bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is high-sensitivity troponin, alone or in combination with copeptin, sensitive enough for ruling out NSTEMI in very early presenters at admission? A post hoc analysis performed in emergency departments
Authors: Chenevier-Gobeaux Camille , Sebbane Mustapha , Meune Christophe , Lefebvre Sophie , Dupuy Anne-Marie , Lefèvre Guillaume , Peschanski Nicolas , Ray Patrick
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Copeptin and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (HS-cTn) assays improve the early detection of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Their sensitivities may, however, be reduced in very early presenters.

Setting

We performed a post hoc analysis of three prospective studies that included patients who presented to the emergency department for chest pain onset (CPO) of less than 6 hours.

Participants

449 patients were included, in whom 12% had NSTEMI. CPO occurred <2 hours from ED presentation in 160, between 2 and 4 hours in 143 and >4 hours in 146 patients. The prevalence of NSTEMI was similar in all groups (9%, 13% and 12%, respectively, p=0.281).

Measures

Diagnostic performances of HS-cTn and copeptin at presentation were examined according to CPO. The discharge diagnosis was adjudicated by two experts, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI). HS-cTn and copeptin were blindly measured.

Results

Diagnostic accuracies of cTnI, cTnI +copeptin and HS-cardiac troponin T (HS-cTnT) (but not HS-cTnT +copeptin) lower through CPO categories. For patients with CPO <2 hours, the choice of a threshold value of 14 ng/L for HS-cTnT resulted in three false negative (Sensitivity 80%(95% CI 51% to 95%); specificity 85% (95% CI 78% to 90%); 79% of correctly ruled out patients) and that of 5 ng/L in two false negative (sensitivity 87% (95% CI 59% to 98%); specificity 58% (95% CI 50% to 66%); 52% of correctly ruled out patients). The addition of copeptin to HS-cTnT induced a decrease of misclassified patients to 1 in patients with CPO <2 hours (sensitivity 93% (95% CI 66% to 100%); specificity 41% (95% CI 33% to 50%)).

Conclusion

A single measurement of HS-cTn, alone or in combination with copeptin at admission, seems not safe enough for ruling out NSTEMI in very early presenters (with CPO <2 hours).

Trial registration number

DC-2009–1052
Losing the wait: improving patient cycle time in primary care
Authors: Robinson Jehni , Porter Melody , Montalvo Yara , Peden Carol J
Published: May 2020

Inefficient clinic systems leading to prolonged wait times at primary care clinics are a source of frustration for patients, physicians, staff and administration. Measuring and shortening cycle time has the potential to improve patient experience, staff satisfaction and patient access by moving more patients through in a shorter cycle time. Limited studies have demonstrated that improvements can be made to cycle time and may result in improved patient satisfaction. Most of these studies have focused their efforts on improving efficiency at the front end of the cycle. Our aim was to improve cycle time for the whole visit to less than 60 min within 1 year by engaging our team in brainstorming solutions, presenting regular measurements to our team for review and holding regular meetings to plan rapid improvement cycles. Over the course of 1 year (2017), we were able to reduce cycle time by 12% from 71 to 65 min and to improve patient satisfaction with care. Despite the reduction in cycle time, we maintained high satisfaction scores from patients who felt that the doctor spent enough time with them. We learnt the value of engaging our team, frequent measurement for reporting, adequate staffing at the beginning of clinic, and the value of MA staff acting in a flow coordinator role. We have not only maintained this improvement but also made further small gains over the subsequent 2 years, and by April 2019, our cycle time is at 60 min, despite a marked increase in patient volume. Additional work on the time after the patient is roomed and waiting for a doctor, and further analysis of the physician workflow would be important next steps to drive further improvement.
Improving the paediatric surgery patient experience: an 8-year analysis of narrative quality data
Authors: Robillard Julie M , Bourne Stephanie C , Tam Mallorie T , Page Patricia M , Lamb Elizabeth A , Gogal Carmina , Skarsgard Erik D , Afshar Kourosh
Published: May 2020

Background

Narrative data about the patient experience of surgery can help healthcare professionals and administrators better understand the needs of patients and their families as well as provide a foundation for improvement of procedures, processes and services. However, units often lack a methodological framework to analyse these data empirically and derive key areas for improvement. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) is aimed at improving the quality of surgical care by collecting patient data and reporting risk-adjusted surgical outcomes for each participant hospital in the programme. Though qualitative data about patient experience are captured as part of the NSQIP database, to date no framework or methodology has been proposed, or reported on, to analyse these data for the purposes of quality improvement. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using content analysis to empirically derive key areas for quality improvement from a sample of 3601 narrative comments about paediatric surgery from patients and families at British Columbia Children’s Hospital.

Study design

Thematic content analysis conducted on a total of 3601 patient and family narratives received between 2011 and 2018.

