bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological Effects of Interactive Multimedia Based On Scientific Approach in Science Teaching and Learning
Authors: Syafril S , Puspasari V , Supriyadi  , Pahrudin A , Wekke I S , Aini N R
Published: March 2020

This study aimed to analyze the psychological effects of interactive multimedia based on scientific approaches in science teaching and learning for junior high school students. Research and Development is used as a research method, involving three experts as validators for assessing the rightness of material, language, and media, as well as 48 students and one science teacher assessing the rightness of interactive multimedia that is created. Expert assessment of Psychological effects is interactive multimedia collected using validation sheets, student and teacher assessments were carried out using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics aided by Statistical Package for The Social Sciences (SPSS windows 22.0). The results showed that material experts, media, languages, as well as teachers and students rated interactive multimedia based on scientific approaches in science teaching and learning to provide Psychological effects in science learning (values in sequence as follows; material = 89%, media = 86%, language = 75%, students = 85% and teacher = 92%).) This result shows that interactive multimedia based on scientific approach can be used as an alternative as a standard in science learning in secondary schools.
Exploring Teacher’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge Improvement: The Opportunity and Challenging of Integrated STEM Learning Approach for Non-STEM Majors
Authors: Raja P. , Abdurrahman  , Setiyadi A.B.
Published: March 2020

The urgency of developing pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) had been investigated in many studies. This was in line with the emerging trend of STEM learning approaches recently. We explored non-STEM teacher’s PCK improvement, where teachers teach in the fields of study that lead to disciplines of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering in an integrated manner. However, only a few studies have reported perceptions of non-STEM teacher’s perception towards their PCK that were associated with the implementation of an integrated STEM-based approach. This study was aimed to explore non STEM teacher’s PCK improvement that was related to the integrated STEM learning approach. We used explanatory mixed method design to collect the data, then the data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive technique. Results indicated that teachers’ PCK improvement reached the satisfying expectation. Their PCK were increased in STEM dimension even though they were actually from non-STEM majors. However, this study only revealed that teachers’ beliefs about PCK were related to the STEM approach. Further research should have reached the form of PCK actualization that can be shown by the teacher.
Exploring Students’ Perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Education and Future Careers Fields
Authors: Irfiandaru R N , Abdurrahman  , Nurulsari N
Published: March 2020

Student’s understanding of STEM was a successful key in improving student achievement and STEM employment in the next ten years. This research was aimed to describe students’ perceptions of STEM education and career. We used explanatory mixed method design. This research involving 315 senior high school students in Bandar Lampung. We adopted Perception of STEM Education and Career (PSEC) Questionaire, interview protocol, and voice recording devices. We analyzed the data by categorizing, tabulating, and validating the data. The result showed that students’ perceptions about STEM education, based on the school location indicated positive perceptions, but based on the comparison of male and female students’ perception, male students prefered to express negative responses in STEM learning interest, and based on the comparison of learning style (audio, visual, and kinesthetic) students perceptions, kinesthetic students perceptions, kinesthetic students prefered to express negative responses in STEM learning interest. Furthermore, the students’ perceptions about STEM careers, based on the school locations, gender, and differences in learning styles indicated positive perceptions.
Development and Validation of students’ Worksheet Based on Guided-Inquiry to Improve Students’ Scientific Literacy Skills of Junior High School on Straight Motion Concept
Authors: Sari R.R. , Abdurrahman  , Herlina K.
Published: March 2020

The student worksheet that is currently used generally contain material and questions. A student worksheet is only used on certain materials, so it has not been an effective teaching material. This research aims to develop guided inquiry-based worksheets to improve the ability of Scientific literacy in straight-motion material. The method used in this study is research and development. The research design used in this development refers to Lee and Owens with stages consisting of analyzing, design, development, implementation, evaluation. The worksheet developed has very high validity. This can be seen based on the average score on the material expert test of 0.90 with very high validity criteria and the design expert test obtained an average score of 0.90 with very high validity criteria. Based on the readability test obtained an average score of 0.85 with a very good category. The worksheets developed have been able to improve students’ scientific literacy abilities. This can be seen from the n-gain test results of 0.8 with high criteria, and sig values. in the paired sample t-test of 0,000. Teachers and students also give a good response to the worksheet. The conclusions of this study are valid guided inquiry-based worksheets to improve students’ literacy skills.
Environmental life cycle assessment of cowpea production, storage and disposal in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Authors: Ogunjirin O C , Jekayinfa S O , Olaniran J A , Ogunjirin O A
Published: March 2020

