bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Field of a permanent magnet: remotely controlled measurement
Authors: Hoyer Christoph , Thoms Lars-Jochen , Girwidz Raimund
Published: May 2019

In textbooks, magnetic fields are usually visualized by two-dimensional field lines. There, the density of field lines is often misleadingly stated to be proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. This is not entirely correct. To help students better understand the different characteristics of magnetic fields, it is important that they gain experience with magnetic fields by performing real or virtual experiments themselves.

To improve the students’ knowledge of the characteristics of magnetic fields, a remote laboratory was developed which allows exact positioning of a two-dimensional hall sensor around a Neodymium bar magnet. This offers the opportunity to make much more sensitive measurements than it is possible in schools. Technical issues and an example analysis of the measured data are discussed.
From harmonic oscillation to chaotic motion of a compass
Authors: Csernovszky Zoltán
Published: May 2019

With secondary school students at the age of 17-20 years old, we described compass motion in uniform-immobile, uniform rotating and their superposed magnetic fields. As the students have already known the kinematics, dynamics and energy analysis of a simple pendulum in harmonic case, we tried to find analogies between pendulum and compass. Using Dynamic Solver freeware software and two representation types, phase-plane and stroboscopic projection, we simulated and analysed compass motions in more and more complex cases. Finally, we searched chaotic attractors, the sign of chaotic motion, on stroboscopic projections. A new type of representation, a video where every picture is a stroboscopic projection, helped to understand our results. This study was funded by the Content Pedagogy Research Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Physics – IT based international student exchange program
Authors: Gergely Pesthy Sándor , Hömöstrei Mihály
Published: May 2019

International student exchange programs are an integral part of the life of high school students across Europe. The popularity of these programs is understandable because the participating students can not only learn foreign languages, but they can also learn new cultures and make friends. The motivating force of this popularity was used in our program to bring even those students closer to science and engineering, who perhaps would not ever get closer to these areas. In our paper, we present a “project week” alike event, in which we used a simple, manageable, affordable and programmable electronic kit – Arduino – for the development of relevant competencies of our students and for the knowledge of physics and information technology.
Educational experiments with motion simulation programs: can gamification be effective in teaching mechanics?
Authors: Radnai T , Tóthné Juhász T , Juhász A , Jenei P
Published: May 2019

Students in secondary schools are all members of the so-called Z-generation. They grew up using their smartphones, tablets and the Internet. It is an obvious consequence that science teaching should also exploit this spontaneous interest in IT. A possible way to utilize this trend in teaching physics is to use motion simulation programs. These software are designed to simulate real-life physics experiments using realistic two-dimensional visualization, while motion-related data can be read from graphs that are displayed during the motion. The use of such programs can strengthen the previously acquainted knowledge in the topic of kinematics and dynamics, support problem solving skills, or just raise interest in the subject. The most well-known physics simulation software are Algodoo and Physion. A Hungarian company (Intellisense) has also been developing a similar software, FIZIKA with the contribution of our research group that can be used for free in schools and can be easily fit in physics education. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of literature about the use of physics simulation programs, however no quantitative study has been conducted on how these programs effect student performance. Our research group completed an educational experiment on teaching kinematics involving about 500 students in the autumn of 2016. Half of the students used the simulation software in physics classes and at home, while the other half was the control group. After a few months, their development in the subject was measured with a test and the results showed significant difference between the two groups.
Social-ecological network analysis for sustainability sciences: a systematic review and innovative research agenda for the future
Authors: Sayles J S , Mancilla Garcia M , Hamilton M , Alexander S M , Baggio J A , Fischer A P , Ingold K , Meredith G R , Pittman J
Published: May 2019

Social-ecological network (SEN) concepts and tools are increasingly used in human-environment and sustainability sciences. We take stock of this budding research area to further show the strength of SEN analysis for complex human-environment settings, identify future synergies between SEN and wider human-environment research, and provide guidance about when to use different kinds of SEN approaches and models. We characterize SEN research along a spectrum specifying the degree of explicit network representation of system components and dynamics. We then systematically review one end of this spectrum, what we term ‘fully articulated SEN’ studies, which specifically model unique social and ecological units and relationships. Results show a larger number of papers focus on methodological advancement and applied ends. While there has been some development and testing of theories, this remains an area for future work and would help develop SENs as a unique field of research, not just a method. Authors have studied diverse systems, while mainly focusing on the problem of social-ecological fit alongside a scattering of other topics. There is strong potential, however, to engage other issues central to human-environment studies. Analyzing the simultaneous effects of multiple social, environmental, and coupled processes, change over time, and linking network structures to outcomes are also areas for future advancement. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of (fully articulated) SEN research, a necessary step that can help scholars develop comparable cases and fill research gaps.
The Characteristic of spectral reflectance of LAPAN-IPB (LAPAN-A3) Satellite and Landsat 8 over agricultural area in Probolinggo, East Java
Authors: Wijayanto A K , Yusuf S M , Pambudi W A
Published: May 2019

