bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harbor seal pup dispersal and individual morphology, hematology, and contaminant factors affecting survival
Authors: Greig Denise J. , Gulland Frances M. D. , Harvey James T. , Lonergan Mike , Hall Ailsa J.
Published: October 2018

Understanding the factors affecting individual harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) survival is essential for determining population level health risks. We estimated postweaning dispersal, and modeled the effects of morphology, hematology, and blubber contaminants on the survival of recently weaned harbor seal pups using a mark recapture framework. We deployed satellite transmitters on apparently healthy pups captured in San Francisco Bay (SFB, n = 19) and Tomales Bay (TB, n = 7), and pups released after rehabilitation that stranded along the central California coast preweaning (n = 21). Dispersal distances were further than previously reported for harbor seal pups (maximum = 802 km) which has implications for understanding risks to this vulnerable age class. We found differences in body condition, serum immunoglobulin and thyroxine (T4) concentrations, white blood cell count, and blubber organohalogen contamination (OH) among the three groups. Overall, increased T4, decreased OH, and increased mass were associated with greater survival probabilities; whereas, among stranded seals, greater mass gain, shorter time in rehabilitation, and admission to rehabilitation earlier in the season were associated with greater survival probabilities. Attention to these latter factors may improve the success of rehabilitation efforts. For wild pups, reduction of legacy contaminants and direct causes of mortality, such as ship strike, may enhance pup survival.
The innovation and diffusion of “trap‐feeding,” a novel humpback whale foraging strategy
Authors: McMillan Christie J. , Towers Jared R. , Hildering Jackie
Published: October 2018

The innovation and diffusion of novel foraging strategies within a population can increase the capacity of individuals to respond to shifts in prey abundance and distribution. Since 2011, some humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off northeastern Vancouver Island (NEVI), Canada, have been documented using a new feeding strategy called “trap‐feeding.” We provide the first description of this foraging innovation and explore the ecological and social variables associated with its diffusion using sightings data, video analysis, and logistic regression modeling. The number of humpback whales confirmed to trap‐feed off NEVI increased from two in 2011 to 16 in 2015. Neither the locations of trap‐feeding sessions nor prey species consumed differed from those documented during lunge‐feeding. However, preliminary results indicate that the schools of fish consumed when individuals trap‐fed were smaller and more diffuse than those consumed when whales lunge‐fed. Top‐ranked models predicting whether an individual would be observed exhibiting trap‐feeding behavior included the following parameters: average number of days per year that the individual was seen off NEVI and proportion of the individual's associations that were with other trap‐feeders. These results suggest that trap‐feeding may be a culturally transmitted foraging innovation that provides an energetically efficient method of feeding on small, diffuse prey patches.
Come on feel the noise: Ecological foundations in stochastic bioeconomic models
Authors: Sims Charles , Horan Richard D. , Meadows Benjamin
Published: October 2018

Bioeconomic approaches to resource management treat renewable resources as naturally reproducing assets, or natural capital, whose conservation generates an economic rate of return. Stochasticity in resource growth produces stochasticity in these returns, affecting both the economic efficiency and ecological sustainability of resource use. Traditional bioeconomic models find that the rate of return to conservation is increased by a risk premium that may lower conservation incentives for more random populations. But these prescriptions depend on how the stochasticity of resource growth is modeled. Whereas the ecological literature adopts stochastic processes based on ecological considerations, bioeconomic analyses generally rely on ad hoc specifications chosen for convenience. Using analytical and numerical applications to the efficient management of fisheries and forests, we find that risk premium calculations based on traditional bioeconomic approaches versus ecological approaches may differ both quantitatively and qualitatively so that not all sources of ecological stochasticity imply conservation is risky.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

Bioeconomic approaches to resource management link economic and ecological models to evaluate economic–ecological tradeoffs arising from different management choices. The bioeconomic literature has focused very little on the implications of stochastic resource growth, and the specification of stochasticity in these analyses is generally ad hoc and not ecologically justifiable. We bridge this gap by adopting specifications promoted by ecologists and demonstrate as follows:

Not all sources of ecological stochasticity imply conservation is risky. This result contrasts with traditional bioeconomic findings, driven by ad hoc modeling assumptions, that natural capital is always a risky investment.

Whether a particular source of stochasticity implies conservation is risky may be state dependent.

