bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Functional Performance and Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers in Individuals Without Dementia
Authors: Vassilaki Maria , Aakre Jeremiah A. , Kremers Walter K. , Mielke Michelle M. , Geda Yonas E. , Machulda Mary M. , Knopman David S. , Coloma Preciosa M. , Schauble Barbara , Vemuri Prashanthi , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R. , Petersen Ronald C. , Roberts Rosebud O.
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To examine the cross‐sectional association between functional performance and Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuroimaging biomarkers in individuals without dementia (cognitively unimpaired (CU), and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)).

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Participants

Population‐based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA) participants (aged ≥ 50, mean age 71.3 ± 10.2; 53.4% male; 28.3% apolipoprotein (APO)E ε4 allele carriers, 1,578 CU, 204 MCI) who underwent 11C‐Pittsburgh compound B (11C‐PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) (N=1,782).

Measurements

We defined an abnormal (high) 11C‐PiB‐PET retention ratio as a standardized uptake value ratio greater than 1.42 (high amyloid; A+), abnormal (reduced) AD signature cortical thickness (neurodegeneration; N+) as less than 2.67 mm (MRI measurement), and biomarker groups according to the combination of abnormality (or not) for amyloid accumulation (A+/A–) and neurodegeneration (N+/N–). Functional performance was assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Sum of Boxes (SOB) for functional domains and the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ).

Results

Participants with a CDR‐SOB (functional) score greater than 0 were almost 4 times as likely to have N + (odds ratio (OR)=3.92, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.77–8.67, adjusting for age, sex, education, global cognitive z‐score, and APOE ε4 allele status; p<.001) and those with a FAQ score greater than 0 were 1.5 times as likely to have A + (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.04–2.11, p=.03). Higher FAQ scores were associated with greater odds of A+N + and A–N + in CU participants.

Conclusion

The findings of this cross‐sectional study supplement limited available information that supports an association between functional performance and AD neuroimaging biomarkers very early in the dementia pathophysiology. The associations should be validated in longitudinal studies. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2274–2281, 2018.
Preventing Postoperative Delirium After Major Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery—A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Khan Babar A. , Perkins Anthony J. , Campbell Noll L. , Gao Sujuan , Khan Sikandar H. , Wang Sophia , Fuchita Mikita , Weber Daniel J. , Zarzaur Ben L. , Boustani Malaz A. , Kesler Kenneth
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of haloperidol in reducing postoperative delirium in individuals undergoing thoracic surgery.

Design

Randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial.

Setting

Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary care center.

Participants

Individuals undergoing thoracic surgery (N=135).

Intervention

Low‐dose intravenous haloperidol (0.5 mg three times daily for a total of 11 doses) administered postoperatively.

Measurements

The primary outcome was delirium incidence during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were time to delirium, delirium duration, delirium severity, and ICU and hospital length of stay. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and delirium severity using the Delirium Rating Scale‐Revised.

Results

Sixty‐eight participants were randomized to receive haloperidol and 67 placebo. No significant differences were observed between those receiving haloperidol and those receiving placebo in incident delirium (n=15 (22.1%) vs n=19 (28.4%); p = .43), time to delirium (p = .43), delirium duration (median 1 day, interquartile range (IQR) 1‐2 days vs median 1 day, IQR 1‐2 days; p = .71), delirium severity, ICU length of stay (median 2.2 days, IQR 1–3.3 days vs median 2.3 days, IQR 1‐4 days; p = .29), or hospital length of stay (median 10 days, IQR 8–11.5 days vs median 10 days, IQR 8‐12 days; p = .41). In the esophagectomy subgroup (n = 84), the haloperidol group was less likely to experience incident delirium (n=10 (23.8%) vs n=17 (40.5%); p = .16). There were no differences in time to delirium (p = .14), delirium duration (median 1 day, IQR 1‐2 days vs median 1 day, IQR 1‐2 days; p = .71), delirium severity, or hospital length of stay (median 11 days, IQR 10‐12 days vs median days 11, IQR 10‐15 days; p = .26). ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the haloperidol group (median 2.8 days, IQR 1.1–3.8 days vs median 3.1 days, IQR 2.1–5.1 days; p = .03). Safety events were comparable between the groups.

Conclusion

Low‐dose postoperative haloperidol did not reduce delirium in individuals undergoing thoracic surgery but may be efficacious in those undergoing esophagectomy. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2289–2297, 2018.
Independent Association Between Cardio‐Ankle Vascular Index and Sarcopenia in Older U.K. Adults
Authors: Kirkham Frances A. , Bunting Eva , Fantin Francesco , Zamboni Mauro , Rajkumar Chakravarthi
Published: November 2018

Objectives

To investigate the correlation between sarcopenia and arterial stiffness in Caucasians, centering on the relationship between skeletal mass index (SMI) and the cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI) to assess the use of CAVI in predicting sarcopenia.

Design Cross‐sectional Setting

United Kingdom.

