bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Could Charge and Mass be Universals?
Authors: Gilton Marian J. R.
Published: March 2020

Many issues in metaphysics and philosophy of science concern the status, significance, or theoretical role of properties such as charge and mass. This paper is about the surprising differences in metaphysical character between mass and charge properties. It develops a novel, three‐fold analysis of color charge, and it shows that the same analysis for electric charge is degenerate. Additionally, the formalism for mass raises a different set of considerations for its metaphysical status. Since mass, color charge, and electric charge have these differences, metaphysicians and philosophers of science must reevaluate the ways in which they are accustomed to appealing to these properties.
The presence of CC chemokines and their aberrant role in the porcine corpus luteum
Authors: Witek Krzysztof Jan , Ziecik Adam J. , Małysz‐Cymborska Izabela , Andronowska Aneta
Published: March 2020

The process of luteal regression is tightly regulated by the immune system and chemokines—small cytokines responsible mostly for the activation and migration of immune cells. The role of chemokines in porcine corpus luteum (CL) function is still not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile and distribution of CC chemokines in the porcine CL during the natural oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Additionally, the effect of PGF2α on the expression of selected chemokines and their luteotropic and apoptotic influence on CL cells were studied in vitro. The expression levels of the chemokines CCL2, CCL4, and CCL5 and the chemokine receptor CCR5 were time‐dependent (low on Days 8–10 and high on Days 12–14 of the oestrous cycle). Moreover, CCL8 and CCR2 transcript levels were also elevated during the period of luteolysis. The immunolocalization of CCL2, CCL4, CCL5, CCR1, CCR2 and CCR5 was determined using CL sections obtained from cycling and pregnant pigs. The immunofluorescence signals were localized mainly in luteal cells. PGF2α treatment of CL cells caused increased mRNA expression of CCL2 and CCR1. CCL2 treatment alone upregulated the expression of genes BAX, BCL2 and StAR in CL cells in vitro, but additional experiments showed that the chemokines CCL2, CCL4 and CCL5 alone do not cause apoptosis in a mixed population of CL cells. The chemokine CCL4 increased the transcript levels of StAR and HSD3‐β1. Additionally, CCL5 led to the inhibition of BAX gene expression. The differential spatiotemporal expression of CCL2, CCL4, CCL5 and CCR5 throughout the oestrous cycle and the direct but aberrant effect of these three chemokines on genes associated with apoptosis and progesterone synthesis indicate the complicated involvement of these factors in the regulation of luteolysis in pigs.
Early and pervasive dolomitization by near‐normal marine fluids: New lessons from an Eocene evaporative setting in Qatar
Authors: Ryan Brooks H. , Kaczmarek Stephen E. , Rivers John M.
Published: March 2020

The upper Palaeocene–lower Eocene Umm er Radhuma Formation in the subsurface of Qatar is dominated by subtidal carbonate depositional packages overlain by bedded evaporites. In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, peritidal carbonate depositional sequences with intercalated evaporites and carbonates in Umm er Radhuma have been previously interpreted to have been dolomitized via downward reflux of hypersaline brines. Here, textural, mineralogical and geochemical data from three research cores in Qatar are presented which, in contrast, are more consistent with dolomitization by near‐normal marine fluids. Petrographic relationships support a paragenetic sequence whereby dolomitization occurred prior to the formation of all other diagenetic mineral phases, including chert, pyrite, palygorskite, gypsum, calcite and chalcedony, which suggests that dolomitization occurred very early. The dolomites occur as finely crystalline mimetic dolomites, relatively coarse planar‐e dolomites, and coarser nonplanar dolomites, all of which are near‐stoichiometric (50.3 mol% MgCO3) and well‐ordered (0.73). The dolomite stable isotope values (range −2.5‰ to +1‰; meanδ18O = −0.52‰) and trace element concentrations (Sr = 40 to 150 ppm and Na = 100 to 600 ppm) are compatible with dolomitization by near‐normal seawater or mesohaline fluids. Comparisons betweenδ18O values from Umm er Radhuma dolomite and the overlying Rus Formation gypsum further suggest that dolomitization did not occur in fluids related to Rus evaporites. This study provides an example of early dolomitization of evaporite‐related carbonates by near‐normal seawater rather than by refluxing hypersaline brines from overlying bedded evaporites. Further, it adds to recent work suggesting that dolomitization by near‐normal marine fluids in evaporite‐associated settings may be more widespread than previously recognized.
A comprehensive phylogeny of flat bark beetles (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) with a revised classification and a new South American genus
Authors: Jin Mengjie , Zwick Andreas , Ślipiński Adam , Marris John W. M. , Thomas Michael C. , Pang Hong
Published: March 2020

