bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microscopy mineral image enhancement based on improved adaptive threshold in nonsubsampled shearlet transform domain
Authors: Li Liangliang , Si Yujuan , Jia Zhenhong
Published: March 2018

In this paper, a novel microscopy mineral image enhancement method based on adaptive threshold in non-subsampled shearlet transform (NSST) domain is proposed. First, the image is decomposed into one low-frequency sub-band and several high-frequency sub-bands. Second, the gamma correction is applied to process the low-frequency sub-band coefficients, and the improved adaptive threshold is adopted to suppress the noise of the high-frequency sub-bands coefficients. Third, the processed coefficients are reconstructed with the inverse NSST. Finally, the unsharp filter is used to enhance the details of the reconstructed image. Experimental results on various microscopy mineral images demonstrated that the proposed approach has a better enhancement effect in terms of objective metric and subjective metric.
Effects of high pressure nitrogen annealing on ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films
Authors: Kim Taeho , Park Jinsung , Cheong Byoung-Ho , Jeon Sanghun
Published: March 2018

The effect of high-pressure nitrogen annealing at up to 50 atmospheres (atm) on Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films at relatively low temperatures (450 °C) is analyzed using polarization-electric field curves, bipolar switching endurance measurements, grazing angle incidence X-ray diffraction, and piezoelectric force microscopy. Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films annealed at 450 °C/50 atm have excellent characteristics, including remanent polarizations greater than 20 μC/cm2, a switching speed of 200 ns, and reliability, measured by sustained performance after 1010 bipolar switching cycles. The enhanced device features are attributed to the transition to the orthorhombic-phase from the tetragonal-phase of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 at high pressure, which is also consistent with the results of “wake-up” analysis, and the variations of the pure polarization curves, extracted from the total displacement field under pressure.
Tunable ferromagnetic resonance in La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites at millimeter wave frequencies
Authors: Korolev Konstantin A. , Wu Chuanjian , Yu Zhong , Sun Ke , Afsar Mohammed N. , Harris Vincent G.
Published: March 2018

Transmittance measurements have been performed on La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites in millimeter waves. Broadband millimeter-wave measurements have been carried out using the free space quasi-optical spectrometer, equipped with a set of high power backward wave oscillators covering the frequency range of 30 – 120 GHz. Strong absorption zones have been observed in the millimeter-wave transmittance spectra of all La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites due to the ferromagnetic resonance. Linear shift of ferromagnetic resonance frequency as functions of La-Co substitutions have been found. Real and imaginary parts of dielectric permittivity of La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites have been calculated using the analysis of recorded high precision transmittance spectra. Frequency dependences of magnetic permeability of La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites, as well as saturation magnetization and anisotropy field have been determined based on Schlömann’s theory for partially magnetized ferrites. La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites have been further investigated by DC magnetization to assess magnetic behavior and compare with millimeter wave data. Consistency of saturation magnetization determined independently by both millimeter wave absorption and DC magnetization have been found for all La-Co substituted barium hexaferrites. These materials seem to be quite promising as tunable millimeter wave absorbers, filters, circulators, based on the adjusting of their substitution parameters.
Negative magnetization and the sign reversal of exchange bias field in Co(Cr1-xMnx)2O4 (0≤x≤0.6)
Authors: Li Canglong , Yan Tengyun , Chakrabarti Chiranjib , Zhang Run , Chen Xinghan , Fu Qingshan , Yuan Songliu , Barasa Godfrey Okumu
Published: March 2018

A series of Co(Cr1-xMnx)2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) ceramic samples have been synthesized by using the sol-gel method. The magnetic properties of the ceramics are experimentally studied through different protocols of dc magnetization measurements. It is found that Mn-doping continuously decreases the total magnetization for x in the range of 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 and the net magnetization becomes negative in the range of 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. The net magnetization reverses and becomes positive upon further increasing x to 0.6. This unusual magnetic phenomenon in the system for x = 0.3–0.5 can be called as negative magnetization. It is regarded as arising from the competition of the two magnetic sublattices at different crystallographic sites. For the sample x = 0.3, the magnetic switching effect near the compensation temperature Tcomp has been studied, and it shows potential applications in the spintronic devices. The magnetic configuration of the sample could be changed under a high magnetic field, and the spin is reoriented at TSR. Both positive and negative exchange bias effects are observed, which are ascribed to the pinning force of uncompensated spins on ferromagnetic moments and the magneto-structural transition, respectively.
The trap states in lightly Mg-doped GaN grown by MOVPE on a freestanding GaN substrate
Authors: Narita Tetsuo , Tokuda Yutaka , Kogiso Tatsuya , Tomita Kazuyoshi , Kachi Tetsu
Published: March 2018

