bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural network cloud top pressure and height for MODIS
Authors: Håkansson Nina , Adok Claudia , Thoss Anke , Scheirer Ronald , Hörnquist Sara
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Cloud top height retrieval from imager instruments is important for Nowcasting and for satellite climate data records. A neural network approach for cloud top height retrieval from the imager instrument MODIS is presented. The neural networks are trained using cloud top layer pressure data from the CALIOP dataset. Results are compared with two operational reference algorithms for cloud top height: the MODIS Collection 6 level 2 height product and the cloud top temperature and height algorithm (CTTH) in the 2014 version of the NWCSAF Polar Platform System (PPS-v2014). All three techniques are evaluated using both CALIOP and CPR (CloudSat) height. Instruments like AVHRR and VIIRS contain fewer channels useful for cloud top height retrievals than MODIS, therefore several different neural networks are investigated to test how infrared channel selection influences retrieval performance. Also a network with only channels available for the AVHRR1 instrument is trained and evaluated. To examine the contribution of different variables, networks with fewer variables are trained. It is shown that variables containing imager information for neighbouring pixels are very important. Overall results for the neural network height retrievals are very promising. The neural networks using the brightness temperatures at 11 μm and 12 μm show at least 33 % (or 627 m) lower mean absolute error (MAE) compared to the two operational reference algorithms when validating with CALIOP height. Validation with CPR (CloudSat) height gives at least 25 % (or 433 m) reduction of MAE. For the network trained with a channel combination available for AVHRR1, the MAE is at least 542 m better when validated with CALIOP and 414 m when validated with CPR (CloudSat) compared to the two operational reference algorithms. The NWCSAF PPS-2018 release will contain a neural network based cloud height algorithm.
Technical note: Optimizing the utility of combined GPR, OSL, and LiDAR (GOaL) to extract paleoenvironmental records and decipher shoreline evolution
Authors: Dougherty Amy J. , Choi Jeong-Heon , Turney Chris S. M. , Dosseto Anthony
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Records of past sea levels, storms, and their impacts on coastline are crucial in forecasting future changes resulting from anthropogenic global warming. Coastal barriers that have prograded over the Holocene preserve within their accreting sands history of storm erosion and changes in sea level. High-resolution geophysics, geochronology, and remote sensing techniques offer an optimal way to extract these records and decipher shoreline evolution: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) images the lateral extent of relict shoreline dune morphology; Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data records paleo-dune, beach and nearshore stratigraphy; Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dates when sand grains were deposited that form these shorelines. Utilization of these technological advances has recently become more prevalent in coastal research. The resolution and sensitivity of these methods offer unique insights on coastal environments and their relationship to past climate change. However, discrepancies in analysis and presentation of the data can result in erroneous interpretations. When utilized correctly on prograded barriers these methods (independently or in various combinations) have produced storm records, constructed sea-level curves, quantified sediment budgets, and deciphered coastal evolution. Therefore, combining the application of GPR, OSL, and LiDAR (GOaL) on one prograded barrier has the potential to generate detailed records of storms, sea level, and sediment supply for that coastline. Obtaining this GOaL hat-trick can provide valuable insights into how these three factors influenced past and future barrier evolution. Here we argue that systematically achieving GOaL hat-tricks on some of the 300+ prograded barriers worldwide would allow us to disentangle local patterns of sediment supply from regional effects of storms or global changes in sea level, allowing direct comparison to climate proxy records. To fully realize this aim requires standardization of methods to optimize results. The impetus for this initiative is to establish a framework for consistent data analysis that maximizes the potential of GOaL to contribute to climate change research and assist coastal communities in mitigating future impacts of global warming.
Airborne polarimetric Doppler weather radar: trade-offs between various engineering specifications
Authors: Vivekanandan Jothiram , Loew Eric
Published: January 2018

