bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrogram recording and analyzing techniques to optimize selection of target sites for ablation of cardiac arrhythmias
Authors: de Bakker Jacques MT
Published: October 2019

The extracellular electrogram is caused by transmembrane currents that flow into extracellular space during propagation of the electrical impulse. Electrograms are usually recorded in unipolar or bipolar mode that have different characteristics, but provide complementary information. Both recording modes have specific advantages, but also suffer from disadvantages. Techniques to circumvent some of the weaknesses are reviewed. The origin of remote and fractionated deflections and their relation with electrode characteristics are discussed. Epicardial and endocardial sites of origin and breakthrough sites as well as the effect of fatty tissue on extracellular electrograms are presented. Induction of tachycardia to assess the arrhythmogenic area is not always possible because of hemodynamic instability of the patient. Techniques to assess sites with high reentry vulnerability without induction of arrhythmias are outlined such as activation‐repolarization mapping and decremental stimulation. Pitfalls of substrate mapping and techniques to avoid them as omnipolar mapping and characterization of complex electrograms by entropy are presented. Technical aspects that influence electrogram morphology as electrode size, filtering, contact force, and catheter position are delineated. Data from the various publications suggest that a combination of unipolar and bipolar electrogram analysis techniques is helpful to optimize determination of target sites for ablation.
Cadherin‐related family member 3 gene impacts childhood asthma in Chinese children
Authors: Leung Ting Fan , Tang Man Fung , Leung Agnes Sze Yin , Kong Alice Pik Shan , Liu Tak Chi , Chan Renee Wan Yi , Ma Ronald Ching Wan , Sy Hing Yee , Chan Juliana Chung Ngor , Wong Gary Wing Kin
Published: October 2019

Background

A missense variant (rs6967330) of the gene encoding cadherin‐related family member 3 (CDHR3) was associated with recurrent severe exacerbations in pre‐schoolers. However, there were limited data on its relationship with pre‐school lung function and school‐age asthma. This study replicated the association between polymorphic markers at the region of CDHR3 around rs6967330 and wheezing phenotypes in two independent cohorts of Chinese children.

Methods

Ten tagging SNPs located 10 kb around rs6967330 were selected by HaploView 5.0 based on 1000 Genomes database for Southern Han Chinese. Their associations with wheezing and lung function were examined in 1341 Chinese pre‐school children, while those for asthma phenotypes were examined in an independent group of 2079 school‐age children. Genotypic and haplotypic associations were analyzed by multivariate regression, and generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction was used to examine epistatic interactions for wheezing traits.

Results

The mean (SD) age of pre‐school cohort was 4.7 (1.0) years. Rs6967330 was associated with current wheeze (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09‐2.43) and its severity (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.10‐2.44) among pre‐school children. This SNP was also associated with school‐age asthma (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04‐1.69). The minor allele of rs408223 was associated with lower FEV0.5 (β = −2.411, P = .004) and FEV0.5/FVC (β = −1.292, P = .015). Lower spirometric indices were also associated with minor allele of rs140154310. GAC haplotype from rs4730125, rs6967330, and rs408223 was associated with pre‐school current wheeze and school‐age asthma. Epistatic interaction was found between unrelated CDHR3 SNPs for FEV0.5 among pre‐schoolers.

Conclusion

CDHR3 is a candidate gene for early‐life wheezing, school‐age asthma, and lung function in Chinese children.
Possibilities of using raster data in client‐side web maps
Authors: Farkas Gábor
Published: October 2019

Companies and individual developers have recently put serious effort into improving web mapping libraries. A significant front in this development is hardware‐accelerated vector graphics. Owing to those efforts, and the continuously evolving World Wide Web, users can visualize large vector layers, and even animate them. On the other hand, this rapid development cannot be observed with raster data. There are some data abstraction libraries for reading raster files, although web mapping libraries do not use them to offer raster capabilities. Since there are no mature raster management pipelines on the web, this study explores two inherently different techniques for handling raster data. One of them uses the traditional, texture‐based method. The other is a hybrid technique rendering raster layers as vectors, overcoming some limitations of the raster model. While the traditional technique gives a smooth user experience, the hybrid method shows promising results for rendering hexagonal coverages.
Iliectomy with limb preservation for a dog with ilial osteosarcoma: Surgical description and case report
Authors: Oramas Alberto , Boston Sarah E. , Skinner Owen T.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To report the surgical technique for iliectomy and outcome in a single clinical case.

Study design

Case report.

Animal

A 10‐year‐old female spayed Rottweiler.

Methods

A dog presented with left pelvic limb lameness due to a mass involving the left ilium. Fine needle aspirates were indicative of a sarcoma and suspicious for osteosarcoma. Computed tomography of thorax, abdomen, and pelvis was performed as well as skeletal scintigraphy, with no evidence of metastasis seen. The dog underwent iliectomy with preservation of the ipsilateral limb and was ambulatory 24 hours after surgery. Results of histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of an osteosarcoma.

Results

A right ischial fracture was noted 8 days postoperatively and was conservatively managed. Local recurrence was reported 385 days postoperatively, with no overt metastatic disease revealed by computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen. The dog was euthanized because of local recurrence 430 days after surgery.

