bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Induced cleistogamy: A strategy for reproductive assurance in Murdannia nudiflora (Commelinaceae)
Authors: Veena V. , Nampy Santhosh
Published: July 2019

Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan is a day flower that is dependent on entomophilous pollination. Despite the lack of pollinator attractants and its short flower longevity, M. nudiflora shows high rates of fecundity, which lead to their rapid dispersal. In addition to monitoring the vegetative reproductive methods and the effect of select environmental parameters (atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation rates) in M. nudiflora, we evaluated mating systems in this species via artificial crosses. This species has evolved to undergo autogamy to ensure reproductive success when pollinators are insufficient; cleistogamous flowers are produced for optimal pollinator activity when environmental conditions are unfavorable. The number of cleistogamous flowers produced was found to be positively correlated with humidity and precipitation rates, and negatively correlated with temperature. In addition, it was found that high humidity and precipitation always hinder insect pollinators. Therefore, the combination of vegetative reproduction, entomophily, and cleistogamous self-pollination helps this weedy species to propagate with maximum efficiency. Murdannia nudiflora employs pre-anthesis cleistogamy as a mating strategy for reproductive assurance while retaining mechanisms that promote out-crossing.
A WAVEGUIDE MAST FOR USE WITH THE TELLUROMETER
Authors: Mungall A. G.
Published: July 2019

A waveguide mast to elevate the radio antenna of the Tellurometer to 45 ft. is described. Microwave loss and consequent range reduction are improved over that of an earlier version which utilized a cable as the microwave link between instrument and antenna.
Recommendations on the Type of Coordinate System for Correlating Files in a Data Bank System
Authors: Gale L. A.
Published: July 2019

To provide efficient national use of geo-coded data banks, it is essential that all data centers use a common reference system of coordinates in the exchange of information. It is not necessary, nor practical, for all data centers to use the same coordinate system for internal processing of data, but it is essential that the “geo-coding language” (coordinate system) for communication – the calling and answering language – be common to all. Acceptance of this principle means that data centers, which find it more convenient and efficient to use a geo-coding language other than the “common language”, must translate from the internal to the common reference system to communicate with other centers. Geographic coordinates are recommended as the geo-coding language for communication among data banks.
Free Air Anomaly Map of Canada from Piece-Wise Surface Fittings Over Half-Degree Blocks
Authors: Nagy Dezsö
Published: July 2019

The region of Canada, which has been covered by gravity surveys (including 1970 data), has been subdivided into 2,923 surface elements of sides of a half-degree along the meridian and approximately equivalent length along the parallels. The gravity anomaly at the center of each element was estimated by fitting a low-order polynomial surface to the free air anomalies within each element. The extreme values are —160 and 96 milligals, with over 85 per cent of the anomalies being in the range of —40 and 20 milligals. About two thirds of all computed anomalies are estimated to have standard deviations less than ±10 milligals.
Review of Problems Associated with Conventional Geodetic Datums
Authors: Mueller Ivan I.
Published: July 2019

After discussing the parameters needed to define a horizontal geodetic datum, the paper reviews the development of the major geodetic datums. The problem of determining the interrelationships between the various datums is analyzed and current transformation parameters are presented. In view of recent and forthcoming satellite geodetic work, the advantage of separating horizontal and vertical datums is questioned and some suggestions are offered for further definition of geodetic reference systems.
A Practical Study of Gross-Error Detection in Bundle Adjustment
Authors: El-Hakim S. F.
Published: July 2019

A special bundle adjustment program has been developed with a built-in automatic gross-error detector which uses the data snooping approach. The program computes, in an efficient way, the exact value of the redundancy numbers for each image point. Using actual data, many of the factors affecting the reliability of bundle adjustment and the ability of the technique to detect gross errors are studied. The effects of different block parameters, point type and location, and the use of additional constraints are presented.
GPS MARINE KINEMATIC POSITIONING ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY
Authors: Lachapelle G. , Casey M. , Eaton R.M. , Kleusberg A. , Tranquilla J. , Wells D.
Published: July 2019

Positioning accuracy and reliability are two parameters of major concern to GPS marine users. GPS limitations and error sources are analyzed from a user’s point of view. The coverage limitations inherent to the (18 + 3) satellite constellation are discussed and related outages inherent to specific geographical areas are described. Receiver and antenna characteristics are described in relation to their effect on positioning accuracy and reliability. Antenna requirements for shipborne applications are discussed. The effect of the troposphere and ionosphere on GPS measurements is quantified for various cases. Multipath and imaging effects on both P and CIA code and carrier phase measurements are discussed. A variety of user accuracy and reliability enhancements are described. These include the use of seven-channel receivers and that of height and time constraints to increase redundancy and limit poor geometry effects, the use of differential methods to reduce satellite and propagation medium errors, the integration of code and carrier phase measurements to increase positioning accuracy, and the use of external sensors such as pitch and roll sensors, and inertial navigation systems. It is concluded that GPS is capable of achieving the one metre accuracy level for marine applications provided that error sources specific to shipborne applications can be effectively controlled.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARTOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY FOR DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Taylor D.R.F.
Published: July 2019