The phylogenetic relationships within the beetle family Cucujidae were investigated for the first time. Fifty‐seven morphological characters were used for maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Mitochondrial genomes were generated from museum specimens through genome skimming and used for phylogenetic analyses in a maximum likelihood framework due to the difficulty in collecting many of the Cucujidae species and the lack of availability of ethanol‐preserved specimens. Both morphological and molecular analyses supported the monophyly of the four established genera: Cucujus Fabricius, Pediacus Shuckard, Palaestes Perty, and Platisus Erichson. They also led to the description of a new genus, Thesaurus gen.n., from South America, and the recognition of two new subfamilies, Pediacinae subfam.n. and Platisinae subfam.n. Diagnoses of Cucujidae subfamilies and genera are provided along with illustrations and keys for their identification. Phylogenetic relationships between the genera were analysed and discussed based on morphological and molecular data. Three new species were described in Thesaurus gen.n.: T. albertalleni gen. et sp.n. from Venezuela, T. zaitsevi sp.n. from Peru, and T. macclarini sp.n. from Ecuador. Illustrations and a key to species are provided. The previously unknown larvae of Palaestes and Thesaurus are illustrated and described for the first time. The Eocene fossil species, Platisus punctatus (Ramírez, Corsolini & Di Iorio), from Patagonia, Argentina, is here transferred to the genus Thesaurus.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF6C58C0‐C390‐4C32‐9243‐2483B6FBE369.
Geochronological constraints on Caledonian strike–slip displacement in Svalbard, with implications for the evolution of the Arctic
Authors: Faehnrich Karol , Majka Jarosław , Schneider David , Mazur Stanisław , Manecki Maciej , Ziemniak Grzegorz , Wala Virginia T. , Strauss Justin V.
Published: March 2020

The timing of Svalbard's assembly in relation to the mid‐Paleozoic Caledonian collision between Baltica and Laurentia remains contentious. The Svalbard archipelago consists of three basement provinces bounded by N–S‐trending strike–slip faults whose displacement histories are poorly understood. Here, we report microstructural and mineral chemistry data integrated with 40Ar/39Ar muscovite geochronology from the sinistral Vimsodden‐Kosibapasset Shear Zone (VKSZ, southwest Svalbard) and explore its relationship to adjacent structures and regional deformation within the circum‐Arctic. Our results indicate that strike–slip displacement along the VKSZ occurred in late Silurian–Early Devonian and was contemporaneous with the beginning of the main phase of continental collision in Greenland and Scandinavia and the onset of syn‐orogenic sedimentation in Silurian–Devonian fault‐controlled basins in northern Svalbard. These new‐age constraints highlight possible links between escape tectonics in the Caledonian orogen and mid‐Paleozoic terrane transfer across the northern margin of Laurentia.
Retrospective evaluation of a modified human lung cancer stage classification in dogs with surgically excised primary pulmonary carcinomas
Authors: Lee Benjamin M. , Clarke Dawn , Watson Maegan , Laver Travis
Published: March 2020

The stage classification for canine primary pulmonary carcinomas (PPC) was last updated in 1980. In people, the human lung cancer stage classification (HLCSC) (currently in its eighth edition) plays an integral role in diagnostic and therapeutic decision‐making and is prognostic despite a heterogeneous population of tumours. The objective of this retrospective case study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of a canine lung carcinoma stage classification (CLCSC) adapted from the HLCSC by removal of substage for ease of application to canine PPC. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy. Medical records of 71 dogs with histologically confirmed PPC were reviewed. All dogs underwent surgical excision of the primary lung tumour. Primary tumour features (referring to T1‐T4 stages) and TNM stages (1‐4) were assigned using the CLCSC. Canine lung carcinoma stage was I (n = 7), II (n = 32), III (n = 24) and IV (n = 8). Median survival time was 952, 658, 158 and 52 days for stages I‐IV, respectively. Primary tumour features (T1‐T4), incomplete surgical excision, presence of lymph node metastasis and tumour grade were independent prognostic indicators for overall survival. Twenty‐six dogs received adjuvant chemotherapy; however, no statistically significant benefit was found. The CLCSC primary tumour features and stage classification were highly prognostic for survival in dogs with PPC. We propose further application and evaluation of this update to canine PPC stage classification. Given the poor prognosis of advanced stage canine PPC, novel treatments are needed.
ABO blood grouping discrepancies in the donor population
Authors: Jain Ashish , Garg Sachin , Marwaha Neelam , Sharma Ratti Ram
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

ABO discrepancies occur when the reactions in forward grouping are not corroborative to those in the reverse grouping due to weak subgroups of A and/or B, missing or weak ABO antibodies or unexpected alloantibodies. We aimed to determine the prevalence of ABO discrepancies in our donor population and to know the causes by using a standard classification.

Materials and Methods

It was a retrospective study on donor samples. For all the discrepant samples, the ABO and RhD grouping was repeated using tube technique. Adsorption–elution testing was done for detecting weak subgroups of A and B. Antibody screen (3‐cell) and identification (11‐cell) were done by gel technique (Bio‐Rad, Switzerland).