Abstract. NCAR EOL is
investigating potential configurations for the next-generation airborne
phased array radar (APAR) that is capable of retrieving dynamic and
microphysical characteristics of clouds and precipitation. The APAR will
operate at C band. The APAR will use the electronic scanning (e-scan) feature
to acquire the optimal number of independent samples for recording research-quality measurements. Since the airborne radar has only a limited time for
collecting measurements over a specified region (moving aircraft platform
∼ 100 m s−1), beam
multiplexing will significantly enhance its ability to collect
high-resolution, research-quality measurements. Beam multiplexing reduces
errors in radar measurements while providing rapid updates of scan volumes.
Beamwidth depends on the size of the antenna aperture. Beamwidth and
directivity of elliptical, circular, and rectangular antenna apertures are
compared and radar sensitivity is evaluated for various polarimetric
configurations and transmit–receive (T/R) elements. In the case of polarimetric
measurements, alternate transmit with alternate receive (single-channel
receiver) and simultaneous reception (dual-channel receiver) is compared.
From an overall architecture perspective, element-level digitization of
T/R module versus digital sub-array is considered with
regard to flexibility in adaptive beamforming, polarimetric performance,
calibration, and data quality. Methodologies for calibration of the radar and
removing bias in polarimetric measurements are outlined. The above-mentioned
engineering options are evaluated for realizing an optimal APAR system
suitable for measuring the high temporal and spatial resolutions of Doppler
and polarimetric measurements of precipitation and clouds.
Technical note: Using distributed temperature sensing for Bowen ratio evaporation measurements
Authors: Schilperoort Bart , Coenders-Gerrits Miriam , Luxemburg Willem , Jiménez Rodríguez César , Cisneros Vaca César , Savenije Hubert
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Rapid improvements in the precision and spatial resolution of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology now allow its use in hydrological and atmospheric sciences. Introduced by ) is the use of DTS for measuring the Bowen ratio (BR-DTS), to estimate the sensible and latent heat flux. The Bowen ratio is derived from DTS-measured vertical profiles of the air temperature and wet-bulb temperature. However, in previous research the measured temperatures were not validated, and the cables were not shielded from solar radiation. Additionally, the BR-DTS method has not been tested above a forest before, where temperature gradients are small and energy storage in the air column becomes important. In this paper the accuracy of the wet-bulb and air temperature measurements of the DTS are verified, and the resulting Bowen ratio and heat fluxes are compared to eddy covariance data. The performance of BR-DTS was tested on a 46 m high tower in a mixed forest in the centre of the Netherlands in August 2016. The average tree height is 26 to 30 m, and the temperatures are measured below, in, and above the canopy. Using the vertical temperature profiles the storage of latent and sensible heat in the air column was calculated. We found a significant effect of solar radiation on the temperature measurements, leading to a deviation of up to 3 K. By installing screens, the error caused by sunlight is reduced to under 1 K. Wind speed seems to have a minimal effect on the measured wet-bulb temperature, both below and above the canopy. After a simple quality control, the Bowen ratio measured by DTS correlates well with eddy covariance (EC) estimates (r2 = 0.59). The average energy balance closure between BR-DTS and EC is good, with a mean underestimation of 3.4 W m−2 by the BR-DTS method. However, during daytime the BR-DTS method overestimates the available energy, and during night-time the BR-DTS method estimates the available energy to be more negative. This difference could be related to the biomass heat storage, which is neglected in this study. The BR-DTS method overestimates the latent heat flux on average by 18.7 W m−2, with RMSE = 90 W m−2. The sensible heat flux is underestimated on average by 10.6 W m−2, with RMSE = 76 W m−2. Estimates of the BR-DTS can be improved once the uncertainties in the energy balance are reduced. However, applying, for example, Monin–Obukhov similarity theory could provide independent estimates for the sensible heat flux. This would make the determination of the highly uncertain and difficult to determine net available energy redundant.
Criteria for the optimal selection of remote sensing optical images to map event landslides
Authors: Fiorucci Federica , Giordan Daniele , Santangelo Michele , Dutto Furio , Rossi Mauro , Guzzetti Fausto
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Landslides leave discernible signs on the land surface, most of which can be
captured in remote sensing images. Trained geomorphologists analyse remote
sensing images and map landslides through heuristic interpretation of
photographic and morphological characteristics. Despite a wide use of remote
sensing images for landslide mapping, no attempt to evaluate how the image
characteristics influence landslide identification and mapping exists. This
paper presents an experiment to determine the effects of optical image
characteristics, such as spatial resolution, spectral content and image type
(monoscopic or stereoscopic), on landslide mapping. We considered eight maps
of the same landslide in central Italy: (i) six maps obtained through expert
heuristic visual interpretation of remote sensing images, (ii) one map
through a reconnaissance field survey, and (iii) one map obtained through a
real-time kinematic (RTK) differential global positioning system (dGPS)
survey, which served as a benchmark. The eight maps were compared pairwise
and to a benchmark. The mismatch between each map pair was quantified by
the error index, E. Results show that the map closest to the benchmark
delineation of the landslide was obtained using the higher resolution image,
where the landslide signature was primarily photographical (in the landslide
source and transport area). Conversely, where the landslide signature was
mainly morphological (in the landslide deposit) the best mapping result was
obtained using the stereoscopic images. Albeit conducted on a single
landslide, the experiment results are general, and provide useful
information to decide on the optimal imagery for the production of event,
seasonal and multi-temporal landslide inventory maps.
Modelled fracture and calving on the Totten Ice Shelf
Authors: Cook Sue , Åström Jan , Zwinger Thomas , Galton-Fenzi Benjamin Keith , Greenbaum Jamin Stevens , Coleman Richard
Published: January 2018

