bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Prevalence of HBV Lamivudine-Resistant Mutations in HBV/HIV Co-Infected Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in the Area with the Highest Prevalence of HIV/HBV Co-Infection in China
Authors: Jia Hui-Hua  , Li Kai-Wen , Chen Qin-Yan , Wang Xue-Yan , Harrison Tim J. , Liang Shu-Jia , Yang Qing-Li , Wang Chao  , Hu Li-Ping , Ren Chuang-Chuang  , Fang Zhong-Liao
Published: October 2018

Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug-resistant mutations in patients co- infected with HBV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including both drug-naïve subjects and those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Guangxi, where the prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection is highest in China. Methods: Two hundred and three subjects co-infected with HBV/HIV were recruited, including 123 drug-naïve patients (group 1) and 80 who received ART (group 2). The polymerase gene of HBV in the serum of all study subjects was analysed. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of HBV drug-resistant mutations in group 2 (76.5%, 95% CI 56.3–96.7) was significantly higher than that in group 1 (1.4%, 95% CI –1.4 to 4.2; χ2 = 50.955, p < 0.05). The major pattern of lamivudine (3TC)-resistant mutations is L180M+M204I+L80I (35.7%). In total, 95% of subjects with resistant mutations had cross-resistance to telbivudine and entecavir. No putative tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) resistance change was found. Five subjects (6.5%) in group 2 had HBV viral loads over 10 × 106 copies/mL. Four of them had 3TC-resistant mutations. Multivariate analysis showed that ART was the only factor associated with the development of drug-resistant mutations. Conclusion: Treating HIV in HIV/HBV co-infection with antiretroviral agents may result in a very high prevalence of HBV 3TC-resistant mutations. TDF could not completely suppress HBV replication.
Association between Serum Copper and Serum Lipids in Adults
Authors: Song Xingxing , Wang Weijing , Li Zongyao , Zhang Dongfeng
Published: October 2018

Background: As an essential trace element, copper has been considered to play an important role in lipid metabolism. However, the associations of serum copper with lipid concentration and dyslipidemia are still controversial. Methods: We used the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the relationship between serum copper and lipid concentration among participants aged 20 years and older. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to estimate the differences in the level of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between serum copper and the risk of dyslipidemia. Results: A total of 2,678 subjects were eligible for our analyses. The multivariable adjusted average differences (95% CIs) comparing the highest to the lowest copper tertile were 8.42 (1.45–15.38) mg/dL for TC, and 2.96 (0.02–5.90) mg/dL for HDL cholesterol. Compared with the lowest tertile of serum copper, participants had significantly higher risks of High-TC dyslipidemia (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.02–2.08) in tertile 3 and High-LDL cholesterol dyslipidemia (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.03–2.14) in tertile 2 after adjusting for covariates. In the stratified analyses, we found that the copper-dyslipidemia association was statistically significant in women and subjects younger than 45 years of age. Conclusion: High serum copper was associated with elevated serum concentrations of TC and HDL cholesterol, and was associated with increased risks of High-TC and High-LDL cholesterol dyslipidemia. However, the real association between serum copper and serum lipids should be verified in larger prospective cohort studies in ­future.
Two moth species of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampoidea) recorded for the first time in Bhutan
Authors: Irungbam Jatishwor Singh , Irungbam Meenakshi Jatishwor
Published: October 2018

During our survey of the moth fauna at Tsirang, Sarpang, Dagana and Gelephu districts of Bhutan we recorded nine species of Lasiocampid moths.  In the present paper, we report the records of two species, Kunugia siamka Zolotuhin, 2002 and Alompra roepkei Tams, 1953 which are new to Bhutan.
Landscape Analysis of a Class of NP-Hard Binary Packing Problems
Authors: Alyahya Khulood , Rowe Jonathan E.
Published: October 2018

This article presents an exploratory landscape analysis of three NP-hard combinatorial optimisation problems: the number partitioning problem, the binary knapsack problem, and the quadratic binary knapsack problem. In the article, we examine empirically a number of fitness landscape properties of randomly generated instances of these problems. We believe that the studied properties give insight into the structure of the problem landscape and can be representative of the problem difficulty, in particular with respect to local search algorithms. Our work focuses on studying how these properties vary with different values of problem parameters. We also compare these properties across various landscapes that were induced by different penalty functions and different neighbourhood operators. Unlike existing studies of these problems, we study instances generated at random from various distributions. We found a general trend where some of the landscape features in all of the three problems were found to vary between the different distributions. We captured this variation by a single, easy to calculate parameter and we showed that it has a potentially useful application in guiding the choice of the neighbourhood operator of some local search heuristics.
Marsilius of Inghen on the Definition of consequentia
Authors: Ciola Graziana
Published: October 2018

