bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospect Theory and Optimal Risky Choices with Goals
Authors: Jarecki Jana Bianca , Rieskamp Jörg
Published: May 2020

Decision making under risk is often studied as a preferential choice governed by stable individual personality characteristics, but risky choice can also be viewed as a dynamic problem of resource accumulation to survive. When decision makers aim to reach a particular goal in limited time, such as “earn at least $100 in five choices,” risky choice becomes a non-trivial planning problem. This problem has an optimal solution that can differ from immediate expected-value maximization. We studied the optimality of risky choices under such minimum goal requirements experimentally and find that the observed choices under goals approximate the optimal solution. However, because the optimal model is very complex, we examine if simpler models can predict people’s choices better. We test an extended version of prospect theory, assuming a dynamic reference point that depends on the distance to the goal. This “dynamic prospect theory” was better than the alternative model in describing people’s decisions (i.e., for 63% of the participants, it was the best model). Our findings show that humans can excel in a highly complex, dynamic, risky choice problem and that a dynamic version of prospect theory provides one possible explanation for how people decide under risk when long-term goals matter.
Eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of risks and recommendations for treatment and early intervention
Authors: Cooper Marita , Reilly Erin E. , Siegel Jaclyn Amanda , Coniglio Kathryn , Sadeh-Sharvit Shiri , Pietsky Emily , Anderson Lisa
Published: May 2020

Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) are at significant risk for increases in symptomatology and diminished treatment access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental precautions to limit coronavirus spread have affected food availability and access to healthy coping mechanisms, and have contributed to weight stigmatizing social media messages that may be uniquely harmful for those experiencing EDs. Additionally, changes in socialization and routine, stress, and experiences of trauma that are being experienced globally may be particularly deleterious to ED risk and recovery. This paper presents a brief review of the pertinent literature related to risk of EDs in the context of COVID-19 and offers suggestions for modifying intervention efforts to accommodate for the unique challenges individuals with EDs and providers may be experiencing in light of the ongoing public health crisis.
Analysis of the water, energy, and food nexus using system archetypes: A case study in the Jatiluhur reservoir, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: bahri muhamad
Published: May 2020

The reservoir usually has multiple functions such as hydropower and water distribution for different end users. Multiple functions and multiple agents also mean there are tradeoffs among multiple functions among different end users. Through feedback loops, the system dynamics tools concern on the interdependency and the complexity of the nexus elements. This paper applies the system archetypes in investigating water-energy-food-land nexus (WEFLN) in the Jatiluhur reservoir, the largest reservoir in Indonesia. Using the system archetypes. It is found that there are growth engines to support industrial, residential, and fisheries sectors. However, water availability will be a crucial issue that possibly bounds the growth engines. This situation is called the limits to growth archetype. Another system archetype, the success to successful, is also identified. This archetype reminds us the distribution of water and power should be adjusted accordingly to sustain the growth in all sectors including industry, residence, and fisheries.
Jevons' paradox and a tax on aviation to prevent the next pandemic
Authors: Pueyo Salvador
Published: May 2020

How is it possible that, in an era of unprecedented medical progress, humanity is once again caught in a major pandemic? Several lines of evidence suggest that advances in infectious diseases control facilitate the development of major urban centers, global high-speed transportation, industrial animal farming and ecosystem destruction. In turn, all of these are well known to favor such diseases, thus reproducing the same kind of dynamic observed in resource consumption and known as Jevons’ paradox. Such economic developments compel health systems to develop continuously just to maintain what had already been achieved, which, furthermore, becomes more difficult under neoliberal policies. The process involves massive cost-shifting to society from firms in, e.g., the aviation or meat sector, which materializes intermittently in disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A proposal is presented to prevent comparable events in the future, with two parts. First, a global fund with base funding from an internationally-agreed tax on aviation, devoted to upgrading health systems and to programs to tackle sources of emerging infectious diseases, especially wild animal trade. Second and no less important, a global agreement to fundamentally transform agri-food systems. This plan should be accompanied by redoubled attention to various dimensions of global change.
Collaborative Modelling and Visualization of Business Ecosystems
Authors: Faber Anne , Hernandez-Mendez Adrian , Rehm Sven-Volker , Matthes Florian
Published: May 2020

Business ecosystems are increasingly gaining relevance in research and practice. Because ecosystems progressively change, enterprises are required to analyse their ecosystem, in order to identify and respond to such changes. For gaining a comprehensive picture of the ecosystem, various enterprise stakeholders need to be involved in the analysis process. We use an Action Design Research approach to implement a collaborative process for modelling and visualizing business ecosystems in two case studies. We look at the challenges of the collaborative process and study how a model-driven approach addresses these challenges. We validate and discuss the modelling process along six steps; definition of the business ecosystem focus, model instantiation, data collection, provision of tailored visualizations, model adaption, and using visualizations ‘to tell a story’. In a cross-case analysis, we draw conclusions with respect to process implementation and the role of visualizations.
Use of Panax Quinquefolius and Acetylcarnitine Supplement (FORT UP®) Against Fatigue in Cancer Patients Admitted to Hospice Palliative Care
Authors: Bonucci Massimo , Dell’Arte S. , Siniscalchi A. , Spinelli G. , Bonucci Massimo
Published: May 2020

