bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peace Pedagogy and Interpretative Frameworks of Distrust: State–Society Relations in the Colombian Peace Process
Authors: BURNYEAT GWEN
Published: June 2019

The Havana Peace Accords of 2016 sought to end five decades of internal conflict in Colombia. As well as disarming the FARC, they promise to bring state institutions to abandoned regions and enable citizen participation. However, there is an obstacle to this which has consistently been overlooked by Juan Manuel Santos' government: a chronic distrust in the state dating back to colonialism. This article draws on ethnographic research with the Colombian government's ‘peace pedagogy’ team, tasked innovatively with educating citizens about the Havana Accords and incorporating them in the co‐production of peace. It shows that citizens' learning about state policies, and reception of state efforts to shape that learning, are filtered through pre‐existing perceptions of the state: in Colombia, interpretative frameworks of distrust. This ethnography illuminates state–society relations in the Colombian peace process, offering implications for ongoing implementation of the Accords, and posing questions for other countries in transition, arguing that historically‐constituted perceptions of the state should be taken into account when communicating government policies to society.
Recurrence of rectal anastomotic leakage following stoma closure: assessment of risk factors
Authors: Kitaguchi D. , Nishizawa Y. , Sasaki T. , Tsukada Y. , Ikeda K. , Ito M.
Published: June 2019

Aim

In patients with a previous history of rectal anastomotic leakage (AL), the surgical indications and timing for closure of a diverting stoma have to be carefully judged. Even if AL has apparently healed before stoma closure, re‐leakage may occur after closure. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for recurrent AL following stoma closure. We also examined the treatment strategies aiming to minimize the risk of recurrent AL.

Methods

From January 2009 to December 2016, 1008 patients underwent sphincter‐saving surgery [low anterior resection, all‐sphincter‐preserving rectal resection with hand‐sewn coloanal anastomosis (CAA) and intersphincteric resection (ISR)] for primary rectal cancer with curative intent at our hospital. A total of 69 patients with AL with a Clavien–Dindo Grade III or more who subsequently underwent closure of a diverting stoma were retrospectively reviewed for this study.

Results

The incidence of recurrent leakage after stoma closure in this series was 13% overall with an incidence of 25% in the CAA/ISR group and 5% in the low anterior resection group. Significant risk factors included hand‐sewn anastomosis (P = 0.0257) compared to stapled anastomosis, ischaemia at the anastomotic site as the cause of initial AL (P < 0.001) and a shorter interval between confirmation of healing and stoma closure (P = 0.00952).

Conclusion

Ischaemia at the anastomotic site was the main risk factor for recurrent leakage, particularly after CAA/ISR. Additional treatment options before stoma closure should be considered to avoid re‐leakage in such cases.
The risk of cytomegalovirus infection after treatment of acute rejection in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Jorgenson Margaret R. , Descourouez Jillian L. , Lyu Beini , Astor Brad C. , Garg Neetika , Smith Jeannina A. , Mandelbrot Didier A.
Published: June 2019

The risk of cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) after rejection treatment is poorly understood. To investigate this, we conducted a case/control (1:2) analysis of adult renal transplant recipients between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015, via incidence density sampling and survival analysis. Our objective was to evaluate the association of prior acute rejection with subsequent CMV, including epidemiology and outcomes. There were 2481 eligible renal transplants within the study period and 251 distinct CMV infections. Despite the use of antiviral prophylaxis rejection was a significant risk factor for CMV on unadjusted (HR 1.73 [1.34, 2.24] P < 0.05) and adjusted analysis (HR 1.46 [1.06, 2.04] P < 0.05). When matching cases to controls patients with CMV had significantly more rejection prior to CMV diagnosis (26.7% vs 14.2%, P < 0.01). CMV was associated with a twofold increased risk of prior rejection on unadjusted (OR 1.94, 95%CI: 1.28‐2.96, P < 0.01) and adjusted analysis (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.31‐3.58, P < 0.01). Patients with rejection preceding CMV had significantly increased graft loss (HR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.65‐5.09, P < 0.01) and mortality (HR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.12‐4.24, P = 0.03) as compared to those CMV cases without rejection. In conclusion, rejection is a risk factor for CMV infection that appears to persist for 1 year. Preceding rejection events increased risk of graft loss and mortality in CMV patients. Given this, prolonged surveillance monitoring for CMV after rejection may be warranted. Studies are needed investigating optimal monitoring strategies.
Group multigranular linguistic QFD for prioritizing service designs with combined weighting method
Authors: Tian Zhang‐peng , Nie Ru‐xin , Wang Jian‐qiang , Li Lin
Published: June 2019