Results

We detected 93 (0·064%) ABO discrepancies out of the total 144279 donor samples tested. The ABO discrepancies were due to weak anti‐B antibody (33/93; 35·5%), weak anti‐A antibody and weak subgroups of A (24 each; 25·8% each) and weak subgroups of B (5/93; 5·4%). Agglutination with O cells was observed in 7 (7·5%) samples at room temperature testing. The alloantibodies identified in these samples were anti‐M (5) and anti‐Lea in (1), while the remaining 1 sample was of ‘Bombay’ (Oh) phenotype. The autologous control was negative for all the samples.

Conclusion

The prevalence of ABO discrepancies in our donor population is 0·064%.
Charismatic Leaders in a New Perspective: Reality in Estonia and Italy
Authors: Toode Ülle
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this explorative study is to put the existing theories on charismatic political leadership in a current post-web media context. It also seeks to better understand why “charismatic politicians” seem to have success in present-day cyber politics. The paper considers political charisma in a Weberian perspective and aims to explain what elements it includes in a current electoral environment characterized by a fast-changing media landscape. The paper places the existing theoretical models in the context of two European societies, by comparing Estonia and Italy as case studies. Estonia, a small ex-Soviet country has emerged in recent years as an advanced e-society with highly “internetisized” media. At the same time, Italy became known by the phenomenon of the “Berlusconization” of the media, a popular subject of study in political communication. The analysis considers existing research, mostly based on the work of Max Weber, and aims to test the index of charisma, developed by Pappas (2011), in the two observed countries. The paper concludes with a discussion on if and how charismatic political leaders fit a deliberative democracy. Finally, attention is drawn to the need for further systematic comparative research to better understand the phenomenon of charismatic leadership in the post-web media environment.
Obituary: Blagovest Sendov, 8 February 1932 – 19 January 2020
Authors: Markov Svetoslav Marinov
Published: March 2020

I first met Blagovest Sendov in 1963 as a student in mathematics at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics atВ Sofia University. His first lecture was devoted to Mathematical modeling. On some real life situations Prof. Sendov revealed to us the philosophy of science. Prof. Sendov's ``philosophy'' included a deep understanding of the mechanisms of the underlying real processes, the mathematical description of these processes using contemporary mathematical theories and the solution of the formulated mathematical problems using advanced numerical and computational tools. Prof. Sendov possessed an enormous ability to formulate difficult tasks and problems that need years of efforts to be resolved. At the weekly seminar of ``Mathematical modeling''he used to pose such difficult problems and to make us young collaborators enthusiastic about working on them. He never pressed anybody of us to work on something particular, but he waited that everybody chooses a theme of interest by himself.
Prediction of individual speech recognition performance in complex listening conditions
Authors: Kubiak Aleksandra M. , Rennies Jan , Ewert Stephan D. , Kollmeier Birger
Published: March 2020

This study examined how well individual speech recognition thresholds in complex listening scenarios could be predicted by a current binaural speech intelligibility model. Model predictions were compared with experimental data measured for seven normal-hearing and 23 hearing-impaired listeners who differed widely in their degree of hearing loss, age, as well as performance in clinical speech tests. The experimental conditions included two masker types (multi-talker or two-talker maskers), and two spatial conditions (maskers co-located with the frontal target or symmetrically separated from the target). The results showed that interindividual variability could not be well predicted by a model including only individual audiograms. Predictions improved when an additional individual “proficiency factor” was derived from one of the experimental conditions or a standard speech test. Overall, the current model can predict individual performance relatively well (except in conditions high in informational masking), but the inclusion of age-related factors may lead to even further improvements.
REVIEWS OF ACOUSTICAL PATENTS
Authors: Fulop Sean A.
Published: March 2020

The purpose of these acoustical patent reviews is to provide enough information for a Journal reader to decide whether to seek more information from the patent itself. Any opinions expressed here are those of the reviewers as individuals and are not legal opinions. Patents are available via the internet at the USPTO website, and also using Google Patents.
A cost-effective, multi-flash, “ghost” imaging technique for high temporal and spatial resolution imaging of cavitation using “still-frame” cameras
Authors: Sukovich Jonathan R. , Haskell Scott C. , Xu Zhen , Hall Timothy L.
Published: March 2020

This paper describes a method for acquiring high temporal and spatial resolution images of cavitation events using a multiple-flash-per-camera-exposure imaging technique. A primary challenge associated with imaging cavitation is that the velocity of the bubble wall reaches its maximum (∼1.5×103 m/s) as the bubble size approaches its minimum (≲1 μm). In order to adequately resolve dynamics on these scales, specialized—often prohibitively expensive—cameras with ultra-high frame-rates and resolutions are generally required. This paper describes low-cost, high-speed light emitting diode (LED) flash sources with minimum pulse widths of 20 ns that can be pulsed at rates of up to 17 MHz. The flashes are used to illuminate images of bubbles captured using high-resolution “still-frame” cameras wherein multiple flashes are issued from the LED(s) at known time intervals within a single camera exposure, resulting in overlapping snapshots of the same bubble at multiple unique time-points in a single image. The overlapping snapshots can be uniquely associated with the known time-points of the flashes based on their relative levels brightness. This paper demonstrate effective frame-rates up to 4 Mfps using this technique and the acquisition of snapshots at up to 13 unique time-points per exposure. Hardware descriptions of the flash sources and the programmable device used to control them are provided.
Effect of the number of amplitude-compression channels and compression speed on speech recognition by listeners with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Salorio-Corbetto Marina , Baer Thomas , Stone Michael A. , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: March 2020