For cancer patients, fatigue is one of the most frequent and disabling symptoms. Fatigue is a mix of
symptoms like muscle pain, mental cognitive dysfunction, neurological disorders that make the patient
completely inactive and into a state of complete abandonment. At this time not exist anything for treatment
and today there is no specific guideline; only a very few substances can alleviate this situation. In our study,
we’ve used two scales of VAS to better deeply understand the severity of symptoms. For treatment, we used
a supplement (Fort up® - Gamfarma Italy) made with two active principles, Panax quinquefolium and
acetyl-carnitine, in 56 cancer patients admitted to hospice palliative care, administered for three weeks to
assess the effect in medium to severe asthenia. Both active principles have demonstrated activity in clinical
studies against cancer-related fatigue with tonic and energizing action. At the end of study 46 out of 56
patients (82%) had an improvement of symptoms and in 18 patients (4 in low, 11 in medium and 3 in severe
asthenia) (32%) these symptoms there resolved. The study aimed was to investigate the efficacy of this
product on cancer-related fatigue in patients admitted to hospital palliative care. Our study demonstrated
that this product can relieve cancer-related fatigue in this setting of cancer patients.
Prognostic and Predictive Value of the Tumor-Stroma Ratio in STAGE II Colon Cancer
Authors: Mesker Wilma E. , Gerger Armin , Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG) Austrian Breast and , Bareck Evelyne , van Pelt Gabi W. , Rabl Hans , Gelderblom Hans , Geissler Klaus , Filipits Martin , Gnant Michael , Götzinger Peter , Schaberl-Moser Renate , Greil Richard , Tollenaar Rob A. , de Vroome Stefan W. , Zunder Stéphanie M. , Bachleitner-Hofmann Thomas , Mesker Wilma E. , Hilbe Wolfgang
Published: May 2020

Background: Tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) is an independent prognosticator in colon cancer.
Objective: We set out to investigate the predictive power, as well as to validate the prognostic power of
TSR in stage II colon cancer patients. Better identification of patients who could benefit from adjuvant
chemotherapy remains an important issue in stage II disease.
Methods: TSR was microscopically determined on haematoxylin and eosin-stained primary tumor tissue
slides of 212 patients who received either adjuvant chemotherapy or surveillance after curative resection in
a prospective randomized clinical trial (ABCSG-91).
Results: Stroma-high tumors were associated with significantly more cancer-related death ((CaDeath) HR
2.30, 95% CI 1.05−5.03; p=0.037) and significantly shorter distant recurrence-free survival ((DRFS) HR
2.32, 95% CI 1.10−4.87; p=0.027) compared to stroma-low tumors. Backward multivariate Cox-regression
analysis demonstrated TSR as an independent prognosticator for DRFS (p=0.027) and CaDeath (p=0.031).
TSR did not validate as a predictive biomarker; CaDeath (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.18−4.17; p=0.87), DRFS (HR
0.76, 95% CI 0.17−3.36; p=0.71) and OS (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.29−3.21; p=0.95) for the type of
chemotherapy given in ABCSG-91.
Conclusions: TSR, an easily applicable and inexpensive observer-based method, is an independent
predictor of poor prognosis in stage II colon cancer. Predictive value for adjuvant 5-FU/leucovorin could
not be demonstrated.
Analisis Ketidak Efektifan Prosedur Penyelesaian Hak Restitusi Bagi Korban Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Manusia (Trafficking)
Authors: Hakim Lukman
Published: May 2020

This paper discusses the problem of ineffective procedures in resolving rights for victims of human trafficking resulting from dualism in its resolution. Although there is the provision of restitution for trafficking victims in Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Trafficking in Person (TPPO), in the process of granting restitution it encountered some obstacles. The provision of compensation, in general, is also regulated in the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), in which it provides more certain legal aspects for trafficking victims, even though there are also some obstacles when associated with human trafficking cases. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the restitution for human trafficking victims to provide legal certainty and justice.

Keyword: restitution, trafficking

Abstrak

Paper ini membahas mengenai adanya permasalahan ketidak efektifan dalam prosedur penyelesaian hak restitusi bagi korban tindak pidana perdagangan manusia (trafficking) yang diakibatkan adanya dualisme dalam penyelesaiannya. Meskipun sudah ada ketentuan pemberian restitusi bagi korban trafficking sebagaimana yang terdapat dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 21 Tahun 2007 tentang Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang (TPPO), namun dalam proses pemberian restitusi berdasarkan ketentuan undang-undang ini masih banyak menimbulkan kendala. Sementara ketentuan pemberian ganti rugi secara umum juga diatur dalam Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Acara Pidana (KUHAP) dan ketentuan ini lebih memberikan aspek kepastian hukum bagi korban trafficking, sekalipun juga ada beberapa kendala jika dikaitkan dengan kasus trafficking yang terjadi selama ini. Tujuan dari tulisan ini adalah menciptakan kepastian hukum dan keadilan dalam hal pemberian restitusi bagi korban kasus trafficking.

