bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a Cervical Cancer Screening Strategy Using HPV Self-Sampling for Women Living in Rural Areas
Authors: Possati-Resende Júlio Cesar , Vazquez Fabiana de Lima , Pantano Naitielle de Paula , Fregnani José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro , Mauad Edmundo Carvalho , Longatto-Filho Adhemar
Published: March 2019

Background: The implementation of population screening for cervical lesions in rural areas has been particularly challenging for a variety of reasons, including geographic isolation, limited access to medical care, lack of awareness of cancer risks, lower education levels, and embarrassment about having the clinical examination. Methods: This study was designed to evaluate the use of self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) screening in the rural communities served by our hospital. To develop the study group, we trained a local police officer who was already interacting with the rural community to explain cancer risks and the ease of self-sampling to the women. Results: We identified a study group of 386 women, of whom 369 (95.6%) agreed to participate in the study. To test for high-risk HPV, we performed the Cobas PCR test, and of 340 valid samples, 45 (12.2%) were positive for at least 1 of the high-risk HPV subtypes. All positively tested women were referred for colposcopy and Papanicolaou testing. The follow-up biopsies showed that 40% had low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1), 6.6% had high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3), and 4.4% had squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Self-collection for HPV testing by women living in isolated communities is highly efficient and has potential for cost-effective screening by taking advantage of existing support networks, such as the local police service.
Strain-Related Differences in Mouse Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia
Authors: Sheldon R. Ann , Windsor Christine , Ferriero Donna M.
Published: March 2019

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is commonly studied by means of the Vannucci procedure in mice or rats (unilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by hypoxia). Previously, we modified the postnatal day 7 (P7) rat procedure for use in mice, and later demonstrated that genetic strain strongly influences the degree of brain injury in the P7 mouse model of hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Recently, the P9 or P10 mouse brain was recognized as the developmental equivalent of a term neonatal human brain, rather than P7. Consequently, the Vannucci procedure has again been modified, and a commonly used protocol employs 10% oxygen for 50 min in C57Bl/6 mice. Strain differences have yet to be described for the P9/P10 mouse model. In order to determine if the strain differences we previously reported in the P7 mouse model are present in the P9 model, we compared 2 commonly used strains, CD1 and C57Bl/6J, in both the P7 (carotid ligation [in this case, right] followed by exposure to 8% oxygen for 30 min) and P9 (carotid ligation [in this case left] followed by exposure to 10% oxygen) models of HI. Experiments using the P7 model were performed in 2001–2012 and those using the P9 model were performed in 2012–2016. Five to seven days after the HI procedure, mice were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, their brains were sectioned on a Vibratome (50 µm) and alternate sections were stained with Perl’s iron stain or cresyl violet. Brain sections were examined microscopically and scored for the degree of injury. Since brains in the P7 group had been scored previously with a slightly different system, they were reanalyzed using our current scoring system which scores injury in 11 regions: the anterior, middle, and posterior cortex; the anterior, middle, and posterior striatum; CA1, CA2, CA3, and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and thalamus, on a scale from 0 (none) to 3 (cystic infarct) for a total score of 0–33. Brains in the P9 group were scored with the same system. Given the same insult, the P7 CD1 mice had greater injury than the C57Bl/6J mice, which agrees with our previous findings. The P9 CD1 mice also had greater injury than the C57Bl/6J mice. This study confirms that CD1 mice are more susceptible to injury than C57Bl/6J mice and that strain selection is important when using mouse models of HI.
Quality of Life in Adolescent Boys with Idiopathic Short Stature: Positive Impact of Growth Hormone and Aromatase Inhibitors
Authors: Bullinger Monika , Bloemeke Janika , Mericq Veronica , Sommer Rachel , Gaete Xiemena , Ross Judith L. , Yu Y. Miles , Permuy Joseph , Gagliardi Priscila , Damaso Y. Ligeia , Mauras Nelly
Published: March 2019

Background: The combination of growth hormone (GH) and aromatase inhibitors (AI) improves linear growth in severely short adolescent boys; however, the effects of this intervention on quality of life (QoL) are unknown. This study assesses whether GH, AI, or their combination impacts the QoL of adolescent males with idiopathic short stature (ISS) from both the adolescent and the parent perspective. Method: A randomized open-label comparator trial was conducted in 76 pubertal males with ISS who received AI, GH, or AI/GH for 24 months. The condition-specific Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth questionnaire was used to assess QoL. Results: QoL scores were low at baseline in the children’s and parents’ reports. Within-group testing showed that total QoL scores increased significantly at 24 months in the GH and AI/GH group but not the AI group in the children’s report, whereas it increased in all of the groups in the parents’ report. Increases in QoL scores were associated with an increase in height SDS. Conclusions: Treatment with GH and AI/GH was associated with improved QoL scores as measured from both the patients’ and the parents’ perspectives, suggesting that the improved growth resulting from the use of these growth-promoting therapies has beneficial psychosocial effects in adolescent males with ISS followed for 24 months.
Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Central Region of Portugal: The Coimbra Eye Study – Report 5
Authors: Farinha Cláudia Virgínia Louro , Cachulo Maria Luz , Alves Dalila , Pires Isabel , Marques João Pedro , Barreto Patrícia , Nunes Sandrina , Costa José , Martins Amélia , Sobral Isa , Laíns Inês , Figueira João , Ribeiro Luísa , Cunha-Vaz José , Silva Rufino
Published: March 2019