Even when models based on ecological notions of stochasticity do imply that conservation is risky, the magnitude of these risks and the ability of conservation efforts to manage risks may differ greatly from traditional bioeconomic specifications.
Understanding human enhancement technologies through critical phenomenology
Authors: Pariseau‐Legault Pierre , Holmes Dave , Murray Stuart J.
Published: October 2018

Human enhancement technologies raise serious ethical questions about health practices no longer content simply to treat disease, but which now also propose to “optimize” human beings’ physical, cognitive and psychological abilities. These technologies call for a reassessment of our relationship to health, the human body and the body's organic, identity and social functions. In nursing, such considerations are in their infancy. In this paper, we argue for the relevance of critical phenomenology as a way to better understand the ethical issues related to human enhancement technologies (HET). In so doing, we seek to problematize HET and assess their influence on the future development of nursing science and practice. It is difficult to anticipate the concrete effects of HET, we suggest, because these practices reconfigure the meaning of normativity and disorient our conventional ethical landscape. In this context, we argue that the later work of Martin Heidegger and Michel Foucault invites a critical perspective into how techno‐scientific discourses modify our relationship to care, to health and to our own social and corporeal identities. Despite the traditional philosophical opposition between phenomenology and critical theory, we maintain that a hybrid critical phenomenological approach opens new ways to assess the integration of technology and practice. Our analysis understands HET as a process of “hybridization” between technological objects and human subjects. Critical phenomenology thus effectively questions anthropocentric definitions of technology, challenges the dichotomy between curative treatment and enhancement and, finally, prompts valuable reflection on the implications of HET for nursing theory and practice.
Negative relationship between interspecies spatial association and trait dissimilarity
Authors: He Dong , Biswas Shekhar R.
Published: October 2018

Species’ response to environmental site conditions and neighborhood interactions are among the important drivers of species’ spatial distributions and the resultant interspecies spatial association. The importance of competition to interspecies spatial association can be inferred from a high degree of trait dissimilarity of the associated species, and vice versa for environmental filtering. However, because the importance of environmental filtering and competition in structuring plant communities often vary with spatial scale and with plant life stage, the species’ spatial association–trait dissimilarity relationship should vary accordingly. We tested these assumptions in a fully mapped 50‐ha subtropical evergreen forest of China, where we assessed the degrees of interspecies spatial associations between adult trees and between saplings at two different spatial scales (10 m versus 40 m) and measured the degrees of trait dissimilarity of the associated species using six traits (leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry‐matter content, wood density, wood dry‐matter content and maximum height). Consistent across spatial scales and plant life stages, the degree of interspecies spatial association and the degree of overall trait dissimilarity (i.e. all six traits together) were negatively correlated, suggesting that environmental filtering might help assemble functionally similar species in the forest under study. However, when we looked into the spatial association–trait dissimilarity relationship for individual traits, we found that the relationships between interspecies spatial associations and the dissimilarity of wood density and dry‐matter content were significant for adults but not for saplings, suggesting the importance of wood traits in species’ survival during ontogeny. We conclude that processes shaping interspecies spatial association are spatial scale and plant life stage dependent, and that the distributions of functional traits offer useful insights into the processes underlying community spatial structure.
Chromosome manipulations for progress of triticale (×Triticosecale) breeding
Authors: Kwiatek Michał T. , Nawracała Jerzy
Published: October 2018

In this review, we present the current state of knowledge and directions of future prebreeding studies of hexaploid triticale concerning chromosome manipulations. We specify the main goals for creating chromosome aberrations in this artificially generated crop, which are referred to as introgression of genes that are responsible for quality traits, biotic stresses resistance, and heterosis. We discuss the breeding methods, supported by cytomolecular analyses, which are based on development of chromosome aberrations induced by meiotic restitution, chromosome elimination, chromosome fragmentation or random fusion of chromatin fragments into chromosome structures. What is more, this kind of chromosome manipulations can be generated through induced cross‐hybridizations, which are alternatives to genome editing technologies, associated with the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We also show the newest modifications and improvements in triticale breeding strategies, which involve recent achievements in cytogenetics and genomics. At last, we discuss how the new methods, such as gametocidal factor system or induced homoeologous recombination, can be exploited to accelerate the breeding considering particular end‐use properties of triticale.
CLE9 peptide‐induced stomatal closure is mediated by abscisic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhang Luosha , Shi Xiong , Zhang Yutao , Wang Jiajing , Yang Jingwei , Ishida Takashi , Jiang Wenqian , Han Xiangyu , Kang Jingke , Wang Xuening , Pan Lixia , Lv Shuo , Cao Bing , Zhang Yonghong , Wu Jinbin , Han Huibin , Hu Zhubing , Cui Langjun , Sawa Shinichiro , He Junmin , Wang Guodong
Published: October 2018