Kata kunci: restitusi, tindak pidana perdagangan manusia.
Outrageous Flirtation, Repressed Flirtation, and the Gallic Singularity
Authors: Pedersen Jean Elisabeth
Published: May 2020

This article offers a new way of understanding Alexis de Tocqueville’s complex position as a French observer who studied the United States, an ambivalent aristocratic cultural commentator who put his hopes for the future in democratic society, and a paradoxical figure in the history of debates over the so-called “Gallic singularity” who ultimately argued that the new American sex/gender system could provide a better model for women in a democracy than the traditional French one. The introduction and first section highlight Tocqueville’s changing attitudes toward what he saw as the key contrasts between European marriages and American marriages by comparing his initial letters home from the United States with his eventual work in Democracy in America. The second section compares his views of French and American women with those of his contemporaries Germaine de Staël and Gustave de Beaumont. The third section explains his changing views by establishing the connections between his comparative arguments about women and marriage and his comparative arguments about democracy itself.
Methodology for determining the parameters of drilling mode for directional straight sections of well using screw downhole motors
Authors: Litvinenko V. , Dvoinikov M.
Published: May 2020

Article presents results of study on possibility of increasing the efficiency of drilling directional straight sections of wells using screw downhole motors (SDM) with a combined method of drilling with rotation of drilling string (DS). Goal is to ensure steady-state operation of SDM with simultaneous rotation of DS by reducing the amplitude of oscillations with adjusting the parameters of drilling mode on the basis of mathematical modeling for SDM – DS system.Results of experimental study on determination of extrema distribution of lateral and axial oscillations of SDM frame depending on geometrical parameters of gerotor mechanism and modes ensuring stable operation are presented.Approaches to development of a mathematical model and methodology are conceptually outlined that allow determining the range of self-oscillations for SDM – DS system and boundaries of rotational and translational wave perturbations for a heterogeneous rod with an installed SDM at drilling directional straight sections of well. This mathematical model of SDM – DS system's dynamics makes it possible to predict optimal parameters of directional drilling mode that ensure stable operation of borehole assembly.
Specifying the technical state limit value of the pump pulp without disassembling
Authors: Ovchinnikov N. , Portnyagina V. , Dambuev B.
Published: May 2020

The northern part of the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is rich in vast deposits of diamonds. These deposits are developed by the mining company “Almazy Anabara”, which is engaged in the extraction of diamonds at seasonal processing plants using various technological equipment. One of the key types of equipment is the pulp pump of a foreign company “KETO”. The work of pulp pumps of this company in the enrichment of diamond-containing raw materials is accompanied by intensive hydroabrasive wear of their impellers, the service life of which usually does not exceed three months.In practice, untimely replacement of a worn impeller can lead to emergency breakdowns of sealing elements and bearings, which is explained by super-permissible deflections of the shaft of pumping equipment arising from a significant unbalance of the rotor.The main cause of breakdown of slurry pumps at “Almazy Anabara” seasonal processing plants is the inability to quickly identify their ultimate technical condition, the key sign of which is the maximum wear of the impeller.The seasonal beneficiation plants of “Almazy Anabara” currently need a simple and at the same time reliable diagnostic sign of pulp pumps reaching their ultimate technical state, the identification of which can be quickly performed without disassembling and using complex equipment, which is very important when operating pumping equipment in short wash season on the Far North.
Method for estimating the spectrum density of the resistance moment on the working body of a peat milling unit
Authors: Fomin K.
Published: May 2020

The main source of dynamic loads in the drive elements and the design of the peat milling unit is the working body. The forces of external resistance arising in the process of performing a technological operation are sharply variable, random in nature. The article proposes a model of formation of the moment of resistance on the mill when interacting with peat. The case when there are several cutting planes with the same radius at the ends of the cutting elements is considered. When developing the model, it was taken into account that the operating conditions of the knives, determined by the type of cutting (blocked, semi-blocked, etc.), their width and type in each cutting plane can vary.Factors that determine the nature of loading, such as the frequency of interaction of the cutting elements with the fallow and the randomness of the operating conditions of the unit, lead to the presentation of the loads in the form of a sequence of pulses with random parameters. Expressions are obtained for determining the spectral density of the moment of resistance on the mill at the design stage, taking into account its design, operating modes, physico-mechanical properties of peat and their probabilistic characteristics.To illustrate the application of the developed approaches, a technique is presented for determining the spectral density of the moment on the working body of deep milling machines and in their drive elements based on a linear model. An example of calculation is given, and the obtained expressions are verified on the basis of experimental data.The probabilistic characteristics of the loads on the mill serve as initial information for the dynamic analysis of the drive system and the design of the unit, its strength analysis, the selection of optimal parameters and operating modes.
O paradoxo entre inovação e isomorfismo:
Authors: Silva João Paulo Nascimento , Cappelle Mônica Carvalho Alves
Published: May 2020