Qualification for the importance degree of service designs (SDs) is an essential stage in promoting accommodation performances to satisfy customers and gain market shares. Although various methods have been applied to derive the priorities of SDs, they do not effectively deal with the vagueness of information and the heterogeneity of decision makers (DMs). This study presents an improved quality function deployment (QFD) for prioritizing SDs. Multigranular unbalanced linguistic term sets are used to capture evaluators' ratings to cope with vague information. The multigranular linguistic information is unified by using a novel uniform method. This kind of information then is represented as linguistic distribution assessments using the concept of random preferences based on possibility interpretations of weight information. A consensus‐based mathematical programming model is established to determine the weights of DMs. Moreover, a combined structure that combines maximizing deviation and best worst methods is used to derive basic weights of SDs. Finally, an illustrative example of island accommodation management in Weizhou Island is provided to demonstrate the applicability and advantages of the proposed QFD framework.
Understanding the lower GMP formation in large GTPase hGBP‐2 and role of its individual domains in regulation of GTP hydrolysis
Authors: Rajan Sudeepa , Pandita Esha , Mittal Monika , Sau Apurba Kumar
Published: June 2019

The interferon γ‐inducible large GTPases, human guanylate‐binding protein (hGBP)‐1 and hGBP‐2, mediate antipathogenic and antiproliferative effects in human cells. Both proteins hydrolyse GTP to GDP and GMP through successive cleavages of phosphate bonds, a property that functionally distinguishes them from other GTPases. However, it is unclear why hGBP‐2 yields lower GMP than hGBP‐1 despite sharing a high sequence identity (~ 78%). We previously reported that the hGBP‐1 tetramer is crucial for enhanced GMP formation. We show here that the hGBP‐2 tetramer has no role in GMP formation. Using truncated hGBP‐2 variants, we found that its GTP‐binding domain alone hydrolyses GTP only to GDP. However, this domain along with the intermediate region enabled dimerization and hydrolysed GTP further to GMP. We observed that unlike in hGBP‐1, the helical domain of hGBP‐2 has an insignificant role in the regulation of GTP hydrolysis, suggesting that the differences in GMP formation between hGBP‐2 and hGBP‐1 arise from differences in their GTP‐binding domains. A large sequence variation seen in the guanine cap may be responsible for the lower GMP formation in hGBP‐2. Moreover, we identified the sites in the hGBP‐2 domains that are critical for both dimerization and tetramerization. We also found the existence of hGBP‐2 tetramer in mammalian cells, which might have a role in the suppression of the carcinomas. Our study suggests that sequence variation near the active site in these two close homologues leads to differential second phosphate cleavage and highlights the role of individual hGBP‐2 domains in the regulation of GTP hydrolysis.
Easy conversion process of titanium surface covered with passive film into functional surface
Authors: Ishikawa Toshihiro , Tsujikura Keiko , Deguchi Masashi , Aoki Akinobu
Published: June 2019

Surface functionalization of titanium metal is of great interest, especially as the conversion of the surface passive film into objective functional film can be widely used in bio‐ and environmental applications. However, since the surface passive film is very stable, the functionalization (such as conversion into photocatalytic anatase‐TiO2) has been performed using relatively complicated processes, for example, hydrothermal reaction and anodic oxidation. This is because direct oxidation of titanium metal only leads to thermodynamic formation of octahedral‐rutile‐TiO2 in the entire temperature region, while chemical synthesis using precursors can easily produce tetrahedral‐anatase‐TiO2 at 600°C or less. Here, we report a simple process for the direct formation of photocatalytic anatase‐TiO2 on titanium by simple oxidation. In the first step in our process, titanium is treated with a reducing agent to create a surface titaniumhydride layer. After that, the treated titanium covered with titaniumhydride is immerged in aqueous silica; subsequent calcination at 900°C (specific temperature) in air effectively generates the surface anatase‐TiO2 layer. This is because the covered tetrahedral‐silica stabilizes the anatase structure that is formed. The covered silica is easily removed by quenching in water to reveal the photocatalytic surface layer composed of anatase‐TiO2.
Efficacy of thyme oil‐alginate‐based coating in reducing foodborne pathogens on fresh‐cut apples
Authors: Sarengaowa  , Hu Wenzhong , Feng Ke , Xiu Zhilong , Jiang Aili , Lao Ying
Published: June 2019

In this study, the inhibition of an alginate‐based edible coating (EC) containing thyme oil (0.05%, 0.35% and 0.65%) was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated onto fresh‐cut apples. To investigate the antibacterial mechanism of thyme oil, the constituent compounds of that were analysed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), and the cellular damage of pathogens was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that alginate‐based EC containing thyme oil effectively inhibited the growth of pathogens on fresh‐cut apples. GC‐MS analysis revealed thymol (47.23%) as the major compounds in thyme oil. SEM showed that the cell membrane of foodborne pathogens was damaged by thyme oil, causing their inactivation. Treatment with alginate‐based EC containing 0.05% thyme oil preserved the sensory characteristics of fresh‐cut apples. Therefore, using alginate‐based EC with thyme oil may represent a potential approach to preserve and enhance the safety of fresh‐cut apples.
Evolution of oxidative and structural characteristics of proteins, especially lipid transfer protein 1 (LTP1) in beer during forced‐ageing
Authors: Cai Linfei , Brennan Charles S. , Yang Huirong , Li Wanying , Zhao Haifeng
Published: June 2019