Abstract. The Totten Ice Shelf (IS) has a large drainage basin, much of which is grounded below sea level, leaving the glacier vulnerable to retreat through the Marine Ice Shelf Instability mechanism. The ice shelf has also been shown to be sensitive to changes in calving rate, as a very small retreat of the calving front from its current position is predicted to cause a change in flow at the grounding line. Therefore understanding the processes behind calving on the Totten IS is key to predicting its future sea level rise contribution. Here we use the Helsinki Discrete Element Model (HiDEM) to show that calving on the Totten IS is controlled not only by locally produced fractures at the calving front, but is also influenced by basal fractures which are likely produced at the grounding line. Our model results show that regrounding points may be key areas of basal crevasse production, and can produce basal crevasses in both an along and across flow orientation. As well as affecting calving, along flow basal crevasses at the grounding line may be a possible precursor to basal channels. We use two additional models to examine the evolution of basal fractures as they advect downstream, demonstrating that both strain and ocean melt have the potential to deform narrow fractures into the broad basal features observed near the calving front. The wide range of factors which influence fracture patterns and calving on this glacier will be a challenge for predicting its future mass loss.
Instructor or Customer Service Representative?: Reflections on Teaching in a For-Profit College
Authors: Madden Jaime
Published: January 2018

Conversations about the state of higher education in the US are increasingly attuned to the predatory practices of for-profit colleges. The essay offers a critical retrospective engagement with my experience teaching at a for-profit institution of higher education. It provides a theorization of what I found to be a "customer service orientation"--a distinctive expectation the college has about how instructors interact with their students, as well as a skill instructors are asked to foster in students. After briefly outlining the institution's spatial configuration and how that supports its customer service orientation, I focus on two aspects of the for-profit educational experience: 1) the classroom experience within a generic sociology course, where students and I worked against the customer service orientation; and 2) a close reading of a course textbook assigned to all incoming students, which reveals most clearly the dual operations of neoliberal individualism and a customer service orientation. The classroom scenes detailed in this essay depict the complex and calculated negotiations of teachers and students with academic capitalism.
Structural Racism and the Will to Act
Authors: Lopez Bunyasi Tehama
Published: January 2018

In only a few short years, Black Lives Matter has shaped mainstream discourse of racial inequality so as to emphasize the disparate ways our society tends to value certain lives and contributions over others.  In this essay, I describe how today's Black liberation movement inspired me to revise a graduate course on race and conflict that directs students to think about how contemporary institutions and social practices determine the value of life at the color line. In the epilogue, I ponder another round of revisions given the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
Anti-Racist Pedagogy In and Against Lynching Culture
Authors: Ryan-Bryant Jennifer Denise
Published: January 2018

This article assesses the methodology and content of a graduate seminar on the literature of lynching, focusing on the inclusion of works by Ida B. Wells and a recent graphic novel, Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece's Incognegro, as well as key assignments and discussion topics. After examining the events and history that inspired the course as well as its immediate cultural and social contexts, the article considers the questions that such literature raises for its readers and the next steps that it urges engaged students to take.
Schooltalk: Rethinking What We Say About —and to—Students Every Day By Mica Pollock
Authors: Schnee Emily
Published: January 2018

Schooltalk: Rethinking What We Say About—and to—Students Every Day By Mica Pollock (The New Press, 2017). Reviewed by Emily Schnee.
How much is enough? Assessing the influence of neighborhood walkability on undertaking 10-minute walks
Authors: Boisjoly Geneviève , Wasfi Rania , El-Geneidy Ahmed
Published: January 2018

Neighborhood walkability is increasingly perceived as an effective way to support individuals’ health, since living in a walkable environment is associated with increases in utilitarian walking. Yet, while people are more likely to walk in more walkable neighborhoods, increased walkability can also lead to walking shorter distances, thus mitigating the positive health outcomes associated with walkable environments. Given that the World Health Organization recommends physical activity to be performed in sessions of at least 10 minutes, the aim of this research is to explore the relationship between neighborhood walkability and individuals’ likeliness of walking in sessions of at least 10 minutes. A multilevel logistic regression is generated using data from the Montreal, Canada, 2013 Origin-Destination Survey. The results show that the probability of walking at least 10 minutes for shopping purposes is equally high in the 80-89 and 90-100 Walk Score neighborhoods. In contrast, car ownership is a strong predictor of walking at least 10 minutes, especially in higher Walk Score neighborhoods. These findings suggest that transport policies aimed at reducing car ownership, combined with land use policies, can be most effective in supporting the minimal 10-minute sessions of walking for shopping purposes. This study provides a nuanced assessment of walkability and is of relevance to researchers and planners wishing to assess and develop policies for increasing health benefits through active transportation.
ABA and the combinatorics of morphological features
Authors: Bobaljik Jonathan David , Sauerland Uli
Published: January 2018

In several three cell paradigms, it has been observed that one logically conceivable pattern – ABA under some arrangement of cells – is unattested. Existing approaches assume that such *ABA generalizations provide evidence for feature inventories which are restricted to features that stand in containment relations, and are thus subject to Pāṇinian rule order. We present a novel approach to *ABA generalizations that derives from general properties of feature-based morphology. To this end, we develop a formal account of the widespread view that morphological paradigms derive from rules that relate abstract features from an inventory to morphological exponents. We demonstrate that the feature-based view restricts the space of typological patterns even without any further assumptions. We show furthermore that the feature-based theory derives *ABA as a special case of a broader class of generalizations if the number of features in the inventory must be minimal, and that these generalizations arise under a variety of general assumptions about feature-algebras (extrinsically ordered or Pāṇinian and with or without feature intersection). We discuss which explanation might be correct for actual cases of *ABA constraints, and we explore the consequences of the feature-based general approach for a range of paradigm sizes including those with more than three cells.
A student-led interprofessional workshop on conflict management style
Authors: Lee Charlotte T. , Arellano Katrina , Lovold Lauren , Mesaglio Vanessa , Kaas-Mason Sanne
Published: January 2018

