bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of Porous Hydroxyapatite Granules as an Effective Adsorbent for the Removal of Aqueous Pb(II) Ions
Authors: Le Duyen Thi , Le Thao Phuong Thi , Do Hai Thi , Vo Hanh Thi , Pham Nam Thi , Nguyen Thom Thi , Cao Hong Thi , Nguyen Phuong Thu , Dinh Thanh Mai Thi , Le Hai Viet , Tran Dai Lam
Published: February 2019

Porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) granules have been successfully fabricated from a HAp powder precursor and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) additive by a simple sintering process. The composition and microstructures of the HAp were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer. The effects of sintering temperature and PVA/HAp mass ratios on color, water stability, morphology, and chemical composition of HAp are discussed. Optimum conditions for the fabrication of HAp granules were found to be a PVA/HAp mass ratio of 3/20 and a sintering temperature of 600°C for 4 h. Accordingly, the obtained HAp is white in color, is in the granular form with a size of about 2 × 10 mm, and has a specific surface area of 70.6 m2/g. The adsorption of Pb2+ onto the as-prepared HAp granules was carried out in aqueous solution by varying the pH, the adsorbent dose, the initial concentration of Pb2+, and the contact time. The results of adsorption stoichiometry of Pb2+ on the HAp granule adsorbent were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model (R2 = 0.99). The adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of the HAp granule adsorbent for Pb2+ under optimal conditions were found to be 7.99 mg/g and 95.92%, respectively. The adsorption process obeyed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R2∼1. The porous HAp granules studied in this work showed potential for the removal of Pb2+ from industrial wastewater.
Manufacture and Characterization of Heat-Resistant and Heat-Insulating New Composites Based on Resol Resin–Carbon Fibers–Perlite for the Built Heritage Protection
Authors: Soupionis George , Zoumpoulakis Loukas
Published: February 2019

Composite materials were created for usage as reinforcement and to protect the building envelope based on today’s global conditions such as climate change. Composite materials were manufactured using phenol-formaldehyde resin (case of resol) as a matrix, carbon fiber as reinforcement (7.5%v/v), and perlite (10%w/w) as a low thermal conductivity component, to combine high mechanical properties with good heat resistance and good thermal insulation properties. The structure of these new materials was examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis (SEM-EDS). The addition of perlite (10%w/w) in the resite matrix (without fibers) increased the flexural and shear strength of the composite materials. On the other hand, the composite materials with fiber reinforcement show that the perlite reduces the flexural and shear strength due to the additional interfaces which were created. During heat treatment at 473 K, carbon fibers had the smallest weight loss followed by perlite while the resite matrix (i.e., the cured resol) shows the greatest weight loss. It is noted that the role of perlite is to stabilize the mass of the resite matrix during heat treatment. The composite material with carbon fibers and perlite is a heat-resistant material with only 2% weight loss at 473 K for 1 hour and shows a low coefficient of thermal conductivity, making it a new material in the direction of heat-insulating materials.
Knowledge, Preference, and Willingness to Pay for Hepatitis B Vaccination Services among Woman of Reproductive Age in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Anh Tuan Le , Le Xuan Thanh Thi , Do Toan Thanh Thi , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Hoang Nguyen Long , Tran Bach Xuan , Le Huong Thi
Published: February 2019

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is a critical approach to prevent HBV transmission from mother to child. However, despite high HBV prevalence, evidence about the preference of women of productive age for HBV vaccine in Vietnam was constrained. This study aims to explore the preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for the HBV vaccine in Vietnamese women in productive age. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hanoi in April 2016. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information about respondents’ socioeconomic status and knowledge about HBV vaccination. A contingent valuation approach was employed to measure the WTP for the HBV vaccine. Logistic and interval regressions were used to determine the associated factors. Results. Among 807 women, 80.8% were willing to have the vaccine injected which had the average price of 108,600 VND (95% CI, 97,580 VND–119,570 VND). Participants not suffering any diseases during pregnancy were more likely to be willing to pay for the HBV vaccine (OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.73–6.70). Not having the antenatal examination at central hospitals and working as farmers/workers were positively correlated with willingness to pay for this vaccine, while the number of children of respondents had a negative correlation with WTP. Conclusions. Our sampled women expressed a high willingness to pay for the vaccine. The price people were willing to pay for the vaccine, however, is equal to half of the actual price. These findings implied needs for better targeted public education interventions about HBV and the involvement of local medical staffs and the media in providing information. Efforts to reduce the price of the vaccine should also be warranted for scaling-up the coverage of this vaccine.
Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Reducing Falls and Improving Balance Performance in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Hsin-Hsuan , Yeh Nai-Chen , Wu Yi-Fan , Yang Yea-Ru , Wang Ray-Yau , Cheng Fang-Yu
Published: February 2019