We investigated traps in lightly Mg-doped (2 × 1017 cm−3) p-GaN fabricated by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on a freestanding GaN substrate and the subsequent post-growth annealing, using deep level transient spectroscopy. We identified four hole traps with energy levels of EV + 0.46, 0.88, 1.0, and 1.3 eV and one electron trap at EC − 0.57 eV in a p-type GaN layer uniformly doped with magnesium (Mg). The Arrhenius plot of hole traps with the highest concentration (∼3 × 1016 cm−3) located at EV + 0.88 eV corresponded to those of hole traps ascribed to carbon on nitrogen sites in n-type GaN samples grown by MOVPE. In fact, the range of the hole trap concentrations at EV + 0.88 eV was close to the carbon concentration detected by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Moreover, the electron trap at EC − 0.57 eV was also identical to the dominant electron traps commonly observed in n-type GaN. Together, these results suggest that the trap states in the lightly Mg-doped GaN grown by MOVPE show a strong similarity to those in n-type GaN, which can be explained by the Fermi level close to the conduction band minimum in pristine MOVPE grown samples due to existing residual donors and Mg-hydrogen complexes.
Enhancement of conductance of GaAs sub-microwires under external stimuli
Authors: Qu Xianlin , Deng Qingsong , Zheng Kun
Published: March 2018

Semiconductors with one dimension on the micro-nanometer scale have many unique physical properties that are remarkably different from those of their bulk counterparts. Moreover, changes in the external field will further modulate the properties of the semiconductor micro-nanomaterials. In this study, we used focused ion beam technology to prepare freestanding ⟨111⟩-oriented GaAs sub-microwires from a GaAs substrate. The effects of laser irradiation and bending or buckling deformation induced by compression on the electrical transport properties of an individual GaAs sub-microwire were studied. The experimental results indicate that both laser irradiation and bending deformation can enhance their electrical transport properties, the laser irradiation resulted in a conductance enhancement of ∼30% compared to the result with no irradiation, and in addition, bending deformation changed the conductance by as much as ∼180% when the average strain was approximately 1%. The corresponding mechanisms are also discussed. This study provides beneficial insight into the fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices based on GaAs micro/nano-wires.
Quantitative analysis of the persistent photoconductivity effect in Cu(In,Ga)Se2
Authors: Maciaszek Marek , Zabierowski Paweł
Published: March 2018

The magnitude of the persistent photoconductivity effect (PPC) in two sets of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 samples, differing in the amount of cadmium and sodium, was measured. Using equations describing the magnitude of PPC, metastable defect and shallow acceptor densities were calculated. The method of the analysis of PPC in the presence of a deep acceptor level was presented. Based on obtained results, we drew conclusions about reasons of decreased PPC in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 without sodium as well as the role of (VSe-VCu) complexes in establishing the carrier concentration in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 with and without sodium.
Investigation of the difference between spin Hall magnetoresistance rectification and spin pumping from the viewpoint of magnetization dynamics
Authors: Zhang Qihan , Fan Xiaolong , Zhou Hengan , Kong Wenwen , Zhou Shiming , Gui Y. S. , Hu C.-M. , Xue Desheng
Published: March 2018

Spin pumping (SP) and spin rectification due to spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) can result in a dc resonant voltage signal, when magnetization in ferromagnetic insulator/nonmagnetic structures experiences ferromagnetic resonance. Since the two effects are often interrelated, quantitative identification of them is important for studying the dynamic nonlocal spin transport through an interface. In this letter, the key difference between SP and SMR rectification was investigated from the viewpoint of spin dynamics. The phase-dependent nature of SMR rectification, which is the fundamental characteristic distinguishing it from SP, was tested by a well-designed experiment. In this experiment, two identical yttrium iron garnet/Pt strips with a π phase difference in dynamic magnetization show the same SP signals and inverse SMR signals.
Ultra-thin enhanced-absorption long-wave infrared detectors
Authors: Wang Shaohua , Yoon Narae , Kamboj Abhilasha , Petluru Priyanka , Zheng Wanhua , Wasserman Daniel
Published: March 2018

We propose an architecture for enhanced absorption in ultra-thin strained layer superlattice detectors utilizing a hybrid optical cavity design. Our detector architecture utilizes a designer-metal doped semiconductor ground plane beneath the ultra-subwavelength thickness long-wavelength infrared absorber material, upon which we pattern metallic antenna structures. We demonstrate the potential for near 50% detector absorption in absorber layers with thicknesses of approximately λ0/50, using realistic material parameters. We investigate detector absorption as a function of wavelength and incidence angle, as well as detector geometry. The proposed device architecture offers the potential for high efficiency detectors with minimal growth costs and relaxed design parameters.
Influences of organic component on mechanical property of cortical bone with different water content by nanoindentation
Authors: Sun Xingdong , Li Lijia , Guo Yue , Zhao Hongwei , Zhang Shizhong , Yu Yang , Wu Di , Liu Hang , Yu Miao , Shi Dong , Liu Zeyang , Zhou Mingxing , Ren Luquan , Fu Lu
Published: March 2018