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed to estimate the environmental impacts of industrial production processes and systems. This paper assessed the environmental impacts associated with the production, storage and disposal of cowpea grains in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria, and proffer ways of improving and reducing some of the environmental impacts associated with the system. Three scenarios were created in the cowpea study; production and storage in an inert atmosphere silo, hermetic storage, and cold shock (freezer) storage respectively. The inventory data obtained from the scenario was analysed using Gabi 8.7 think step 2018 version. From the cradle-to-grave research study and Centre of Environmental Science (CML) methodology used, it was obtained that the Global Warming Potential (GWP) for the three scenarios were 6.7, 6.46, and 8.82 kg CO2-equivalent for inert, hermetic and cold shock respectively. Acidification Potential (AP) values for the three scenarios were: 0.0105, 0.01 and 0.0121kgSO2 equivalent respectively, Eutrophication Potentials (EP), were 1.68, 1.56, and 2.012e-3kg phosphate equivalent respectively. Ozone layer depletion potential (ODP) gave same values each in the scenarios with 9.99e-13kgR11 equivalent, and human toxicology potential (HTP) values for each were 0.181, 0.151 and 0.24kg DCB equivalent respectively. Diesel and petrol fuel used for tillage and post farm operations respectively were major hotspots in the scenarios. Based on the emissions value and characterization factor from each scenario, inert storage and hermetic storage are recommended for environmentally friendly storage over cold shock storage in the cowpea scenario.
Proximate composition and physicochemical properties of formulated cassava, cowpea and potato flour blends
Authors: Olaniran A F , Okonkwo C E , Owolabi A O , Osemwegie O O , Badejo T E
Published: March 2020

Most children are underfed due to current economic dispensations. Cassava is one of the cheapest, most popular root, and tuber crops in Africa. Cowpea is gaining preferential attention as the potential nutritional and flavouring additive in food formulation due to its nutritional benefits. This study explored the formulation of weaning food with cassava-cowpea-potato blends (CCP). Cassava flour (50%) was the same while cowpea and potato flour percentages were varied at 50:0%, 40:10%, 30:20% and 20:30% resulting in 4 blends. The titratable acidity, pH, qualitative screening of phytochemical (saponins, terpenoids and tannin), minerals (calcium, phosphorus contents) and proximate composition of formulated blends were evaluated. The protein content of the different blends ranged from 22.55 to 31.00 (g/100g). Increase in cowpea addition to the blend were directly proportional to the protein, calcium and phosphorus content which varied from 9.02 to 12.40%, 9.55 to 1.45 (mg/100g) and 3.10 to4.55 (mg/100g) respectively in the blends. The moisture levels of the blends were lower than 10.50%. The phytochemical analysis revealed the absence of saponins and tannin in the blends. The formulated CCP blends can be prepared domestically to complement or replace the more expensive diets for children to achieve healthy and well-nourished children.
Daily activities and feeding behavior of a troop of Macaca fascicularis in Telaga Warna, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Julianti S , Rianti P , Widayati K A
Published: March 2020

Long tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) has wide ecological plasticity to adapt and interact in various habitats. This ecological plasticity can be reflected on their daily activities and feeding behavior. This study aimed to analyze the daily activities and feeding behavior of Troop B of M. fascicularis in Telaga Warna. This troop is often seen to stay near by the big street and fed by human with provisioned food. We observed and recorded daily activity and feeding behavior of the troop. This study resulted that this troop spent most of their time on moving activity (35.85%), followed by feeding (25.41%) and resting (19.96%). We analyzed their daily activities both on weekdays and weekend plus holiday time to see the different frequencies of activity among those types of days. The macaques showed higher percentage on moving during the weekend (40.97%) compared with weekdays (30.74%). The high percentage of moving was related to their movement to find articifial food from people. The troop also showed high dependency to artificial food, by consuming provisioned food (68%). This study provide new data about a troop of macaques in Telaga Warna which can be used as a basic data for conservation management of long tailed macaque.
Antifeedant properties of fractionation Lantana camara leaf extract on cabbage caterpillars (Crocidolomia pavonana fabricius) larvae
Authors: Melanie M , Hermawan W , Kasmara H , Kholifa A H , Rustama M M , Panatarani C
Published: March 2020

Lantana camara is known as a noxious weed but it has the potential for pest control. Currently, the insect pest of cabbage (Crocidolomia pavonana) larvae reported has been resistant to certain synthetic insecticides. The fractionation L. camara leaf extract has been extensively studied to find out the phytochemical active constituents and bioactivity on C. Pavonana larvae. The antifeedant active fraction and the minimum effective concentration were investigated. The fractionation using polar (ethanol), semipolar (ethyl acetate), and nonpolar (n-hexane) solvents were tested on 4th instar of C. Pavonana larvae. Experimentally choice and no-choice antifeedant tested was carried out with 7 concentration levels: 0 ppm (control) and 500-5000 ppm (treatments) exposed 24 hours with 4 replications. The parameters were mean leaf areas consumed and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U non-parametric. The results were showed that ethyl acetate fraction was an active antifeedant fraction on the 3rdinstar larvae of C. pavonana, the minimum effective concentration was 1000 ppm in both of antifeedant test, and the ethyl acetate fraction at 1000-5000 ppm was considered in good deterrents category. The phytochemical constituents of ethyl acetate fraction including alkaloids, saponins, and steroids that potentially as antifeedant against the 4th instar larvae of C. pavonana.
Strategy for increasing lowland rice productivity in West Java Province with the SWOT-AHP model approach
Authors: Ariyana R , Amalia R , Salsabilah D S , Uka A S , Rilisa C , Gunawan W
Published: March 2020

