bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation noise and delay time enhanced stability of electricity futures market
Authors: Ding Wenjiao , Wang Bangcan , Xing Yuhui , Li Jiang-Cheng
Published: October 2019

We explore the roles of information time delay and noise correlation on the stability of electricity market by the method of mean first passage time (MFPT) and delayed Heston model. We employ the least square method of probability distribution to estimate the parameters of the proposed model with the closing price data of electricity futures daily of the European Energy Exchange. Then the probability density functions of the price returns are empirically compared between both the simulated data from the delayed Heston model and the electricity futures data, and a good agreement can be found between them. Through the stochastic simulation of the mean first passage time of returns, some results show that: (i) the phenomenon of correlation enhancing stability can be observed in MFPT versus mean reversion of volatility; (ii) we can observe that the delay time and the growth rate can induce the critical phenomenon; (iii) there are optimal values of volatility parameters matching maximum stability of electricity futures price. In addition, the increased growth rate and the delay time enhance the stability of electricity futures price.
Preliminary understanding of the emplacement mechanism for the Tahman rock avalanche based on deposit landforms
Authors: Zhu Yuxuan , Dai Fuchu , Yao Xin
Published: October 2019

Based on remote sensing interpretation, detailed field investigation of the deposit landforms and previous research, we propose that the emplacement mechanism of the Tahman rock avalanche, a giant Holocene rock avalanche, can be divided into three distinct phases: an extension-dominated sliding phase, a lateral shear-dominated sliding phase and a compression-dominated sliding phase.
Neurovascular Interactions in the Nervous System
Authors: Segarra Marta , Aburto Maria R. , Hefendehl Jasmin , Acker-Palmer Amparo
Published: October 2019

Molecular cross talk between the nervous and vascular systems is necessary to maintain the correct coupling of organ structure and function. Molecular pathways shared by both systems are emerging as major players in the communication of the neuronal compartment with the endothelium. Here we review different aspects of this cross talk and how vessels influence the development and homeostasis of the nervous system. Beyond the classical role of the vasculature as a conduit to deliver oxygen and metabolites needed for the energy-demanding neuronal compartment, vessels emerge as powerful signaling systems that control and instruct a variety of cellular processes during the development of neurons and glia, such as migration, differentiation, and structural connectivity. Moreover, a broad spectrum of mild to severe vascular dysfunctions occur in various pathologies of the nervous system, suggesting that mild structural and functional changes at the neurovascular interface may underlie cognitive decline in many of these pathological conditions.
Species Identification and Unlocking Hidden Genetic Diversity of Confiscated Slow Lorises (Nycticebus spp.) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Markers
Authors: Kongrit Chalita , Markviriya Darunee , Laithong Phadet , Khudamrongsawat Jenjit
Published: October 2019

Confiscated slow lorises (Nycticebus spp.) at Bangpra Water-Bird Breeding Center (BWBC) in Thailand provided an opportunity to demonstrate the application of noninvasive genetic approaches for species identification when morphology of the animals was ambiguous. The slow lorises at BWBC had been assigned to either N. bengalensis or N. pygmaeus, based on body size. However, the morphology of N. bengalensis is highly variable and overlaps with that of N. coucang (sensu stricto). Phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome b and d-loop mitochondrial regions placed all confiscated N. pygmaeus with the published sequences of N. pygmaeus and distinguished them from other Nycticebus. All other confiscated individuals formed a monophyletic clade, most individuals grouping with published N. bengalensis sequences from wild populations in Vietnam and distinct from Peninsular Malaysian and Sumatran N. coucang, Javan N. javanicus and Bornean N. menagensis. Six individuals within the N. bengalensis clade formed a separate subgroup that did not group with any reference material as indicated by phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses. Whether these trafficked individuals are undiscovered wild populations will require further investigation. Additional genetic studies of wild slow loris populations in different regions are therefore urgently required for reference to aid the protection and conservation of these threatened species.
Waist Circumference and Risk of Liver Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of over 2 Million Cohort Study Participants
Authors: Rahmani Jamal , Kord Varkaneh Hamed , Kontogiannis Vasileios  , Ryan Paul M. , Bawadi Hiba , Fatahi Somaye , Zhang Yong
Published: October 2019

Purpose: Liver cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, and waist circumference (WC) is associated with its risk beyond body mass index (BMI). This dose-response meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association between WC and the risk of incident liver cancer using prospective cohort studies. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science databases, Scopus, and Coch­rane from inception to May 2019. Studies with retrospective or prospective cohort design that reported hazard ratio (HR), risk ratio, or odds ratio, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for liver cancer based on WC categories were included in this meta-analysis. Combined HRs with 95% CIs was estimated by DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Results: Associations between WC and liver cancer were reported in 5 articles with 2,547,188 participants. All studies were published between 2013 and 2019. Pooled results showed a strong significant association with minimum heterogeneity between WC and risk of liver cancer (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.38–1.83, pheterogeneity = 0.42: I2 = 0%). Moreover, a dose-response model indicated a significant positive association between WC and risk of liver cancer (exp(b) = 1.018, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis highlights WC as a significant risk factor related to the incidence of liver cancer.
Comparison of the Efficacy of Sediment Cytology over Oral Brush Cytology in Oral Leukoplakia
Authors: Hosmani Jagadish V. , Pujari Vidya K. , Kotrashetti Vijayalaxmi S. , Nayak Ramakant S. , Babji Deepa V. , Patanshetti Smita M.
Published: October 2019