The phenomenon that water in bone has important influences on mechanical properties of cortical bone has been known. However, the detail of the influence mechanism is not clear, especially in the component hierarchy. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the mechanical properties of deproteinization bone and cortical bone with different water content by nanoindentation experiments. The deproteinization bone is cortical bone removed organic component, and demineralization bone is cortical bone removed inorganic component. The experiments results showed that the elastic modulus and hardness all increased with the decreasing of water content in both cortical bone and deproteinization bone. However, variations of deproteinization bone were more significant than the normal one. Without organic component, the shape and size of inorganic component (hydroxyapatite particles) turned to irregular. The plastic energy of both cortical bone and deproteinization bone all decreased with the decreasing of water content and the variations range of deproteinization bone was wider than cortical bone. This research may give some deeply understanding for the studies of influence of water on mechanical properties of cortical bone.
Pragmatic transfer and development
Authors: Li Wei
Published: March 2018

Email has become a ubiquitous medium of communication. It is used amongst people from the same speech community, but also between people from different language and cultural backgrounds. When people communicate, they tend to follow rules of speaking in their native language, termed by scholars as pragmatic transfer, which may cause misunderstandings and lead to cross-cultural communication breakdown. This book examines pragmatic transfer by Chinese learners of English at different proficiency levels when writing email requests and refusals. To meet the need for developmental research in L2 pragmatics, it also explores whether pragmatic transfer increases or decreases as language proficiency improves. This book will appeal to researchers and students in interlanguage and intercultural pragmatics, second language acquisition, English as a second/foreign language, and intercultural communication.
Order effects in the translation process
Authors: Mellinger Christopher D. , Hanson Thomas A.
Published: March 2018

This study investigates how the order in which various translation memory match-types occur in a target language version of a text may influence translator behavior and cognition. Empirical research designs often attempt to mitigate for possible confounds from order effects, yet explicit recognition of the time-series nature of data collection can yield a better understanding of the influence that translation technologies have on the translation task. Data are drawn from a previous study that investigated technical, temporal, and cognitive effort in a translation memory environment, and here we analyze the time-series data for potential order effects. Findings show that order effects are present in some instances during the sequential progression through the target text, particularly with respect to technical and cognitive effort. Results are also suggestive of a potential first impression effect.
Lexical access in trilinguals
Authors: Aparicio Xavier , Lavaur Jean-Marc
Published: March 2018

An original double-masked translation priming study investigates how trilingual translation trainees process their non-dominant languages (L2 and L3) and how these languages influence one another. We recruited 24 French (L1)- English (L2)- Spanish (L3) unbalanced trilinguals to perform lexical decision tasks in their L2 and L3. Target words were preceded by two primes, which were either the same word (repetition), a translation in one language, translations in two languages or unrelated words (in one or two languages). The results highlighted strong translation priming effects, with a repetition effect in both target languages. In addition, when the translation primes belonged to the other non-dominant language, reaction times (RTs) were slower in comparison to semantically unrelated primes in the same priming language. When two different languages were presented as a prime, L1 primes were more efficient when presented as first prime. These results are in line with previous experiments on masked translation priming studies in trilinguals and suggest that the multilingual lexicon is mediated by the L1.
Translation competence from the acquisition point of view
Authors: Kumpulainen Minna
Published: March 2018

This article discusses translation competence (TC) and its acquisition, introducing a framework, which depicts TC as a situation-based construct with interlingual skills at its core. In this framework, translation is defined as any mediation between different languages and cultures, from everyday conversations to professional translation practise. This view is assumed to reflect the acquisition of TC (ATC), since a rudimentary ability to mediate between two languages can be regarded as the first step towards professional translation skills. The model is built around interlingual text production skills, and it conceptualizes various types of extra-linguistic knowledge as task-specific: the extent to which they are needed in translation is situation-bound. The framework is designed to be used as a theoretical framework in empirical studies into ATC, an example of which is presented in the article.
The development of the TPR-DB as Grounded Theory Method
Authors: Carl Michael , Schaeffer Moritz
Published: March 2018

Initial versions of the translation process research database (TPR-DB), were released around 2011 in an attempt to integrate translation process data from several until then individually collected and scattered translation research projects. While the earlier individual studies had a clear focus onquantitativeassessment of well-defined research questions on cognitive processes in human translation production, the integration of the data into the TPR-DB allowed for broaderqualitativeand exploratory research which has led to new codes, categories and research themes. In a constant effort to develop and refine the emerging concepts and categories and to validate the developing theories, the TPR-DB has been extended with further translation studies in different languages and translation modes. In this respect, it shares many features with Grounded Theory Method. This method wasdiscoveredin 1967 and used in qualitative research in social science ad many other research areas. We analyze the TPR-DB development as a Grounded Theory Method.1
Dehumanization and Islamophobia: attitudes towards the Syrian refugee crisis / Deshumanización e islamofobia: actitudes ante la crisis de los refugiados sirios
Authors: Gómez-Martínez Carmen , Moral-Jiménez María de la Villa
Published: March 2018