Introduction. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that may increase the risk of falls, functional limitation, and balance deficits. Tai Chi was used as an option for improving balance in people with PD. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on falls, balance, and functional mobility in individuals with PD. Method. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PEDro, Medline, Embase, sportDISCUS, Trip, and the National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) analyzing the effects of Tai Chi, compared to no intervention or to other physical training, on falls, functional mobility, and balance in PD patients were selected. The outcome measurements included fall rates, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach (FR) test, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality and extracted data from the studies using the PEDro scale. Results. Five RCTs that included a total of 355 PD patients were included in this review. The quality of evidence in these studies was rated as moderate to high. Compared to no intervention or other physical training, Tai Chi significantly decreased fall rates (odds ratio = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 0.74, and p=0.001) and significantly improved balance and functional mobility (BBS mean difference (MD) = 3.47, 95% CI 2.11 to 4.80, and p<0.001; FR MD = 3.55 cm, 95% CI 1.88 to 5.23, and p<0.001; TUG MD = −1.06 s, 95% CI −1.61 to −0.51, and p<0.001) in people with PD. Conclusion. This meta-analysis provides moderate- to high-quality evidence from five RCTs that Tai Chi could be a good physical training strategy for preventing falls and improving balance and functional mobility in people with PD.
Evaluation of Pharmacodynamic Responses to Cancer Therapeutic Agents Using DNA Damage Markers
Authors: Wilsker Deborah F. , Barrett Allison M. , Dull Angie B. , Lawrence Scott M. , Hollingshead Melinda G. , Chen Alice , Kummar Shivaani , Parchment Ralph E. , Doroshow James H. , Kinders Robert J.
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

We sought to examine the pharmacodynamic activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway in tumors following anticancer treatment for confirmation of target engagement.

Experimental Design:

We evaluated the time course and spatial activation of 3 protein biomarkers of DNA damage recognition and repair (γH2AX, pS343-Nbs1, and Rad51) simultaneously in a quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to assess DDR pathway activation in tumor tissues following exposure to DNA-damaging agents.

Results:

Because of inherent biological variability, baseline DDR biomarker levels were evaluated in a colorectal cancer microarray to establish clinically relevant thresholds for pharmacodynamic activation. Xenograft-bearing mice and clinical colorectal tumor biopsies obtained from subjects exposed to DNA-damaging therapeutic regimens demonstrated marked intratumor heterogeneity in the timing and extent of DDR biomarker activation due, in part, to the cell-cycle dependency of DNA damage biomarker expression.

Conclusions:

We have demonstrated the clinical utility of this DDR multiplex IFA in preclinical models and clinical specimens following exposure to multiple classes of cytotoxic agents, DNA repair protein inhibitors, and molecularly targeted agents, in both homologous recombination–proficient and -deficient contexts. Levels exceeding 4% nuclear area positive (NAP) γH2AX, 4% NAP pS343-Nbs1, and 5% cells with ≥5 Rad51 nuclear foci indicate a DDR activation response to treatment in human colorectal cancer tissue. Determination of effect-level cutoffs allows for robust interpretation of biomarkers with significant interpatient and intratumor heterogeneity; simultaneous assessment of biomarkers induced at different phases of the DDR guards against the risk of false negatives due to an ill-timed biopsy.
АНАЛІЗ РЕЗУЛЬТАТІВ БАКТЕРІОЛОГІЧНИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ ПАЦІЄНТІВ ВІДДІЛЕННЯ ІНТЕНСИВНОЇ ТЕРАПІЇ харківського КОМУНАЛЬНОГО ЗАКЛАДУ ОХОРОНИ ЗДОРОВ'Я «ОБЛАСНА КЛІНІЧНА ЛІКАРНЯ – ЦЕНТР ЕКСТРЕНОЇ МЕДИЧНОЇ ДОПОМОГИ ТА МЕДИЦИНИ КАТАСТРОФ» ЗА 2017 Р.
Authors: Regа N. I. , Yastremska S. O. , Prykhodko W. W.
Published: February 2019

У статті наведено аналіз результатів бактеріологічних досліджень пацієнтів відділення інтенсивної терапії Харківського комунального закладу охорони здоров'я «Обласна клінічна лікарня – Центр екстреної медичної допомоги та медицини катастроф» за 2017 р. Найбільшу частоту випадків внутрішньолікарняних інфекцій пацієнтів інтенсивної терапії спостерігали в зимовий та літній періоди. Найпоширенішою серед госпітальних інфекцій була пневмонія. Із збудників найчастіше було виділено K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans та E. Faecalis.
ДІАГНОСТИКА ГОТОВНОСТІ ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ЩОДО РОЗВИТКУ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-АНАЛІТИЧНОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ МАЙБУТНІХ МЕДИЧНИХ СЕСТЕР
Authors: Varava O. B.
Published: February 2019

У роботі наведено погляди на визначення понять «інформаційно-аналітична компетентність фахівця» та «інформаційно-аналітична компетентність майбутньої медичної сестри», а також результати дослідження готовності викладачів клінічних дисциплін щодо розвитку інформаційно-аналітичної компетентності у студентів медсестринського відділення Київського медичного коледжу ім. П. І. Гаврося.
МЕДИКО-СОЦІАЛЬНІ АСПЕКТИ КАРДІОЛОГІЧНОЇ ПАТОЛОГІЇ СЕРЕД ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ТА УЧНІВ СПЕЦІАЛІЗОВАНОГО ЗАКЛАДУ СЕРЕДНЬОЇ ТЕХНІЧНОЇ ОСВІТИ
Authors: Radionova I. V. , Levytska L. V.
Published: February 2019