Este artigo visa corroborar com o entendimento dos termos isomorfismo e inovação quando tratados de forma conjunta para a análise das organizações. Para tanto, faz-se uso de um ensaio teórico que visa a compreensão, à luz da literatura, sobre a junção destes conceitos e sobre a influência positiva e negativa das práticas de inovação e de isomorfismo nas organizações. Este estudo apresenta um esboço para compreensão do fenômeno cíclico da inovação e isomorfismo presentes no mercado e do aprofundamento desta prática das organizações em determinados momentos do mercado.
“Poor Boy, you are bound to die”? Die Pluralisierung militärischer Männlichkeiten im österreichischen Bundesheer 1950–1970
Authors: Rohringer Thomas
Published: May 2020

Spezialeinheiten sind elementarer Bestandteil gegenwärtiger militärischer Interventionen und häufiges Motiv in der Populärkultur. Dieser strategische und symbolische Bedeutungsgewinn wird oft als Militarisierung und Maskulinisierung gedeutet. Im Beitrag argumentiert der Autor dafür, die Pluralisierung militärischer Männlichkeiten in den Blick zu nehmen, die Spezialeinheiten mit sich brachten. Dies wird anhand einer Analyse der Konflikte dargelegt, die die Einführung eines Spezialeinheitentrainings im österreichischen Bundesheer der 1960er-Jahre auslöste. Die unmittelbare Nachkriegszeit war in Österreich von einem Prozess der Konstruktion einer nationalen Identität geprägt, in dem staatsbürgerliche und militärische Männlichkeiten eng miteinander verflochten wurden. Anhand zeitgenössischer Fernsehreportagen werden breitere gesellschaftliche Diskurse zum Verhältnis von Staat und Militär ausgeleuchtet, um zu zeigen, wie das „Jagdkampf“-Training als eine gefährliche Pluralisierung militärischer Männlichkeiten gesehen wurde, die einen Bruch zwischen staatsbürgerlicher und militärischer Männlichkeit darstelle. In einem Ausblick wird anhand einer gegenwärtigen PR-Kampagne des Bundesheeres gezeigt, welche diskursive Arbeit das Bundesheer in die positive Neubesetzung des Jagdkommandos als Eliteeinheit investiert. Es integrierte daher plurale militärische Männlichkeiten und ist bemüht, dies für die gesellschaftliche Anerkennung des Militärdienstes nutzbar zu machen.
,Wahre‘ türkische Männlichkeit – Die (Re)Produktion von hegemonialer Männlichkeit und traditionellen Geschlechterrollen durch das türkische Militär
Authors: Sabrina Ahmed Sabrina , Aksoy Hürcan Aslı
Published: May 2020

In der Türkei besteht für jeden gesunden, männlichen Bürger zwischen 20 und 41 Jahren die Wehrpflicht. Homosexuelle Männer können sich allerdings um einen sogenannten „Rotten Report“ und damit um eine Befreiung von der Wehrpflicht bewerben. Dieser Aufsatz beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wie das türkische Militär hegemoniale Männlichkeit und traditionelle Geschlechterrollen durch die Prozeduren der ‚Rotten Reports‘ (re)produziert. Dafür werden Theorien der militärischen Sozialisation (Kliche 2004), der hegemonialen Männlichkeit (Connell 1995) und der Gender-Performativität (Butler 1990) angewendet. Um einen ‚Rotten Report‘ zu erhalten, müssen sich die männlichen Bewerber erniedrigenden Untersuchungen unterziehen. Die Prozedur der ,Rotten Reports‘ führt dazu, dass die Bewerber sich bemühen, ihre Genderperformanz an das Bild des ,verweiblichten‘ homosexuellen Mannes anzupassen, um in den Augen des Militärs als homosexuell und folglich als ,Gefahr‘ und ,ungeeignet‘ für den Militärdienst eingestuft zu werden. Durch diesen Ausschluss von Homosexuellen aus dem Militärdienst produziert das Militär hegemoniale Männlichkeit. Diese Genderperformanz trägt wiederum zur Aufrechterhaltung der traditionellen Geschlechterrollen bei. Auf der Grundlage einer Literaturanalyse von Primär- und Sekundärquellen, darunter wissenschaftlichen Texte, die auf Interviews mit Betroffenen basieren, Befragungen, Artikel und Blogs von türkischen LGBTI-Organisationen, wird die Frage empirisch beantwortet.
Picornavirus Identified in Alzheimer’s Disease Brains: A Pathogenic Path?
Authors: Niklasson Bo , Lindquist Lars , Klitz William ,   Netherlands Brain Bank, Englund Elisabet
Published: May 2020