The dehumanization of certain outgroups is manifested in the deligitimization of the other and generates exclusion, especially in conditions perceived as potentially threatening. The purpose of this study is to analyse the perceptions of Syrian refugees and image of the Muslim population among young people between the ages of 15 and 18 ( n = 205) and people over the age of 60 ( n = 117). To do so, scales of dehumanization, modern racism and Islamophobia were applied and analysed according to certain variables such as age and degree of perceived religiosity. The results show that there are significant differences in terms of age in dehumanization, modern racism and Islamophobia, but the dehumanization of both Muslims and Syrian refugees seems to appear at all levels, with the perception of threat as a crucial factor. Religiosity also seems to be a significant variable in the study of racism and Islamophobia, although not in dehumanization. The psychosocial implications of these findings are discussed.
Retinoid isomerase inhibitors impair but do not block mammalian cone photoreceptor function
Authors: Kiser Philip D. , Zhang Jianye , Sharma Aditya , Angueyra Juan M. , Kolesnikov Alexander V. , Badiee Mohsen , Tochtrop Gregory P. , Kinoshita Junzo , Peachey Neal S. , Li Wei , Kefalov Vladimir J. , Palczewski Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

Visual function in vertebrates critically depends on the continuous regeneration of visual pigments in rod and cone photoreceptors. RPE65 is a well-established retinoid isomerase in the pigment epithelium that regenerates rhodopsin during the rod visual cycle; however, its contribution to the regeneration of cone pigments remains obscure. In this study, we use potent and selective RPE65 inhibitors in rod- and cone-dominant animal models to discern the role of this enzyme in cone-mediated vision. We confirm that retinylamine and emixustat-family compounds selectively inhibit RPE65 over DES1, the putative retinoid isomerase of the intraretinal visual cycle. In vivo and ex vivo electroretinography experiments in Gnat1−/− mice demonstrate that acute administration of RPE65 inhibitors after a bleach suppresses the late, slow phase of cone dark adaptation without affecting the initial rapid portion, which reflects intraretinal visual cycle function. Acute administration of these compounds does not affect the light sensitivity of cone photoreceptors in mice during extended exposure to background light, but does slow all phases of subsequent dark recovery. We also show that cone function is only partially suppressed in cone-dominant ground squirrels and wild-type mice by multiday administration of an RPE65 inhibitor despite profound blockade of RPE65 activity. Complementary experiments in these animal models using the DES1 inhibitor fenretinide show more modest effects on cone recovery. Collectively, these studies demonstrate a role for continuous RPE65 activity in mammalian cone pigment regeneration and provide further evidence for RPE65-independent regeneration mechanisms.
Dynamic variational study of chaos: spin glasses in three dimensions
Authors: Billoire A , Fernandez L A , Maiorano A , Marinari E , Martin-Mayor V , Moreno-Gordo J , Parisi G , Ricci-Tersenghi F , Ruiz-Lorenzo J J
Published: March 2018

We have introduced a variational method to improve the computation of integrated correlation times in parallel tempering dynamics, obtaining a better estimate (a lower bound, at least) of the exponential correlation time. Using this determination of the correlation times, we revisited the problem of the characterization of the chaos in temperature in finite dimensional spin glasses, by way of the study of correlations between various chaos indicators computed in the static and the correlation times of the parallel tempering dynamics. The sample-distribution of the characteristic time for the parallel tempering dynamics turns out to be fat-tailed, and to obey finite-size scaling.
Linear response and correlation of a self-propelled particle in the presence of external fields
Authors: Caprini Lorenzo , Marconi Umberto Marini Bettolo , Vulpiani Angelo
Published: March 2018

We study the non-equilibrium properties of non interacting active Ornstein–Uhlenbeck particles (AOUP) subject to an external nonuniform field using a Fokker–Planck approach with a focus on the linear response and time-correlation functions. In particular, we compare different methods to compute these functions including the unified colored noise approximation (UCNA). The AOUP model, described by the position of the particle and the active force acting on it, is usually mapped into a Markovian process, describing the motion of a fictitious passive particle in terms of its position and velocity, where the effect of the activity is transferred into a position-dependent friction. We show that the form of the response function of the AOUP depends on whether we put the perturbation on the position and keep unperturbed the active force in the original variables or perturb the position and maintain unperturbed the velocity in the transformed variables. Indeed, as a result of the change of variables the perturbation on the position becomes a perturbation both on the position and on the fictitious velocity. We test these predictions by considering the response for three types of convex potentials: quadratic, quartic and double-well potential. Moreover, by comparing the response of the AOUP model with the corresponding response of the UCNA model we conclude that although the stationary properties are fairly well approximated by the UCNA, the non equilibrium properties are not, an effect which is not negligible when the persistence time is large.
Farmer’s Motivation in Aren Sugar Processing Business
Authors: Abdullah W G , Rianse U , Muhidin  , Widayati W , Mihrad E S , Taridala S A A , Rianse I S , Baka W K
Published: March 2018