CLE peptides have been implicated in various developmental processes of plants and mediate their responses to environmental stimuli. However, the biological relevance of most CLE genes remains to be functionally characterized. Here, we report that CLE9, which is expressed in stomata, acts as an essential regulator in the induction of stomatal closure. Exogenous application of CLE9 peptides or overexpression of CLE9 effectively led to stomatal closure and enhanced drought tolerance, whereas CLE9 loss‐of‐function mutants were sensitivity to drought stress. CLE9‐induced stomatal closure was impaired in abscisic acid (ABA)‐deficient mutants, indicating that ABA is required for CLE9‐medaited guard cell signalling. We further deciphered that two guard cell ABA‐signalling components, OST1 and SLAC1, were responsible for CLE9‐induced stomatal closure. MPK3 and MPK6 were activated by the CLE9 peptide, and CLE9 peptides failed to close stomata in mpk3 and mpk6 mutants. In addition, CLE9 peptides stimulated the induction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis associated with stomatal closure, which was abolished in the NADPH oxidase‐deficient mutants or nitric reductase mutants, respectively. Collectively, our results reveal a novel ABA‐dependent function of CLE9 in the regulation of stomatal apertures, thereby suggesting a potential role of CLE9 in the stress acclimatization of plants.
Smells from the desert: Microbial volatiles that affect plant growth and development of native and non‐native plant species
Authors: Camarena‐Pozos David A. , Flores‐Núñez Víctor M. , López Mercedes G. , López‐Bucio José , Partida‐Martínez Laila P.
Published: October 2018

The plant microbiota can affect host fitness via the emission of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) that influence growth and development. However, evidence of these molecules and their effects in plants from arid ecosystems is limited.

We screened the mVOCs produced by 40 core and representative members of the microbiome of agaves and cacti in their interaction with Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. We used SPME‐GC‐MS to characterize the chemical diversity of mVOCs and tested the effects of selected compounds on growth and development of model and host plants.

Our study revealed that approximately 90% of the bacterial strains promoted plant growth both in A. thaliana and N. benthamiana. Bacterial VOCs were mainly composed of esters, alcohols, and S‐containing compounds with 25% of them not previously characterized. Remarkably, ethyl isovalerate, isoamyl acetate, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, benzyl alcohol, 2‐phenylethyl alcohol, and 3‐(methylthio)‐1‐propanol, and some of their mixtures, displayed beneficial effects in A. thaliana and also improved growth and development of Agave tequilana and Agave salmiana in just 60 days.

Volatiles produced by bacteria isolated from agaves and cacti are promising molecules for the sustainable production of crops in arid and semi‐arid regions.
Online cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation to the right homologue of Broca's area improves speech fluency in people who stutter
Authors: Yada Yasuto , Tomisato Shuta , Hashimoto Ryu‐ichiro
Published: October 2018

Aim

Previous functional imaging studies demonstrate that people who stutter (PWS) exhibit over‐ and under‐activation of Broca's and Wernicke's areas and their right hemisphere homologues when speaking. However, it is unclear whether this altered activation represents the neural cause of speech dysfluency or a secondary compensatory activation in PWS. To clarify the functional significance of the altered activation pattern in classic language areas and their right homologues, we examined whether the severity of stuttering was affected when the activation of these areas was modulated by brain stimulation.

Methods

While PWS read passages aloud, we applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) using electrode montages that included an anodal or cathodal electrode placed over one of the language areas and its right hemisphere homologue, with the second electrode placed over the contralateral supraorbital region. Each participant underwent both anodal and cathodal tDCS sessions, each of which included a sham stimulation. Effects of stimulation polarity and electrode location on the frequency of stuttering were analyzed.

Results

We observed a significant interaction between polarity and location on the frequency of stuttering. Follow‐up analyses revealed that a tDCS montage including the cathodal electrode over right Broca's area (RB) significantly reduced the frequency of stuttering.

Conclusion

The results indicated that stuttering severity was ameliorated when overactivation in RB was reduced by tDCS. This observation further suggests that speech dysfluency in PWS may be caused either by functional alteration in RB or by abnormal activation in speech motor control areas that are connected with RB.
Biphotonic Ionization of DNA: From Model Studies to Cell
Authors: Cadet Jean , Wagner J. Richard , Angelov Dimitar
Published: October 2018

Oxidation reactions triggered by low‐intensity UV photons represent a minor contribution with respect to the overwhelming pyrimidine base dimerization in both isolated and cellular DNA. The situation is totally different when DNA is exposed to high‐intensity UVC radiation under conditions where biphotonic ionization of the four main purine and pyrimidine bases becomes predominant at the expense of singlet excitation processes. The present review article provides a critical survey of the main chemical reactions of the base radical cations thus generated by one‐electron oxidation of nucleic acids in model systems and cells. These include oxidation of the bases with the predominant formation of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine as the result of preferential hole transfer to guanine bases that act as sinks in isolated and cellular DNA. In addition to hydration, other nucleophilic addition reactions involving the guanine radical cation give rise to intra‐ and interstrand cross‐links together with DNA–protein cross‐links. Information is provided on the utilization of high‐intensity UV laser pulses as molecular biology tools for studying DNA conformational features, nucleic acid–protein interactions and nucleic acid reactivity through DNA–protein cross‐links and DNA footprinting experiments.
Syntheses of Chalcone‐Type Chlorophyll Derivatives Possessing a Bacteriochlorin, Chlorin or Porphyrin π‐System and Their Optical Properties
Authors: Ohashi Kota , Kinoshita Yusuke , Tamiaki Hitoshi
Published: October 2018