The use of a large number of amplitude-compression channels in hearing aids has potential advantages, such as the ability to compensate for variations in loudness recruitment across frequency and provide appropriate frequency-response shaping. However, sound quality and speech intelligibility could be adversely affected due to reduction of spectro-temporal contrast and distortion, especially when fast-acting compression is used. This study assessed the effect of the number of channels and compression speed on speech recognition when the multichannel processing was used solely to implement amplitude compression, and not for frequency-response shaping. Computer-simulated hearing aids were used. The frequency-dependent insertion gains for speech with a level of 65 dB sound pressure level were applied using a single filter before the signal was filtered into compression channels. Fast-acting (attack, 10 ms; release, 100 ms) or slow-acting (attack, 50 ms; release, 3000 ms) compression using 3, 6, 12, and 22 channels was applied subsequently. Using a sentence recognition task with speech in two- and eight-talker babble at three different signal-to-babble ratios (SBRs), 20 adults with sensorineural hearing loss were tested. The number of channels and compression speed had no significant effect on speech recognition, regardless of babble type or SBR.
Effect of fundus tracking on structure–function relationship in glaucoma
Authors: Montesano Giovanni , Rossetti Luca M , McKendrick Allison M , Turpin Andrew , Fogagnolo Paolo , Oddone Francesco , Lanzetta Paolo , Perdicchi Andrea , Johnson Chris A , Brusini Paolo , Garway-Heath David F , Crabb David P
Published: March 2020

Aims

To investigate the effect of fundus tracking perimetry on structure–function relationship in glaucoma.

Methods

Perimetric data were acquired with the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) and the Compass fundus perimeter (CMP, equipped with fundus tracking). We included data from 696 eyes from 360 healthy people and 711 eyes from 434 patients with glaucoma from the original study, for which the circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer optical coherence tomography scan (Cp-RNFL) was available. We explored the structure–function relationship using both global indices (mean deviation and average Cp-RNFL thickness loss) and anatomically defined visual field clusters comparing the R2 values from mixed-effect models. We then measured the diagnostic ability of a combined Structure Function Index (SFI) using perimetric data from either perimeter. The comparisons were based on partial receiver operating characteristic curves with a minimum specificity of 75% and their areas under the curve.

Results

The R2 for the global structure–function relationship was 0.50 for the CMP and 0.48 for the HFA. When visual field clusters were included in the model, the R2 was 0.29 for CMP and 0.30 for HFA. Overall, the discrimination ability of the SFI was not significantly higher than the Cp-RNFL for either the CMP (p=0.07) or the HFA (p=0.14). However, it was significantly better in eyes with perimetric damage (p<0.001), in which the CMP-SFI performed significantly better than the HFA-SFI (p=0.03).

Conclusions

Structure–function relationship is similar between the two perimeters. Fundus tracking might improve discrimination ability with a combined SFI.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13800424.
International migration and health: it is time to go beyond conventional theoretical frameworks
Authors: Hossin Muhammad Zakir
Published: March 2020

The large-scale international migration in the 21st century has emerged as a major threat to the global health equity movement. Not only has the volume of migration substantially increased but also the patterns of migration have become more complex. This paper began by focusing on the drivers of international migration and how health inequalities are linked to migration. Situating migration within the broader structural contexts, the paper calls for using the unharnessed potential of the intersectionality framework to advance immigrant health research. Despite coming from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds and facing disparities in the host society, the immigrants are often paradoxically shown to be healthier than the native population, although this health advantage diminishes over time. Studies on immigrant health, however, are traditionally informed by the acculturation framework which holds the assimilation of unhealthy lifestyles primarily responsible for immigrant health deterioration, diverting the attention away from the structural factors. Although the alternative structural framework came up with the promise to explore the structural factors, it is criticised for an overwhelming focus on access to healthcare and inadequate attention to institutional and societal contexts. However, the heterogeneity of the immigrant population across multiple dimensions of vulnerability demands a novel approach that can bring to the fore both premigratory and postmigratory contextual factors and adequately capture the picture of immigrant health. The paper concludes by questioning the acculturation perspective and pushing the structural paradigm to embrace the intersectionality framework which has the potential to address a wide range of vulnerabilities that intersect to produce health inequalities among the immigrants.
Rural–urban health-seeking behaviours for non-communicable diseases in Sierra Leone
Authors: Idriss Ayesha , Diaconu Karin , Zou Guanyang , Senesi Reynold GB , Wurie Haja , Witter Sophie
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality globally. In Africa, they are expected to increase by 25% by 2030. However, very little is known about community perceptions of risk factors and factors influencing health-seeking behaviour, especially in fragile settings. Understanding these is critical to effectively address this epidemic, especially in low-resource settings.