Purpose: To describe the 6.5-year incidence and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a coastal town of central Portugal. Methods: Population-based cohort study. Participants underwent standardized interviews and ophthalmological examination. Color fundus photographs were graded according to the International Classification and Grading System for AMD and ARM. The crude and age-standardized incidence of early and late AMD was calculated, and progression was analyzed. Results: The 6.5-year cumulative incidence of early AMD was 10.7%, and of late AMD it was 0.8%. The incidence of early AMD was 7.2, 13.1 and 17.7% for participants aged 55–64, 65–74 and 75–84 years (p < 0.001). The late AMD incidence was 0.3, 0.9 and 2.8% for the corresponding age groups (p = 0.003). The age-standardized incidence was 10.8% (95% CI, 10.74–10.80%) for early and 1.0% (95% CI, 1.00–1.02%) for late AMD. The incidence of both neovascular AMD and geographic atrophy was 0.4%. Progression occurred in 17.2% of patients. Conclusion: The early AMD incidence in a coastal town of central Portugal was found to be similar to that of major epidemiological studies of European-descent populations; however, the incidence of late AMD was lower, and further analysis on risk factors will be conducted.
Prospective Endovascular Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke Evaluating Non-Contrast Head CT versus CT Perfusion (PLEASE No CTP)
Authors: Hassan Ameer E. , Shamim Hafsah , Zacharatos Haralabos , Chaudhry Saqib A. , Sanchez Christina , Tekle Wondwossen G. , Sanchez Olive , Abantao Erlinda , Qureshi Adnan I.
Published: March 2019

Background: Studies have shown a lack of agreement of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in the selection of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients for endovascular treatment. Purpose: To demonstrate whether non-contrast computed tomography (CT) within 8 h of symptom onset is comparable to CTP imaging. Methods: Prospective study of consecutive anterior circulation AIS patients with a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score > 7 presenting within 8 h of symptom onset with endovascular treatment. All patients had non-contrast CT, CT angiography, and CTP. The neuro-interventionalist was blinded to the results of the CTP and based the treatment decision using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS). Baseline demographics, co-morbidities, and baseline NIHSS scores were collected. Outcomes were modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge and in-hospital mortality. Good outcomes were defined as a mRS score of 0–2. Results: 283 AIS patients were screened for the trial, and 119 were enrolled. The remaining patients were excluded for: posterior circulation stroke, no CTP performed, could not obtain consent, and NIHSS score < 7. Mean ­NIHSS score at admission was 16.8 ± 3, and mean ASPECTS was 8.4 ± 1.4. There was no statistically significant correlation with CTP penumbra and good outcomes: 50 versus 47.8% with no penumbra present (p = 0.85). In patients without evidence of CTP penumbra, there was 22.5% mortality compared to 22.1% mortality in patients with a CTP penumbra. If ASPECTS ≥7, 64.6% had good outcome versus 13.3% if ASPECTS < 7 (p < 0.001). Patients with an ASPECTS ≥7 had 10% mortality versus 51.4% in patients with an ASPECTS < 7 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: CTP penumbra did not identify patients who would benefit from endovascular treatment when patients were selected with non-contrast CT ASPECTS ≥7. There is no correlation of CTP penumbra with good outcomes or mortality. Larger prospective trials are warranted to justify the use of CTP within 6 h of symptom onset.
Genetic Content of the Neo-Sex Chromosomes in Ctenonotus and Norops (Squamata, Dactyloidae) and Degeneration of the Y Chromosome as Revealed by High-Throughput Sequencing of Individual Chromosomes
Authors: Lisachov Artem P. , Makunin Alexey I. , Giovannotti Massimo , Pereira Jorge C. , Druzhkova Anna S. , Caputo Barucchi Vincenzo , Ferguson-Smith Malcolm A. , Trifonov Vladimir A.
Published: March 2019