We investigated formalin-fixed postmortem brain tissue from the hippocampus region of 18 AD cases and 11 age-matched controls using a polyclonal antibody against Ljungan virus (LV) capsid protein 1. Evidence of a LV antigen was found in all AD cases but in none of the control specimens ( p < 0.0001). The antibodies reacted with neurons and astrocytes and also showed distinct positive reaction in the amyloid/neuritic plaques. The possible role of an incompletely characterized picornavirus as the etiologic agent in AD open up the possibility of treatment with antiviral therapy directed against picornaviruses. The positive result of such treatment in a small number of patients is presented separately back to back to this report.
Parametric and nonparametric A-Laplace problems: Existence of solutions and asymptotic analysis
Authors: Vetro Calogero
Published: May 2020

We give sufficient conditions for the existence of weak solutions to quasilinear elliptic Dirichlet problem driven by the A-Laplace operator in a bounded domain Ω. The techniques, based on a variant of the symmetric mountain pass theorem, exploit variational methods. We also provide information about the asymptotic behavior of the solutions as a suitable parameter goes to [Formula: see text]. In this case, we point out the existence of a blow-up phenomenon. The analysis developed in this paper extends and complements various qualitative and asymptotic properties for some cases described by homogeneous differential operators.
Zero tolerance for complacency by government of West African countries in the face of COVID-19
Authors: Erhabor O. , Erhabor T. , Adias T.C. , Okara G.C. , Retsky M.
Published: May 2020

A novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing a cluster of respiratory infections (Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID-19) first discovered in Wuhan, China, is responsible for a new illness that has been found to affect the lungs and airways of patients with associated symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. In the light of few cases recorded so far in West Africa there is tendency for complacency. The region needs to make strategic plans based on available evidence to enable them effectively deal with this rapidly evolving pandemic. At this very moment countries like China, Italy, France, Spain, Iran, UK and many others are witnessing sustained and intensive community transmission of this virus and increasing numbers of severe disease and death particularly among elderly patients with other comorbidities. The reality of the seriousness of this pandemic is alarming. Government of member states of ECOWAS need to prepare themselves by building capacity as well as implement evidenced-based steps to mitigate this rapidly evolving pandemic by testing persons presenting with symptoms (fever, cough and shortness of breath), isolating and treating those found positive, tracing and quarantining contacts, implementing social distancing as well as optimizing human and material endowment to allow healthcare workers offer safe quality clinical care for affected patients to prevent secondary infection among healthcare workers.
Leisure time management in the workplace: Providing a model
Authors: Forouzan Farkhondeh , Teimouri Hadi , Safari Ali
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The quality of working life in healthcare settings deserves considerable attention due to the vital importance of services delivered in healthcare businesses and organizations, and the direct effect of the employees’ mental and physical health on the chance of medical errors and the quality of healthcare services. Accordingly, leisure time in the workplace and how workers spend their leisure time are significantly influential.

PURPOSE:

This mixed methods research aimed to develop a model for leisure time management for employees in a selected group of hospitals.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH:

The exploratory sequential mixed methods design with two phases was used. The qualitative part was based on grounded theory. Qualitative data were identified through 16 semi-structured interviews with selected academic experts and managers of selected hospitals in Shiraz, followed by coding process in three distinct stages. The results were the extraction and design of related categories in the form of causal condition, the central phenomenon, strategies, intervening conditions, contextual conditions, and consequences of employee leisure time management model. After identifying each of the selected template categories, each template element was selected and described in detail during the coding process. The qualitative results were tested in a quantitative section using a researcher-made questionnaire. To do so, 420 study participants were selected. Then, quantitative data and structural equation modeling were analyzed using inferential statistical methods and Amos 22 software, respectively.

FINDINGS:

Our qualitative data resulted in a conceptual model, design of related categories in the form of causal condition, the central phenomenon, strategies, intervening conditions, contextual conditions, and consequences of employee leisure time management. The quantitative results of the study indicated that the designed model was well fitted and finally confirmed.

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study reveal that hospital employees, especially therapeutic sections, need high-quality time for leisure and mental, spiritual and physical rest. Yet, time management should be based on special circumstances.
Modeling and parameters extraction of photovoltaic cell and modules using the genetic algorithms with lambert W-function as objective function
Authors: Benmessaoud Mohammed Tarik , Vasant Pandian , Stambouli Amine Boudghene , Tioursi Mustapha
Published: May 2020

In this paper, a method based on genetic algorithms is proposed for improving the accuracy of solar cell parameters extracted using novel technique. We propose a computational based binary-coded genetic algorithm (GA) to extract the parameters ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) for a single diode model of solar cell from its current-voltage (I–V) characteristic. The algorithm was implemented using Matlab as a programming tool and validated by applying it to the I–V curve synthesized from the literature using reported values. The characterization, current-voltage data used was generated by simulating a one-diode solar cell model of specified parameters. The new approach is based on formulating I–V equation of solar cell, with Lambert function, the parameter extraction as a search and optimization problem. Compared with other optimization techniques in literatures, the approach proposed for the determination of parameters are in good agreement.
Multiclass classification of EEG signal for epilepsy detection using DWT based SVD and fuzzy kNN classifier
Authors: Singh Nalini , Dehuri Satchidananda
Published: May 2020