This paper offers an analysis of Marsilius of Inghen’s definition of consequentia and of his treatment of logical validity as presented in the first book of his treatise on Consequentiae. Comparing Marsilius of Inghen’s, John Buridan’s, and Albert of Saxony’s theories, the author argues that Marsilius’ account is based on a conception of consequence as a relation of entailment among propositions rather than as a type of conditional sentence and, thus, moves the discussion away from the sentential level. Therefore, Marsilius’ theory represents an original and important contribution to fourteenth-century discussions on consequences.
Spatial distribution and abundance of Hemigrapsus crenulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Decapoda, Varunidae) in the Puerto Cisnes estuary (44°S, Aysen region, Chile)
Authors: Vega-Aguayo Rolando , Figueroa-Muñoz Guillermo , Retamal Marco A. , De los Ríos Patricio
Published: October 2018

Our knowledge on the status ofHemigrapsus crenulatus(H. Milne Edwards, 1837) populations along the Chilean coast is scarce. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively estimate the spatial distribution and abundance ofHemigrapsus crenulatusin the Puerto Cisnes estuary (44°S, Aysen region, Chilean Patagonia). The spatial distribution appeared to be aggregated, with 3.64 ± 7.99 ind/m2as gross density, and 10.50 ± 10.62 ind/m2as a potential ecological density, i.e., if the quadrants with zero individuals are not taken into consideration. The equation of the negative binomial distribution was:where:. The average density ofHemigrapsus crenulatusunder stones is lower if all beach surfaces are considered. Its abundance or dominance on estuarine beaches probably would be due to the fact that this species is one of the crustaceans of the lower intertidal level that can survive under a wide range of salinity values.
Filling missing links in albuneid crab distributions (superfamily Hippoidea) in the Bay of Bengal, eastern Indian Ocean
Authors: Kumar Rajan , Rahangdale Shikha , Roul Subal Kumar
Published: October 2018

Albuneid crabs are specialized and active sand-burrowing organisms. Despite their substantial diversity, their ability to avoid fishing gear leads to “under collection” and a discontinuous record of distribution. The present study documents the first distributional record of Albunea occulta Boyko, 2002 from the Bay of Bengal, eastern Indian Ocean. Albunea thurstoni Henderson, 1893 is also recorded for the first time from the area, i.e., from the Gulf of Mannar, southwestern Bay of Bengal. This study further reports variation in morphological characters, especially in the carapace grooves (CG) from previous records and across specimens from different regions. Morphometric characters were found useful in species discrimination, which is explained as well.
A comparison of catches of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in a lobster reserve using traditional pots and scuba diving technique
Authors: Øresland Vidar , Oxby Gert , Oxby Fredrik
Published: October 2018

Lobster research and the management of lobster fisheries are often dependent on catch-and tag-data obtained from fishermen using lobster pots. Therefore, understanding lobster pot selectivity is crucial. In this study, the carapace lengths (CL) of 135 pot-caught European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) are compared to the CL of 137 dive-caught lobsters inside the Kåvra lobster reserve on the Swedish west coast during summer 2017. The Carapax pot used was strongly size-selective for both small individuals and large males, and pot CL was between 63 and 149 mm. Dive-caught lobsters had a CL between 46 and 170 mm and 25% of the males were larger than the largest pot male. We conclude, for the reasons discussed here, that interpretation of size-data in pot-based monitoring and research should be made with caution. Our results show that scuba diving, especially during the night, is essential when it comes to studies of size distribution, behaviour, and choice of microhabitat.
Comparison of the immunomodulators “β-glucan” and “sodium alginate” on the non-specific immune response of the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus (Decapoda, Palinura)
Authors: Wu Yu-Sheng , Chen Hsiang-Yin , Wu Shie-Jiun , Nan Fan-Hua
Published: October 2018

This study mainly investigated whether β-glucan or sodium alginate enhance the non-specific immune response of the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. In experiments, lobsters were fed a diet containing one or the other of these compounds, to determine their effect on non-specific immune parameters in the short term (14 days). The lobsters were then bled to examine variance in total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity, superoxide anion (O2−) production, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, phagocytic ratio (PR), and phagocytic index (PI). The effects of treatment with various doses of β-glucan and sodium alginate were determined. The results showed that treatment with 1-2 g of β-glucan or 2-4 g of sodium alginate significantly increased THC, O2− production, SOD activity, and PR. In conclusion, the immunomodulators β-glucan and sodium alginate can increase the non-specific immune response in spiny lobsters.
A new species of Agapophyta Guérin-Meneville, 1828 from the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia (Hemiptera : Heteroptera: Tessaratomidae: Oncomerinae)
Authors: MAGNIEN PHILIPPE , JINDRA ZDENĚK
Published: October 2018