Pleurodont lizards are characterized by an ancient system of sex chromosomes. Along with stability of the central component of the system (homologous to the X chromosome of Anolis carolinensis [Dactyloidae], ACAX), in some genera the ancestral sex chromosomes are fused with microautosomes, forming neo-sex chromosomes. The genus Ctenonotus (Dactyloidae) is characterized by multiple X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y sex chromosomes. According to cytogenetic data, the large neo-Y chromosome is formed by fusion of the ancestral Y chromosome with 2 microautosomes (homologous to ACA10 or ACA11 and ACA12), the X1 chromosome is formed by fusion of the ancestral X chromosome with the autosome homologous to ACA10 or ACA11, and the X2 chromosome is homologous to autosome ACA12. To determine more precisely the content and evolution of the Ctenonotus sex chromosomes, we sequenced flow-sorted chromosomes (both sex chromosomes and microautosomes as control) of 2 species with a similar system: C. pogus and C. sabanus. Our results indicate that the translocated part of the X1 is homologous to ACA11, X2 is homologous to ACA12, and the Y contains segments homologous to both ACA11 and ACA12. Molecular divergence estimates suggest that the ancestral X-derived part has completely degenerated in the Y of Ctenonotus, similar to the degeneration of the Norops sagrei Y chromosome (Dactyloidae). The newly added regions show loss of DNA content, but without degeneration of the conserved regions. We hypothesize that the translocation of autosomal blocks onto sex chromosomes facilitated rapid degeneration of the pseudoautosomal region on the ancestral Y.
Monotypic IgG1-kappa Atypical Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Nephritis: A Case Report
Authors: Olivier Maxim , Watson Harold , Lee Danielle , Mohanlal Viresh , Madruga Mario , Carlan Steven
Published: March 2019

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis is a rare disease caused by autoantibodies against the glomerular basement membrane. Atypical anti-GBM nephritis is clinically less aggressive and characterized by the absence of circulating autoantibodies to the basement membrane. A previously healthy 53-year-old white woman presented with a rising creatinine over a short observation period. Renal biopsy, urinary sediment, and laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis of atypical anti-GBM disease. She received plasmapheresis, steroids, and cyclophosphamide. She developed hemorrhagic cystitis early in the treatment from oral cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil was substituted as a first-line drug. She responded favorably and continued on mycophenolate mofetil without evidence of relapse. Despite the absence of circulating autoantibodies, a diagnosis of atypical anti-GBM nephritis should not be excluded if a high index of clinical suspicion exists. Early renal biopsy should be considered. Mycophenolate mofetil may be a reasonable replacement for oral cyclophosphamide in the treatment of atypical anti-GBM disease when cyclophosphamide is contraindicated.
Microcomputed Tomography Calibration Using Polymers and Minerals for Enamel Mineral Content Quantitation
Authors: Alyahya Asma , Alqareer Athbi , Swain Michael
Published: March 2019

Objective: The aim of this paper was to develop calibration standards (CSs) that are readily available for clinical researchers for the quantitation of enamel mineral content. Method:Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acetal, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), selenite, Egyptian alabaster, aragonite, and fluorite were fashioned into discs, and their densities were measured and stacked for microcomputed tomography examination. Frame averaging, flat-field correction, pre-filtration, and beam-hardening correction were applied. CSs were checked for homogeneity. The linear relationship between the mean greyscale value (GSV) of each disc and its physically calculated density was explored, and reproducibility was tested. A calibration function was established and then validated using a bovine enamel disc and sound enamel of extracted human premolar teeth. Results: Measured densities were PET (ρ = 1.38 g/cm3), acetal (ρ = 1.41 g/cm3), PPS (ρ = 1.64 g/cm3), selenite (ρ = 2.24 g/cm3), Egyptian alabaster (ρ = 2.7 g/cm3), aragonite (ρ = 2.72 g/cm3), and fluorite (ρ = 3.11 g/cm3). Examination of the profile sections of CSs confirmed the uniformity of GSVs with minimal beam-hardening effect. A squared Pearson correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.994 was determined between the mean GSV of each CS and its calculated density and was reproduced at different settings with R2 >0.99. A linear regression equation of density (y) versus GSV (x) was established using the least squares regression equation method. The estimated density of the bovine enamel disc (2.48 g/cm3) showed high accuracy when compared to the physically measured value (2.45 g/cm3). The ­relative error was 1.2%. Densities of sound enamel in the extracted human premolar teeth were 2.6–3.1 g/cm3. Conclusions: This is a simple, valid, and reproducible method to quantitate enamel mineral content. This simple, yet accurate system could be used to expand knowledge in the field of enamel caries research.
Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries
Authors: Apaitan Tosapol , Disyatat Piti , Samphantharak Krislert
Published: March 2019

This paper uses transaction-level data from Thailand to study concentration, specialization, and fragility of export activities. The paper shows that although exports have been an integral part of the development strategy of the country for several decades, direct engagement in international trade through exports is a rare activity. Export firms are different from their nonexport counterparts. Export activities are also extremely concentrated. There is a great deal of churning in Thai exports and exporting relationships are highly fragile. The findings highlight some cautions from a micro perspective about an export-oriented development strategy, particularly regarding concentration and vulnerability.
Foreign Direct Investment and Productivity: A Cross-Country, Multisector Analysis
Authors: Desbordes Rodolphe , Franssen Loe
Published: March 2019

This paper adopts a cross-country, multisector approach to investigate the intra- and inter-industry effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the productivity of 15 emerging market economies in 2000 and 2008. Our main finding is that intra-industry FDI has a large positive effect on total and “exported” labor productivity. The effects of FDI on total factor productivity are much more elusive, both in statistical and economic terms. This result suggests that foreign firms raise the performance of their host economies through a direct compositional effect. Foreign firms tend to be larger and more input intensive and have greater access to foreign markets than domestic firms. Their greater prevalence mechanically increases average labor productivity and export performance.
Moral Psychology and Social Change: The Case of Abolition
Authors: Rota Michael W.
Published: March 2019