The evolution of oxidative and structural characteristics of proteins, especially lipid transfer protein 1 (LTP1), in beer during forced‐ageing was examined. The oxidative characteristics of beer and proteins were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity. Results showed that the levels of proteins, thiols, LTP1 and antioxidant activity decreased gradually. This was accompanied by the degradation of macromolecular proteins in beer during forced‐ageing. Results from circular dichroism (CD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface hydrophobicity (S0) and ζ‐potential further indicated that the secondary and tertiary structure of LTP1 changed drastically during forced‐ageing, with the reduction of the S0, α‐helix and β‐sheet contents and the increase in negative ζ‐potential and random coil. Thus, the proteins, especially LTP1, might play important roles in maintaining oxidative stability of beer.
Fabrication and microstructure development of Yb:YAG transparent ceramics from co‐precipitated powders without additives
Authors: Chen Xingtao , Lu Tiecheng , Wei Nian , Hua Tengfei , Zeng Qiang , Wu Yiquan
Published: June 2019

Sintering additives are generally considered to be important for improving densification in fabrication of transparent ceramics. However, the sintering aids as impurities doped in the laser materials would decrease the laser output power and produce additional heat during laser operation. In this work, Yb:YAG ceramics were vacuum‐sintered without additives at different temperatures for various soaking time through using ball‐milled powders synthesized by co‐precipitation route. The densification behavior and grain growth kinetics of Yb:YAG ceramics were systematically investigated through densification curves and microstructural characterizations. It was determined that the densification in the 1500°C‐1600°C temperature range was controlled by a grain‐boundary diffusion. It is revealed that the volume diffusion is the main mechanism controlling the grain growth between 1600°C and 1750°C. Although SiO2 additives can promote densification during low‐temperature sintering, the optical transmittance of Yb:YAG ceramic with no additives, sintered at 1800°C for 15 hours, reaches a maximum of 83.4% at 1064 nm, very close to the measured transmittance value of Yb:YAG single crystal. The optical attenuation loss was measured at 1064 nm in Yb:YAG transparent ceramic, to be 0.0035 cm−1, a value close to that observed for single crystals.
Protective effects of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 on cardiac remodeling by inhibiting oxidative stress through mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase pathway in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Dongjuan , Jiang Longfu , Feng Beili , He Nana , Zhang Yue , Ye Honghua
Published: June 2019

Aims/Introduction

Although increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is a major mechanism leading to cardiac remodeling in diabetes mellitus, research into the effects of anti‐oxidation on diabetic cardiac remodeling remains scarce and controversial. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) shows potential anti‐oxidative effects besides lowering blood glucose. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of GLP‐1 on cardiac remodeling and the molecular mechanism involved in diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats received exenatide treatment for 3 months. Cardiac function, cardiac weight index and myocardial interstitial fibrosis were measured. Cardiomyocytes were cultured in high‐glucose medium with GLP‐1 treatment. The ROS production, apoptosis and the levels of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase protein expression in cardiomyocytes were analyzed.

Results

Experimental diabetes mellitus showed impaired cardiac diastolic function, increased brain natriuretic peptide expression and increased interstitial collagen deposition in the myocardium, which were ameliorated by exenatide treatment. Exenatide reduced myocardial ROS production and apoptosis in diabetes mellitus. Also, high glucose‐induced ROS generation and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes were inhibited by GLP‐1, as well as the levels of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase phosphorylation. Furthermore, GLP‐1 treatment upregulated adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase activity in high‐glucose‐induced cardiomyocyte.

Conclusions

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 protects the cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress and apoptosis in diabetes mellitus, which might contribute to the improvement of cardiac remodeling. The cardiac protection of GLP‐1 might be dependent on inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, through an adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase‐mediated pathway.
Comparison of pregnancy outcomes between women with early‐onset and late‐onset gestational diabetes in a retrospective multi‐institutional study in Japan
Authors: Usami Tomoka , Yokoyama Maki , Ueno Megumi , Iwama Noriyuki , Sagawa Norimasa , Kawano Reo , Waguri Masako , Sameshima Hiroshi , Hiramatsu Yuji , Sugiyama Takashi ,   for the Japan Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group
Published: June 2019

Aims/Introduction

To compare pregnancy outcomes between women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed early and late in pregnancy in Japan.

Materials and Methods

We examined women diagnosed with GDM in this multi‐institutional retrospective study. Women were divided into two groups by gestational age at diagnosis: <24 weeks of gestation (early group, 14.4 ± 4.2 weeks) and ≥24 weeks of gestation (late group, 29.6 ± 3.4 weeks). Dietary counseling with self‐monitoring of blood glucose with or without insulin therapy was initiated for both groups. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the groups.