Conclusion

Iliectomy was well tolerated in this dog and afforded good function of the pelvic limbs. Local recurrence developed with no evidence of metastasis at the last follow‐up. Iliectomy can be considered for a mass confined to the ilium when preservation of the limb is desired. Additional studies are required to determine the local recurrence and complication rates associated with this procedure in dogs with axial skeletal osteosarcoma.

Clinical significance

To the authors' knowledge, this case report represents the fist surgical description and clinical outcome for an iliectomy in dogs.
The Tryptophan-Rich Motif of HIV-1 gp41 Can Interact with the N-Terminal Deep Pocket Site: New Insights into the Structure and Function of gp41 and Its Inhibitors
Authors: Zhu Yuanmei , Ding Xiaohui , Yu Danwei , Chong Huihui , He Yuxian
Published: October 2019

The HIV-1 Env glycoprotein mediates membrane fusion and is conformationally labile. Despite extensive efforts, the structural property of the native fusion protein gp41 is largely unknown, and the mechanism of action of the gp41-derived fusion inhibitor T20 remains elusive. Here, we report that T20 and its C-terminal tryptophan-rich motif (TRM) can efficiently impair the conformation of the gp41 N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) coiled coil by interacting with the deep NHR pocket site. The TRM sequence has been verified to possess the ability to replace the pocket-binding domain of C34, a fusion inhibitor peptide with high anti-HIV potency. Therefore, our studies have not only facilitated understanding of the mechanism of action of T20 and developed novel HIV-1 fusion inhibitors but also provided new insights into the structural property of the prefusion state of gp41.
Prevalence and correlates of long-term e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy use: a prospective study in England
Authors: Jackson Sarah E , Hill Emily , Shahab Lion , Beard Emma , Michie Susan , Brown Jamie
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To examine the prevalence of, and sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics associated with, long-term e-cigarette use compared with long-term nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use.

Design

Cross-sectional and prospective survey, the Smoking Toolkit Study, with baseline data collected between September 2014 and September 2016 and follow-ups at 6 and 12 months.

Setting

England.

Participants

Population representative sample of 40 933 adults aged 16+ years.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of long-term (≥12 months) use of e-cigarettes and NRT by retrospective self-report among baseline respondents (all adults, n=40 933; smokers, n=8406) and current use at baseline, 6 months and 12 months in a subsample of smokers who responded to follow-up (n=733).

Results

Of baseline respondents, 1.5% (95% CI 1.4% to 1.6%, n=604) of adults and 3.9% (95% CI 3.5% to 4.3%, n=327) of smokers were long-term e-cigarette users and 0.5% (95% CI 0.4% to 0.6%, n=205) of adults and 1.3% (95% CI 1.1% to 1.5%, n=112) of smokers were long-term NRT users. Assessed prospectively, 13.4% (95% CI 10.9% to 15.9%, n=100) of smokers were long-term e-cigarette users and 1.9% (95% CI 0.9% to 2.9%, n=14) were long-term NRT users. Among all adults, long-term use by never smokers of either e-cigarettes (0.1%, n=27) or NRT (0.0%, n=7) was rare. Among past-year smokers, long-term e-cigarette and NRT use was higher among older smokers compared with those who were 16–34 years old (OR range=1.55–5.21). Long-term e-cigarette use only was lower in smokers who were less educated (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.81), from social grades C2DE (OR=0.66, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.84) and with children in the household (OR=0.66, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.85). Long-term e-cigarette use and long-term NRT use were higher among smokers more motivated to quit (OR=2.05, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.60 and OR=2.33, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.46).

Conclusions

In the adult population in England, long-term use of e-cigarettes and long-term use of NRT are almost exclusively by current or ex-smokers. Only a minority of past-year smokers retrospectively report long-term e-cigarette or NRT use, but this figure may be an underestimate, especially for e-cigarette use, which is more than threefold higher when assessed prospectively.
Calculations for deep inelastic scattering using fast interpolation grid techniques at NNLO in QCD and the extraction of $$\alpha _{\mathrm {s}}$$ from HERA data
Authors: Britzger D. , Currie J. , Ridder A. Gehrmann-De , Gehrmann T. , Glover E. W. N. , Gwenlan C. , Huss A. , Morgan T. , Niehues J. , Pires J. , Rabbertz K. , Sutton M. R.
Published: October 2019

The extension of interpolation-grid frameworks for perturbative QCD calculations at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) is presented for deep inelastic scattering (DIS) processes. A fast and flexible evaluation of higher-order predictions for any a posteriori choice of parton distribution functions (PDFs) or value of the strong coupling constant is essential in iterative fitting procedures to extract PDFs and Standard Model parameters as well as for a detailed study of the scale dependence. The APPLfast project, described here, provides a generic interface between the parton-level Monte Carlo program NNLOjet and both the APPLgrid and fastNLO libraries for the production of interpolation grids at NNLO accuracy. Details of the interface for DIS processes are presented together with the required interpolation grids at NNLO, which are made available. They cover numerous inclusive jet measurements by the H1 and ZEUS experiments at HERA. An extraction of the strong coupling constant is performed as an application of the use of such grids and a best-fit value of $$\alpha _{\mathrm {s}} (M_{{\mathrm {Z}}}) = 0.1170\,(15)_\text {exp}\,(25)_\text {th}$$