A new species of Agapophyta Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tessaratomidae: Oncomerinae), Agapophyta kmenti sp. nov., is described from the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia, male and female genitalia are illustrated. The new species is close to Agapophyta aurantiaca Blöte, 1945 and A. boschmai Blöte, 1945. A table of diagnostic characters is given to separate the three species.
On the genus Systaria (Araneae: Clubionidae) in Southeast Asia: new species from caves and forests
Authors: JÄGER PETER
Published: October 2018

The genus Systaria Simon 1897 is reviewed in Southeast Asia and eight new species are described: S. lannops spec. nov. from Thailand (female), S. longinqua spec. nov. (male, female) and S. luangprabang spec. nov. (female) from Laos, S. procera spec. nov. (male, female) and S. bregibec spec. nov. (male) from Cambodia, S. bifidops spec. nov. from Malaysia (male), S. panay spec. nov. (female) and S. princesa spec. nov. (male, female) from Philippines. S. elberti (Strand 1913) is illustrated and partly re-described. Informal groups of species are proposed for the first time. Distribution ranges and habitat preferences are mapped.
The family Hydropsychidae Curtis (Trichoptera) in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan
Authors: ITO TOMIKO , NOZAKI TAKAO
Published: October 2018

The caddisfly family Hydropsychidae Curtis is revised for the Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan. Four new species are described based on adults: Diplectrona uken Ito and Nozaki sp. nov., Homoplectra crassicornea Nozaki and Ito sp. nov., Homoplectra trifurcata Nozaki and Ito sp. nov. and Cheumatopsyche aira Ito and Nozaki sp. nov. Based on examination of type specimens of species described from Taiwan in 1910–1930’s: Cheumatopsyche uchidai Kobayashi 1987 and Hydropsyche yaeyamensis Tanida 1986 are synonymized with C. clavalis Martynov 1930 and H. orbiculata Ulmer 1911, respectively. Five East Asian species: Diplectrona burha Schmid 1961, Diplectrona albofasciata (Ulmer 1913), Cheumatopsyche clavalis Martynov 1930, Hydropsyche verrucosa (Ulmer 1911), and Macrostemum formosicolum (Matsumura 1931) are recorded from Japan for the first time and re-described. Adults of two known species, Cheumatopsyche okinawa Oláh and Johanson 2008 and Macrostemum okinawanum (Matsumura 1931) are re-described. Females of five species, previously known only as males, are described for the first time.
The Northeast Winter Monsoon over the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia: Evolution, Interannual Variability, and Model Simulations
Authors: Sengupta Agniv , Nigam Sumant
Published: October 2018

The northeast monsoon (NEM) brings the bulk of annual rainfall to southeastern peninsular India, Sri Lanka, and the neighboring Southeast Asian countries. This October–December monsoon is referred to as the winter monsoon in this region. In contrast, the southwest summer monsoon brings bountiful rainfall to the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The winter monsoon region is objectively demarcated from analysis of the timing of peak monthly rainfall. Because of the region’s complex terrain, in situ precipitation datasets are assessed using high-spatiotemporal-resolution Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) rainfall estimates, prior to their use in monsoon evolution, variability, and trend analyses. The Global Precipitation Climatology Center’s in situ analysis showed the least bias from TRMM.

El Niño–Southern Oscillation’s (ENSO) impact on NEM rainfall is shown to be significant, leading to stronger NEM rainfall over southeastern peninsular India and Sri Lanka but diminished rainfall over Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The impact varies subseasonally, being weak in October and strong in November. The positive anomalies over peninsular India are generated by anomalous anticyclonic flow centered over the Bay of Bengal, which is forced by an El Niño–related reduction in deep convection over the Maritime Continent.

The historical twentieth-century climate simulations informing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment (IPCC-AR5) show varied deficiencies in the NEM rainfall distribution and a markedly weaker (and often unrealistic) ENSO–NEM rainfall relationship.
Fixed Echo Rejection in Sodar Using Noncoherent Matched Filter Detection and Gaussian Mixture Model–Based Postprocessing
Authors: Kendrick Paul , von Hünerbein Sabine
Published: October 2018

Doppler sodar is a technology used for acoustic-based remote sensing of the lower planetary boundary layer. Sodars are often used to measure wind profiles; however, they suffer from problems caused by noise (both acoustic and electrical) and echoes from fixed objects, which can bias radial velocity estimates. An experimental bistatic sodar was developed with 64 independent channels. The device enables flexible beamforming; beams can be tilted at the same angle irrelevant of frequency, a limitation in most commercial devices. This paper presents an alternative sodar signal-processing algorithm for wind profiling using a multifrequency stepped-chirp pulse. A noncoherent matched filter was used to analyze returned signals. The noncoherent matched filter combines radial velocity estimates from multiple frequencies into a single optimization. To identify and separate sources of backscatter, noise, and fixed echoes, a stochastic pattern-recognition technique, Gaussian mixture modeling, was used to postprocess the noncoherent matched filter data. This method allowed the identification and separation of different stochastic processes. After identification, noise and fixed echo components were removed and a clean wind profile was produced. This technique was compared with traditional spectrum-based radial velocity estimation methods, and an improvement in the rejection of fixed echo components was demonstrated; this is one of the major limitations of sodar performance when located in complex terrain and urban environments.
Relationship between the Track and Structural Evolution of Hurricane Sandy (2012) Using a Regional Ensemble
Authors: Kowaleski Alex M. , Evans Jenni L.
Published: October 2018