LAPAN-IPB Satellite which was developed by the National Agency of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) and Landsat 8 have quite equal specification. However, it is important to investigate the difference of characteristic between the two satellites since the Landsat 8 commonly used by Indonesian researcher in the agriculture field for years. The study was done in Probolinggo Regency which is located in East Java, Indonesia – has a large area of agriculture. Satellite data of LAPAN A3/IPB used in the analysis of its spectral characteristic over agricultural area was acquired on September 18, 2018, while the Landsat 8 image data was taken from acquisition date on September 12, 2018. Field data measurement was done by collecting spectral reflectance of some agricultural crops at study area consist of paddy, maize, sugar cane, and onion. Spectral reflectance from the four crops are quietly the same, except for paddy which has the lowest reflectance on peak of green band compared to other crops. Spectral profile of LAPAN-A3/IPB on Blue, Green and Red band are always lower than Landsat 8, while the NIR band is always higher. NDVI from Landsat 8 OLI ranged from -1 to 0.622844, while NDVI from LAPAN-A3/IPB ranged from -1 to 0.461655. NDVI from Landsat is able to differentiate water more clearly than LAPAN-A3/IPB, indicated by low NDVI value. It is concluded that LAPAN-A3/IPB has quite similar spectral characteristic compared to Landsat-8 OLI. Although there is some difference of spectral characteristic from some crops. It is recommended to consider the age or growth stage of each crop.
Inter-comparison of multiple Global Climate Model (GCM) data based on spatial pattern of rainfall over Indonesia
Authors: Aflahah Elania , Latifah Arnida Lailatul , Hidayat Rahmat , Hidayati Rini , Ihwan Andi
Published: May 2019

The Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) is the output of many coupled atmosphere-ocean of global climate models (GCMs) and widely used for climate research, especially for driving regional climate model. There are more than 40 CMIP5 GCMs data available, but no single model can be considered as the best for every region. The use of CMIP5 GCMs data for rainfall projection in Indonesia is important to improve the accuracy of the monthly and seasonal rainfall forecast. Then, this study evaluates the capability of the CMIP5 GCMs data for Indonesia region by quantitatively comparing the spatial pattern of the precipitation mean and standard deviation of the CMIP5 data against GPCP, GPCC, and CRU data in the period 1980-2005. Furthermore, the composite analysis is conducted to observe the model performance in reproducing the precipitation characteristic over some areas in Indonesia. In conclusion, the models NorESM1-M, NorESM1-ME, GFDL-ESM2M, CSIRO-MK3-6-0 perform the rainfall mean better than others, while the standard deviation of the rainfall show that the models NorESM1-M, BNU-ESM, CMCC-CMS are superior in which NorESM1-M gives the best performance. The annual precipitation pattern of the model NorESM1-M over various areas in Indonesia is also highly correlated with the observations. Thus, the most suitable model for Indonesia region is NorESM1-M.
Land use classification based on object and pixel using Landsat 8 OLI in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Authors: Ramadhan Kete Surya Cipta , Suprihatin  , Tarigan Suria Darma , Effendi Hefni
Published: May 2019

Current development on method and technique for data processing in remote sensing has received a great importance, since it provides a base for a myriad of applications, including land use monitoring. OBIA- and pixel-based approach are commonly used as classification technique in remote sensing. This present work aimed to compare both approaches in classifying the land use in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province, using Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager). Digital images were processed using both techniques with the use of support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. The 188 sampling spots in the study site were randomly determined, then classified into 5 groups of land use: water body, follow land, built up land, residential area, and vegetation. Data obtained were then validated according to data from google earth and ground check. The accuracy was assessed by confusion matrix method using Region of Interest (ROI). The results showed that OBIA-based classification coupled with SVM algorithm showed overall accuracy of 81.38%, Kappa coefficient of 78.77%, in which the accuracy was 9.57% higher than pixel-based classification. Based on this finding, OBIA was reported to produce a better performance in identifying land use in urban area.
Increasing of fish productivity by finding suitable FADs placement locations based on Landsat 8 Imagery’s analysis
Authors: Cinthia  , Handayani Tuty , Semedi Jarot Mulyo
Published: May 2019

The main fishing ground of Pacitan Regency are Pacitan Bay and Indian Ocean. In addition to traditional methods, Pacitan fishermen also use Fish Aggregating Devices(FADs) to catch fish. The use of FADs in areas that have suitable water quality can further improve their production. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective of fish production at FADs locations, which are located in areas with appropriate oceanic conditions. This applies for both fishermen who use fishing rods and those who use FADs. The data collection method in this study used Landsat 8 Imagery, with parameters used in this study including temperature, current velocity, turbidity, salinity, depth and abundance of chlorophyll-a. The method used in this research was Spatial analysis with GIS technique. As for obtaining production data, an interview was conducted with fishermen. The results showed that fish production from fishermen using FADs was 400% larger than that of fishermen by traditional fishing methods. Areas that are oceanographically very suitable for FAD placement produce fish with better quality than those that are satisfactorily suitable-with more than 75% of its production is large pelagic fish.
Crystalline structure and optical properties of thin film LiTaO3
Authors: Djohan N , Estrada R , Sevani N , Hardhienata H , Irzaman
Published: May 2019