This paper argues that the technological “development of cartography” is dominating the discipline. Interest in technology is resulting in neglect of other aspects of the discipline such as the application of cartography to the solution of human problems. Consideration of cartography as art has disappeared from cartographic journals. The over-emphasis on technological aspects of the discipline may be a cause of the neglect. The paper examines cartography as art in the Canadian context and looks at the cartography of development using China as an example.
Invisible Semi-Fragile Watermarking and Steganography of Digital Videos for Content Authentication and Data Hiding
Authors: Aditya B. P. , Avaneesh U. G. K. , Adithya K. , Murthy Akshay , Sandeep R. , Kavyashree B.
Published: July 2019

In the current digital age, the piracy of digital media content has become rampant. Illegal distribution of movies and video clips on a global scale causes a significant loss to the media industry. To prevent such theft and distribution of content, we use a watermarking technique for videos where copyright information is hidden inside the original video in the form of a watermark video. Using a video as the watermark facilitates the user in hiding a large amount of information. The watermarking scheme used in this paper is semi-fragile, such that tampering of videos can be detected with relative ease. To improve the robustness of the watermark, we embed the watermark in frequency domain, where we use DWT+DCT+SVD to embed the watermark. The original video and watermark video are transformed by using the DWT and DCT sequentially, then the singular values of the watermark with some embedding strength are added to the singular values of the original video thus obtaining a watermarked video. Some detection tools which are available today cannot detect the watermark video inside the original video. This method equalizes the frames of the watermark and original video to reduce time consumed as well as complexity. The effects of various attacks on the watermarked video have been analyzed using the calculated PSNR values.
Low-Dose CT Image Restoration Based on Adaptive Prior Feature Matching and Nonlocal Means
Authors: Cheng Lu , Zhang Yuan-Ke , Song Yun , Li Chen , Guo Dao-Shun
Published: July 2019

Although the low-dose CT (LDCT) technique can reduce the radiation damage to patients, it will be highly detrimental to the reconstructed image quality. The normal-dose scan assisted algorithms have shown their potential in improving LDCT image quality by using a registered previously scanned normal-dose CT (NDCT) reference to regularize the corresponding LDCT target. The major drawback of such methods is the requirement of a previous patient-specific NDCT scan, which limits their clinical application. To address these problems, this paper proposed adaptive prior feature matching method for better restoration of the LDCT image. The innovation lies in construction of offline texture feature database and online adaptive prior feature matching integrated with the NLM regularization. Specifically, the prior features were extracted by the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) from regions of interest (ROIs) in existing NDCT scans of population patients. For online adaptive prior feature matching, ROIs with their texture features being similar to those of the current noisy target ROI are selected from the database as the references for the NLM regularization. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated by clinical lung cancer studies, the gain over traditional methods is noticeable in terms of both noise suppression and textures preservation.
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE IN WEST AFRICA: A BIO-ECONOMIC MODELING APPROACH
Authors: LOKONON BORIS O. K. , EGBENDEWE AKLESSO Y. G. , COULIBALY NAGA , ATEWAMBA CALVIN
Published: July 2019

This paper investigates the impact of climate change on agriculture in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). To that end, a bio-economic model is built and calibrated on 2004 base year dataset and the potential impact is evaluated on land use and crop production under two representative concentration pathways coupled with three socio-economic scenarios. The findings suggest that land use change may depend on crop types and prevailing future conditions. As of crop production, the results show that paddy rice, oilseeds, sugarcane, cocoa, coffee, and sesame production could experience a decline under both moderate and harsh climate conditions in most cases. Also, doubling crop yields by 2050 could overall mitigate the negative impact of moderate climate change. The magnitude and the direction of the impacts may vary in space and time.
Tolerant Junta Testing and the Connection to Submodular Optimization and Function Isomorphism
Authors: Blais Eric , Canonne Clément L. , Eden Talya , Levi Amit , Ron Dana
Published: July 2019

A function
f
:{ −1,1}

n

→ { −1,1} is a
k
-junta if it depends on at most
k
of its variables. We consider the problem of
tolerant
testing of
k
-juntas, where the testing algorithm must accept any function that is ε-
close
to some
k
-junta and reject any function that is ε′-far from every
k
′-junta for some ε′ =
O
(ε) and
k
′ =
O
(
k
).

Our first result is an algorithm that solves this problem with query complexity polynomial in
k
and 1/ε. This result is obtained via a new polynomial-time approximation algorithm for
submodular function minimization
(SFM) under large cardinality constraints, which holds even when only given an approximate oracle access to the function.

Our second result considers the case where
k
′ =
k
. We show how to obtain a smooth tradeoff between the amount of tolerance and the query complexity in this setting. Specifically, we design an algorithm that, given ρ ∈ (0,1), accepts any function that is ε ρ/16-close to some
k
-junta and rejects any function that is ε-far from every
k
-junta. The query complexity of the algorithm is
O
(
k
log
k
/ε ρ (1-ρ)

k

.