Participants

UK adults aged 45 years and over (N = 366, n = 177 male, n = 189 female).

Measurements

Bioimpedance analysis was used to derive SMI. CAVI score was calculated using a vascular screening system. Handgrip strength was measured using a standard dynamometer.

Results

Average CAVI was significantly correlated with SMI (correlation coefficient (r) = −0.285, p < .001), with higher correlation in women (r = −0.416, p < .001) than men (r = −0.214, p = .01). CAVI had the highest correlation with SMI from appendicular muscle (fat‐free mass in men, r = −0.253, p = .002; predicted muscle mass in women, r = −0.436, p < .001). There was a significant difference in average CAVI between groups, with participants who were not sarcopenic having lower CAVI (8.98) than those who were sarcopenic (9.80) (p < .001, t‐test). Linear regression was performed using SMI as the dependent variable. After adjustment for age, average CAVI was a significant predictor of SMI in women (beta = −0.332, p < .001) but not men.

Conclusion

Indices of sarcopenia are independently associated with a higher CAVI, with greater correlation in women than men. The CAVI can be used to assess overall vascular compliance and may be a useful operator‐independent tool that can be used to measure sarcopenia and its cardiovascular implications in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:317–322, 2019.
Despertar el pasado, sembrar el territorio: La restauración de la memoria indígena en el pueblo nasa de Tierradentro Colombia, 1971–2016
Authors: Levalle Sebastián
Published: November 2018

La emergencia de los movimientos indígenas en América Latina en el tercio final del siglo XX ha operado como una oportunidad para recrear la memoria colectiva. Centrado en el pueblo nasa de Tierradentro, este trabajo analiza las prácticas de restauración de la memoria indígena enfocándose en las articulaciones entre la memoria y el territorio. El terremoto que afectó Tierradentro en 1994 le permitió al pueblo nasa reconectarse con una memoria profunda que sintetiza la comunicación ontológica con el entorno vital. A su vez, el terremoto conformó un escenario propicio para el despliegue de procesos de subjetivación. La figura de la avalancha condensa esta articulación entre el territorio, la memoria y la resistencia. Restaurar la memoria significa despertar los conocimientos necesarios para restablecer el equilibrio cósmico. Estas memorias permiten sembrar el territorio y la subjetividad nasa más allá de Tierradentro, ampliando los escenarios de la resistencia indígena.
Integrating Negative Social Cues in Tobacco Packaging: A Novel Approach to Discouraging Smokers
Authors: Jeffrey Jennifer , Thomson Matthew
Published: November 2018

Smoking is an international health crisis. Tobacco packaging is an important vehicle to convey antismoking messages, which to date have been predominantly limited to fear‐based health appeals. Using an experimental approach, we examine whether a novel alternative—using negative social cues on packaging—is effective at discouraging smoking. Our results support the notion that packaging which conveys to smokers that “others” view smoking negatively is sufficient to trigger feelings of self‐consciousness, which in turn reduces smoking intentions. This approach is particularly effective in “isolated” smokers who do not see smoking as identity‐relevant or congruent with their social self. These findings suggest that for a particular segment of the smoking population, the integration of negative social cues on packaging may be an effective complement to current fear‐based appeals.
A qualitative exploration of social and environmental factors affecting diet and activity in knee replacement patients
Authors: Hoffman Sara A. , Ledford Gwendolyn , Cameron Kenzie A. , Phillips Siobhan M. , Pellegrini Christine A.
Published: November 2018

Aims and objectives

To examine perceived social and environmental barriers and facilitators for healthy eating and activity before and after knee replacement.

Background

Many patients undergoing knee replacement surgery are overweight or obese. While obesity treatment guidelines encourage diet and activity modifications, gaps exist in understanding social and environmental determinants of these behaviours for knee replacement patients. Identifying these determinants is critical for treatment, as they are likely amplified due to patients’ mobility limitations, the nature of surgery and reliance on others during recovery.

Design

This qualitative study used semi‐structured interviews.

Methods

Twenty patients (M = 64.7 ± 9.8 years, 45% female, 90% Caucasian, body mass index 30.8 ± 5.5 kg/m2) who were scheduled for or had recently undergone knee replacement were interviewed. Participants were asked to identify social and environmental factors that made it easier or harder to engage in healthy eating or physical activity. Deidentified transcripts were analysed via constant comparative analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and activity. This paper was written in accordance with COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research standards.

Results

Identified social and environmental healthy eating barriers included availability of unhealthy food and attending social gatherings; facilitators included availability of healthy food, keeping unhealthy options “out of sight,” and social support. Weather was the primary activity barrier, while facilitators included access to physical activity opportunities and social support.

Conclusions

Results provide salient factors for consideration by clinicians and behavioural programmes targeting diet, activity, and weight management, and patient variables to consider when tailoring interventions.

