bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concerns and Expectations of Parents Seeking Subspecialist Care for Their Child’s Short Stature
Authors: Hitt Talia , Ginsburg Kenneth R. , Cousounis Pamela , Lipman Terri H. , Cucchiara Andrew J. , Stallings Virginia A. , Grimberg Adda
Published: March 2020

Introduction: Parents (PP) of children in primary care clinics previously reported factors influencing their height-related medical decision making. However, patients seeking height-related care in endocrine subspecialty clinics and their parents (EP) differ demographically from the general population. Objective: To determine EP height-related medical concerns and expectations, and to compare between EP and PP. Methods: EP completed a survey assessing their concerns in seeking medical care for their child’s height with identical questions previously asked of PP and two additional questions about growth hormone (GH) treatment. Results: A greater proportion of the 166 EP (80% response rate) than the 1,820 PP (83% response rate) previously surveyed was Caucasian (75% EP, 41% PP) and privately insured (80% EP, 58% PP). Both groups rated treatment efficacy and risks most as having a bigor extreme impact on decision making (65% EP, 58% PP). The second most rated concern for EP was comparison of child’s height to peers or growth chart (60% EP, 32% PP) versus child’s health for PP (54% EP, 56% PP). Of the 166 EP surveyed, 76% rated GH treatment as potentially improving quality of life (QoL), with 88% reporting a minimum 3-inch height increase as necessary to improve QoL. Conclusions: Height comparisons were more likely to impact EP than PP in seeking height-related medical care for their children. EP had high expectations of QoL improvement with GH treatment, which are unlikely to be met with treatment of idiopathic short stature. Thus, clinicians should be prepared to support families in other ways that promote positive development in children with short stature.
Reconfigurations within resonating communities of brain regions following TMS reveal different scales of processing
Authors: Garcia Javier O. , Ashourvan Arian , Thurman Steven M. , Srinivasan Ramesh , Bassett Danielle S. , Vettel Jean M.
Published: March 2020

An overarching goal of neuroscience research is to understand how heterogeneous neuronal ensembles cohere into networks of coordinated activity to support cognition. To investigate how local activity harmonizes with global signals, we measured electroencephalography (EEG) while single pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) perturbed occipital and parietal cortices. We estimate the rapid network reconfigurations in dynamic network communities within specific frequency bands of the EEG, and characterize two distinct features of network reconfiguration, flexibility and allegiance, among spatially distributed neural sources following TMS. Using distance from the stimulation site to infer local and global effects, we find that alpha activity (8–12 Hz) reflects concurrent local and global effects on network dynamics. Pairwise allegiance of brain regions to communities on average increased near the stimulation site, whereas TMS-induced changes to flexibility were generally invariant to distance and stimulation site. In contrast, communities within the beta (13–20 Hz) band demonstrated a high level of spatial specificity, particularly within a cluster comprising paracentral areas. Together, these results suggest that focal magnetic neurostimulation to distinct cortical sites can help identify both local and global effects on brain network dynamics, and highlight fundamental differences in the manifestation of network reconfigurations within alpha and beta frequency bands.
Severe radiation thyroiditis after radioactive iodine for treatment of Graves’ disease
Authors: Tay WL , Lee LMY , Tong AKT , Chng CL
Published: March 2020

Radiation thyroiditis resulting from radioactive iodine-131 treatment for Graves’ disease is an uncommon complication. Although a majority of patients are asymptomatic or manifest mild symptoms that can be managed conservatively, published literature describing severe radiation thyroiditis resulting in significant morbidity is lacking. We herein report on six patients with severe radiation thyroiditis that resulted in hospitalisation, including an unusual complication of myopericarditis.
ACT-FAST: a quality improvement project to increase the percentage of acute stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis within 60 minutes of arrival at the emergency department
Authors: Chiu LQ , Quek DYJ , Salihan RB , Ng WM , Othman RB , Lee CH , Oh DCT
Published: March 2020

INTRODUCTION Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, with the administration of recombinant transcriptase-plasminogen activator (rtPA) improving outcomes in a time-dependent manner. Only 52.3% of eligible stroke patients at our institution received rtPA within 60 minutes of arrival. We aimed to improve the percentage of acute stroke patients receiving rtPA within 60 minutes of arrival at the emergency department (ED). METHODS This study presents results from the first year of a clinical practice improvement project that implemented quality improvement interventions. The primary outcome measure was percentage of acute ischaemic stroke patients receiving rtPA within 60 minutes of arrival at the ED. Secondary outcome measures included components of total door-to-needle (DTN) time and factors for delay to thrombolysis. Interventions were establishment of standardised acute stroke activation guidelines, screening question at ED registration, prehospital notification of stroke activation, public education, scripting for thrombolysis consent and easy access to equipment. RESULTS The percentage of patients thrombolysed within 60 minutes increased to 60.6% (p = 0.27), and DTN time decreased from 59 minutes to 54.5 minutes (p = 0.15). This was attributable to reduced door-to-physician time, door-to-imaging time and decision time, although the results were not significant. There was no significant increase in symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or mortality secondary to stroke. Length of stay was significantly reduced by 1.5 days (p < 0.048). CONCLUSION The interventions resulted in an increasing but non-significant trend of acute stroke patients receiving thrombolysis within 60 minutes. Outcomes will be monitored for a longer duration to demonstrate trends and sustainability.
Clinical presentation of cardiac myxoma in a Singapore national cardiac centre
Authors: Lee PT , Hong R , Pang PY , Chua YL , Ding ZP
Published: March 2020

