bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revision of the Ambrysus pudicus Stål species complex (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) with the description of a new species from southern Mexico
Authors: REYNOSO-VELASCO DANIEL , SITES ROBERT W.
Published: October 2018

The Ambrysus pudicus Stål species complex is revised, its species diagnosed, and an illustrated key is presented. The complex includes A. abortus La Rivers, A. amargosus La Rivers, A. funebris La Rivers, A. hungerfordi Usinger, A. parviceps Montandon, A. pudicus Stål, and A. relictus Polhemus & Polhemus. A new species, A. chinanteco, belonging to this complex is described from southern Mexico. The subspecies A. hungerfordi angularis La Rivers, A. h. spicatus La Rivers, and A. h. triunfo La Rivers are herein elevated to full species level and considered members of this species complex. The subspecies A. pudicus barberi Usinger is synonymized with the nominate subspecies. Based on specific combinations of morphological features, two subcomplexes of species are recognized within the complex. The species A. funebris is transferred from the subgenus Acyttarus La Rivers to the subgenus Ambrysus Stål. In order to fix the identity of three species in the complex, neotypes for A. amargosus and A. spicatus and a lectotype for A. pudicus are designated here. The species in the A. pudicus complex are distributed in North America from the southwestern and southern United States to northern Costa Rica. New country records from Central America are presented for A. parviceps and A. pudicus. New state records from Mexico are presented for A. abortus, A. angularis, A. hungerfordi, A. parviceps, A. pudicus, and A. spicatus.
Agro-Climate Projections for a Warming Alaska
Authors: Lader Rick , Walsh John E. , Bhatt Uma S. , Bieniek Peter A.
Published: October 2018

Climate warming is expected to disproportionately affect crop yields in the southern United States due to excessive heat stress, while presenting new farming opportunities through a longer growing season farther north. Few studies have investigated the impact of this warming on agro-climate indices that link meteorological data with important field dates in northern regions. This study employs regional dynamical downscaling using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model to assess changes in growing season length (GSL), spring planting dates, and occurrences of plant heat stress (PHS) for five regions in Alaska. Differences between future representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5; 2011–40, 2041–70, 2071–2100) and historical (1981–2010) periods are obtained using boundary forcing from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 3, and the NCAR Community Climate System Model, version 4. The model output is bias corrected using ERA-Interim. Median GSL shows increases of 48–87 days by 2071–2100, with the largest changes in northern Alaska. Similarly, by 2071–2100, planting dates advance 2–4 weeks, and PHS days increase from near 0 to 5–10 instances per summer in the hottest areas. The largest GSL changes occur in the mid- (2041–70) and late century (2071–2100), when a warming signal emerges from the historical interannual variability. These periods coincide with the greatest divergence of the RCPs, suggesting that near-term decision-making may affect substantial future changes. Early-century (2011–40) projections show median GSL increases of 8–27 days, which is close to the historical standard deviation of GSL. Thus, internal variability will remain an important source of uncertainty into the midcentury, despite a trend for longer growing seasons.
Application of a Physical Ensemble Method in the POD-4DEnVar
Authors: Yang Yuxuan , Zhang Lifeng , Zhang Bin , You Wei , Zhang Mingyang , Xie Binpeng
Published: October 2018

The sensitivity of the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)-based ensemble four-dimensional variational assimilation (4DVar) method (referred to as POD-4DEnVar) to cumulus and microphysics schemes was investigated using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model for heavy rainfall in South China. Results show that the choice of the cumulus and microphysics schemes for ensemble samples significantly impacts precipitation prediction and that Doppler radar data assimilation using POD-4DEnVar is sensitive to the parameterization schemes used for the ensemble samples. The cumulus and microphysics schemes primarily affect the vertical velocity and rainwater mixing ratio of the ensemble forecasts. Variations in the ensemble samples caused by different parameterization schemes are introduced into the four-dimensional ensemble variational assimilation by the radar data observation operator. These variations affect the analysis fields and result in variations in precipitation prediction. To obtain the optimal result (smallest forecast error), three methods are designed based on the physical ensemble technique, which can filter out the effects of different parameterization schemes for the ensemble samples through averaging. The results show that the precipitation forecasts from the three assimilation experiments are improved compared with a control experiment, but each physical ensemble method leads to a unique precipitation forecast.
Dimensions and Dynamics of National Culture: Synthesizing Hofstede With Inglehart
Authors: Beugelsdijk Sjoerd , Welzel Chris
Published: October 2018