Results

Overall satisfaction with care was high and experiences with healthcare providers at the hospital were positive. Areas for improvement were identified in the themes of health outcomes, communication and surgery timelines. Results informed follow-up interprofessional quality improvement initiatives.

Conclusions

Recording and analysing patient experience data as part of validated quality improvement programmes such as ACS NSQIP can provide valuable and actionable information to improve quality of care.
Preventing lower extremity injury in elite orienteerers: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: von Rosen Philip , Halvarsson Bodil
Published: May 2020

Background

The high physical load associated with running through uneven terrain contributes toorienteerers being exposed to high injury risk, where the majority of injuries are located in the lower extremities. Specific training programmes have been effective at reducing injury risk in sports. Yet no trial has been conducted in elite orienteering. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a specific training programme in preventing lower extremity injury in adult elite orienteerers.

Study design

Randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

Seventy-two Swedish elite orienteerers, aged 18–40 years, are allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group performs four specific exercises, with three difficult levels intensified every second week over the first 4 weeks, targeting strength, flexibility and coordination of the lower extremity. The exercises are completed four times a week (10 min per session) in conjunction with normal training over 14 weeks. Injury data are collected every second week using a valid injury questionnaire distributed by text messages over 14 weeks. The primary outcome is number of substantial injuries in the lower extremity. The secondary outcomes are incidence of ankle sprains and the average substantial injury prevalence across 14 weeks.

Discussion

Due to high injury risk and lack of injury prevention trials in orienteering, an RCT investigating the effect of a specific exercise programme in preventing lower extremity injury is warranted. The results of this trial will be beneficial to orienteerers, clubs and federations, and increase our understanding on how lower extremity injuries can be prevented in a physically challenging sport.

Trial registration number

NCT03408925.
Use of non-operative treatment and interval cholecystectomy for cholecystitis in patients with cancer
Authors: Santos David , Ledet Celia Robinson , Limmer Angela , Gibson Heather , Badgwell Brian
Published: May 2020

Background

Early cholecystectomy (EC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) is standard. Often patients with cancer are not EC candidates and require non-surgical treatments. We analyzed factors associated with non-surgical treatments and progression to interval cholecystectomy (IC).

Materials and methods

We performed a case–control study reviewing consults for AC from 2001 to 2017 in a tertiary cancer center. Study patients had cancer, abdominal pain, and positive imaging studies. Univariate analysis and regression modeling evaluated associations between non-surgical management, resolution of AC, and IC.

Results

206 patients met the criteria. 20 underwent EC, 132 took antibiotics (ABX), and were treated with 54 percutaneous cholecystostomy tubes (PCTs). AC resolution was higher with PCT versus ABX (94% vs. 80%, p=0.02). Univariate analysis revealed higher absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) and longer length of stay in PCT, and logistic regression revealed independent associations of abdominal malignancy (OR=6.66, 95% CI 1.36 to 32.6, p=0.09), abdominal radiation (OR=0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.53, p<0.01), and PCT with resolution of AC (OR=4.89, 95% CI 1.18 to 20.2, p=0.01). IC rate was 43%, and median time to IC after was 45 to 67 days. Multivariate analysis revealed nausea/vomiting and increasing platelets are independently associated with IC. Recent chemotherapy increases odds of IC in the presence of rising ANC (OR=1.14, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.30, p=0.05).

Conclusion

PCT has a higher success rate of resolving AC than ABX. Abdominal malignancy increases odds of resolution; abdominal radiation decreases odds. Nausea/vomiting and recent chemotherapy, coupled with rising ANC are associated with IC, but less than 50% of patients return for operation. PCT may not be a bridge to IC in our population.

Level of evidenceII.
Trianionic binucleating bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands and their lithium, magnesium, and zinc complexes
Authors: Zhong Tingshan , Zhao Jixing , Lei Hao
Published: May 2020

A series of lithium complexes with trianionic bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands were prepared by triple deprotonation of phenols with two ortho-diarylmethyl substituents. Transmetalation with one of the lithium complexes via salt metathesis resulted in the synthesis of corresponding Mg and Zn complexes, which showed distinct coordination stoichiometry and structures. The metal complexes were characterized by multi-nuclear NMR, UV–vis, and infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, the redox property of a trilithium compound was investigated by electrochemical methods. X-ray crystallography revealed that the new bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands could simultaneously bind to two nearby metal centers both in chelating κ2-O,C fashion, making themselves rare examples of tridentate binucleating alkyl/aryloxo scaffolds.
A New Method for Predicting Ground Settlement Induced by Pipe Jacking Construction
Authors: Niu Zelin , Cheng Yun , Zhang Yuwei , Song Zhanping , Yang Guiyang , Li Hui
Published: May 2020