The coatings of LiTaO3 material on p-type Si (100) substrates were fabricated by using Chemical Solution Deposition (CSD) technique. In the fabrication process, the spin coater is used to flatten the LiTaO3 solution on the p-type Si (100) substrates surface, which was set at 4000 rpm for 30 seconds. Furthermore, the coating on those substrates was annealed in the furnace (Nabertherm type B410) for 15 hours at 750°C, 800°C, and 850°C temperature. The study of crystalline structure was obtained through the X-Ray Diffraction (Shimadzu XRD-7000) measuring with the interval of angular diffraction 2θ from 10° to 80° in the increment of 0.02°. Moreover, the study of optical properties was observed using the spectrometer (Ocean Optics USB4000-UV-VIS). Based on the results of the study, obtained a hexagonal angle diffraction peak for the crystal structure, when viewed from the refractive index, the optical properties are sensitive to visible and ultraviolet light. The results of the crystalline structure and optical properties that are sensitive to visible and ultraviolet light can be used to improve the performance of satellite systems in the term of the optical remote sensing.
Preliminary Design of Imaging Microsatellite for Preventing Illegal Fishing in Indonesia
Authors: Courie I A , Faza G A , Hertanto A Y , Poetro R E , Ardi N S
Published: May 2019

A constellation of imaging microsatellite system using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) has been developed to prevent illegal fishing in Indonesia. The constellation of microsatellite is shown to be able to cover the entire area of Indonesia during 24 hours duration. Each satellite is capable of taking pictures with minimum resolution of 3 meter per pixel and swath width of 28.55 km. AIS equipped in each satellite will collect data of the ships operating on sea area of Indonesia. The information about the ships collected by AIS will then be compared to the picture captured by SAR to determine if the ships are fishing illegally or not. To support the mission, each satellite is equipped with sun sensors, earth sensors, and GPS to precisely determine its attitude and position. In addition, each satellite also equipped with Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) capable of precision pointing and high slew rate maneuver with low power consumption. The payload communication of the satellite will use VHF and X-band while the TT&C will use S-band. Furthermore, each satellite requires a total of 838 W to operate which correspond to 6 m2 of solar panel and 8.8 kg and 590 Wh of batteries. Finally, it is concluded that each satellite has 95 kg of total mass and costs around $ 5.4 million to develop.
Performance of thermal imager on LAPAN-A3/IPB satellite compare with thermal band Landsat imager
Authors: Hartono R , Hakim PR , Syafrudin AH , Dawami MDN , Hasbi W.
Published: May 2019

LAPAN-A3/IPB Satellite is 3rd generation experimental satellite of LAPAN. This satellite has been launched in June 2016 and orbited on altitude 510km with sun synchronous orbit. One of the payloads of this satellite is experimental thermal imager camera, called micro-bolometer with 8-12 um band spectral. At first, micro-bolometer is used as horizon sensor, but also can be used for monitoring of earth surface temperature. The aim of this research is to validate image data of micro-bolometer based on Landsat infrared band image data. The method used in this research is to find the correlation between digital number (DN) of micro-bolometer camera of LAPAN-A3/IPB with the temperature that has been calculated and obtained from image of Landsat satellite. The result of this research shows that the data from micro-bolometer LAPAN-A3/IPB has characteristics that are close to Landsat infrared band image data. Moreover, the data of micro-bolometer camera has also been validated with multispectral camera of LAPAN-A3/IPB satellite both in coverage swath-width and visual identification.
Huffman decoding performance analysis of lossy compressed LAPAN-A3/IPB multispectral images
Authors: Hakim P R , Permala R , Hadi Syafrudin A
Published: May 2019

LAPAN-A3/IPB multispectral imager has the ability to produce realtime acquisition images anywhere in the world as long as there is X-band receiver in ground station to receive the image data. The received image data is the compressed version of the original image data, compressed by lossy algorithm of Fast-Fourier Transform and Huffman encoding. Processing of the received image data can be considered complicated in terms of decompressed image data validity and processing time needed. This research aims to develop robust decoding algorithm for LAPAN-A3/IPB multispectral image received in realtime acquisition mode from Bogor ground station. The research focuses on developing efficient method on Huffman decoding for relatively big image data by using look-up-table approach. The developed decoding algorithm has successfully produced daily LAPAN-A3/IPB realtime images with good image quality, where the results have been validated by using original images, recorded on satellite memory. However, the time processing needed for processing any single image is still poor, where 1 GB of compressed image data needs around 1 hour of processing time. Therefore, although the algorithm has been used to regularly produce daily LAPAN-A3/IPB realtime image data, the faster algorithm is needed to achieve better overall processing performance.
Clinical Referral Laboratory Personnel’s Perception of Challenges and Strategies for Sustaining the Laboratory Quality Management System
Authors: Rusanganwa Vincent , Gahutu Jean Bosco , Evander Magnus , Hurtig Anna-Karin
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To explore challenges explaining the decrease in quality performance and suggest strategies to improve and sustain laboratory quality services.