Finally, we show how to apply the second result to the problem of tolerant isomorphism testing between two unknown Boolean functions
f
and
g
. We give an algorithm for this problem whose query complexity only depends on the (unknown) smallest
k
such that either
f
or
g
is
close
to being a
k
-junta.
Distributed Control for Time-Fractional Differential System Involving Schrödinger Operator
Authors: Hyder Abd-Allah , EL-Badawy M.
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we investigate the distributed optimal control problem for time-fractional differential system involving Schrödinger operator defined on Rn. The time-fractional derivative is considered in the Riemann-Liouville sense. By using the Lax-Milgram lemma, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution of this system. For the fractional Dirichlet problem with linear quadratic cost functional, we give some equations and inequalities which provide the necessary and sufficient optimality conditions. Moreover, we provide specific application examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of our results.
Theoretical Prediction for Synthetic Realization: Pyramidal Systems ClE[E′4R4] (E = B–Ga, E′ = C–Ge, R = SiMe3, SiMetBu2): A DFT Study
Authors: Gapurenko Olga A. , Lee Vladimir Ya. , Minyaev Ruslan M. , Minkin Vladimir I.
Published: July 2019

Structure and bonding of hybrid group 13/14 pyramidal molecules ClE[E′4R4] (E = B–Ga, E′ = C–Ge, R = SiMe3, SiMetBu2) were studied by DFT calculations. Six pyramidal structures are suggested for their potential synthetic realization.
Simulation of Floc Size Distribution in Flocculation of Activated Sludge Using Population Balance Model with Modified Expressions for the Aggregation and Breakage
Authors: Li Zhenliang , Lu Peili , Zhang Daijun , Song Fuzhong
Published: July 2019

The floc size distribution of activated sludge was simulated successfully by population balance model in the previous study (Population Balance Model and Calibration Method for Simulating the Time Evolution of Floc Size Distribution of Activated Sludge Flocculation. Desalination and Water Treatment, 67, 41‐50). However, nonignorable errors exist in the simulation for the volume percentage of large flocs. This paper describes the application of a modified population balance model in the simulation of the time evolution of floc size distribution in activated sludge flocculation process under shear‐induced conditions. It was found that the application of modified size dependent collision efficiency, modified breakage rate expression by assuming a maximum value, and binominal daughter‐particles distribution function could improve the population balance model for activated sludge flocculation and successfully predict the dynamic changes in volume percentage distribution and mean floc size of activated sludge under different shear conditions. The results demonstrate that the maximum breakage rate was independent on the velocity gradient, and both the collision efficiency and breakage rate coefficient show a power‐law relationship with the average velocity gradient; the former decreases while the latter increases with the rise of the average velocity gradient. These findings would help to understand the dynamics of activated sludge flocculation.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Computerised Cognitive Training of Everyday Cognition in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Smith S. J. , McMillan I. , Leroi I. , Champ C. L. , Barr S. , McDonald K. R. , Dick J. P. R. , Poliakoff E.
Published: July 2019

Objectives. We piloted a computerised cognitive training battery in a group of participants with Parkinson’s disease without dementia to investigate the relevance of the training to daily life and the feasibility and the acceptability of the tasks. Previous studies of CT have had limited success in the benefits of training, extending to improvements in everyday function. By taking a pragmatic approach and targeting training to the cognitive skills affected by Parkinson’s disease (planning, attention, and recollection), whilst using tasks that emulated real-life scenarios, we sought to understand whether participants perceived the training to be effective and to identify the elements of the training that elicited beneficial effects. Methods. Four participants completed a cognitive training session comprising three distinct tasks 5 days a week over two weeks. Participants completed baseline questionnaires examining health-related quality of life, everyday cognition, and apathy before the training period, after the last session, and two weeks after the last session. An interview was held after participants had completed the training. Results. The findings indicated that participants felt the training was acceptable, enhanced their awareness, and encouraged them to monitor their thinking abilities. The group interview indicated that the training was feasible; participants felt the tasks had potential to improve everyday performance, but more supporting information should be provided to facilitate this transfer. Responses to the questionnaires reflected these findings, indicating improvement for some participants’ cognition and quality of life. Objective measures supported the subjective reports; there were improvements in some but not all domains. Performance on the planning and recollection tasks improved over the training period, and the evidence for improvement on the attention task was mixed. Conclusion. This study has found that pragmatic computer-based training with real-life outcomes is both feasible and acceptable and should be evaluated more extensively using controlled methods.
Design of a Four-Branch Optical Power Splitter Based on Gallium-Nitride Using Rectangular Waveguide Coupling for Telecommunication Links
Authors: Purnamaningsih Retno W. , Poespawati Nji R. , Dogheche Elhadj
Published: July 2019