The high production and consumption of rice in Indonesia show that rice commodities are not the only concern of producers’ interests but also consumers’ needs. If there is a rice crisis, there will be a food crisis that will affect other social problems. West Java has great potential to become a center for rice production in Indonesia. This study uses a combined method called Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT Analysis - AHP. The results of the study indicate that the role of Gapoktan and farmer regeneration are very important consideration factors for the development of lowland rice commodities in West Java. In this case study, it was proven that the combination of SWOT and AHP methods can be used to measure the priority of factors in the SWOT analysis.
Pink noise amplifies stochastic resonance in neural circuits
Authors: Pinto Alexandra
Published: March 2020

We experimentally study Stochastic Resonance in an artificial neuron and demonstrate that pink noise amplifies the input signal considerably—up to twenty times more—compared to white noise. The experimental results are consistent with biological observations and theoretical calculations. Possible applications include the design of electro-optical devices.
Hydrothermal biosynthesis of chromium sulphide nanoparticles using egg yolk and its catalytic activity in degradation of dyes
Authors: Kulkarni Swapnil , Gharpure Saee , Sur Ujjal Kumar , Ankamwar Balaprasad
Published: March 2020

Wastewater generated from industries consists of non-fixed dyes contributing to environmental pollution. Use of nanotechnology is being exploited for efficient degradation of dyes. Chromium sulphide nanoparticles have potential biological applications such as ion-selective membrane electrodes and probes for colocalization of membrane proteins. The biosynthesis of chromium sulphide nanoparticles by a high temperature hydrothermal approach has been reported herewith using chromium trioxide as the source of chromium and egg yolk (yellow) as the natural source of sulphur. Catalytic efficiency of chromium sulphide nanoparticles calcinated at 400 °C and 1000 °C has been tested for degradation of congo red, eosin Y, methylene blue as well as bromo cresol green of as prepared solutions and at acidic pH (pH 2.0).
Beyond the qualitative description of complex magnetic nanoparticle arrays using FORC measurement
Authors: Zamani Kouhpanji Mohammad Reza , Stadler Bethanie J H
Published: March 2020

First-order reversal curve (FORC) measurements are broadly used for the characterization of complex magnetic nanostructures, but they can be inconclusive when quantifying the amount of different magnetic phases present in a sample. In this paper, we first establish a framework for extracting quantitative parameters from FORC measurements conducted on samples composed of a single type of magnetic nanostructure to interpret their magnetic properties. We then generalize our framework for the quantitative characterization of samples that are composed of 2–4 types of FeCo magnetic nanowires to determine the most reliable and reproducible parameters for a detailed analysis of samples. Finally, we conclude that the parameter with the best quantification potential, backfield remanence coercivity, does not require the full FORC measurement. Our approach provides an insightful path for fast, quantitative analysis of complex magnetic nanostructures, especially determination of the ratios of magnetic subcomponents present in multi-phase samples.
Patterns of hybridization and cryptic introgression among one- and four-needled pinyon pines
Authors: Buck Ryan , Hyasat Sandra , Hossfeld Alice , Flores-Rentería Lluvia
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Pinyon pine hybridization is widely acknowledged, but the frequency of and contributors to such interspecific mating remain largely unstudied. Pinus quadrifolia has three to four needles per fascicle, suggesting that it is a result of hybridization between the five-needled P. juarezensis and the single-needled P. monophylla. In this study we address the taxonomic validity of P. juarezensis, the hybrid origin of P. quadrifolia and the presence of hybridization and intermediate morphology as a result of interspecific hybridization in this complex.

Methods

We address these questions by combining a genomic and morphological approach. We generated 1868 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to detect genetic clusters using principal co-ordinates analyis, discriminant analysis of principal components, fastSTRUCTURE and ADMIXTURE analyses, and performed a morphological analysis of the leaves.

Key Results

We found that the five-needled pinyons did not differ genetically from the four-needled P. quadrifolia, reducing the status of P. juarezensis to P. quadrifolia. We also found no evidence that P. quadrifolia is of hybrid origin from P. juarezensis × P. monophylla but is instead a genetically distinct species with natural needle number variation that has yet to be explained. Hybridization does occur in this complex, but mostly between P. quadrifolia and P. californiarum, and less commonly between P. quadrifolia and P. monophylla. Interestingly, some hybrid derivatives were detected between both single-needled taxa, P. monophylla and P. californiarum, a hybrid combination that has not yet been proposed. Hybrids have intermediate morphology when they have similar genetic contributions from both parental species; however, when one parent contributes more, hybrid derivatives resemble the parent with higher genetic contribution, resulting in cryptic introgression.