α
s

(

M
Z

)

=
0.1170

(
15
)

exp

(
25
)

th

is obtained using the HERA inclusive jet cross section data.
HOW LARGE ARE PRODUCTIVITY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISLAMIC AND CONVENTIONAL BANKS?
Authors: AHMAD WAHIDA , PRENTICE DAVID
Published: October 2019

Despite the enormous growth in Islamic banking, most studies, using DEA/Stochastic Frontier Analysis, find Islamic banks are either equally or less productive than conventional banks. We apply the Olley–Pakes (OP) and Ackerberg–Caves–Frazer (ACF) approaches for estimating the production functions of conventional, Islamic and mixed banks in Bahrain and Malaysia between 1990 and 2011. The ACF results are the most plausible. Though Islamic banks tend to be less efficient than conventional banks the difference is not statistically significant. In Malaysia, mixed banks are significantly more productive than other banks and tend to have faster productivity growth.
Low-Overpotential Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Formic Acid on Surface-Modified Doped Tin Oxide Pellets
Authors: Abdul Emmanuel , Pitts Jason , Rajput Deepak , Rananavare Shankar
Published: October 2019

Gas sensors fabricated with antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanomaterials exhibit remarkable sensitivity for detecting oxidizing and reducing gases. This study highlights the enhanced selectivity and stability of the porous ATO nanomaterial electrode made for electrochemical reduction of CO2 in aqueous media. During electrochemical reduction, these electrodes prepared from compressed powders tend to crumble within a few hours in aqueous media. To overcome this electrode disintegration effect, we modified the surface of the doped tin-Oxide nanoparticles with Nafion and a dipodal silane (1,2-Bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane). The electrode characterization studies include Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Scanning electron microscopic investigation of electrode surface morphology and roughness before and after electrochemical CO2 reduction for derivatized and underivatized electrode revealed lower surface roughness for former than the latter.The derivatized electrodes allowed CO2 electrochemical reduction at low overpotentials and high current density without any electrode crumbling over more than 24 hours of continuous operation. Formate/formic acid and methanol were the major products of reduction at electrode potentials ranging from -0.4 to -1.0V vs. RHE in the CO2 saturated 0.1M KHCO3 electrolyte. Higher current density and Faradaic Efficiency of formic acid was observed when compared to planar tin electrode materials and tin oxide nanoparticles deposited on FTO glass.
Particle Smoother-Based Landmark Mapping for the SLAM Method of an Indoor Mobile Robot with a Non-Gaussian Detection Model
Authors: Wang Jun , Takahashi Yasutake
Published: October 2019

HF-band radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a robust identification system that is rarely influenced by objects in the robot activity area or by illumination conditions. An HF-band RFID system is capable of facilitating a reasonably accurate and robust self-localization of indoor mobile robots. An RFID-based self-localization system for an indoor mobile robot requires prior knowledge of the map which contains the ID information and positions of the RFID tags used in the environment. Generally, the map of RFID tags is manually built. To reduce labor costs, the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technique is designed to localize the mobile robot and build a map of the RFID tags simultaneously. In this study, multiple HF-band RFID readers are installed on the bottom of an omnidirectional mobile robot and RFID tags are spread on the floor. Because the tag detection process of the HF-band RFID system does not follow a standard Gaussian distribution, extended Kalman filter- (EKF-) based landmark updates are unsuitable. This paper proposes a novel SLAM method for the indoor mobile robot with a non-Gaussian detection model, by using the particle smoother for the landmark mapping and particle filter for the self-localization of the mobile robot. The proposed SLAM method is evaluated through experiments with the HF-band RFID system which has the non-Gaussian detection model. Furthermore, the proposed SLAM method is also evaluated by a range and bearing sensor which has the standard Gaussian detection model. In particular, the proposed method is compared against two other SLAM methods: FastSLAM and SLAM methods utilize particle filter for both the landmark updating and robot self-localization. The experimental results show the validity and superiority of the proposed SLAM method.
Comparison of Outcomes at Time of Superior Cavopulmonary Connection Between Single Ventricle Patients With Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Blood Flow Initially Palliated With Either Blalock-Taussig Shunt or Ductus Arteriosus Stent
Authors: Meadows Jeffery J. , Qureshi Athar M. , Goldstein Bryan H. , Petit Christopher J. , McCracken Courtney E. , Kelleman Michael S. , Aggarwal Varun , Bauser-Heaton Holly , Combs Christine S. , Gartenberg Ari J. , Ligon R. Allen , Nicholson George T. , Glatz Andrew C.
Published: October 2019

Background:

Patients with single ventricle anatomy and ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow may be initially palliated with either modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS) or ductus arteriosus stent (DAS). Comparisons of outcomes during the interstage period and at the time of superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) are lacking and may differ between palliation strategies.