Epileptic seizures happen because of neuronal disorder that produces an unusual pattern of brain signals. Automatic seizure detection has proved to be a challenging task, for both long terms monitoring as well as epilepsy diagnosis. In this work, the proposed discrete wavelet transform (DWT) based singular value decomposition fuzzy k-nearest neighbor classifier (SVD-F kNN) technique, is one of the most effective methods in supervised learning, which provides good accuracy with fast learning speed in comparison to several other conventional techniques. In this work, both feature extraction and classification of EEG signals have been done for epilepsy detection of the human brain using the Bonn University dataset. The proposed method is based on the multi-scale eigenspace analysis of the matrices, generated from the sub-band signals of all EEG channels using DWT by SVD at a substantial scale and are classified using extracted singular value features and F kNN classifier with different ‘ k’ values to obtain better accuracy. The proposed DWT based SVD-F kNN technique has been applied for the first time on the EEG signal for epilepsy detection (using five-class classifications). The experimental results of the proposed method give an overall accuracy of 100% for two and three class classification and 93.33% ([Formula: see text] 0.001) for five class classification.
Brief Cognitive Tests Used in Primary Care Cannot Accurately Differentiate Mild Cognitive Impairment from Subjective Cognitive Decline
Authors: Petrazzuoli Ferdinando , Vestberg Susanna , Midlöv Patrik , Thulesius Hans , Stomrud Erik , Palmqvist Sebastian
Published: May 2020

Background:

Differentiating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is important because of the higher progression rate to dementia for MCI and when considering future disease-modifying drugs that will have treatment indications at the MCI stage.

Objective:

We examined if the two most widely-used cognitive tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and clock-drawing test (CDT), and a test of attention/executive function (AQT) accurately can differentiate MCI from SCD.

Methods:

We included 466 consecutively recruited non-demented patients with cognitive complaints from the BioFINDER study who had been referred to memory clinics, predominantly from primary care. They were classified as MCI ( n = 258) or SCD ( n = 208) after thorough neuropsychological assessments. The accuracy of MMSE, CDT, and AQT for identifying MCI was examined both in training and validation samples and in the whole population.

Results:

As a single test, MMSE had the highest accuracy (sensitivity 73%, specificity 60%). The best combination of two tests was MMSE < 27 points or AQT > 91 seconds (sensitivity 56%, specificity 78%), but in logistic regression models, their AUC (0.76) was not significantly better than MMSE alone (AUC 0.75). CDT and AQT performed significantly worse (AUC 0.71; p < 0.001–0.05); otherwise no differences were seen between any combination of two or three tests.

Conclusion:

Neither single nor combinations of tests could differentiate MCI from SCD with adequately high accuracy. There is a great need to further develop, validate, and implement accurate screening-tests for primary care to improve accurate identification of MCI among individuals that seek medical care due to cognitive symptoms.
Effect of Mentally Challenging Occupations on Incident Dementia Differs Between African Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites
Authors: Hyun Jinshil , Hall Charles B. , Sliwinski Martin J. , Katz Mindy J. , Wang Cuiling , Ezzati Ali , Lipton Richard B.
Published: May 2020

Background:

Engaging in mentally challenging activities may protect against dementia in late life. However, little is known whether the association between mentally challenging activities and dementia risk varies with race/ethnicity.

Objective:

The current study investigates whether having jobs with higher mental stimulation is differentially associated with a decreased risk of dementia between African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic Whites (nHWs).

Methods:

The sample consisted of 1,079 individuals (66% nHWs, 28% AAs; age = 78.6±5.3) from the longitudinal Einstein Aging Study. Occupation information of each participant was collected retrospectively at baseline and was linked to the substantive complexity of work score from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations of occupational complexity with risk of dementia.

Results:

Individuals whose jobs had moderate-to-high levels of complexity, compared to those with the lowest complexity, were at modestly decreased risk for incident dementia. When stratified by race, moderate-to-high levels of occupational complexity were significantly associated with lower risk of developing dementia for AAs (HR = 0.35). When risk of dementia was evaluated based on the combinations of race×occupational complexity, AAs with lowest occupational complexity showed the highest risk of developing dementia, while other combinations exhibited lower risk of developing dementia (HRs = 0.36~0.43).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that moderate-to-high levels of complexity at work are associated with a decreased risk of incident dementia in AAs. Understanding the differential effects of mentally challenging occupations across race/ethnicity may suggest important intervention strategies that could mitigate racial disparities in dementia rates.
Age Moderates Associations of Hypertension, White Matter Hyperintensities, and Cognition
Authors: Guevarra Anne Cristine , Ng Sheng Chun , Saffari Seyed Ehsan , Wong Benjamin Yi Xin , Chander Russell Jude , Ng Kok Pin , Kandiah Nagaendran
Published: May 2020

Background:

Hypertension and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are mutually associated risk factors for cognitive impairment. However, age may modify the associations between hypertension and WMH, and their links to cognitive impairment.