The objectives of the research were to analyze socio-economic characteristics and motivation of farmers in aren sugar processing business in Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The analysis used in this research was quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that average state of socio-economic characteristics of aren sugar farmer that were in the category of productive age, which was 46.12 years old, has fulfil basic education category (9 years education), low category of dependents as many as three people, the Average experience of aren sugar processing business during 18 years, and the average aren trees were tapped as much as seven trees, every day, (b) farmer’s motivation in aren sugar processing business in low category, with the indicator is the motive of imitation, economic, security, affiliations, awards, and self-actualization.
Flower morphology diversity of asam gelugur (Garcinia atroviridis griff, ex t. anders) accessions in several districts of North Sumatera, Indonesian
Authors: Bayu E S , Febrianti W , Damanik R I M
Published: March 2018

The research aims to study of flower morphology of G. atroviridis plants in several Districts of North Sumatera. This study was conducted in Asahan, Batubara and Serdang Berdagai districts in February to April 2017, exploration using survey method with IPGRI descriptors guide, and accidental sampling. The research results showed that in three Districts of Sumatera Utara, there are 26 accessions of Asam Gelugur characterized based on morphology of flowers. Based on clustering analysis using the NTSYS-pc Program, all flower morphology data resulted in dendogram with similar coeffisien range from 0.34 to 0.75 into four groups. The first group (I) consists of 16 accessions i.e Asahan, Batubara and Serdang Bedagai districts. The second group (II) in Asahan, Batubara and Serdang Bedagai districts there are 7 accessions The third group (III) consists of two accessions, i.e. Asahan and Batubara Districts. The fourth group (IV) consists of one accession in Serdang Bedagai District is the only outgroup access.
Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) on the main nursery in a greenhouse
Authors: Sigalingging R , Sumono  , Rahmansyah N
Published: March 2018

The estimation of crop water requirement is an important part of oil palm plantation because fruit yield of oil palm can be affected by water stress. Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of oil palm using Tenera variety at 7-12 months old was determined. Soil texture was sandy loam with 73.8 % sand, 10.8 % silt, 15.77 % clay and 1.41 % organic matter. The results showed that the oil palm getting older decreased significantly in bulk density, particle density and porosity of soil caused the root of oil palm enlarged (19.42 g to 53.37 g). This was indicated by increased the dry root weight. On the other hand, the value of evapotranspiration and crop coefficient increased significantly, that was 1.85 to 2.00 mm/day and 0.8 to 0.87 respectively.
Environmental performance, profitability, asset utilization, debt monitoring and firm value
Authors: Bukit R Br , Haryanto B , Ginting P
Published: March 2018

The growing issue on firm value shows that firm value is not only determined by the firm ability to increase financial profit, but also by the company's concern in maintaining the environmental condition. The industrial development produces waste that pollutes the environment that has potential to serious impact on the next life. In addition to provide financial benefits, companies are increasingly facing pressure to be socially responsible for the survival of the company. However, past findings demonstrate that the effect of environmental performance, profitability, and asset utilization to the firm’s value are still unclear. This study aims to test whether environmental performance, firm profitability and asset utilization can effectively enhance firm value in two different conditions: intensive debt monitoring and less intensive debt monitoring. Sample of companies is taken from the list of Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period of 2013 to 2015. Using multiple regression analysis, discloses that: in intensive monitoring, managers tend to have high firm value when company has high environmental performance and or high profitability and high asset utilization. Monitoring system needs to be intensified especially for companies with the above characteristics.
AltHapAlignR: improved accuracy of RNA-seq analyses through the use of alternative haplotypes
Authors: Lee Wanseon , Plant Katharine , Humburg Peter , Knight Julian C
Published: March 2018

Motivation

Reliance on mapping to a single reference haplotype currently limits accurate estimation of allele or haplotype-specific expression using RNA-sequencing, notably in highly polymorphic regions such as the major histocompatibility complex.

Results

We present AltHapAlignR, a method incorporating alternate reference haplotypes to generate gene- and haplotype-level estimates of transcript abundance for any genomic region where such information is available. We validate using simulated and experimental data to quantify input allelic ratios for major histocompatibility complex haplotypes, demonstrating significantly improved correlation with ground truth estimates of gene counts compared to standard single reference mapping. We apply AltHapAlignR to RNA-seq data from 462 individuals, showing how significant underestimation of expression of the majority of classical human leukocyte antigen genes using conventional mapping can be corrected using AltHapAlignR to allow more accurate quantification of gene expression for individual alleles and haplotypes.

Availability and implementation

Source code freely available at https://github.com/jknightlab/AltHapAlignR.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Burden and Benefits of Caregiving: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Pristavec Teja
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives

Informal caregiving to older adults is a key part of the U.S. long-term care system. Caregivers’ experiences consist of burden and benefits, but traditional analytic approaches typically consider dimensions independently, or cannot account for burden and benefit levels and combinations that co-occur. This study explores how benefits and burden simultaneously shape experiences of caregiving to older adults, and factors associated with experience types.