The examination of a test case, the popular movement to abolish slavery, demonstrates that the insights of recent psychological research about moral judgment and motivated reasoning can contribute to historians’ understanding of why large-scale shifts in cultural values occur. Moral psychology helps to answer the question of why the abolitionist movement arose and flourished when and where it did. Analysis of motivated reasoning and the just-world bias sheds light on the conditions that promoted recognition of the moral wrongfulness of chattel slavery, as well as on the conditions that promoted morally motivated social action. These findings reveal that residents of Great Britain and the northern United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were in an unusually good position to perceive, and to act on, the moral problems of slavery. Moral psychology is also applicable to other social issues, such as women’s liberation and egalitarianism.
Object-in-place Memory Predicted by Anterolateral Entorhinal Cortex and Parahippocampal Cortex Volume in Older Adults
Authors: Yeung Lok-Kin , Olsen Rosanna K. , Hong Bryan , Mihajlovic Valentina , D'Angelo Maria C. , Kacollja Arber , Ryan Jennifer D. , Barense Morgan D.
Published: March 2019

The lateral portion of the entorhinal cortex is one of the first brain regions affected by tau pathology, an important biomarker for Alzheimer disease. Improving our understanding of this region's cognitive role may help identify better cognitive tests for early detection of Alzheimer disease. Based on its functional connections, we tested the idea that the human anterolateral entorhinal cortex (alERC) may play a role in integrating spatial information into object representations. We recently demonstrated that the volume of the alERC was related to processing the spatial relationships of the features within an object [Yeung, L. K., Olsen, R. K., Bild-Enkin, H. E. P., D'Angelo, M. C., Kacollja, A., McQuiggan, D. A., et al. Anterolateral entorhinal cortex volume predicted by altered intra-item configural processing. Journal of Neuroscience, 37, 5527–5538, 2017]. In this study, we investigated whether the human alERC might also play a role in processing the spatial relationships between an object and its environment using an eye-tracking task that assessed visual fixations to a critical object within a scene. Guided by rodent work, we measured both object-in-place memory, the association of an object with a given context [Wilson, D. I., Langston, R. F., Schlesiger, M. I., Wagner, M., Watanabe, S., & Ainge, J. A. Lateral entorhinal cortex is critical for novel object-context recognition. Hippocampus, 23, 352–366, 2013], and object-trace memory, the memory for the former location of objects [Tsao, A., Moser, M. B., & Moser, E. I. Traces of experience in the lateral entorhinal cortex. Current Biology, 23, 399–405, 2013]. In a group of older adults with varying stages of brain atrophy and cognitive decline, we found that the volume of the alERC and the volume of the parahippocampal cortex selectively predicted object-in-place memory, but not object-trace memory. These results provide support for the notion that the alERC may integrate spatial information into object representations.
Multisensory Integration and Exogenous Spatial Attention: A Time-window-of-integration Analysis
Authors: Diederich Adele , Colonius Hans
Published: March 2019

Although it is well documented that occurrence of an irrelevant and nonpredictive sound facilitates motor responses to a subsequent target light appearing nearby, the cause of this “exogenous spatial cuing effect” has been under discussion. On the one hand, it has been postulated to be the result of a shift of visual spatial attention possibly triggered by parietal and/or cortical supramodal “attention” structures. On the other hand, the effect has been considered to be due to multisensory integration based on the activation of multisensory convergence structures in the brain. Recent RT experiments have suggested that multisensory integration and exogenous spatial cuing differ in their temporal profiles of facilitation: When the nontarget occurs 100–200 msec before the target, facilitation is likely driven by crossmodal exogenous spatial attention, whereas multisensory integration effects are still seen when target and nontarget are presented nearly simultaneously. Here, we develop an extension of the time-window-of-integration model that combines both mechanisms within the same formal framework. The model is illustrated by fitting it to data from a focused attention task with a visual target and an auditory nontarget presented at horizontally or vertically varying positions. Results show that both spatial cuing and multisensory integration may coexist in a single trial in bringing about the crossmodal facilitation of RT effects. Moreover, the formal analysis via time window of integration allows to predict and quantify the contribution of either mechanism as they occur across different spatiotemporal conditions.
Optimal modularity and memory capacity of neural reservoirs
Authors: Rodriguez Nathaniel , Izquierdo Eduardo , Ahn Yong-Yeol
Published: March 2019