Relevance to clinical practice

Practitioners treating knee replacement patients would be aided by an understanding of patients’ perceived social and environmental factors that impede or facilitate surgical progress. Particularly for those directly interacting with patients, like nurses, physiotherapists, or other professionals, support from health professionals appears to be a strong facilitator of adherence to diet and increased activity.
Experiences of living with varicose veins: A systematic review of qualitative research
Authors: Lumley Elizabeth , Phillips Patrick , Aber Ahmed , Buckley‐Woods Helen , Jones Georgina L. , Michaels Jonathan A.
Published: November 2018

Aim

To identify the symptoms and quality of life impacts that are important from the perspective of patients with varicose veins and to compare identified themes to items in varicose vein patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Background

Varicose veins are common worldwide and are considered a chronic condition with implications for quality of life. Treatment is predominantly conservative; therefore, understanding patients’ experiences of living with varicose veins is important to inform the provision of clinical care. PROMs are often used to collect data about patients’ quality of life.

Design

Thematic synthesis of qualitative research reported according to ENTREQ guidelines.

Methods

Multiple electronic databases, including MEDLINE and CINAHL, were systematically searched to identify qualitative research examining experiences of adults with varicose veins. Thematic synthesis was then conducted on the included studies.

Results

Three studies met the inclusion criteria; the quality of the studies was high. The range and intensity of reported symptoms and participant's experiences of living with varicose veins were varied. Five overarching themes were identified: physical, psychological and social impact of varicose veins, adapting to varicose veins and reasons for seeking treatment. The overall key theme to emerge was adaptation, with patients demonstrating how they adapted to the various impacts.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates that varicose veins have a wide range of symptoms and may have a significant impact on quality of life; people made significant adaptations to enable them to live their lives as fully as possible.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the range of symptoms and their impact on quality of life. The use of PROMs to gather information about quality of life and symptoms is well established globally; however, PROMs currently used may not capture the full extent of the impact on patient's quality of life.
Simulation and Experimental Characterization of Lateral Imaging Resolution of Ultrasound Systems and Assessment of System Suitability for Acoustic Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Measurement
Authors: Lochner Piergiorgio , Behnke Stefanie , Fassbender Klaus , Andrejewski Anika , Knodel Sophia , Siniscalchi Antonio , Jenderka Klaus‐V. , Lemor Robert
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is used for the estimation of intracranial pressure (ICP). But there are still doubts about the quality of the images and the lateral resolution. Our aim is to investigate the system suitability and best lateral resolution of different ultrasound systems for acoustic ONSD measurement.

METHODS

First, we calculated the theoretically lateral imaging resolution at increasing frequencies: 6.6, 10, and 15 MHz using two different ultrasound systems. Second, we created two phantoms consisting of copper wires or polyvinylchloride (PVC) strips and tested the best lateral resolution at different frequencies with the two ultrasound systems. Using the same ultrasound systems, we evaluated the anatomy of optic nerve at increasing transmission frequencies. Finally, the two probes were tested in two patients with different neurological conditions affected by an increase of ICP.

RESULTS

Theoretical resolutions were .63, .43, and .41 mm, respectively, with a frequency of 6.6, 10, and 15 MHz. We found a similar lateral resolution in both phantoms: copper wire; .56 mm at 6.6 MHz, .46 mm at 10 MHz, and .44 mm at 15 MHz; and PVC strips .6 mm at 6.6 MHz, .47 mm at 10 MHz, and .40 mm at 15 MHz in accordance with experimental resolution. The ONSD thickening could be clearly displayed at frequencies higher than 7.5 MHz using the two linear probes and the two patients with an increase of ICP showed thickening of ONSD.

CONCLUSION

According to our study, both systems are suitable for ultrasound OSND measurement.
The value of sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, egesta consumed by shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Jensen Karen E. , Taylor J. Christopher , Barry Robert J. , D'Abramo Louis R. , Davis D. Allen , Watts Stephen A.
Published: November 2018

Sea urchins produce high‐energy, membrane‐bound fecal pellets that contain residual nutrients and large quantities of microbiota. These egesta are readily consumed by the shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Egesta of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, were evaluated as a feed supplement or total replacement for a commercial shrimp diet. Shrimp were stocked at 0.49 g ± 0.06 g initial body weight and housed individually in 2.8‐L tanks in a commercial recirculating zebrafish system. Shrimp were assigned to one of six diets: commercial shrimp feed, reference sea urchin feed, collected dried sea urchin egesta, collected wet sea urchin egesta, half ration of shrimp feed and half collected wet sea urchin egesta, and egesta naturally produced by two sea urchins in polyculture. Equivalent dry matter amounts of each diet were proffered to shrimp in each treatment twice daily, except for those that had complete access to natural egesta excreted by sea urchins in polyculture. Sea urchins were proffered a reference sea urchin feed at 2% body weight daily. After 27 days, shrimp proffered collected dried or wet egesta did not differ significantly in percent weight gain and showed the lowest weight gain. The percent weight gain of shrimp fed the commercial shrimp diet did not differ significantly from that of the shrimp fed half commercial shrimp diet and half egesta. The highest weight gain was recorded for those shrimp that consumed the untouched egesta produced by sea urchins in polyculture. These data suggest that consumed egesta have noteworthy nutritional value and therefore would be beneficial to the culture of extractive species in an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system.
Past assets
Authors: Kelly Gavin , Bangham George
Published: November 2018