Methods

Twenty key informants’ interviews from laboratory personnel were conducted in five laboratories. Four had previously shown a decrease in quality performance. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Two themes emerged: (1) insufficient coordination and follow-up system towards accreditation, where lack of coordination, follow-up, and audits explained the decrease in performance; (2) inadequate resource optimization, where insufficient knowledge in Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS), ownership by laboratory workforce, and insufficient stakeholders’ communication contributed to low-quality performance.

Conclusions

The coordination, follow-up, and assessments of LQMS, in conjunction with training of laboratory workforce, would establish an institutional culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI) towards accreditation and sustainment of quality health care. To achieve CQI culture, routine gap checking and planning for improvement using a system approach is required.
Smaller Classes Promote Equitable Student Participation in STEM
Authors: Ballen Cissy J , Aguillon Stepfanie M , Awwad Azza , Bjune Anne E , Challou Daniel , Drake Abby Grace , Driessen Michelle , Ellozy Aziza , Ferry Vivian E , Goldberg Emma E , Harcombe William , Jensen Steve , Jørgensen Christian , Koth Zoe , McGaugh Suzanne , Mitry Caroline , Mosher Bryan , Mostafa Hoda , Petipas Renee H , Soneral Paula A G , Watters Shana , Wassenberg Deena , Weiss Stacey L , Yonas Azariah , Zamudio Kelly R , Cotner Sehoya
Published: May 2019

As science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms in higher education transition from lecturing to active learning, the frequency of student interactions in class increases. Previous research documents a gender bias in participation, with women participating less than would be expected on the basis of their numeric proportions. In the present study, we asked which attributes of the learning environment contribute to decreased female participation: the abundance of in-class interactions, the diversity of interactions, the proportion of women in class, the instructor's gender, the class size, and whether the course targeted lower division (first and second year) or upper division (third or fourth year) students. We calculated likelihood ratios of female participation from over 5300 student–instructor interactions observed across multiple institutions. We falsified several alternative hypotheses and demonstrate that increasing class size has the largest negative effect. We also found that when the instructors used a diverse range of teaching strategies, the women were more likely to participate after small-group discussions.
Insulinoma-associated protein 1 controls nasopharyngeal carcinoma to radiotherapy by modulating cyclin D1-dependent DNA repair machinery
Authors: Song Ruibiao , Wei Xing , Wang You , Hu Shousen , Ba Yunpeng , Xiao Xiyan , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: May 2019

Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1), a zinc finger transcriptional factor, is proven to be deregulated in several types of cancers. However, comprehension of the molecular mechanism of INSM1-mediated tumor progression remains poor. Here, we show that the radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients have higher expressions of INSM1 that correlated with poor prognosis. Genetic manipulation of INSM1 expression sufficiently controls the response of NPC cells to irradiation (IR). Mechanistically, cells exposed to IR, increased intracellular INSM1 competitively disrupts the interaction of cyclin D1 and CDK4 resulting in cell survival by the cyclin D1-dependent DNA repair machinery. Moreover, knockdown of INSM1 sensitives NPC cells to IR in vivo and protects xenograft mice from mortality. Taken together, these results indicate that INSM1 modulates NPC to radiotherapy by controlling cyclin D1-dependent DNA repair machinery that could be manipulated as a novel molecular target for NPC therapy.
When Law is Good for Your Health: Mitigating the Social Determinants of Health through Access to Justice
Authors: Genn Hazel
Published: May 2019

Access to justice research over two decades has documented the health-harming effects of unmet legal needs. There is growing evidence of bidirectional links between law and health demonstrating that social and economic problems with a legal dimension can exacerbate or create ill health and, conversely that ill-health can create legal problems. Independently, social epidemiological research documents gross and widening inequalities in health, largely explained by social determinants such as income, housing, employment, and education. Although legal issues are embedded in most social determinants of health, law has been largely invisible in social determinants discourse, research and interventions. This article argues that legal services have an important role to play in mitigating many of the socio-economic determinants that disproportionately impact the health of low income and vulnerable groups. It describes the international practitioner-led movement of Health Justice Partnership through which lawyers work with healthcare teams to address the root causes of ill health rather than focusing on physical and psychological manifestations of negative social determinants. Finally, the article attempts to delineate the evolving field of health justice, advancing a transdisciplinary research agenda that could strengthen both public health and access to justice research by moving beyond the limitations of single discipline approaches. Noting the vigorous policy emphasis in law and health on prevention and partnership to address the twin challenges of access to justice and health inequalities, the article ends with a plea for policy coordination that acknowledges shared responsibility across government for improving the health of the public.
Phytochelatin database: a resource for phytochelatin complexes of nutritional and environmental metals
Authors: Dennis Kristine K , Uppal Karan , Liu Ken H , Ma Chunyu , Liang Bill , Go Young-Mi , Jones Dean P
Published: May 2019