Research Design and Methods

2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) data were linked to obtain reports from caregivers and recipients. Latent class and regression analysis were conducted on a nationally representative sample of U.S. informal caregivers to older persons.

Results

Five distinguishable caregiving experiences types and their population prevalence were identified. Subjective burden and benefits level and combination uniquely characterize each group. Primary stressors (recipient depression, medical diagnoses), primary appraisal (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, medical task assistance, hours caregiving), and background/contextual factors (caregiver age, race, relationship to recipient, mental health, coresidence, long-term caregiving) are associated with experience types.

Discussion and Implications

Findings highlight caregivers’ experience multiplicity and ambivalence, and identify groups that may benefit most from support services. In cases where it is not possible to reduce burden, assistance programs may focus on increasing the benefits perceptions.
Activity Patterns and Health Outcomes in Later Life: The Role of Nature of Engagement
Authors: Chen Yu-Chih , Putnam Michelle , Lee Yung Soo , Morrow-Howell Nancy
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives

The health benefit of activity participation at older ages is documented in the current literature. Many studies, however, only explored the health benefits of engaging in a few activities and did not examine mechanisms connecting activity participation to health. We investigated the pathway between activity and health by testing the mediation role of the nature of engagement (physical, cognitive, and social) on physical, mental, and cognitive health of older adults.

Research Design and Methods

We analyzed data of 6,044 older adults from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study linked with 2011 Consumption and Activity Mail Survey. We used latent class analysis to identify the patterns of participating in 33 activities as well as patterns of nature of engagement, and examined how these patterns were associated with cognition, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health in later life.

Results

Meaningful patterns of activity (high, medium, low, passive leisure, and working) and the nature of activity engagement (full, partial, and minimal) were identified. High and working groups, compared to the passive leisure group, showed better health and cognition outcomes. The nature of engagement mediated the relationship between activity patterns and health, especially for older adults who were either full or partially engaged.

Discussion and Implications

The nature of engagement may play a more important role than the activity itself in relation to health. Identifying the heterogeneity in activity engagement in later life is critical for tailoring interventions and designing programs that can improve the health of older adults.
BCG Vaccination at Birth and Rate of Hospitalization for Infection Until 15 Months of Age in Danish Children: A Randomized Clinical Multicenter Trial
Authors: Stensballe Lone Graff , Ravn Henrik , Birk Nina Marie , Kjærgaard Jesper , Nissen Thomas Nørrelykke , Pihl Gitte Thybo , Thøstesen Lisbeth Marianne , Greisen Gorm , Jeppesen Dorthe Lisbeth , Kofoed Poul-Erik , Pryds Ole , Sørup Signe , Aaby Peter , Benn Christine Stabell
Published: March 2018

Background

The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis might reduce the non–tuberculosis-related child mortality rate in low-income settings. We tested the hypothesis that BCG vaccination at birth would reduce early childhood hospitalization for infection in Denmark, a high-income setting. Hospitalization for infection was a secondary outcome in a randomized trial with the primary aim to estimate the potential non-specific effects of BCG vaccination at birth on all-cause hospitalization.

Methods

A total of 4262 children included in the Danish Calmette Study were assigned randomly to either receive the BCG vaccine or not and were followed through the Danish National Patient Register. The outcome was number of hospitalizations for infection until the age of 15 months. Data were analyzed by Cox regression in intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses.

Results

In the ITT analysis, we observed 588 hospitalizations for infection (mean, 0.28 hospitalization per child) among the 2129 children allocated to receive the BCG vaccine and 595 hospitalizations for infection (mean, 0.28 hospitalization per child) among the 2133 children allocated to the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.99 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.85–1.15]). The PP analysis yielded an HR of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.86–1.16).

Predefined interaction ITT analyses showed that among 740 children with a BCG-vaccinated mother, the HR for BCG-vaccinated children was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.45–0.94); the HR for children who had a non–BCG-vaccinated mother was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.93–1.29) (P = .01, test of no interaction). Cesarean delivery modified the effect of BCG vaccination (HRs, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.54–0.99] in children born by cesarean section vs 1.10 [95% CI, 0.92–1.30] in other children; P = .02). When the outcome was defined as time to first hospitalization, the HR for premature children after BCG vaccination was 1.81 (95% CI, 0.95–3.43), whereas the HR was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.82–1.08) for children born at term (P = .05).

Conclusion

BCG vaccination did not affect the rate of hospitalization for infection up to the age of 15 months in Danish children. In future studies, the role of maternal BCG-vaccination, premature birth, and cesarean delivery needs further exploration.
The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) Scale as an Assessment Tool for Survival in Patients With Primary Glioblastoma
Authors: Ung Timothy H , Ney Douglas E , Damek Denise , Rusthoven Chad G , Youssef A Samy , Lillehei Kevin O , Ormond D Ryan
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

The Neurologic Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale is a standardized objective metric designed to measure neurological function in neuro-oncology. Current neuroradiological evaluation guidelines fail to use specific clinical criteria for progression.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the NANO scale was a reliable assessment tool in glioblastoma (GBM) patients and whether it correlated to survival.

