bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Combined Patching and Citalopram on Visual Acuity in Adults with Amblyopia: A Randomized, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Lagas Alice K. , Black Joanna M. , Russell Bruce R. , Kydd Robert R. , Thompson Benjamin
Published: June 2019

Nonhuman animal models have demonstrated that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can enhance plasticity within the mature visual cortex and enable recovery from amblyopia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the SSRI citalopram combined with part-time patching of the fellow fixing eye would improve amblyopic eye visual acuity in adult humans. Following a crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, participants completed two 2-week blocks of fellow fixing eye patching. One block combined patching with citalopram (20 mg/day) and the other with a placebo tablet. The blocks were separated by a 2-week washout period. The primary outcome was change in amblyopic eye visual acuity. Secondary outcomes included stereoacuity and electrophysiological measures of retinal and cortical function. Seven participants were randomized, fewer than our prespecified sample size of 20. There were no statistically significant differences in amblyopic eye visual acuity change between the active (mean±SD change=0.08±0.16 logMAR) and the placebo (mean change=−0.01±0.03 logMAR) blocks. No treatment effects were observed for any secondary outcomes. However, 3 of 7 participants experienced a 0.1 logMAR or greater improvement in amblyopic eye visual acuity in the active but not the placebo blocks. These results from a small sample suggest that larger-scale trials of SSRI treatment for adult amblyopia may be warranted. Considerations for future trials include drug dose, treatment duration, and recruitment challenges. This study was preregistered as a clinical trial (ACTRN12611000669998).
Graphene Quantum Dots-Modified Ternary ZnCdS Semiconductor for Enhancing Photoelectric Properties
Authors: Jiang Zicong , Lei Yun , Zhang Mingzhen , Zhang Zheng , Ouyang Zhong
Published: June 2019

A series of graphene quantum dots-modified ZnCdS (ZnCdS/G) composites with different contents of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were prepared by a solvothermal route and characterized via various measurements. GQDs have a type graphene height of 2 nm and exhibit an excitation-dependent PL behavior. GQDs-modified ZnCdS composites present good lattice fingers that can be assigned to the (110) plane of GQDs and (112) plane of ZnCdS. The effect of different GQDs contents on the photoelectric property of ZnCdS was investigated. The results show that the photocurrent density of ZnCdS/G first increases and achieves a maximum of 11.4 μA/cm2 with the addition of 0.06 wt% and then decreases as the GQDs content changes from 0.06 wt% to 0.12 wt%. Photocurrent counts as a function of time present a decrease of 10% and remains stable after 1600 s.
Platinum Nanoflower-Modified Electrode as a Sensitive Sensor for Simultaneous Detection of Lead and Cadmium at Trace Levels
Authors: Nguyen Thi Lieu , Cao Van Hoang , Pham Thi Hai Yen , Le Truong Giang
Published: June 2019

We introduce the fabrication and electrochemical application of platinum nanoflower-modified glassy carbon electrode (PtNFs/GCE) for the trace level determination of lead and cadmium using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The modified electrodes have been characterized by EDX, XRD, SEM, and AFM techniques to confirm chemical and physical properties. The effect of potential electrodeposition on the properties of the electrode was investigated. At −0.2 V of potential, platinum developed with a nanoflower shape and dispersed densely all over the glassy carbon surface. In this condition, the highest of lead and cadmium electrochemical signals was clearly observed. The sensor showed wide linearity in the concentration range of 1–100 μg·L−1 with detection limits of 0.408 μg·L−1 and 0.453 μg·L−1 for lead and cadmium ions, respectively. The produced electrodes have good reproducibility with relative standard deviations of 4.65% for lead and 4.36% for cadmium ions. The results demonstrate that this simple, stable, and sensitive sensor is suitable for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of Pb2+ and Cd2+ at trace levels.
Structure and Stability of B10N14: Cages, Sheets, and Rings
Authors: Walker Melanie , Jones Kelvin , Noble DaiQuan , Walker Marquavias , Strout Douglas L.
Published: June 2019

Boron nitride is a material similar to carbon in its ability to adopt numerous molecular forms, including two-dimensional sheets and three-dimensional cages and nanotubes. Boron nitride single molecules, such as B12N12, have isomeric forms that include rings and sheets, as well as cage forms analogous and isoelectronic to the carbon fullerenes. Such cages tend to be composed of squares and hexagons to allow perfect alternation of boron and nitrogen atoms, which is possible because of the 1 : 1 ratio of boron-to-nitrogen atoms. What about molecules in which this 1 : 1 ratio does not apply? In the current study, theoretical calculations are carried out on molecules of B10N14 to determine energetically favorable isomers. Density functional theory is used in conjunction with Dunning basis sets. Cage, sheet, and ring isomers are considered. Energetic trends are calculated and discussed, in comparison to comparable studies on B12N12.
Green Synthesis of Decaglycerol Laurates by Lipase-Catalyzed Transesterification of Methyl Laurate with Decaglycerol
Authors: Wang Wenyue , Liu Changyao , Zhang Guiju , Yang Fan , Wang Xiaoyan , Chen Fangli , Zhao Feifei , Wang Shengnan , Xu Baocai
Published: June 2019