Results

Data from 600 early and 881 late group participants from 40 institutions were included. Although pre‐pregnancy body mass index was higher in the early group than in the late group, gestational weight gain was lower in the early group. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cesarean section were more prevalent in the early than in the late group (9.3% vs 4.8%, P < 0.001; 34.2% vs 32.0%, P < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of large‐for‐gestational‐age infants was higher in the late than in the early group (24.6% vs 19.7%, respectively, P = 0.025). There was no significant difference in other neonatal adverse outcomes between the groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that early group, nulliparity and pre‐pregnancy body mass index were associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Conclusions

These results suggest that maternal complications, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cesarean delivery, were higher in the early group than in the late group. Earlier intervention for GDM might be associated with a reduction in large‐for‐gestational‐age infants.
Influence of exposure to summer environments on skin properties
Authors: Kim S. , Park J.W. , Yeon Y. , Han J.Y. , Kim E.
Published: June 2019

Background

Although cosmetic companies have launched products to combat extreme environments (hot or cold) and various pollutants, research into the effects of these conditions on skin properties is lacking. We aimed to investigate the influence of exposure to outdoor environments during summer on skin properties.

Methods

We enrolled 20 women in their 20s and 40s. They were exposed to outdoor and indoor environments for 90 min each in July 2016. Skin evaluations were performed on the face (forehead and cheek) and forearm. Skin hydration level, sebum secretion, trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL), pH and greasiness were evaluated.

Results

Skin hydration levels, sebum secretion, TEWL and greasiness in all examined regions were higher after outdoor exposure than after indoor exposure; however, skin pH decreased after outdoor exposure. Hydration levels on the forearm and sebum secretion on the face increased, whereas hydration levels and TEWL on the cheek, greasiness in all regions except the cheek, and pH in all regions decreased during the 90‐min outdoor exposure. The hydration levels in all regions except the cheek, sebum secretion and greasiness on the face increased, but the TEWL and the pH declined after being indoors.

Conclusion

Hot environments cause the production of more sweat, increasing hydration levels, sebum secretion, TEWL, and greasiness and reducing skin pH. After acclimatization, skin hydration on the cheek decreases because of sweat evaporation. Cosmetics that are marketed for use in summer should control sweat and sebum secretion, solve related inconveniences, and provide moisture, especially on the cheeks.
Money, Asset Prices, and the Liquidity Premium
Authors: LEE SEUNGDUCK
Published: June 2019

This paper examines the effect of monetary policy on the market value of the liquidity services that financial assets provide, known as the liquidity premium. The theory predicts that money supply and nominal interest rates have positive effects on the liquidity premium, but asset supply has a negative effect. The empirical analysis with U.S. data confirms the theoretical predictions. The theory also proposes that the liquidity properties of assets can cause negative nominal yields when the money holding cost is low and liquid assets are scarce. The suggestive empirical findings in Switzerland to support this theoretical result are presented.
Who is in charge of the care of patients with acute abdominal pain? An interview study with managers across the acute care chain
Authors: Tegelberg Alexander , Jangland Eva , Juhlin Claes , Muntlin Athlin Åsa
Published: June 2019

Aim and objectives

To describe managers' perspectives on the care of patients with acute abdominal pain and explore how they influence the care.

Background

Patients with acute abdominal pain form a common group of patients who often report poor pain management. Managers are key actors in ensuring that patients receive high‐quality care. This stresses the need to deepen the understanding of their perspectives on these patients, in order to provide high‐quality fundamental care across the acute care chain.

Design

Qualitative descriptive semi‐structured interview study, with an inductive approach. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used.

Methods

Individual interviews were conducted with managers (n = 17) from ambulance services, emergency departments and surgical departments at four hospitals in Sweden, representing managers at the micro‐ and macrolevels across the acute care chain.

Results

The patient group was described as a challenging heterogeneous group, with a focus on medical care, shaped by clinical practice guidelines, for which others were responsible. Managers with a physician background expressed that nursing care was important for the outcome of the care, while managers with a nursing background focused solely on the medical care. Additionally, the managers described that they affected the care by providing resources and serving as role models.

Conclusions

The solely medical perspective is worrying. By being a stakeholder, the managers' responsibility should be to highlight the patient perspective in the care and promote and support all health professionals in redesigning the care, where achieving higher quality both in nursing and in medical care for patients with acute abdominal pain becomes a shared goal.

Relevance to clinical practice

Managers should use their leadership to bridge the gap between medicine and nursing care by highlighting patients' need for fundamental care, and to support health professionals in providing evidence‐based and high‐quality care.
Nitrous oxide cryotherapy for the management of benign lesions of the oral cavity
Authors: Farah Camile S. , Koelmeyer Natasha , Kaney Anjuli , Simanovic Borjana
Published: June 2019

Background

Cryotherapy is the deliberate destruction of tissue by the application of extreme cold, and has been indicated as a treatment modality for the management of commonly occurring benign oral pathologies. The aim of this study was to investigate treatment protocol parameters and effectiveness of a closed cryotherapy system for the management of oral mucoceles and vascular malformations.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data collected from a specialist oral medicine clinic referred for treatment of oral mucoceles or vascular malformations. Data was analyzed to determine lesion characteristics, treatment parameters, and clinical effectiveness of a closed cryotherapy system.

Results

The closed cryotherapy system achieved 100% success rate in lesion resolution. For both pathologies, increased lesion diameter was related to increased number of cryotherapy appointments, increased number of freeze cycles, and increased cumulative freeze time. 95% of vascular malformations and 83.34% of mucoceles resolved with no signs of post‐operative complication, and patients did not report postoperative pain.