METHODS

Our group performed a retrospective review of all patients with newly diagnosed GBM from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2012, at our institution. We applied the NANO scale, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale, Macdonald criteria, and the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria to patients at the time of diagnosis as well as at 3, 6, and 12 mo.

RESULTS

Initial NANO score was correlated with overall survival at time of presentation. NANO progression was correlated with decreased survival in patients at 6 and 12 mo. A decrease in KPS was associated with survival at 3 and 6 mo, an increase in ECOG score was associated only at 3 mo, and radiological evaluation (RANO and Macdonald) was correlated at 3 and 6 mo. Only the NANO scale was associated with patient survival at 1 yr. NANO progression was the only metric that was linked to decreased overall survival when compared to RANO and Macdonald at 6 and 12 mo.

CONCLUSION

The NANO scale is specific to neuro-oncology and can be used to assess patients with glioma. This retrospective analysis demonstrates the usefulness of the NANO scale in glioblastoma.
Transcriptional Changes in Mycorrhizal and Nonmycorrhizal Soybean Plants upon Infection with the Fungal Pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina
Authors: Marquez Nathalie , Giachero María L. , Gallou Adrien , Debat Humberto J. , Cranenbrouck Sylvie , Di Rienzo Julio A. , Pozo María J. , Ducasse Daniel A. , Declerck Stéphane
Published: March 2018

Macrophomina phaseolina is a soil-borne fungal pathogen with a wide host range that causes charcoal rot in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Control of the disease is a challenge, due to the absence of genetic resistance and effective chemical control. Alternative or complementary measures are needed, such as the use of biological control agents, in an integrated approach. Several studies have demonstrated the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in enhancing plant resistance or tolerance to biotic stresses, decreasing the symptoms and pressure caused by various pests and diseases, including M. phaseolina in soybean. However, the specific contribution of AMF in the regulation of the plant response to M. phaseolina remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate, under strict in-vitro culture conditions, the global transcriptional changes in roots of premycorrhized soybean plantlets challenged by M. phaseolina (+AMF+Mp) as compared with nonmycorrhizal soybean plantlets (−AMF+Mp). MapMan software was used to distinguish transcriptional changes, with special emphasis on those related to plant defense responses. Soybean genes identified as strongly upregulated during infection by the pathogen included pathogenesis-related proteins, disease-resistance proteins, transcription factors, and secondary metabolism–related genes, as well as those encoding for signaling hormones. Remarkably, the +AMF+Mp treatment displayed a lower number of upregulated genes as compared with the −AMF+Mp treatment. AMF seemed to counteract or balance costs upon M. phaseolina infection, which could be associated to a negative impact on biomass and seed production. These detailed insights in soybean-AMF interaction help us to understand the complex underlying mechanisms involved in AMF-mediated biocontrol and support the importance of preserving and stimulating the existing plant-AMF associates, via adequate agricultural practices, to optimize their agro-ecological potential.
Depression Effects on Long-term Prescription Opioid Use, Abuse, and Addiction
Authors: Sullivan Mark D.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

Treatment guidelines discourage long-term opioid treatment for patients with chronic pain and major depression, but this treatment occurs commonly, producing higher daily doses, longer duration, and more adverse events.

Materials and Methods:

Review of prospective cohort, retrospective cohort, and other observational studies of the relation between depression and opioid use, abuse, and addiction.

Results:

Depressed patients initiate opioid therapy slightly more often than nondepressed patients, but are twice as likely to transition to long-term use. This adverse selection of high-risk patients with depression into long-term high-dose opioid therapy seems to be a process of self-selection. Opioids may be used by patients with chronic pain and depression to compensate for a reduced endogenous opioid response to stressors. Depressed patients seem to continue opioid use at lower pain intensity levels and higher levels of physical function than do nondepressed patients. In studies that carefully control for confounding by indication, it has been shown that long-term opioid therapy increases the risk of incident, recurrent, and treatment-resistant depression. Depressed patients may tend to overuse opioids because they use them to treat insomnia and stress. Depression also seems to increase the risk of abuse or nonmedical use of prescription opioids among adults and adolescents. This increased rate of nonmedical opioid use may be the path through which depression increases the risk of opioid use disorder among patients with chronic pain.

Discussion:

It is not possible to understand long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain without understanding the close and multifaceted relationship of this therapy with depression.
A Retrospective Estimate of Ear Disease Detection Using the “Red Flags” in a Clinical Sample
Authors: Klyn Niall A. M. , Kleindienst Robler Samantha , Alfakir Razan , Nielsen Donald W. , Griffith James W. , Carlson Deborah L. , Lundy Larry , Dhar Sumitrajit , Zapala David A.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of two red flag protocols in detecting ear diseases associated with changes in hearing.

Design:

The presence of red-flag symptoms was determined in a chart review of 307 adult patients from the Mayo Clinic Florida Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology. Participants formed a convenience sample recruited for a separate study. Neurotologist diagnosis was the criterion for comparisons.