Decaglycerol laurates have been widely used as emulsifiers in food, medicine, and cosmetic industries for many years. Currently, they are synthesized using alkaline catalysts under stringent conditions. Here, decaglycerol laurates were prepared through a green lipase-catalyzed process, employing the transesterification of methyl laurate with decaglycerol by the immobilized lipase (Novozym 435). Single-factor experiments and orthogonal test were used for reaction optimization. The optimum conditions were obtained as follows: reaction temperature of 65°C, a laurate/decaglycerol molar ratio of 2 : 1, an oscillating speed of 180 rpm, an enzyme dosage (based on amount of methyl laurate) of 8 wt.%, initial water content (based on the total substrate mass) of 5.0 wt.%, and reaction time of 4.5 h with 84.4% conversion of methyl laurate. The transesterification products were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. In addition, the surface activity of decaglycerol laurates was also characterized, and the surface tension of water was reduced to 33 mN·m−1 at a concentration magnitude of 10−5 g/mL.
The Association of Serum hsCRP and Urinary Alpha1-Microglobulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Wan Xiaohua , Zhang Lin , Gu Haitong , Wang Shenglai , Liu Xiangyi
Published: June 2019

This study aimed to investigate the association of serum hsCRP and urinary A1MG in patients with T2DM. Numerous investigations have proven that serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increased. Also, increased urinary alpha-1 microglobulin (A1MG) can be an early sign of renal damage, primarily on the proximal tubules in T2DM. Little information is available with respect to the associations of serum hsCRP levels and urinary A1MG in T2DM. A total of 520 patients with T2DM were recruited to participate in this study. Serum hsCRP and UA1MG (urinary alpha1-microglobulin to creatinine ratio), UACR (urinary microalbumin to creatinine ratio), UIGG (urinary immunoglobulin G to creatinine ratio), and UTRF (urinary transferrin to creatinine ratio) were obtained. The association of serum hsCRP level and each urinary protein parameter was analyzed by using the regression analysis, respectively. LnhsCRP was positively associated with the lnUA1MG in all three linear regression models (adjusted β in model 3=0.122, SE=0.027, P<0.001). Furthermore, the high hsCRP group (hsCRP > 3mg/L) was associated with increasing risk of high UA1MG (adjusted OR in model 3=1.610, 95% CI 1.037–2.499, P=0.034) by logistic regression. This study suggests that serum hsCRP levels independently associate with UA1MG in patients with T2DM. Further research is warranted to elucidate these interactions.
The Improvement of Dry Eye Symptoms after Pinguecula Excision and Conjunctival Autograft with Fibrin Glue
Authors: Jeong Jinho , Rand Gabriel M. , Kwon Taejung , Kwon Ji-Won
Published: June 2019

Purpose. To evaluate the association between pinguecula excision and subsequent improvement in dry eye syndrome. Methods. We included 30 consecutive patients with primary nasal pinguecula and dry eye symptoms undergoing ocular surgery for the first time. Criteria for pinguecula excision surgery were nasal location, yellowish color, and protrusion of conjunctiva at least 2 times thicker than adjacent normal conjunctiva as measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Our primary outcomes were 3-month postoperative changes in tear film breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer test, and a dry eye symptom score. Results. 30 eyes from 30 different patients (12 men and 18 women) underwent pinguecula excision and conjunctival autografting using fibrin glue. The mean age was 42.5 ± 8.35 (range 28–63) years. The preoperative protrusion ratio of pinguecula was 2.33 ± 0.28 (range 2.00–2.90). Mean preoperative TBUT, Schirmer test, and dry eye symptom scores were 5.10 ± 1.27 seconds, 6.07 ± 2.27 mm, and 2.80 ± 0.76 points. Mean postoperative 3-month TBUT, Schirmer test, and dry eye symptom scores were 7.80 ± 1.13 seconds, 7.27 ± 2.02 mm, and 0.30 ± 0.47 points, respectively. The median pre- and postoperative changes were found to be statistically significant by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for TBUT, Schirmer test score, and dry eye symptom score. Conclusion. Surgical excision of pinguecula and conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue is an effective and safe method to improve symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
Successfully Treated Lung and Renal Metastases from Primary Chondrosarcoma of the Scapula with Radiofrequency Ablation and Surgical Resection
Authors: Sekito Sho , Kato Manabu , Nishikawa Kouhei , Yoshio Yuko , Kanai Masahiro , Kanda Hideki , Arima Kiminobu , Sugimura Yoshiki
Published: June 2019

Since chondrosarcoma is a relatively rare type of malignant bone tumors characterized by its ability to produce a cartilage matrix and aggressive behavior, a consensus clinical management strategy has not been established. We report a 55-year-old woman who presented with renal metastasis arising from chondrosarcoma of the scapula. Chondrosarcoma of the left scapula was diagnosed 15 years earlier. After surgical resection of a local recurrence in the left scapula, she received focal radiofrequency ablation (RFA). She underwent focal RFA and surgical resection for a total of 21 times for lung metastases. Because invasion of the renal pelvis was suspected from urine cytology, she underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. The histopathological findings showed metastatic chondrosarcoma involving the right renal parenchyma. The patient has remained clinically stable without recurrence for 18 months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of metastatic chondrosarcoma of the lung and renal parenchyma with involvement of the renal pelvis in which remission was achieved with multimodal treatment including RFA and surgical resection.
Fractional Integral and Derivative Formulas by Using Marichev-Saigo-Maeda Operators Involving the S-Function
Authors: Suthar D. L. , Amsalu Hafte
Published: June 2019