This paper reports design of a simple four-branch optical power splitter using five parallel rectangular waveguides coupling in a gallium-nitride (GaN) semiconductor/sapphire for telecommunication links. The optimisation was conducted using the 3D FD-BPM method for long wavelength optical communication. The result shows that, at propagation length of 925 μm, the optical power input was successfully split into four uniform output beams, each with 24% of total input power. It is also shown that the relative output power distribution is almost stable through the C-band range. At the operating wavelength of 1.55 μm, the proposed power splitter has an excess loss lower than 0.2 dB. This study demonstrates the opportunity to develop optical interconnections from UV-Visible to near IR wavelengths.
Solving of Two‐Dimensional Unsteady‐State Heat‐Transfer Inverse Problem Using Finite Difference Method and Model Prediction Control Method
Authors: Wang Shoubin , Ni Rui
Published: July 2019

The Inverse Heat Conduction Problem (IHCP) refers to the inversion of the internal characteristics or thermal boundary conditions of a heat transfer system by using other known conditions of the system and according to some information that the system can observe. It has been extensively applied in the fields of engineering related to heat‐transfer measurement, such as the aerospace, atomic energy technology, mechanical engineering, and metallurgy. The paper adopts Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Model Predictive Control Method (MPCM) to study the inverse problem in the third‐type boundary heat‐transfer coefficient involved in the two‐dimensional unsteady heat conduction system. The residual principle is introduced to estimate the optimized regularization parameter in the model prediction control method, thereby obtaining a more precise inversion result. Finite difference method (FDM) is adopted for direct problem to calculate the temperature value in various time quanta of needed discrete point as well as the temperature field verification by time quantum, while inverse problem discusses the impact of different measurement errors and measurement point positions on the inverse result. As demonstrated by empirical analysis, the proposed method remains highly precise despite the presence of measurement errors or the close distance of measurement point position from the boundary angular point angle.
Tendon versus Pyrocarbon Interpositional Arthroplasty in the Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis
Authors: Oh Won-Taek , Chun Yong-Min , Koh Il-Hyun , Shin Jong-Kwan , Choi Yun-Rak , Kang Ho-Jung
Published: July 2019

Background. Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) arthritis is treated with surgery when nonsurgical treatment fails. The best surgical option for improving pain relief, functional outcomes, and postoperative complications remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes and complications between trapezium excision with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) and pyrolytic carbon interpositional arthroplasty.Methods. From March 2009 to August 2014, 37 patients (39 wrists) with Eaton-Littler stage II or III TMC arthritis underwent complete trapezium excision with LRTI (Group L, n=19) or pyrolytic interpositional arthroplasty (Group P, n=20). Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores; grip and pinch strength; Kapandji scores to quantify thumb opposition; and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores were used to compare clinical outcomes between the two groups. Radiographic changes (metacarpal shortening, subluxation, and radiolucency) were evaluated on the radiographs of thumb basal joints.Results. There were no differences in patient demographics, Eaton-Littler stage, preoperative outcome measures, or the duration of follow-up between the two groups. At the last follow-up, VAS pain scores, pinch and grip strengths, Kapandji scores, and DASH scores were significantly improved in both groups compared with preoperative scores. All follow-up measurements were similar between the two groups except pinch strength, which was 1.8 kg higher in Group P (p<0.001). Proximal metacarpal migration did not differ significantly between the groups. Periprosthetic lucency more than 1 mm was observed in 7 of 20 (35%) thumbs. Complication rates were similar between the two groups.Conclusions. All subjective and objective outcomes were similar following LRTI and pyrolytic interpositional arthroplasty in patients with TMC arthritis, except pinch strength, which was more improved following pyrolytic interpositional arthroplasty. Longer follow-up is required to test adverse effects of high rates of periprosthetic lucency and prosthetic subluxation on clinical outcomes after PyroDisk interpositional arthroplasty.
Humeral Diaphyseal Fracture Nonunion: An Audit of the Outcome from Intramedullary Nailing and DCP Plating
Authors: Micic Ivan , Kholinne Erica , Kwak Jae-Man , Sun Yucheng , Nanda Akriti , Kim Hyojune , Koh Kyoung-Hwan , Jeon In-Ho
Published: July 2019

Purpose. This study aims to compare the functional outcomes of nonunion humeral diaphyseal fractures following conservative treatment when managed surgically with either a plate or intramedullary (IM) nail fixation. Methods. This was a retrospective study of 56 patients with nonunion humeral fractures following conservative treatment who underwent plate or IM nail fixation between 2007 and 2014. Comparison was made for short term profile (intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, and length of hospitalization) and long term clinical outcome with functional score (Constant-Murley score (CMS)) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score). The union and complication rate were also compared. Results. There were 36 and 20 patients included in plate and IM nail fixation group with the average of 36.14 ± 7.54-month follow-up time. The intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, and length of hospitalization were superior in IM nail group compared to plate group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The mean CMS and DASH score were superior in the plate group compared to the IM nail group (82.40 ± 16.84 versus 77.58 ± 12.96; 17.46 ± 11.05 versus 20.86 ± 11.63, respectively; with p = 0.246, p = 0.299, respectively). Plate fixation group showed higher union rate and complication rate compared to IM nail group (100% versus 90%, 13.8% versus 10%, respectively). Conclusions. IM nail and plate fixation demonstrated comparable clinical outcome. IM nail fixation showed superior short term result with lower complication rate which benefits the elderly group patients with significant comorbidities.
Convection-Enhanced Delivery in Malignant Gliomas: A Review of Toxicity and Efficacy
Authors: Shi Minghan , Sanche Léon
Published: July 2019