Conclusions

Our detailed sampling across the distribution of this complex allows us to describe the patterns of hybridization among these taxa, resolves an ancient taxonomic conflict and provides insights into the challenges of exclusively using morphological traits when identifying these taxa with cryptic hybridization and variable morphology.
Pollen adaptation to ant pollination: a case study from the Proteaceae
Authors: Delnevo Nicola , van Etten Eddie J , Clemente Nicola , Fogu Luna , Pavarani Evelina , Byrne Margaret , Stock William D
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Ant–plant associations are widely diverse and distributed throughout the world, leading to antagonistic and/or mutualistic interactions. Ant pollination is a rare mutualistic association and reports of ants as effective pollinators are limited to a few studies. Conospermum (Proteaceae) is an insect-pollinated genus well represented in the south-western Australia biodiversity hotspot, and here we aimed to evaluate the role of ants as pollinators of C. undulatum.

Methods

Pollen germination after contact with several species of ants and bees was tested for C. undulatum and five co-flowering species for comparison. We then sampled the pollen load of floral visitors of C. undulatum to assess whether ants carried a pollen load sufficient to enable pollination. Lastly, we performed exclusion treatments to assess the relative effect of flying- and non-flying-invertebrate floral visitors on the reproduction of C. undulatum. For this, we measured the seed set under different conditions: ants exclusion, flying-insects exclusion and control.

Key Results

Pollen of C. undulatum, along with the other Conospermum species, had a germination rate after contact with ants of ~80 % which did not differ from the effect of bees; in contrast, the other plant species tested showed a drop in the germination rate to ~10 % following ant treatments. Although ants were generalist visitors, they carried a pollen load with 68–86 % of suitable grains. Moreover, ants significantly contributed to the seed set of C. undulatum.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the complexity of ant–flower interactions and suggests that generalizations neglecting the importance of ants as pollinators cannot be made. Conospermum undulatum has evolved pollen with resistance to the negative effect of ant secretions on pollen grains, with ants providing effective pollination services to this threatened species.
Art and Metaphysics
Authors: Morris Michael
Published: March 2020

Artists often think of themselves as engaged in a project of understanding things. Many of those who look at, listen to, or read works of art think that they emerge from the experience with their understanding enriched. The aim of this paper is to explain what kind of understanding representational art can provide.
Challenges in the diagnosis and discovery of rare genetic disorders using contemporary sequencing technologies
Authors: Seaby Eleanor G , Ennis Sarah
Published: March 2020

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionised rare disease diagnostics. Concomitant with advancing technologies has been a rise in the number of new gene disorders discovered and diagnoses made for patients and their families. However, despite the trend towards whole exome and whole genome sequencing, diagnostic rates remain suboptimal. On average, only ~30% of patients receive a molecular diagnosis. National sequencing projects launched in the last 5 years are integrating clinical diagnostic testing with research avenues to widen the spectrum of known genetic disorders. Consequently, efforts to diagnose genetic disorders in a clinical setting are now often shared with efforts to prioritise candidate variants for the detection of new disease genes. Herein we discuss some of the biggest obstacles precluding molecular diagnosis and discovery of new gene disorders. We consider bioinformatic and analytical challenges faced when interpreting next generation sequencing data and showcase some of the newest tools available to mitigate these issues. We consider how incomplete penetrance, non-coding variation and structural variants are likely to impact diagnostic rates, and we further discuss methods for uplifting novel gene discovery by adopting a gene-to-patient-based approach.
EVICAN—a balanced dataset for algorithm development in cell and nucleus segmentation
Authors: Schwendy Mischa , Unger Ronald E , Parekh Sapun H
Published: March 2020

Motivation

Deep learning use for quantitative image analysis is exponentially increasing. However, training accurate, widely deployable deep learning algorithms requires a plethora of annotated (ground truth) data. Image collections must contain not only thousands of images to provide sufficient example objects (i.e. cells), but also contain an adequate degree of image heterogeneity.

Results

We present a new dataset, EVICAN—Expert visual cell annotation, comprising partially annotated grayscale images of 30 different cell lines from multiple microscopes, contrast mechanisms and magnifications that is readily usable as training data for computer vision applications. With 4600 images and ∼26 000 segmented cells, our collection offers an unparalleled heterogeneous training dataset for cell biology deep learning application development.