We establish fractional integral and derivative formulas by using Marichev-Saigo-Maeda operators involving the S-function. The results are expressed in terms of the generalized Gauss hypergeometric functions. Corresponding assertions in terms of Saigo, Erdélyi-Kober, Riemann-Liouville, and Weyl type of fractional integrals and derivatives are presented. Also we develop their composition formula by applying the Beta and Laplace transforms. Further, we point out also their relevance.
Knowledge of Health Professionals on Cold Chain Management and Associated Factors in Ezha District, Gurage Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Yassin Zeyneba Jemal , Yimer Nega Habtamu , Derseh Behailu Tariku , Sisay Yehuala Yetnayet , Dad Abel Fekadu
Published: June 2019

Background. Maintaining quality of vaccines has been one of the main challenges of immunization programs in Africa including Ethiopia, and this could mainly be explained by health professional’s knowledge about cold chain management. There are limited studies done in Ethiopia linking the knowledge of health professionals on cold chain management, and that is why we needed to conduct this study.Methodology. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among all available health professionals in selected health facilities (232 health professionals). Face-to-face interview using a semistructured questionnaire was conducted to collect required information from September to October 2016. Observational checklist was used to spot availability and functionality of refrigerators. Data entry and cleaning was done using Epi Info and exported to SPSS for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with health professional’s knowledge about cold chain management.Result. The response rate was 92.43%, and 119 (51.3%; 95% CI; 44.9%, 57.6%) health professionals had a satisfactory knowledge about cold chain management. Being trained on immunization program (AOR = 5.1; 95% CI: 2.68, 10.13), having a work experience above six years (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.8, 4.15), using EPI guidelines (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.47, 5.57), and being a BSc nurse/health officer (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.47, 14.4) had got better knowledge on cold chain management.Conclusion. Health professionals working in the health centers and health posts had low knowledge on cold chain management. Longer work experience, in-service training, and using EPI guideline at work were factors that improved health professionals’ knowledge about a cold chain management, which needs to be maintained.
Traumatic Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Extensive Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Renko Abagayle E. , Doyle Warren C. , Sokoloski Paul W.
Published: June 2019

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with cardiovascular symptoms not only following emotional trauma but also following motor vehicle accidents. A 45-year-old woman presented with chest pain following a motor vehicle accident. While she had an elevated troponin level and an extensive history of cardiac disease, her electrocardiogram was normal. Echocardiogram, however, demonstrated transiently reduced left ventricular systolic function with mid to apical hypokinesis consistent with TCM. We emphasize the use of a diagnostic score and point of care focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) to expedite the recognition, evaluation, and treatment of suspected TCM in an Emergency Department setting.
Case Reports of DRESS Syndrome and Symptoms Consistent with DRESS Syndrome Following Treatment with Recently Marketed Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Di Palma-Grisi James C. , Vijayagopal Kesav , Muslimani Muhammad A.
Published: June 2019

Background. Monoclonal antibodies constitute a potent and broadly tolerable drug class, representing for some conditions the first newly approved treatment in years. As such, many are afforded “fast-track” or “breakthrough therapy” designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, leading to provisional approval before Phase III clinical trials are reported. Although these drugs are usually safe, some patients experience life-threatening complications—myositis and encephalitis have led to permanent or temporary recalls. Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a hypersensitivity condition easily missed due to its long incubation period and nonspecific presentation. This minireview is primarily intended as an abbreviated guide for practitioners who may be using these powerful treatments. Methodology. We searched PubMed using a string of symptoms consistent with DRESS syndrome and monoclonal antibodies approved by the FDA since 2015. Then, we excluded studies reporting dermatological complications of reactivation of nonherpetic infection, immunodeficiency-related infection, or reactions to the injection site or infusion. We searched for and accessed prior reviews and background studies via PubMed, Mendeley, and Google Scholar. Results. Two cases of DRESS syndrome were identified in the literature, both the result of treatment with daclizumab. There was one additional case of encephalitis without cutaneous symptoms caused by daclizumab. Drug-induced hypersensitivity dermatitis was reported following treatment with nivolumab and two cases of combination treatment with ipilimumab and either nivolumab or durvalumab produced maculopapular rash and bullae in the first patient and lichenoid dermatitis and blisters in the second patient. Conclusions. Daclizumab was the only recently approved monoclonal antibody associated with DRESS syndrome as such. Limitations in the diagnostic reliability of DRESS syndrome as a clinical entity and the lack of negative clinical trial reporting suggest enhanced vigilance on the part of clinicians and regulators may be warranted.
Commutators of the Bilinear Hardy Operator on Herz Type Spaces with Variable Exponents
Authors: Wang Shengrong , Xu Jingshi
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we obtain the boundedness of bilinear commutators generated by the bilinear Hardy operator and BMO functions on products of Herz spaces and Herz-Morrey spaces with variable exponents.
Importance Assessment of Structural Members Based on Elastic-Plastic Strain Energy
Authors: Lin Yongjun , Zhang Xianzhao , Xu Wenqiang , Zhou Meng
Published: June 2019