Malignant gliomas are undifferentiated or anaplastic gliomas. They remain incurable with a multitude of modalities, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and alternating electric field therapy. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a local treatment that can bypass the blood-brain barrier and increase the tumor uptake of therapeutic agents, while decreasing exposure to healthy tissues. Considering the multiple choices of drugs with different antitumor mechanisms, the supra-additive effect of concomitant radiation and chemotherapy, CED appears as a promising modality for the treatment of brain tumors. In this review, the CED-related toxicities are summarized and classified into immediate, early, and late side effects based on the time of onset, and local and systemic toxicities based on the location of toxicity. The efficacies of CED of various therapeutic agents including targeted antitumor agents, chemotherapeutic agents, radioisotopes, and immunomodulators are covered. The phase III trial PRECISE compares CED of IL13-PE38QQR, an interleukin-13 conjugated to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, to Gliadel® Wafer, a polymer loaded with carmustine. However, in this case, CED had no significant median survival improvement (11.3 months vs. 10 months) in patients with recurrent glioblastomas. In phase II studies, CED of recombinant poliovirus (PVSRIPO) had an overall survival of 21% vs. 14% for the control group at 24 months, and 21% vs. 4% at 36 months. CED of Tf-diphtheria toxin had a response rate of 35% in recurrent malignant gliomas patients. On the other hand, the TGF-β2 inhibitor Trabedersen, HSV-1-tk ganciclovir, and radioisotope 131I-chTNT-1/B mAb had a limited response rate. With this treatment, patients who received CED of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel and immunomodulator, oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODN), experienced intolerable toxicity. Toward the end of this article, an ideal CED treatment procedure is proposed and the methods for quality assurance of the CED procedure are discussed.
Relationship between Hedonic Hunger and Health Interest on Habit and Sodium Intake Patterns in Food Consumption
Authors: Santoso Imam , Wijana Susinggih , Ismawati Afita , Sunarharum Wenny Bekti
Published: July 2019

Many people are motivated to eat healthily but find it difficult to override established and less healthy habits. Habits, by their nature, are unconscious and cued by the environment, thus making them powerful determinants of behavior. This study examined how hedonic hunger and health interest are related to habit and whether sodium consumption is mediated by hedonic hunger, health interest, and habit. A total of 117 students of Universitas Brawijaya took part in the study. Data analysis were done using Partial Least Square (PLS) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). PLS was used to analyze the influence of the relationship between independent and dependent variables. SQ-FFQ was used to determine sodium intake in grams/day. The average sodium intake in this study was 2.47 grams/day. This analysis shows that hedonic hunger and health interest had a significant impact on health habits but not on sodium intake.
A Prospective Study Comparing Two-Time Points of Thyroid Hormone Replacement during the Holy Month of Ramadan
Authors: Dabbous Zeinab , Alowainati Buthaina , Darwish Sara , Ali Hamda , Farook Seleena , Al Malaheem Mariam , Abdalrubb Abeir , Gul Wajiha , Haliqa Wajiha Abu
Published: July 2019

Background. Muslims all over the world fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk. There is little data regarding the best timing of levothyroxine intake during the month of Ramadan where taking it on an empty stomach represents a challenge to most patients. Our study aims to compare two-time points of levothyroxine intake during Ramadan in terms of change in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), compliance, and convenience. Study Design and Methods. This was an open-label, randomized, prospective trial. Adult patients known to have primary hypothyroidism with stable TSH for the last 6 months who intended to fast during the month of Ramadan were invited to participate in this prospective study. The study took place during Ramadan of H1438 (May-June 2017). All patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In group A (n= 50) patients took levothyroxine 30 minutes before breaking the fast at sunset (iftar), and in group B (n= 46) patients took it 30 minutes before an early morning meal before sunrise (suhour). Results. TSH levels increased in both group A (from 1.99 to 3.28 mIU/L) and group B (from 1.54 to 3.28 mIU/L) after Ramadan fasting. There was no difference between the two groups. Compliance with intake instructions, all of the time, was reported in 41.6% of group A and 35.7% of group B patients. In both the groups, 95% of patients said it was convenient for them to take the medication at the assigned time. Conclusion. Choosing an optimal time for levothyroxine intake during the month of Ramadan remains a challenge. The current study did not provide any evidence on ideal time and dose of levothyroxine administration during fasting to manage hypothyroidism. Studies with a larger number of patients need to be done to further explore this issue.
Time-Resolved MRI Assessment of Convection-Enhanced Delivery by Targeted and Nontargeted Nanoparticles in a Human Glioblastoma Mouse Model
Authors: Stephen Zachary R. , Chiarelli Peter A. , Revia Richard A. , Wang Kui , Kievit Forrest , Dayringer Chris , Jeon Mike , Ellenbogen Richard , Zhang Miqin
Published: July 2019