Methods

We use participatory group model building techniques to probe knowledge and perceptions of NCD conditions and their causes, health-seeking patterns for NCDs and factors affecting these health-seeking patterns. Our participants were 116 local leaders and community members in three sites in Western Area (urban) and Bombali District (rural), Sierra Leone. Data were analysed using a prior framework for NCD care seeking developed in Ghana.

Results

Our findings suggest adequate basic knowledge of causes and symptoms of the common NCDs, in rural and urban areas, although there is a tendency to highlight and react to severe symptoms. Urban and rural communities have access to a complex network of formal and informal, traditional and biomedical, spiritual and secular health providers. We highlight multiple narratives of causal factors which community members can hold, and how these and social networks influence their care seeking. Care seeking is influenced by a number of factors, including supply-side factors (proximity and cost), previous experiences of care, disease-specific factors, such as acute presentation, and personal and community beliefs about the appropriateness of different strategies.

Conclusion

This article adds to the limited literature on community understanding of NCDs and its associated health-seeking behaviour in fragile settings. It is important to further elucidate these factors, which power hybrid journeys including non-care seeking, failure to prevent and self-manage effectively, and considerable expenditure for households, in order to improve prevention and management of NCDs in fragile settings such as Sierra Leone.
PRe-hospital Evaluation of Sensitive TrOponin (PRESTO) Study: multicentre prospective diagnostic accuracy study protocol
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulrhman , Cook Eloïse , Carlton Edward , Siriwardena Aloysius , Hann Mark , Thompson Alexander , Foulkes Angela , Phillips John , Cooper Jamie , Bell Steve , Kirby Kim , Rosser Andy , Body Richard
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Within the UK, chest pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency (999) ambulance calls and the most common reason for emergency hospital admission. Diagnosing acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in a patient with chest pain in the prehospital setting by a paramedic is challenging. The Troponin-only Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes (T-MACS) decision rule is a validated tool used in the emergency department (ED) to stratify patients with suspected ACS following a single blood test.

We are seeking to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the T-MACS decision aid algorithm to ‘rule out’ ACS when used in the prehospital environment with point-of-care troponin assays. If successful, this could allow paramedics to immediately rule out ACS for patients in the ‘very low risk’ group and avoid the need for transport to the ED, while also risk stratifying other patients using a single blood sample taken in the prehospital setting.

Methods and analysis

We will recruit patients who call emergency (999) ambulance services where the responding paramedic suspects cardiac chest pain. The data required to apply T-MACS will be prospectively recorded by paramedics who are responding to each patient. Paramedics will be required to draw a venous blood sample at the time of arrival to the patient. Blood samples will later be tested in batches for cardiac troponin, using commercially available troponin assays. The primary outcome will be a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, established at the time of initial hospital admission. The secondary outcomes will include any major adverse cardiac events within 30 days of enrolment.

Ethics and dissemination

The study obtained approval from the National Research Ethics Service (reference: 18/ES/0101) and the Health Research Authority. We will publish our findings in a high impact general medical journal.

Trial registration number

Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov, study ID: NCT03561051
Priority setting and personal health responsibility: an analysis of Norwegian key policy documents
Authors: Traina Gloria , Feiring Eli
Published: March 2020

Background

The idea that individuals are responsible for their health has been the focus of debate in the theoretical literature and in its concrete application to healthcare policy in many countries. Controversies persist regarding the form, substance and fairness of allocating health responsibility to the individual, particularly in universal, need-based healthcare systems.

Objective

To examine how personal health responsibility has been framed and rationalised in Norwegian key policy documents on priority setting.

Methods

Documents issued or published by the Ministry of Health and Care Services between 1987 and 2018 were thematically analysed (n=14). We developed a predefined conceptual framework that guided the analysis. The framework included: (1) the subject and object of responsibility, (2) the level of conceptual abstraction, (3) temporality, (4) normative justificatory arguments and (5) objections to the application of personal health responsibility.

Results

As an additional criterion, personal health responsibility has been interpreted as relevant if: (A) the patient’s harmful behaviour is repeated after receiving treatment (retrospectively), and if (B) the success of the treatment is conditional on the patient’s behavioural change (prospectively). When discussed as a retrospective criterion, considerations of reciprocal fairness have been dominant. When discussed as a prospective criterion, the expected benefit of treatment justified its relevance.