An ensemble of 72 Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model simulations is evaluated to examine the relationship between the track of Hurricane Sandy (2012) and its structural evolution. Initial and boundary conditions are obtained from ECMWF and GEFS ensemble forecasts initialized at 0000 UTC 25 October. The 5-day WRF simulations are initialized at 0000 UTC 27 October, 48 h into the global model forecasts. Tracks and cyclone phase space (CPS) paths from the 72 simulations are partitioned into 6 clusters using regression mixture models; results from the 4 most populous track clusters are examined. The four analyzed clusters vary in mean landfall location from southern New Jersey to Maine. Extratropical transition timing is the clearest difference among clusters; more eastward clusters show later Sandy–midlatitude trough interaction, warm seclusion formation, and extratropical transition completion. However, the intercluster variability is much smaller when examined relative to the landfall time of each simulation. In each cluster, a short-lived warm seclusion forms and contracts through landfall while lower-tropospheric potential vorticity concentrates at small radii. Despite the large-scale similarity among the clusters, relevant intercluster differences in landfall-relative extratropical transition are observed. In the easternmost cluster the Sandy–trough interaction is least intense and the warm seclusion decays the most by landfall. In the second most eastward cluster Sandy retains the most intact warm seclusion at landfall because of a slightly later (relative to landfall) and weaker trough interaction compared to the two most westward clusters. Nevertheless, the remarkably similar large-scale evolution of Sandy among the four clusters indicates the high predictability of Sandy’s warm seclusion extratropical transition before landfall.
Improving Background Error Covariances in a 3D Ensemble–Variational Data Assimilation System for Regional NWP
Authors: Caron Jean-François , Michel Yann , Montmerle Thibaut , Arbogast Étienne
Published: October 2018

Following the recent development of a three-dimensional ensemble–variational (3DEnVar) data assimilation algorithm for the AROME-France NWP system, this paper examines different approaches to reduce the sampling noise in the ensemble-derived background error covariances in this new scheme without modifying the background ensemble generation strategy. We first examine two variants of scale-dependent localization: one method consists of applying different amounts of localization to different ranges of background error covariance spatial scales, while simultaneously assimilating all of the available observations. Another separate approach uses time-lagged forecasts in order to increase the effective ensemble size, up to a factor of 3 here. This approach of time-lagged forecasts is considered both on its own and together with scale-dependent localization. When the background error covariances are derived from the most recent 25-member ensemble forecasts, the results from data assimilation cycles over a 33-day winter period show that avoiding cross covariances between scales in the scale-dependent localization formulation first proposed by Buehner performs better than the more recent formulation of Buehner and Shlyaeva. However, when increasing the effective ensemble size to 75 members with time-lagged forecasts, the two scale-dependent formulations provide similar forecast improvements overall. It is also found that the lagged-members approach outperforms scale-dependent localization on its own. The largest forecast improvements are obtained when combining the two approaches.
The Influence of Vertical Advection Discretization in the WRF-ARW Model on Capping Inversion Representation in Warm-Season, Thunderstorm-Supporting Environments
Authors: Nevius David S. , Evans Clark
Published: October 2018

Previous studies have suggested that the Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) Model is unable, in its default configuration, to adequately resolve the capping inversions that are commonly found in the warm-season, thunderstorm-supporting environments of the central United States. Since capping inversions typically form in environments of synoptic-scale subsidence, this study tests the hypothesis that this degradation results, in part, from implicit numerical damping of shorter-wavelength features associated with the model-default third-order-accurate vertical advection finite-differencing scheme. To aid in testing this hypothesis, two short-range, deterministic, convection-allowing model forecasts, one using the default third-order-accurate vertical advection finite-differencing scheme and another using a fourth-order-accurate differencing scheme (which lacks implicit damping but is numerically dispersive), are conducted for 25 days during the 2017 NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecasting Experiment. Model-derived vertical profiles at lead times of 11 and 23 h are validated against available rawinsonde observations released in regions located in the Storm Prediction Center’s 0600 UTC day 1 convection outlook’s “general thunderstorm” forecast area. The fourth-order-accurate vertical advection finite-differencing scheme is shown to not result in statistically significant improvements to model-forecast capping inversions or, more generally, the vertical thermodynamic profile in the lower troposphere. Instead, the fourth-order-accurate differencing scheme primarily impacts the representation of longer-wavelength features already reasonably well resolved by the model. The analysis does, however, provide quantitative evidence over a large sample that, on average, the WRF-ARW model forecasts capping inversions that are too weak, with negative buoyancy spread out over too deep of a vertical layer, compared to observations.
Consecration and Materiality
Authors: Greenland Fiona R.
Published: October 2018