Student leadership in interprofessional education is known to bring positive influences to learning collaborative skills for nursing and other health professional trainees. Yet a scarce number of student-led interprofessional activities are described in the literature. This report describes one student-led interprofessional education workshop that is facilitated by personnel from a faculty interprofessional education program. Undergraduate students (N = 23) from nursing, allied health and social service training programs at one university in Toronto, Canada, participated in a one-time workshop regarding conflict management style. Findings from our evaluation survey showed that the workshop was well-received by participants and demonstrated utility and feasibility. Such outcomes provide supportive evidence for fostering student leadership in designing and implementing interprofessional teaching.
The Methylation Analysis of KLF11 and PCDH9 Genes in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Nooshin Sajad , Zare Karizi Shohreh , Karimipoor Morteza , Nooshin Maryam , Matin ahmadi Arash , Changizi maghroor Maryam , Masrouri Masoumeh
Published: January 2018

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and the 5-year survival rate is still very poor due to the lack of effective tools for early detection. Epigenetics and especially studies on DNA methylation have given important information towards a better achievement of lung cancer pathogenesis in the recent decades. The inactivation of tumor suppressor genes via promoter hypermethylation is an obvious mechanism and is straightly related to carcinogenesis. In this study, we compared the methylation status of KLF11 and PCDH9 genes in non-small cell lung cancer and adjacent normal tissues.Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 30 tumor tissues, bisulfite treated and were analyzed in terms of promoter methylation status of KLF11 and PCDH9 genes by high resolution melting method. Statistical analysis was carried out by chi-square test.Results: No significant difference in methylation level at the PCDH9 promoter region in NSCLC tumors compared with non-tumor tissues was observed (P = 0.3132, chi-square test). In contrast, the difference in methylation levels between normal and tumor tissue samples for the promoter of the KLF11 gene was quite significant (P = 0.0001).Conclusions: Promoter methylation of KLF11 gene is an important mechanism in the development of NSCLC, therefore, it could be used as one of the potential therapeutic goals for molecular targeted therapy and epigenetic treatment. The role of the PCDH9 gene in the development of lung cancer is complex and requires more research and a larger statistical population.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Food Research, Vol. 7 No. 1
Authors: Dong Bella
Published: January 2018

of manuscripts for this issue. Their help and contributions in maintaining the quality of the journal are greatly appreciated.Journal of Food Research is recruiting reviewers for the journal. If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, we welcome you to join us. Please find the application form and details at http://recruitment.ccsenet.org and e-mail the completed application form to jfr@ccsenet.org.Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 1Alex Augusto Gonçalves, Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid (UFERSA), BrazilBojana Filipcev, University of Novi Sad, SerbiaComan Gigi, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, RomaniaCorina-aurelia Zugravu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, RomaniaDiego A. Moreno-Fernández, CEBAS-CSIC, SpainEfstathios S Giotis, Royal Veterinary College, United KingdomElke Rauscher-Gabernig, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, AustriaGisele Fátima Morais Nunes, Federal Center of Technological Education of Minas Gerais, BrazilIsabela Mateus Martins, State University of Campinas, BrazilJose M. Camina, National University of La Pampa and National Council of Scientific and Technical Researches (CONICET), ArgentinaJose Maria Zubeldia, Gestión Sanitaria de Canarias – Gobierno de Canarias, SpainJuliano De Dea Lindner, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), BrazilLenka Kourimska, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech RepublicLuis Patarata, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, PortugalMamdouh El-Bakry, Cairo University, EgyptMarco Iammarino, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, ItalyMulunda Mwanza Mulunda, School of Agriculture North West University, South AfricaNingning Zhao, Oregon Health & Science University, United StatesQinlu Lin, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, ChinaSachin Kumar Samuchiwal, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, United StatesSonchieu Jean, University of Bamenda, CameroonTinna Austen Ng'ong'ola-Manani, Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources, MalawiXingjun Li, Academy of the State Administration of Grains, ChinaXinyin Jiang, Brooklyn College, United States
Is The Natural Step’s Theory about Sustainability Still Sustainable? A Theoretical Review and Critique
Authors: Nathan Joshua D.
Published: January 2018