Cross-national research on cultural differences across space and time intersects multiple disciplines but the prominence of concepts varies by academic fields. Hofstede’s dimensional concept of culture, to begin with, dominates in cross-cultural psychology and international management. Inglehart’s dynamic concept of culture, by contrast, prevails in sociology and political science. We argue that this disciplinary division is unfortunate because the two concepts are complementary, for which reason a synthesis rectifies their mutual weaknesses. Indeed, while Hofstede’s dimensional concept neglects cultural dynamics, Inglehart’s dynamic concept is dimensionally reductionist. We demonstrate empirically that combining these two concepts leads to an improved understanding of cultural differences. Inspired by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, we use data from the European Value Studies and World Values Surveys for 495,011 individuals born between 1900 and 1999 in 110 countries and then show that change on these dimensions proceeds as Inglehart and his collaborators suggest. Most notably, younger generations have become more individualistic and more joyous. But even though economic development and generational replacement drive this cultural change, roughly half of the variation in national cultural orientations is unique to each country, due to lasting intercept differences in developmental trajectories that trace back to remote historic drivers. We discuss the implications for cross-national cultural research.
A particle filter-based data assimilation framework for discrete event simulations
Authors: Xie Xu , Verbraeck Alexander
Published: October 2018

With the advent of new sensor technologies and communication solutions, the availability of data for discrete event systems has greatly increased. This motivates research on data assimilation for discrete event simulations that has not yet fully matured. This paper presents a particle filter-based data assimilation framework for discrete event simulations. The framework is formally defined based on the Discrete Event System Specification formalism. To effectively apply particle filtering in discrete event simulations, we introduce an interpolation operation that considers the elapsed time (i.e., the time elapsed since the last state transition) when retrieving the model state (which was ignored in related work) in order to obtain updated state values. The data assimilation problem finally boils down to estimating the posterior distribution of a state trajectory with variable dimension. This seems to be problematic; however, it is proven that in practice we can safely apply the sequential importance sampling algorithm to update the random measure (i.e., a set of particles and their importance weights) that approximates this posterior distribution of the state trajectory with variable dimension. To illustrate the working of the proposed data assimilation framework, a case is studied in a gold mine system to estimate truck arrival times at the bottom of the vertical shaft. The results show that the framework is able to provide accurate estimation results in discrete event simulations; it is also shown that the framework is robust to errors both in the simulation model and in the data.
The presence of religion in the Latin American public space. Notes for a debate: La presencia de la religión en el espacio público latinoamericano. Apuntes para la discusión
Authors: Esquivel Juan Cruz , Toniol Rodrigo
Published: October 2018

Religion in the public space constitutes a structuring issue of the contemporary debates of the social sciences of religion. This article mobilizes part of that literature, circumscribing it to the Latin American context. In that attempt, we work in two dimensions. First, we present how, from the historical and political configurations of our region in the debate, problems and questions about the public space are addressed distant from those commonly encountered when the empirical reference corresponds to the United States-Europe map. The aim is to explore the regional particularities for an effort to theoretically and methodologically strengthen the analysis of this topic. The second dimension contemplated in the text is the presentation of concrete empirical situations in which religion in public space is condensed as a controversy, that mobilize and is mobilized by different actors: politicians, religious, academics, media. These two dimensions go through the thematic issue that follows this article.
The making of an evangelical prison: Study on Neo-Pentecostalism and its leadership processes in the Argentine penitentiary system
Authors: Algranti Joaquín
Published: October 2018

The aim of this article is to analyse the origin and development of ‘prison Pentecostalism’ in the Penitentiary System of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The article is divided into three parts. In the first, we briefly describe the current situation in prisons, focusing on their crisis of governance, how the religious phenomenon is involved in this context and the discussions posed by researchers on this new topic. In the second, we will explore, through the trajectory of its initiators, the different strategies of evangelism that led to the emergence of Unit 25, the first prison-church. Finally, we will characterize the processes of intramural leadership and the profiles of inmates who govern the daily life of the evangelical cellblocks.
Secularist understandings of Pentecostal healing practices in Amsterdam: Developing an intersectional and post-secularist sociology of religion
Authors: Knibbe Kim Esther
Published: October 2018

The past decades have seen an intensification of debate around migrants, gender and sexuality. For the Netherlands, several authors have pointed out how this has given rise to a form of sexual nationalism whereby the idea of being a modern, progressive country is strongly linked to a program of liberal sexual values and offset against a presumably ‘backward’ migrant who is ‘still’ religious and traditional. In this article, the author analyses how these dynamics played out in the controversy around HIV-healings or homo healings supposedly taking place in Pentecostal churches in Amsterdam. Media attention highlighted the theme of homosexuality while forgetting the interests of women. This article shows that the sexual nationalism scheme was also operative here, and proposes further developing existing approaches as intersectional ‘post-secularist’ sociological perspectives aimed at unearthing the ways narratives of modernity, secularization and sexual nationalism structure attitudes towards migrant and religious actors both in social scientific research agendas and among societal actors.
Uncredentialed Young Adults: Beyond Economic Loss to the Emotional Aftermath of School Failure
Authors: Brown Tara M.
Published: October 2018