Lessons from New Labour's asset‐based welfare strategy
Transcriptome analysis of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal soybean plantlets upon infection with Fusarium virguliforme, one causal agent of sudden death syndrome
Authors: Marquez N. , Giachero M. L. , Gallou A. , Debat H. J. , Declerck S. , Ducasse D. A.
Published: November 2018

Soilborne pathogens represent a threat to agriculture causing important yield losses. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean is a severe disease caused by a complex of Fusarium species. This pathosystem has been widely investigated and several strategies have been proposed to manage SDS. Although a decrease in symptoms and in the level of root tissue infection, particularly by F. virguliforme, was observed in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), biological control based on AMF has received less attention. Here, the results are reported of transcriptional analysis of mycorrhizal versus nonmycorrhizal soybean plantlets infected by F. virguliforme, grown under strict in vitro culture experimental conditions. Important transcriptional reprogramming was detected following infection by the pathogen. Results revealed 1768 and 967 differentially expressed genes in the AMF‐colonized (+AMF+Fv) and noncolonized (−AMF+Fv) plants, respectively. Major transcriptional changes corresponded to defence response‐related genes belonging to secondary metabolism, stress and signalling categories. The +AMF+Fv treatment showed the largest number of up‐regulated genes related to defence, such as those encoding disease resistance proteins, WRKY transcription factors, auxins, receptors kinases and proteases. Only a few genes had primed expression in the +AMF+Fv treatment, such as those encoding a thaumatin‐like protein (TLP) and a pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) protein. Moreover, +AMF+Fv showed a significantly greater number of down‐regulated genes related to cell wall modification and peroxidases than the –AMF+Fv treatment. This detailed investigation increases knowledge of transcriptional changes and potential metabolic pathways involved in the enhanced resistance or tolerance of mycorrhizal plants to infection by F. virguliforme.
LSD1‐, EDS1‐ and PAD4‐dependent conditional correlation among salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, water use efficiency and seed yield in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Bernacki Maciej J. , Czarnocka Weronika , Rusaczonek Anna , Witoń Damian , Kęska Sergiusz , Czyż Janusz , Szechyńska‐Hebda Magdalena , Karpiński Stanisław
Published: November 2018

In Arabidopsis thaliana, LESION SIMULATING DISEASE 1 (LSD1), ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1) and PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT 4 (PAD4) proteins are regulators of cell death (CD) in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Hormones, such as salicylic acid (SA), and reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are key signaling molecules involved in plant CD. The proposed mathematical models presented in this study suggest that LSD1, EDS1 and PAD4 together with SA and H2O2 are involved in the control of plant water use efficiency (WUE), vegetative growth and generative development. The analysis of Arabidopsis wild‐type and single mutants lsd1, eds1, and pad4, as well as double mutants eds1/lsd1 and pad4/lsd1, demonstrated the strong conditional correlation between SA/H2O2 and WUE that is dependent on LSD1, EDS1 and PAD4 proteins. Moreover, we found a strong correlation between the SA/H2O2 homeostasis of 4‐week‐old Arabidopsis leaves and a total seed yield of 9‐week‐old plants. Altogether, our results prove that SA and H2O2 are conditionally regulated by LSD1/EDS/PAD4 to govern WUE, biomass accumulation and seed yield. Conditional correlation and the proposed models presented in this study can be used as the starting points in the creation of a plant breeding algorithm that would allow to estimate the seed yield at the initial stage of plant growth, based on WUE, SA and H2O2 content.
Contingent Coalitions in Environmental Policymaking: How Civil Society Organizations Influenced the Chilean Renewable Energy Boom
Authors: Madariaga Aldo , Allain Mathilde
Published: November 2018

This article analyzes the role of social movements and environmental organizations in crafting contingent coalitions to advance renewable energies in Chile. Until recently, Chile presented several conditions predicting the continuation of an arm’s‐length energy policy and a deregulated energy market heavily concentrated on environmentally and socially unfriendly sources. However, gradual but transformative policy change in the last decade has made the country a world leader in renewable energy development. Studying two key moments in energy policy reform, we argue that the contingency of the coalitions that social movements and environmental organizations forged was crucial to the advancement of renewable energy policy and the transformation of the energy sector in the country. The paper advances our understanding of policy change in contexts of high path dependency and status quo bias, and builds the concept of “contingent coalitions,” unifying similar but scattered and under‐theorized notions that capture the fluid dynamics of coalition formation and policy change in environmental policymaking.
Sympathetic overactivity in dialysis patients—Underappreciated and clinically consequential
Authors: Hoye Neil A. , Wilson Luke C. , Jardine David L. , Walker Robert J.
Published: November 2018