This article focuses on a case of failed consecration: the Egyptian obelisk in New York’s Central Park, commonly known as Cleopatra’s Needle. The obelisk arrived in New York from Alexandria in 1880, with great fanfare. For a brief period, it was the talk of the town: a tourist curiosity and star of advertising campaigns for consumer goods. After an initial surge in public visibility, the monument’s prominence faded. Today, the obelisk is not on the list of New York’s top cultural attractions, and no longer features in media campaigns or political rallies. I ask why the obelisk’s initial popularity failed to crystallize into an enduring condition of consecration. To answer this question, I use archival data to chart the obelisk’s transfer of ownership and planned move, through its Central Park début and subsequent decline in cultural salience. The obelisk met key criteria associated with successful cases of retrospective consecration. What weakened the obelisk’s career were lack of consecrating institutions and inherently unstable material conditions. These mechanisms are symbiotically related: because no institution took responsibility for conserving and protecting the obelisk, its granite face rapidly deteriorated and frustrated attempts to attract potential consecrating institutions. The article makes a twofold contribution to the literature on retrospective consecration. First, by discussing a failed case, it highlights the linked efficacy of consecration formation mechanisms. Second, in focusing on an ancient monument, it demonstrates the role played by materials and the specific measures of consecration that obtain in the broader sphere of ancient monuments.
Why Parents Use the Emergency Department Despite Having a Medical Home
Authors: Pethe Kalpana , Baxterbeck Allison , Rosenthal Susan L. , Stockwell Melissa S.
Published: October 2018

Despite having a medical home, pediatric patients continue emergency department (ED) utilization for various reasons. This study examines parental reasons associated with the decision to seek ED care in a group of low-income, inner-city, publicly insured children. Surveys were conducted with parents of children (age = 0-19 years) presenting to a community-based clinic, which has an established medical home model with enhanced access. Most patients (88.3%) had a pediatrician, and nearly all (93.3%) reported a visit to the ED; most (75.7%) were aware of clinic walk-in hours, but less than half (42.6%) were aware of an after-hours phone line. There was no difference in those who were aware of walk-in hours or an after-hours phone line and a reported ED visit. Half of the parents (52.5%) thought their child’s medical problem was serious. In addition to providing enhanced efforts, medical homes should strive to make families aware of increased access.
Improvement and validation of a physically based model for the shear and transverse crushing of orthotropic composites
Authors: Costa Sérgio , Bru Thomas , Olsson Robin , Portugal André
Published: October 2018

This paper details a complete crush model for composite materials with focus on shear dominated crushing under a three-dimensional stress state. The damage evolution laws and final failure strain conditions are based on data extracted from shear experiments. The main advantages of the current model include the following: no need to measure the fracture toughness in shear and transverse compression, mesh objectivity without the need for a regular mesh and finite element characteristic length, a pressure dependency of the nonlinear shear response, accounting for load reversal and some orthotropic effects (making the model suitable for noncrimp fabric composites). The model is validated against a range of relevant experiments, namely a through-the-thickness compression specimen and a flat crush coupon with the fibres oriented at 45° and 90° to the load. Damage growth mechanisms, orientation of the fracture plane, nonlinear evolution of Poisson's ratio and energy absorption are accurately predicted.
Twenty Years of Digital Media Effects on Civic and Political Participation
Authors: Boulianne Shelley
Published: October 2018

More than 300 studies have been published on the relationship between digital media and engagement in civic and political life. With such a vast body of research, it is difficult to see the big picture of how this relationship has evolved across time and across the globe. This article offers unique insights into how this relationship manifests across time and space, using a meta-analysis of existing research. This approach enables an analysis of a 20-year period, covering 50 countries and including survey data from more than 300,000 respondents. While the relationship may vary cross-nationally, the major story is the trend data. The trend data show a pattern of small, positive average coefficients turning into substantial, positive coefficients. These larger coefficients may be explained by the diffusion of this technology across the masses and changes in the types of use, particularly the rise of social networking sites and tools for online political participation.
An alternative low-cost adsorbent for gold recovery from cyanide-leached liquors: Adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies
Authors: Tsolele Refiloe , Mtunzi Fanyana Moses , Klink Michael John , Pakade Vusumzi Emmanuel
Published: October 2018