This article examines the impact of economic circumstances on emotional well-being among young adults without a high school diploma in a predominantly Latina/o, urban community. Drawing on the notion of subjective well-being and interview data, the study finds that gendered expectations and parenting significantly affected how the absence of a secondary degree influenced well-being. Whereas “dropout” research focuses primarily on economic outcomes, this article offers a more nuanced picture of the consequences of school failure and argues that, to effectively address the needs of school-leavers, educational researchers, policy makers, and practitioners need deeper understandings of the lives of these young people.
Safety net? The use of vouchers when a place-based rental subsidy ends
Authors: Reina Vincent J , Winter Ben
Published: October 2018

The US government moved to a private ownership model for providing affordable housing in the 1960s, which resulted in millions of housing units being developed and governed by affordability restrictions that expire at some later point. By 2010, thousands of tenants lived in properties where a private owner, or US Department of Housing and Urban Development, terminated the rental subsidy, and many more will face this reality going forward. Households in the project-based Section 8 programme are offered a voucher when the subsidy contract ends. This as of right voucher represents the only federal rental safety net programme in the USA. Despite this reality, little is known about what happens to tenants when a subsidy contract ends, including whether or how they use their vouchers. This paper creates a national census of every tenant who lived in a property in the USA where the project-based Section 8 subsidy ended through 2010 to analyse this event. The analysis includes a series of models that analyse what factors are associated with voucher use, moves, and opportunity moves. This paper finds that the voucher is not used by the majority of households, despite high levels of household demand for the subsidy. Those who use the voucher and move tend to move to lower poverty tracts. However, the subsidy offers the weakest safety net for households where the head is older than 62 or Black.
Framing city networks through temporary projects: (Trans)national film production beyond ‘Global Hollywood’
Authors: Hoyler Michael , Watson Allan
Published: October 2018

This article advances research on external urban relations by drawing attention to the role of temporary project-based economic organisation in the formation of inter-firm links between cities. Through a novel empirical examination of (trans)national co-production in the motion picture industry, we reveal how such projects transcend the boundaries of individual production clusters and link urban centres within specific network configurations. Stripping away the ‘top layer’ of Hollywood’s commercially successful feature films, we undertake a social network analysis of film productions in four markets across three continents – China, Germany, France and Brazil – to provide a unique comparative analysis of networked urban geographies. Our findings show that film production networks are grounded in existing structural relations between cities. The spatial forms of these networks range from monocentric in the case of the French film market, to dyadic in the case of China and Brazil, to polycentric in the case of the German film market. Conceptually, we argue that adopting an inter-firm project-based approach can account for the ways in which complex patterns of inter-firm production relations accumulate to form (trans)national city networks. Viewing city networks in this way provides an important alternative perspective to dominant conceptualisations of global urban networks as formed through corporate intra-firm relations.
The Political Economy of the New Left
Authors: Pickup Megan
Published: October 2018

New Left regimes have been underpinned by a reliance both on labor and nontraditional social groups and on capital interests related to the primary commodity sector, and the state has played an important overseer role in these relationships. These states have attempted to accommodate all these groups by pursuing incompatible populist and pragmatic policies. Study of the particular configuration of these regimes is important because they have become simultaneously more inclusive and closed off, generating heightened social fragmentation. Divisions among the left, the hardening of the right, and economic frailty render these governments unstable.

Los regímenes de Nueva Izquierda se han fundamentado por una dependencia tanto de los trabajadores y grupos sociales no tradicionales como de los intereses del capital relacionados con el sector de los productos primarios, y el Estado ha desempeñado un importante papel de supervisor en estas relaciones. Estos estados han intentado acomodar a todos estos grupos persiguiendo políticas populistas y pragmáticas incompatibles. El estudio de la configuración particular de estos regímenes es importante porque se han vuelto simultáneamente más inclusivos y cerrados, generando una mayor fragmentación social. Las divisiones en la izquierda, el endurecimiento de la derecha y la fragilidad económica hacen que estos gobiernos sean inestables.
Broad studies of graphene and low-density polyethylene composites
Authors: Sabet Maziyar , Soleimani Hassan
Published: October 2018

Graphene (Gr) distribution in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) considerably increased thermal stability, thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, and flexural properties of LDPE/Gr composites. Addition of Grs to LDPE postponed the time for making the polymer brittle. High specific surface area and superior properties of Gr improved thermal stability, conductivity, storage modulus, and mechanical properties of composites. The electrical conductivity of LDPE/Grs composites upgraded owing to the thermal stability of Grs in LDPE matrix. In terms of rheology, the addition of Grs augmented viscosity of the LDPE matrix. Addition of Grs to LDPE nucleates crystallization by reducing the activation energy along with rising crystallization onset temperature. Adding Gr facilitated decreasing aggregation, expanded crystallinity, improved the local lattice order of LDPE/Grs, and advanced Grs contact with LDPE. Thus, on a macroscopic scale, Gr constrains mobility of polymer chains, causing a growth in stiffness and strength of the composite. The distribution of Grs in LDPE at micron size scale was verified by atomic force microscopy and other microscopic testers. With further Grs inclusions to LDPE, the activation energy reduced, Grs proceeded as nucleating agents throughout the crystallization of composites, and increased the enhancement of relative crystallinity of LDPE/Gr compounds. The percolation phenomenon of LDPE/Gr composite occurred about 0.5 wt% of Gr loading. Due to further addition of Gr to LDPE, the impermeability of oxygen through the conduit raised somehow the LDPE/Gr sample with 0.5 wt% Gr content, generated a sharp improvement, and dropped fuel permeation with about 37% in comparison with pure LDPE.
How mother and child co-(re) construct non-conventional productions in spontaneous interaction
Authors: de Pontonx Sophie , Leroy-Collombel Marie , Morgenstern Aliyah
Published: October 2018