The neural network is a powerful computing framework that has been exploited by biological evolution and by humans for solving diverse problems. Although the computational capabilities of neural networks are determined by their structure, the current understanding of the relationships between a neural network’s architecture and function is still primitive. Here we reveal that a neural network’s modular architecture plays a vital role in determining the neural dynamics and memory performance of the network of threshold neurons. In particular, we demonstrate that there exists an optimal modularity for memory performance, where a balance between local cohesion and global connectivity is established, allowing optimally modular networks to remember longer. Our results suggest that insights from dynamical analysis of neural networks and information-spreading processes can be leveraged to better design neural networks and may shed light on the brain’s modular organization.
Exploring Neural Methods for Parsing Discourse Representation Structures
Authors: van Noord Rik , Abzianidze Lasha , Toral Antonio , Bos Johan
Published: March 2019

Neural methods have had several recent successes in semantic parsing, though they have yet to face the challenge of producing meaning representations based on formal semantics. We present a sequence-to-sequence neural semantic parser that is able to produce Discourse Representation Structures (DRSs) for English sentences with high accuracy, outperforming traditional DRS parsers. To facilitate the learning of the output, we represent DRSs as a sequence of flat clauses and introduce a method to verify that produced DRSs are well-formed and interpretable. We compare models using characters and words as input and see (somewhat surprisingly) that the former performs better than the latter. We show that eliminating variable names from the output using De Bruijn indices increases parser performance. Adding silver training data boosts performance even further.
Recurrent Neural Networks in Linguistic Theory: Revisiting Pinker and Prince (1988) and the Past Tense Debate
Authors: Kirov Christo , Cotterell Ryan
Published: March 2019

Can advances in NLP help advance cognitive modeling? We examine the role of artificial neural networks, the current state of the art in many common NLP tasks, by returning to a classic case study. In 1986, Rumelhart and McClelland famously introduced a neural architecture that learned to transduce English verb stems to their past tense forms. Shortly thereafter in 1988, Pinker and Prince presented a comprehensive rebuttal of many of Rumelhart and McClelland’s claims. Much of the force of their attack centered on the empirical inadequacy of the Rumelhart and McClelland model. Today, however, that model is severely outmoded. We show that the Encoder-Decoder network architectures used in modern NLP systems obviate most of Pinker and Prince’s criticisms without requiring any simplification of the past tense mapping problem. We suggest that the empirical performance of modern networks warrants a reexamination of their utility in linguistic and cognitive modeling.
Sleepy Hollow in Concord: Melville's Gothic Parody of Transcendentalist Spirit in “The Apple-Tree Table”
Authors: Gallagher Mark
Published: March 2019

Inspired by Concord's newly consecrated Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Herman Melville's “The Apple-Tree Table; or, Original Spiritual Manifestations” (1856) undercuts spirituality with materiality in a gothic parody that is both a literal parody of the “Sleepy Hollow” genre and an ironic parody of both Thoreau and Hawthorne.
Dahlia mixtecana (Asteraceae, Coreopsideae), a striking new species from Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: REYES-SANTIAGO JERÓNIMO , ISLAS-LUNA MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES , MUNGUÍA-LINO GUADALUPE , CASTRO-CASTRO ARTURO
Published: March 2019

Dahlia mixtecana (Asteraceae, Coreopsideae) is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to western Oaxaca, Mexico. This taxon is related to Dahlia sect. Dahlia and Dahlia sect. Entemophyllon. However, based on the current evidence available and the current system of infrageneric groups, it does not appear possible to assign the new species with confidence to any taxonomic section. The description of the new species is presented with distribution maps, illustrations, photographs, discussions on the taxonomic relationship and an identification key to the sections and species of Dahlia occurring in Oaxaca and species in Dahlia sect. Entemophyllon related to D. mixtecana.
Weather Radar Network Benefit Model for Tornadoes
Authors: Cho John Y. N. , Kurdzo James M.
Published: March 2019

A monetized tornado benefit model is developed for arbitrary weather radar network configurations. Geospatial regression analyses indicate that improvement of two key radar parameters—fraction of vertical space observed and cross-range horizontal resolution—leads to better tornado warning performance as characterized by tornado detection probability and false-alarm ratio. Previous experimental results showing faster volume scan rates yielding greater warning performance are also incorporated into the model. Enhanced tornado warning performance, in turn, reduces casualty rates. In addition, lower false-alarm ratios save costs by cutting down on work and personal time lost while taking shelter. The model is run on the existing contiguous U.S. weather radar network as well as hypothetical future configurations. Results show that the current radars provide a tornado-based benefit of ~$490 million (M) yr−1. The remaining benefit pool is about $260M yr−1, split roughly evenly between coverage- and rapid-scanning-related gaps.
Adjoint Sensitivity of North Pacific Atmospheric River Forecasts
Authors: Reynolds Carolyn A. , Doyle James D. , Ralph F. Martin , Demirdjian Reuben
Published: March 2019