C3‐(Trans‐2‐arylethenyl)carbonylated chlorophyll derivatives possessing a bacteriochlorin or chlorin π‐system were synthesized by cross‐aldol (Claisen–Schmidt) condensation of methyl pyrobacteriopheophorbide‐a or 3‐acetyl‐3‐devinyl‐pyropheophorbide‐a bearing the C3‐acetyl group with p‐(un)substituted benzaldehydes under basic conditions. The corresponding porphyrin‐type chlorophyll derivatives were prepared by the oxidation (17,18‐didehydrogenation) of the chlorin‐type. Their Qy absorption and fluorescence emission maxima in dichloromethane correlated well with Hammett substituent constants of the p‐substituents. Several electron‐withdrawing p‐substituents suppressed the emission due to photoinduced electron transfer quenching in a molecule. The substitution sensitivities for their maxima and fluorescence quantum yields decreased in the order of bacteriochlorin‐, chlorin‐ and porphyrin‐type derivatives.
The Dynamics of an Interorganizational Emergency Management Network: Interdependent and Independent Risk Hypotheses
Authors: Jung Kyujin , Song Minsun , Park Hyung Jun
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this research is to uncover the dynamic structure of an interorganizational emergency management network after a disaster. This research tests two hypothesized network structures: interdependent risk and independent risk. While the former illustrates the importance of trust and information redundancy in coordinating and aligning emergency preparedness and response, the latter captures the tendency for local actors to seek dominant partners to bridge crucial information across the region. A stochastic actor‐based model with a forward selection strategy is used to analyze the structural effects of endogenous networks and the effects of exogenous community attributes on interorganizational ties. Based on the data sets collected before and after the 2012 typhoons in South Korea, the results support the interdependent risk hypothesis, suggesting that an interorganizational network structure tends to evolve into the notion of shared collaboration risk.
Horses for courses: China's accommodative approach to food standard‐setting in response to the internationalization of regulation
Authors: Chu May
Published: October 2018

This paper examines the evolution of China's food standard‐setting procedures from both domestic and international perspectives, particularly in the context of the internationalization of regulation. After the reform and opening‐up in 1978, state actors and leading enterprises monopolized the process of national food standard setting. With further participation in the global economy in the 21st century, China has become familiar with the international standard‐setting procedures and has modeled its domestic policymaking on these practices. This has resulted in a more transparent, inclusive, scientific, pluralized, and consensus‐based form of decisionmaking. By contrast, the standards of the strategic industries have been harmonized to the standards of international counterparts through a top‐down and authoritarian approach. This paper argues that China uses an accommodative approach, trichotomizing suitable standards and decisionmaking procedures in terms of inclusiveness and transparency, which suits the developmental needs of the domestic market, food export markets, and strategic industries.
Expert Views on Their Role as Policy Advisor: Pilot Study for the Cases of Electromagnetic Fields, Particulate Matter, and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Spruijt Pita , Knol Anne B. , Petersen Arthur C. , Lebret Erik
Published: October 2018

This perspective presents empirical data to demonstrate the existence of different expert views on scientific policy advice on complex environmental health issues. These views are partly research‐field specific. According to scientific literature, experts differ in the way they provide policy advice on complex issues such as electromagnetic fields (EMF), particulate matter (PM), and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Where some experts feel their primary task is to carry out fundamental research, others actively engage in the policy dialogue. Although the literature provides ideas about expert roles, there exists little empirical underpinning. Our aim is to gather empirical evidence about expert roles. The results of an international study indicated that experts on EMF, PM, and AMR differ in the way they view their role in the policy dialogue. For example, experts differed in their views on the need for precaution and their motivation to initiate stakeholder cooperation. Besides, most experts thought that their views on the risks of EMF/PM/AMR did not differ from those of colleagues. Great dissensus was found in views on the best ways of managing risks and uncertainties. In conclusion, the theoretical ideal–typical roles from the literature can be identified to a certain extent.
Cervical lymphadenopathy in a dental patient: An eye opener case report
Authors: Dangore Khasbage Suwarna , Bhake Arvind S.
Published: October 2018

Cervical lymphadenopathy, a condition with multifactorial etiology is one of the common presentations in patients reporting to dental clinic. It is thus imperative that oral physicians have to be well versed with the causes of cervical lymphadenopathy. The present article describes a case of 24‐year‐old male who reported to his dentist with complaint of painless swelling of 4 months duration on right side of neck. Oral examination revealed missing mandibular third molars on both sides, which was confirmed on radiograph. Considering reactive lymphadenitis secondary to inflamed impacted molar as a reason for neck swelling, the surgical removal of third molar of right side was performed under antibiotic coverage which was uneventful. As the neck swelling persisted even after removal of molar, patient had undergone fine needle aspiration cytology and then the swelling was diagnosed as tubercular lymphadenitis. He was treated by antitubercular therapy for 6 months regimen, after then he was perfectly alright. The present report aims to highlight contemplative role of oral physician in early diagnosis of neck swellings that can result in on‐time management.
Levels or worlds of welfare? Assessing social rights and social stratification in Northern and Southern countries
Authors: Böger Tobias , Öktem Kerem Gabriel
Published: October 2018