Based on the elastic analysis, the existing methods of the importance assessment of structural members can only reflect the structural elastic behavior. To understand the plasticity and stiffness degradation of the structure, the present study proposes a member importance assessment method which takes the structural elastic-plastic strain energy or the generalized elastic-plastic strain energy as the performance parameter. First, the existing methods of member importance assessment are explained. Second, by pushover analysis, structural elastic-plastic strain energy is calculated in accordance with the story force-displacement curve, and structural generalized elastic-plastic strain energy is calculated according to the base shear-top displacement curve. Third, the importance of structural members is measured with its effect on the elastic-plastic strain energy or generalized elastic-plastic strain energy of the structure. Given the difference between structural performance parameters, the coefficient of member importance is defined. Finally, the importance of the masonry structure wall is quantitatively assessed using the elastic-plastic strain energy method, the generalized elastic-plastic strain energy method, the generalized stiffness method, and the ultimate bearing capacity method. Besides, the effect of the seismic fortification intensity and the number of structural stories on the wall importance assessment results is analyzed. According to the results, the elastic-plastic strain energy method and the generalized elastic-plastic strain energy method can both reveal the mechanical performance of elastic-plastic state of the structure under severe earthquake. Furthermore, the greater the seismic fortification intensity is, the more important the wall will be on the bottom floor, the more the total number of structural stories will be, and the more important the opening wall and its adjacent wall will be.
Development of Eco-Friendly Soy Meal Adhesives Enhanced by Ethylene Glycol Diglycidyl Ether
Authors: Yao Xingfang , Liu Hongli , Li Congcong
Published: June 2019

The ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) as a viscosity reducer, plasticizing agent, and crosslinking agent was introduced into the adhesive system to improve the properties of the soy-based adhesive. The adhesive properties including viscosity, solid content, and shear adhesion of soy protein adhesive were measured. The morphology, infrared spectra, and crystallinity of the cured adhesives were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the viscosity of soybean flour (SF) adhesive was reduced by 48% and the solid content increased from 25.9% to 31.7% with the addition of 10 wt% EGDE. The wet shear strength of the plywood bonded by EGDE-modified SF adhesive was significantly improved owing to the formation of crosslinking structure in the adhesive system. The SEM, FTIR, and XRD results demonstrated that the crosslinking reaction among epoxy group of EGDE, the amino group of SF, and the hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol occurred successfully during the curing process.
Response Analysis of Submerged Floating Tunnel Hit by Submarine Based on Smoothed‐Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Luo Gang , Pan Shaokang , Zhang Yulong , Chen Liang
Published: June 2019

This paper presents the theoretical investigation on the damage of the submerged floating tunnel (SFT) under extreme loads. Water was modeled by smoothed‐particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Anchor cables, SFT, and submarine were modeled by the finite element method (FEM). Penetrating phenomenon in the calculation process was achieved by the penalty function, and the fluid‐solid coupling effect was also considered in the simulation. The process of a submarine striking on the SFT was studied based on the commercial software. The relationships between the energy of the water, submarine, and SFT were studied. The structural and human damages were evaluated using the kinematics and kinetic parameters of the SFT according to the relevant criterion. The results indicate that the SPH‐FEM coupling method is suitable to investigate the impact of the SFT in the water. The initial kinetic energy of the submarine is mainly converted into kinetic energy of the water and internal energy of the tunnel. The kinematic parameters at the impact point reach a peak value. The kinematic parameters at the anchor cables reach the minimum value, so the anchor cables can inhibit the development of disaster significantly. The SPH‐FEM coupling method can be helpful for collision and explosion analysis of the SFT.
BIM Use Assessment (BUA) Tool for Characterizing the Application Levels of BIM Uses for the Planning and Design of Construction Projects
Authors: Rojas María J. , Herrera Rodrigo F. , Mourgues Claudio , Ponz-Tienda José L. , Alarcón Luis F. , Pellicer Eugenio
Published: June 2019

The evaluation of BIM capabilities and repeatability enables a company or project to identify its current status and how to improve continuously; this evaluation can be performed with BIM maturity models. However, these maturity models can measure the BIM state but not specifically the application of BIM uses. Likewise, in interorganizational project teams with a diversity of factors from various companies, it is possible to evaluate the capacity at a specified time with specified factors, but it is not possible to evaluate the repeatability unless the client always works with the same project teams. Therefore, despite the existence of various BIM uses in the literature, there is no instrument to evaluate the level of implementation of them in construction projects. This research proposes a BIM Use Assessment (BUA) tool for characterizing the levels of application of the BIM uses in the planning and design phases of building projects. The research methodology was organized into three stages: (1) identification, selection, and definition of BIM uses; (2) proposal of the BUA tool for characterizing the level of BIM use application; and (3) validation of the BUA tool. The tool was validated using 25 construction projects, where high reliability and concordance were observed; hence, the BUA tool complies with the consistency and concordance analysis for assessing uses in the design and planning phases of construction projects. The assessment will enable self‐diagnosis, stakeholder qualification/selection, and industry benchmarking.
A Rare Case of Takotsubo Syndrome and Acute Coronary Syndrome of the Right Coronary Artery
Authors: Mencer Nicholas , Justice Larry Todd , Black William , Litton Kayleigh
Published: June 2019