Conclusions

Cryotherapy is an excellent treatment option for benign lesion management. It is minimally invasive, causes minimal discomfort, and has a high rate of clinical success.
Phase separation in biology and disease—a symposium report
Authors: Cable Jennifer , Brangwynne Clifford , Seydoux Geraldine , Cowburn David , Pappu Rohit V. , Castañeda Carlos A. , Berchowitz Luke E. , Chen Zhijuan , Jonikas Martin , Dernburg Abby , Mittag Tanja , Fawzi Nicolas L.
Published: June 2019

Phase separation of multivalent protein and RNA molecules enables cells the formation of reversible nonstoichiometric, membraneless assemblies. These assemblies, referred to as biomolecular condensates, help with the spatial organization and compartmentalization of cellular matter. Each biomolecular condensate is defined by a distinct macromolecular composition. Distinct condensates have distinct preferential locations within cells, and they are associated with distinct biological functions, including DNA replication, RNA metabolism, signal transduction, synaptic transmission, and stress response. Several proteins found in biomolecular condensates have also been implicated in disease, including Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and several types of cancer. Disease‐associated mutations in these proteins have been found to affect the material properties of condensates as well as the driving forces for phase separation. Understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic forces driving the formation and dissolution of biomolecular condensates via spontaneous and driven phase separation is an important step in understanding the processes associated with biological regulation in health and disease.
The Nobel Memorial Prize for William D. Nordhaus
Authors: Barrage Lint
Published: June 2019

William D. Nordhaus and Paul M. Romer received the 2018 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. This paper surveys Nordhaus’ contributions on “integrating climate change into long‐run macroeconomic analysis”, for which he was recognized with this Prize.
The influence of ENSO and PDO on tropical Andean glaciers and their impact on the hydrology of the Amazon Basin
Authors: da Rocha Nájila Souza , Veettil Bijeesh K , Grondona Atilio , Rolim Silvia
Published: June 2019

Recent decades, particularly since the late 1970s, have witnessed a rapid retreat of glaciers in the tropical Andes. We compiled the changes in glacier surfaces along the eastern cordilleras of the tropical Andes of Peru and Bolivia since the early 1980s from the literature. Water levels from two Brazilian river basins in the Amazon basin (one (Madeira River) glacially fed by meltwater from the Andes and the other (Envira River) non‐glacially fed), were analysed for a 30‐year period between 1985−2014. Furthermore, precipitation data near these two basins were also analysed in order to understand the differential contributions of glacier melting and rainfall. Variations in the water levels from the glacially fed Madeira River showed that some years were associated with higher water levels even when the precipitation remained low during the corresponding season (May‐October). This observation was common when El Niño events occurred during the positive phase of Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Water levels in glacier‐fed Madeira River were slightly higher during the periods where El Niño and warm PDO co‐occurred. On the other hand, water levels in the Envira River were precipitation dependent; water levels were higher when the rainfall was high.
Spatio‐temporal land use multi‐objective optimization: A case study in Central China
Authors: Cao Kai , Zhang Wenting , Wang Tianwei
Published: June 2019

Much effort has been applied to the study of land use multi‐objective optimization. However, most of these studies have focused on the final land use scenarios in the projected year, without considering how to reach the final optimized land use scenario. To fill this gap, a spatio‐temporal land use multi‐objective optimization (STLU‐MOO) model is innovatively proposed in this research to determine possible spatial land use solutions over time. The STLU‐MOO is an extension of a genetic land use multi‐objective optimization model (LU‐MOO) in which the LU‐MOO is generally carried out in different years, and the solutions at year T will affect the solutions at year T + 1. We used the Wuhan agglomeration (WHA) as our case study area. The STLU‐MOO model was employed separately for the nine cities in the WHA, and social, economic, and environmental objectives have been considered. The success of the experiments in the case study demonstrated the value and novelty of our proposed STLU‐MOO model. In addition, the results also indicated that the objectives considered in the case study were in conflict. According to the results, the optimal land use plan in 2050 can be traced back to 2040, 2030, and 2020, providing a series of Pareto solutions over the years which can provide spatio‐temporal land use multi‐objective optimization solutions to support the land use planning process.
StarBorn: Towards making in‐situ land cover data generation fun with a location‐based game
Authors: Baer Manuel F. , Wartmann Flurina M. , Purves Ross S.
Published: June 2019

Data contributed by a large number of non‐experts is increasingly used to validate and curate land cover data, with location‐based games (LBGs) developed for this purpose generating particular interest. We here present our findings on StarBorn, a novel LBG with a strong focus on game play. Users conquer game‐tiles by visiting real‐world locations and collecting land cover data. Within three months, StarBorn generated 13,319 land cover classifications by 84 users. Results show that data are concentrated around users’ daily life spaces, agreement among users is highest for urban and industry land cover, and user‐generated land cover classifications exhibit high agreement with an authoritative data set. However, we also observe low user retention rates and negative correlations between number of contributions and agreement rates with an authoritative land cover product. We recommend that future work consider not only game play, but also how motivational aspects influence behavior and data quality. We conclude that LBGs are suitable tools for generating cost‐efficient in‐situ land cover classifications.
Three‐dimensional terrain modeling with multiple‐source illumination
Authors: Florinsky I. V. , Filippov S. V.
Published: June 2019