Availability and implementation

The dataset is freely available (https://edmond.mpdl.mpg.de/imeji/collection/l45s16atmi6Aa4sI?q=). Using a Mask R-CNN implementation, we demonstrate automated segmentation of cells and nuclei from brightfield images with a mean average precision of 61.6 % at a Jaccard Index above 0.5.
Disparities in Age-specific Morbidity and Mortality From SARS-CoV-2 in China and the Republic of Korea
Authors: Dudley Joseph P , Lee Nam Taek
Published: March 2020

We analyzed age-/sex-specific morbidity and mortality data from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in China and Republic of Korea (ROK). Data from China exhibit a Gaussian distribution with peak morbidity in the 50–59-year cohort, while the ROK data have a bimodal distribution with the highest morbidity in the 20–29-year cohort.
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in Brazil: clinical presentation, genetic findings and outcomes of a case series in adults and children treated with eculizumab
Authors: Palma Lilian Monteiro Pereira , Eick Renato George , Dantas Gustavo Coelho , Tino Michele Káren dos Santos , de Holanda Maria Izabel ,   the Brazilian Thrombotic Microangiopathy and Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Study Group (aHUS Brazil)
Published: March 2020

Background

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and kidney injury caused by a dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter nonregistry study aimed at collecting clinical, laboratory and genetic information of patients with aHUS in Brazil. Demographic data, genetic findings, treatments and outcomes are presented.

Results

Thirty-four patients were included, 62% were female and 67% were Caucasian. Half of the patients had the first manifestation of aHUS before the age of 18 years (pediatric group). Among the 17 patients who had the first manifestation after the age of 18 years (adult group), 6 were kidney transplant patients. Overall, 22 patients (65%) received plasma exchange/plasma infusion (PE/PI) and 31 patients (91%) received eculizumab. Eculizumab was started later in the adult group compared with the pediatric group. Two patients stopped dialysis after PE/PI and 19 patients stopped dialysis after eculizumab despite a late start. A pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant was found in 24.3% of patients. A coexisting condition or trigger was present in 59% of patients (infections, pregnancy, hypertension, autoimmune disease and transplant), especially in the adult group. There was a 30% relapse rate after stopping eculizumab, irrespective of genetic status.

Conclusion

This is the largest case series of aHUS in Brazil involving a wide range of patients for which eculizumab was the main treatment. Although eculizumab was started later than advised in the guidelines, most patients were able to stop dialysis at variable intervals. Discontinuation of eculizumab was associated with a 30% relapse of aHUS.
A comparison of animal color measurements using a commercially available digital color sensor and photograph analysis
Authors: Potash Alex D , Greene Daniel U , Foursa Gabrielle A , Mathis Verity L , Conner L Mike , McCleery Robert A
Published: March 2020

An animal’s pelage, feather, or skin color can serve a variety of functions, so it is important to have multiple standardized methods for measuring color. One of the most common and reliable methods for measuring animal coloration is the use of standardized digital photographs of animals. New technology in the form of a commercially available handheld digital color sensor could provide an alternative to photography-based animal color measurements. To determine whether a digital color sensor could be used to measure animal coloration, we tested the ability of a digital color sensor to measure coloration of mammalian, avian, and lepidopteran museums specimens. We compared results from the sensor to measurements taken using traditional photography methods. Our study yielded significant differences between photography-based and digital color sensor measurements of brightness (light to dark) and colors along the green to red spectrum. There was no difference between photographs and the digital color sensor measurements for colors along the blue to yellow spectrum. The average difference in recorded color (ΔE) by the 2 methods was above the threshold at which humans can perceive a difference. There were significant correlations between the sensor and photographs for all measurements indicating that the sensor is an effective animal coloration measuring tool. However, the sensor’s small aperture and narrow light spectrum range designed for human-vision limit its value for ecological research. We discuss the conditions in which a digital color sensor can be an effective tool for measuring animal coloration in both laboratory settings and in the field.
Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with coronary artery calcification among asymptomatic adults
Authors: Huynh Quan , Marwick Thomas H , Venkataraman Prasanna , Knibbs Luke D , Johnston Fay H , Negishi Kazuaki
Published: March 2020

Aims

We investigated the effects of exposure to very low levels of particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on coronary calcium score (CCS) in asymptomatic adults who are free of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods and results

This study included 606 asymptomatic adults (49% men, aged 56±7 years) recruited from communities in three states of Australia during 2017–2018. CCS was measured using coronary computed tomography scan at recruitment. Annual PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were estimated on the year before recruitment using statistical exposure models and assigned to each participant’s residential address. Medical history, physical measurements, biochemistry, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic status were also recorded. Median concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were 6.9 µg/m3 [interquartile range (IQR) 6.0–7.7)] and 3.1 ppb [IQR 2.2–4.5], respectively. Of the 606 participants, 16% had high CCS (≥100) and 4% had very high CCS (≥400). Exposure to higher PM2.5 (per µg/m3) was significantly associated with greater odds of having high CCS (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.43) and very high CCS (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.05–2.29). Similar associations were observed for NO2 and high CCS (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.27) and very high CCS (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07–1.51). These findings were robust to adjustment for sociodemographic factors, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, renal function, education, and socio-economic status.