У статті обґрунтовується доцільність вивчення медико-соціальних аспектів серцево-судинного здоров’я серед різних популяцій населення, оцінки кардіоваскулярних ризиків та модифікації стилю життя, а також чітких навичок профілактичної роботи медичної сестри у цьому аспекті.
Nongenetic effects and genetic parameters of the limb measurements in Iranian Turkoman horses
Authors: Gharahveysi Shahabodin , Ghezelsoflou Hadi
Published: February 2019

From the past to now, body conformation is an instrument for the Iranian horse judging. This research aimed to study and estimate the genetic and nongenetic parameters of limb conformation traits in the Iranian Turkoman horses. Therefore, body conformation traits, specifically limb conformation, of 1273 horses were measured. Among the horses studied, 357 stallions and 916 mares were included. For studying the nongenetic (such as sex, province and birth year) and genetic effects (such as additive genetic effect), the LSMEANS procedure and the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML) were used by SAS and MATVEC software, respectively. Birth year had a significant effect on most of the traits, especially scapula length and arm length (P < 0.05). The lowest and the highest heritability was estimated for femur length (0.11 ± 0.03) and forearm length (0.40 ± 0.09), respectively. Overall, considering the heritability estimations, the expectation is that limb conformation traits will have a good response to the selection and genetic progress. Farmers can choose the best stallions and mares based on the traits mentioned, so that their foals can have good body conformation.
Choosing a Mouse Model of Venous Thrombosis
Authors: Diaz Jose A. , Saha Prakash , Cooley Brian , Palmer Olivia R. , Grover Steven P. , Mackman Nigel , Wakefield Thomas W. , Henke Peter K. , Smith Alberto , Lal Brajesh K.
Published: February 2019

Murine models are widely used valuable tools to study deep vein thrombosis. Leading experts in venous thrombosis research came together through the American Venous Forum to develop a consensus on maximizing the utility and application of available mouse models of venous thrombosis. In this work, we provide an algorithm for model selection, with discussion of the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of the main mouse models of venous thrombosis. Additionally, we provide a detailed surgical description of the models with guidelines to validate surgical technique.
Lipoprotein(a) and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the REGARDS Study
Authors: Arora Pankaj , Kalra Rajat , Callas Peter W. , Alexander Kristine S. , Zakai Neil A. , Wadley Virginia , Arora Garima , Kissela Brett M. , Judd Suzanne E. , Cushman Mary
Published: February 2019

Objective—

Increased Lp(a) [lipoprotein(a)] is associated with coronary heart disease risk, but links with stroke are less consistent. Blacks have higher Lp(a) levels and stroke incidence than whites but have been underrepresented in studies. We hypothesized that Lp(a) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke and that risk differs by race.

Approach and Results—

REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) recruited 30 239 black and white US adults aged ≥45 in 2003–2007 to study regional and racial differences in stroke mortality. We measured baseline Lp(a) by immunonephelometric assay in 572 cases of incident ischemic stroke and a 967-person cohort random sample. The hazard ratio of stroke by baseline Lp(a) was calculated using Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by race. Lp(a) was modeled in sex- and race-specific quartiles, given known differences in distributions by race and sex. Interactions were tested by including interaction terms in the proportional hazards models, with
P
<0.10 considered statistically significant. After adjustment for age, sex, and stroke risk factors, being in the fourth versus the first Lp(a) quartile was weakly associated with ischemic stroke overall, hazard ratio, 1.45 (95% CI, 0.96–2.19). In blacks, the hazard ratio was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.10–3.46), whereas in whites HR was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.64–2.04);
P
interaction=0.12. Lp(a) was lower in men than women, but associations with stroke in men and women were similar.

Conclusions—

We confirm that Lp(a) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Further research is needed to confirm the role of racial differences of the Lp(a) risk multiplier in ischemic stroke.
Smooth Muscle Cells Contribute the Majority of Foam Cells in ApoE (Apolipoprotein E)-Deficient Mouse Atherosclerosis
Authors: Wang Ying , Dubland Joshua A. , Allahverdian Sima , Asonye Enyinnaya , Sahin Basak , Jaw Jen Erh , Sin Don D. , Seidman Michael A. , Leeper Nicholas J. , Francis Gordon A.
Published: February 2019

Objective—

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the most abundant cells in human atherosclerotic lesions and are suggested to contribute at least 50% of atheroma foam cells. In mice, SMCs contribute fewer total lesional cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of SMCs to total foam cells in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE
−/−
) mice, and the utility of these mice to model human SMC foam cell biology and interventions.

Approach and Results—

Using flow cytometry, foam cells in the aortic arch of ApoE
−/−
mice were characterized based on the expression of leukocyte-specific markers. Nonleukocyte foam cells increased from 37% of total foam cells in 27-week-old to 75% in 57-week-old male ApoE
−/−
mice fed a chow diet and were ≈70% in male and female ApoE
−/−
mice following 6 weeks of Western diet feeding. A similar contribution to total foam cells by SMCs was found using SMC-lineage tracing ApoE
−/−
mice fed the Western diet for 6 or 12 weeks. Nonleukocyte foam cells contributed a similar percentage of total atheroma cholesterol and exhibited lower expression of the cholesterol exporter ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) when compared with leukocyte-derived foam cells.