Phytochelatins (PyCs) are a diverse set of plant compounds that chelate metals, protect against metal toxicity and function in metal homeostasis. PyCs are present in plants consumed as food by humans and could, in principle, impact absorption and utilization of essential and toxic metals such as selenium and cadmium, respectively. PyCs vary in terminal amino acid composition and chain length, exist in multiple oxidation states and reversibly bind multiple metals; consequently, PyCs include a large set of possible structures. Although individual PyC-metal complexes have been studied, no resource exists to characterize the diversity of PyCs and PyC-metal complexes. We used the scientific literature to develop a database of elemental formulas for polymer forms varying in chain length from 2 to 11 glutamyl-cysteine repeats. Using elemental formulas, we calculated monoisotopic masses using the most abundant isotopes of each element and calculated masses for complexes with 13 metals of nutritional and toxicological significance. The resulting phytochelatin database (PyCDB) contains 46 260 unique elemental formulas for PyC and PyC-metal complexes. The database is available online for download as well as for direct mass queries for mass spectrometry using an accurate mass annotation tool for user-selected PyC types, metals and adducts of interest. We performed studies of a commonly consumed food—onion—to validate the database and test utility of the tool. Onion samples were analyzed using ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Mass spectral features were annotated using the PyCDB web tool and the R package, xMSannotator; annotated features were further validated by collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry. The results establish use and a workflow for PyCDB as a resource for characterization of PyCs and PyC-metal complexes.
Asymmetric Competition Can Shape the Size Distribution of Trees in a Natural Tropical Forest
Authors: Picard Nicolas
Published: May 2019

The architecture (here, the size distribution combined with the spatial pattern of individuals) of natural forest at demographic equilibrium can be used to infer the demographic processes that drive the forest dynamics. In particular, a constant growth rate and a constant mortality rate for all trees would generate an exponential distribution of their size, whereas the metabolic scaling theory predicts a power distribution. In an undisturbed tropical rainforest in French Guiana, the diameter distribution was significantly steeper than the best-fit exponential distribution and significantly flatter than the best-fit power distribution. A simple individual-based model of forest dynamics with asymmetric competition between trees, where the strength of competition was regulated by a single parameter, was able to predict the observed distribution. Competition drove the forest into a self-organized state with stronger inequalities of size among trees, a lower mean competition index, and a spatial pattern of trees that deviated from complete spatial randomness.
White Oak (Quercus alba) Response to Thinning and Prescribed Fire in Northcentral Alabama Mixed Pine–Hardwood Forests
Authors: Schweitzer Callie J , Dey Daniel C , Wang Yong
Published: May 2019

Strong white oak sawtimber markets, partially attributed to the stave and cooperage industries, are encouraging forest managers to re-examine silvicultural practices for white oak (Quercus alba). We examined recruitment and retention of white oak in mixed oak–pine stands on the William B. Bankhead National Forest in northcentral Alabama. Stands were subjected to three thinning levels (residual basal areas of 75 ft2/ac, 50 ft2/ac, and no thinning) and three fire frequencies (dormant season burns of none, one, three fires) in a factorial design. Both thinning treatments reduced overstory white oak tree densities, and fire had no effect on densities. For all reproduction height classes, regardless of thinning treatment, three prescribed burns increased white oak densities; thinned and burned stands had larger white oak seedling sprouts than those thinned with no burn. However, white oak reproduction height was primarily less than 2 ft tall, and seedlings larger than 4 ft tall were reduced. Thinning with one fire resulted in the highest densities of large white oak reproduction (4 ft tall up to 1.5 in. dbh). Red maple reproduction was the dominant competitor in all treatments and is positioned to dominate the reproduction cohort without additional tending treatments.
Compared with whom? Reference groups in socio-economic comparisons and self-reported health in 34 countries
Authors: Gugushvili Alexi , Jarosz Ewa , McKee Martin
Published: May 2019

Background

The association between socio-economic position and health is believed to be mediated, in part, by psycho-social comparison of one’s situation with that of others. But with whom? Possibilities include family, friends, elites, or even those in other countries or in previous times. So far, there has been almost no research on whether the reference point matters.

Methods

We take advantage of a comparative data set that, uniquely, allows us to ask this question. The Life in Transition Survey was conducted in four Southern European and 30 Central and Eastern European and Eurasian countries. We sought differences in the probability of good self-reported health among those using different reference groups, including own family, friends and neighbours, domestic elites, people living in other countries and those living prior to a major politico-economic transition. We used multivariable and multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regressions and estimated treatment effects via the regression adjustment of Poisson models.

Results

In most cases the choice of reference group did not matter but in some it did. Among men in Eastern European and Eurasian societies, those who compared themselves with their parents and their own families before the start of transition were less likely to report good health compared with those who did not compare their own economic situation with any specific reference group.