Methods:

Infants with single ventricle anatomy and ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow palliated with either DAS or BTS from 2008 to 2015 were reviewed across 4 centers. Interstage outcomes, and for those who had SCPC, anatomy, hemodynamics, and perioperative clinical outcomes were compared. Thirty-five patients with DAS and 136 patients with BTS were included.

Results:

At initial palliation, demographic, clinical variables, and pulmonary artery size were similar. Interstage death, transplant, or unplanned reintervention to treat cyanosis occurred in 25.7% of DAS and 35.8% of BTS,
P
=0.27. Reintervention was more common with DAS (48.6% versus 2.2%;
P
<0.001). Twenty-three DAS patients and 111 BTS patients underwent SCPC. Preoperative hemodynamics and overall pulmonary artery growth were similar, although right pulmonary artery growth was better with DAS (change in
z
-score: 1.57 versus 0.65,
P
=0.026). SCPC intraoperative and postoperative courses were similar.

Conclusions:

In patients with single-ventricle anatomy and ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow, interstage outcomes, hemodynamics before SCPC, and acute postoperative outcomes were similar. Overall reintervention was more common in the DAS group, driven by more frequent planned reintervention. Unplanned reintervention, death, and transplant were similar. Both groups demonstrated good pulmonary artery growth. DAS is a reasonable initial palliative alternative to BTS in select patients.
Discovery of a new species of Anolis lizards from Brazil and its implications for the historical biogeography of montane Atlantic Forest endemics
Authors: Prates Ivan , Melo-Sampaio Paulo Roberto , de Queiroz Kevin , Carnaval Ana Carolina , Rodrigues Miguel Trefaut , de Oliveira Drummond Leandro
Published: October 2019

Recent biological discoveries have changed our understanding of the distribution and evolution of neotropical biotas. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, the discovery of closely related species isolated on distant mountains has led to the hypothesis that the ancestors of montane species occupied and dispersed through lowland regions during colder periods. This process may explain the distribution of an undescribed Anolis lizard species that we recently discovered at a montane site in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, a popular tourist destination close to the city of Rio de Janeiro. To investigate whether this species is closely related to other Atlantic Forest montane anoles, we implement phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimation based on molecular data. We infer the new species nested within the Dactyloa clade of Anolis, forming a clade with A. nasofrontalis and A. pseudotigrinus, two species restricted to montane sites about 400 km northeast of Serra dos Órgãos. The new species diverged from its sister A. nasofrontalis around 5.24 mya, suggesting a cold-adapted lowland ancestor during the early Pliocene. Based on the phylogenetic results, we emend the definitions of the series taxa within Dactyloa, recognizing a clade containing the new species and several of its relatives as the nasofrontalis series. Lastly, we provide morphological data supporting the recognition of the new species and give it a formal scientific name. Future studies are necessary to assess how park visitors, pollutants, and shrinking montane habitats due to climate change will affect this previously overlooked anole species.
Synopsis and typification of the names published by Antonio Bertoloni in Florula Guatimalensis and in preceding publications

Authors: BALDINI RICCARDO M. , MACVEAN ANA LUCRECIA , CRISTOFOLINI GIOVANNI , DANIEL THOMAS F. , MANAGLIA ANNALISA , GALLONI MARTA
Published: October 2019

Bertoloni published Florula guatimalensis in 1840, which is commonly cited as the original publication. However, our findings show that previous publications of Alessandrini of 1838 and 1840 include the original descriptions by Bertoloni which predate Florula guatimalensis. Among the 60 new taxa authored by Bertoloni, 26 were published in 1838 and 34 in 1840 by Alessandrini. Additionally, original drawings were discovered inside an old copy of Bertoloni’s Florula guatimalensis. Also a comparison between the original material from Bertoloni’s herbarium and his original drawings is here reported for the first time. The collection of Guatemalan plants studied by Antonio Bertoloni preserved at BOLO was analysed and is here discussed. The new combinations Odontonema corymbulosum and Lamourouxia barbata are proposed. A neotype for Aristolochia podocarpa and an epitype for Philadelphus myrtoides are here designated.
Energy Efficient Recursive Clustering and Gathering in Big Data for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Subaselvi S. , Manimekalai T. , Gunaseelan K.
Published: October 2019

Big data is one of the emerging technology in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). Gathering of data is the biggest challenge for implementing big data in WSN. In WSN, the frequent information communications between the nodes are inevitable. Moreover, the long distance communication between
the nodes in the network lead to reduction in the lifetime of the nodes. In order to reduce communication distance between the nodes and to efficiently gather large amount of data. Energy Efficient Recursive Clustering and Gathering for big data in WSN is proposed. In proposed algorithm, the
grid area will be divided into zones. The zones are divided by finding the minimum and maximum X and Y from the nodes location and distribution of nodes in the network. In each zone, clusters are formed in recursive manner. After the clusters are formed in recursive manner, for
every cluster, the Cluster Administrator are elected based on the maximum energy among the nodes in the cluster. Once the Cluster Administrators are elected, the Cluster Administrator which has the maximum energy in the Zone, will be elected as a Cluster Head. The Cluster Head only send the
information for a particular zone. Energy consumption will be reduced as the cluster head only sends the information to the base station, instead of every nodes in the zone. The localization algorithm based on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and multi hop routing is performed to
reduce end-to-end delay in the network. The simulated results show that the proposed algorithm gathers large amount of data with low energy consumption than the existing algorithm.
Is Emerging Adulthood a New Developmental Phase?
Authors: Gilmore Karen
Published: October 2019