The initial-state sensitivity and optimal perturbation growth for 24- and 36-h forecasts of low-level kinetic energy and precipitation over California during a series of atmospheric river (AR) events that took place in early 2017 are explored using adjoint-based tools from the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). This time period was part of the record-breaking winter of 2016–17 in which several high-impact ARs made landfall in California. The adjoint sensitivity indicates that both low-level winds and precipitation are most sensitive to mid- to lower-tropospheric perturbations in the initial state in and near the ARs. A case study indicates that the optimal moist perturbations occur most typically along the subsaturated edges of the ARs, in a warm conveyor belt region. The sensitivity to moisture is largest, followed by temperature and winds. A 1 g kg−1 perturbation to moisture may elicit twice as large a response in kinetic energy and precipitation as a 1 m s−1 perturbation to the zonal or meridional wind. In an average sense, the sensitivity and related optimal perturbations are very similar for the kinetic energy and precipitation response functions. However, on a case-by-case basis, differences in the sensitivity magnitude and optimal perturbation structures result in substantially different forecast perturbations, suggesting that optimal adaptive observing strategies should be metric dependent. While the nonlinear evolved perturbations are usually smaller (by about 20%, on average) than the expected linear perturbations, the optimal perturbations are still capable of producing rapid nonlinear perturbation growth. The positive correlation between sensitivity magnitude and wind speed forecast error or precipitation forecast differences supports the relevance of adjoint-based calculations for predictability studies.
Constrained Quantile Regression Splines for Ensemble Postprocessing
Authors: Bremnes John Bjørnar
Published: March 2019

Statistical postprocessing of ensemble forecasts is widely applied to make reliable probabilistic weather forecasts. Motivated by the fact that nature imposes few restrictions on the shape of forecast distributions, a flexible quantile regression method based on constrained spline functions (CQRS) is proposed and tested on ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System (ENS) wind speed forecasting data at 125 stations in Norway. First, it is demonstrated that constraining quantile functions to be monotone and bounded is preferable. Second, combining an ensemble quantile with the ensemble mean proved to be a good covariate for the respective quantile. Third, CQRS only needs to be applied to about 10 equidistant quantiles, while those between can be obtained by interpolation. A comparison of CQRS versus a mixture model of truncated and lognormal distributions showed slight overall improvements in quantile score (less than 1%), reliability, and to some extent also sharpness. For strong wind speed forecasts the quantile score was improved by up to 4.5% depending on lead time.
Estimating Tropical Cyclone Intensity by Satellite Imagery Utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Chen Buo-Fu , Chen Boyo , Lin Hsuan-Tien , Elsberry Russell L.
Published: March 2019

Accurately estimating tropical cyclone (TC) intensity is one of the most critical steps in TC forecasting and disaster warning/management. For over 40 years, the Dvorak technique (and several improved versions) has been applied for estimating TC intensity by forecasters worldwide. However, the operational Dvorak techniques primarily used in various agencies have several deficiencies, such as inherent subjectivity leading to inconsistent intensity estimates within various basins. This collaborative study between meteorologists and data scientists has developed a deep-learning model using satellite imagery to estimate TC intensity. The conventional convolutional neural network (CNN), which is a mature technology for object classification, requires several modifications when being used for directly estimating TC intensity (a regression task). Compared to the Dvorak technique, the CNN model proposed here is objective and consistent among various basins; it has been trained with satellite infrared brightness temperature and microwave rain-rate data from 1097 global TCs during 2003–14 and optimized with data from 188 TCs during 2015–16. This paper also introduces an upgraded version that further improves the accuracy by using additional TC information (i.e., basin, day of year, local time, longitude, and latitude) and applying a postsmoothing procedure. An independent testing dataset of 94 global TCs during 2017 has been used to evaluate the model performance. A root-mean-square intensity difference of 8.39 kt (1 kt ≈ 0.51 m s−1) is achieved relative to the best track intensities. For a subset of 482 samples analyzed with reconnaissance observations, a root-mean-square intensity difference of 8.79 kt is achieved.
Does GRI Sustainability Reporting Pay Off? An Empirical Investigation of Publicly Listed Firms in China
Authors: Yang Yang , Orzes Guido , Jia Fu , Chen Lujie
Published: March 2019

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines have emerged as an important instrument used by firms to structure the content of sustainability reporting (SR). This development has led to the question of whether the elaboration of GRI SR is beneficial to a firm’s financial performance. In this study, building on signaling theory, we carry out an empirical investigation of the impact of GRI SR on firm profitability and the factors moderating that impact. Drawing from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR), the WIND Economic, and the Chinese Research Data Services Platform (CNRDS) databases, we identified a sample of 122 listed firms with GRI SR in China. We then employed an event study method to compare the firms following GRI SR with a set of matched firms reporting sustainability without following the GRI guidelines. The results show that GRI SR significantly increases firm profitability. Moreover, firms with local political ties reap more benefits from GRI SR, while the moderating effect of central political ties is not significant. Surprisingly, the performance impact of GRI SR is negatively correlated to the firm’s internationalization level.
Mental practice combined with repetitive task practice to rehabilitate handwriting in children
Authors: Saleem Ghazala T. , Gillen Glen
Published: March 2019

Background.

Handwriting dysfunction contributes to 40% of all school-based referrals to occupational therapy. Empirically based handwriting interventions are needed to remediate the negative effects of handwriting dysfunction on a child’s occupational performance.