Introduction: A method called sediment cytology includes the investigation of smears arranged from the sediment of the biopsy specimen fixatives. The sediment from this fixative is used to prepare smears and provides a potentially rich source for cytological material. Investigation of the fixative sediment and understanding of the cytological picture with pertinent clinical and radiological information permits diagnosis in a few hours. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of sediment cytology and oral brush cytology compared with histopathological findings in oral leukoplakia (OL) cases. Methods: Cytological smears were obtained from 30 clinically diagnosed OL lesions using 2 techniques: oral cytobrush and 10% formalin fixative sedimentation. Both smears were stained with Papanicolaou. Cytological smear evaluation was conducted with respect to cellularity, cell distribution, cellular clumping, and the presence of blood, debris, inflammatory cells, and microbial colonies. The cytopathological scores for all cases were compared between sediment and brush cytology and correlated with the histopathological diagnosis. For statistical analysis, the κ test and the Wilcoxon matched-pair test were used. Results: The cytobrush technique had a sensitivity of 83.3% for OL cases histopathologically diagnosed as severe dysplasia, while the sediment cytology technique had a sensitivity of 16.6%. For moderate/mild dysplasia cases, the cytobrush technique had a sensitivity of 7.7%, whereas the sediment technique showed no diagnostic sensitivity. Conclusion: Based on the results from the present study, sediment cytology, unlike oral brush cytology, is not a useful screening tool for the preliminary diagnosis of potentially malignant oral lesions.
Sequential Therapy for Remission Induction in Severe Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Kant Sam , Habbach Amr , Gapud Eric J. , Manno Rebecca L. , Gattu Rishma , Seo Philips , Geetha Duvuru
Published: October 2019

Background: The introduction of combination therapy with glucocorticoids (GC) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) or rituximab (RTX) has resulted in remission rates exceeding 90% in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, early treatment-related mortality remains a major concern and has driven the search for safer induction regimens exploring minimization or avoidance of GC and CYC. Most trials have excluded patients with severe renal disease. We report the outcomes of AAV patients with severe renal disease treated with sequential therapy (ST) starting with (GC) and oral (CYC) followed by transition to (RTX). Methods: Patients with new or relapsing severe AAV who presented with severe renal disease and/or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) were identified. RPGN was defined as at least a 20% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 2-week period along with hematuria and proteinuria. Induction treatment included pulse (GC) for 3 days followed by oral prednisone tapered to 5 mg by month 6, oral (CYC) adjusted for GFR until improvement in Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), and serum creatinine at which point (CYC) was stopped and induction dose of (RTX) was given. Use of plasmapheresis (PLEX) was allowed. The primary outcome was complete remission defined as BVAS of zero by 6 months. Descriptive data are presented as median with range and mean with SD. Results: Nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years. The majority were females, myeloperoxidase ANCA positive, and had a new diagnosis. The mean nadir (SD) eGFR was 12 (5) with 3 requiring dialysis. The median BVAS at the time of diagnosis was 15. All patients received ST and 3 received PLEX. The median exposure to oral CYC was 35 days. The mean (SD) eGFR and median BVAS were 26 (12) and 3, respectively, at the time of switching to RTX. The median prednisone dose at 6M was 5 mg. The median follow-up was 44 months. All patients achieved remission. One patient with relapsing disease reached ESRD. The mean (SD) eGFR in the remaining 8 patients at last FU was 37 (27), and the mean (SD) eGFR rise at 1 year was 26 (25). Adverse events included 2 patients with pneumonia and 3 with bone marrow suppression. There were no deaths. Conclusion: ST with GC and CYC followed by RTX is effective for in AAV patients with severe renal disease. Therapy-related adverse events are comparable to other studies, and further modification in ST with decrease in GC dosage should be explored.
Spatial Expressions of Ascetic Tendencies in the Qurʾan
Authors: Mortensen Mette Bjerregaard
Published: October 2019

In this article, I propose viewing the early Qurʾanic movement as an expression of strong ascetic tendencies. More specifically, I suggest seeing aspects of Qurʾanic rhetorics as offering a specifically spatial expression to broader ascetic tendencies that characterized late antiquity as a whole, and which may be labeled “axial,” insofar as they can be traced back to the middle of the first millennium B.C.E., i.e., to the period coined by Karl Jaspers and others as “the Axial Age.” In the Qurʾan, rhetoric about striving for religious perfection takes on a spatial and horizontal expression, since the soteriological aspirations are formulated, to a certain extent, as a spatial ambition of “going out in the way of God.” As I suggest here, spatial imagery constitutes a prevalent theme throughout the Qurʾan and, based on an analysis of a number of examples, I argue that this spatial rhetoric indicates ascetic tendencies within the early Qurʾanic movement. The Qurʾan’s articulation of the tension between the believers and the surrounding world, including the tension between the muhājirūn (emigrants) and “those who stay behind,” is a prevalent theme throughout the text. This suggests that ascetic piety should be enacted spatially. In the last section of the article, I discuss the apparent change in semantics of two Qurʾanic terms that suggests the later Islamic exegetical tradition appears to favor an interpretation of these terms that allows for a more settled mentality and “stationary piety.”
Tipifications of 22 names of Apiaceae subfamily Saniculoideae from southern South America