Pipe jacking technology has the advantages of fast construction speed, high economic benefit, and small impact on the urban environment, and mechanical vibration and mechanical soil interaction will lead to the settlement of upper part of pipe jacking and surrounding soil. So, the solution of soil settlement problem is of great significance for underground engineering construction. The soil loss, additional stress, and friction during the construction of rectangular pipe jacking are the main factors that cause the surface settlement. Aiming at the problem of surface settlement caused by pipe jacking in no. 6 subway in Kunming, the formation deformation caused by additional stress and friction force on excavation surface during pipe jacking process was analyzed by Mindlin’s displacement solution, and the formation deformation caused by soil loss was analyzed by random medium theory. Considering the independence of the three influencing factors, the superposition of the three types of stratum deformation was the superposition model of surface settlement, and the model was compared with the empirical method and the measured settlement data to verify its practicability and reliability. The results showed that the surface vertical settlement curve was roughly in the shape of “S,” which can be divided into uplift occurrence area, sensitive settlement area, stable settlement area, and rebound settlement area. Friction force and additional stress caused the uplift of stratum in the front of construction area, and soil loss caused the subsidence of stratum in the rear of construction area. Rectangular pipe jacking in weak stratum caused the soil to move towards the excavation surface, easily causing micro-overexcavation.
Development of Screen-Printed Electrode Biosensor for Rapid Determination of Triglyceride Content in Coconut Milk
Authors: Manoj D. , Auddy Ishita , Nimbkar Shubham , Chittibabu S. , Shanmugasundaram S.
Published: May 2020

The screen-printed electrode biosensor was developed for triglyceride determination in coconut milk. The biosensor was developed by adding lipase, glycerol-3-phosphate (GPO), and glycerol kinase (GK), which is immobilized to a gelatin solution. The concentration of triglyceride is found to be linear to the current produced. The developed screen-printed electrode biosensor showed the optimum response for pH 7.0, 45 mg amount of gelatin, 2.5% glutaraldehyde concentration solution. The developed biosensor was able to find triolein concentrations 0.1 to 1.5 mM. The correlation obtained between these two methods was 93% which was found to be good.
Community Involvement and Perceptions of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Strategy for Improving Health Outcomes in Ghana: Quantitative Comparative Evidence from Two System Learning Districts of the CHPS+ Project
Authors: Kweku Margaret , Amu Hubert , Adjuik Martin , Manu Emmanuel , Aku Fortress Yayra , Tarkang Elvis Enowbeyang , Komesuor Joyce , Asalu Geoffrey Adebayo , Amuna Norbert Ndaah , Boateng Laud Ampomah , Alornyo Justine Sefakor , Glover Roland , Bawah Ayaga A. , Letsa Timothy , Awoonor-Williams John Koku , Kachur S. Patrick , Phillips James F. , Gyapong John Owusu
Published: May 2020

Background. The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative is Ghana’s flagship strategy for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Community involvement in and perceptions of CHPS capacity to improve health outcomes of communities are examined. Methods. This community-based descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 1008 adults aged 18 years and above in two System Learning Districts of the CHPS+ project. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results. The level of community involvement in CHPS activities was 48.9% of the population studied. The overall level of positive perception of CHPS services was 51.7%. Community members who were involved in identifying resources (AOR = 1.86 (95% CI = 1.17, 2.97), p=0.009), organising durbars (AOR = 2.09 (95% CI = 1.12, 3.88), p=0.020), and preparing sites for outreach services (AOR = 3.76 (95% CI = 2.23, 6.34), p<0.001) were significantly more likely to have positive perceptions of the relevance of CHPS to improving the health status of communities compared to those who were uninvolved. Conclusion. The level of community involvement in CHPS services is low. Ghana may not be able to attain the UHC goal by 2030 through CHPS implementation unless its level of community involvement is markedly improved. Ghana’s health sector stakeholders should implement community engagement mechanisms that foster improved worker outreach, expanded use of community gatherings, and more active participation of traditional leaders and grassroots political representatives.
Abstraction and Association: Cross-Modal Retrieval Based on Consistency between Semantic Structures
Authors: Zheng Qibin , Ren Xiaoguang , Liu Yi , Qin Wei
Published: May 2020

Cross-modal retrieval aims to find relevant data of different modalities, such as images and text. In order to bridge the modality gap, most existing methods require a lot of coupled sample pairs as training data. To reduce the demands for training data, we propose a cross-modal retrieval framework that utilizes both coupled and uncoupled samples. The framework consists of two parts: Abstraction that aims to provide high-level single-modal representations with uncoupled samples; then, Association links different modalities through a few coupled training samples. Moreover, under this framework, we implement a cross-modal retrieval method based on the consistency between the semantic structure of multiple modalities. First, both images and text are represented with the semantic structure-based representation, which represents each sample as its similarity from the reference points that are generated from single-modal clustering. Then, the reference points of different modalities are aligned through an active learning strategy. Finally, the cross-modal similarity can be measured with the consistency between the semantic structures. The experiment results demonstrate that given proper abstraction of single-modal data, the relationship between different modalities can be simplified, and even limited coupled cross-modal training data are sufficient for satisfactory retrieval accuracy.
Modelling the Diffusion of Investment Decisions on Modular Social Networks
Authors: Cheng Xiaokang , Zhao Narisa
Published: May 2020