Purpose.

This study examined the effectiveness of mental practice (MP) combined with repetitive task practice (RTP) to rehabilitate handwriting in children.

Method.

Twenty typically developing first and second graders with impaired handwriting received RTP twice a week for 4 weeks, then engaged in MP combined with RTP for the same duration. Using the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (MHA), they were assessed across four time points: baseline (1), after RTP (2), after MP combined with RTP (3), and follow-up (4).

Findings.

Children significantly improved and retained this increase on all variables of MHA ( p < .001) after MP combined with RTP. After RTP, the only significant improvement occurred in handwriting form ( p < .001).

Implications.

MP may be a potential therapeutic addition to RTP in rehabilitating global handwriting dysfunction.
C.S. Lewis on the Actuality of the Incarnation: Triune Simultaneity and the Will of God
Authors: Brazier P.H.
Published: March 2019

C.S. Lewis eschewed the multifarious and apparently contradictory atonement theories, yet he implicitly promulgated specifically ‘debt’ and ‘ransom’ models. Within his understanding of the Cross as the central mechanism of atonement Lewis tackled the paradox of Incarnation through a proposition, almost a motif, of analogical narrative in which he sought to explain the actuality of the Incarnation: how God could be made in human flesh (John 1:14a), grounded in triune simultaneity – how God could be both eternal and actual After examining the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of revelation, we can analyse Lewis's statement: ‘if Shakespeare and Hamlet could ever meet, it must be Shakespeare's doing’. Lewis's proposition raises questions about temporality, and modernist objections to theistic belief, but essentially about the will of the triune God.
Role of Organic Phosphate in Mineralization of Bone in vitro
Authors: Tenenbaum H. C.
Published: March 2019

Calvarial periostea were dissected from 17-day-old embryonic chicks and folded with the osteogenic cells in apposition. The folded explains were cultured for up to six d on serum and plasma clots or in serum-free hormone-supplemented completely-defined medium. Osteoid consistently formed in such cultures in both types of media, and this osteoid mineralized when appropriate levels of β-glycerophosphate were added to each type of medium. The data presented suggest that the levels of organic phosphate might be more important than inorganic phosphates as a limiting factor in the initiation of mineralization of bone in vitro.
Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the ballistic performance of hybrid Kevlar/Cocos nucifera sheath-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Naveen J , Jawaid M , Zainudin ES , Sultan Mohamed TH , Yahaya R
Published: March 2019

This study investigated the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) on the ballistic performance of Kevlar/ Cocos nucifera sheath-reinforced epoxy composites. GnPs with different wt. % (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%) were integrated into epoxy resin through ultra-sonication. Laminated composites were fabricated by incorporating Kevlar and Cocos nucifera sheath layers into the epoxy/GnP mixture by the hand lay-up method followed by hot pressing. Nine- and 12-layered laminates were fabricated with different numbers of Kevlar and Cocos nucifera sheath plies. Ballistic tests were conducted using a single-stage gas gun experimental setup with an 8 mm hemispherical stainless steel projectile. The results showed that the addition of GnPs improved the energy absorption by 8.5% (nine plies) and 12.88% (12 plies) and the ballistic limit by 4.28% (nine plies) and 6.17% (12 plies), respectively of Kevlar/epoxy/GnP composites at 0.25 wt. %. However, hybrid Kevlar/ Cocos nucifera sheath/epoxy/GnP composites and Cocos nucifera sheath/epoxy/GnP laminated composites decreased the energy absorption and ballistic limit after the addition of GnPs. This is because the addition of GnPs improved the interfacial interactions between the fiber and GnP modified epoxy matrix, which is inappropriate to absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy of the projectile. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way analysis of variance and it was shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the obtained ballistic properties of the laminates.
Cognitive Exercise Boosts Exam Performance in an Introductory Psychology Course
Authors: White Holly A. , Highfill Lauren E.
Published: March 2019

The present study piloted a cognitive exercise program in a college classroom to enhance learning of lecture material. Undergraduate students enrolled in introductory psychology ( N = 68) completed variations of letter–number cancelation tasks with spoken instructions in 5-min sessions prior to lecture during four nonconsecutive class periods. Results showed significantly better exam performance on material based on lectures that followed cognitive exercise compared to lectures on nonexercise days. On an anonymous program feedback survey, students reported significantly greater levels of alertness following cognitive exercise versus before; the majority of students rated their attention to lecture and note-taking ability as above average after cognitive workouts. Although preliminary, findings suggest that cognitive exercise in the classroom may positively impact learning for college students.
Altruistic Punishment in the Classroom: An Update on the Tragedy of the Commons Extra Credit Question
Authors: Selterman Dylan
Published: March 2019