Authors: CALVIÑO CAROLINA ISABEL , MARTÍNEZ SUSANA GRACIELA
Published: October 2019

Typification (the selection of a permanent reference specimen to a name) is necessary for the correct identification of plant species, and requires an expert knowledge of the taxonomic group under study and of the nomenclatural rules. While preparing the treatment for Flora of Argentina, names of Apiaceae subfamily Saniculoideae were found to need typification. These names include species of Eryngium and Sanicula. To resolve these typifications, protologues and the original material of all names were studied, and decisions were made following the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code). As a result, 20 lectotypifications and three neotypifications are designated here, giving justifications for each selection.
Miltochrista nigrococcinea, a new species from Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae)
Authors: BAYARSAIKHAN ULZIIJARGAL , IM KYUNG-HOAN , BAE YANG-SEOP , VOLYNKIN ANTON V.
Published: October 2019

Miltochrista Hübner is one of the largest genera of lichen-moths (family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini) including more than 160 valid species and widely distributed in Oriental and Palaearctic Regions. The genera Miltochrista and the related Asura Walker for a long time were treated in a wide sense. Hampson (1900) considered the generic names Barsine Walker, Ammatho Walker, Sesapa Walker, Cabarda Walker, Mahavira Moore, Korawa Moore and Gurna Swinhoe as synonyms of Miltochrista, and genera such as Lyclene Moore, Nepita Moore, Cyme Felder and Adites Moore under Asura. Holloway (2001) revived the genera Barsine (=Ammatho, Mahavira and Korawa), Cabarda, Lyclene, Nepita, Cyme and Adiles and transferred most of species of Miltochrista to Barsine and Cabarda, and most of species of Asura to Lyclene, Adiles, Cyme and Nepita. Later, the genera Gurna and Sesapa were also revalidated by Volynkin (2016; 2017a). According to Holloway (2001) the main differences between Miltochrista and Lyclene are wing venation and number of cornuti. However, these features may vary within the genus, while the ground plan of clasping apparatuses of the two taxa is the same. For this reason, Kirti & Singh (2016) synonymized Lyclene with Miltochrista. Volynkin et al. (2018) confirmed this synonymy and considered Miltochrista sensu Holloway (2001) as the M. miniata (Forster) species-group only.
Study on the properties of coal-based high-purity graphite
Authors: Wang Qili , Yu Mingquan , Gong Jiannan , Zhang Fengtao
Published: October 2019

As one of the major value-added products of coal processing and utilization, coal pitch coke and coal tar pitch are used as raw materials to prepare high-purity graphite. The structure characteristics and properties were measured by experiments. The results show that the high-purity
graphite has excellent physical properties: the skeletal density of 1.81–1.91 g/cm3, the Shore hardness of 45.5–66.6 Hs, the flexural strength of 33.0–46.1 MPa, the compressive strength of 65.6–75.8 MPa, the ash content of 67–181 ppm, the thermal expansion
coefficient of 3.71–4.11 × 10–6/°C, and the electrical resistivity of 8.72–12.13 μΩ · m. Consequently, coal-based graphite materials have excellent properties and good application prospects in solar energy industry, which is an
effective exploration for the transformation and upgrading of Chinese coal industry.
Synthesis and characterization of copper hydroxynitrate salt (Cu2(OH)3NO3): Effect of gamma radiation absorbed doses on thermal stability
Authors: Metwally Salah M. , Saber Osama , Ibrahim S. S. , Al Naim Abdullah F.
Published: October 2019

Thermal stability is one of the main preferred material properties for industrial applications. Gamma radiation has a high ability to deeply penetrate in structure of materials and develop their physical properties. This work is devoted to sensitize copper hydroxynitrate Cu2(OH)3NO3,
and study the effect of different doses of gamma rays on its thermal stability. The sample was prepared by co-precipitation technique and identified using X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared sample was divided to seven subsamples, six of them were irradiated
by different doses from 10 KGy up to 300 KGy while the seventh one used as a reference sample. The obtained results showed significant enhancement of thermal stability which represented by shifts of onset temperature to higher values for the irradiated samples from 10 to 100 kGy. Also, temperature
corresponding to the residual masses 5%, 15% and 25% increased with increasing gamma radiation dose. However, the thermal stability reduced for the sample irradiated with high dose (300 KGy). The obtained data could be explained in terms of the principle of free radicals formation beside the
interaction of these free radicals with each other. The obtained results shed light on the positive effect of the selective dose of gamma radiation for enhancement of the thermal stability of chemical structures.
Effects of Ocean Slow Response under Low Warming Targets
Authors: Long Shang-Min , Xie Shang-Ping , Du Yan , Liu Qinyu , Zheng Xiao-Tong , Huang Gang , Hu Kai-Ming , Ying Jun
Published: October 2019