Three‐dimensional (3D) terrain modeling based on digital elevation models (DEMs) with the use of orthographic and perspective projections is a standard procedure implemented in many commercial and open‐source geoinformation systems. However, standard tools may be insufficient for 3D scientific visualization. In particular, single‐source illumination of 3D models may be deficient for topographically complex terrains. We present an approach for 3D terrain modeling with multiple‐source illumination in the virtual environment of the Blender free and open‐source software. The approach includes the following key stages: (1) automatic creation of a polygonal object; (2) selecting an algorithm to model the 3D geometry; (3) selecting a vertical exaggeration scale; (4) selecting types, parameters, a number, and positions of light sources; (5) selecting methods for generating shadows; (6) selecting a shading method for the 3D model; (7) selecting a material for the 3D model surface; (8) overlaying a texture on the 3D model; (9) setting a virtual camera; and (10) rendering the 3D model. To illustrate the approach, we processed a test DEM extracted from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean version 3.0 (IBCAO 3.0). The approach is currently being used to develop a system for geomorphometric modeling of the Arctic Ocean floor.
Simultaneous removal of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from hypersaline wastewater by bioaugmented intermittently aerated biological filter (IABF)
Authors: Sang Yizhou , Lin Aiguo , Liu Xinliang
Published: June 2019

Simultaneous removal of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus from hypersaline wastewater by halophiles bioaugmented intermittently aerated biological filter (IABF) was systematically investigated in this research. The bioaugmented IABF showed significantly improved simultaneous nutrient removal efficiency in salinity range of 6–11% compared to the uninoculated IABF although the benefit of inoculation was no more evident with further increase in salinity. As high as 12% difference in COD removal efficiency, 18% difference in TN removal efficiency and 14.6% difference in TP removal efficiency were observed between the inoculated and uninoculated IABF. Reactor performance was negatively affected by backwashing at hypersaline conditions. However, inoculation of halophiles reduced the biofilm recovery time after backwashing. Growth curve of halophiles, as well as biomass loading and dehydrogenase activity, at different salinities were studied to explore the bioaugmentation mechanism. Excellent correlation was observed between the halophile growth curve, biomass loading and DHA and the removal efficiency of the organic pollutant, which can be used to predict the biofilter performance in removing the organic matters through the analysis of halophiles growth curve, biomass loading and DHA in the reactor.
Electric Highway
Authors: E. Webber Michael
Published: June 2019

Electric and autonomous vehicles will change the layout and rhythm of our lives. Entwined with this story of change are the fuels and forms of energy we used to enable the engines and motors to propel us forward. In this excerpt from his upcoming book, noted energy expert Michael Webber makes the case that switching from oil to electricity for powering vehicles would cut transportation-related carbon emissions and create a pathway to quieter, zippier travel.
Scaling up nanoporous graphene membranes
Authors: Mi Baoxia
Published: June 2019

Practical desalination membranes with nanoporous graphene will need new morphologies
Contribution of
hla
Regulation by SaeR to Staphylococcus aureus USA300 Pathogenesis
Authors: Gudeta Dereje D. , Lei Mei G. , Lee Chia Y.
Published: June 2019

The SaeRS two-component system in
Staphylococcus aureus
is critical for regulation of many virulence genes, including
hla
, which encodes alpha-toxin. However, the impact of regulation of alpha-toxin by Sae on
S. aureus
pathogenesis has not been directly addressed. Here, we mutated the SaeR-binding sequences in the
hla
regulatory region and determined the contribution of this mutation to
hla
expression and pathogenesis in strain USA300 JE2.
Viral Characteristics Associated with Maintenance of Elite Neutralizing Activity in Chronically HIV-1 Clade C-Infected Monozygotic Pediatric Twins
Authors: Mishra Nitesh , Makhdoomi Muzamil Ashraf , Sharma Shaifali , Kumar Sanjeev , Dobhal Ayushman , Kumar Deepshikha , Chawla Himanshi , Singh Ravinder , Kanga Uma , Das Bimal Kumar , Lodha Rakesh , Kabra Sushil K. , Luthra Kalpana
Published: June 2019

Herein, we report the longitudinal development of bnAbs in a pair of chronically HIV-1 clade C-infected monozygotic pediatric twins, AIIMS_329 and AIIMS_330, who acquired the infection by vertical transmission. The plasma from both donors, sharing a similar genetic makeup and infecting virus, showed the evolvement of bnAbs targeting common epitopes in the V2 and V3 regions of the envelope, suggesting that bnAb development in these twins may perhaps be determined by specific sequences in the shared virus that can guide the development of immunogens aimed at eliciting V2 and V3 bNAbs. Characterization of the neutralization-sensitive and -resistant viruses coevolving with bNAbs in the contemporaneous AIIMS_330 plasma provides information toward understanding the viral alterations that may have contributed to the development of resistance to bnAbs. Further longitudinal studies in more monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs will help in delineating the role of host and viral factors that may contribute to the development of bnAbs.
Smoke-free prisons in England: indoor air quality before and after implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free policy
Authors: Jayes Leah R , Murray Rachael L , Opazo Breton Magdalena , Hill Christopher , Ratschen Elena , Britton John
Published: June 2019