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) provides direct access of infusates to brain tumors; however, clinical translation of this technology has not been realized because of the inability to accurately visualize infusates in real-time and lack of targeting modalities against diffuse cancer cells. In this study, we use time-resolved MRI to reveal the kinetics of CED processes in a glioblastoma (GBM) model using iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) modified with a glioma-targeting ligand, chlorotoxin (CTX). Mice bearing orthotopic human GBM tumors were administered a single dose of targeted CTX-conjugated NP (NPCP-CTX) or nontargeted NP (NPCP) via CED. High-resolution T2-weighted, T2*-weighted, and quantitative T2 MRI were utilized to image NP delivery in real time and determined the volume of distribution (VD) of NPs at multiple time points over the first 48 hours post-CED. GBM-specific targeting was evaluated by flow cytometry and intracellular NP localization by histologic assessment. NPCP-CTX produced a VD of 121 ± 39 mm3 at 24 hours, a significant increase compared with NPCP, while exhibiting GBM specificity and localization to cell nuclei. Notably, CED of NPCP-CTX resulted in a sustained expansion of VD well after infusion, suggesting a possible active transport mechanism, which was further supported by the presence of NPs in endothelial and red blood cells. In summary, we show that time-resolved MRI is a suitable modality to study CED kinetics, and CTX-mediated CED facilitates extensive distribution of infusate and specific targeting of tumor cells.

Significance:

MRI is used to monitor convection-enhanced delivery in real time using a nanoparticle-based contrast agent, and glioma-specific targeting significantly improves the volume of distribution in tumors.
Transcription of Vietnamese Adults’ and Children’s Consonants by English-Speaking Speech-Language Pathologists
Authors: Masso Sarah , McLeod Sharynne , Cronin Anna , Phạm Ben
Published: July 2019

Objective: To examine English-speaking speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) transcription of consonants in Vietnamese words and identification of correct/incorrect productions of Vietnamese children’s speech. Participants and Methods: Twenty English-speaking SLPs completed three tasks. Task 1: transcription of 22 English words using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Task 2: transcription of 47 words spoken by Vietnamese adults. Task 3: transcription of 94 Vietnamese words spoken by Vietnamese children and identification of correct/incorrect productions. Participants completed questionnaires exploring language proficiency, transcription skill, musicality and confidence with multilingual clients. Results: Task 1: participants demonstrated good accuracy transcribing English words (M = 97.2%). Task 2: an average of 52.9% consonants were transcribed correctly (89.4% when Vietnamese-English common transcription errors were considered). Common transcription errors included voicing of plosives, place and syllable-final omission. Accuracy was higher on shared English and Vietnamese consonantal articulations (e.g., /b/ and /m/). Task 3: on average, SLPs correctly identified accuracy of 73.8% of Vietnamese children’s productions and transcribed 69.2% consonants correctly (83.8% when Vietnamese-English common transcription errors were considered). Musicality was correlated with SLPs’ accuracy of transcription. Conclusion: English-speaking SLPs have some skills transcribing Vietnamese adults and transcribing and identifying correct/incorrect productions of children’s speech. SLPs may use knowledge of common transcription errors to support understanding of their transcription of speech.
Espaço-tempo da vida cotidiana na metrópole
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Carlos Ana Fani Alessandri
Published: July 2019

O trabalho tem como pressuposto fundamental o entendimento do espaço geográfico enquanto produto, condição e meio de realização da sociedade, reproduzido ao longo de um processo histórico ininterrupto de constituição da humanidade do homem; este é também o plano da reprodução. Ao produzir sua existência, a sociedade reproduz, continuamente, o espaço. Se, de um lado, o espaço é um conceito abstrato, de outro lado tem uma dimensão real e concreta enquanto lugar de realização da vida humana que ocorre diferencialmente, no tempo e no lugar, ganhando materialidade por intermédio do território. No caso analisado, esse processo se realiza reproduzindo continuamente a cidade que assume, nesse momento histórico, a forma da "metrópole", termo que revela transformações históricas no processo de constituição do urbano. Aqui a noção de cidade adquire uma nova amplitude, aparecendo como categoria central da análise, evidenciando a materialização do processo histórico de produção do espaço geográfico. Então, do mesmo modo que em cada momento da história se produz um espaço, este mostra, em cada momento histórico, uma cidade.
Formas de tratamento, cordialidade e cortesias paulistas
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Oliveira Marilza de
Published: July 2019