Conclusions

Ambient air pollution even at low concentration was associated with degree of coronary artery calcification among asymptomatic low cardiovascular risk adults, independent of other risk factors. These findings suggest that air pollution is one of the residual risk factors of CAD.
The poor long-term outcomes of owl’s eye pulmonary reconstruction technique after arterial switch operation
Authors: Dedemoğlu Mehmet , Korun Oktay , Coşkun Gültekin , Özdemir Fatih , Yurdakök Okan , Çiçek Murat , Biçer Mehmet , Yurtseven Nurgül , Şaşmazel Ahmet , Aydemir Numan Ali
Published: March 2020

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare the early- and long-term outcomes of patients who undergo owl’s eye pulmonary artery (PA) reconstruction to those of patients who undergo conventional PA reconstruction.

METHODS

From January 2016 to January 2017, 64 consecutive patients underwent an arterial switch operation. The patients were divided into 2 groups in terms of neo-PA reconstruction method: 30 patients who underwent neo-PA reconstruction by owl’s eye technique were defined as group 1 and 34 patients who underwent neo-PA reconstruction by the conventional approach were defined as group 2. In the final model, after propensity matching, 23 patients from each group with similar propensity scores were included in the study.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups regarding patient characteristics and operative findings. In the early period, the duration of intensive care unit and hospital stays and the rate of mild neo-pulmonary stenosis (neo-PS) were significantly higher in the owl’s eye group (P = 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03). In the late period, the rate of severe neo-PS and reintervention was significantly higher in the owl’s eye group (P = 0.02 and 0.04). Furthermore, the rates of 3-year freedom from pulmonary reintervention and freedom from moderate–severe neo-PS were significantly lower in group 1 (P = 0.04). In addition, the owl’s eye reconstruction was the only factor independently related to moderate–severe neo-PS in the long term (hazard ratios = 11.2, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

We have abandoned the owl’s eye method for neo-PA reconstruction of the neo-PA because of serious complications. According to our series and the literature, reconstruction of the neo-PA with an oversized, pantaloon-shaped fresh autologous pericardial patch is still superior to the other techniques.
Reliability analysis of a system with two-stage degradation using Wiener processes with piecewise linear drift
Authors: Dong Qinglai , Cui Lirong
Published: March 2020

We study a model of a two-stage degradation process in a dynamic environment. The two stages, the normal stage and the defective stage, are separated by the first hitting time of the alarm threshold by the degradation level. Wiener processes with piecewise linear drift are used in each stage to describe the degradation level in a dynamic environment. System failure is triggered in two ways: the system degradation level reaches the defect-based failure threshold; the duration in the defective stage is larger than the duration-based failure threshold. Explicit expressions for the system reliability for different duration-based failure thresholds are obtained. These include when the duration-based failure threshold is zero, when it is a positive constant and when it tends to infinity. A simulation procedure is described for the case in which the duration-based failure threshold is a random variable. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed reliability assessment method. The modelling method and the results can be used for reliability evaluation, residual life prediction and maintenance decision optimization of a system with two-stage degradation in a dynamic environment.
Actionable, Revised (v.3), and Amplified American Burn Association Triage Tables for Mass Casualties: A Civilian Defense Guideline
Authors: Kearns Randy D , Bettencourt Amanda P , Hickerson William L , Palmieri Tina L , Biddinger Paul D , Ryan Colleen M , Jeng James C
Published: March 2020

Burn care remains among the most complex of the time-sensitive treatment interventions in medicine today. An enormous quantity of specialized resources are required to support the critical and complex modalities needed to meet the conventional standard of care for each patient with a critical burn injury. Because of these dependencies, a sudden surge of patients with critical burn injuries requiring immediate and prolonged care following a burn mass casualty incident (BMCI) will place immense stress on healthcare system assets, including supplies, space, and an experienced workforce (staff). Therefore, careful planning to maximize the efficient mobilization and rational use of burn care resources is essential to limit morbidity and mortality following a BMCI. The U.S. burn care profession is represented by the American Burn Association (ABA). This paper has been written by clinical experts and led by the ABA to provide further clarity regarding the capacity of the American healthcare system to absorb a surge of burn-injured patients. Furthermore, this paper intends to offer responders and clinicians evidence-based tools to guide their response and care efforts to maximize burn care capabilities based on realistic assumptions when confronted with a BMCI. This effort also aims to align recommendations in part with those of the Committee on Crisis Standards of Care for the Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Sciences. Their publication guided the work in this report, identified here as “conventional, contingency, and crisis standards of care.” This paper also includes an update to the burn Triage Tables- Seriously Resource-Strained Situations (v.2).
South Sudanese Perceptions of Justice
Authors: Lavery Kirsten
Published: March 2020