Conclusion

Personal health responsibility appears to challenge core values of equality, inclusion and solidarity in the Norwegian context and has been repeatedly rejected as a necessary criterion for priority setting. However, the responsibility criterion seems to have some relevance in particular priority setting decisions.
Resident physician burnout: insights from a Canadian multispecialty survey
Authors: Ferguson Craig , Low Gavin , Shiau Gillian
Published: March 2020

Background

Burnout results from chronic exposure to stress: comprising emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP) and a reduced sense of personal achievement (PA). Only a few studies have examined burnout in Canadian residents, and no multispecialty studies using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Sciences Survey (MBI-HSS) exist. The purpose of our study is to identify burnout prevalence, contributory factors and solutions.

Methods

A prospective 62-item survey, including the 22-item MBI-HSS, was sent to all Alberta residents, with a resident population of 1745. The association between burnout, EE, DP and PA with items in the survey was performed. Continuous data were evaluated using Student’s t-test or analysis of variance. Ordinal data were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U test. Nominal data were evaluated using χ2 test.

Results

Response rate was 41.1% (n=718), with burnout prevalence of 69.4%. 61.6% of residents demonstrated high EE, 47.8% high DP and 29.0% low PA. More hours worked, poor work–life balance, poor service-education balance, poor mental health support, experiencing intimidation/harassment and being unhappy with programme and with career choice were associated with higher burnout (p<0.001). 53.5% of residents experienced intimidation/harassment. Solutions to burnout included improved teaching, improved call/working hours, more wellness days and a change in medicine culture.

Conclusion

High prevalence of burnout in Canadian residents with contributory factors and solutions identified. We hope programmes across the world can use this information to improve the burden of burnout among residents.
Violation of US regulations regarding online marketing and sale of e-cigarettes: FDA warnings and retailer responses
Authors: Nguyen Hang , Dennehy Cathi E , Tsourounis Candy
Published: March 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to characterise all 2018 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning letters specific to e-cigarette products and to evaluate whether online retailers complied with FDA requested actions.

Methods

All 2018 FDA e-cigarette warning letters issued by the Center for Tobacco Products to online retailers were reviewed and characterised. Date of issuance, name, type, and location of the retailer, and violation type were recorded. Retailer websites were rechecked a minimum of 30 days after the issuance of the warning letter to assess compliance with enforcement actions.

Results

One hundred and thirteen of 124 letters met the inclusion criteria; one duplicate letter and 10 letters unrelated to e-cigarettes were excluded. One manufacturer was cited for associating their e-liquid with prescription drugs, and when analysed, the e-liquid was found to contain phosphodiesterase inhibitors. A majority of violations, 98.2% (111/113), pertained to the sales of an e-cigarette product to a minor and/or use of marketing that appeals to children. The majority of websites (63.7%, 72/113) resolved all violations. However, 19.5% (22/113) inactivated their website, and 16.8% (19/113) did not fully correct all violations.

Conclusions

Sales of e-cigarette products to minors and the purposeful marketing of e-liquids in a manner that appeals to children and adolescents continues to be problematic. While the warning letters were successful in getting a majority of online retailers to correct the stated violation, many sold other products that would be considered a violation of marketing to minors. The appearance of e-liquids that contain prescription medications is also alarming. Comprehensive and continued enforcement of online e-cigarette retailers is urgently needed.
Sports-related concussions and subconcussive impacts in athletes: incidence, diagnosis, and the emerging role of EPA and DHA
Authors: Lust Cody A.C. , Mountjoy Margo , Robinson Lindsay E. , Oliver Jonathan M. , Ma David W.L.
Published: March 2020

Sports-related concussions (SRC) are traumatic brain injuries induced as the result of a biomechanical force to the body that temporarily impair neurological functions. Not all traumatic impacts reach the threshold necessary to produce concussive symptoms; however, the culmination of these events is known as a subconcussive impact (SCI). Athletes who have been diagnosed with a SRC or those who accumulate multiple SCI have exhibited structural damage to the brain, impairments to learning and memory, and an increase in depressive symptoms. This area is rapidly evolving, and current clinical definitions of injury, diagnosis, and treatment of SRC and SCI are reviewed. In tandem, there is also growing research examining the role of nutrition in brain injuries, focusing primarily on n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The potential role of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in reducing inflammation and promoting recovery following brain injury are also reviewed. Overall, advancements in the evaluation of SRC and SCI coupled with n-3 PUFA supplementation show promise in the management of brain injuries, leading to better long-term health outcomes for athletes.