Since Esping‐Andersen's Three Worlds, it has become a truism of welfare state research that welfare states do not vary linearly along a single dimension but have to be conceptualized as multidimensional phenomena that cluster into types caused by the political economy of class coalitions. However, when moving beyond the 18 original countries of Esping‐Andersen's analysis, the situation is less clear. Although additional worlds have been identified in the Global North and the Global South, these are usually not conceptualized along the same dimensions as the original three worlds and are rarely empirically compared with them. This paper tackles these omissions by explicitly comparing Northern and Southern countries within Esping‐Andersen's framework. It poses the question whether the central insight of welfare state research, namely, that there are not just gradual differences between welfare states, but different types with qualitative differences, expands beyond classic welfare states. Based on newly generated data on social rights and social stratification, we employ cluster analysis with 45 Northern and Southern countries. This analysis produces mixed results. We do find different types of welfare states with qualitative differences, but these do not fully correspond to Esping‐Andersen's Three Worlds. Moreover, our findings also point to a conceptual issue in welfare regime research: regimes are not just defined and measured in terms of different logics of welfare provision but also take into account degrees of welfare stateism. We argue that this issue is poised to become ever more pressing with the geographical expansion of welfare state research.
Good Looks as a Source of Moral Permissiveness*
Authors: Urbatsch Robert
Published: October 2018

Objective

Establishing what leads people to particular moral beliefs is complicated by potential predictors being themselves caused by moral attitudes. This problem is less acute when considering the effects of good looks, which, by expanding sexual opportunities, shift incentives for beliefs regarding the morality of sexual activities.

Methods

Regressions predict responses to morality‐related questions in the 2016 General Social Survey and the 1972 National Election Study, which included interviewer (i.e., not self‐generated) evaluations of respondents’ looks. These questions concern various actions’ moral acceptability regardless of legality, as well as policy positions on issues including gay marriage and marijuana legalization.

Results

Better‐looking respondents give more morally permissive responses to most questions relating to sex. For issues not directly related to sexual opportunities, however, attractiveness does not predict significantly more acceptant attitudes.

Conclusion

Good‐looking people generally are more acceptant of those indulgences that they have disproportionate opportunities for, highlighting the role of opportunism in the formation of moral and political attitudes.
The Cox–Aalen model for recurrent‐event data with a dependent terminal event
Authors: Qu Lianqiang , Sun Liuquan
Published: October 2018

Recurrent events with a dependent terminal event arise frequently in a wide variety of fields. In this paper, we propose a new joint model to analyze these data and model the dependence between recurrent and terminal events through shared gamma frailty. Specifically, a Cox–Aalen rate frailty model is specified for the recurrent event, and an additive hazards frailty model is specified for the terminal event. An estimating equation approach is developed for the parameters in the joint model, and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed estimators perform well with finite samples. An application to a medical cost study of chronic heart failure patients is illustrated.
Identification of a novel HLA‐DPB1 allele, HLA‐DPB1*612:01, in a Chinese individual
Authors: Xiong Wen , Wang Daming , Zou Hong‐Yan
Published: October 2018

HLA‐DPB1*612:01 differs from HLA‐DPB1*13:01:01:01 by a single nucleotide substitution at codon 37 (CGC‐ > TGC).
Diagnosis of feline mesenchymal nasal hamartoma by squash preparation cytology
Authors: Bottero Enrico , Melega Maverick , Dimartino Erika R. , Tricarico Michele , Lepri Elvio , De Lorenzi Davide , Miniscalco Barbara , Riondato Fulvio
Published: October 2018

Background

Feline Mesenchymal Nasal Hamartoma (MNH) is a rare benign tumor‐like lesion of the sinonasal tract affecting young cats.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the diagnostic significance of osteoblast‐like (OB‐L) and osteoclast‐like cells (OC‐L) in squash preparation cytology from endoscopic biopsies.

Methods

A 5‐year database was retrospectively reviewed and included 109 cases of which 24 were diagnosed as MNH by histopathology. Slides were examined by two cytologists (one experienced and one inexperienced in nasal and squash cytology) in a double‐blind study. The inexperienced cytologist counted OB‐L and OC‐L in 500 intact nucleated cells. The experienced cytologist assigned samples to four categories for OB‐L (0, 1‐5, 6‐10, >10/field) and OC‐L (0, 1‐2, 3‐5, >5/field).

Results

The presence of OB‐L and OC‐L was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with the histologic diagnosis of MNH. Receiver operating characteristic curves from the counts by the inexperienced cytologist revealed 3/500 OB‐L and 2/500 OC‐L as the best cut‐offs for the diagnosis of MNH. Those of the experienced cytologist evaluation revealed that all the MNHs presented more than 10 OB‐L/field and 3 or more OC‐L/field. Both cytologists detected each cell type in all MNHs with an overall concordance of 0.93.