In the financial market, information and investment behaviors disseminate in investor social networks, and different contagion patterns may cause diverse investment trends. Prior studies have investigated the impact of investor social networks, but few have considered community structure. In this paper, we study the impact of the community structure of investor social networks on the diffusion of internet investment products. A two-stage diffusion model is proposed, and the clustering coefficient and modularity of an investor social network are considered. The results show that both modularity and the clustering coefficient have an impact on the diffusion velocity and scale and that the impact is most evident at the stage of explosive growth. The negative influence of a large modularity can be hardly mitigated by adjusting other factors. Furthermore, a decrease in modularity and an increase in the clustering coefficient can better facilitate diffusion when the temporary investment rate is high and can partly offset the negative impact of information discarding and divestment.
Influence of Fluid on Seal and Assembly of Pipeline Fittings Based on the Multiscale Finite Element Model
Authors: Yan Yangyang , Fan Yaping
Published: May 2020

Pipeline fittings with ferrules are applied to connect sections of hydraulic pipelines in aircraft, and their reliability and stability are essential. This paper aims at investigating the influence of internal fluid on the sealing characteristics of pipeline fittings by employing the multiscale model. Changes in the sealing characteristics induced by the fluid pressure switch are studied, and the assembly method under the internal fluid is also explored. The calculated results show that the multiscale model can accurately reflect the changes in the sealing area, and the high-pressure fluid can enhance the sealing reliability. Compared with the contact area, the fluid pressure exerts a greater influence on the change in the area of the high-stress zone. Furthermore, the unrestored sealing area enlarges with the increased maximum fluid pressure, and the change in the area of the high-stress zone is significantly larger than that in the contact area. Moreover, the optimum assembly position of ferrule decreases with the increase in fluid pressure, thus achieving the excellent sealing characteristics.
Correlation between Galectin-3 and Adverse Outcomes in Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tian Lei , Chen Kan , Han Zhihua
Published: May 2020

Background. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. Some new biomarkers can help us to improve the life quality and prognosis of AMI patients. Objective. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of galectin-3 (gal3) for assessing prognosis of AMI patients. Methods. We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database up to June 2019. Trials included using galectin-3 to estimate prognosis in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Results. We identified 10 trails with a total of 2809 participants. The negative correlation between galectin-3 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significant in 505 AMI patients (Fisher's Z −0.22, 95% CI: −0.34, −0.09). The correlation between galectin-3 and infarct size was not significant in 119 patients (Fisher's Z 0.12, 95% CI: −0.36, 0.60). Higher galectin-3 was associated with increased all-cause mortality in 2343 AMI patients (Fisher's Z 1.58, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.03). Conclusion. The limited evidence suggests that galectin-3 is likely to predict the adverse outcomes in MI patients, but it is not significantly correlated with infarct size after MI. More high-quality trials with longer-term follow-up are still needed to confirm this finding.
Knowledge of Knee Osteoarthritis and Its Impact on Health in the Middle East: Are They Different to Countries in the Developed World? A Qualitative Study
Authors: Al-Khlaifat Lara , Okasheh Rasha , Muhaidat Jennifer , Hawamdeh Ziad M. , Qutishat Dania , Al-yahya Emad , Al-ajlouni Jihad M. , Mohammad Maha T.
Published: May 2020

Knowledge of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and its management options affects adherence to treatment, symptoms, and function. Many sociocultural differences exist between Jordan, as a representative of the Middle East, and the developed world which might influence the knowledge of the pathology and its impact on health. Objectives. To explore the knowledge of the pathology and the experience of people diagnosed with knee OA living in Jordan. Methods. Qualitative study design using a triangulation method of both focus groups and in-depth semistructured interviews. Fourteen participants were included (13 females and one male). One focus group and seven in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed. Framework analysis was used, and data were mapped to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Results. The themes are as follows: (1) body functions and structures included two subthemes: physical changes and psychological impact; (2) activity limitation and participation restriction included three subthemes: factors influencing the activities, cultural and social perspectives to activity limitation, and participation restriction; (3) personal factors included three subthemes: knowledge and personal interpretation of disease process, knowledge of management options to relief symptoms, and influence of personal factors on activity and participation; and (4) environmental factors included three subthemes: service delivery process, ineffective communication across the care pathway, and facilitators and barriers. Conclusions. Knowledge of the disease was lacking as a consequence of inappropriate service delivery and culture. Activity limitations and participation restrictions are similar in Jordan to other cultures in addition to limitations in religious, employment, and transportation activities. The results demonstrate that the effect of knee OA varies among different cultures and highlight the role of healthcare professionals worldwide in understanding the impact of culture on health. They also increase the awareness of healthcare professionals, specifically in Jordan, on the limitations in delivered services and the importance of education.
Epigenetic Attire in Ovarian Cancer: The Emperor's New Clothes
Authors: Matei Daniela , Nephew Kenneth P.
Published: May 2020