Following a usage-based approach of language acquisition, the goal of this article is to make a detailed analysis of other and self-repairs targeting a French child’s non-conventional productions between 1;09 and 4;0. The study’s hypotheses were that (1) the mother would start by offering repairs and later in development use strategies to lead the child towards self-repair; (2) she would focus on repairing different linguistic levels at different stages of the child’s development; (3) she would favor the flow of communication over formal correction; (4) the child would progressively detect mismatches between her input and her output and self-repair her own productions. The results showed that the mother frequently intervened at first by offering direct and indirect repairs but progressively elicited the child’s own repairs through repair initiations. Repairs were thus often co-constructed through multiple turns before being fully initiated by the child. The mother and child’s repairs targeted different linguistic levels according to the child’s development and to her age.
Advances and Challenges on New Therapies and Clinical Targets of Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Kang Rima , Rovin Brad
Published: October 2018

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is encountered in high-risk hospital settings where patients often suffer systemic illnesses, undergo surgery, or receive medications toxic to the kidneys. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in AKI, our ability to detect AKI early is limited, and outcomes remain unchanged. Once AKI is identified by the traditional markers of urine output and serum creatinine, the main therapeutic intervention is usually supportive care and/or renal replacement therapy until renal injury resolves. Urine biomarkers provide an optimistic future, offering the ability to identify patients at high risk for AKI such that preventative measures can be introduced. In this article, the etiologies of AKI are discussed, new biomarkers are assessed, and areas for further investigation are suggested.
Sports Education in Colonial Bengal: A Double-Edged Sword?
Authors: Basu Basudhita
Published: October 2018

Insufficient attention has been given to studies that relate sports, education and colonial policies in South Asia. Partly based on archival research, this article brings out different perspectives on the introduction of British sports into colonial Bengal as an educational device to produce obedient subjects. Several hegemonic and educational agenda intersected to formulate civilising ambitions. However, these turned out to be only partially successful, since the civilising aims of colonial sports education were constantly undercut by local acts of adaptation and modification. Dramatic evidence of Indians’ sports victories, in due course, severely challenged hegemonic agenda, so that strengthening and educating ‘the natives’ through sports turned out to be a double-edged sword. But this process also gave the Indian subcontinent a unique, exciting sports culture with nationalist colourings.
New perspective on sampling-based motion planning via random geometric graphs
Authors: Solovey Kiril , Salzman Oren , Halperin Dan
Published: October 2018

Roadmaps constructed by many sampling-based motion planners coincide, in the absence of obstacles, with standard models of random geometric graphs (RGGs). Those models have been studied for several decades and by now a rich body of literature exists analyzing various properties and types of RGGs. In their seminal work on optimal motion planning, Karaman and Frazzoli conjectured that a sampling-based planner has a certain property if the underlying RGG has this property as well. In this paper, we settle this conjecture and leverage it for the development of a general framework for the analysis of sampling-based planners. Our framework, which we call localization–tessellation, allows for easy transfer of arguments on RGGs from the free unit hypercube to spaces punctured by obstacles, which are geometrically and topologically much more complex. We demonstrate its power by providing alternative and (arguably) simple proofs for probabilistic completeness and asymptotic (near-)optimality of probabilistic roadmaps (PRMs) in Euclidean spaces. Furthermore, we introduce three variants of PRMs, analyze them using our framework, and discuss the implications of the analysis.
Is exposure to personal music players a confounder in adolescent mobile phone use and hearing health studies?
Authors: Benke Geza , Dimitriadis Christina , Zeleke Berihun M. , Inyang Imo , McKenzie Dean , Abramson Michael J.
Published: October 2018

Objective

This study was performed to determine whether exposure to personal music players (PMPs) in the immediate morning prior to hearing testing confounds the association between mobile phone use and hearing thresholds of adolescents.

Design

In this cohort study of cognitive function in year 7 students (median age 13 years, range 11–14), information regarding the weekly use of mobile phones and the use of PMPs was assessed by a questionnaire. Pure-tone audiometry was used to establish hearing thresholds for all participants.