With sustainability initiatives attracting quality employees, many businesses concentrate more on their ecological imprint than on sustaining their human capital. Theories such as Karl-Henrik Robèrt’s The Natural Step (1997, 2000, 2002) prize a balance with the environment above one with people. Yet, an increasingly ageing workforce with increasingly common chronic diseases has led corporations to hemorrhage money—from direct costs because of absenteeism to indirect costs because of decreased productivity. Although eligible in many countries for accommodations, many chronically ill employees choose not to self-disclose, instead, masking their illnesses from employers. Questioning the sustainability of The Natural Step (TNS) from this perspective, this paper also critiques TNS’ evolution as a theoretical construct through the lens offered by the General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 11, No. 1
Authors: Sun Sherry
Published: January 2018

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2018
An Improved Version of K-medoid Algorithm using CRO
Authors: Hudaib Amjad , Khanafseh Mohammad , Surakhi Ola
Published: January 2018

Clustering is the process of grouping a set of patterns into different disjoint clusters where each cluster contains the alike patterns. Many algorithms had been proposed before for clustering. K-medoid is a variant of k-mean that use an actual point in the cluster to represent it instead of the mean in the k-mean algorithm to get the outliers and reduce noise in the cluster. In order to enhance performance of k-medoid algorithm and get more accurate clusters, a hybrid algorithm is proposed which use CRO algorithm along with k-medoid. In this method, CRO is used to expand searching for the optimal medoid and enhance clustering by getting more precise results. The performance of the new algorithm is evaluated by comparing its results with five clustering algorithms, k-mean, k-medoid, DB/rand/1/bin, CRO based clustering algorithm and hybrid CRO-k-mean by using four real world datasets: Lung cancer, Iris, Breast cancer Wisconsin and Haberman’s survival from UCI machine learning data repository. The results were conducted and compared base on different metrics and show that proposed algorithm enhanced clustering technique by giving more accurate results.
Public Open Space Design Study on the Basis of Microclimate and Spatial Behavior in Hot and Cold Weather Conditions in Downtown Area
Authors: GUO Zhiming , SETOGUCHI Tsuyoshi , WATANABE Norihiro , HUO Ke
Published: January 2018

Microclimate in open space affected by the urban layouts and spatial forms plays an important role in the outdoor comfort, thus the outdoor activities based on the comfort sensation will directly affected by the microclimate. An outstanding open space should satisfy different requirements of outdoor activities and create relatively comfortable sensation.Most studies have been conducted on these relationships only above 0 Celsius degree. However, only few have focused on extreme situations in both hot and cold seasons. Therefore, from microclimate perspective, taking people’s comfort and spatial behaviors as criterions, this research discussed how the open space forms affect microclimate, thus affect comfort sensation and spatial behaviors. The outcomes may provide some useful insights for planners and architects to understand the relationship among microclimate, open space and people.Results showed that microclimate obviously affected people’s comfort. In hot season, shade and air-flow played crucial roles in outdoor comfort. People tend to stay outside in the shade and the area with higher air velocity. After sunset is popular period for outdoor activities. In cold season, at the same ambient temperature, lower air velocity raised the comfort level. Shade also had influences on comfort sensation but do not affect spatial behaviors significantly.This paper also proposes optimization design proposals of densely populated open space based on extreme microclimate and spatial behaviour.
Právní aspekty pracovně psychologické diagnostiky
Authors: Stříteský Matěj
Published: January 2018

Předkládaný článek se zamýšlí nad tím, zda existuje právní úprava, která reguluje používání psychologické diagnostiky v pracovněprávních vztazích. Článek dochází k závěru, že právní úprava pracovně psychologické diagnostiky existuje, protože se jedná o formu zjišťování informací o zaměstnancích nebo uchazečů o zaměstnání. Článek řeší např. otázku, jaké testy může pracovní psycholog používat, zda musí poskytnout výsledky testů testovanému, či zda existují sankce za porušení vyvozených pravidel. Na základě analýzy právní úpravy autor vyvozuje pravidla, pro používání psychologické diagnostiky v pracovně právních vztazích. Své závěry se autor snaží ověřovat dotazy na správní orgány, které vykonávají dohled nad dodržováním relevantní právní úpravy.The paper considers whether the Czech law includes any legal regulation of psychological testing in labour relations. The author argues that psychological testing in labour relations is indeed regulated by the law because psychological testing represents a type of obtaining information about an employee or a future employee. The paper proposes arguments why some tests should not be used for psychological testing in labour relations, why test takers have the right to access the results of testing. The paper also considers if there are any penalizations for not following the regulations. Based on the analysis of legal regulation the author proposes several rules for the use of psychological testing in labour relations. For the validation of his findings the author contacted legal authorities that enforce labour law.
A Study of Accompaniment at the End of Life
Authors: Brungardt Michael G. ,   The National Catholic Bioethics Center
Published: January 2018

In discussions of end-of-life care and what the often-used but often-misunderstood buzzword “accompaniment” means, the core of the issue has often been missed, leading to inappropriate responses by physicians, loved ones, and the dying persons themselves. Emphasis is often placed on the care of circumstances rather than the care of persons. In what follows, these issues are systematically addressed to show that when patients face physical death, a truly ethical response is authentic, loving accompaniment of them. This form of such accompaniment is explored.
Exploring the influence of basic cognitive skills on the relation between math performance and math anxiety
Authors: Douglas Heather P. , LeFevre Jo-Anne
Published: January 2018