During an outbreak of violence in July 2016, a South Sudanese journalist was killed and international aid workers were brutally raped by government soldiers at the Terrain compound in South Sudan. Following intense international pressure, 11 soldiers were found guilty of various crimes by a specially created military court martial in 2018. As the first widely reported case in which perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence were held accountable in South Sudan, this verdict is an important milestone. However, for the other countless South Sudanese victims of rampant sexual violence, the path to justice remains uncertain. This article explores the current pursuits of accountability for sexual violence in South Sudan and why they have failed to advance justice. After considering the factors that led to the Terrain prosecution in a military court, this article explores the impact of this case on South Sudanese perceptions of justice. The trial intensified the desire of many South Sudanese for accountability and increased knowledge of conflict-related criminal prosecutions. The justice system also marginally built its capacity and independence. However, there were serious due process concerns that led many to question the impartiality and credibility of the proceedings. This article argues that this case set a precedent that shows the international community will demand accountability in the wake of attacks on international aid workers. The threat of accountability may deter perpetrators from committing violence against this group, but will not necessarily protect South Sudanese victims. Finally, the article identifies lessons learned from the Terrain case and provides recommendations on how South Sudanese and others impacted by sexual violence can benefit from accountability efforts in the future.
Argument corpus development and argument component classification: A study in academic Spanish
Authors: García-Gorrostieta Jesús Miguel , López-López Aurelio , Rico-Sulayes Antonio , Carrillo Maya
Published: March 2020

Academic writing is a complex task that requires an author to be skilled in argumentation. The goal of an academic author is to communicate ideas clearly and to convince the reader of the veracity of their claims. However, few students in lower level courses are good arguers, as this is a skill that takes time to master. With the aim of contributing to the development of this skill, we introduce a freely available annotated corpus to support research on argumentation in Spanish. To build the corpus, we developed an annotation guide to identify argumentation in paragraphs. The guide also outlines how to annotate segments of sentences as either claims or premises and how to indicate relations (support or attack) between such components. Then, an annotated corpus of 444 sections was created, and an almost perfect interannotator agreement rate was achieved for a number of its components. After its construction, the corpus was used to perform an exploratory analysis, which aimed to identify the amount of argumentation in each section as well as the patterns commonly used for argument identification. Thereafter, experiments were conducted to automatically classify argumentative components using lexical, semantic, discourse, structural, and sentiment features. A Document Occurrence Representation was also tested on the corpus constituting a novel approach in the representation of documents for automatic argument detection. The results of these experiments to automatically classify argumentative components in Spanish are very promising and seem to support the idea that linguistic feature engineering plays a crucial role in text classification.
The Cost of Job Loss
Authors: Burdett Kenneth , Carrillo-Tudela Carlos , Coles Melvyn
Published: March 2020

This article identifies an equilibrium theory of wage formation and endogenous quit turnover in a labour market with on-the-job search, where risk averse workers accumulate human capital through learning-by-doing and lose skills while unemployed. Optimal contracting implies the wage paid increases with experience and tenure. Indirect inference using German data determines the deep parameters of the model. The estimated model not only reproduces the large and persistent fall in wages and earnings following job loss, a new structural decomposition finds foregone human capital accumulation (while unemployed) is the worker’s major cost of job loss.
The Ben Pimlott Memorial Lecture 2019—Britain and the Making of Global Order after 1919
Authors: Clavin Patricia
Published: March 2020

On the centenary of the Paris Peace Conference, the lecture explores Britain’s pivotal role in the development of a rules-based global order. It reveals how Britons fashioned the practices and norms of new international institutions, including the League of Nations, to manage relations between states, markets, and civil society. The lecture uncovers why economic, social, and environmental issues took on as much importance as the more familiar concerns of border protection and weapons’ control. It draws on the correspondence of key internationalists, including women and student activists, who wanted to institutionalize global order in a way that advanced the needs of women, children, and the family as the concern of global security, and shows how preference was given to business groups and central bankers. The lecture exposes the connected history of the First World War with the global order forged to build peace, underlining the important role of the blockade, and the multilateral relationships it engendered. It reveals how British dominance after 1919 encouraged it to use the League of Nations a multilateral hub to manage Britain’s relations with Europe and with its empire, and the legacy of this history for international relations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
In vitro antivirulence activity of baicalin against Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Pellissery Abraham Joseph , Vinayamohan Poonam Gopika , Venkitanarayanan Kumar
Published: March 2020

Introduction.