Conclusions—

Consistent with previous studies of human atheromas, we present evidence that SMCs contribute the majority of atheroma foam cells in ApoE
−/−
mice fed a Western diet and a chow diet for longer periods. Reduced expression of ABCA1, also seen in human intimal SMCs, suggests a common mechanism for formation of SMC foam cells across species, and represents a novel target to enhance atherosclerosis regression.
Mitophagy Is Essential for Maintaining Cardiac Function During High Fat Diet-Induced Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tong Mingming , Saito Toshiro , Zhai Peiyong , Oka Shin-ichi , Mizushima Wataru , Nakamura Michinari , Ikeda Shohei , Shirakabe Akihiro , Sadoshima Junichi
Published: February 2019

Rationale:

Diabetic patients develop cardiomyopathy characterized by hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and intracellular lipid accumulation, termed lipotoxicity. Diabetic hearts utilize fatty acids as a major energy source, which produces high levels of oxidative stress, thereby inducing mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective:

To elucidate how mitochondrial function is regulated in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results:

Mice were fed either a normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD, 60 kcal % fat). Although autophagic flux was activated by HFD consumption, peaking at 6 weeks (
P
<0.05), it was attenuated thereafter. Mitophagy, evaluated with Mito-Keima, was increased after 3 weeks of HFD feeding (mitophagy area: 8.3% per cell with normal diet and 12.4% with HFD) and continued to increase even after 2 months (
P
<0.05). By isolating adult cardiomyocytes from GFP-LC3 mice fed HFD, we confirmed that mitochondria were sequestrated by LC3-positive autophagosomes during mitophagy. In wild-type mice, cardiac hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction (end diastolic pressure-volume relationship =0.051±0.009 in normal diet and 0.11±0.004 in HFD) and lipid accumulation occurred within 2 months of HFD feeding (
P
<0.05). Deletion of
atg7
impaired mitophagy, increased lipid accumulation, exacerbated diastolic dysfunction (end diastolic pressure-volume relationship =0.11±0.004 in wild type and 0.152±0.019 in
atg7
cKO;
P
<0.05) and induced systolic dysfunction (end systolic pressure-volume relationship =24.86±2.46 in wild type and 15.93±1.76 in
atg7
cKO;
P
<0.05) during HFD feeding. Deletion of Parkin partially inhibited mitophagy, increased lipid accumulation and exacerbated diastolic dysfunction (end diastolic pressure-volume relationship =0.124±0.005 in wild type and 0.176±0.018 in Parkin KO,
P
<0.05) in response to HFD feeding. Injection of TB1 (Tat-Beclin1) activated mitophagy, attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased lipid accumulation, and protected against cardiac diastolic dysfunction (end diastolic pressure-volume relationship =0.110±0.009 in Control peptide and 0.078±0.015 in TB1,
P
<0.05) during HFD feeding.

Conclusions:

Mitophagy serves as an essential quality control mechanism for mitochondria in the heart during HFD consumption. Impairment of mitophagy induces mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid accumulation, thereby exacerbating diabetic cardiomyopathy. Conversely, activation of mitophagy protects against HFD-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Lectotypification and correct name for Neoscirpus dioicus (Cyperaceae)
Authors: SON DONG CHAN , CHANG KAE SUN , KIM YOON-YOUNG , PARK YU CHUL , KIM HYUN-JUN , OH SEUNG-HWAN
Published: February 2019

As part of an ongoing project promoted by the Korea National Arboretum, aimed at tracing the original materials used to describe vascular plant taxa in Korea, we detected problems with the typification of Neoscirpus dioicus Y.N.Lee & Y.C.Oh (2006b: 25) and some nomenclatural issues related to that name.
Two new species of Macrobiotus (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae) from Tien Shan (Kirghizia), with notes on Macrobiotus tenuis group
Authors: TUMANOV DENIS V.
Published: February 2019

An illustrated description of Macrobiotus barabanovi sp. nov. and Macrobiotus kirghizicus sp. nov. from Tien Shan (Kirghizia) is given. Macrobiotus barabanovi sp. nov. belongs to the harmsworthi group. It differs from the majority of species of this group in having very long claws. Macrobiotus kirghizicus sp. nov. is similar to M. ariekammensis in claw morphology, but differs clearly from this species in having differences in bucco-pharyngeal apparatus and characters of the egg processes. Based on the details of the claws structure, M. ariekammensis is excluded from the tenuis group of the genus Macrobiotus and grouped together with M. kirghizicus sp. nov. in the new ariekammensis group.
Notes on the genus Neochauliodes from Guangxi, China (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)
Authors: LIU XINGYUE , YANG DING
Published: February 2019

The species of the genus Neochauliodes from Guangxi are reviewed. The following three species are described as new to science: Neochauliodes acutatus sp. nov., Neochauliodes fuscus sp. nov., and Neochauliodes nigris sp. nov. A key to the species from Guangxi is presented.
Description of a new pest species of Hemilecanium Newstead (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on mango from Thailand, and a key to species of the genus
Authors: KONDO TAKUMASA , WILLIAMS MICHAEL L.
Published: February 2019