Novelty SRC have garnered widespread attention due to the growing body of reported prevalence in youth and professional sports. Current definitions and protocol(s) for diagnosing SRC and SCI have improved, but still require further evaluation. n-3, EPA and DHA, reduce inflammation and promote recovery following brain injuries in experimental models.
The complex multicellular morphology of the food spoilage bacteria Brochothrix thermosphacta strains isolated from ground chicken
Authors: Chen Chin-Yi , Nguyen Ly-Huong T. , Paoli George C. , Irwin Peter L.
Published: March 2020

Herein we describe a highly structured, filamentous growth phenotype displayed by an isolate of the food spoilage microorganism Brochothrix thermosphacta. The growth morphology of this B. thermosphacta strain (strain BII) was dependent on environmental factors such as the growth media, incubation temperatures, and the inoculum concentration. Inoculation of cultures in highly dilute suspensions resulted in the formation of isolated, tight aggregates resembling fungal growth in liquid media. This same strain also formed stable, mesh-like structures in 6-well tissue culture plates under specific growth conditions. The complex growth phenotype does not appear to be unique to strain BII but was common among B. thermosphacta strains isolated from chicken. Light and electron micrographs showed that the filaments of multiple BII cells can organize into complex, tertiary structures resembling multistranded cables. Time-lapse microscopy was employed to monitor the development of such aggregates over 18 h and revealed growth originating from short filaments into compact ball-like clusters that appeared fuzzy due to protruding filaments or cables. This report is the first to document this complex filamentous growth phenotype in a wild-type bacterial isolate of B. thermosphacta.
Free fermion representation of the topological surface code
Authors: Farjami Ashk
Published: March 2020

The toric code is known to be equivalent to free fermions. This paper presents explicit local unitary transformations that map the ℤ2 toric and surface code – the open boundary equivalent of the toric code – to fermions. Through this construction it is shown that the surface code can be mapped to a set of free fermion modes, while the toric code requires additional fermionic symmetry operators. Finally, it is demonstrated how the anyonic statistics of these codes are encoded in the fermionic representations.

Graphical abstract
Computational analysis of amino acids’ adhesion to the graphene surface
Authors: Frederiksen Anders , Solov’yov Ilia A.
Published: March 2020

The mechanisms of cellular growth have attracted scientists’ attention for a long time, leading to recent efforts in establishing cellular growth on specific functionalized substrates. In order to fully understand the supported cellular growth mechanisms, one needs first to comprehend how individual amino acids interact with the substrate material as cells are known to attach to surfaces through specific proteins designed to improve adhesion. In this study, we have considered graphene as a candidate material for support-assisted cellular growth and simulated the interaction of all 20 naturally occurring amino acids deposited on graphene. Investigations utilized classical molecular dynamics (MD) for amino acids in aqueous solution and in vacuo, in tandem with quantum chemical calculations. The MD simulations were carried out for classical and polarizable CHARMM force fields. The simulations performed with the polarizable force field confirmed that adhesion of amino acids to the graphene surface may be significantly enhanced due to the polarization forces, which was further supported by quantum chemical calculations. The performed analysis thus revealed the role of polarization on amino acids’ adhesion to the graphene surface.

Graphical abstract
Preparation and characterization of the nanocellulose/polyurethane films
Authors: Lai Chiu-Chun , Shih Pei-Yun , Chu Guan-Yu , Sung Yi-Ching
Published: March 2020

In this research, we make the nanocellulose (NC) using acid hydrolysis and 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) method from bacterial cellulose (BC), dispersed in water, incorporated into polyurethane (PU) resin, prepared the composed film and characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), tensile test, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The NC is introduced into the PU resin by physical means to increase the physical and chemical properties of the waterborne PU. First, the morphological properties of NC, measured by SEM images, tensile test and thermal properties were measured. The results indicated morphological properties in using different preparation methods for the NC were different. The morphological NC prepared by the acid hydrolysis method is a short rod; by the TEMPO method, is a filament. Successfully improved the water-resistance of the waterborne PU films. Depending on the type of resin used, the tensile properties of NC/PU composite films have a different. Compared to pure PU film, the nanocomposites presented thermal stability increases. The addition of NC composite film of NC/w-436 has the maximum elongation when NC is added to 3%. The composite film of NC/w-460 has the maximum elongation when NC is added to 20%.
The study on coffee biomass composite materials and their application on green golf grip
Authors: Kuan Chen-Feng , Chiang Chin-Lung , Shen Ming-Yuan , Kuan Hsu-Chiang
Published: March 2020

In this study, we combine the biodegradable plastic with petrochemical plastics to prepare a biomass elastomer. In addition to the energy saving and carbon footprint reduction, it is safer than traditional one. A biomass Polylactide (PLA) and coffee slag were blended with thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and an environmentally friendly, low-carbon-footprint golf club grip was prepared. The product has higher deodorization ability than traditional one and is comfortable as well. The recipes design, coupling and toughening mechanism, and compounding technology are discussed in this study. The resulted PLA/TPR/coffee composite has tensile strength 213.6 kgf/cm2, which is higher than TPR of 181.0 kgf/cm2. The coefficient of friction (COF) is 4 kg and hardness is Shore A 56, furthermore, it can deodorize 85% ammonia within 2 h, which fits the market requirement.
A New Secure and Efficient Approach for TRNG and Its Post-Processing Algorithms
Authors: Yakut Selman , Tuncer Taner , Özer Ahmet Bedri
Published: March 2020