Results

Among a cohort of 317 adolescents (60.9% females), 130 were unexposed to PMP use while 33 were exposed to PMP use in the morning prior to hearing testing. No statistically significant difference in hearing threshold shifts was found between adolescents who were and were not exposed to PMP use prior to hearing testing. Likewise, the difference in the use of mobile phones according to the PMP use status was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Exposure to PMPs prior to hearing testing did not introduce confounding in the present study of mobile phone use and hearing loss among adolescents.
Compatibilising additives for enhancing the interaction at the phase interface in thermoplastic vulcanisates based on rubbers of different polarity and polypropylene*
Authors: Panfilova O.A. , Vol’fson S.I. , Okhotina N.A. , Sabirov R.K. , Baranets I.V. , Karimova A.R. , Shishkina A.A.
Published: October 2018

The possibilities of increasing the interaction between the components of previously developed thermoplastic vulcanisates based on polypropylene and a combination of isoprene and nitrile butadiene rubbers were studied. The morphology of the composites was recorded by means of optical microscopy using an analytical complex based on a Leica DM-2500 optical microscope, a Leica DFC-420C digital high-resolution colour camera with a Peltier cooling system, and a specialised computer desk. The parameters of crystallisation of polypropylene were measured by differential scanning calorimetry using a DSC 204F1 Phoenix instrument (Netzsch). The physicomechanical properties of the vulcanisates were also determined. Maleinised polypropylene, a copolymer of ethylene with vinyl acetate, and their mixtures were used as compatibilising additives. Maleinised polypropylene was introduced together with polypropylene in a quantity of 1–10 parts; no changes in properties were observed with increase in the dosage above 4 parts, so this dosage was used. The copolymer of ethylene with vinyl acetate (1–10 parts) was introduced into the rubber phase at the stage of rubber mix preparation specially to improve the compatibility of polypropylene and nitrile butadiene rubber. The introduction of maleinised polypropylene leads to an increase in the workability and in the level of elastic strength properties, in particular the tensile elastic modulus and hardness. A considerable increase in the uniformity of distribution of components throughout the volume, a finer dispersion of the rubbers in the polypropylene matrix, and a reduction in the number of pores in the material were shown, and also an increase in the degree of polypropylene crystallinity measured under experimental conditions. The most positive effect is observed with the combined introduction of the copolymer of ethylene with vinyl acetate and the maleinised polypropylene: the nominal stress under elongation increases by 34%, and the elongation at break by 15%. The combined introduction of the compatibilising additives improves the compatibility of the components of the system, the phase boundaries become more diffuse, there is a reduction in the optical density of rubber-rich zones, and these zones are penetrated by polypropylene fibrils.
An investigation of the effect of methyl cellulose and sodium polyacrylate on the hydrosorption properties of a vulcanisate based on chloroprene rubber*
Authors: Ivanova A.V. , Ushmarin N.F. , Egorov E.N. , Sandalov S.I. , Kol’tsov N.I.
Published: October 2018

The effect of hydrophilic additives – MC-2000 methyl cellulose and sodium polyacrylate – on the properties of a vulcanisate based on Neoprene W was studied. The rubber mixes were prepared in two stages: at the first stage, hydrophilic additives were introduced into the rubber; at the second stage, the remaining ingredients were introduced. Vulcanisation was carried out at a temperature of 150°C for 30 min. The viscosity of the rubber mixes, M, was measured at 120°C on an MVR 3000 Basic viscometer (MonTech), and the vulcanisation characteristics and vulcanisation rate, v, were measured on an MDR 3000 Basic rheometer (MonTech) at 170°C in accordance with ASTM D2084-79. From the results of these measurements it follows that, with the combined use of methyl cellulose and sodium polyacrylate, there is a synergistic reduction in M and in the vulcanisation rate of the rubber mixes. A vulcanisate containing both hydrophilic additives possesses the best hydrosorption properties and has satisfactory physicomechanical properties (nominal tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and tear strength). The values of these properties and their changes on exposure of the vulcanisate to distilled water (70°C, 24 h) meet the requirements laid down for water-swelling rubber sealing elements.
The evolution of morphology during the mechanical ‘plasticisation’ of unfilled vulcanisates of nitrile rubbers*
Authors: Baranets I.V. , Kurlyand S.K. , Suzdal’tseva E.S.
Published: October 2018

Optical microscopy was used to investigate features of morphological transformation during the mechanical degradation of unfilled vulcanisates of nitrile butadiene rubbers in a thin mill roll gap and subsequent thermal treatment – revulcanisation without the addition of any components into the degradate. An analytical complex based on a Leica DM-2500 optical microscope, a Leica DFC-420C high-resolution digital colour camera, and a specialised computer desk was used. The influence of the milling time in the 0–40 min range on the morphological parameters and the nature of the fine structure of plasticised specimens was studied. The mechanisms of degradation and structure formation during the plasticisation of vulcanisates were analysed. The formation of an additional three-dimensional skeleton in ‘secondary’ vulcanisates and the build-up of this process with increase in the treatment time of the degradate were found, which may lead to an increase in the mechanical properties to a level exceeding that of the initial vulcanisate. However, increase in compositional inhomogeneity may have an adverse effect on oil resistance.
Rubberised fabric for fuel soft storage tanks*
Authors: Rybakov Yu.N. , Dedov A.V. , Plokhoi D.S. , Kolotilin D.V.
Published: October 2018