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an increasingly recognized heart disease that was initially regarded as a benign condition, but since has proven to cause irreversible myocardial damage, resembling that of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The etiology of TTS is still uncertain but may be associated with catecholamine elevations during times of emotional or physical stress. Catecholamines are also understood to have prothrombotic properties, which could lead to ACS. With these similarities, differentiating these two pathologies can be difficult, especially when TTS and ACS occur simultaneously.
A Static Fracturing Technology to Enhance the Permeability of Coalbed: Mechanical Study
Authors: Wang Long , Guo Baohua , Wang Zhaofeng
Published: June 2019

Low permeability of coalbed has always been a main bottleneck impeding the safety production of coal mines and the high‐efficient gas recovery. A static fracturing technology, relied on hydraulic‐driving modules to expand outwards for producing artificial fissures in coalbed, is proposed here for coalbed reservoir stimulation. The mechanical model of borehole fracturing is established to clarify the associated mechanisms for fracturing stimulation based on the elastic‐plastic mechanics. The numerical results indicate when the fracturing load is over twice as much as in situ stress, the concentration of hoop stress around borehole would be released and the range of fracturing‐induced fissures gradually extends with the rising load. While the lateral stress coefficient of strata rising from 1 to 3, the stress distribution around borehole evolves from a ring to a saddle shape, resulting in the horizontal extension of fissures in the early stage. According to underground monitoring, a significant improvement of coalbed permeability up to 5 times has been achieved in 16031 tailgate, in Guhanshan coalmine, China.
Hyperhomocysteinemia Associated with Low Muscle Mass, Muscle Function in Elderly Hemodialysis Patients: An Analysis of Multiple Dialysis Centers
Authors: Wang Chi-Sin , Wong Te-Chih , Duong Tuyen Van , Su Chien-Tien , Chen Hsi-Hsien , Chen Tso-Hsiao , Hsu Yung-Ho , Peng Sheng-Jeng , Kuo Ko-Lin , Liu Hsiang-Chung , Lin En-Tzu , Feng Yi-Wei , Yang Shwu-Huey
Published: June 2019

Background. The hyperhomocysteinemia was with high prevalence and has been considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients. These patients also experienced a high risk of muscle wasting caused by the comorbidity, malnutrition, and low physical activity. We investigated the associations of homocysteinemia with muscle mass, muscle function in elderly hemodialysis patients. Methods. A clinical cross-sectional study was conducted on 138 hemodialysis patients aged 65 years and above in seven hospital-based hemodialysis centers in Taiwan. The data on anthropometry, laboratory, and 3-day dietary intake was examined. The skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis; the SMM was adjusted by height or weight as SMMHt2 (kg/m2) and SMMWt (%). Muscle function was defined as handgrip strength (HGS) (kg) measured by handgrip dynamometer. Statistical analyses were conducted using simple regression and multivariable stepwise regression analysis. Results. In the total sample, 74.6 % of hemodialysis patients were hyperhomocysteinemia (≥ 15 μmol/L). The means of SMMHt2, SMMWt, arm lean mass, hand grip strength, and muscle quality were 8.7 ± 1.2, 37.7 ± 5.6, 1.7 ± 0.5, 21.1 ± 7.4, and 10.0 ± 3.0, respectively. The multivariable stepwise regression analysis showed that homocysteinemia level was significantly inversely associated with SMMWt (B-coeff. = -0.03, p = 0.02) in hemodialysis patients above 65 years old, but not with muscle function. Conclusions. Hyperhomocysteinemia is common and associated with decreased muscle mass in the elderly hemodialysis patients. Future studies are suggested to explore the impact of the homocysteine-lowering therapy on muscle decline.
An Initial Evaluation on the Adsorption of SO2 and NO2 over Porous Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Facile Scalable Method
Authors: Pham Xuan-Manh , Pham Duy Linh , Hanh Nguyen Thi , Dang Thi Tuyet Anh , Thuy Giang Le Nhat , Phuong Hoang Thi , Anh Nguyen Tuan , Nhung Hac Thi , Le Giang Truong , Hoang Mai Ha , Nguyen Tuyen Van
Published: June 2019

In this study, Fe3O4 nanoparticles used as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic gases were successfully synthesized via the facile coprecipitation method. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles displayed a well-defined morphology with the size of ∼10 nm and a porous structure with a specific area of 115.90 m2/g and a wide range of pore sizes. These nanoparticles exhibited effective adsorption abilities upon the exposure to toxic gases. In particular, the amount of 40.5 mg SO2 and 108.5 mg NO2 was adsorbed in 1 g of Fe3O4 nanoparticles after 60 minutes of exposure, making the Fe3O4 nanoparticles become a promising adsorbent for the removal of toxic gases.
Provenance vs. Authenticity: An Archaeological Perspective on the Post-2002 “Dead Sea Scrolls-Like” Fragments
Authors: Mizzi Dennis , Magness Jodi
Published: June 2019