Objectives

High levels of particulate pollution due to secondhand smoke (SHS) have previously been recorded in English prisons. As part of an evaluation to ascertain whether a new comprehensive smoke-free policy introduced in the first four prisons in England was successfully implemented, this study compares indoor air quality on prison wing landing locations three months before and three months after going smoke-free.

Design

An indoor air quality monitoring study, comparing SHS levels before and after a comprehensive smoke-free prison policy.

Setting

The first four prisons in England to implement a comprehensive smoke-free policy.

Primary and secondary measures

We compared concentrations of airborne particulate matter <2.5 microns in diameter (PM₂.₅), as a marker for SHS, on wing landing locations three months before and three months after the smoke-free policy was implemented. Static battery operated aerosol monitors were used to sample concentrations of PM₂.₅ on wing landings.

Results

After discarding data from monitors that had been tampered with we were able to analyse paired data across four prisons from 74 locations, across 29 wing landing locations, for an average sampling time of five hours and eight minutes. When comparing samples taken three months before with the paired samples taken three months after policy implementation (paired for prison, day of the week, time of day, wing location and position of monitor), there was a 66% reduction in mean PM₂.₅ concentrations across the four prisons sampled, from 39 to 13 µg/m³ (difference 26 µg/m³, 95% CI 25 to 26 µg/m³).

Conclusion

Prison smoke-free policies achieve significant improvements in indoor air quality. A national smoke-free policy would therefore be an effective means of protecting prisoners and staff from harm due to SHS exposure in the prison environment.
Perceptions of older adults in Ontario, Canada on the implementation and impact of a primary care programme, Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (Health TAPESTRY): a descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Ploeg Jenny , Valaitis Ruta Kristina , Cleghorn Laura , Yous Marie-Lee , Gaber Jessica , Agarwal Gina , Kastner Monika , Mangin Dee , Oliver Doug , Parascandalo Fiona , Risdon Cathy , Dolovich Lisa
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of older adults on the implementation and impact of Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (Health TAPESTRY), a multicomponent primary care programme that seeks to improve care coordination for individuals through health-related goal-setting supported by trained lay volunteers who are an extension of an interprofessional team, and the use of technology to support communication among the team.

Design

This study used a qualitative descriptive design.

Setting

The setting for this study was two primary care practice sites located in a large urban area in Ontario, Canada.

Participants

The sample consisted of community-dwelling older adults aged 70 years and older. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample obtained from 360 clients who participated in the 12-month Health TAPESTRY randomised controlled trial.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 32 older adults either face-to-face or by telephone. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach to develop themes.

Results

Older adults’ perceptions about the Health TAPESTRY programme included (1) the lack of a clear purpose and understanding of how information was shared among providers, (2) mixed positive and negative perceptions of goal-setting and provider follow-up after inhome visits by volunteers, (3) positive impacts such as satisfaction with the primary care team, and (4) the potential for the programme to become a regular programme and applied to other communities and groups.

Conclusions

Older adults living in the community may benefit from greater primary care support provided through enhanced team-based approaches. Programmes such as Health TAPESTRY facilitate opportunities for older adults to work with primary care providers to meet their self-identified needs. By exploring perceptions of clients, primary care programmes can be further refined and expanded for various populations.
Quality of eyeglass prescriptions from a low-cost wavefront autorefractor evaluated in rural India: results of a 708-participant field study
Authors: Durr Nicholas J , Dave Shivang R , Lim Daryl , Joseph Sanil , Ravilla Thulasiraj D , Lage Eduardo
Published: June 2019

Objective

To assess the quality of eyeglass prescriptions provided by an affordable wavefront autorefractor operated by a minimally trained technician in a low-resource setting.

Methods and Analysis

708 participants were recruited from consecutive patients registered for routine eye examinations at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India, or an affiliated rural satellite vision centre. Visual acuity (VA) and patient preference were compared between trial lenses set to two eyeglass prescriptions from (1) a novel wavefront autorefractor and (2) subjective refraction by an experienced refractionist.

Results

The mean±SD VA was 0.30±0.37, –0.02±0.14 and −0.04±0.11 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units before correction, with autorefractor correction and with subjective refraction correction, respectively (all differences p<0.01). Overall, 25% of participants had no preference, 33% preferred eyeglass prescriptions from autorefraction, and 42% preferred eyeglass prescriptions from subjective refraction (p<0.01). Of the 438 patients 40 years old and younger, 96 had no preference and the remainder had no statistically significant difference in preference for subjective refraction prescriptions (51%) versus autorefractor prescriptions (49%) (p=0.52).