Conclusions

The presence of OB‐L and OC‐L is a consistent finding in MNH, and thus, represents a reliable cytologic diagnostic criterion. The described methods are applicable in routine in‐clinic laboratory settings and are easy to apply at any expertise level. Further prospective studies are needed to assess the accuracy of the proposed cut‐off values.
Building a blood system: the view from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Badawi Maha A.
Published: October 2018

Despite the significant advances in the transfusion medicine field, maintaining an adequate and safe blood supply remains challenging for some areas of the world. Data from the World Health Organization reveal that many developing countries continue to have low rates of blood collections per capita, and many suffer from chronic shortage of blood and components. An effective way to improve access to affordable and quality assured blood and blood products, and their appropriate use is through the establishment of an effective, sustainable and appropriately regulated blood system. At the current time, Saudi Arabia continues to operate in an institution‐based model, with a blood collection and processing centre affiliated with almost all individual hospitals. Given the high number of sectors that hospitals belong to, challenges are faced in communication and collaboration among blood centres despite the possibility of being in geographic proximity. Building a national blood system is expected to result in positive outcomes in many aspects, including donor motivation strategies and planning, standardization of policies and processes, and effective utilization of resources and supplies. A hybrid model where motivation efforts, management of financial resources, creation of policies and standards are shared nationally, while blood collection and processing, testing and storage are performed in multiple sites may be the most suitable approach for the country. Steps are being taken towards achieving this goal in the Kingdom.
Step by step approach for qualitative data analysis
Authors: Akinyode Babatunde Femi , Khan Tareef Hayat
Published: October 2018

The application of qualitative techniques is increasing and acceptable among the researchers. However, majority of the researchers and postgraduate students did not consider the importance of giving detailed procedures in qualitative data analysis for better understanding of the qualitative results. There is a need to uncover step by step approach in qualitative analysis for better application of qualitative techniques. This article presented a detailed step-by-step approach for qualitative analysis with the aid of a pragmatic illustration. The analytic process presented employed the example of qualitative data transcribed into narrative data to develop basic themes. The employment of Domain Analysis and Thematic Network analysis in the example given helped basic themes to converge to higher order themes. The article submitted that this approach in qualitative analysis will aid thorough understanding of qualitative data interpretation. This is extremely thoughtful approach for the systematic presentation of qualitative analysis.
Barriers to effective use of CAD and BIM in architecture education in Nigeria
Authors: Maina Joy Joshua
Published: October 2018

This study investigated barriers to the effective use of CAD/BIM in response to the dearth of data from Nigerian schools of architecture relative to information obtained from practice. This is important to bridge the gap between skill sets required in practice and those obtained from architecture graduates. Objectives of the study were to establish barriers that influence effective use of CAD/BIM tools in Nigerian schools of architecture as well as to identify means of addressing these barriers within the curriculum from the perspective of students. A mixed methodology was employed via questionnaire responses from 64 MSc students at the department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as well as suggestions for improvement. Quantitative data were analysed in SPSS v. 21 for means (M) and Relative importance Index (RII). Suggestions proffered by respondents were assessed using content analysis. Results reveal that requirements for high computer specifications (RII=0.92), expensive cost of computers (0.91), requirements for intensive training (0.81), inadequate integration within the curriculum (0.81), lack of steady power supply (0.77) and time to master skills (0.76) were the most important barriers to effective CAD/BIM use in architecture education. Overall, government and institutional related barriers recorded the highest means (M 3.68 each). The study recommends government action via policies supporting clear BIM standards, local manufacture and assembly of high-tech computers to mitigate importation costs as well as added funding to higher institutions to augment research, power supply and ICT facilities. At departmental level, CAD/BIM tutorials should be integrated within studio sessions as seminars from 200L. At 400L and MSc levels, studio should support collaboration with students from other allied professionals. Recruitment requirements in future also need to include CAD/BIM proficiency to improve quality of teaching staff and learning experience of students.
Dual Formal and Informal Transport Modes towards Quasi-Seamless Transit in a Developing City
Authors: Permana Ariva Sugandi , Sinniah Gobi Krishna , Pamardhi-Utomo Rizon , Putri Rufia Andisetyana
Published: October 2018

Dual formal and informal transport modes have been complementing one another in Bandung City for more than four decades now. The issue appears due to inability of formal transport to provide adequate services to the citizens. However, this accompaniment has brought Bandung City to a quasi-seamless transportation process as both transport modes play their roles as a continuum. Amid insufficient public transportation system in Bandung City, the informal transport modes have properly paired their formal transport counterparts. This study was conducted in Bandung City, Indonesia, by profiling the transportation users, observing the characteristics of both formal and informal transports, and acquiring the relevant secondary information at city and national levels. The study found that within the issue of appropriateness of few modes of informal transport such as becaks and ojeks, they have shown their contribution to the state of quasi-seamless transit process in the city as well as their impacts to reduce the CO2 emission in comparison to formal fossil fuel-based transportation.
Aplikasi Gaya Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Aktif dalam Subjek Kemahiran Dinamika bagi Merealisasikan Pendidikan Abad ke-21
Authors: Mohamad Ali Asmawati , Abdul Karim@SAB Norizal , Mohamed Anita , Ismail Noraihan
Published: October 2018