In 2000, Jeffrey Arnett, a developmental research psychologist, proposed a new phase of development that he called “emerging adulthood.” He delineated developmental challenges centered on identity, role exploration, and subjective experience and linked his observations to changes in the demographics and culture of contemporary society. This proposal elicited an extraordinary response in the research community, but the reaction among psychoanalysts has been tepid at best: developmental phases have not been amended for almost a century, and in some schools the very notion of such phases has been discredited. Adult development has historically attracted mostly lifespan psychoanalysts, and the concept of identity has never achieved full psychoanalytic status. But both adulthood and identity merit psychoanalytic legitimacy: adulthood because it looms in the mind as a meaningful endpoint that shapes earlier stages, and identity because it is a complex, organizing aspect of self-representation. The concept of emerging adulthood, too, has sufficient validity and heuristic value to be considered a developmental phase, provided we loosen our fixed ideas about what constitutes “developmental” and take a fresh look at the sweep of human development as it is shaping up in a transformed world.
Time, Money, and Punishment: Institutional Racial-Ethnic Inequalities in Pretrial Detention and Case Outcomes
Authors: Martinez Brandon P. , Petersen Nick , Omori Marisa
Published: October 2019

While prior research finds that pretrial detention has downstream consequences for racial inequalities in conviction and sentencing, it is often conceptualized as a discrete event within the criminal justice system. This study instead argues that pretrial detention operates as a racial-ethnic stratification process across time. We assess whether temporal and monetary dimensions of pretrial produce and reinforce racial-ethnic disparities in pretrial and subsequent case outcomes. Results indicate that time and money significantly stratify defendants by race and ethnicity, where bond amounts increase time detained, and that time detained in turn reinforces racial inequalities in conviction and incarceration. Indicative of cumulative understandings of inequality, our study shows how time and money in pretrial detention perpetuate inequalities in the criminal justice system.
Smart peacekeeping: Deploying Canadian women for a better peace?
Authors: Biskupski-Mujanovic Sandra
Published: October 2019

Canada announced its renewed commitment to United Nations peacekeeping with a special mission to increase the representation of women through the Elsie Initiative. That announcement marks a crucial time to examine peacekeeping as a gendered project that requires reflection on power and inequality between states and peacekeepers through an intersectional analysis that pays attention to gender and race. The major justification for increasing the number of women in peacekeeping operations has remained instrumental: deploying more women will lead to kinder, gentler, less abusive, and more efficient missions. However, there is little empirical evidence to support these claims. This paper looks at Canadian peacekeeping and arguments for women’s increased representation in peacekeeping operations for improved operational effectiveness as a “smart” peacekeeping strategy. It looks at the contradictions and controversies in Canadian peacekeeping and gender and smart peacekeeping that includes the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in general and within Canada, operational effectiveness claims, militarized masculinity, and militarized femininity. Without qualitative empirical data from Canadian women peacekeepers themselves, smart peacekeeping claims, which “add women and stir,” are largely anecdotal and do not adequately facilitate meaningful change.
Does formal strategic planning matter? An analysis of strategic management and perceived usefulness in Norwegian municipalities
Authors: Johnsen Åge
Published: October 2019

This article assesses whether municipal managers perceive strategic planning as most useful when integrated into mandatory area or financial-planning processes or conducted in processes with separate strategic planning documents. Despite being widely adopted in practice and being extensively debated in scholarly discourse for decades, current research has little empirical grounding for providing advice for policymakers and public managers on such common design choices. Multiple regression analysis of 128 Norwegian municipalities shows that using a voluntary separate strategic planning document was related to top management’s perceived usefulness of strategic planning. Integrating strategic planning into other management processes was also related to the perceived usefulness of strategic planning. Unexpectedly, using mandatory planning documents (such as four-year financial plans and long-term area plans) as the main strategic planning documents, formality and stakeholder involvement in the planning processes were not related to the perceived usefulness of strategic planning.