INTRODUCTION Cardiac myxoma is the most common cardiac tumour. In this study, we summarise our 17-year experience with the clinical presentation of cardiac myxoma at National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore. METHODS Between January 2000 and December 2016, retrospective data was reviewed for all consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection of cardiac myxoma. Patients’ clinical characteristics were reviewed and described. RESULTS A total of 67 (18 male, 49 female; mean age 53.1 ± 13.5 years) patients underwent cardiac myxoma resection. There were 19 (28.4%) patients with asymptomatic cardiac myxoma. There were no significant differences in gender; body habitus and myxoma size; and haemoglobin, white blood cell or platelet counts between patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic myxoma. However, the number of asymptomatic cardiac myxomas seemed to follow an increasing trend from 19.4% (period 2000–2008) to 36.1% (period 2009–2016), suggestive of an ‘era effect’. CONCLUSION In our study, a majority of patients were women, with a wide age range of 18–78 years. The diagnosis of asymptomatic cardiac myxoma was present in 28.4% of patients, with an increasing trend for incidence over the years. This is possibly due to increased opportunistic screening (with electrocardiography and clinical examination) as well as higher usage of medical imaging.
Reconsidering the Coherence of 1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21
Authors: Brookins Timothy A.
Published: March 2020

1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21 is usually seen as a defense against adherents of an “Apollos party,” who have become enamored with Apollos’ “wisdom” and who denigrate Paul as his inferior. This article argues for a different reading of this unit. Some in the church have espoused some kind of “human” wisdom, but not the wisdom of any particular leader. These people were boasting in themselves, not in their leaders. Paul discusses his relationship with Apollos not because there was a rivalry between them or between parties who claimed them as their leaders, but because the relationship between Paul and Apollos embodied the wisdom of Christ crucified and thus offered an antidote to the church’s divisions.
Narratives in Motion: the Art of Dancing Stories in Antiquity and Beyond
Authors: Gianvittorio-Ungar Laura
Published: March 2020

The purpose of the symposium “Narratives in Motion. The Art of Dancing Stories in Antiquity and Beyond” was to make original contributions to the thriving field of study on ancient Greek and Roman dance by tackling this issue from an angle which is both specific in that it narrows down the focus on dance narrativity across different performance genres, and inclusive in that it encompasses transcultural, transhistorical and practice-based approaches. With eleven talks by classical and dance scholars and two performances by dance artists, the symposium was able to shed light on a range of practices, genres and cultural aspects relating to narrative dance in the ancient and, to a lesser degree, modern world. The event took place on 22-23 June 2018 at the Department of Classics of the University of Vienna, and was sponsored by the FWF-Austrian Science Fund (Project V442-G25 “Aischylos’ diegetisches Drama”).
Is Agent-Causal Libertarianism Unintelligible?
Authors: Mizell Stephen D.
Published: March 2020

Critics often charge that agent-causal libertarianism is unintelligible due to the uniqueness of agent-causation—the sui generis causal relationship said to be involved when agents make free choices. This paper presents five objections, which are taken to be the only good objections, to agent-causal libertarianism and argues they all fail to show agent-causal libertarianism is unintelligible. The first four objections fail outright. The fifth objection fails in a special way. Naturalistic agent-causal libertarian theories succumb to this fifth objection; theistic agent-causal libertarian theories do not. This entails that if agent-causal libertarianism is intelligible, then it is only so within theism.
Gnostic Psychedelia
Authors: Davis Erik
Published: March 2020

Today the clinical return of research into psychedelic medicine has been accompanied by a model of religious experience that stresses the healing effects of unitive, immanent experiences. This paper instead unearths a counter-narrative of psychedelic religiosity: a more suspicious and critical sense of spiritual encounter that I illuminate through the classic gnostic mythology of the archons. In a number of movement texts from the 1960s through the 2000s, I trace the appearance of archon-like figures—both explicitly linked to gnostic traditions and not—and how their appearance motivates social critique and a more engaged politics of consciousness.
Hurdles in fungal taxonomy: Effectiveness of recent methods in discriminating taxa
Authors: KANDAWATTE WEDARALALAGE THILINI CHETHANA , JAYAWARDENA RUVISHIKA S. , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: March 2020

The fungal kingdom is estimated to comprise between 2.2 to 3.8 million species with only about 7% named and classified. Novel biochemical, physiological and molecular techniques have been utilized to improve the systematics of fungal taxa and estimates of their diversity. Multidisciplinary approaches should be used for resolving species and higher taxa of the fungi. However, even with all the benefits of the new techniques, they are also providing unclear results and taxonomic instability. Taxonomists should be aware of these issues and should follow pragmatic approaches. In order to overcome these taxonomic challenges, cooperation and communication among mycologists worldwide are crucial for the study of fungal diversity.
All genera of the world: an overview and estimates based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG)
Authors: REES TONY , VANDEPITTE LEEN , VANHOORNE BART , DECOCK WIM
Published: March 2020