Ovarian cancer is an aggressive epithelial tumor that remains a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women. Epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation and histone modifications are being characterized in ovarian cancer and have been functionally linked to processes involved in tumor initiation, chemotherapy resistance, cancer stem cell survival, and tumor metastasis. The epigenetic traits of cancer cells and of associated tumor microenvironment components have been shown to promote an immunosuppressive tumor milieu. However, DNA methylation and histone modifications are reversible, and therapies targeting the epigenome have been implicated in potential reinvigoration of the antitumor immunity. In this review, we provide an overview specifically of DNA methylation and histone modifications as "clothes of the ovarian cancer genome" in relationship to their functional effects and highlight recent developments in the field. We also address the clinical implications of therapeutic strategies to remove or alter specific articles of genomic "clothing" and restore normal cellular function. As the clothes of the genome continue to be deciphered, we envision that the epigenome will become an important therapeutic target for cancer.
Enhancing load frequency control of multi-area multi-sources power system including conventional and renewable energy units with nonlinearities
Authors: Shafei Mohamed Abdul Raouf , Abd Alzaher Ahmed Nabil , Ibrahim Doaa Khalil
Published: May 2020

The foremost aims the Load Frequency Control (LFC) is to maintain the frequency at nominal value and minimize the unscheduled tie line power flow between different control areas. The penetration of renewable energy sources into the grid is a recent challenge to the power system operators due to their different modelling rather than conventional units. In this paper, enhancing load frequency control of multi-area multi-sources power system including renewable units system with nonlinearities is proposed using a new application of proportional–integral–derivative controller with proportional controller in the inner feedback loop, which is called as PID-P controller. To investigate the performance of the proposed controller, a thermal with reheater, hydro, wind and diesel power generation units with physical constraints such as governor dead band, generation rate constraint, time delay and boiler dynamics are considered. The proposed controller parameters are optimized using different heuristic optimization techniques such: Linearized Biogeography-Based Optimization technique, Biogeography-Based Optimization technique and Genetic Algorithm. The ability of the system to handle the large variation in load conditions, time delay, participation factors, and system parameters has been verified comprehensively.
A review of adaptive overcurrent protection in distribution networks with integration of distributed energy resources
Authors: Mohd Yusof Nur Aisyah , Ali Zaipatimah , Ab Kadir Mohd Zainal Abidin
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a review of an adaptive overcurrent protection scheme in a distribution network with the integration of distributed energy resources. The rapid integration of distributed energy resources brings challenges to the existing overcurrent protection system. The impacts are change in fault current magnitude and direction of current flow from radial to the multi-source dynamic network, which causes changes in network topology, inaccurate fault detection, and loss of coordination among protection systems. In this paper, the solution identified for reliable operation of overcurrent protection in the distribution network are network topology estimation, fault detection, and adaptive coordination.
Detecting learning disabilities based on neuro-physiological interface of affect (NPIoA)
Authors: Mat Razi Nurul Izzati , Abdul Rahman Abdul Wahab , Kamaruddin Norhaslinda
Published: May 2020

Learning disability (LD) is a neurological processing disorder that causes impediment in processing and understanding information. LD is not only affecting academic performance but can also influence on relationship with family, friends and colleagues. Hence, it is important to detect the learning disabilities among children prior to the school year to avoid from anxiety, bully and other social problems. This research aims to implement the learning disabilities detection based on the emotions captured from electroencephalogram (EEG) to recognize the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia in order to have early diagnosis and assisting the clinician evaluation.  The results show several symptoms that ASD children have low alpha power with the Alpha-Beta Test (ABT) power ratio and ASD U-shaped graph, ADHD children have high Theta-Beta Test (TBT) power ratio while Dyslexia have high Left-over-Right Theta (LRT) power ratio.  This can be concluded that the learning disabilities detection methods proposed in this study is applicable for ASD, ADHD and also Dyslexia diagnosis.
Stability and reliability of low voltage hybrid AC-DC microgrids power flow model in islanding operation
Authors: Afianti Hasti , Penangsang Ontoseno , Soeprijanto Adi
Published: May 2020