Conclusions

For some individuals, the choice of who to compare one’s situation with does seem to matter, pointing to an area for future investigation in research on psycho-social determinants of health.
Moment Matrices and SL(n) Equivariant Valuations on Polytopes
Authors: Ma Dan
Published: May 2019

All SL($n$) equivariant symmetric matrix valued valuations on convex polytopes in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ are completely classified without any continuity assumptions. The unique ones turn out to be the moment matrices corresponding to the classical Legendre ellipsoid and the isotropic position.
Neural machine translation of clinical texts between long distance languages
Authors: Soto Xabier , Perez-de-Viñaspre Olatz , Labaka Gorka , Oronoz Maite
Published: May 2019

Objective

To analyze techniques for machine translation of electronic health records (EHRs) between long distance languages, using Basque and Spanish as a reference. We studied distinct configurations of neural machine translation systems and used different methods to overcome the lack of a bilingual corpus of clinical texts or health records in Basque and Spanish.

Materials and Methods

We trained recurrent neural networks on an out-of-domain corpus with different hyperparameter values. Subsequently, we used the optimal configuration to evaluate machine translation of EHR templates between Basque and Spanish, using manual translations of the Basque templates into Spanish as a standard. We successively added to the training corpus clinical resources, including a Spanish-Basque dictionary derived from resources built for the machine translation of the Spanish edition of SNOMED CT into Basque, artificial sentences in Spanish and Basque derived from frequently occurring relationships in SNOMED CT, and Spanish monolingual EHRs. Apart from calculating bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU) values, we tested the performance in the clinical domain by human evaluation.

Results

We achieved slight improvements from our reference system by tuning some hyperparameters using an out-of-domain bilingual corpus, obtaining 10.67 BLEU points for Basque-to-Spanish clinical domain translation. The inclusion of clinical terminology in Spanish and Basque and the application of the back-translation technique on monolingual EHRs significantly improved the performance, obtaining 21.59 BLEU points. This was confirmed by the human evaluation performed by 2 clinicians, ranking our machine translations close to the human translations.

Discussion

We showed that, even after optimizing the hyperparameters out-of-domain, the inclusion of available resources from the clinical domain and applied methods were beneficial for the described objective, managing to obtain adequate translations of EHR templates.

Conclusion

We have developed a system which is able to properly translate health record templates from Basque to Spanish without making use of any bilingual corpus of clinical texts or health records.
GUNDAM: a toolkit for fast spatial correlation functions in galaxy surveys
Authors: Donoso E
Published: May 2019

We describe the capabilities of a new software package to calculate two-point correlation functions (2PCFs) of large galaxy samples. The code can efficiently estimate 3D/projected/angular 2PCFs with a variety of statistical estimators and bootstrap errors, and is intended to provide a complete framework (including calculation, storage, manipulation, and plotting) to perform this type of spatial analysis with large redshift surveys. Gundam implements a very fast skip list/linked list algorithm that efficiently counts galaxy pairs and avoids the computation of unnecessary distances. It is several orders of magnitude faster than a naive pair counter, and matches or even surpass other advanced algorithms. The implementation is also embarrassingly parallel, making full use of multicore processors or large computational clusters when available. The software is designed to be flexible, user friendly and easily extensible, integrating optimized, well-tested packages already available in the astronomy community. Out of the box, it already provides advanced features such as custom weighting schemes, fibre collision corrections and 2D correlations. Gundam will ultimately provide an efficient toolkit to analyse the large-scale structure ‘buried’ in upcoming extremely large data sets generated by future surveys.
Variable stars in young open cluster NGC 2244
Authors: Michalska Gabriela
Published: May 2019

We present results of a UBVIC variability survey in the young open cluster NGC 2244. In total, we found 245 variable stars. Most of them, 211 stars, are variables with irregular variations. Furthermore, 23 periodic variables were found. We also detected four candidates for δ Scuti stars and seven eclipsing binaries. Based on the mid-infrared Spitzer and WISE photometry and near infrared JHKS 2MASS photometry, we classified 104 young stellar sources among our variables: 1 Class I object, 1 Class I/flat spectrum object, 4 flat spectrum objects, 91 Class II objects, and 7 transition disc objects. This classification, together with r′i′Hα IPHAS photometry and JHK UKIDSS photometry, were used for identification of pre-main sequence stars among irregular and periodic variables. In this way, 97 CTTS candidates (96 irregular and one periodic variable), 68 WTTS candidates (54 irregular and 14 periodic variables), and 6 Herbig Ae/Be stars were found. For 223 variable stars we calculated membership probability based on proper motions from Gaia DR2 catalogue. Majority of them, 143 stars, are cluster members with probability greater than 70 per cent. For only 36 variable stars the membership probability is smaller than 20 per cent.
Unseen companions of V Hya inferred from periodic ejections
Authors: Salas Jesus M , Naoz Smadar , Morris Mark R , Stephan Alexander P
Published: May 2019