What causes math anxiety? According to a cognitive deficits view, early weaknesses in basic number and spatial skills lead to poor performance and hence negative affect. A strong version of this view suggests that the relation between math anxiety and math performance among adults will be explained by deficits in spatial and basic number skills. In the present research, we tested a model to account for the relations among math anxiety, math performance, and cognitive skills (i.e., working memory, basic number and spatial skills) among adults (N = 90). We replicated the modest correlations observed between math anxiety and these cognitive skills. However, we did not find a direct link between basic number and spatial skills and math anxiety; instead, these relations were mediated by complex math performance. We conclude by rejecting the hypothesis that math anxiety in adults is linked directly to individual differences in spatial and basic numerical skills and suggest instead that the present results are consistent with the alternative view in which even basic numerical tasks, under certain conditions may evoke an anxiety response and mask skill proficiency. Finally, we note that caution should be applied when extrapolating correlational results to make causal claims about whether cognitive skills may be precursors in the development of math anxiety.
Narrowing the early mathematics gap: A play-based intervention to promote low-income preschoolers’ number skills
Authors: Scalise Nicole R. , Daubert Emily N. , Ramani Geetha B.
Published: January 2018

Preschoolers from low-income households lag behind preschoolers from middle-income households on numerical skills that underlie later mathematics achievement. However, it is unknown whether these gaps exist on parallel measures of symbolic and non-symbolic numerical skills. Experiment 1 indicated preschoolers from low-income backgrounds were less accurate than peers from middle-income backgrounds on a measure of symbolic magnitude comparison, but they performed equivalently on a measure of non-symbolic magnitude comparison. This suggests activities linking non-symbolic and symbolic number representations may be used to support children’s numerical knowledge. Experiment 2 randomly assigned low-income preschoolers (Mean Age = 4.7 years) to play either a numerical magnitude comparison or a numerical matching card game across four 15 min sessions over a 3-week period. The magnitude comparison card game led to significant improvements in participants’ symbolic magnitude comparison skills in an immediate posttest assessment. Following the intervention, low-income participants performed equivalently to an age- and gender-matched sample of middle-income preschoolers in symbolic magnitude comparison. These results suggest a brief intervention that combines non-symbolic and symbolic magnitude representations can support low-income preschoolers’ early numerical knowledge.
A Comparison of Parametric and Semi-Parametric Models for Microarray Data Analysis
Authors: Chaba Linda , Odhiambo John , Omolo Bernard
Published: January 2018

Microarray technology has revolutionized genomic studies by enabling the study of differential expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. Parametric, nonparametric and semi-parametric statistical methods have been proposed for gene selection within the last sixteen years. In an effort to find the “gold standard", the performance of some common parametric and nonparametric methods have been compared in terms of power to select differentially expressed genes and other desirable properties. However, no such comparisons have been conducted between parametric and semi-parametric models. In this study, we compared a semi-parametric model based on copulas with a parametric model (the quantitative trait analysis or QTA model) in terms of power and the ability to control the Type I error rate. In addition, we proposed a simple algorithm for choosing an optimal copula. The two approaches were applied to a publicly available melanoma cell lines dataset for validation. Both methods performed well in terms of power but the copula approach was notably the better. In terms of the Type I error rate control, the two methods were comparable. More methods for selecting an optimal copula for gene expression data need to be developed, as the proposed procedure is limited to copulas that permit both negative and positive dependence only.
Sample Size Calculation in Clinical Studies: Some Common Scenarios
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad Z. I. , Sikdar Khokan C. , Turin Tanvir C.
Published: January 2018

Determining the optimal sample size is crucial for any scientific investigation. An optimal sample size provides adequate power to detect statistical significant difference between the comparison groups in a study and allows the researcher to control for the risk of reporting a false-negative finding (Type II error). A study with too large a sample is harder to conduct, expensive, time consuming and may expose an unnecessarily large number of subjects to potentially harmful or futile interventions. On the other hand, if the sample size is too small, a best conducted study may fail to answer a research question due to lack of sufficient power. To draw a valid and accurate conclusion, an appropriate sample size must be determined prior to start of any study. This paper covers the essentials in calculating sample size for some common study designs. Formulae along with some worked examples were demonstrated for potential applied health researchers. Although maximum power is desirable, this is not always possible given the resources available for a study. Researchers often needs to choose a sample size that makes a balance between what is desirable and what is feasible.
Invazivne okužbe novorojenčkov z bakterijo Streptococcus agalactiae v Sloveniji, 2003–2013
Authors: Lasič Mateja , Lučovnik Miha , Pavčnik Maja , Kaparič Tina , Ciringer Miha , Lozar Krivec Jana , Fister Petja , Nosan Gregor , Lah Liza , Štucin Gantar Irena , Mueller-Premru Manica , Tul Nataša , Jeverica Samo
Published: January 2018