Pristine Macadamia nutshell-based activated carbons were chemically oxidized with different concentrations of H3PO4 and HNO3 to increase their surface adsorption properties and further explore if they could be an attractive alternative low-cost adsorbent for gold recovery from cyanide-leached liquors. The modified activated carbons were labeled MACN20, MACN40 and MACN55 to signify the materials prepared from 20%, 40% and 55% (v/v) HNO3, respectively. Similar nomenclature was followed for H3PO4-modified activated carbons. Brunauer-Emmet-Teller, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared activated carbons. The physical properties were attained through determining attrition, ash content, volatile matter and moisture content of all the activated carbons. Various parameters that affect selective adsorption such as the effect of initial concentration, time, agitation speed, interfering species and the dose of the adsorbent were investigated. Optimal parameters for gold ion adsorption were as follows: solution pH, 10; contact time, 6 h; agitation speed, 150 r/min; sorbent amount, 4 g and initial concentration, 5.5 mg/L. The observed selectivity order was not the same for all the adsorbents, but the adsorption of gold was found to be mostly influenced in the presence of nickel and least influenced by copper. MACN55 was found to be the most efficient adsorbent with 74% of gold adsorption from a real-world sample and displayed a similar performance to coconut-based activated carbons.
Development of temperature-induced strains in coal–CH4 and coal–CO2 systems
Authors: Baran Paweł , Czerw Katarzyna , Czuma Natalia , Zarębska Katarzyna , Ćwik Agnieszka
Published: October 2018

Expansion/contraction of coal, induced by the sorption of carbon dioxide and methane in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions, was measured. The investigation is of great importance in the context of validating the potential CO2 sequestration in unmined coal seams. Changes in temperature in underground coal beds can influence the sorption balance, resulting in strains in coal strata, which could lead to the desorption of gas and leaks to the ground surface. The research shows that the strains induced by CO2 sorption are about twice the size of those resulting from the sorption of CH4. The linear strains are anisotropic and greater in the direction perpendicular to the bedding plane. The results of the non-isothermal experiments show that a temperature increase gives rise to the sample swelling in the presence of methane, but a different pattern is observed for coal–CO2 systems, where sample contraction occurs. This behaviour is explained by the different mechanism of CH4 and CO2 deposition and by the diversity in the maceral composition of the samples.
Neck vein obstruction: Diagnosis and the role of chronic persistent Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection
Authors: Thibault Paul K
Published: October 2018

Background

The objective of this review is to describe the diagnosis of neck vein obstruction and the possible role of chronic persistent Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in producing the syndrome of chronic cerebrospinal venous obstruction.

Method

The normal patterns of flow in the neck veins are described and guidelines for interpretation of the quantitative duplex ultrasound examination of the extracranial neck veins are developed.

Result

An infective cause of neck vein obstruction is proposed and from a literature search of the role of the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydophila pneumoniae in vascular and chronic diseases, a diagnostic protocol for confirming chronic persistent Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection, which includes the quantitative duplex ultrasound examination and specific blood tests are suggested.

Conclusion

Further research to validate this diagnostic protocol is required.
What does it take to deliver brilliant home-based palliative care? Using positive organisational scholarship and video reflexive ethnography to explore the complexities of palliative care at home
Authors: Collier Aileen , Hodgins Michael , Crawford Gregory , Every Alice , Womsley Kerrie , Jeffs Catherine , Houthuysen Pat , Kang Srey , Thomas Elizabeth , Weller Valerie , Van Cindy , Farrow Caroline , Dadich Ann
Published: October 2018

Background:

Despite the increasing number of people requiring palliative care at home, there is limited evidence on how home-based palliative care is best practised.

Aim:

The aim of this participatory qualitative study is to determine the characteristics that contribute to brilliant home-based palliative care.

Design:

This study was inspired by the brilliance project – an initiative to explore how positive organisational scholarship in healthcare can be used to study brilliant health service management from the viewpoint of patients, families, and clinicians. The methodology of positive organisational scholarship in healthcare was combined with video-reflexive ethnography.

Setting/participants:

Home-based specialist palliative care services across two Australian states participated in the study. Clinicians were able to take part in the study at different levels. Pending their preference, this could involve video-recording of palliative care, facilitating and/or participating in reflexive sessions to analyse and critique the recordings, identifying the characteristics that contribute to brilliant home-based palliative care, and/or sharing the findings with others.

Results:

Brilliance in home-based palliative care is contingent on context and is conceptualised as a variety of actions, people, and processes. Care is more likely to be framed as brilliant when it is epitomised: anticipatory aptitude and action; a weave of commitment; flexible adaptability; and/or team capacity-building.

Conclusion:

This study is important because it verifies the characteristics of brilliant home-based palliative care. Furthermore, these characteristics can be adapted for use within other services.
The conceptual models and mechanisms of action that underpin advance care planning for cancer patients: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Lin Cheng-Pei , Evans Catherine J , Koffman Jonathan , Armes Jo , Murtagh Fliss E M , Harding Richard
Published: October 2018

Background:

No systematic review has focused on conceptual models underpinning advance care planning for patients with advanced cancer, and the mechanisms of action in relation to the intended outcomes.