A recent study using Hubble Space Telescope observations found periodic, high-speed, collimated ejections (or ‘bullets’) from the star V Hya. The authors of that study proposed a model associating these bullets with the periastron passage of an unseen, substellar companion in an eccentric orbit and with an orbital period of ∼8 yr. Here we propose that V Hya is part of a triple system, with a substellar companion having an orbital period of ∼8 yr, and a tertiary object on a much wider orbit. In this model, the more distant object causes high-eccentricity excitations on the substellar companion’s orbit via the Eccentric Kozai–Lidov mechanism. These eccentricities can reach such high values that they lead to Roche-lobe crossing, producing the observed bullet ejections via a strongly enhanced accretion episode. For example, we find that a ballistic bullet ejection mechanism can be produced by a brown-dwarf-mass companion, while magnetically driven outflows are consistent with a Jovian-mass companion. Finally, we suggest that the distant companion may reside at few a hundred astronomical units on an eccentric orbit.
Reactive OFF-ON type alkylating agents for higher-ordered structures of nucleic acids
Authors: Onizuka Kazumitsu , Hazemi Madoka E , Sato Norihiro , Tsuji Gen-ichiro , Ishikawa Shunya , Ozawa Mamiko , Tanno Kousuke , Yamada Ken , Nagatsugi Fumi
Published: May 2019

Higher-ordered structure motifs of nucleic acids, such as the G-quadruplex (G-4), mismatched and bulge structures, are significant research targets because these structures are involved in genetic control and diseases. Selective alkylation of these higher-order structures is challenging due to the chemical instability of the alkylating agent and side-reactions with the single- or double-strand DNA and RNA. We now report the reactive OFF-ON type alkylating agents, vinyl-quinazolinone (VQ) precursors with a sulfoxide, thiophenyl or thiomethyl group for the OFF-ON control of the vinyl reactivity. The stable VQ precursors conjugated with aminoacridine, which bind to the G-4 DNA, selectively reacted with a T base on the G-4 DNA in contrast to the single- and double-strand DNA. Additionally, the VQ precursor reacted with the T or U base in the AP-site, G-4 RNA and T-T mismatch structures. These VQ precursors would be a new candidate for the T or U specific alkylation in the higher-ordered structures of nucleic acids.
UK safety-engineered device use: changes since the 2013 sharps regulations
Authors: Grimmond T
Published: May 2019

Background

The 2013 UK sharps safety regulations require healthcare facilities to use safety-engineered devices (SEDs) to protect staff. The recent increase in UK-reported occupational exposures could indicate increased reporting or increased exposures from suboptimal SED use.

Aims

To ascertain SED use through examination of sharps container contents in a sample of UK hospitals.

Methods

Reusable sharps containers (RSCs) were selected from seven UK hospitals in 2013 and seven different hospitals in 2016. At licensed processing facilities, the operator, wearing protective apparel, decanted RSCs, separated hollow-bore needles (HBNs) from other sharps and enumerated HBNs into capped/uncapped non-SEDs, activated/non-activated/tampered SEDs, and blunt draw-up SEDs. Probability, risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence limits (95% CLs) were calculated using WinPepi v2.78.

Results

In 2013 and 2016, respectively, 2545 HBNs were categorized from 22 RSCs versus 2959 HBNs from 33 RSCs; 70% of HBNs were SEDs versus 93% (P < 0.001; RR 1.33; CL 1.30–1.37); 32% of activatable HBNs were not activated versus 22% (<0.001; 0.67; 0.60–0.76); 41% of HBNs were discarded ‘sharp’ versus 20% (<0.001; 0.48; 0.44–0.52); 25% of HBNs were uncapped needles versus 6% (<0.001; 0.22; 0.19–0.26); 5% of HBNs were capped needles versus 1% (P > 0.05); and 1% of SEDs were tampered with in both years (P > 0.05). Hospital practices varied widely.

Conclusions

SED use and activation have increased significantly since 2013. Of concern is that in 2016, 22% of SEDs were non-activated and 20% of sharps were discarded ‘sharp’. Increased training in SED handling, assiduous adherence to safe sharps work practices and a higher level of individual safety-ownership are indicated.
Impact of Levofloxacin for the Prophylaxis of Bloodstream Infection on the Gut Microbiome in Patients With Hematologic Malignancy
Authors: Ziegler Matthew , Han Jennifer H , Landsburg Daniel , Pegues David , Reesey Emily , Gilmar Cheryl , Gorman Theresa , Bink Kristen , Moore Amy , Kelly Brendan J ,   CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: May 2019

Background

We evaluated the differential impact of levofloxacin administered for the prophylaxis of bloodstream infections compared with broad-spectrum beta-lactam (BSBL) antibiotics used for the treatment of neutropenic fever on the gut microbiome in patients with hematologic malignancy.

Methods

Stool specimens were collected from patients admitted for chemotherapy or stem cell transplant in the setting of the evaluation of diarrhea from February 2017 until November 2017. Microbiome characteristics were compared among those exposed to levofloxacin prophylaxis vs those who received BSBL antibiotics.

Results

Sixty patients were included, most with acute myeloid leukemia (42%) or multiple myeloma (37%). The gut microbiome of patients with BSBL exposure had significantly reduced Shannon’s alpha diversity compared with those without (median [interquartile range {IQR}], 3.28 [1.73 to 3.71] vs 3.73 [3.14 to 4.31]; P = .01). However, those with levofloxacin exposure had increased alpha diversity compared with those without (median [IQR], 3.83 [3.32 to 4.36] vs 3.32 [2.35 to 4.02]; P = .03). Levofloxacin exposure was also associated with a trend toward lower risk of dominance of non-Bacteroidetes genera compared with those without levofloxacin exposure (3 [14%] vs 15 [38%]; P = .051).