The adult female and first-instar nymph of a new species of soft scale insect, Hemilecanium mangiferae Kondo & Williams sp. nov., are described and illustrated. This species was collected on the trunk and branches of mango, Mangifera indica L., in Nakhon Pathom and Sukhothai Provinces, Thailand. The insect can cause serious damage by depleting the host sap and by producing large amounts of honeydew on which sooty molds grow. Damage was severe on the local mango cultivar, Nam DokMai. Also included are a revised diagnosis of the genus, a revised key to the adult females of the five species currently placed in the genus, and a key to the known firstinstar nymphs.La hembra adulta y la ninfa del primer estadio de una nueva especie de escama blanda, Hemilecanium mangiferae Kondo & Williams sp. nov., se describe e ilustra. Esta especie fue colectada en el tronco y ramas del mango: Mangifera indica L. en las provincias de Nakhon Pathom y Sukhothai, Tailandia. Este insecto puede causar daños severos al mango deprivando el árbol de savia, y produciendo gran cantidad de melado cual induce el crecimiento de fumaginas. El daño fue más severo en un cultivar local conocido como Nam Dokmai. Tambien se incluyen una diagnosis revisada para el género, una clave revisada para las hembras adultas de las cinco especies actualmente incluidas en el género, más una clave para las ninfas del primer estadio conocidas.
A new Brazilian species of Stenochironomus Kieffer mining decayed leaves in bromeliads (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: DE PINHO LUIZ CARLOS , MENDES HUMBERTO FONSECA , MARCONDES CARLOS BRISOLA
Published: February 2019

All life stages of Stenochironomus atlanticus Pinho & Mendes sp. n. are described and figured. The larva mines decaying leaves held in the water of several bromeliad species (Canistrum lindenii (Regel) Mez, Neoregelia laevis (Mez) L.B. Smith, Nidularium innocentii Lemaire, Vriesea philippocoburgii Wawra, and Vriesea vagans (L.B. Smith) L.B. Smith.) in the Atlantic Rain Forest in southern Brazil [Desterro Environmental Conservation Unit (Unidade de Conservação Ambiental Desterro – UCAD), Santa Catarina Island]. Stenochironomus atlanticus is the only species in the genus found in the phytotelmata habitat, and it apparently is restricted to this environment.
A new Neotropical species of the genus Metriocnemus van der Wulp (Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from Eryngium L. (Apiaceae) phytotelmata
Authors: DONATO MARIANO , PAGGI ANALÍA C.
Published: February 2019

The larva, pupa, male, and female of a new Neotropical species, Metriocnemus eryngiotelmatus, are described and illustrated. This species was collected from the leaf axils of Eryngium pandanifolium Cham. & Schlecht and E. cabrerae Pontiroli (Apiaceae) in Argentina and Uruguay. Based on characters of the male, the new species is closely related to Metriocnemus costatus Sublette & Sasa.
Rynkatorpa felderi, new species, from a bathyal hydrocarbon seep in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida)
Authors: PAWSON DAVID L. , VANCE DORIS J.
Published: February 2019

Rynkatorpa felderi new species was collected at a cold hydrocarbon seep at bathyal depths in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This is the first record of a synaptid holothurian from a chemosynthetic site, and the first record of the genus Rynkatorpa in the Atlantic; all other congeners are known from the Indo-Pacific.
First inventory of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) from La Paz Bay, southern Gulf of California (Mexico)
Authors: BARRAGÁN YAMALY , SÁNCHEZ CARLOS , RODRÍGUEZ ESTEFANÍA
Published: February 2019

Sea anemones from the Mexican Pacific are poorly known. We report and redescribe eight species of sea anemones from La Paz Bay in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico. As a result of this inventory, we validate records for 30 species from the Mexican Pacific, 23 of them from the Gulf of California and 15 of those present in La Paz Bay. We provide taxonomic diagnoses, images of internal and external anatomy, size ranges and types of cnidae, and geographic and bathymetric distribution, and discuss the taxonomic diagnostic characters for each species. This study is the first illustrated inventory of sea anemones from La Paz Bay.
Health Information Literacy Influences Access to Network Knowledge for Patients with Permanent Cystostomy
Authors: Xu Wenjuan , Bi Qingquan , Wei Qi , Wu Lili , Wang Zhuxin , Chen Xiuyun
Published: February 2019

Objective: The patients with permanent cystostomy have demand of relevant health information from network. The level of health information literacy refers the ability of acquiring and using health information. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of health information
literacy in patients with permanent cystostomy, and to explore its influence on network knowledge acquisition ability. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 200 patients with permanent cystostomy was conducted, using the general information questionnaire, the health information literacy
self-rating questionnaire, and the network knowledge acquisition questionnaire. Results: Patients with permanent cystostomy who had health information literacy accounted for 33.5%, of which the having rate of health information application was the lowest (6.7%). The having rate of health
information literacy for patients living in cities, educational level in high school, and duration of disease more than 5 years was higher than other patients (both P < 0.05). The professional medical websites was the main search source for patients with health information literacy,
and the health contents mainly included treatment plan, postoperative complications and drug use, of which 62.7% of the patients took the attitude of questioning the network information again. Patients without health information literacy mainly searched for profit-making commercial websites,
and the main health contents included dietary guidance, exercise training, and medical hospitals, 30.1% of which took a doubt attitude toward online information. The difference in trust attitude toward network knowledge between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The level of health information literacy of patients with permanent cystostomy is low. The individualized training and guidance should be carried out so as to improve the ability of acquiring knowledge on the internet and improve the execution of medical decision.
Quantifying the Annular Mode Dynamics in an Idealized Atmosphere
Authors: Hassanzadeh Pedram , Kuang Zhiming
Published: February 2019