Objective:

We evaluated the interaction between age and hypertension on WMH, and the age-stratified associations of hypertension and WMH with cognition.

Methods:

Key measures include systolic blood pressure (SBP), WMH (modified Fazekas visual ratings of cranial MRI), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Participants (N = 488) with prodromal and mild dementia were age-stratified (≤49, 50–59, 60–69,≥70), and considered hypertensive if their SBP≥140 mmHg. The interaction between age strata and hypertension on WMH, and age-stratified associations of hypertension and WMH with cognition, were evaluated using multiple linear regression analyses. Analyses controlled for other risk factors for WMH and cognitive impairment.

Results:

Age moderated the association between SBP and WMH. Hypertension was associated with higher WMH only in those aged 60–69, and WMH trends across age bands differed between those with and without hypertension. Finally, WMH and SBP≥140 were independently associated with lower MoCA scores within the 50–59 age band, while WMH alone was associated with poorer MoCA scores in the≥70 age band.

Conclusion:

In adults with prodromal or mild dementia, hypertension was associated with WMH specifically in the 60–69 age strata. Associations between hypertension and WMH with poorer cognition also differed across age bands. Future studies will be needed to investigate whether blood pressure management to slow cognitive decline by targeting WMH may be age dependent.
Change in Expression of 5-HT6 Receptor at Different Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Postmortem Study with the PET Radiopharmaceutical [18F]2FNQ1P
Authors: Courault Pierre , Emery Stéphane , Bouvard Sandrine , Liger François , Chauveau Fabien , Meyronet David , Fourier Anthony , Billard Thierry , Zimmer Luc , Lancelot Sophie
Published: May 2020

Background:

The 5-HT6 receptor is one of the most recently identified serotonin receptors in the central nervous system. Because of its role in memory and cognitive process, this receptor might be implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and associated disorders.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the binding of [18F]2FNQ1P, a new specific radiotracer of 5-HT6 receptors, and to quantify 5-HT6 receptor density in caudate nucleus in a population of patients with different AD stages.

Methods:

Patients were classified according to the “ABC” NIA-AA classification. In vitro binding assays were performed in postmortem brain tissue from the healthy control (HC; n = 8) and severe AD (“High”; n = 8) groups. In vitro quantitative autoradiography was performed in human brain tissue (caudate nucleus) from patients with different stages of AD: HC ( n = 15), “Low” ( n = 18), “Int” ( n = 20), and “High” ( n = 15).

Results:

In vitro binding assays did not show significant differences for the KD and Bmax parameters between “High” and HC groups. In vitro quantitative autoradiography showed a significant difference between the “High” and HC groups ( p = 0.0025). We also showed a progressive diminution in [18F]2FNQ1P specific binding, which parallels 5-HT6 receptors expression, according to increasing AD stage. Significant differences were observed between the HC group and all AD stages combined (“Low”, “Intermediate”, and “High”) ( p = 0.011).

Conclusion:

This study confirms the interest of investigating the role of 5-HT6 receptors in AD and related disorders. [18F]2FNQ1P demonstrated specific binding to 5-HT6 receptors.
Expression of Microtubule Associated Protein Tau in Mouse Pancreatic Islets Is Restricted to Autonomic Nerve Fibers
Authors: Zhou Ranran , Hu Wen , Dai Chun-Ling , Gong Cheng-Xin , Iqbal Khalid , Zhu Dalong , Liu Fei
Published: May 2020

Background:

Evidence from clinical studies and basic research has shown a strong correlation between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes. Tau, a neuronal microtubule-associated protein, is hyperphosphorylated and aggregated into neurofibrillary tangles in the AD brain. However, the expression of tau in pancreas is under debate.

Objective:

We determined the expression of tau in mouse pancreas.

Methods:

We used western blots, immunoprecipitation, and immunohistochemical staining to analyze pancreatic expression of tau in mice.

Results:

We found that neither total tau nor phosphorylated tau was detectable in the mouse pancreas by western blots. Immunostaining with pan tau antibodies R134d and Tau-5 revealed bright and dense varicosities in the pancreatic islets and the exocrine pancreas. These varicosities were immunoreactive to synapsin 1, a presynaptic marker which can outline autonomic nerve profiles in pancreas, exhibiting complete colocalization with tau. Importantly, endocrine cells in islets did not exhibit specific immunoreactivity to any of pan tau antibodies tested, nor did the exocrine cells.