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality remain frustratingly common in dialysis patients. A dearth of established evidence‐based treatment calls for alternative therapeutic avenues to be embraced. Sympathetic hyperactivity, predominantly due to afferent nerve signaling from the diseased native kidneys, has been established to be prognostic in the dialysis population for over 15 years. Despite this, tangible therapeutic interventions have, to date, been unsuccessful and the outlook for patients remains poor. This narrative review summarizes established experimental and clinical data, highlighting recent developments, and proposes why interventions to ameliorate sympathetic hyperactivity may well be beneficial for this high‐risk population.
Bayesian inference for stable Lévy–driven stochastic differential equations with high‐frequency data
Authors: Jasra Ajay , Kamatani Kengo , Masuda Hiroki
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we consider parametric Bayesian inference for stochastic differential equations driven by a pure‐jump stable Lévy process, which is observed at high frequency. In most cases of practical interest, the likelihood function is not available; hence, we use a quasi‐likelihood and place an associated prior on the unknown parameters. It is shown under regularity conditions that there is a Bernstein–von Mises theorem associated to the posterior. We then develop a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for Bayesian inference, and assisted with theoretical results, we show how to scale Metropolis–Hastings proposals when the frequency of the data grows, in order to prevent the acceptance ratio from going to zero in the large data limit. Our algorithm is presented on numerical examples that help verify our theoretical findings.
Foreign Divestment in the Retail Sector – The Host Market’s Perspective
Authors: Gersch Inka , Franz Martin
Published: November 2018

Transnational grocery retailers increasingly dispose of their foreign subsidiaries. The existing literature on this development mainly focuses on the perspective of transnational retailers on their own divestments, and neglects the view of the actors in the remaining market. Addressing this bias, this paper analyses the dynamics and drivers of foreign divestment from the host market perspective. It is based on data from qualitative interviews with host market competitors and sold subsidiaries of transnational retailers in Turkey. The research reveals that, while home market actors present their divestments as strategic decisions, for the host market’s actors the TNCs’ divestments are stories of failure. We propose a holistic framework of the foreign divestment decision process showing that a divestment decision is not just the inverse of an investment decision. This framework incorporates pull factors (reasons to reallocate resources), push factors (host market hurdles) and foreign retailers’ possibilities to take on the challenges in foreign markets.
Neighbourhood Change and the Fate of Rooming Houses
Authors: Grant Jill L , Lee Uytae , Derksen Janelle , Ramos Howard
Published: November 2018

The paper examines changes in the number and geography of rooming houses in Halifax, Canada. Several factors contributed to the near extinction of private single‐room accommodations for hard‐to‐house, low‐income adults between 1995 and 2016, while student‐oriented rooming properties increased. Economic and population growth created strong housing demand as low borrowing costs facilitated property investment in central neighbourhoods. Planning policies encouraged greater densities and heights in areas formerly accommodating low‐rent rooming houses, while regulations held rooming houses to new standards. Cultural preferences for urban living accelerated demand for, and costs in central areas. Together these factors contributed to an apparent rent gap that made many rooming house properties ripe for transformation, contributing to diminished shelter opportunities for disadvantaged low‐income residents. The case illustrates how gentrification extinguishes some market‐provided low‐income housing options.
Neoliberal Europeanisation, Variegated Financialisation: Common but Divergent Economic Trajectories in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany
Authors: Ward Callum , Van Loon Jannes , Wijburg Gertjan
Published: November 2018

Revisiting attempts to connect comparative political economy and the geographies of finance, we present a balance sheet analysis of financialisation in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany from 1992–2012. We define financialisation broadly as a trend towards a greater reliance on assets and/or debt, with particular manifestations across different domains of the economy: a greater reliance on financial tools and metrics for the state and non‐financial corporations, a shift to market‐based banking and increasing dependence on credit or asset‐based welfare for households. We use OECD time‐series balance sheet data and qualitative accounts drawn from the literature to overview economic change in our case countries. Using this informal comparison we develop the concept of ‘variegated financialisation’ by exploring the common but not convergent financialising trajectories of our case countries and relating them to the politics of finance’s institutional embedding.
Street‐segment‐based salt and abrasive prediction for winter maintenance using machine learning and GIS
Authors: Ahabchane Chahid , Trépanier Martin , Langevin André
Published: November 2018

Salting operations are essential but expensive in northern winters. We aim to predict the quantity of salt and abrasive needed for a specific road segment for each hour. An estimate of the quantity allows managers to better manage the loads in the trucks and to propose optimal vehicle routes based on the forecast, which will allow them to optimize costs. This article uses machine‐learning techniques based on truck telemetry data, weather conditions, and segment attributes. Geographic information systems (GIS) allow us to exploit the street‐network characteristics, which were ignored by previous prediction models. The results show that the XGBoost method performs better than other techniques (R2 = 0.83).
LIMITATIONS ON THE NEUROSCIENTIFIC STUDY OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
Authors: Jones Richard H.
Published: November 2018