Inserido na proposta de ensino com pesquisa, este livro reinterpreta os resultados de trabalhos de graduação orientados na linha da variação linguística e oferece ao leitor um painel das diferentes abordagens comunicativas nas interações sociais na cidade grande em que, muitas vezes, a rapidez no atendimento e a realização mecânica de ações dessublimam a gentileza nas relações interpessoais. A análise dos comportamentos sociolinguísticos em ambientes como balcão de informações de centros comerciais, lojas de calçados e de vestuário, livrarias, bancas de jornal e feiras, entre outros, faz aflorar a polidez, e, em alguns casos, a cordialidade nas relações interpessoais e sugere que a variação linguística nos atos de fala não somente é motivada, mas reproduz e reitera diferenças sociais. Puxando o fio das expressões linguísticas nas relações interpessoais, formas de tratamento, cordialidades e cortesias paulistas fornecem pistas das relações sociais, do controle de alguns grupos por outros, da submissão e da resistência a esse controle.
Apresentação: Gênero em perspectiva interseccional
Authors: Rios Flavia , Sotero Edilza
Published: July 2019

A proposta epistemológica deste dossiê é pensar gênero em perspectiva interseccional. Na primeira parte desta apresentação, faremos uma breve reflexão sobre a forma como a interseccionalidade, a partir dos estudos de gênero, tem se estabelecido como paradigma incontornável nas ciências sociais. Adiante, destacaremos os trabalhos reunidos neste dossiê, que conta com temas clássicos dos estudos nacionais, como trabalho, política institucional, violência, movimentos sociais, de um lado, mas também novas abordagens como a presença das mulheres no cárcere e estudos de masculinidades, por outro.
Resenha de 'As cores da masculinidade: experiências interseccionais e práticas de poder na Nossa América', de Mara Viveros Vigoya
Authors: Souza Henrique Restier da Costa
Published: July 2019

Referência completa:

Vigoya, Mara Viveros. As cores da masculinidade: experiências interseccionais e práticas de poder na Nossa América. Rio de Janeiro: Papéis Selvagens, 2018.
Desigualdades e laços sociais: por uma renovação da teoria do vínculo
Authors: Serra Pedro Martins , Bicudo Marcus De Campos
Published: July 2019

Serge Paugam é pesquisador e professor titular [directeur d’étude] de Sociologia na École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) de Paris, diretor de pesquisa no Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) e diretor da Équipe de Recherches sur les Inégalités Sociales (ERIS) do Centre Maurice Halbwachs (CMH). É autor de diversos livros sobre temas como pobreza, desigualdades sociais e exclusão.
Maternal High-Fructose Intake Induces Multigenerational Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
Authors: Seong Ho Yeong , Cho Hyun Min , Kim Mina , Kim InKyeom
Published: July 2019

Although maternal high-fructose intake induces cardiometabolic syndrome in adult offspring, whether it induces hypertension in successive multiple generations has not yet been studied. We hypothesized that maternal high-fructose intake induces multigenerational activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Pregnant mice were offered 20% fructose in drinking water, of which subsequent first to fourth generation offspring were raised without being offered fructose. Blood pressure was measured via the tail-cuff method, mRNA expression was determined using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and fibrosis was evaluated using trichrome staining. Maternal high-fructose intake statistically significantly increased blood pressure in the first and second, but not the third and fourth, generation offspring as compared to the control group, with maximal increases in serum renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone in the third generation offspring. It increased the mRNA expression of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system genes as well as the expression of renin in the kidneys in the first to third generation offspring, with the exception of the vasodilatory
Mas1
gene, the mRNA expression of which was the lowest in the second generation offspring. Moreover, it maximally increased fibrosis and the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines in the second generation offspring and increased the mRNA expression of oxidative factors in the first to third generation offspring, but maximally decreased the mRNA expression of antioxidant-encoding
Sod1
in the second generation offspring. Maternal high-fructose intake induces multigenerational activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the results of this study implicate that it epigenetically induces cardiometabolic syndrome in multiple generations of offspring.
Vitamin D Status Is Not Associated With Orthostatic Hypotension in Older Adults
Authors: Laird Eamon J. , McNicholas Triona , O’Halloran Aisling M. , Healy Martin , Molloy Anne M. , Carey Daniel , O’Connor Deirdre , McCarroll Kevin , Kenny Rose Anne
Published: July 2019