The 2015 Paris Agreement proposed targets to limit global-mean surface temperature (GMST) rise well below 2°C relative to preindustrial level by 2100, requiring a cease in the radiative forcing (RF) increase in the near future. In response to changing RF, the deep ocean responds slowly (ocean slow response), in contrast to the fast ocean mixed layer adjustment. The role of the ocean slow response under low warming targets is investigated using representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6 simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. In RCP2.6, the deep ocean continues to warm while RF decreases after reaching a peak. The deep ocean warming helps to shape the trajectories of GMST and fuels persistent thermosteric sea level rise. A diagnostic method is used to decompose further changes after the RF peak into a slow warming component under constant peak RF and a cooling component due to the decreasing RF. Specifically, the slow warming component amounts to 0.2°C (0.6°C) by 2100 (2300), raising the hurdle for achieving the low warming targets. When RF declines, the deep ocean warming takes place in all basins but is the most pronounced in the Southern Ocean and Atlantic Ocean where surface heat uptake is the largest. The climatology and change of meridional overturning circulation are both important for the deep ocean warming. To keep the GMST rise at a low level, substantial decrease in RF is required to offset the warming effect from the ocean slow response.
Incorporating Climate Nonstationarity and Snowmelt Processes in Intensity–Duration–Frequency Analyses with Case Studies in Mountainous Areas
Authors: Hou Zhangshuan , Ren Huiying , Sun Ning , Wigmosta Mark S. , Liu Ying , Leung L. Ruby , Yan Hongxiang , Skaggs Richard , Coleman Andre
Published: October 2019

Downscaled high-resolution climate simulations were used to provide inputs to the physics-based Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM), which accounts for the combined effects of snowmelt and rainfall processes, to determine spatially distributed available water for runoff (AWR). After quasi-stationary time windows were identified based on model outputs extracted for two different mountainous field sites in Colorado and California, intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves for precipitation and AWR were generated and evaluated at each numerical grid to provide guidance on hydrological infrastructure design. Impacts of snowmelt are found to be spatially variable due to spatial heterogeneity associated with topography according to geostatistical analyses. AWR extremes have stronger spatial continuity compared to precipitation. Snowmelt impacts on AWR are more pronounced at the wet California site than at the semiarid Colorado site. The sensitivities of AWR and precipitation IDFs to increasing greenhouse gas emissions are found to be localized and spatially variable. In subregions with significant snowfall, snowmelt can result in an AWR (e.g., 6-h 100-yr events) that is 70% higher than precipitation. For comparison, future greenhouse gas emissions may increase 6-h 100-yr precipitation and AWR by up to 50% and 80%, respectively, toward the end of this century.
The ANT Executive Control Index: No Evidence for Temporal Decrement
Authors: Zholdassova Manzura , Kustubayeva Almira , Matthews Gerald
Published: October 2019

Objective

This study tested whether indices of executive control, alertness, and orienting measured with Attention Network Test (ANT) are vulnerable to temporal decrement in performance.

Background

Developing the resource theory of sustained attention requires identifying neurocognitive processes vulnerable to decrement. Executive control processes may be prone to impairment in fatigue states. Such processes are also highlighted in alternative theories. Determining the role of executive control in vigilance can both advance theory and contribute to practical countermeasures for decrement in human factors contexts.

Method

In Study 1, 80 participants performed the standard ANT for an extended duration of about 55 to 60 min. Study 2 (160 participants) introduced manipulations of trial blocking and stimulus degradation intended to increase resource depletion. Reaction time and accuracy measures were analyzed. Subjective stress and workload were assessed in both studies.

Results

In both studies, the ANT induced levels of subjective workload and task disengagement consistent with previous sustained attention studies. No systematic decrement in any performance measure was observed.

Conclusion

Executive control assessed by the ANT is not highly vulnerable to temporal decrement, even when task demands are elevated. Future work should differentiate executive control processes; proactive control may be more implicated in sustained attention decrement than in reactive control.

Application

Designing systems and interfaces to reduce executive control demands may be generally beneficial but will not directly mitigate temporal performance decrement. Enhancing design guidelines and neuroergonomic methods for monitoring operator attention requires further work to identify key neurocognitive processes for decrement.
Analysing urban policy discourses using textometry: An application to French urban transport plans (2000–2015)
Authors: Buhler Thomas , Lethier Virginie
Published: October 2019