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is the leading cause of invasive neonatal infections in the developed world. We present epidemiological and clinical characteristics of invasive GBS disease among Slovenian neonates between 2003 and 2013.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Children aged 0–90 days with invasive GBS disease, born in Slovenia and hospitalized in the University Medical Centre Ljubljana were included. Cases were identified concurrently from (i) hospital and (ii) microbiological databases. Medical records from mothers and children were reviewed and relevant data extracted. The incidence rate was calculated based on the national vital statistics data and expressed per 1000 live births.Results: Altogether, 144 children were included in the analysis, 72.9 % (n = 105) based on hospital database and 27.1 % (n = 39) based on microbiological database. Among them, 47.9 % (n = 69) were girls and 52.1 % (n = 75) boys. Among the cases with available data, 54.5 % (n = 73) were born at term and 45.5 % (n = 61) were preterm. Early-onset disease (0–6 days) was present in 74.3 % (n = 107) of patients; 95.3 % (n = 102) of them became ill during the first 3 days of life. Late-onset disease (7–90 days) was present in 25.7 % (n = 37) of patients. Outcome data was available for 134 children. Neonatal mortality rate was 4.5 % (n = 6). Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) or intraventricular haemorrhages Grade III/IV (IVH 3/4) were detected in 17.9 % (n = 24). Severe outcomes (death or PVL or IVH 3/4) were detected in 22.4 % (n = 30) children. Cumulative incidence rate was 0.72/1000 live births; 0.53/1000 for early-onset and 0.18/1000 for late-onset disease. Risk factors for early-onset disease were present in 47.9 % (n = 68) mothers in labour. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was delivered to 16.9 % (n = 24) of mothers.Conclusions: High incidence of invasive neonatal GBS disease was detected in Slovenia. Although low mortality was observed, brain pathology concordant with long-term adverse outcome was confirmed in a high proportion of patients. The application of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in cases of known risk factors was suboptimal, especially among preterm deliveries. Approximately half of the patients were born to mothers without any risk factors. A comprehensive national strategy for the prevention of invasive GBS disease is warranted in Slovenia.
Les déterminants de l’urbanisation des communautés innues de la Côte-Nord
Authors: Déborbe Matthieu , Vachon Geneviève
Published: January 2018

Cet article aborde les liens entre l’histoire du développement de Uashat, Maliotenam, Pessamit et Nutashkuan, et la morphologie de leur territoire de réserve ou Innu Assi. Au moyen de sources historiques, cartographiques et littéraires, l’étude identifie et croise les éléments et acteurs ayant influencé ce développement. Combinée à la caractérisation évolutive des formes urbaines (ou morphogenèse), cette approche révèle des coïncidences chronologiques à l’intérieur de trois périodes : 1) la création des premières réserves, avant la Seconde Guerre mondiale ; 2) l’intensification de la sédentarisation et de la croissance urbaine, dans l’après-guerre ; et 3) la période contemporaine de décentralisation, de désengagement de l’État et de dévolution politique et administrative aux communautés. Les résultats mettent en évidence une double rupture au sein de l’Innu Assi contemporain par le biais d’un processus de sédentarisation forcée, et par l’établissement d’un milieu de vie pensé et construit par un autre peuple que celui qui l’habite.
Le logement social au Nunavik
Authors: Therrien Aude , Duhaime Gérard
Published: January 2018

Cet article étudie la participation des acteurs régionaux à l’élaboration et à la
mise en oeuvre de l’Entente concernant la mise en oeuvre de la Convention de la Baie-James
et du Nord québécois en matière de logement au Nunavik. Cette entente est centrale,
d’un point de vue politique, pour comprendre la situation du logement au Nunavik,
puisqu’elle fixe les rôles de chacun des acteurs et établit le financement accordé pour la
construction des logements sociaux. L’entente signée en 2000 a été renouvelée par deux fois,
soit en 2005 et en 2010. Si elle avait pour but, lors de sa signature, de répondre aux
besoins du Nunavik en logements, la mise en place en 2011 d’un mécanisme de résolution des
différends et l’absence d’accord pour le renouvellement de l’entente quinquennale en 2015
sont des signes qu’elle ne rencontre pas les objectifs souhaités par l’ensemble des
signataires. En ce sens, par une analyse historique de l’entente, les auteurs souhaitent
mettre en lumière les pouvoirs que les différents acteurs régionaux exercent à travers cette
politique et les différends qui les séparent.
Influencia de la comunicación comercial en la actitud de compra. Una aproximación exploratoria en el sector no lucrativo
Authors: Martínez Navarro Mª Gema
Published: January 2018