Clostridioides difficile

is an enteric pathogen that causes a serious toxin-mediated colitis in humans. Bacterial exotoxins and sporulation are critical virulence components that contribute to pathogenesis, and disease transmission and relapse, respectively. Therefore, reducing toxin production and sporulation could significantly minimize

C. difficile

pathogenicity and disease outcome in affected individuals.

Aim. This study investigated the efficacy of a natural flavone glycoside, baicalin, in reducing toxin synthesis, sporulation and spore germination in C. difficile in vitro.

Methodology. Hypervirulent

C. difficile

isolates BAA 1870 or 1803 were cultured in brain heart infusion broth with or without the subinhibitory concentration (SIC) of baicalin, and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h under strictly anaerobic conditions. The supernatant was harvested after 24 h for determining

C. difficile

toxin production by ELISA. In addition, a similar experiment was performed wherein samples were harvested for assessing total viable counts, and heat-resistant spore counts at 72 h of incubation. Furthermore,

C. difficile

spore germination and spore outgrowth kinetics, with or without baicalin treatment, was measured in a plate reader by recording optical density at 600 nm. Finally, the effect of baicalin on

C. difficile

toxin, sporulation and virulence-associated genes was investigated using real-time quantitative PCR.

Results. The SIC of baicalin significantly reduced toxin synthesis, sporulation and spore outgrowth when compared to control. In addition,

C. difficile

genes critical for pathogenesis were significantly down-regulated in the presence of baicalin.

Conclusion. Our results suggest that baicalin could potentially be used to control

C. difficile

, and warrant future studies in vivo.
COVID-19 in Canada: Predictions for the future and control lessons from Asia
Authors: Christian Cornelius , Christian Francis
Published: March 2020

COVID-19 has spread with unequal efficiency in various parts of the world. In several European countries including Italy, the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases has followed a consistent, exponential pattern of spread. However, some countries, notably Taiwan and Hong Kong, have achieved a different outcome and have managed to bring the COVID-19 outbreak in their countries rapidly under control, without entering the exponential pattern and with very few cases. They have used several different approaches to COVID-19 outbreak control, including the innovative use of smartphone technology and the widespread use of surgical face masks. We show through our models, that Canada has followed the same, consistent COVID-19 exponential growth pattern that is seen in Italy. Both nationally and in its most heavily affected provinces, there is exponential growth of COVID-19 cases, making it possible to make predictions for the future, if no further interventions are made in public health policy. In particular, we argue for the urgent introduction of surgical face masks in health care and other settings and the harnessing of the power of smartphone technology on a national scale.
Itinerant complexity in networks of intrinsically bursting neurons
Authors: Venkadesh Siva , Barreto Ernest , Ascoli Giorgio A.
Published: March 2020

Active neurons can be broadly classified by their intrinsic oscillation patterns into two classes characterized by periodic spiking or periodic bursting. Here we show that networks of identical bursting neurons with inhibitory pulsatory coupling exhibit itinerant dynamics. Using the relative phases of bursts between neurons, we numerically demonstrate that the network exhibits endogenous transitions among multiple modes of transient synchrony. This is true even for bursts consisting of two spikes. In contrast, our simulations reveal that identical singlet-spiking neurons do not exhibit such complexity in the network. These results suggest a role for bursting dynamics in realizing itinerant complexity in neural circuits.
The Effect of Large-Scale Anti-Contagion Policies on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hsiang Solomon , Allen Daniel , Annan-Phan Sébastien , Bell Kendon , Bolliger Ian , Chong Trinetta , Druckenmiller Hannah , Huang Luna Yue , Hultgren Andrew , Krasovich Emma , Lau Peiley , Lee Jaecheol , Rolf Esther , Tseng Jeanette , Wu Tiffany
Published: March 2020

Governments around the world are responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic1with unprecedented policies designed to slow the growth rate of infections. Many actions, such as closing schools and restricting populations to their homes, impose large and visible costs on society, but their benefits cannot be directly observed and are currently understood only through process-based simulations.2–4Here, we compile new data on 1,717 local, regional, and national non-pharmaceutical interventions deployed in the ongoing pandemic across localities in China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, and the United States (US). We then apply reduced-form econometric methods, commonly used to measure the effect of policies on economic growth,5,6to empirically evaluate the effect that these anti-contagion policies have had on the growth rate of infections. In the absence of policy actions, we estimate that early infections of COVID-19 exhibit exponential growth rates of roughly 38% per day. We find that anti-contagion policies have significantly and substantially slowed this growth. Some policies have different impacts on different populations, but we obtain consistent evidence that the policy packages now deployed are achieving large, beneficial, and measurable health outcomes. We estimate that across these six countries, interventions prevented or delayed on the order of 62 million confirmed cases, corresponding to averting roughly 530 million total infections. These findings may help inform whether or when these policies should be deployed, intensified, or lifted, and they can support decision-making in the other 180+ countries where COVID-19 has been reported.7