This article adds an archaeological voice to the current debate surrounding the authenticity of recently acquired “Dead Sea Scrolls-like” fragments. In our opinion, since these fragments are above all archaeological artifacts, considerations of provenance should take priority over authenticity. We begin with a survey that contextualizes this debate in relation to other types of archaeological artifacts, and consider the importance of context as well as ethical, legal, moral, and economic issues relating to the acquisition and publication of unprovenanced artifacts. We conclude that any artifact that lacks verifiable documentation of its provenance—whether or not it is authentic—should not be studied or published by scholars. Finally, we urge professional organizations and publishers to establish or strengthen policies preventing the publication of such artifacts, even after primary publication or presentation elsewhere.
Human Protection and the Politics of Armed Intervention: With Responsibility Comes Accountability
Authors: Bellamy Alex J. , McLoughlin Stephen
Published: June 2019

Miliary intervention remains a controversial part of human protection. Indispensable in some circumstances, military intervention confronts significant structural challenges which means that it is used only rarely and has the propensity for causing unintended negative consequences. In this essay, we examine the place of humanitarian intervention within the human protection regime. Focusing on the case of Libya, we argue that the UN Security Council has now accepted that the use force, even against a sovereign state, is a sometimes legitimate response to mass atrocities. But the Libya experience also raised three major challenges – challenges of regime change, accountability, and selectivity – that will have be addressed if military intervention is ever to become a legitimate part of international society’s anti-atrocities arsenal. First, we show how increased international activism after the Cold War helped put downwards pressure on the incidence of mass atrocities worldwide. Second, we explain why armed intervention remained a controversial and rarely employed instrument of human protection. Third, we argue that the UN Security Council’s decision to authorise armed intervention in Libya represented a significant development in the place of armed intervention as a tool of human protection. Finally, we examine the political consequences of the intervention and argue that these will need to be addressed in order to rebuild sufficient trust to allow future considerations of the use of force for humanitarian purposes.
Club Diplomacy in the Arctic
Authors: Burke Danita Catherine
Published: June 2019

The Arctic Council is frequently called a unique forum but, as this article argues, clubs are common in international politics and in many respects the Arctic Council is a club. This article explores the questions: Why are the Arctic states acting like a club in Arctic politics, and how do internal hierarchies influence how clubs make decisions? As the article illustrates, clubs are the stage for club diplomacy and, in club diplomacy, hierarchies play an important role. Using the Arctic Council as an illustrative case study, this article argues that clubs have internal hierarchies that inform their decision-making processes and their responses to challenges to their status. When clubs try to deal with subjects that extend beyond the boundaries of the sovereignty of club members and the parameters of club membership, club members may suffer from a lack of status and legitimacy to unilaterally deal with the subject.
Locating the World in Metaphysical Poetry
Authors: Burney Fatima
Published: June 2019

Discussions on world literature often imagine literary presence, movement, and exchange in terms of location and prioritize those literary traditions that can be easily mapped. In many regards, classical ghazal poetry resists such interpretation. Nonetheless, a number of nineteenth-century writers working in Urdu and English reframed classical ghazal poetry according to notions of locale that were particularly underpinned by ideas of natural essence, or genius. This article puts two such receptions of the classical ghazal in conversation with one another: the naičral shāʿirī (natural poetry) movement in North India, and the portrayal of classical Persian poet Hafiz as a figure of national genius in the scholarship of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Both these examples highlight the role that discourses of nature and natural expression played in nineteenth-century literary criticism, particularly with regard to conceptions of national culture. They also demonstrate how Persianate literary material that had long circulated in cosmopolitan ways could be vernacularized by rereading conventionalized tropes of mystical longing in terms of more worldly belonging.
The Literary World of the North African Taghrība
Authors: Laachir Karima
Published: June 2019

The novels by North African novelists Waciny Laredj, Majid Toubia and Abdelrahim Lahbibi that refashioned the traditional Arabic genre of the taghrība inspired by the medieval epic of Taghrība of Banū Hilāl, still a living oral tradition in the region, offer an interesting case study of location in world literature. They circulate both within national (Algerian, Egyptian and Moroccan) literary systems and the pan-Arab literary field while maintaining a distinct aesthetic and political locality. In these novels, the literary life of the North African taghrība takes forms and meanings that are geographically and historically located, and that are shaped by the positionality of the authors. This paper intervenes in the discussion on location in world literature from the perspective of Arabic novelistic traditions by showing that the pan-Arabic literary field itself is far from homogenous but is marked by a diversity of narrative styles and techniques that can be both local/localised and transregional at the same time. Therefore, we need to shift our understanding of world literature beyond macro-models of “world-system” that assume a universally-shared set of literary values and tastes.
World Literature as Proximate Reading and David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas
Authors: Tracy Dale
Published: June 2019