Neuroscientific scanning of meditators is taken as providing data on mystical experiences. However, problems concerning how the brain and consciousness are related cast doubts on whether any understanding of the content of meditative experiences is gained through the study of the brain. Whether neuroscience can study the subjective aspects of meditative experiences in general is also discussed. So too, whether current neuroscience can establish that there are “pure consciousness events” in mysticism is open to question. The discussion points to limitations on neuroscience's capability to add to our understanding of the phenomenological content of mystical experiences.
Vapor-induced Crystallization in Alcoholic Sorption using Poly(lactic acid) Films
Authors: Moriizumi Y. , Nagai K.
Published: November 2018

In this study, the sorption amount of alcohols (ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol) vapors on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) membrane was measured resulting in high increase in sorption. Sorption amount increases as the molecular volume of vapor decreases in the low-pressure region. The sorption amount of branched 2-propanol is lower than that of linear 1-propanol. In the high-pressure region, the PLA film tends to swell or plasticize as the cluster size increases, thereby increasing sorption. In addition, the alcohol vapor sorbed in the PLA film causes vapor-induced crystallization, which is in contrast to solvent- and thermally-induced crystallization, and forms an unknown crystal structure.
Preparation and Characterization of Polysulfone Based Hollow Fibre Composite Membranes for Water Purification
Authors: Vijesh A. M. , Shyma P. C. , Prakash V. , Garudachari B.
Published: November 2018

Nanofiltration membranes are gaining more importance in the field of water treatment especially in desalination plants. Hollow fibre membranes have been preferred over other membrane configurations due to their high membrane surface area to module volume, mechanical property and easy handling. In the present work, we prepared new type of polysulfone (PSf) composite hollow fibre membranes by blending PSf with polyvinylpyrrolidinone-nitrobenzene (PVPD) in different compositions. New membranes were fabricated using wet-jet phase inversion technique. The resultant composite membranes were characterized by various analytical techniques such as water contact angle, SEM, DSC, TG. Pure water flux of the membranes was measured using cross-flow filtration techniques. The study revealed that increased composition of PVPD in casting solution resulted in a highly porous membrane structure and the pure water flux of the membranes increases in the same order.
Automating Penetration Testing Within Ambiguous Testing Environment
Authors: Kah Seng Lim , Ithnin Norafida , Mohd Shaid Syed Zainudeen
Published: November 2018

Automated web application penetration testing has emerged as a trend. The computer was assigned the task of penetrating web application security with penetration testing technique. Relevant computer program reduces time, cost, and resources required for assessing a web application security. At the same time, scaling down tester reliance on human knowledge. Web application security scanner is such kind of program that is designed to assess web application security automatically with penetration testing technique. The downside is that computer is not well-formed as human. Consequently, web application security scanner often found generating the false alarms, especially in a testing environment, which web application source codes are unreachable. Thus, in this paper, the state-of-the-art of black box web application security scanner is systematically reviewed, to investigate the approaches for detecting web application vulnerability in an ambiguous testing environment.  This survey is critical in providing insights on how to design efficient algorithms for assessing web application security with penetration testing technique in the ambiguous environment.
The Overview for Implementing Work from Home (WFH) in Malaysia Higher Education Institution (HEI) Context
Authors: Mohd Rahim Noor Irliana , Abdul Rahman Azizah , A. Iahad Noorminshah
Published: November 2018

In recent decades, working from home (WFH) method has spread their wings beyond of normal boundaries for many sectors in working organization. Work nowadays can be categorized as “unbounded activity” environment and freely conducted at anywhere and anytime. In Malaysia as a developing country, WFH approach is not being implemented widely but there are limited group who has implement WFH unofficially after having an agreement from organization. This research study will cover the important elements for implementing WFH in HEI context. The elements are not limited on HEI context but it able to be use in other field. The university itself will be an organization who involving the employees as well as the employers. To understand more about WFH requirement, current issues and required WFH approach from organization will be consider. The overview of elements consideration will be discussed and a conceptual model is derived to support WFH for HEI. At the end of the study, a framework will be developed in order to support above elements for both employees and employers in the organization itself. The aim of this study is to increase productivity, efficiency and quality of work while the organization allows a flexible working style such as WFH to the lecturers in HEI. The result of this paper is to derive a conceptual model, which are the main elements in conducting WFH for the whole research study.
Benefits of Social Media Platform in Healthcare
Authors: Zulkefli Nur Ain , A. Iahad Noorminshah , Yusof Ahmad Fadhil
Published: November 2018

The existence of technology such as social media platforms have led individuals and health experts to use it as a supplementary tool. Providing healthcare purposes through social media platforms can facilitate and encourage individuals to gather information as well as acquire social support. Integrating social media platforms into healthcare context is a developing area of behavioral research. It is also found that there is a limited number of studies that reported the benefit acquire from the utilization of social media platforms in healthcare context. Thus, this study reported several benefits that individuals can acquire from the usage of social media platforms for healthcare context.
Comparison of Prediction Methods for Air Pollution Data in Malaysia and Singapore
Authors: Wibowo Merlinda , Sulaiman Sarina , Shamsuddin Siti Mariyam
Published: November 2018