The problem of decreasing and increasing power flow in hybrid AC-DC microgrids in island operations is the concern of this research. This condition arises if one sub-microgrid cannot supply load power requirements, either due to a decrease in power at the source or an increase in load on the sub-microgrid network. As a result, in this research used the bidirectional converter as an interlinking converter, the converter can change the power flow from the ac sub microgrid to the dc sub microgrid and vice versa. With this bidirectional converter, load power requirements can be met even though there is a power change in one of the sub microgrid. The simulation in this research support by Simulink/Matlab software. The model is built in a low voltage system, and the power flow analysis is in steady-state condition with two different cases. The simulation results show the stability and reliability of the power flow in both sub microgrid with stable frequency and voltage when power and load change occur.
New reliable modifications of HPM and HAM
Authors: Hussain Khawlah
Published: May 2020

In this article, a new modification of the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) and homotopy analysis method (HAM) is presented and applied to non-homogeneous fractional Volterra integro-differential equations with boundary conditions. A comparative study between the new modified homotopy perturbation method (MHPM) and the new modified homotopy analysis method (MHAM). Several illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the methods.
A vision-based real-time obstacle avoidance’s rules utilising grid-edge-depth map
Authors: Rahmani Budi , Harjoko Agus , Priyambodo Tri Kuntoro
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a new rules-based of a real-time decision system for an autonomous wheeled robot with the holonomic-drive system. The robot uses decisions to avoid collisions with obstacles. The decision rules based on Grid-Edge-Depth Map. The Grid-Edge-Depth map represents the obstacle’s position and distance in the environment. The generation process of the Grid-Edge-Depth map presented in previous research. The decisions of the first scenario with no destination point are forward, stop, 90o right turn, and 90o left turn. The decisions of the second, and third scenarios with a destination point are forward, stop, 90o right turn, 90o left turn, 45o forward to the right, 45o forward to the left, slide to the right, and slide to the left. The proposal tested in a 5x3 metre living environment. Finally, the experiment resulted in 93.3% of navigation’s success for all the scenarios.
Improving spam email detection using hybrid feature selection and sequential minimal optimisation
Authors: Al-Ajeli Ahmed , Alubady Raaid , Al-Shamery Eman S.
Published: May 2020

Communication by email is counted as a popular manner through which users can exchange information. The email could be abused by spammers to spread suspicious content to the Internet users. Thus, the need to an effective way to detect spam emails are becoming clear to keep this information safe from malicious access. Many methods have been developed to address such a problem. In this paper, a machine learning technique is applied to detect spam emails. In this technique, a detection system based on sequential minimal optimization (SMO) is built to classify emails into two categories: spam and non-spam (ham). Each email is represented by a set of features extracted from its textual content. A hybrid feature selection is developed to choose a subset of these features based on their importance in process of the detection. This subset is then input into the SMO algorithm to make the detection decision. The use of such a technique provides an efficient protective mechanism to control spams. The experimental results show that the performance of the proposed method is promising compared with the existing methods.
Editorial
Authors: Crippa Giulia
Published: May 2020

InCID: Revista de Ciência da Informação e Documentação, Ribeirão Preto, v. 10, n. 1, mar./ago. 2019.
As relações entre Centros de Memória e Ciência da Informação
Authors: Feldman Daniele , Steindel Gisela Eggert
Published: May 2020

Este estudo objetiva efetuar uma breve reflexão acerca das relações entre Centros de Memória e Ciência da Informação. Neste sentido, foi evidenciado no corpo teórico do estudo: os conceitos empreendidos acerca da memória; a diferença entre memória e história; os lugares de memória; e os sentidos empreendidos na construção de diálogos entre informação e documento na Ciência da Informação. Este estudo mostrou que a prática e teoria da área da Ciência da Informação são essenciais para a criação e o funcionamento dos Centros de Memória, uma vez que esta área viabiliza mecanismos para apropriação da informação, a fim do fluxo informacional e do conhecimento gerado.
Psicopolítica
Authors: Medeiros Jackson Da Silva
Published: May 2020

Resenha de HAN, Byung-Chul. Psicopolítica: O Neoliberalismo e as Novas Técnicas de Poder. Belo Horizonte: Âyiné, 2018. ISBN 978-859-264-939-5
As músicas da Era Vargas e o registro da Memória Social sobre as eleições presidenciais
Authors: Pasqua Cleonice Della , Massoni Luis Fernando Herbert , Stueber Ketlen
Published: May 2020

Estuda as músicas compostas durante as eleições presidenciais da Era Vargas, no período entre 1930 e 1954. Lista quatro músicas compostas no período proposto, com seus respectivos autores e interpretes. Utiliza as músicas como fonte de informação sobre a memória política da época. Analisa de forma empírica, as letras das canções e os fatos aos quais que se referem, com relação à história. Traça um paralelo entre os fatos, as composições e a memória social. Conclui que a música é uma importante fonte de informação para a formação da memória social, através de suas letras.
Call to Action to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Henke Peter K. , Kahn Susan R. , Pannucci Christopher J. , Secemksy Eric A. , Evans Natalie S. , Khorana Alok A. , Creager Mark A. , Pradhan Aruna D. ,   On behalf of the American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee
Published: May 2020