The linear response function (LRF) of an idealized GCM, the dry dynamical core with Held–Suarez physics, is used to accurately compute how eddy momentum and heat fluxes change in response to the zonal wind and temperature anomalies of the annular mode at the quasi-steady limit. Using these results and knowing the parameterizations of surface friction and thermal radiation in Held–Suarez physics, the contribution of each physical process (meridional and vertical eddy fluxes, surface friction, thermal radiation, and meridional advection) to the annular mode dynamics is quantified. Examining the quasigeostrophic potential vorticity balance, it is shown that the eddy feedback is positive and increases the persistence of the annular mode by a factor of more than 2. Furthermore, how eddy fluxes change in response to only the barotropic component of the annular mode, that is, vertically averaged zonal wind (and no temperature) anomaly, is also calculated similarly. The response of eddy fluxes to the barotropic-only component of the annular mode is found to be drastically different from the response to the full (i.e., barotropic + baroclinic) annular mode anomaly. In the former, the eddy generation is significantly suppressed, leading to a negative eddy feedback that decreases the persistence of the annular mode by nearly a factor of 3. These results suggest that the baroclinic component of the annular mode anomaly, that is, the increased low-level baroclinicity, is essential for the persistence of the annular mode, consistent with the baroclinic mechanism but not the barotropic mechanism proposed in the previous studies.
A Systematic Comparison of Tropical Waves over Northern Africa. Part II: Dynamics and Thermodynamics
Authors: Schlueter Andreas , Fink Andreas H. , Knippertz Peter
Published: February 2019

This study presents the first systematic comparison of the dynamics and thermodynamics associated with all major tropical wave types causing rainfall modulation over northern tropical Africa: the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), equatorial Rossby waves (ERs), tropical disturbances (TDs, including African easterly waves), Kelvin waves, mixed Rossby–gravity waves (MRGs), and eastward inertio-gravity waves (EIGs). Reanalysis and radiosonde data were analyzed for the period 1981–2013 based on space–time filtering of outgoing longwave radiation. The identified circulation patterns are largely consistent with theory. The slow modes, MJO and ER, mainly impact precipitable water, whereas the faster TDs, Kelvin waves, and MRGs primarily modulate moisture convergence. Monsoonal inflow intensifies during wet phases of the MJO, ERs, and MRGs, associated with a northward shift of the intertropical discontinuity for MJO and ERs. This study reveals that MRGs over Africa have a distinct dynamical structure that differs significantly from AEWs. During passages of vertically tilted imbalanced wave modes, such as the MJO, TDs, Kelvin waves, and partly MRG waves, increased vertical wind shear and improved conditions for up- and downdrafts facilitate the organization of mesoscale convective systems. The balanced ERs are not tilted, and rainfall is triggered by large-scale moistening and stratiform lifting. The MJO and ERs interact with intraseasonal variations of the Indian monsoon and extratropical Rossby wave trains. The latter causes a trough over the Atlas Mountains associated with a tropical plume and rainfall over the Sahara. The presented results unveil which dynamical processes need to be modeled realistically to represent the coupling between tropical waves and rainfall in northern tropical Africa.
Atmospheric River–Induced Precipitation and Snowpack during the Western United States Cold Season
Authors: Eldardiry Hisham , Mahmood Asif , Chen Xiaodong , Hossain Faisal , Nijssen Bart , Lettenmaier Dennis P.
Published: February 2019

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are narrow, elongated corridors of high water vapor content transported from tropical and/or extratropical cyclones. We characterize precipitation and snow water equivalent associated with ARs intersecting the western U.S. coast during the cold season (November– March) of water years 1949–2015. For each AR landfalling date, we retrieved the precipitation and relevant hydrometeorological variables from dynamically downscaled atmospheric reanalyses (NCEP–NCAR) using the WRF mesoscale numerical weather prediction model. Landfalling ARs resulted in higher precipitation amounts throughout the domain than did non-AR storms. ARs contributed the most extreme precipitation events during January and February. Daily snow water equivalent (SWE) changes during ARs indicate that high positive net snow accumulation conditions accompany ARs in December, January, and February. We also assess the historical impact of AR storm duration and precipitation frequency by considering the precipitation depth estimated during a 72-h window bounding the AR landfall date. More extreme precipitation amounts are produced by ARs in the South Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges compared with ARs with landfall farther north. Most AR extreme precipitation events (and lower SWE accumulations) are produced during warm AR dates, especially toward the northern end of our domain. Analysis of ARs during dry and wet years reveals that ARs during wet years are more frequent and produce heavier precipitation and snow accumulation as compared with dry years. Such conditions are evident in drought events that are associated with a reduced frequency of ARs.
The “Precarious Generation” and the “Natives of the Ruins”: The Multiple Dimensions of Generational Identity in Italian Labor Struggles in Times of Crisis
Authors: Zamponi Lorenzo
Published: February 2019