Suitability of determining the approach, methods, techniques and strategies that are being applied in teaching and learning session is closely related to curriculum implementer. Academic lecturers not only determine the design and development of elements contained in the subjects but also they act as the assessor and examiner of the learning outcome. The implementation of active learning is one of the elements in 21st Century Learning concept. This research used qualitative methodology with interviews and observation among matriculation students.  The data of semi-structured interview were analysed in verbatim while the observation is being done using checklist form. Generally, the finding of this study shows that active learning activities are suitable to be applied especially in etiquette practical at the dining table, event organization, interview session and public speaking. The learning outcome of these activities was also assessed to develop generic skills from students’ and lecturers’ perspective.
Mengenal Pasti Bakat Pemain Bola Jaring Bawah 12 Tahun
Authors: Ramli Nurul Fazlin , Zainuddin Zainal Abidin , Ibrahim Halijah
Published: October 2018

This study is aimed to obtaining preliminary data for the need for guidance in the process of identifying netball player talent below 12 years in elementary school. Inconsistent player performance is a concern in this study. Experience of the coaches also plays an important role in forming a solid team of players. The questionnaire was developed to obtain feedback from the trainer on the selection process of the player. The results show that 90% of the coaches agree that there is a reference to the selection of players during the preparation of school netball teams. However, the findings show that 100% of the trainers strongly agree about the necessary course of netball in helping to provide knowledge and skills. It shows that existing references need to be improved with more effective guidelines. Furthermore, there is a relationship between the coaches’ experience of 50% less than five (5) years with the required knowledge and skills of player selection. Therefore, the researcher proposes the development of a guideline for netball player selection process who is under 12-years old to simplify tasks of the coaches.
Artesunate attenuates airway resistance in vivo and relaxes airway smooth muscle cells in vitro via bitter taste receptor‐dependent calcium signalling
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Aili , Zhang Ming , Zeng Huilong , Lu Yun , Liu Lei , Li Jingjing , Deng Linhong
Published: October 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The aim of this study was to evaluate artesunate for its use as a bronchodilator in asthma treatment.

What is the main finding and its importance?

We found that artesunate reduces airway resistance in both normal and ovalbumin‐treated Balb/c mice in vivo. Artesunate reduces traction force while inducing Ca2+ influx into cultured airway smooth muscle cells in vitro, most probably via the bitter taste receptor. These findings provide important evidence at both animal and cellular levels that artesunate might potentially be used as a bronchodilator for treating obstructive airway diseases, such as asthma.

Following the surprising discovery that bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) expressed in the lung and can be stimulated to relax airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), there is great interest in searching for a bitter taste receptor agonist as a new bronchodilator for asthma therapy. Among the great many other natural bitter substances, artesunate is of special interest to be evaluated for this purpose because of its pharmacological value as a derivative from the well‐known anti‐malarial, artemisinin. Therefore, in this study we treated either normal or ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced asthmatic Balb/c mice in vivo with artesunate (30, 60 or 120 μg) via aerosol inhalation. Subsequently, we measured the airway resistance of the mice in the presence or absence of artesunate. In addition, we treated either mouse or human ASMCs cultured in vitro with artesunate (0.25–2.0 mM) and then measured the traction force and [Ca2+]i flux of the cells in the presence or absence of artesunate. The results demonstrate that artesunate attenuated airway resistance in a dose‐dependent manner in both the normal and the OVA‐treated mice, but more potently in the latter. The in vivo efficacy of artesunate at 120 μg was comparable to that of the conventional bronchodilator, salbutamol, at 3 μg in terms of the reduction in airway resistance. Artesunate also reduced traction force and induced an increase in [Ca2+]i in the cultured ASMCs, which was mediated, at least in part, by TAS2R signalling in the human ASMCs. These results together suggest that artesunate might potentially be a cheap and safe bronchodilator to complement the current therapy of asthma.
Wireless communication between personal electronic devices and hearing aids using high frequency audio and ultrasound
Authors: Miegel Jonathon , Branch Philip , Blamey Peter
Published: October 2018