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major preventable disease that affects hospitalized inpatients. Risk stratification and prophylactic measures have good evidence supporting their use, but multiple reasons exist that prevent full adoption, compliance, and efficacy that may underlie the persistence of VTE over the past several decades. This policy statement provides a focused review of VTE, risk scoring systems, prophylaxis, and tracking methods. From this summary, 5 major areas of policy guidance are presented that the American Heart Association believes will lead to better implementation, tracking, and prevention of VTE events. They include performing VTE risk assessment and reporting the level of VTE risk in all hospitalized patients, integrating preventable VTE as a benchmark for hospital comparison and pay-for-performance programs, supporting appropriations to improve public awareness of VTE, tracking VTE nationwide with the use of standardized definitions, and developing a centralized data steward for data tracking on VTE risk assessment, prophylaxis, and rates.
Aesthetics and Materiality of Knowledge: (Un)sighted Archives of Migration
Authors: Bublatzky Cathrine
Published: May 2020

Many private or artistic migratory archives remain unnoticed by the wider public or are endangered by loss, misuse or destruction by human or non-human agents, especially when institutional infrastructures are missing. If archives are considered to be dynamic, it is essential to ask how the aesthetics and materiality of knowledge, as they are stored in (un)sighted archives of migration, are to be investigated. How can we look at archives of migration in their performative sense when cultural memory implies dynamism and represents ‘an ongoing process of remembrance and forgetting’? Bringing together anthropologists, artists, photographers, historians and activists with and without migration experiences, the workshop ‘Aesthetics and Materiality of Knowledge – (Un)sighted Archives of Migration’ initiated a comparative and non-hierarchical exchange among experts on archives of migration as historical and aesthetic resources. This article explores the themes raised during these discussions and reflects on the variety of perspectives that emerged.
Mitochondrial sequence data clarify species concepts in the Cyclocephala mafaffa species complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini)
Authors: MOORE MATTHEW R. , HARRISON STEFANI M. , CAVE RONALD D. , BRANHAM MARC A.
Published: May 2020

The speciose genus Cyclocephala Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) has attracted research attention due to their diversity, agroeconomic importance, and floral visitation habits. Uniquely among Cyclocephala species, C. mafaffa Burmeister and C. deceptor (Casey), two nearly identical species, are diagnosed by a pronotal character: beaded or not beaded basal pronotal margin. We evaluated these morphological species hypotheses with a phylogenetic analysis of 12S and COI, neighbor-joining analysis, and several single-locus species delimitation procedures (automatic barcode gap analysis and three Poisson tree processes analyses). Together, these analyses supported the species concepts for C. deceptor and C. mafaffa. Delimitation procedures supported several distinct molecular operational taxonomic units among these taxa. We consider the separation of C. deceptor and C. mafaffa to be valid. We conservatively synonymize the West Indian subspecies C. mafaffa grandis Burmeister under C. mafaffa and offer a discussion on subspecific concepts in Cyclocephalini. We designate the lectotype of Stigmalia deficiens Casey. Implications of this study for other geographically widespread cyclocephalines or species with variable pronotal morphology are discussed.
Spatial and Temporal Downscaling of TRMM Precipitation with Novel Algorithms
Authors: Zhang Huihui , Loáiciga Hugo A. , Ha Da , Du Qingyun
Published: May 2020

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite products constitute valuable precipitation datasets over regions with sparse rain gauge networks. Downscaling is an effective approach to estimating the precipitation over ungauged areas with high spatial resolution. However, a large bias and low resolution of original TRMM satellite images constitute constraints for practical hydrologic applications of TRMM precipitation products. This study contributes two precipitation downscaling algorithms by exploring the nonstationarity relations between precipitation and various environment factors [daytime surface temperature (LTD), terrain slope, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), altitude, longitude, and latitude] to overcome bias and low-resolution constraints of TRMM precipitation. Downscaling of precipitation is achieved with the geographically weighted regression model (GWR) and the backward-propagation artificial neural networks (BP_ANN). The probability density function (PDF) algorithm corrects the bias of satellite precipitation data with respect to spatial and temporal scales prior to downscaling. The principal component analysis algorithm (PCA) provides an alternative method of obtaining accurate monthly rainfall estimates during the wet rainfall season that minimizes the temporal uncertainties and upscaling effects introduced by direct accumulation (DA) of precipitation. The performances of the proposed downscaling algorithms are assessed by downscaling the latest version of TRMM3B42 V7 datasets within Hubei Province from 0.25° (about 25 km) to 1-km spatial resolution at the monthly scale. The downscaled datasets are systematically evaluated with in situ observations at 27 rain gauges from the years 2005 through 2010. This paper’s results demonstrate the bias correction is necessary before downscaling. The high-resolution precipitation datasets obtained with the proposed downscaling model with GWR relying on the NDVI and slope are shown to improve the accuracy of precipitation estimates. GWR exhibits more accurate downscaling results than BP_ANN coupled with the genetic algorithm (GA) in most dry and wet seasons.
Reforms in Direct Tax Administration in India (1991–2016)
Authors: Jain Parul , Jain Anil Kumar
Published: May 2020