The process for analyzing and extracting useful information from a large database that employs one or more machine learning techniques is Data Mining. There are many data mining methods that can be used in a variety of data patterns. One of them is prediction modeling. This study compares several data mining performance methods for prediction such as Naïve Bayes, Random Tree, J48, and Rough Set to get the most powerful classifier to extract the knowledge of air pollution data. The parameters being used for observation in the performance of the prediction methods are correctly and incorrectly classified instances, the time taken, and kappa statistic. The experimental result reveals that Rough Set is extremely good for classifying the Air Pollutant Index (API) data from Malaysia and Singapore. Rough Set has the lowest error and the highest performance compared to other methods with the accuracy more than 97%.
Progress in ligand design for monolayer-protected nanoparticles for nanobio interfaces
Authors: Manning Matthew D. , Kwansa Albert L. , Oweida Thomas , Peerless James S. , Singh Abhishek , Yingling Yaroslava G.
Published: November 2018

Ligand-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles, also known as monolayer-protected nanoparticles, offer great potential as vehicles for in vivo delivery of drugs, genes, and other therapeutics. These nanoparticles offer highly customizable chemistries independent of the size, shape, and functionality imparted by the inorganic core. Their success as drug delivery agents depends on their interaction with three major classes of biomolecules: nucleic acids, proteins, and membranes. Here, the authors discuss recent advances and open questions in the field of nanoparticle ligand design for nanomedicine, with a focus on atomic-scale interactions with biomolecules. While the importance of charge and hydrophobicity of ligands for biocompatibility and cell internalization has been demonstrated, ligand length, flexibility, branchedness, and other properties also influence the properties of nanoparticles. However, a comprehensive understanding of ligand design principles lies in the cost associated with synthesizing and characterizing diverse ligand chemistries and the ability to carefully assess the structural integrity of biomolecules upon interactions with nanoparticles.
Classroom Simulation of Gravitational Waves from Orbiting Binaries
Authors: Overduin James , Perry Jonathan , Huxford Rachael , Selway Jim
Published: November 2018

Popular demonstrations commonly use stretched spandex fabric to illustrate the way in which curved spacetime mimics the force of gravity in general relativity. There are significant potential conceptual pitfalls to such an approach. In particular, it obscures the fact that most of what we ordinarily feel as gravity is due to the warping of time rather than space, a concept that is admittedly harder to demonstrate. Nevertheless, with appropriate caveats simulations of this kind can convey some of the wonder of Einstein’s theory to non-specialists.
Thermal Imaging Experiments as an Inspiration for Problem-based Learning
Authors: Kácovský Petr
Published: November 2018

In the last decade, a powerful tool has been given to physics teachers to visualize thermodynamic phenomena. Thermal imaging cameras are fascinating devices opening the world of (even small) temperature changes and being able to uncover hidden manifestations of many processes around us. This paper describes a few qualitative thermal imaging experiments prepared primarily for problem-based lessons and repeatedly used with high school or even university students in the Interactive Physics Laboratory at Charles University. These experiments are focused on thermal processes, which often run in unexpected ways (at least for the students), and their explanations typically require a complex insight into physics, so they can be used as a starting point for discussions and activities designed for some level of inquiry.
Displaying Diverse Spectra Using a Thin White Line Screen (TWLS)
Authors: Hobbs Robert
Published: November 2018

Gas emission tubes are widely used laboratory and demonstration apparatus because the line source nature of the tube produces line spectra when viewed directly through a diffraction grating. These are long and distinctly visible images of the tube, located to either side of the zeroth order at an angle determined by the wavelength. A continuous spectrum with each distinct color being a vertical line is produced by an incandescent bulb having a vertical line filament. P. J. Ouseph first contrasted spectra from thin white and black lines in an interesting activity reported in this journal in 1989. For more detail about why line spectra are useful, see Appendix I at TPT Online. I am reporting here a simple and useful method for presenting the spectral distribution of diverse sources and filters, or the reflected light from colored samples (inks, color swatches, etc.), that has the same visual impact and didactic benefits of the line sources noted above. This technique was devised as part of inquiry curriculum for the Light and Color class at Bellevue College.
Solar Cookers in the Physics Classroom
Authors: Lancor Rachael , Lancor Brian
Published: November 2018

Project-based learning has been shown to be an effective pedagogical strategy that motivates students and thus promotes learning. In this article we describe a project-based unit centered on the physics of solar cookers (Fig. 1 and 3). Our goal was to elevate the solar cooker from a summer camp activity to a college-level project that could be used to teach thermodynamics in a more engaging way. Solar cookers are used by people in developing countries as an alternative to wood fires and dangerous kerosene stoves, which motivates students to study the thermodynamics of solar cookers. In this unit, students engage in the engineering design process by designing, building, and testing a solar cooker. To do this, the students learn about the physics necessary to understand how the solar cookers absorb and lose energy, including heat transfer mechanisms, blackbody radiation, reflection, and the greenhouse effect.
An Inexpensive Apparatus for Classroom Visualization of the Lift on Airplane Wings
Authors: Liang Qingsheng , Wei Yajun
Published: November 2018