Random numbers are important parameters for the security of cryptographic applications. In this study, a secure and efficient generator is proposed to generate random numbers. The first part of the generator is a true random number generator that consists of chaotic systems implemented on FPGA. The second part of the generator is a post-processing algorithm used to overcome the problems that emerge from the generator or environmental factors. As the post-processing algorithm, Keccak, the latest standard of hash algorithm, was rearranged and used. Random numbers with the proposed approach meet the security requirements for cryptographic applications. Furthermore, the NIST 800-22 test suite and autocorrelation test are used to ensure the generated numbers have no statistical weakness. The successful test results demonstrate the security of the generated numbers. An important advantage of the proposed generator does not cause any data loss and perform 100% efficiency although data loss can be up to 70% in some post-processing algorithms.
Pairs of domains where most of the intermediate domains are Prüfer
Authors: Jarboui Noômen
Published: March 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be an extension of integral domains. The ring [Formula: see text] is said to be maximal non-Prüfer subring of [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] is not a Prüfer domain, while each subring of [Formula: see text] properly containing [Formula: see text] is a Prüfer domain. Jaballah has characterized this kind of ring extensions in case [Formula: see text] is a field [A. Jaballah, Maximal non-Prüfer and maximal non-integrally closed subrings of a field, J. Algebra Appl. 11(5) (2012) 1250041, 18 pp.]. The aim of this paper is to deal with the case where [Formula: see text] is any integral domain which is not necessarily a field. Several examples are provided to illustrate our theory.
The total Steiner number of a graph
Authors: John J.
Published: March 2020

A total Steiner set of [Formula: see text] is a Steiner set [Formula: see text] such that the subgraph [Formula: see text] induced by [Formula: see text] has no isolated vertex. The minimum cardinality of a total Steiner set of [Formula: see text] is the total Steiner number of [Formula: see text] and is denoted by [Formula: see text]. Some general properties satisfied by this concept are studied. Connected graphs of order [Formula: see text] with total Steiner number 2 or 3 are characterized. We partially characterized classes of graphs of order [Formula: see text] with total Steiner number equal to [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. It is shown that [Formula: see text]. It is shown that for every pair k, p of integers with [Formula: see text], there exists a connected graph [Formula: see text] of order [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. Also, it is shown that for every positive integer [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], there exists a connected graph [Formula: see text] of order [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Transformation in Healthcare by Wearable Devices for Diagnostics and Guidance of Treatment
Authors: Mahajan Aman , Pottie Gregory , Kaiser William
Published: March 2020

Wearable devices offer a promise of immense impact on worldwide global health by offering the potential for non-invasive, constantly vigilant, and low-cost monitoring of individual condition and fundamental advances in guiding healthcare. The urgency of this objective for its individual and societal benefits will attract an expanding community of researchers from backgrounds in nearly every field of computing. This article describes the unprecedented benefits and opportunities for computing research in wearable devices and the multidisciplinary challenges that have not been encountered individually or combined together in previous research. This article is focused on providing guidance to the new community of healthcare in computing researchers who will both create a new field and forge transformative solutions for healthcare delivery to a worldwide population.
PassiveVLP
Authors: Wang Weizheng , Wang Qing , Zhang Junwei , Zuniga Marco
Published: March 2020

Positioning based on visible light is gaining significant attention. But most existing studies rely on a key requirement: The object of interest needs to carry an optical receiver (camera or photodiode). We remove this requirement and investigate the possibility of achieving accurate positioning in a
passive
manner—that is, without requiring objects to carry any optical receiver. To achieve this goal, we propose PassiveVLP, in which
we exploit the reflective surfaces of objects
and the unique propagation properties of LED luminaires. We present geometric models, a testbed implementation, and empirical evaluations to showcase the opportunities and challenges posed by this new type of passive positioning. Overall, we show that our PassiveVLP can track with high accuracy (a few centimeters) a subset of an object’s trajectory, and it can also identify passively the object’s ID.
Resilient Authentication and Authorization for the Internet of Things (IoT) Using Edge Computing
Authors: Kim Hokeun , Kang Eunsuk , Broman David , Lee Edward A.
Published: March 2020

An emerging type of network architecture called
edge computing
has the potential to improve the availability and resilience of IoT services under anomalous situations such as network failures or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. However, relatively little has been explored on the problem of ensuring availability even when edge computers that provide key security services (e.g., authentication and authorization) become unavailable themselves. This article proposes a resilient authentication and authorization framework to enhance the availability of IoT services under DoS attacks or failures. The proposed approach leverages a technique called
secure migration
, which allows an IoT device to migrate to another trusted edge computer when its own local authorization service becomes unavailable. Specifically, we describe the design of a secure migration framework and its supporting mechanisms, including (1) automated migration policy construction and (2) protocols for preparing and executing the secure migration. We formalize secure migration policy construction as an integer linear programming (ILP) problem and show its effectiveness using a case study on smart buildings, where the proposed solution achieves significantly higher availability under simulated attacks on authorization services.