The kinetics of extraction of dibutyl sebacinate by different grades of motor fuel from rubberised fabric based on a blend of nitrile rubbers SKN-26M and SKN-40M was investigated. The kinetics was determined according to the GOST 9.030-74 standard from the change in weight of the specimen after holding in fuel at 50°C and drying. The change in quality of the fuel after contact with the fabric was recorded from the change in the content of existent gum in fuel according to GOST 1567-97 (ISO 6246-95) and its acidity according to GOST 5985-79 before and after contact with the rubberised fabric. It was shown that the process of extraction proceeds in two stages, the time of the first of which under experimental conditions is not dependent on the type of fuel. The rate of the first stage is much higher than the rate of the second stage. The relation of rates and proportion of extracted fuel at the first and second stages depends on the type of fuel. It can be asserted that the surplus amount of extracted substances is made up of impurities, which include residual monomer or its derivatives and substances used in the synthesis of the rubber. The mechanism of extraction with extractant counterflow into the vulcanisate and its dependence on the grade of petrol is proposed, based on allowance for the diffusion processes in the system.
New evidence of glacier surges in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile
Authors: Falaschi Daniel , Bolch Tobias , Lenzano Maria Gabriela , Tadono Takeo , Lo Vecchio Andrés , Lenzano Luis
Published: October 2018

In contrast to the large surge-type glacier clusters widely known for several mountain ranges around the world, the presence of surging glaciers in the Andes has been historically seen as marginal. The improved availability of satellite imagery during the last years facilitates investigating of glaciers in more detail even in remote areas. The purpose of the study was therefore to revisit existing information about surge-type glaciers for the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile (32° 40′–34° 20′ S), to identify and characterize possible further surge-type glaciers, providing new insights into the mass balance and evolution of the velocity of selected glaciers during the surge phase. Based on the analysis of 1962–2015 satellite imagery, historical aerial images, differencing of digital elevation models and a literature survey, we identified 21 surge-type glaciers in the study area. Eleven surge events and six possible surge-type glaciers were identified and described for the first time. The estimation of annual elevation changes of these glaciers for the 2000–2011 period, which encompasses the latest surge events in the region, showed heterogeneous behavior with strongly negative to positive surface elevation change patterns (−1.1 to +1.0 m yr−1). Additionally, we calculated maximum surface velocities of 3±1.9 m d−1 and 3.1±1.1 m d−1 for two of the glaciers during the latest identifiable surge events of 1985–1987 and 2003–2007. Within this glacier cluster, highly variable advance rates (0.01–1 km yr−1) and dissimilar surface velocities at the surge peak (3–35 m d−1) were observed. In comparison with other clusters worldwide, surge-type glaciers in the Central Andes are on average smaller and show minor absolute advances. Generally low velocities and the heterogeneous duration of the surge cycles are common between them and glaciers in the Karakorum, a region with similar climatic characteristics and many known surge-type glaciers. As a definitive assertion concerning the underlying surge mechanism of surges in the Central Andes could not be drawn based on the remote sensing data, this opens more detailed research avenues for surge-type glaciers in the region.
Evaluation of pre- and post-dilution continuous veno-venous hemofiltration on leukocyte and platelet function in patients with sepsis
Authors: Chihara Shinya , Masuda Yoshiki , Tatsumi Hiroomi , Yamakage Michiaki
Published: October 2018

Objective:

We investigated the differences in biocompatibility pre- and post-dilution during continuous veno-venous hemofiltration in patients with sepsis, focusing on leukocyte and platelet function.

Patients and methods:

Subjects were 12 patients with septic shock who underwent veno-venous hemofiltration for acute kidney injury between March 2016 and September 2017. The first six patients received pre-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration, and the next six patients received post-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration. The blood flow rate and filtration flow rate for veno-venous hemofiltration using a polysulfone hemofilter were set to 150 and 35 mL/min, respectively. Leukocyte and platelet counts were determined at 0 and 24 h after veno-venous hemofiltration commencement. Serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels, the induction rates of regulatory T cells, the expression rate of monocyte HLA-DR, neutrophil phagocytic and sterilizing ability, and platelet P-selectin expression rate were determined at 0, 6, and 24 h after veno-venous hemofiltration commencement.

Results:

There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. Serum interleukin-6 decreased over time during pre- and post-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration. Serum interleukin-10 levels decreased during pre-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration, but remained unchanged during post-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration. The Treg and platelet P-selectin expression rates significantly increased at 24 h compared to 0 h during post-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration. Neutrophil phagocytic ability at 24 h was significantly decreased compared to that at 0 h during post-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration. No significant changes in leukocyte and platelet function were observed during pre-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration.