Focusing on mobilizations around work, this article sheds light on generational identity as it emerges in activists involved in labor struggles in Italy in the past few years. Do Italian “millennial” activists perceive themselves as part of the same political generation? What are its main traits? And are the contextual elements that define it linked more to socioeconomic context or to experiences of collective action? The analysis shows a clear self-identification of Italian millennials, in the context of labor struggles, as “the precarious generation”: a generation mostly affected by the socioeconomic conditions of the past few years, with the explosion of labor precarity, of the economic crisis, and more generally, of neoliberal policies. While this shared identity refers to a specific socioeconomic context, there is a difference related to the experience of political mobilization: Activists are rather pessimistic when focusing on the youngest component of their generation, usually described as more individualist, due to their lack of exposure to intense waves of political mobilization. The contribution explores the multidimensional nature of generational identity and its asymmetric nature: If both the socioeconomic context and the experience of political socialization play a role in shaping a political generation, these dynamics do not always go hand in hand, and activists tend to actively work to reconcile the different dimensions of their generational identity into a coherent narrative.
Clinical and Economic Implications of Restrictions on Calcitonin Utilization in a Health System
Authors: Shah Samarth P. , Peters Michael J. , Usery Justin B. , Twilla Jennifer D.
Published: February 2019

Background: Hypercalcemia is a relatively common problem that may require hospital admission based on severity. A treatment option for hypercalcemia is calcitonin given intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Purpose: In 2015, calcitonin was on our health system formulary, but due to a sharp rise in cost, restrictions were placed to ensure appropriate utilization. Intervention: These restrictions reserved calcitonin for patients with symptomatic hypercalcemia or severe hypercalcemia, which was defined as an ionized calcium of greater than 1.5 mmol/L and/or total/corrected calcium (Ca) of greater than 13 mg/dL. In addition to providing criteria for its use, calcitonin orders also had an automatic stop date of 24 hours to ensure no more than 2 doses were provided in a 24-hour period. After the initial 24 hours, a patient would have to be reviewed again before any further doses were ordered and administered. If the patient met criteria, an additional 2 doses could be given in the next 24 hours for a total maximum treatment of 4 doses over a 48-hour time frame. Results: An evaluation to assess health system–wide compliance of the usage of calcitonin restrictions regarding utilization, effectiveness, and cost was conducted. In the 2-month study time frame that was examined, there was a decrease in 66 vials of calcitonin that were dispensed. This represents a 43% reduction in usage and an estimated US $450,000 reduction in the total money spent for calcitonin annually. No notable differences in Ca reduction were identified between the groups. Conclusion: This evaluation revealed that putting health system–wide restrictions in use for a high-cost medication can have a major financial impact without compromising clinical efficacy.
Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Behavioral Norms in the Labor Market
Authors: Gorsuch Marina Mileo
Published: February 2019

The author examines bias and behavioral norms based on sex and sexual orientation in the labor market. Using an online laboratory setting, participants were asked to evaluate résumés that were manipulated on sex, perceived LGBT status, and use of traditionally masculine or feminine adjectives. Findings show that male participants penalized résumés that included an LGBT activity, and the penalty was slightly stronger for male résumés. Additionally, men evaluated non-LGBT women who used feminine adjectives more positively than when they used masculine adjectives. Résumés of women with the LGBT activity and men were both immune to this effect. This outcome suggests that perceived-heterosexual women are discouraged from masculine behavior that would be rewarded in the labor market, whereas perceived-LGBT women are not. Men who had the strongest reaction to perceived-heterosexual women using masculine adjectives also had the strongest negative reaction to résumés with an LGBT activity. This pattern suggests that male decision makers are biased in ways that harm LGBT men, LGBT women, and heterosexual women in the labor market.
Development of a pedagogical framework to analyze the performance of induction machines
Authors: Sridevi R , Kumar C , Suresh P , Ganesan S , Subramanian S , Suresh A
Published: February 2019

This paper elucidates a procedure for ascertaining the performance of induction generators to disseminate the inevitable role of an induction machine in an alternate energy conversion among undergraduate and postgraduate students. Initially, a circle diagram is constructed for generator mode and motor mode using a drawing tool—AutoCAD from a simplified, energy consumption predetermination test data. Later a set of data is derived and is trained using an innovative, powerful pedagogical tool-radial basis function neural network to predict the performance indices of an induction machine. The proposed technique is compared with the experimental results of a three-phase 5 HP induction machine for various loaded conditions. Further, it provides encouraging results that will help the manufacturers to become more involved in the performance strategies of induction machines. Thus, the noninvasive method avoids the manipulation of an algebraic equation of nth order polynomial equations in predicting the generator performance indices.
ISO 9001 quality management systems in local government institutions in Poland: past, present and future
Authors: Ćwiklicki Marek , Pilch Kamila , Żabiński Michał
Published: February 2019

The aim of this article is to identify and assess the development of ISO 9001 Quality Management System applications in Polish local government institutions in the years 1999–2015. We conduct our analysis on the basis of a questionnaire survey carried out among local government institutions in 2015 (with 77% rate of response). We prove that the ISO 9001 Quality Management System is dominant in Polish local government institutions and we show that its implementations were geographically concentrated and dependent on the size of the local government institution.