Despite the growing use of commercial communication in different economic sectors, literature still has certain theoretical and practical gaps. These gaps are produced because there still exists a lack of information about which variables are those that make up commercial communication as well as which of those variables is the most effective. With an exploratory approach, our article tries to fill the gaps through research in the public university education sector. The results validate some of the hypotheses raised and show that some variables are more effective than others. At the same time, that the influence of commercial communication on purchasing is not direct but that it should be thought of as the intervention of variables which are of a subjective nature. In this way, our study contributes to literature in as much as it demonstrates that commercial communication can be used in non-profitable sectors which have very specific restrictions when using communication variables.
Embracing heterogeneity: Building the Tree of Life and the future of phylogenomics
Authors: Bravo Gustavo A , Antonelli Alexandre , Bacon Christine D , Bartoszek Krzysztof , Blom Mozes , Huynh Stella , Jones Graham , Knowles L. Lacey , Lamichhaney Sangeet , Marcussen Thomas , Morlon Hélène , Nakhleh Luay , Oxelman Bengt , Pfeil Bernard , Schliep Alexander , Wahlberg Niklas , Werneck Fernanda , Wiedenhoeft John , Willows-Munro Sandi , Edwards Scott V
Published: January 2018

Building the Tree of Life (ToL) is a major challenge of modern biology, requiring major advances in cyberinfrastructure, data collection, theory, and more. Here, we argue that phylogenomics stands to benefit by embracing the many heterogeneous genomic signals emerging from the first decade of large-scale phylogenetic analysis spawned by High-throughput sequencing (HTS). Such signals include those most commonly encountered in phylogenomic datasets, such as incomplete lineage sorting, but also those reticulate processes emerging with greater frequency, such as recombination and introgression. We suggest that methods of data acquisition and the types of markers used in phylogenomics will remain restricted until a posteriori methods of marker choice are made possible with routine whole-genome sequencing of taxa of interest. We discuss limitations and potential extensions of a major model supporting innovation in phylogenomics today, the multispecies coalescent model. Macroevolutionary models that use phylogenies, such as character mapping, often ignore the heterogeneity on which building phylogenies increasingly rely, and suggest that assimilating such heterogeneity is an important goal moving forward. Finally, we argue that an integrative cyberinfrastructure linking all steps of the process of building the ToL, from specimen acquisition in the field to publication and tracking of phylogenomic data, as well as a culture that values contributors to each step, are essential for progress.
Altitudinal patterns in breeding bird species richness and density in relation to climate, habitat heterogeneity, and migration influence in South Korea
Authors: Kim Jin-Yong , Lee Sanghun , Shin Man-Seok , Lee Chang-Hoon , Seo Changwan , Eo Soo Hyung
Published: January 2018

Altitudinal patterns in the population ecology of mountain bird species are useful for predicting species occurrence and behavior. Numerous hypotheses about the complex interactions among environmental factors have been proposed; however, these remain controversial. This study investigated the causes of altitudinal patterns in breeding bird species richness and density in relation to climate, habitat heterogeneity, and migration influence in Jirisan National Park, South Korea. We conducted a field survey of 142 plots at altitudes between 200 and 1400 m above mean sea level in the breeding season. A total of 2771 individuals from 53 breeding bird species were recorded. Altitudinal patterns of species richness and density showed a hump-shaped pattern, indicating that the highest richness and density could be observed at moderate altitudes. Models constructed with 16 combinations of six variables demonstrated that species richness was positively correlated with vertical and horizontal habitat heterogeneity, and that density was positively correlated with vertical, but not horizontal, habitat heterogeneity, and negatively correlated with migrant rate. No significant relationships were found between spring temperature and species richness or density. Therefore, the observed patterns in species richness support the hypothesis that habitat heterogeneity, rather than climate, is the main driver of species richness. And neither habitat heterogeneity nor climate hypotheses fully explains the observed patterns in density. However, vertical habitat heterogeneity does likely help explain observed patterns in density. The heterospecific attraction hypothesis did not apply to the distribution of birds along the altitudinal gradient. Appropriate management of vertical habitat heterogeneity, such as vegetation cover, should be maintained for the conservation of bird diversity in this area.
A Planar UWB Antenna with Dual Band Rejection Capability Using Double Rotated ESRRs
Authors: Elkorany A. S. , Ahmed G. T. , Saleeb D. A.
Published: January 2018

In this paper, CPW-Fed ultra wideband (UWB) planar monopole antenna (PMA) loaded by double elliptical split ring resonators (ESRRs) for double band-notch characteristics is introduced and examined. Two different ESRRs with different dimensions are printed in the antenna backside to notch two different frequencies. The ESRRs are also rotated and the corresponding return loss effect is examined.  Different notch frequencies can be obtained by varying the ESRRs, dimensions. Two single SRRs are used to notch two frequencies instead of using dual SRR pairs. Two notch frequencies at 5.2 GHz and 6.9 GHz has been obtained to notch WLAN and C-band wireless applications, respectively. A directive radiation pattern in E-plane and omnidirectional radiation patterns in the H-plane could be observed. Also the gain is suppressed in the notch frequencies. The group delay is nearly stable in the UWB frequency range, except at the notch frequencies, which is distorted sharply. So, the proposed antenna is a good candidate for the modern UWB systems. Finite element method FEM and finite integration technique FIT are used to simulate the proposed structures through the usage of Ansys HFSS and CST MWS. Very good agreement between both results has been obtained.