Conclusion:

Pre-dilution veno-venous hemofiltration demonstrates superior biocompatibility in terms of decreased leukocyte function and platelet activation in septic shock patients with acute kidney injury.
Does the plasma refilling coefficient change during hemodialysis sessions?
Authors: Pietribiasi Mauro , Wójcik-Załuska Alicja , Załuska Wojciech , Waniewski Jacek
Published: October 2018

The filtration coefficient in the Starling equation is an important determinant of plasma refilling during hemodialysis. A method for calculating from clinical data an estimate of the filtration coefficient, called the refilling coefficient, was proposed in the past. The assumption behind this method was that the only drive for refilling is the increase in plasma oncotic pressure, and the remaining Starling forces have negligible effect. The refilling coefficient was observed to decrease during hemodialysis, and this was interpreted as a change in the filtration coefficient. The purpose of our study was providing an alternative explanation for the behavior of the refilling coefficient and, using clinical data and mathematical modeling, to predict the values of the immeasurable Starling forces and provide the theoretical basis for the interpretation of the refilling coefficient as the filtration coefficient. Blood volume and bioimpedance data from 23 patients undergoing hemodialysis were used to calculate the refilling coefficient according to the original formulation and to fit a two-compartment model of protein and fluid transport. The changes in the other Starling forces were non-negligible, ranging from 19% to 60% of plasma oncotic pressure. The results showed that the decrease observed in the refilling coefficient is likely caused by neglecting important changes in the Starling forces while deriving the equation for the refilling coefficient. When these Starling forces were taken into account, constant filtration coefficient and dynamic refilling coefficient provided an equivalent description of the data in most cases. However, this was not true for a subgroup of sessions, which suggests that additional factors may also be responsible for the observed decrease in the refilling coefficient.
How Success Versus Failure Cases Support Knowledge Construction in Collaborative Problem-Solving
Authors: Tawfik Andrew A. , Kim Kyung , Hogan Maureen , Msilu Fortunata
Published: October 2018

Theorists suggest that collaboration is a key aspect in online, inquiry-based learning. However, research finds that meaningful interaction is challenging, and learners struggle to sustain interaction. One way to scaffold collaborative problem-solving is through case libraries; however, few studies have explored how the type of experience depicted in a case library (success and failure) catalyzes learning. To address this gap, this study explored how the presence of success versus failure case libraries supports learning in terms of understanding of the problem space, conceptual space, knowledge construction convergence, and social network interaction. Results found no differences between conditions when discussing the problem space. However, results found that the failure group outperformed the success condition in terms of conceptual space, knowledge construction convergence, and social network interaction. As it relates to scaffolding using case-based reasoning theory and failure-driven memory theory, the failure cases helped to scaffold learners understanding of the broader conceptual space, knowledge construction, and learner–learner interaction. Additional implications for inquiry-based learning and scaffolding using case-based reasoning theory and failure-driven memory theory are provided.
Antigenotoxic effect of melatonin against mercuric chloride in human peripheral blood lymphocytes
Authors: Patel Tapan A , Rao Mandava V
Published: October 2018

Melatonin (MLT) is an extraordinary antioxidant, which plays an important role in reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) by scavenging them directly or indirectly. Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal, which induces cytogenetic alterations via various mechanisms, leading to genotoxicity. It induces genotoxicity by enhancing the ROS chiefly. In the present study, the antigenotoxic effect of MLT was evaluated against mercuric chloride (HgCl2). All experiments were conducted in vitro in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Blood cultures were exposed to various concentrations of HgCl2 (2.63, 6.57, and 10.52 microM) for 24 h to study a range of genotoxic parameters. MLT (0.2 mM) supplementation, alone and in combination with the high concentration of Hg, was administered to blood cultures for 24 h. Genotoxic parameters, such as chromosomal aberrations (CAs; structural aberrations (chromatid gaps and breaks, chromosomal gaps and breaks) and numerical aberrations), micronuclei (MNs), and comet assay, were evaluated and analyzed using suitable statistical analysis. Hg treatment revealed a significant increase in CAs, MNs, and comet length. Co-supplementation of MLT along with Hg showed marked protection of these genotoxic end points in treated cultures. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MLT protects against Hg-induced augmentation in genotoxic indices because of its antioxidant property.
Shock Index-A Useful Noninvasive Marker Associated With Age-Specific Early Mortality in Children With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Age-Specific Shock Index Cut-Offs
Authors: Gupta Sarika , Alam Areesha
Published: October 2018

Background:

Aim of the study was to analyze the association of shock index (SI) from 0 to 6 hours with early mortality in severe sepsis/septic shock and to explore its age-specific cut-off values. To investigate association of change in SI over first 6 hours with early mortality.

