , Green C. Shawn , Huesmann Rowell , Hummer Tom , Krahé Barbara , Strasburger Victor C. , Warburton Wayne , Wilson Barbara J. , Ybarra Michele
Published: November 2017

Violence in screen entertainment media (ie, television, film, video games, and the Internet), defined as depictions of characters (or players) trying to physically harm other characters (or players), is ubiquitous. The Workgroup on Media Violence and Violent Video Games reviewed numerous meta-analyses and other relevant research from the past 60 years, with an emphasis on violent video game research. Consistent with every major science organization review, the Workgroup found compelling evidence of short-term harmful effects, as well as evidence of long-term harmful effects. The vast majority of laboratory-based experimental studies have revealed that violent media exposure causes increased aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiologic arousal, hostile appraisals, aggressive behavior, and desensitization to violence and decreases prosocial behavior (eg, helping others) and empathy. Still, to more fully understand the potential for long-term harm from media violence exposure, the field is greatly in need of additional large-sample, high-quality, longitudinal studies that include validated measures of media violence exposure and measures of other known violence risk factors. Also, although several high-quality media violence intervention studies have been conducted, larger-scale studies with more comprehensive and longer-term assessments are needed to fully understand long-term effects and to inform the development of tools that will help to reduce problems associated with aggression and violence. The evidence that violent screen media constitutes a causal risk factor for increased aggression is compelling. Modern social-cognitive theories of social behavior provide useful frameworks for understanding how and why these effects occur.
Social Group Stories in the Media and Child Development
Authors: Dill-Shackleford Karen E. , Ramasubramanian Srividya , Behm-Morawitz Elizabeth , Scharrer Erica , Burgess Melinda C.R. , Lemish Dafna
Published: November 2017

How do children and youth come to understand what it means to be a member of a particular race, gender, and other social groups? How do they come to hold beliefs about the groups that they do and do not belong to? Both news stories and fictional narratives that we are tuned into as a culture tell stories about what it means to be a member of a particular social group. In this review article, we relate the latest scientific knowledge on news and entertainment media representations of race, gender and other social categories and what they tell us about how these messages are taken in and processed by developing minds. We include research on identity development, social learning about members of other groups, and both positive and negative behavioral outcomes to cultural messages about race, gender, and other social categories. We offer recommendations for stakeholders to understand the role of the media in educating youth about race, gender and other social categories.
Developing an Open System for the Assessment of Technology in Education
Authors: Oliva Maurizio
Published: November 2017

This article outlines the design of an open computer system which relies on distributed computing for the collection and storage of data from very large samples. The purpose of the system is to provide a base of reliable data for assessing the impact of technology on the delivery of educational materials. The system consists of four main components: (a) an open instrument (an instructor's form) which generates student forms, (b) an E-Mail filtering agent, (c) a client/server database, and (d) a Web interface. Data are input directly by end users or as a byproduct of end users' interaction with the system. The second and third components, taken together, constitute the data gathering section of the system. This data gathering agent relies upon several devices in order to guarantee data integrity and security: (a) an E-Mail receipt sent to the instructor, (b) an access code, (c) an expiration date, and (d) confirmation of information before submission.
Treacherous Allies
Authors: Jacobs Gabriel , Rodgers Catherine
Published: November 2017

This article discusses the use of a French computerized grammar checker as a learning and teaching resource. As is well known, foreign language grammar checkers can give unreliable, even farcical results, but that does not necessarily mean that they cannot be effectively used by foreign language teachers. After some discussion of the nature of foreign language grammar checkers, the article presents the results of a controlled series of experiments in which groups of students were given the task of correcting French texts containing grammatical, lexical, and orthographical errors by using either an on-screen grammar checker or grammar books and dictionaries. The study draws some conclusions about the advantages and pitfalls of using foreign language grammar checkers for teaching and learning.
Language Learning in Cyberspace
Authors: Donaldson Randall P. , Kötter Markus
Published: November 2017

From January to May 1998 the authors tested the possibility of language instruction in a MOO. The experiment consisted of two groups: a group of adult evening school participants in Germany learning English as a second language and a group of American college students in their fourth semester of college German. The two groups met together once weekly for two hours each in real time in a MOO. Partnerships were formed consisting of one member from the German group and one member from the American group. The partners then cooperated in accomplishing certain tasks in their respective L2s. The present article relates the results of this project.
Computer Applications and Research Agendas
Authors: Fischer Robert
Published: November 2017

Many successful foreign language departments have become multifaceted academic units and offer courses and programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Technology has come to figure prominently as one of these facets. Policy statements by the Modern Language Association and the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages call for the recognition of the research effort involved in technological development projects when those projects include substantial research components. Projects that appropriately take relevant research factors into account not only advance our understanding of the field but also add a new dimension to effective teaching practices that can have considerable professional and practical value for foreign language departments.