This article supplements the array of methods in urban policy discourse analysis by applying textometry to a corpus of planning documents. Textometry is a systematic computer-assisted analysis of textual data. When applied to large corpora, the method can reveal contrasts that cannot readily be detected by non-instrumented human reading. It seems promising therefore to use textometry to analyse urban planning documents which, in France as in other countries, are known for being at first sight pretty indistinguishable from each other. By analysing dozens of documents at a time, this method increases the scale of analysis, enabling us to identify massive transitions in discourse over time or major contrasts among discourses emanating from specific groups of actors. When combined with classical methods (i.e. interviews, qualitative archival research), textometry seems to be effective at identifying new ways of understanding urban policy discourses. To exemplify the potential of such a method, the analysis developed here draws on a corpus of 36 French urban transport plans (plans de déplacements urbains) for the period 2000–2015. Our results display marked contrasts in discourses, mainly as a result of changes over time. Paradoxically, for most cities between 2000 and 2010, the discourses become increasingly abstract in their content while highlighting a proactive attitude and providing specific information on the document implementation process and a precise list of institutional partners.
Say No and Close the Door? Codependency Troubles among Parents of Adult Children with Drug Problems in Sweden
Authors: Nordgren Johan , Richert Torkel , Svensson Bengt , Johnson Björn
Published: October 2019

Codependency is a term used to describe a range of behaviors among persons who are affected by the problematic drug use of family members. This article analyzes how 32 Swedish parents of adult children with drug problems talked about and understood codependency. The sociology of trouble was used as a theoretical framework and three significant themes were identified in the interviews. The parents spoke about how they defined codependency troubles, how they discovered codependency, and how they set boundaries for their children. The parents talked about their situations as highly distressing, and third-party troubleshooters defined their troubles and problems as codependency. The parents generally rejected the advice to “close the door” on their children and engaged in a range of remedial actions. The analytical focus of this study on the identification, definition, and remedial actions of parents gives valuable insights into family disruptions related to drug problems.
Should You Follow the Better‐Hearing Ear for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection and Isolated Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Authors: Torrecillas Vanessa , Allen Chelsea M. , Greene Tom , Park Albert , Chung Winnie , Lanzieri Tatiana M. , Demmler‐Harrison Gail
Published: October 2019

Objective

To describe the progression of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in the better‐ and poorer‐hearing ears in children with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with isolated SNHL.

Study Design

Longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary medical center.

Subjects and Methods

We analyzed hearing thresholds of the better‐ and poorer‐hearing ears of 16 CMV‐infected patients with isolated congenital/early‐onset or delayed‐onset SNHL identified through hospital‐based CMV screening of >30,000 newborns from 1982 to 1992.

Results

By 12 months of age, 4 of 7 patients with congenital/early‐onset SNHL developed worsening thresholds in the poorer‐hearing ear, and 1 had an improvement in the better‐hearing ear. By 18 years of age, all 7 patients had worsening thresholds in the poorer‐hearing ear and 3 patients had worsening thresholds in the better‐hearing ear. Hearing loss first worsened at a mean age of 2 and 6 years in the poorer‐ and better‐hearing ears, respectively. Nine patients were diagnosed with delayed‐onset SNHL (mean age of 9 years vs 12 years for the poorer‐ and better‐hearing ears), 6 of whom had worsening thresholds in the poorer‐hearing ear and 1 in both ears.

Conclusion

In most children with congenital CMV infection and isolated SNHL, the poorer‐hearing ear worsened earlier and more precipitously than the better‐hearing ear. This study suggests that monitoring individual hearing thresholds in both ears is important for appropriate interventions and future evaluation of efficacy of antiviral treatment.
Plasma Ablation–Assisted Endoscopic Management of Postintubation Laryngotracheal Stenosis: An Alternate Tool for Management
Authors: Virk Ramandeep Singh , Bansal Sandeep , Nayak Gyanaranjan , P Lokesh
Published: October 2019

The current study was conducted to highlight the use of plasma ablation as a promising method in management of adult laryngotracheal stenosis. We present our institutional experience with a minimum follow‐up of 6 months. Seventy adult patients with acquired postintubation laryngotracheal stenosis were included. Efficacy and clinical outcomes of plasma ablation in endoscopic management and eventual decannulation rate were studied. Number of patients with Myer‐Cotton stenosis grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 20, 25, 18, and 7, respectively. The mean number of surgical interventions required in each grade of stenosis were 1, 2, 3.8, and 4, respectively. Overall, 47 patients (67%) were without tracheotomy by the end of 6 months. Plasma ablation is an effective treatment option for adult laryngotracheal stenosis, with a better success rate for lower‐grade stenosis. It has lesser complications and requires fewer surgical interventions.
Can Health Literacy Boost Health Services Utilization in the Context of Expanded Access to Health Insurance?
Authors: Kino Shiho , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: October 2019