Aim:

To appraise conceptual models and develop a logic model of advance care planning for advanced cancer patients, examining the components, processes, theoretical underpinning, mechanisms of action and linkage with intended outcomes.

Design:

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials was conducted, and was prospectively registered on PROSPERO. Narrative synthesis was used for data analysis.

Data sources:

The data sources were MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CENTRAL, PROSPERO, CareSearch, and OpenGrey with reference chaining and hand-searching from inception to 31 March 2017, including all randomised controlled trials with advance care planning for cancer patients in the last 12 months of life. Cochrane quality assessment tool was used for quality appraisal.

Results:

Nine randomised controlled trials were included, with only four articulated conceptual models. Mechanisms through which advance care planning improved outcomes comprised (1) increasing patients’ knowledge of end-of-life care, (2) strengthening patients’ autonomous motivation, (3) building patients’ competence to undertake end-of-life discussions and (4) enhancing shared decision-making in a trustful relationship. Samples were largely highly educated Caucasian.

Conclusion:

The use of conceptual models underpinning the development of advance care planning is uncommon. When used, they identify the individual behavioural change. Strengthening patients’ motivation and competence in participating advance care planning discussions are key mechanisms of change. Understanding cultural feasibility of the logic model for different educational levels and ethnicities in non-Western countries should be a research priority.
Libraries and their role in transitional justice in the Philippines
Authors: Buenrostro Iyra S. , Cabbab Johann Frederick A.
Published: October 2018

The stories of the University Library of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Monument to the Heroes), the libraries that survived during and after the martial law years in the Philippines under the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, are told as part of the country’s direction towards transitional justice. The authors argue that the Philippines is experiencing an ‘extended’ transition and that libraries play an important role as memory activists. The narratives and experiences of the librarians and staff show various memory work, reconciliation activities, redress practices, and collaborations.
Development of an Automated Remote Asphalt Paving Quality Control System
Authors: Zhu Sicong , Li Xiangdi , Wang Haoyang , Yu Dongxiao
Published: October 2018

The asphalt pavement construction monitoring system presented in this paper covers two main asphalt pavement construction processes: hot mix asphalt (HMA) plant production and the laydown and compaction operation. The main architecture of the monitoring system, the development of the required hardware and the software structure, and the implementation process are presented in this paper. The system is able to perform automatic data collection and data transmission, and can automatically provide feedback to the construction site for real-time asphalt pavement construction quality control. The entire process works automatically without much human intervention and covers the entire project throughout the entire construction period in real time. The monitoring system was successfully implemented in the ZhaoMa Highway construction project in China, where it proved to be effective and reliable. The key asphalt plant production parameters, including asphalt content and aggregate gradation, were improved to a statistically significant level as shown by comparing before and after the monitoring system’s deployment. Statistical analysis between asphalt core density and laydown and compaction monitoring data, collected at 20 locations, indicated that rolling passes were highly correlated with density, whereas finishing rolling temperature and HMA laydown temperature were moderately correlated with density. These results imply that implementation of the monitoring system proposed by this paper could improve asphalt construction procedure quality control and asphalt pavement construction quality.
Characterization of Taxi Fleet Operational Networks and Vehicle Efficiency: Chicago Case Study
Authors: Chen Ying , Hyland Michael , Wilbur Michael Patrick , Mahmassani Hani S.
Published: October 2018

Taxi fleets serve a significant and important subset of travel demand in major cities around the world. This paper characterizes the Chicago taxi fleet operational network using complex network metrics and analyzes the operational efficiency of individual taxis over the past four years using an extensive taxi-trip dataset. The dataset, recently released by the city of Chicago, includes the pickup and drop-off census tracts and time stamps for over 100 million taxi trips. The paper explores year-over-year changes in the spatial distribution of Chicago taxi travel demand. The taxi pickup and drop-off census tract locations are modeled as nodes, and links are generated between unique pickup and drop-off node pairs. The analysis shows that high-demand pickup and drop-off location pairs in 2013 generated similar trip volumes in 2016; however, the low-demand pairs in 2013 generated significantly fewer trips in 2016. Additionally, this paper presents temporal efficiency and spatial efficiency metrics. The temporal efficiency metric determines the percentage of in-service time taxis are productive (i.e., transporting travelers), rather than empty. The spatial efficiency metric measures the percentage of taxi miles that are productive (i.e., loaded), rather than empty. The efficiency analysis of the Chicago taxi fleet shows that, for most taxis, around 50% of their in-service time and travel distance are unproductive. This inefficiency negatively affects the profitability of individual drivers and the fleet, traffic congestion, vehicle emissions, the service quality provided to customers, and the ability of taxi services to compete with emerging mobility services.
Multi-contact in modified helical gear tooth pair considering misalignments
Authors: Wang Jianhong , Li Chengwu
Published: October 2018