Points for practitioners

Planning, and in particular formal strategic planning, is often criticized both by scholars and practitioners as being useless when the environments are uncertain and turbulent, and for draining the organizations’ resources from other important management tasks. This article shows that many municipalities voluntarily produced separate strategic planning documents and that municipal top management found these plans more useful than using mandatory financial plans or area plans as their main strategic planning documents.
Oh Darling, This Too Shall Pass: Cyclic Perceptions of Change Keep You in Romantic Relationships Longer During Difficult Times
Authors: Hong Emily K. , Choi Incheol
Published: October 2019

The present research explored how individual differences in perceptions of change (cyclic vs. linear) influence relational decisions. Three studies examined whether cyclic perceptions of change, a central feature of holistic thinking, keep people in romantic relationships longer due to the belief that hardships too shall pass. Study 1 found that cyclic perceivers reported greater endurance against relational transgressions than linear perceivers. In Studies 2a and 2b, cyclic perceivers reported fewer breakups in romantic relationships (Study 2a) and showed less willingness to break up (Study 2b) than linear perceivers due to their stronger relational endurance. Through a longitudinal examination, Study 3 evidenced that cyclic perceivers were more likely to remain in romantic relationships than linear perceivers over 1 year. The current studies provide new insight into how individual differences in perceptions of change contribute to decision-making in romantic relationships.
Existential–Jungian Analysis: Reconciling the Personal and Archetypal Realms in the Consulting Room
Authors: Vahdani Roshanak , Phillips Max
Published: October 2019

C. G. Jung’s openness to the transcendent nature of the psyche has appealed to those seeking an alternative to the more ego-centered approach promoted by traditional Freudian psychoanalysis. Yet despite the significant philosophical implications of Jung’s ideas, he always emphasized their pragmatic and clinical nature: helping grapple with neuroses/psychoses and sundry symptoms borne of mental conflict. While abstract concepts from analytical psychology provide a useful schema to make sense of suffering, such theoretical conceptualizations can, when dogmatically misapplied in the consulting room, permit both analyst and patient to by-pass the concrete existential reality of the analytic relationship. The ability and willingness to be fully present to the angst of both patient and “self-as-therapist” is perhaps the most essential aspect of existential psychotherapy. In this article, the authors propose a concordance between existentialist and Jungian approaches that positions the work of analysis as a creative engagement with patients’ subjective experiences without avoiding or diminishing the here-and-now experience of the therapeutic encounter, arguing that such cross-fertilization could offer an integrative form of treatment more faithful to the unique existence of each individual and analytic pair than either approach on its own.
A Developmental Examination of Narrative Writing in EL and EL1 School Children Who Are Typical Readers, Poor Decoders, or Poor Comprehenders
Authors: Herbert Katherine E. D. , Massey-Garrison Angela , Geva Esther
Published: October 2019

This longitudinal study examined story-writing development of students from Grade 4 to Grade 6, comparing the developmental trajectories of English as a first language (EL1s; n = 43) and English learners (ELs; n = 108) in general, and in groups of EL1s and ELs with typically developing and poor reader profiles. In relation to their EL1 or EL reference group, students were classified in Grade 4 as typical readers ( n = 72), poor decoders ( n = 53), or poor comprehenders ( n = 26), with EL1s and ELs proportionally represented in each group. The effects of language, grade level, and reading group on story-writing measures were examined. Both EL1s and ELs developed story-writing skills in a similar manner, showing significant growth between Grades 4 and 6. Typically developing ELs attained age-appropriate story-writing levels. Poor decoders and poor comprehenders showed similar profiles of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of whether English was their first or second language. Both poor reader groups had significant difficulties in story-writing, struggling with the mechanics of writing, sentence structure, and story organization. Findings are discussed in terms of the interconnected relationship between reading and writing profiles, and the importance of a comprehensive understanding of sources of learning difficulties in ELs and EL1s.
Analysis of Math Test Score Gap Between White and Non-White Students in Brazilian Public Schools: SAEB 2015
Authors: Becker Kalinca Léia , Arends-Kuenning Mary Paula
Published: October 2019

This study aims to analyze and decompose the gap between White and non-White students’ test scores observed in the Brazilian National Evaluation System of Basic Education (SAEB)—2015. To do so, proficiency equations were estimated for each student race group (White, Brown, Black, and Indigenous) using the recentered influence function method, which generalizes the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition to any point in the grade distribution. The proficiency of White students is higher than the other groups of students, and this difference increases throughout the distribution. Black students exhibit the lowest average test score, behind the Indigenous and then the Brown students. At the lower and middle levels of the math test score distribution, the racial gap is mainly due to the characteristics effect, which represents the part of the proficiency differential that is explained by the differences in observable characteristics of students. However, the gap at the upper level of grade distribution is mainly due the structural effect, which results from non-observable issues, such as discrimination and stereotype threats.
Preparation of boron nitride nanosheets using a chemical exfoliation method as a thermal conductive filler for the development of silicone thermal composites Part I: effect of single- and hybrid-filler additions on the silicone composite performance
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Chen Jiong-Bo , Chen Po-Yen , Dong Min-Yan
Published: October 2019