Conclusions

The impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiome varies by class, and levofloxacin may disrupt the gut microbiome less than BSBLs in this patient population.
Higher Bank Capital Requirements and Mortgage Pricing: Evidence from the Counter-Cyclical Capital Buffer*
Authors: Basten Christoph
Published: May 2019

We identify the effects of the Basel III macroprudential tool Counter-Cyclical Capital Buffer on mortgage lending. Using the first dataset on responses from multiple banks to each household, we find no evidence of explicit rationing. But as the CCyB applied only to mortgages, banks with higher mortgage specialization or lower capital cushions raise prices by an extra eight basis points. Bank level data then show that this allows them to slow their mortgage growth and rebuild capital cushions. While market-wide mortgage growth did not slow down significantly, the composition of mortgage suppliers thus moved to previously less exposed banks.
Women’s Leadership in Oman: An Intersectional and Transnational Perspective
Authors: Hallward Maia Carter , Bekdash Muellers Hania
Published: May 2019

Women’s leadership in the Middle East is typically explored along themes related to Islam and social norms that overlook countries’ complex transnational histories. Taking Oman as a case study, we employ the feminist lens of intersectionality to analyze how class, race, and generation differentiate women’s opportunities for leadership. Using interviews conducted with thirty-two women in Oman who have achieved success in variety of fields, this article finds that contrary to expectations in the literature, Islam does not appear to serve as an overarching challenge. Instead, women emphasize factors such as family connections, culture, and domestic responsibilities in shaping positionalities.
The ‘Rainbow Alliance’ or the Focus Group? Sexuality and Race in the Labour Party’s Electoral Strategy, 1985–7
Authors: Murphy C
Published: May 2019

In the 1980s, Labour struggled to respond to a hostile political context during a protracted period of opposition. Diverse figures claimed that the Left was suffering from a structural decline in a supposed ‘traditional working class’ voting base: contentions which only became more influential after the 1983 electoral catastrophe. Competing solutions were proffered—including building a ‘rainbow alliance’ informed by equalities politics, or appealing to a southern ‘new working class’. The latter interpretation gained greater influence on Neil Kinnock’s leadership. To fully understand why one triumphed over the other in the evolving strategy of the Labour Party, we should in part trace discourses, including contemporary ‘loony Left’ scandals. However, we must also recognize the importance of ‘epistemological practice’, which was crucial in shaping how political actors acquired knowledge and forged interpretations of the electorate. Focusing on the evolution of the epistemological practice of Kinnock’s leadership team—in particular, their increasing reliance on qualitative opinion research techniques like focus groups to supplement quantitative attitudinal polling—helps explain why they became convinced that recent controversies involving race and sexuality were having acutely negative consequences for Labour nationally. This furnishes us with a deeper understanding of the relationship between grassroots and national Left-wing politics in the 1980s. It also illuminates Labour’s cautious approach to equalities politics into the 1990s.
Factors Associated With Quality of Death in Korean ICUs As Perceived by Medical Staff: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Cho Jun Yeun , Park Ju-Hee , Kim Junghyun , Lee Jinwoo , Park Jong Sun , Cho Young-Jae , Yoon Ho Il , Lee Sang-Min , Lee Jae-Ho , Lee Choon-Taek , Lee Yeon Joo
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

Facilitating a high quality of death is an important aspect of comfort care for patients in ICUs. The quality of death in ICUs has been rarely reported in Asian countries. Although Korea is currently in the early stage after the implementation of the “well-dying” law, this seems to have a considerable effect on practice. In this study, we aimed to understand the status of quality of death in Korean ICUs as perceived by medical staff, and to elucidate factors affecting patient quality of death.

Design:

A multicenter cross-sectional survey study.

Setting:

Medical ICUs of two tertiary-care teaching hospitals and two secondary-care hospitals.

Patients:

Deceased patients from June 2016 to May 2017.

Interventions:

Relevant medical staff were asked to complete a translated Quality of Dying and Death questionnaire within 48 hours after a patient’s death. A higher Quality of Dying and Death score (ranged from 0 to 100) corresponded to a better quality of death.

Measurements and Main Results:

A total of 416 completed questionnaires were obtained from 177 medical staff (66 doctors and 111 nurses) of 255 patients. All 20 items of the Quality of Dying and Death received low scores. Quality of death perceived by nurses was better than that perceived by doctors (33.1 ± 18.4 vs 29.7 ± 15.3; p = 0.042). Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using inotropes within 24 hours before death were associated with poorer quality of death, whereas using analgesics was associated with better quality of death.

Conclusions:

The quality of death of patients in Korean ICUs was considerably poorer than reported in other countries. Provision of appropriate comfort care, avoidance of unnecessary life-sustaining care, and permission for more frequent visits from patients’ families may correspond to better quality of death in Korean medical ICUs. It is also expected that the new legislation would positively affect the quality of death in Korean ICUs.