Tooth modification is an effective method for reducing the undesirable effects introduced by misalignments, but the magnitude of such modifications with respect to any given misalignments is uncertain and largely based on experience. A mathematical model of a helical gear pair is established to study the coupling effects of tooth modifications and misalignments on the system's multi-contact behavior. Misalignments are defined as the deviations of the ends of axes in gear and pinion mechanisms from their ideal positions, and they affect the contact behavior through transformation matrices. Deformations in the gear and pinion are computed by a finite element method. Misalignments, tooth modifications, and the gear's deformation influence the contact behavior by altering the distances between contact lines at corresponding contact tooth pairs. The actual contact is believed to occur at the contact line section(s) with the smallest distance. Using the proposed model, the influences of misalignments, tooth modifications, and their couplings on the contact load distribution, contact load share ratio, and contact load deviation factor are analyzed. The results show that an optimum tooth modification does exist for helical gear pairs under a given external load and misalignments.
Selling and buying sex in the city: men who have sex with men in the Bangkok men who have sex with men Cohort Study
Authors: Dunne Eileen F , Pattanasin Sarika , Chemnasiri Tareerat , Varangrat Anchalee , Raengsakulrach Boonyos , Wichuda Sukwicha , Ungsedhapand Chaiwat , Sirivongrangson Pachara , Chitwarakorn Anupong , Holtz Timothy H
Published: October 2018

We describe participants in the Bangkok Men who have sex with men Cohort Study (BMCS) who sold or bought sex. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women aged ≥18 years had HIV testing and behavioral data collected at enrollment and every four months. We evaluated report of receiving money or goods for sex (selling sex) or giving money or goods for sex (buying sex) at enrollment using logistic regression models; we also describe sex work over time, and HIV and syphilis incidence among those who report sex work. At enrollment, 511 (29.3%) of 1744 participants reported buying or selling sex. Factors associated with selling sex were young age, lower education, living alone or living with a friend, being unemployed, higher HIV knowledge, binge drinking and club drug use, a higher number of casual male partners, meeting sex partners at specific venues, having a foreign sex partner, and being HSV-1 seropositive. MSM aged 18–21 years who sold sex had an HIV incidence of 11.1 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 6.7–17.4). Almost one-third of participants from BMCS reported sex work at enrollment. Young men who sold sex had high HIV incidence and HIV prevention interventions are needed for this at-risk population in Bangkok, Thailand.
Non-Coding RNA in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Wang Sheng-Wen , Liu Zhong , Shi Zhong-Song
Published: October 2018

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNAs that regulate gene expression in a post-transcriptional manner. NcRNAs include microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs. They are highly expressed in the brain and are involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cerebral ischemic injury, neurodegeneration, neural development, and plasticity. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and physical disability worldwide. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurs when brain blood flow stops, and that stoppage results in reduced oxygen and glucose supply to cells in the brain. In this article, we review the latest progress on ncRNAs in relation to their implications in AIS, as well as their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. We also review ncRNAs acting as possible therapeutic targets in future precision medicine. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of current challenges and future directions for ncRNAs studies in AIS, which may facilitate the translation of ncRNAs research into clinical practice to improve clinical outcome of AIS.
Role of emergency physician–performed ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain
Authors: Kozaci Nalan , Avci Mustafa , Tulubas Gul , Ararat Ertan , Karakoyun Omer Faruk , Karaman Cagri , Erol Bekir
Published: October 2018

Objectives:

This prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bedside point‐of‐care abdominal ultrasonography performed by emergency physician in patients with non‐traumatic acute abdominal pain.

Methods:

The patients, who were admitted to emergency department due to abdominal pain, were included in this study. The emergency physician obtained a routine history, physical examination, blood draws, and ordered diagnostic imaging. After the initial clinical examinations, all the patients underwent ultrasonography for abdominal pathologies by emergency physician and radiologist, respectively. Point‐of‐care abdominal ultrasonography compared with abdominal ultrasonography performed by radiologist as the gold standard.

Results:

The study included 122 patients. Gallbladder and appendix pathologies were the most commonly detected in the abdominal ultrasonography. Compared with abdominal ultrasonography, point‐of‐care abdominal ultrasonography was found to have 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity in gallbladder pathologies; 91% sensitivity and 91% specificity in acute appendicitis; 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity in abdominal free fluid; 83% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ovarian pathologies. Compared to final diagnosis, preliminary diagnoses of emergency physicians were correct in 92 (75.4%) patients.

Conclusion:

This study showed that emergency physicians were successful in identifying abdominal organ pathologies with point‐of‐care abdominal ultrasonography after training.