Conclusion

Average VAs from autorefractor-prescribed eyeglasses were one letter worse than those from subjective refraction. More than half of all participants either had no preference or preferred eyeglasses prescribed by the autorefractor. This marginal difference in quality may warrant autorefractor-based prescriptions, given the portable form factor, short measurement time, low cost and minimal training required to use the autorefractor evaluated here.
Improved gait speed in spastic paraplegia: a new modality
Authors: Shin Sanghoon , Park Jinyoung , Hong Juntaek , Park Jung Hyun
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The gait disturbance in spastic paraplegic patients lowers the gait speed, increases fall risk and eventually lower the quality of life. This study aims to investigate the effect of electrical twitch obtaining intramuscular stimulation (ETOIMS) on spastic paraplegic patients’ gait speed and pattern.

Methods

A prospective short-term cohort study was designed in the outpatient clinic of the department of rehabilitation in a tertiary hospital. Patients with spastic paraplegia (N=5) were participated, including spinal cord tumour (N=2), cervical myelitis (N=1), hereditary spastic paraplegia (NIPA1mutation; N=1) and spinal cord injury (N=1). The participants underwent ETOIMS. The target muscles were the bilateral quadratus lumborum, multifidus inserting to the L4 and L5 spinous process, and gluteus medius. Gait speed, gait pattern and subjective symptoms, including pain scores (measured by visual analogue scale), were compared before and immediately after the intervention.

Results

All patients subjectively reported reduced stiffness during walking and alleviated muscular pain in the lower back and gluteal area. After one session of ETOIMS, patient 1–4 showed 57%, 29%, 33% and 6 % improvement in gait speed, respectively, and all patients showed increased pelvic dissociation.

Conclusions

The ETOIMS can be effective in improving gait speed and stability by relaxing the muscles or alleviating the pain in the lower back and gluteal area in spastic paraplegic patients.
Technological innovation for prehospital stroke triage: ripe for disruption
Authors: Martinez-Gutierrez Juan Carlos , Chandra Ronil V , Hirsch Joshua A , Leslie-Mazwi Thabele
Published: June 2019

Background

With the benefit of mechanical thrombectomy firmly established, the focus has shifted to improved delivery of care. Reducing time from symptom onset to reperfusion is a primary goal. Technology promises tremendous opportunities in the prehospital space to achieve this goal.

Methods

This review explores existing, fledgling, and potential future technologies for application in the prehospital space.

Results

The opportunity for technology to improve stroke care resides in the detection, evaluation, triage, and transport of patients to an appropriate healthcare facility. Most prehospital technology remains in the early stages of design and implementation.

Conclusion

The major challenges to tackle for future improvement in prehospital stroke care are that of public awareness, emergency medical service detection, and triage, and improved systems of stroke care. Thoughtfully applied technology will transform all these areas.
Lorraine Anne Allan
Authors: Kissick Kathy
Published: June 2019

As an advocate for animals and students, she was a generous with her time in helping vet nurses to learn and develop. She will be remembered as an inspirational teacher.
DOES GOLD INVESTMENT OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST STOCK MARKET LOSSES? EVIDENCE FROM FIVE COUNTRIES
Authors: GHAZALI MOHD FAHMI , LEAN HOOI HOOI , BAHARI ZAKARIA
Published: June 2019

This study aims to analyze the characteristics of gold as a diversifier, a hedge or a safe haven against the stock market collapse in five countries. We propose the standard and quantile techniques in the volatility models, with the time-varying conditional variance of the regression residuals based on the TGARCH specifications. Gold exhibits considerable evidence of the strong hedge in India and the US and diversified role in China. With regards to its role as a safe haven, gold retains its status as a key investment particularly in a country where gold has a preeminent cultural role, i.e., India, as well as in the US and the UK. On the contrary, gold only plays a minor role in emerging markets like in Malaysia. Therefore, investors in India and the US can use gold to protect against losses in the stock market at all times, whereas in the UK, gold is only viewed as a profitable asset to own during the stock market collapse. Contrariwise, Chinese investors should hold a well-diversified portfolio to earn sustainable returns and offer protection against the stock market collapse. We conclude that the recent worldwide financial crises have increased the investment demand for gold over the last 17 years at least.
REGIONAL SKILL DIFFERENTIALS: A STUDY OF THE INDONESIAN LABOR MARKET
Authors: MULYANINGSIH TRI , MIRANTI RIYANA , DALY ANNE , MANNING CHRIS
Published: June 2019

This study investigates the patterns and trends in the returns to skill in the Indonesian labor market over the period 2007 to 2013, a period of rising earnings and income inequality. The study takes into account the labor demand and supply across regional development regions and over time. It presents evidence on the returns to skill related to structural changes in the economy through the growth of modern services and the resource boom. It confirms that skill premiums varied across regional development areas. The composition of industries across regions, female labor participation, the proportion of casual workers, the supply of tertiary-educated workers and factors unique to each region are all determinants of the regional skill premiums. The results support the policy focus on developing human capital in Indonesia to meet the rising demand for skilled workers and show the role of the manufacturing sector and minimum wages policy in reducing the skill premium.