This study developed a nano-size filler as a thermally conductive filler for a silicone thermal pad (STP) by exfoliating hexagonal-boron nitride ( h-BN) with the chemical exfoliation-free radical polymerization method to produce boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs). We used N,N-dimethylacrylamide as the intercalation agent. After polymerization, it became poly( N,N-dimethylacrylamide) to exfoliate the h-BN layer. BNNSs were taken as a single-filler and hybrid-fillers with Al2O3 and then compared with h-BN to investigate their effect on the silicone composite properties. As the free radical polymerization reaction time increased, the interlayer distance of BNNSs lengthened to 0.35 nm, while the thickness of h-BN sheets decreased. The X-ray diffractometer results showed how the h-BN (002) crystal plane was enhanced and displaced. The Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that the characteristic peaks of 1372 and 812 cm−1 were enhanced, and the Raman results showed that the E2 g displacement and full width at half maximum increased, thus validating the successful preparation of BNNSs. Based on the scanning electron microscope-transmission electron microscope results, BNNSs with 24-hour reaction time offered the best results with a thickness of 5 nm. The highest thermal conductivity reached 3.66 W m−1 K−1 with the addition of 50 wt% BNNSs, and tensile strength of up to 11.30 kg/cm2. Hybrid-fillers showed enhancement of thermal conductivity to 5.28 W m−1 K−1 and tensile strength to 7.32 kg cm−2. Finally, the STP showed that the volume resistance (>1010 Ω cm), withstand voltage (>10 kV mm−1), and flame resistance (V-0) of the STP prepared by this study comply with the industrial application specifications.
Experimental study of the pomelo peel powder as novel shale inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wu Xiaoming , Sun Yujie , Cai Jihua , Lyu Shuaifeng
Published: October 2019

The hydration and swelling of shale is a persistent challenge in the drilling of oil and gas wells. Many methods of reducing shale hydration and swelling have been developed; however, most of them are high-cost or release pollutants. In this study, we explored the use of pomelo peel powder as a novel additive to water-based drilling fluids for inhibiting shale hydration swelling in an environmentally sustainable manner. We compared the performance of the drilling fluid containing pomelo peel powder to that of traditional shale inhibitors, such as potassium chloride and polyamine. Moreover, hydration inhibition, bentonite precipitation dynamic linear expansion, rolling recovery, and adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of the pomelo peel powder on shale. The results show that the pomelo peel powder solution with a mass fraction of 1% and an optimised particle size of over 160 mesh was acidic, could prevent shale collapse, and could reduce mud loss by filtration. The rolling recovery of shale cuttings reached 95% with the addition of pomelo peel powder, and the powder could also inhibit the hydration of bentonite, prevent clay minerals from dispersing in a solution, and reduce the expansion of bentonite. The inhibitory effect of the powder was slightly worse than that of potassium chloride and polyamine; however, the difference was not significant. The anti-swelling mechanism of pomelo peel powder was then analysed, and we found that fresh pomelo peel powder contains a high number of active substances that reduce the filtration of mud, improve its rheological properties, and hinder the hydration and expansion of clay. Pomelo peel is available worldwide and is easy to obtain as a shale inhibitor. Thus, using pomelo peel powder can effectively alleviate ecological pressure and reduce environmental pollution.
Parenting Aspiration among Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities in Mexico, and Its Association with Internalized Homo/Transnegativity and Connectedness to the LGBTQ Community
Authors: Salinas-Quiroz Fernando , Costa Pedro Alexandre , Lozano-Verduzco Ignacio
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine parenting aspiration among a sample of 1,995 childless cisgender, transgender, monosexual (gay/lesbian), and plurisexual (bisexual/pansexual/queer) Mexican individuals, which were compared according to their gender identity (cisgender vs. transgender) and sexual orientation (monosexual vs. plurisexual). For monosexual individuals, only being in a relationship and gender were significantly associated with parenting aspiration whereas for plurisexual individuals, gender, LGBTQ community connectedness, and internalized homo/transnegativity were associated with parenting aspiration. Plurisexual women and transgender individuals reported the lowest level of parenting aspiration, significantly differing from plurisexual men, who reported the highest. Nevertheless, the average score on parenting aspiration was low for the sample as a whole. These findings are discussed in light of Mexico’s current social context and political transformations around family and gender.
Get out of trouble during redo surgery for false aneurysm of the ascending aorta
Authors: Greco Ernesto , Santamaria Valeria , D’Abramo Mizar , Totaro Marco , Frati Giacomo , Miraldi Fabio
Published: October 2019

Postoperative thoracic aortic false aneurysm is a challenging complication of aortic surgery. We describe our surgical approach for an 8-cm thoracic aorta false aneurysm in a 59-year-old woman who had previously undergone aortic surgery. Surgery must be planned carefully because massive hemorrhage during resternotomy is a dreadful complication of postoperative false aneurysm surgery. We decided to start cardiopulmonary bypass before resternotomy and use a ventricular vent from the apex, an endo-vent from the pulmonary artery, and an endo-balloon with antegrade blood cardioplegia. We successfully performed the procedure without profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest and with a low risk of hemorrhage.
Imitation learning for agile autonomous driving
Authors: Pan Yunpeng , Cheng Ching-An , Saigol Kamil , Lee Keuntaek , Yan Xinyan , Theodorou Evangelos A , Boots Byron
Published: October 2019