Background. Health insurance access and health literacy are critical components of “enabling resources” to encourage uptake of services. We sought to test whether health literacy boosts health services utilization in the context of expanded access to health insurance stemming from the Affordable Care Act. Method. We used individual-level data from 11 states included in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2016. We conducted a two-stage least squares instrumental variables analysis. We instrumented improved access to health insurance stemming from Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. As outcome variables, we examined cost as a barrier to needed care, having a personal doctor and receipt of routine health checkups, flu shots, Pap tests, mammograms, sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy, and dental visits in the past year. We then tested whether the relation between improved health insurance access and health services utilization was moderated by health literacy. Health literacy was measured by a dichotomized scale comprising three items: difficulties obtaining advice or information about health, difficulties understating information from health professionals, and difficulties understanding written health information. Results. We found that improving health insurance access increased the likelihood of reporting a personal doctor while reducing the likelihood of reporting cost as a barrier to care. We also found an interaction effect between health insurance and health literacy on dental visits. However, there was no significant interaction effect between insurance access and health literacy for preventive services utilization. Conclusion. Health literacy did not explain why people fail to access preventive services even when they obtain access to insurance, with the sole possible exception of dental visits among individuals with high literacy.
Task cues lead to item-level backward inhibition with univalent stimuli and responses
Authors: Prosser Laura J , Jackson Margaret C , Swainson Rachel
Published: October 2019

Backward inhibition may aid our ability to switch between tasks by counteracting the tendency to repeat a recently performed task. Current theory asserts that conflict between tasks during performance plays a key role in inducing the effect. However, a study by Costa and Friedrich suggests that backward inhibition might occur without this type of conflict being present. To better understand the mechanisms underlying backward inhibition, we investigated the roles of between-task conflict, task-based instructions, and task cues. Experiment 1 tentatively supported the view that conflict between tasks is not necessary for backward inhibition to be present, and suggested that either the use of task-based instructions or the provision of specific task cues might be sufficient to generate the effect. Experiment 2 ruled out task-based instruction as a likely cause of backward inhibition in this context. Experiment 3 showed that the provision of task cues was sufficient to drive a significant backward inhibition effect, but only when stimuli and responses (as well as tasks) repeated. Overall, these results indicate that between-task conflict during performance is not necessary for backward inhibition to be applied, and that task cues have a key role in generating the effect.
Genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes is associated with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Zheng Qiwen , Jiang Jie , Huo Yong , Chen Dafang
Published: October 2019

Background

Accumulating evidence has shown that type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) may stem from a ‘common soil’. The aim of our study was to examine the association between genetic predisposition to T2D and the risk of severe CAD among patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing angiography.

Methods

The current case–control study included 1414 ACS patients with at least one major epicardial vessel stenosis > 50% enrolled in the ACS Genetic Study. The severity of CAD was quantified by the number of coronary arteries involved. Genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated using 41 common variants that robustly associated with increased risk of T2D in East Asians. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between GRS and the severity of CAD.

Results

In the age-, sex- and BMI-adjusted model, each additional risk allele was associated with a 6% increased risk of multi-vessel disease (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.09). The OR was 1.43 (95% CI 1.08–1.89) for the risk of severe CAD when comparing the extreme tertiles of T2D-GRS. The association was not reduced after further adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Additional adjustment for T2D status in our regression model attenuated the association by approximately one quarter. In subgroup analysis, the strengths of the associations between GRS and the severity of CAD were broadly similar in terms of baseline demographic information and disease characteristics.

Conclusions

Our data indicated that genetic predisposition to T2D is associated with elevated risk of severe CAD. This association revealed a possible causal relationship and is partially mediated through diabetic status.
Engaging patients and the public in Health Research: experiences, perceptions and training needs among Manitoba health researchers
Authors: Crockett Leah K. , Shimmin Carolyn , Wittmeier Kristy D. M. , Sibley Kathryn M.
Published: October 2019

Background

The significance of patient and public engagement is increasingly recognized in health research, demonstrated by explicit requirements for patient and public engagement by funding agencies and journals. Such requirements have charged health researchers with leading patient and public engagement efforts, but evidence suggests that this practice is still evolving. Little research has explored the experiences and training needs of health researchers. This study aimed to establish a baseline understanding of the experiences, perceptions and training needs of health researchers in engaging patients and the public in health research in the context of Manitoba.

Methods

A cross-sectional 50-item questionnaire was distributed using a multi-phase purposive sampling strategy targeting health researchers in Manitoba, Canada. Data was summarized using frequencies, percentages and analyzed using chi-square testing. A local patient engagement advisory group was consulted at the interpretation stage of the study to obtain feedback and input on the findings and their implications.

Results

Responses from 53 health researchers were included. Most participants had engaged patients and the public in their own research (n = 43, 81.1%). Those who had engaged reported having some (n = 19, 44.2%), extensive (n = 14, 32.6%) or a little (n = 10, 23.3%) experience with this process. Most engaged at the levels of inform, consult or involve (81.3, 64.6 and 54.2% respectively), while fewer engaged at the collaborate (37.5%) or patient-directed levels (12.5%). Recruitment occurred using a number of approaches and engagement occurred at various phases of the research process, while main groups engaged were patients (n = 38, 82.6%) and families/caregivers (n = 25, 54.4%). Barriers to engaging patients and the public in health research included funding, time, compensation, logistics, recruitment, motivation at both the patient and researcher level, and skills of researchers to engage. Researchers reported an overwhelming need and interest for supports, funding and training to effectively engage patients and the public in health research. Consultation with the patient advisory group provided further insight on study findings and areas for future research.