Results:

Of the 251 patient files retained for analysis, 191 had one or more targeted diseases and 60 had age- or noise-related hearing loss. Food and Drug Administration red flags sensitivity was 91% (confidence interval [CI], 86 to 95%) and specificity was 72% (CI, 59 to 83%). American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery red flags sensitivity was 98% (CI, 95 to 99%) and specificity was 20% (CI, 11 to 32%).

Conclusions:

Stakeholders must determine which diseases are meaningful contraindications for hearing aid use and whether these red-flag protocols have acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity. As direct-to-consumer models of hearing devices increase, a disease detection method that does not require provider intercession would be useful.
Sedation Intensity in the First 48 Hours of Mechanical Ventilation and 180-Day Mortality: A Multinational Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study*
Authors: Shehabi Yahya , Bellomo Rinaldo , Kadiman Suhaini , Ti Lian Kah , Howe Belinda , Reade Michael C. , Khoo Tien Meng , Alias Anita , Wong Yu-Lin , Mukhopadhyay Amartya , McArthur Colin , Seppelt Ian , Webb Steven A. , Green Maja , Bailey Michael J.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

In the absence of a universal definition of light or deep sedation, the level of sedation that conveys favorable outcomes is unknown. We quantified the relationship between escalating intensity of sedation in the first 48 hours of mechanical ventilation and 180-day survival, time to extubation, and delirium.

Design:

Harmonized data from prospective multicenter international longitudinal cohort studies

Setting:

Diverse mix of ICUs.

Patients:

Critically ill patients expected to be ventilated for longer than 24 hours.

Interventions:

Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale and pain were assessed every 4 hours. Delirium and mobilization were assessed daily using the Confusion Assessment Method of ICU and a standardized mobility assessment, respectively.

Measurements and Main Results:

Sedation intensity was assessed using a Sedation Index, calculated as the sum of negative Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale measurements divided by the total number of assessments. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to adjust for relevant covariates. We performed subgroup and sensitivity analysis accounting for immortal time bias using the same variables within 120 and 168 hours. The main outcome was 180-day survival. We assessed 703 patients in 42 ICUs with a mean (sd) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 22.2 (8.5) with 180-day mortality of 32.3% (227). The median (interquartile range) ventilation time was 4.54 days (2.47–8.43 d). Delirium occurred in 273 (38.8%) of patients. Sedation intensity, in an escalating dose-dependent relationship, independently predicted increased risk of death (hazard ratio [95% CI], 1.29 [1.15–1.46]; p < 0.001, delirium hazard ratio [95% CI], 1.25 [1.10–1.43]), p value equals to 0.001 and reduced chance of early extubation hazard ratio (95% CI) 0.80 (0.73–0.87), p value of less than 0.001. Agitation level independently predicted subsequent delirium hazard ratio [95% CI], of 1.25 (1.04–1.49), p value equals to 0.02. Delirium or mobilization episodes within 168 hours, adjusted for sedation intensity, were not associated with survival.

Conclusions:

Sedation intensity independently, in an ascending relationship, predicted increased risk of death, delirium, and delayed time to extubation. These observations suggest that keeping sedation level equivalent to a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale 0 is a clinically desirable goal.
Reducing Maternal Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity Through State-based Quality Improvement Initiatives
Authors: MAIN ELLIOTT K.
Published: March 2018

State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) represent a major advance for scaling up quality improvement efforts for reducing maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. The critical roles of partners, rapid-cycle low-burden data systems, and linkage to maternal mortality review committees are reviewed. The choice of measures is also explored. California’s experience with its PQC, data center, quality improvement efforts, and promising results for reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity from hemorrhage are presented. Early data from other states is also shared.
The Future of Psychotherapy in Turkey
Authors: Yorulmaz Orçun , Sapmaz-Yurtsever Seda , Gökdağ Ceren , Kaçar-Başaran Servet , Göcek-Yorulmaz Ezgi , Yalçin Melikenaz , Tokgünaydin-Aritürk Seda , Erdoğan-Yildirim Zeynep , Olgun-Kaval Nesibe , Görgü-Akçay Nimet Serap
Published: March 2018

Making realistic predictions about the future is important in clinical psychology as in many other disciplines. This opinion survey aimed to examine clinical psychologists' predictions for the next 10 years regarding the status of psychotherapy in Turkey in two stages, with 107 participants in one and 69 in the other. The results revealed that the techniques predicted to increase the most in the next decade were the use of eclectic therapy, mindfulness therapy, solution-focused therapy, system/family approaches, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Among the therapeutic interventions expected to increase in popularity were Internet-based programs, smartphone applications, and problem solving. In terms of type of psychotherapists, family counselors with certificate/graduate degrees and Internet-based treatment programs were expected to become more common, whereas it was considered that shorter treatment formats and crisis intervention approaches would be preferred. In sum, the present findings provide a current overview for Turkey and a comparison with other literature findings.