We present an end-to-end imitation learning system for agile, off-road autonomous driving using only low-cost on-board sensors. By imitating a model predictive controller equipped with advanced sensors, we train a deep neural network control policy to map raw, high-dimensional observations to continuous steering and throttle commands. Compared with recent approaches to similar tasks, our method requires neither state estimation nor on-the-fly planning to navigate the vehicle. Our approach relies on, and experimentally validates, recent imitation learning theory. Empirically, we show that policies trained with online imitation learning overcome well-known challenges related to covariate shift and generalize better than policies trained with batch imitation learning. Built on these insights, our autonomous driving system demonstrates successful high-speed off-road driving, matching the state-of-the-art performance.
Changes in Pharyngeal Airway After Mandibular Setback Surgery: A Retrospective Cephalometric Study
Authors: Daryanani Jayshree D. , Vijay N. , Shetty K. Sadashiva , Chawla Riddhi
Published: October 2019

Aim: To cephalometrically evaluate the alterations taking place in the pharyngeal airway space, hyoid bone, soft palate, and head posture after mandibular setback surgery (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy) for correction of mandibular prognathism, as well as to evaluate the immediate postsurgical and more than 6 months postsurgical adaptations of these structures.

Setting and Design: A retrospective cephalometric study.

Materials and Method: The study group consisted of 40 nongrowing patients (20 females and 20 males) with mandibular prognathism and ANB less than or equal to –2 degree for which mandibular setback surgery by bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy was performed along with fixed appliance therapy. There presurgical (T1), immediate postsurgical (T2), and more than 6 months postsurgical (T3) lateral cephalograms were analyzed.

Statistical Analysis Used: Intragroup comparison was done by paired t-test.

Results: Skeletal measurements after orthognathic surgery remained stable in the long term. It was evident that mandibular setback surgery narrowed the pharyngeal airway; however, these changes were not significant except at the base of the tongue. During the follow-up airway measurements at the base of the tongue, the intersection of tongue at the inferior border of mandible and the vallecula increased but they did not reach the presurgical values. Soft palate length increased significantly after surgery. Angulation of soft palate to nasal line also increased significantly following surgery but decreased during follow-up. Extension of the head occurred after surgery which was maintained even at long term.

Conclusion: Careful analysis of airway should be performed, particularly in connection with large anteroposterior discrepancies and in those who have risk factors for development of obstructive sleep apnea. Such cases should be corrected by combined maxillary and mandibular osteotomies.
Spatiotemporal effects of wastewater ponds from a geoenvironmental perspective in the Kharga region, Egypt
Authors: Darwish Mahmoud H , Galal Wael F
Published: October 2019

One of the major geoenvironmental problems in the Kharga region arises from the haphazard exploitation of groundwater resources and sewage dumping, which have resulted in wastewater accumulation in the form of ponds. The impact of the spatial expansion of wastewater ponds in Kharga and the surrounding area has been so pervasive that ponds have become a source of environmental degradation. These ponds are distributed throughout the area, but the major lakes are located in the eastern and southeastern provinces. The water levels of these ponds are rising at a remarkable rate, especially in the winter, when there is no evaporation and rainfall can lead to overflows that flow towards cities, villages and farmlands. As a result of untreated sewage inflows, all the low surrounding spaces are at high risk of being influenced by these ponds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the spatiotemporal threats posed by wastewater ponds and develop a conceptual model to estimate the geoenvironmental impacts on the surrounding areas. GIS and remote sensing were used to process all available geological, topographical, hydrogeological, hydrological, land use and environmental data. The pond expansion trend was estimated from Landsat time series from 1984 to 2018, and the results indicated that the wastewater bodies continuously increased and the land cover percentage decreased. The encroachment of wastewater ponds has resulted in extensive land cover disturbances in recent years, and land use change has affected nearly 2.5% of the region. The complexity of the problems associated with wastewater ponds in the Kharga district requires a comprehensive management plan that is effective in not only maintaining the stability of the ponds but also in improving the sociocultural and economic conditions around the ponds. Specifically, the wastewater drainage and accumulation system should be managed according to the surrounding functional context.
Assessing impact of risk perception and environmental regulation on household carcass waste recycling behaviour in China
Authors: Si Ruishi , Wang Meizhi , Lu Qian , Zhang Shuxia
Published: October 2019

Carcass waste recycling exerts an important influence on preventing epidemic diseases, improving the ecological environment, and promoting sustainable development of the livestock industry although it has rarely aroused widespread attention throughout the world. Based on the data of 470 households engaged in breeding pigs in Hebei, Henan, and Hubei, China, and considering dead pigs as an example, this study employed the Double Hurdle model to assess impact of risk perception on household dead pig recycling behaviour and further tested the moderating effects of environmental regulation on the impact of risk perception on household dead pig recycling behaviour. The results show that: (1) Risk perception has a positive and significant influence on household dead pig recycling behaviour; however, this influence is mainly caused by households’ production and public health safety risk perceptions. Food and ecological safety risk perceptions have no significant influence on household dead pig recycling behaviour. (2) Environmental regulation has enhanced moderating effects on the impact of risk perception on household dead pig recycling behaviour, but the moderating effects mainly arose from imperative, guiding, and voluntary regulations. A moderating effect of incentive regulation is not obvious. (3) The moderating effects of environmental regulations present strong heterogeneity when different breeding scales and recycling technical attributes are considered. Finally, some policy implications, such as improving households’ risk perception level, enhancing environmental regulation intensity, and classifying to formulate measures, are proposed.