Conclusions

Participating Manitoba health researchers engaged patients and the public in health research at multiple, but typically lower levels of involvement. Findings highlight the barriers to effective, authentic and meaningful patient and public engagement and support the need for targeted training, supports, funding and time for health researchers.
RETRACTED: Identification and delineation of potash deposits in Saskatchewan, Canada using pulsed radar technology
Authors: Stove Gordon , Robinson Michael , Fourie Louis , Neufeld Paul , Ferguson Mike
Published: October 2019

Editorial notice: This article has been retracted. See the associated retraction notice here .

Saskatchewan, Canada, contains almost half of the world’s known potash deposits, within the Middle Devonian Prairie Evaporite Formation. As the global demand for potash increases, so does the need for faster, greener and cheaper methods of potash identification and extraction. The primary methods for exploration and development of potash include traditional 2D and 3D seismic methods, along with exploration drilling, downhole geophysical logging, coring, and assays for geological interpretation. One challenge with existing seismic geophysical methods in potash exploration is the difficulty in differentiating the responses and interpretation between the evaporite (sylvinite and halite (NaCl)) beds which are intermittently deposited within the Prairie Evaporite Formation. We field tested a new pulsed radar method for subsurface geophysical measurements at the Vanguard Area, Saskatchewan, to demonstrate whether subsurface evaporties could be directly identified non-invasively from ground level. In the Vanguard Area, the Prairie Evaporite Formation occurs at a depth of approximately 1500 m below ground surface (BGS). Achieving deep penetration of the transmitted pulsed radar wave packets, whilst discerning the materials from which the reflected wave packets (containing difference frequency and energy levels) bounced back from, was another scientific challenge. Following robust testing and due diligence on the method, we have been able to confirm that the pulsed radar method is capable of identifying broad lithological zones, differentiating halite units from sylvinite units (the potash-bearing members) within the Prairie Evaporite Formation, and also differentiating individual sub-members within each major potash member. A high-level identification of potash grade (%KCl) of the potash sub-members was also assessed. Based on this preliminary work, the results presented provide significant evidence and resulting confidence in the promise of utilizing the pulsed radar technology for successful identification and delineation of potash deposits
Tartu University: An Icon of Enlightenment in the North
Authors: Maiste Juhan
Published: October 2019

Tartu University: An Icon of Enlightenment in the North
Out in the cold: Busking Copenhagen’s Nørreport Station and the urban affects of music
Authors: Amundsen Michael
Published: October 2019

This article is drawn for my experience busking at Nørreport Station, a busy transit hub in the centre of Copenhagen, for one afternoon in the spring of 2016. I use narrative and descriptive writing to express the relationship between myself and the environment as a performative milieu. The article looks at theories of affect, atmospheres, and the influence of sound in the busking pitch. It considers the discourse surrounding busking and how my performance experience contributed to appreciations of its meanings. It has been said that street music performance can create emotions, atmospheres and encounters in unlikely and forbidding urban settings. My experience at Nørreport Station challenged these notions. This article avers that new ways of assessing the success of musical interventions in the city should be considered alongside with appreciating how music can be a subtle and meaningful atmospheric and affective influence on urban space. A link to samples of my guitar playing can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/michael-amundsen-guitar.
Breathing in and out with Blow-Up
Authors: Majumdar Neepa
Published: October 2019

This analysis focuses on Blow-Up's play with synchronous and asynchronous sound; the use of breath and frame size to join the visual and sonic dimensions of the concept of blowing up; and its commitment to the embodiment of both viewer and the material of cinema.
The train is always arriving: Nostalgic remediation in Remembrance
Authors: Kilbourn Russell J. A.
Published: October 2019

In Remembrance's distinctively Canadian transposition of Chris Marker's La Jetée, mnemonist Alfred Graves escapes a comparable recursivity by following the woman who triggered the flashback in the first place. In the end he escapes the bounds of the short film genre as the protagonist of the TV series X Company.
On memory and forgetfulness
Authors: Triquell Ximena
Published: October 2019

This article analyses the film Remembrance from a narratological perspective, paying particular attention to the description of memory both as a gift and as a curse, and on the narrative developments that these conceptions of memory imply.
Remembrance and Canadian national cinema: Incorporating classic themes
Authors: Melnyk George
Published: October 2019

This analysis of shows how this short film displays five distinct features of Canadian national cinema – Canadian setting, the failed male, lack of narrative closure, auteurism and anti-romance. By displaying these characteristics found in Canadian feature-length films Remembrance rises above the short film genre.
Remembrance and the fate of a commercial Canadian cinema
Authors: White Jerry
Published: October 2019

Remembrance highlights the possibilities of a modest commercial cinema that prioritizes craftsmanship and focus. This has special importance in Canadian and Quebec cinema, and Remembrance's afterlife as the three-season Canadian TV show X-Company raises important questions about the flourishing of small national cinemas in a globalized age.
Reporting modern statistical analyses: reproducible and transparent
Authors: Mehtätalo Lauri
Published: October 2019

.
Molecular characterization of sesame germplasms of West Bengal, India using RAPD markers
Authors: Saha Soumen , Dhar Tarak Nath , Ghosh Parthadeb , Dey Tulsi
Published: October 2019