A world-famous classroom exercise gives students the choice between 2 points (the communal option) or 6 points (the overconsumption option) of extra credit toward an assignment in their course, but if more than 10% choose 6 points, no one receives any points. In the current variation, students ( N = 795) were also given a third option—to sacrifice their own potential points to take away points from another randomly selected student who chose 6 points. Across seven course sections, 19 students chose this option based on the concept of “altruistic punishment,” with many expressing concern about the entire class losing points. Most students had a positive attitude toward the exercise, viewing that it helped them understand new material and increased their interest in psychology, believing that psychology can help solve social problems. This exercise effectively demonstrates group cooperation dilemmas.
Business-Bankruptcy After the BAPCPA: Evidence From the Stock Market
Authors: Serra Coelho Luís M.
Published: March 2019

Little is known about how the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) affects the business-bankruptcy landscape in the United States. This study addresses this gap in the literature by investigating the stock price dynamics of firms filing for Chapter 11 under both the 1978 Bankruptcy Act and the BAPCPA. Results show that, on average, shareholders of firms filing for Chapter 11 under the new Act lose significantly more both at and shortly after the event date than their 1978 counterparts do. Given the economic magnitude and robustness of these findings, this article’s empirical evidence suggests the market perceives the BAPCPA to be more creditor-friendly than its predecessor is.
Technology Implementation in Elderly Care: Subject Positioning in Times of Transformation
Authors: Segercrantz Beata , Forss Maria
Published: March 2019

Innovation is often celebrated as a solution to various challenges in care work. Thus, a growing number of care workers are likely to experience innovations in their daily work. This article examines how care workers and project workers in elderly care are affected by contemporary transformations by exploring: (1) how they construct meanings around innovation implementation and (2) are subject positioned in relation to these meanings. Drawing on discourse analysis, we conduct a case study and analyze semistructured interviews, observations, and organizational documents. We illustrate how innovation is constructed in terms of optimism, and also as a source for struggle, with specific effects on care workers’ subject positioning. The findings thus contribute to new insights into the contemporary dominating discourse of innovation and its implications at the level of practice and subjectivity.
Variability of input in preposition learning by preschoolers with developmental language disorder and typically-developing language
Authors: Nicholas Katrina , Alt Mary , Hauwiller Ella
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of variability in teaching prepositions to preschoolers with typical development (TD) and developmental language disorder (DLD). Input variability during teaching can enhance learning, but is target dependent. We hypothesized that high variability of objects would improve preposition learning. We also examined other characteristics (e.g. vocabulary skills) of children who responded to treatment. We used a case series design, repeated across children ( n = 18) to contrast how preschoolers learned prepositions in conditions that manipulated variability of objects and labels across three treatment sessions. We contrasted a high versus low variability condition for objects and labels for one group of typically-developing (TD) children ( n = 6). In other groups (TD, n = 6; DLD, n = 6), we contrasted high versus low object variability only. Visual inspection and descriptive statistics were used to characterize gains. Half ( n = 3) of TD participants showed a low variability advantage for the condition that combined object and label variability. In the condition that only contrasted object variability, the majority ( n = 4) of TD participants showed a high variability advantage, compared to only two participants with DLD. In the high object variability condition, high receptive vocabulary scores were significantly correlated with high performance of learning prepositions ( rs = 0.71, p < 0.05). Combining high variability for objects and labels when teaching prepositions was not effective. However, high variability for objects can create a learning advantage for learning prepositions for children with typically developing language, but not all learners. Characteristics of different learners (e.g. receptive vocabulary scores) and language status (impaired or unimpaired) should be taken into consideration for future studies.
Thromboprophylaxis for inpatients with advanced cancer in palliative care settings: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Cai Runting , Zimmermann Camilla , Krzyzanowska Monika , Granton John , Hannon Breffni
Published: March 2019

Background:

Patients with advanced cancer have an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism. Increasingly, patients are admitted to palliative care settings for brief admissions, with greater numbers of discharges (vs deaths) reported internationally. There is limited guidance around the use of thromboprophylaxis or incidence of venous thromboembolism for these patients.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to review the use of thromboprophylaxis as well as incidence of venous thromboembolism and bleeding in palliative care units or residential hospices for patients with advanced cancer.

Design:

A systematic review using Cochrane methods.

Data sources:

Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched up to 28 September 2018 along with a grey literature search; the reference lists of selected papers were hand-searched. Inclusion criteria were original papers assessing thromboprophylaxis use in palliative care units or residential hospices for adult inpatients with cancer. Two reviewers independently selected and appraised papers using a tool designed for disparate data. Heterogeneity in study design made a meta-analysis not possible.

Results:

A total of 11 full-text papers (9 quantitative and 2 qualitative) and 11 abstracts were included. Thromboprophylaxis use ranged between 4% and 53%; venous thromboembolism rates between 0.5% and 20%; and bleeding incidence was between 0.01% and 9.8%. Risk assessment tools were used infrequently and adherence to international thromboprophylaxis guidelines ranged between 5% and 71%. Physician opinions differed around the use of thromboprophylaxis; patients were largely accepting of thromboprophylaxis if it was offered.

Conclusion:

There is limited evidence around the optimal use of thromboprophylaxis for patients with advanced cancer admitted to palliative care settings. Although some patients may derive benefit, further research in this area is warranted.