Methods:

A prospective cohort study of children (<14 years) admitted in emergency department, tertiary care hospital with severe sepsis or septic shock, divided into 3 groups: group 1: 1 month to <1 year; group 2: 1 to <6 years; group 3: 6 to 12 years. Shock index (SI = heart rate/systolic blood pressure) measured at admission (X0) and hourly till 6 hours (X1-6). Primary outcome was death within 48 hours of admission. Area under receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for SI (0-6). Optimal cut-offs of SI 0 and SI 6, maximizing both sensitivity and specificity were determined and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated.

Results:

From 2015 to 2016, 120 children were recruited. Septic shock was present at admission in 56.7% children. Early mortality was 50%. All hourly shock indices (SI 0-6) were higher among nonsurvivors in group 2 ( P ≤ .03) and group 3 ( P < .001). In group 1, SI after 2 hours was higher in nonsurvivors ( P 2-6: ≤ .02). Area under receiver operating characteristic curves (95% CI) for SI at 0 hour was 0.72 (0.5-0.9), 0.66 (0.5-0.8), and 0.77 (0.6-0.9) and at 6 hours was 0.8 (0.6-1), 0.75 (0.6-0.9), and 0.8 (0.7-1) in 3 groups. The cut-off values of SI 0 (sensitivity; specificity; PPV; NPV) in 3 groups: 1.98 (77; 75; 67; 83), 1.50 (65; 65; 68; 63), and 1.25 (90; 67; 77; 83) and SI6: 1.66 (85; 80; 73; 89), 1.36 (73; 70; 73; 70), and 1.30 (74; 73; 78; 69). Improvement of SI over 6 hours was associated with better outcome. Children with higher SI at both time points had higher mortality than those with SI score below the cut-offs ( P = .001).

Conclusions:

Age-specific SI cut-off values may identify children at high risk of early mortality in severe sepsis/septic shock and allow for better targeted management.
Digital Intimate Partner Violence Among Peruvian Youths: Validation of an Instrument and a Theoretical Proposal
Authors: López-Cepero Javier , Vallejos-Saldarriaga José , Merino-García María
Published: October 2018

The present study presents psychometric information on a new instrument, the Digital Intimate Partner Violence Questionnaire (DIPVQ), and explores the similitudes and differences between in-person and digital-based abuses (those that involve the use of information and communication technologies [ICTs]). In all, 449 Peruvian students took part in the study ( X = 21.2 years; SD = 4.3 years; 73% women). DIPVQ structure was determined by carrying out an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with polychoric correlation matrices and oblique rotation. In-person violence was assessed using the Dating Violence Questionnaire (DVQ) and self-labeling questions (e.g., feeling trapped, afraid, and abused). Relationship satisfaction was assessed using the Perceived Relationship Quality Components–Short Form (PRQC-SF). EFA showed a two-scale structure for the DIPVQ: control-centered cyberabuse ( N = 5; control, monitoring, and identity theft; EAP alpha = .96) and damage-centered cyberabuse ( N = 7; unwanted sexual contents, blackmailing, and causing debts throughout ICT; Expected-A-Posteriori alpha = .97). DIPVQ had direct relationship to DVQ and self-labeling ( p < .001; d = 0.38-1.18), and inverse to PRQC-SF ( p = .11; d = .22-.33). Behaviors such as impersonation and monitoring were reported by more than 20% of participants. Online and offline victimization coexist in 42% of cases, while 3.6% of aggressions happened exclusively via ICT. DIPVQ is a valid and reliable measure of digital victimization. The control-centered scale had a higher frequency, although the damage-centered scale had stronger relationship to feeling afraid and abused. While previous literature has classified online aggressions regarding their aesthetic appearance, it seems that their functional value (control vs. hurting) could provide a better framework for understanding these aggressions.
Characteristics of Mail-Order Pharmacy Users: Results From the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey
Authors: Ma Junyi , Wang Li
Published: October 2018

Background:

There is a paucity of research on the population characteristics of mail-order pharmacy users.

Objective:

This study utilized a nationally representative sample to examine the characteristics of mail-order pharmacy users.

Methods:

This study used data from the 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The outcome variable was defined as whether the participant had used a mail-order pharmacy during the study year. Logistic regression was conducted to determine the factors which influence mail-order pharmacy use. All analyses incorporated MEPS sampling weights to adjust for the complex survey design.

Results:

Among the 14,106 adults included, approximately 18% of them had used a mail-order pharmacy at least once to fill their prescription in 2012. Compared to community pharmacy users, mail-order pharmacy users were more likely to be white, older, married, have a higher family income, a higher educational level, have health insurance, and have a prescription with at least a 30-day supply. There is no difference in gender or urban/rural disparity. In addition, mail-order pharmacy users had a lower percentage of out-of-pocket costs.

Conclusion:

Mail-order pharmacy use was significantly associated with certain patient characteristics. Policymakers should consider these characteristics when promoting mail-order pharmacy use.