Points for practitioners

Smaller local government institutions (especially from rural municipalities) require financial support and the proper preparation of employees and training in order to implement the ISO 9001 Quality Management System. The ISO 9001 Quality Management System is the first step in moving towards an integrated management system. The implementation of alternative management improvement solutions decreases interest in implementing the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and obtaining certification.
Households as infrastructure junctions in urban sustainability transitions: The case of hot water metering
Authors: Rohracher Harald , Köhler Helena
Published: February 2019

The integration of infrastructure domains and resource flows such as electricity, heat, water and waste increasingly gains currency in strategies to achieve more resource-efficient, smart and resilient cities. While widely discussed concepts of a nexus of resource systems, such as energy–water–food, aim at a more optimised and integrative management of resource flows, this article investigates how infrastructure integration is accomplished through the establishment of new interfaces and junctions between formerly separated systems. In particular, it focuses on households as an arena where different urban infrastructures intersect and different kinds of sometimes contradicting demands are imposed to co-manage these infrastructures, such as in the case of own electricity generation from photovoltaics along with the charging of electric cars and the management of household energy consumption. The installation of meters and the constant monitoring of resource use and consumption feedback to household members is regarded as a crucial element in such a transition towards more sustainable urban infrastructures. Empirically, the article studies the introduction of hot tap water meters in urban households in Sweden and the resistance and reactions of these households to such a metering regime. Our study shows how meters as new junctions between energy suppliers and users but also between separate infrastructures of electricity, hot tap water and room heating become contested political terrains which are linked to broader socio-political questions of urban change. In contrast to system management perspectives, such an ‘inside-out’ approach rather lends itself to context-sensitive and navigational governance approaches of infrastructure integration.
OPPCAT: Ontology population from tabular data
Authors: Ozturk Ovunc
Published: February 2019

In order to present large amount of information on the Web to both users and machines, it is urgently needed to structure Web data. E-commerce is one of the areas where increasing data bottlenecks on the Web inhibit data access. Ontological display of the product information enables better product comparison and search applications using the semantics of the product specifications and their corresponding values. In this article, we present a framework called OPPCAT, which is used for semi-automatic ontology population from tabular data in e-commerce stores and product catalogues. As a result, OPPCAT allows tabular data to be used for mass production of ontology content. First, we present the common patterns in tabular data which obstruct semi-automatic production of ontologies. Then, we suggest solutions which automatically fix these errors. Finally, we define an algorithm to build ontology content semi-automatically.
Exploring the characteristics of crowdsourcing: An online observational study
Authors: Bassi Harpreet , Lee Christopher J , Misener Laura , Johnson Andrew M
Published: February 2019

This article examines the application of crowdsourcing in research studies. The aim of this study is to understand how crowdsourcing is being used in research by undertaking a content analysis of studies posted to an online site designed to facilitate crowdsourced research. While there are a number of websites that facilitate crowdsourcing, this study provides an analysis only of research studies posted on crowdcrafting.org . Characteristics of crowdsourcing, proposed by Estellés-Arolas and González-Ladrón-de-Guevara, served as the framework for the content analysis, and research projects were evaluated as to how they addressed each of the proposed criteria. This article concludes with recommendations for researchers undertaking the design and implementation of projects employing crowdsourcing.
Selling tolerance by the pound: On ideal types’ fragility, Aśoka’s edicts and the political theology of toleration in and beyond South Asia
Authors: Squarcini Federico
Published: February 2019

In recent times, scholars of precolonial South Asia have been solicited to take part in public debates regarding ‘ancient traditions of tolerance’. The general idea is to request them to collect and exhibit ‘evidence’ and exempla from classics and historical sources about political and practical form of tolerance, so to permit non-specialists to learn from the past and to derive behavioural patterns from ‘historical samples’. Nevertheless, although the patriarchal motto ‘historia magistra vitae’ is still widely believed, looking at the past is not that smooth and easy, as can be seen from the problematic history of the reception of the paradigmatic figure of Aśoka.
Embracing identity: An examination of non-Western music education practices in British Columbia
Authors: Tuinstra Beth
Published: February 2019

Although traditional music programs and university music and music education training programs have mostly incorporated Western classical music, British Columbia’s new curriculum signifies a shift from the Western classical framework to one that is more inclusive of the cultural diversity that exists in Canada. Using the frameworks of decolonization, non-Western music education, and music education and identity, I researched the current practices, experiences, and attitudes of British Columbian kindergarten to Grade 12 (K–12) music educators. I used a mixed-methods questionnaire to gain an understanding of the practices, experiences, and attitudes of these educators ( N = 80). Through this examination, I discovered that although 84% of respondents felt that it was important for students to receive a diverse, non-Western music education, only 63% currently utilized non-Western musics in their teaching practices. Respondents included the benefits or difficulties that they have experienced while including non-Western musics in their teaching practices, but they also talked about the barriers that have prevented them from including non-Western musics into their teaching practices. However, educators reported that by including non-Western musics, students showed greater joy, self-expression, engagement, open-mindedness, and empathy for others, causing a positive shift in classroom culture.