Hearing aids continue to be the main intervention for hearing loss but ease of use and control is of concern due to the small size of these aids. While technological advances in Bluetooth Low Energy have allowed for improved wireless control, in particular between personal electronic devices, its use for communication with hearing aids is problematic due to limited battery life. This paper outlines the implementation of acoustic wireless communication between personal electronic devices and hearing aids using On-Off Keying (OOK) and Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) between the frequencies of 16 and 20 kHz. Reliable communication with bit error rates less than 10−3 were achieved for OOK with maximum data signalling rates of 50, 35.7, and 27.8 bits per second (bps) obtained over 1, 2, and 3 metres respectively, while FSK provided maximum data signalling rates of 83.3, 50, and 27.8 bps over the same distances.
Finite element modeling of ultrasound measurement systems for gas. Comparison with experiments in air
Authors: Øyerhamn Rune , Mosland Eivind Nag , Storheim Espen , Lunde Per , Vestrheim Magne
Published: October 2018

Quantitative modeling of ultrasound measurement systems is of considerable value for design, analysis, and interpretation of measurements, methods, and systems. In this work, a model is developed for description of transmit-receive measurement systems based on radial-mode transducer operation in a homogeneous fluid medium. Axisymmetric finite element (FE) modeling is used for the transmitting and receiving piezoelectric transducers and sound propagation in the medium. Transmission-line modeling is used for transmitting and receiving cabling and electronics. The model potentially accounts for the full frequency response of the transducers, including radial and thickness modes, mode coupling, and interaction with the medium. Reciprocal transducers are assumed in the model, and linearity in all parts of the system. Near field effects are accounted for using diffraction correction. Simulations are compared with measurements for the transmit-receive voltage-to-voltage transfer function of two piezoelectric ceramic disk transducers vibrating in air at 1 atm, over the frequency range of the first two radial modes of the disks, and the time domain voltage waveforms at the electric terminals of the transmitting and receiving transducers. The results demonstrate that quantitative simulations of the measurement system can be done with reasonable accuracy. Potentials of improvement are identified and discussed.
Assessment of short-term exposure to an ultrasonic rodent repellent device
Authors: van Wieringen Astrid , Glorieux Christ
Published: October 2018

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the acoustical properties of the very high frequencies and/or ultrasound signals produced by a repellent device and to investigate potential adverse factors as a result of short-term exposure to these signals. Potential adverse effects were evaluated perceptually with 25 young and 25 middle-aged persons, all with normal hearing thresholds, in a quiet room using different outcome measures, including a 15-item survey presented before and immediately after each condition. Spectral analyses showed that, besides emitting frequency modulated sounds in the expected frequency ranges, a faint but audible sound in the 4–5 kHz range was present. On average, a relatively short exposure to the sound produced by a repellent device did not lead to significant adverse effects. Yet, when the signal was perceived, as it was frequently for the younger population at the two lower frequencies settings (12–14 kHz, 25–25 kHz) and with 2 sources emitting, it was considered to be disturbing by several participants. Given the increasing usage of ultrasonic devices as well as the much longer exposure of high frequency and ultrasound in domestic usage, careful consideration and better guidelines are required, especially for those who are most sensitive to sound.
Statistical characterization and modeling of noise effects in near-ultrasound aerial acoustic communications
Authors: Zhidkov Sergey V.
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the statistical properties of near-ultrasound acoustic noise in typical indoor environments are investigated. The results indicate that near-ultrasound noise exhibits impulsive behavior and that its first-order probability density functions can be accurately modeled by using a Gaussian mixture or symmetric alpha-stable (SαS) distributions. Furthermore, a practical approach for estimating the parameters of the SαS noise in near-ultrasound aerial acoustic communication receivers is proposed. The problem of modeling memory effects in near-ultrasound acoustic noise is also considered and a simple noise model with memory is proposed based on multiple linear stable processes. The proposed statistical noise models can be used to analyze, simulate, and optimize the performance of various near-ultrasound aerial acoustic communication systems. It is believed that the analysis may contribute to the development of more efficient near-ultrasound aerial communication systems for a range of practical applications.
Climate change stimulated agricultural innovation and exchange across Asia
Authors: d’Alpoim Guedes Jade , Bocinsky R. Kyle
Published: October 2018

Agrarian societies reduced risk during pan-Asian cooling events by investing in pastoralism and developing long-distance trade.
Projected changes in persistent extreme summer weather events: The role of quasi-resonant amplification
Authors: Mann Michael E. , Rahmstorf Stefan , Kornhuber Kai , Steinman Byron A. , Miller Sonya K. , Petri Stefan , Coumou Dim
Published: October 2018

Projections of warming favor more frequent extreme weather events, but there is a large spread due to aerosol forcing changes.
Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO
2
Authors: Steele A. , Benning L. G. , Wirth R. , Siljeström S. , Fries M. D. , Hauri E. , Conrad P. G. , Rogers K. , Eigenbrode J. , Schreiber A. , Needham A. , Wang J. H. , McCubbin F. M. , Kilcoyne D. , Rodriguez Blanco Juan Diego
Published: October 2018

Organic synthesis on Mars occurs by the electrochemical reduction of CO
2
, a reaction that is highly relevant for abiotic organic synthesis on early Earth.