“How does an aircraft fly?” is one of the most frequently asked science questions by young pupils. The lift on airplane wings also makes a great example of the application of the Bernoulli principle while teaching fluid mechanics in introductory physics and engineering courses. The topic is of great interest and is therefore covered in most college and many high school science classes. A demonstration to visualize lift will enhance teaching, but such designs cannot be found in literature or textbooks yet, to the best of our knowledge. In scientific research and engineering development the visualization of air flow is conventionally fulfilled using a smoke tunnel. The approach for measurements of the pressure (and therefore lift force) employs strain gauges, load cells, and distributed electronic and fiber optic sensors. For classroom demonstrations and student learning, these pressure measuring mechanisms and smoke tunnels are too complicated and expensive. Such demonstrations are therefore rarely carried out in class, especially in high schools. We designed an apparatus that is simple and inexpensive but can adequately demonstrate the concepts.
World’s Simplest Materials Lab
Authors: Korff Austin D. , Scott Alan J.
Published: November 2018

There exists a very simple materials laboratory activity that can measure the elasticity and yield stress of steel using only a paper clip, ruler, and small weight. It is the World’s Simplest Materials Laboratory and utilizes items common to any science classroom. In addition to steel, the elasticity and yield stress of any metal wire can be measured.
A Reliable Wave Convention for Oppositely Traveling Waves
Authors: Perkins James , Ruiz Michael J.
Published: November 2018

Care must be taken representing waves traveling in opposite directions. Erroneous results can occur when combining waves with the popular convention where a wave traveling to the right is ψR(x,t) = A sin (kx–ωt) and a left-traveling wave is ψL(x,t) = A sin (kx + ωt). An easily overlooked pitfall is pointed out and a way to avoid it with a secure convention is presented. As an exercise in critical thinking, students can be presented with the pitfall and asked to find a way out.
Frame in the Frame: Mystery Motion on the Hill
Authors: Bülbül Mustafa Sahin
Published: November 2018

This article focuses on an illusion due to our perceptions regarding competing coordinate systems or frames. I share an interesting anecdote and then explain aspects of its origin, referencing other similar illusions in the literature. Although it is difficult to experience the phenomenon without visiting the hill, I have some suggestions to physics educators for their classrooms at the end of the study.
Momentum Conservation Before Newton: Writing and Reasoning Activities for Introductory Physics Students
Authors: Morgan David L.
Published: November 2018

There are many reasons for exposing physics students to primary source material in the sciences. These works can illuminate the history of science and give students a more vivid picture of the development of physics than most textbooks attempt to provide. They can also serve as pedagogical tools for exploring the misconceptions and “wrong answers” of the past as a way to clarify physical laws and definitions, and as assessment tools for probing students’ conceptual understanding of these laws and definitions in their modern form.
Driven Pendulum: An Advanced Experiment
Authors: Kraftmakher Yaakov
Published: November 2018

An improvement of the experiment with a driven pendulum is proposed: during a run, the phase shift between the driving force and displacement is continuously displayed vs. frequency. The method of phase measurements is taken from the lock-in detection technique. Using the new PASCO data acquisition system, the measurements in a frequency range need no additional equipment or software. The system itself performs all the necessary operations according to commands prepared by the students.
A Simple Experiment to Determine the Moments of Inertia of the Fidget Spinner by Video Analysis
Authors: de Jesus V. L. B. , Sasaki D. G. G.
Published: November 2018

Nowadays, in almost any country in the world, it is difficult to find a young person who has never played with, seen, or heard of the most famous toy in 2017: the fidget spinner. According to Wikipedia: “The fidget spinner is a toy that consists of a ball-bearing in the center of a multi-lobed flat structure made from metal or plastic designed to spin along its axis with little effort.” Articles on educational proposals related to fidget spinners have been presented recently. Naturally, an issue arises from this polemic context: can fidget spinners be used to illustrate or explain physics concepts such as moment of inertia, torque, and angular momentum? This paper presents a simpler, cheaper, and easier experimental setup to obtain moments of inertia of the fidget spinner by using the free software Tracker for video analysis. A consistency test with an aluminum cylindrical shell ensures the reliability of the experimental setup.
Video killed the writing assignment
Authors: Zellner Nicolle E. B.
Published: November 2018

We move pretty fast in the introductory astronomy class at Albion College (Albion, MI)—13.7 billion years of astronomy in about 15 weeks (one semester). Thus, it is virtually impossible to talk about all of the really interesting things that are happening in our solar system, our galaxy, and the universe, or about the really cool people and instruments that make our observations possible. This may or may not be a problem because students take this course for different reasons—to satisfy a graduation requirement, because it fits in their schedule, and/or because they are interested in astronomy in general.