Conclusion:

In the mouse pancreas, we found that tau is exclusively expressed in autonomic nerve fibers, but there is no detectable expression in endocrine cells in the islet.
Evaluation of the quality and relevance of a fuzzy partition
Authors: Castiblanco Fabian , Franco Camilo , Rodríguez J. Tinguaro , Montero Javier
Published: May 2020

This paper proposes a couple of criteria for evaluating the quality and relevance of a fuzzy partition. These criteria are established from a fuzzy classification system and its recursive De Morgan triplet. We propose a comparison process between the classes of a fuzzy partition, based on a translation invariant similarity relation. Therefore a classification process is carried out with the equivalence relations determined by the similarity relation. Such a relation is built on the commutative group structure formed by the elements of the fuzzy classification system. Our approach is illustrated through an example on image analysis by the fuzzy c-means algorithm.
Evaluation of Genotypes and Epidemiology of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Greece: A Nationwide Study Spanning 24 Years
Authors: Kekou Kyriaki , Svingou Maria , Sofocleous Christalena , Mourtzi Niki , Nitsa Evangelia , Konstantinidis George , Youroukos Sotiris , Skiadas Konstantinos , Katsalouli Marina , Pons Roser , Papavasiliou Antigoni , Kotsalis Charalabos , Pavlou Evangelos , Evangeliou Athanasios , Katsarou Efstathia , Voudris Konstantinos , Dinopoulos Argirios , Vorgia Pelagia , Niotakis George , Diamantopoulos Nikolaos , Nakou Iliada , Koute Vasiliki , Vartzelis George , Papadimas George-Konstantinos , Papadopoulos Constantinos , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Traeger-Synodinos Joanne
Published: May 2020

Background: Promising genetic treatments targeting the molecular defect of severe early-onset genetic conditions are expected to dramatically improve patients’ quality of life and disease epidemiology. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), is one of these conditions and approved therapeutic approaches have recently become available to patients. Objective: Analysis of genetic and clinical data from SMA patients referred to the single public-sector provider of genetic services for the disease throughout Greece followed by a retrospective assessment in the context of epidemiology and genotype-phenotype associations. Methods: Molecular genetic analysis and retrospective evaluation of findings for 361 patients tested positive for SMA- and 862 apparently healthy subjects from the general population. Spearman rank test and generalized linear models were applied to evaluate secondary modifying factors with respect to their impact on clinical severity and age of onset. Results: Causative variations- including 5 novel variants- were detected indicating a minimal incidence of about 1/12,000, and a prevalence of at least 1.5/100,000. For prognosis a minimal model pertaining disease onset before 18 months was proposed to include copy numbers of NAIP (OR = 9.9;95% CI, 4.7 to 21) and SMN2 (OR = 6.2;95% CI, 2.5–15.2) genes as well as gender (OR = 2.2;95% CI, 1.04 to 4.6). Conclusions: This long-term survey shares valuable information on the current status and practices for SMA diagnosis on a population basis and provides an important reference point for the future assessment of strategic advances towards disease prevention and health care planning.
THE EFFECT OF FINANCIAL LITERATION ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN COOPERATIVES OF STATE EMPLOYEES IN BANDAR LAMPUNG
Authors: Ermawati Liya
Published: May 2020

Allegedly, the reason for the number of cooperatives not actively running cooperative units is because there are still many financial problems. Individual needs and increasingly complex financial products require cooperative managers to have adequate financial literacy. Individuals need basic financial knowledge and the ability to effectively manage financial resources for better welfare and development of cooperatives.A person's ability to use money depends very much on the knowledge they have, the better the financial literacy that someone has, the better the financial management behavior of that person. This kind of thing, then, will have an impact on one's financial performance. Therefore, studies regarding this matter are very important to do.
In this study, the total sample was 50. all the data obtained were analyzed using path analysis. Path analysis is used to analyze the pattern of relationships between variables in order to determine the direct and indirect effects of a set of independent variables on the dependent variable
Based on the results of data processing, it can be seen that the value of the direct effect of the variable behavior of financial management on financial performance is equal to 0.681. Whereas, the indirect effect of variables x1, x2 and x3 on financial performance through financial management behavior is 0.0051 (0.367 x 0.480 x 0.029). by comparing the two values, it can be proved that the influence of knowledge variables (X1), understanding (X2), and application (X3) on financial performance is directly smaller than their influence on financial performance (Z) through financial management behavior (Y), so it can be concluded that the behavior of financial management is an intervening factor for financial literacy with financial performance
Someone who has good financial literacy, coupled with proper financial management behavior, can be said as prosperous in terms of finances. By having good skills in managing finances, a cooperative manager will be free from financial problems so that the cooperative's financial performance will be achieved optimally.
Analisis Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Siklus Pendapatan pada Industri Pertelevisian
Authors: Fahlevi Muhammad Ryan
Published: May 2020

This study has two main objectives. The first aims to determine the application of the accounting information system procedures on the revenue cycle.  Second, to determine the factors that constrain revenue cycle in thecompany. Data analysis method use disdescriptive qualitative analysis with case study approach. The analysisis done by describing the circumstances objectsordescribe real researchto identify and analyze problems faced by the
 Research object, and then be able to provide alternatives and suggestions of solving the problems faced. The analysisshowed that the accounting information system on there venue cycle LPP TVRI Sumsel Babel has someweaknesses, particularly in the sales procedure, billing to the customer receivables, and cashreceipts. The author provides recommendations that can be used to strengthen the control over these flaws.