Cloud Atlas takes the form of what Lawrence Buell calls an observer-hero narrative, in which an observer has difficulty representing and interpreting a hero’s actions. While Cloud Atlas structurally magnifies this problem over its multiple stories, its subversion of genre and convention suggests a reading strategy through which one might believe in another’s effective action, despite the accepted knowledge and limiting rules of the systems in which action might occur. The novel’s principle of symmetry, that an observer’s belief in a hero’s action bolsters the action’s effects, suggests the significance of what I call proximate observation – observation founded in an appropriate degree of connection. Proximate observation allows for the belief in another’s story, belief that is necessary for change. The implications for a text, the world, or world literature are the same: proximate reading strategies foreground the need for belief in possibilities one does not already know.
Two new neotropical genera of the shore-fly tribe Ephydrini Zetterstedt (Diptera: Ephydridae)
Authors: MATHIS WAYNE N.
Published: June 2019

Two new shore-fly genera, Paraephydra gen. nov. and Neoephydra gen. nov., from the Neotropical Region are described. Paraephydra is revised and includes P. freitasi (Oliveira), comb. nov. and P. stauros, sp. nov. For the genus Neoephydra, N. araucaria, sp. nov., is described and new combinations are made for most Neotropical species previously placed in Dimecoenia. The tribe Ephydrini is characterized and a key to the genera of this tribe is presented.
Notes on the leafhopper genus Cofana Melichar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from India with description of two new species
Authors: KRISHNANKUTTY SINDHU M. , VIRAKTAMATH CHANDRASEKHARA A.
Published: June 2019

A review of the genus Cofana Melichar from India is presented. Seven valid species are recognized of which two species are described as new, namely, C. bidentata sp. nov. and C. spiculata sp. nov. C. karjatensis Ramakrishnan, is treated as synonym of C. unimaculata (Signoret). All species from the Indian subcontinent are re-described and illustrated and a key is provided.
Checklist of the Decapods (Crustacea) from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil
Authors: DE LOURDES ALVES MARIA , RAMOS-PORTO MARILENA , VIANA GIRLENE FÁBIA SEGUNDO
Published: June 2019

This work presents a list of crustacean decapods species collected around Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, between November 1991 and August 1993, and also January 2000. This report lists others species reported in the area from records in the literature as well as those collected during the Almirante Saldanha Expedition. A total of 133 species are recorded belonging to 45 families from the Suborder Dendrobranchiata and the Infraorders Stenopodidea, Caridea, Astacidea, Thalassinidea, Palinura, Anomura and Brachyura of the Suborder Pleocyemata.
Variability in trunk segmentation in the centipede order Scolopendromorpha: a remarkable new species of Scolopendropsis Brandt (Chilopoda: Scolopendridae) from Brazil
Authors: CHAGAS-JUNIOR AMAZONAS , EDGECOMBE GREGORY D. , MINELLI ALESSANDRO
Published: June 2019

Of the two centipede orders that complete segmentation during embryogenesis, most species belonging to Geophilomorpha have an intraspecifically variable number of trunk segments, whereas those of the Scolopendromorpha have been assumed to have a fixed segment number, with minor variation (21 or 23 segments) across the group as a whole. Trunk segment numbers are used as a taxonomic character as high as the familial or subordinal level in Scolopendromorpha. The first known instance of variability in trunk segment numbers within a scolopendromorph species has recently been proposed for the Brazilian Scolopendropsis bahiensis (Brandt, 1841), which has either 21 or 23 segments in different parts of its geographic range. Here we document a closely related scolopendrid from Tocantins State, central Brazil, Scolopendropsis duplicata n. sp., which differs from S. bahiensis in having either 39 or 43 segments. This unique segment count is incorporated into a revised diagnosis of the order Scolopendromorpha. The deeply nested position of Scolopendropsis within the Scolopendridae implies that the geophilomorph-like trunk segment number in S. duplicata is convergent with similar segmentation in Geophilomorpha.
A review of West Palaearctic Hoplocampa species, focussing on Sweden (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae)
Authors: LISTON ANDREW , PROUS MARKO , VÅRDAL HEGE
Published: June 2019

Fourteen Hoplocampa species have been recorded in the West Palaearctic. We provide an illustrated key to these species, together with H. tadshikistanica, which is so far only known from Tadshikistan, but could occur in the West Palaearctic. The suitability of genetic sequencing for identification, particularly of larvae, is discussed. COI barcoding reliably distinguishes all European species which have been sampled (only H. phantoma lacks data), except for H. fulvicornis and H. minuta, which can be identified using nuclear sequences. Distributions in the Fennoscandian countries are outlined, with particular reference to Sweden. Hoplocampa chrysorrhoea is recorded for the first time in Scandinavia, from southern Sweden. Lectotypes are designated for twelve nominal taxa: Allantus ferrugineus Panzer, 1802, Hoplocampa chrysorrhoea var. nigrita Enslin, 1914, H. fabricii W. F. Kirby, 1882, H. oertzeni Konow, 1888, H. pectoralis Thomson, 1871, Hylotoma ferruginea Fabricius, 1804, Tenthredo alpina Zetterstedt, 1838, T. brevis Klug, 1816, T. chrysorrhoea Klug, 1816, T. crataegi Klug, 1816, T. plagiata Klug, 1816, and T. rutilicornis Klug, 1816. Hoplocampa minuta forma dudai Gregor, in Gregor & Bata, 1942 is a new synonym of H. fulvicornis (Panzer, 1801).
A survey of Agroeca Westring, 1861 from China (Araneae: Liocranidae)
Authors: MU YANNAN , JIN CHI , ZHANG FENG
Published: June 2019