There has been much interest in investigating vitamin D status with orthostatic hypotension. However, studies have been small, inconsistent, and with a lack of standardization. The aim of this study was to investigate the association with vitamin D status in a large, nationally representative older adult population using a traceable standard of measurement and an accurate assessment of beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP). This study used participants aged >50 years from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Impaired stabilization of BP on standing was defined as a sustained drop of ≥20 mm Hg systolic BP or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic BP up to 40 seconds post stand (impaired stabilization of BP on standing). We also analyzed participants who sustained a drop of ≥20 mm Hg systolic BP or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic BP throughout the 110 seconds stand (OH110). Vitamin D was categorized into sufficient (≥50 nmol/L), insufficient (30–50 nmol/L), and deficient (<30 nmol/L) status. After exclusion criteria 4209 participants were included. Those with deficiency were more likely to be smokers, take antihypertensive medications and had higher levels of cardiovascular disorders compared with those with sufficient status. In a univariate logistic regression those with deficient (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.86–1.61;
P
=0.303) or insufficient (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.91;
P
=0.272) status were no more likely to have evidence of impaired stabilization of BP on standing on active stand compared with sufficiency. Similar findings were found for OH110: deficient (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.52–1.40;
P
=0.528) or insufficient (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.61–1.21;
P
=0.384) versus sufficiency. In conclusion, vitamin D is not significantly associated with orthostatic hypotension in older adults.
Association Between Acute Fall in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate After Treatment for Primary Aldosteronism and Long-Term Decline in Renal Function
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroki , Abe Masanori , Nakamura Yoshihiro , Takahashi Katsutoshi , Fujita Megumi , Takeda Yoshiyu , Yoneda Takashi , Kurihara Isao , Itoh Hiroshi , Tsuiki Mika , Wada Norio , Ichijo Takamasa , Katabami Takuyuki , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Kawashima Junji , Yoshimoto Takanobu , Sone Masakatsu , Inagaki Nobuya , Watanabe Minemori , Kamemura Kohei , Matsuda Yuichi , Izawa Shoichiro , Tanabe Makito , Tanabe Akiyo , Suzuki Tomoko , Naruse Mitsuhide ,   JPAS/JRAS Study Group
Published: July 2019

Primary aldosteronism causes renal structural damage after glomerular hyperfiltration, and primary aldosteronism-specific treatment leads to an acute fall in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We investigated whether this change affected the long-term eGFR slope in a retrospective cohort from the multicenter Japan Primary Aldosteronism Study. We allocated patients with primary aldosteronism to the adrenalectomy (n=202) and MR (mineralocorticoid receptor) antagonist (n=303) groups based on their treatment history and analyzed the association between the initial eGFR fall and long-term eGFR slope. The increased age, low serum potassium levels, high eGFR, and high plasma aldosterone levels were independent predictors for a large initial eGFR fall in both groups. Our analysis of tertiles based on the initial eGFR fall revealed that in the MR antagonist group, patients with a small initial eGFR fall had a significantly steeper long-term eGFR slope than those with a large initial fall (tertile 1 versus 2,
P
=0.025; tertile 1 versus 3,
P
=0.017). These associations were not identified in the adrenalectomy group. Thus, the smaller the acute fall in eGFR by initiation of MR antagonists, the greater was the rate of long-term eGFR decline. While the acute fall in eGFR induced by primary aldosteronism-specific treatment is occasionally a clinical concern, our findings highlight the favorable implications of the acute fall with respect to long-term renal outcomes.
Recent Myocardial Infarction is Associated With Increased Risk in Older Adults With Acute Ischemic Stroke Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy
Authors: Inohara Taku , Liang Li , Kosinski Andrzej S. , Smith Eric E. , Schwamm Lee H. , Hernandez Adrian F. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Peterson Eric D. , Xian Ying
Published: July 2019

Background

Intravenous recombinant tissue‐type plasminogen activator (rt
PA
) remains the only medical therapy to improve outcomes for acute ischemic stroke (
AIS
), but the safety of rt
PA
in
AIS
patients with a history of recent myocardial infarction (
MI
) remains controversial.

Methods and Results

We sought to determine whether the presence of recent
MI
would alter the risk of mortality and rt
PA
‐related complications. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare in‐hospital outcomes between rt
PA
‐treated
AIS
patients with recent
MI
within 3 months and those with no history of
MI
from the Get With The Guidelines‐Stroke hospitals between February 2009 and December 2015. Among 40 396
AIS
patients aged ≥65 years treated with rt
PA
, 241 (0.6%) had recent
MI
, of which 19.5% were ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Patients with recent
MI
had more severe stroke than those without (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [interquartile range]: 13.0 [7.0–20.0] versus 11.0 [6.0–18.0]). Recent
MI
was associated with an increased risk of mortality compared with no history of
MI
(17.4% versus 9.0%; adjusted odds ratio 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10–2.33];
P
=0.014), but no statistically significant differences in rt
PA
‐related complications (13.5% versus 9.4%;
adjusted odds ratio
1.28 [0.88–1.86];
P
=0.19). Recent
ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction
was associated with higher risk of death and rt
PA
‐related complications, but non–
ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction
was not.

Conclusions

Among older
AIS
patients treated with rt
PA
, recent
MI
was associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital mortality. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether the benefit of rt
PA
outweighs its risk among
AIS
patients with recent
MI
.
Weaving Objects: Spatial Design and Functionality of 3D-Woven Textiles
Authors: Harvey Claire , Holtzman Emily , Ko Joy , Hagan Brooks , Wu Rundong , Marschner Steve , Kessler David
Published: July 2019

3D weaving is an industrial process for creating volumetric material through organized multiaxis interlacing of yarns. The overall complexity and rarity of 3D weaving have limited its market to aerospace and military applications. Current textile design software does not address the ease of iterating through physical trialing so necessary for designers to access this medium. This paper describes the development of a series of volumetric textile samples culminating in the creation of a fully formed shoe and the collaboration with computer scientists to develop a visualization tool that addresses the consumer accessory design opportunities for this medium.