Tax policy and tax administration are inextricably linked. The success of any tax policy depends to a large extent on efficient tax administration which would necessitate minimising arrears of assessment and collection, pendency of appeals, tax avoidance and tax evasion and improve taxpayers’ compliance. Despite increased collections, the prevailing system of direct taxes is beset with problem of increasing arrears of assessments and collections, pendency of appeals, delays in refunds and mounting tax evasion. Collection of every tax involves some money cost for the government and compliance cost (both in money and in real terms) for the taxpayers. It is desirable that these costs should be minimised. However, minimising the cost of collection does not mean that administrative staff should be kept at minimum. On the contrary, it is desirable that administrative strength of the Department should be considerably increased. Stress should be laid on effective and efficient administration.
Do Discount Presentations Influence Gift Purchase Intentions and Attitudes of Chinese Outbound Tourists?
Authors: Wang Di , Martin Brett A.S. , Yao Jun
Published: May 2020

This study examines how Chinese cultural elements influence the responses of Chinese tourists toward different price discount presentations used by destination retailers. It identifies “8” and combinations of it (e.g., 88) as Chinese cultural icons. It investigates how presenting discounts containing “88” influence the gift purchase intentions and attitudes toward gift shops and the tourism destination of Chinese outbound tourists. The results from two experiments show that Chinese tourists are more likely to purchase gifts and have positive attitudes toward gift shops and their destination when destination retailers use “Pay 88%” than when they use the economically equivalent “Get 12% off” as a price discount. These effects are sequentially driven by consumers’ perceptions of cultural acknowledgment and their positive affect. Moreover, the effects only hold when the country of origin of the retailer is Western; it disappears when it is Chinese.
Teaching diversity, cultural competency, and globalization to American public affairs students: Integrating comparative approaches to public administration and policy
Authors: Baracskay Daniel
Published: May 2020

Diversity, cultural competency, and global awareness are three broad and mutually reinforcing conceptual themes in the literature of American public affairs education that are rarely implicitly interconnected. A primary challenge has concerned how to teach these themes, either separately or in unison, when designing courses and curricula to satisfy professional standards. This article first explores how broad conceptual themes can be practically transformed into course learning objectives on which assignments may be based. Second, this article explores how comparative public administration and policy may be utilized as a venue for drawing analytical connections across the three themes to promote higher levels of critical thinking. Although comparative approaches have historically been grounded in research-focused studies, pedagogical development of the field holds significant promise in training public administrators to better understand the intricacies of different cultures, nations, governments, and policies as a facet of learning and job performance. This article illustrates several assignment examples of how comparative analysis may be integrated as a pedagogical strategy in teaching American public affairs students the complexities of public service in the diverse and multicultural world of the 21st century.
The ‘enigma’ of Richard Schultes, Amazonian hallucinogenic plants, and the limits of ethnobotany
Authors: Sheldrake Merlin
Published: May 2020

This story is about the twentieth-century ethnobotanist, Richard Evans Schultes (1915–2001), and his research on hallucinogenic plants. Ethnobotany can contribute directly to science and technology studies in that the discipline makes cultural ways of knowing its scientific subject. Ethnobotanists must learn about plants through people, and are not able to conceal their interactions with indigenous informants and other ethnobotanists. I focus on an ‘enigma’ that Schultes presented, concerning the peculiar ability of indigenous Amazonians to distinguish between local varieties of vine that he was unable to tell apart, notably those used to prepare the hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca. The enigma describes a complicated and irresolvable question thrown up at the uneasy intersection between different ways of knowing about the world, and shows how modern scientific travellers might navigate – or fail to navigate – the uncertain passage between them. Together with Schultes’s accounts of his own non-ordinary states of consciousness elicited by ayahuasca, and his writings on the Victorian botanist Richard Spruce, I chart an epistemological gulf between Schultes’s modern scientific cosmology and that of his Amazonian informants. In describing his inability to learn about the ayahuasca varieties from Amazonians, Schultes’s enigma traces the very limits of the ethnobotanical discipline and reveals the fragility of the processes by which scientific naturalists might impose categories such as ‘nature’ and ‘culture’.