Spiders of the genus Agroeca Westring, 1861 occurring in China were surveyed. Five species were previously known from the country, and eight species are reported for the first time, of which five are described as new: A. batangensis sp. n. (♂) from Chongqing City, A. lata sp. n. (♂ ♀) from the Yunnan Province, A. mainlingensis sp. n. (♂ ♀) from the Xizang Autonomous Region, A. nigra sp. n. (♂) from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and A. tumida sp. n. (♂) from the Gansu Province. The three described species recorded from China for the first time are A. brunnea (Blackwall, 1833) and A. dentigera Kulczyński, 1913 from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and A. coreana Namkung, 1989 from the Shaanxi Province. Two species previously described from southern Xinjiang, A. flavens O. P.-Cambridge, 1885 and A. debilis O. P.-Cambridge, 1885, probably do not belong to Agroeca.
Lipoprotein (a) and 10-year Cardiovascular Disease Incidence in Apparently Healthy Individuals: A Sex-based Sensitivity Analysis from ATTICA Cohort Study
Authors: Kouvari Matina , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B. , Chrysohoou Christina , Georgousopoulou Ekavi N. , Yannakoulia Mary , Tousoulis Dimitrios , Pitsavos Christos
Published: June 2019

The association between lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and 10-year first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in apparently healthy men and women was evaluated. The ATTICA prospective study was conducted during 2001-2012 and included n = 1514 men and n = 1528 women (age >18 years) from the greater Athens area, Greece. Follow-up CVD assessment (2011-2012) was achieved in n = 2020 participants (n = 317 cases); baseline Lp(a) was measured in n = 1890 participants. The recommended threshold of 50 mg/dL was used to define abnormal Lp(a) status. Ten-year CVD-event rate was 14% and 24% in participants with Lp(a) <50 and Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL versus Lp(a) <50 mg/dL had about 2 times higher CVD risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11, 4.28). The sex-based analysis revealed that the independent Lp(a) effect was retained only in men (HR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.19, 2.56); in women, significance was lost after adjusting for lipid markers. Sensitivity analyses revealed that Lp(a) increased CVD risk only in case of abnormal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, and triglycerides as well as low adherence to Mediterranean diet. Certain patient characteristics may be relevant when considering Lp(a) as a therapeutic or risk-prediction target.
A trustworthy web-based system platform for teaching evaluation and STEM education
Authors: Wu Chia-Chun , Yang Cheng-Yin , Hwang Min-Shiang , Lee Cheng-Yee
Published: June 2019

The online course evaluation system for teaching evaluation and STEM education is a new field of research, but the anonymity of such a system is rarely discussed. An online evaluation system that requires a login will make students feel as if they were writing names on real answer sheets, and therefore causes them set aside their true feelings about the course and lower the validity of the evaluation. We have developed a trustworthy web-based system for STEM instructional evaluation that does not require a login while maintaining its validity. We also conducted an experiment to test whether our system is satisfying and trusted by the students. As a result, our system has met the requirement of a valid course evaluation system and gained the trust of the students.
The Australian labour market in 2018
Authors: Oliver Damian , Yu Serena
Published: June 2019

In 2018, the Australian labour market continued to see only very moderate wages growth despite strong employment growth and low unemployment. This remains an international phenomenon with underlying economic and legal structural causes. Employment growth was concentrated in part-time jobs for both males and females, and in both manufacturing and white-collar industries. The Fair Work Commission increased the National Minimum Wage by 3.5%, a higher percentage increase than previous years but one that reflected higher growth in average earnings and inflation. The climate surrounding agreement making was less febrile than in recent years, with fewer high-profile attempts to terminate existing enterprise agreements. However, collective bargaining coverage in the private sector continues to decline to historic lows. Changes to skilled migration were the most significant shift in labour market policy in 2018, with a significant reduction in the number of permanent skilled migrants and a new temporary skilled migrant visa category with much stricter eligibility requirements. If sustained, this reduction may contribute to increasing pressure on wages in the years to come.
Urban sprawl and the emergence of food deserts in the USA
Authors: Hamidi Shima
Published: June 2019

Providing access to a variety of healthy and affordable foods has been the goal of several federal and state policy initiatives in the USA. The first step towards the successful implementation of these initiatives is to identify food deserts and to understand the mechanism by which food deserts arise. This national-level study investigates the association between urban sprawl and the emergence of food deserts at both regional and neighbourhood levels. Multilevel analysis is used to model the likelihood of a census tract being a food desert, controlling for sociodemographic and built environmental characteristics. We find that urban sprawl, measured via a compactness index, holds a significant association with the likelihood of a census tract being a food desert. Specifically, a one unit increase in the compactness index is associated with a 5.6% decrease in the odds of a census tract being a food desert. In conclusion, we recommend increasing the land use density, mix and walkability of neighbourhoods to create a supportive and attractive environment for food retailers in which to invest.