The aim of this research was to assess the genetic diversity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and also to reveal the genetic relationships using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Fifteen sesame germplasms were collected from seven districts or four zones of West Bengal, India. A high genetic diversity was revealed by ten RAPD primers within and among the fifteen germplasms. The value of Jaccard’s similarity coefficients among and within the fifteen germplasms ranged from 0.287 to 0.725 which indicated high degree of genetic variability. Cluster analysis using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) grouped all the germplasms into three main clusters. Analysis of various genetic diversity indices strongly indicated high level of genetic diversity among the populations of four different regions. UPGMA analysis of four populations resulted into two groups and the results of Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) depicted a clear distinction among the germplasms.
Kemampuan Alat Deteksi Dini Risiko Malnutrisi Menurut American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition pada Anak 6-60 Bulan oleh Orang Tua
Authors: Yulianty Syarifah Prita , Gurnida Dida Akhmad , Chairulfatah Alex
Published: October 2019

Latar belakang. Status gizi merupakan faktor penting dalam perkembangan dan pertumbuhan anak terutama usia 6−60 bulan yang rentan terjadinya malnutrisi. Deteksi risiko malnutrisi merupakan tugas semua pihak termasuk orang tua, Selama ini dilakukan oleh dokter dan ahli gizi, tidak ada alat skrining yang dapat digunakan orang tua. American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) mengeluarkan panduan mendeteksi risiko malnutrisi pada anak oleh orang tua.Tujuan. Menilai kemampuan alat deteksi dini risiko malnutrisi menurut ASPEN oleh orang tua. Metode Penelitian uji diagnostik ini dilakukan dari September hingga Oktober 2018 di 3 Posyandu di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Sukajadi, Bandung, Indonesia dan melibatkan 75 pasang orang tua dan anak berusia 6–60 bulan. Pemilihan tempat dan subjek penelitian dilakukan secara purposive cluster sampling. Orang tua melakukan penilaian mengenai risiko pada anaknya menurut ASPEN, status gizi anak dinilai berdasarkan perbandingan berat badan (BB) dengan tinggi badan (TB). Anak dinilai memiliki risiko malnutrisi menurut metode ASPEN bila ada minimal salah satu jawaban ‘iya’ dari 9 kriteria pertanyaan, anak dinilai mempunyai risiko malnutrisi menurut peneliti bila ditemukan pemeriksaan antropometri Z-Score <-1 SD. Uji diagnostik terhadap metode ASPEN dilakukan dengan baku emas BB/TB.Hasil. Uji diagnostik menunjukkan sensitivitas, spesifisitas, nilai prediksi positif dan negatif sebesar masing masing 78,95 %, 28,57 %, 27,27 dan 80%. Dengan rasio kemungkinan positif sebesar 1,1053 dan rasio kemungkinan negatif sebesar 0,7368.Kesimpulan. Malnutrisi tidak jarang ditemukan, sehingga walaupun memiliki spesifitas yang tidak begitu tinggi metode ASPEN berguna bagi orang tua dalam mengawasi status gizi anak.
Studi Pilot: Peran Heat Shock Protein 60 (Hsp60) dan Kontrol Metabolik terhadap Infeksi Tuberkulosis pada Anak dan Remaja dengan Diabetes Mellitus Tipe-1
Authors: Pulungan Aman Bhakti , Arto Karina Sugih , Kaswandani Nastiti
Published: October 2019

Latar belakang. Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) ditemukan pada individu dengan Diabetes Mellitus (DM) tipe-1 dan merupakan mimikri molecular Hsp65 pada mycobacterium. Fenomena ini dapat menyebabkan penundaan identifikasi mycobacterium dan memperparah kondisi DM tipe-1. Tujuan. Studi ini bertujuan untuk meneliti peran Hsp60 dalam kontrol metabolik terhadap infeksi tuberkulosis (TB) pada anak dan remaja dengan DM tipe-1.Metode. Penelitian ini merupakan studi potong lintang yang dilaksanakan di Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusumo. Anak dan remaja dengan DM tipe I memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Setelah memperoleh data dasar, dilakukan pemeriksaan HbA1c, Hsp60, dan IGRA. Dilakukan analisis data.Hasil. Sebanyak 32 subjek dengan DM tipe-1 diidentifikasi. Insidens infeksi TB yang terdeteksi dengan IGRA pada anak dan remaja dengan DM tipe-1 adalah 12,5%. Tiga dari empat pasien dengan hasil IGRA positif memiliki nilai HbA1c >9.0. Nilai rerata Hsp60 pada subjek IGRA positif lebih rendah dibandingkan subjek IGRA negatif (1.16 ± 0.59 vs 115.18 ± 364.73), dengan nilai P>0,05.Kesimpulan. Tidak didapatkan hubungan signifikan antara Hsp60 dan control glikemik dengan insidens TB pada anak dan remaja dengan DM tipe-1. Hasil ini mungkin dipengaruhi oleh jumlah subjek yang sedikit, penggunaan IGRA untuk mendiagnosis TB pada anak, dan reaktivitas rendah Hsp60 dengan Hsp65.