We give estimated counts of known accepted genera of the world (297,930±65,840, of which approximately 21% are fossil), of a total 492,620 genus names presently held for “all life”, based on the March 2020 release of the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG). A further c. 9,400 accepted genus names are anticipated to have been published over the period 2014–2019 which are not yet included in IRMNG; together with a lower confidence estimate that perhaps an additional 3,000 historic names are also missing from the present version of IRMNG, we therefore estimate that approximately 310,000 accepted generic names have been published to the end of 2019, with the holdings of IRMNG being around 96% complete. A breakdown of the data is presented by phylum and, in some cases, lower taxonomic group such as class or order; the actual lists of names on which the totals are based are available for download via the IRMNG web site and are also included as supplementary data to this paper. These data provide the most complete and consistent coverage of all kingdoms of life presently available in such a form and, despite their “interim” nature (not completely vetted by taxonomic experts, not all genera yet placed to family), serve to illustrate the scope of a project for a more detailed survey of “all genera of the world” as well as providing a comparison with existing lists (for example, to indicate names that may be missed from either side), and preliminary content that can be of value for the compilation of new lists. We note areas (chiefly very recently published names) where present IRMNG data may be incomplete and briefly address other issues encountered in the assembly of such data, including those associated with the construction of a unified and/or consensus classification within which genera and their containing families can be placed.
New species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) from tufa barriers in Croatia
Authors: RODRIGUEZ PILAR , VUČKOVIĆ NATALIJA , KEROVEC MLADEN
Published: March 2020

Two new aquatic oligochaete species are described from tufa barriers in Croatia. The reproductive system in the phallodriline Aberrantidrius mihaljevici Vučković et al. n. sp. conforms to the general pattern in the genus but it is distinguished by a combination of characters, including the shape and length of penial chaetae (3 times the mean length of somatic chaetae), atrium shape and spermathecal pore position (anterior in the postatrial segment). The lumbriculid Stylodrilus tofaceus Rodriguez et al. n. sp. is mainly distinguished from congeners by the spindle-shaped spermathecal ducts with high lining epithelium, and position of the spermathecal pores. These two new taxa reveal that aquatic oligochaete communities in tufa barriers of karstic regions may be of particular interest with respect to diversity of endemic taxa, and also for study of colonization routes of this interesting habitat, with possible relations with groundwaters. The finding of one specimen attributable to the genus Eclipidrilus may open ainteresting research on the biogeography of this Nearctic genus.
Two new species of paratanaoid tanaidaceans of the family incertae sedis
(Crustacea: Peracarida) from polymetallic nodule fields in the eastern
Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone
Authors: CHIM C. K. , TONG SAMANTHA J. W.
Published: March 2020

This study describes a new genus and two new species of Tanaidacea that were collected from the Singaporean exploratory area (OMS) of the polymetallic nodule fields in the eastern end of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, Pacific Ocean. The descriptions are based on material collected during the research cruise ABYSSLINE II, which was conducted in the year 2015, covering abyssal depths of 4041–4227 m. These new species are paratanaoideans belonging to the genera Unispinosus n. gen. and Portaratrum Guerrero-Kommritz, 2003 of the family incertae sedis.
Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of the Soil Ciliate Cyrtohymena seorakensis sp. n. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha, Oxytrichidae)
Authors: OMAR ATEF , JUNG JAE-HO
Published: March 2020

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Cyrtohymena seorakensis sp. n., discovered in a moss sample from South Korea, were investigated. The new species is distinguished from congeners by having rather fewer, randomly scattered, yellowish cortical granules, 23–30 adoral membranelles, invariably four transverse cirri in morphostatic specimens, and a total of 62 dorsal bristles on average. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequences showed that the new species clusters with an Indian population of C. citrina.
Electron Spin Resonance and Raman Scattering Spectroscopy of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: A Function of Acid Treatment
Authors: Pietraß T. , Dewald J. L. , Clewett C. F. M. , Tierney D. , Ellis A. V. , Dias S. , Alvarado A. , Sandoval L. , Tai S. , Curran S. A.
Published: March 2020

We compare the fundamental transport mechanism in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by means of electron spin resonance (ESR) and Raman spectroscopy as a function of acid treatment. The ESR and Raman results show that the acid treatment reduces the density of states at the Fermi
level. Defects introduced through the acid treatment move the Fermi level closer to the K points in the valence band, and consequently conduction is reduced. These defects are identified as Stone-Wales type from the Raman results.
Synthesis and Characterization of Mn Quantum Dots by Bioreduction with Water Hyacinth
Authors: Rosano-Ortega G. , Schabes-Retchkiman P. , Zorrilla C. , Liu H. B. , Canizal G. , Avila-Pérez P. , Ascencio J. A.
Published: March 2020

The bio-reduction method is reported as a part of a complimentary self-sustained technology, where bioremediation and metal particle production are related. The use of the characterization methods in this self sustainable technique open the expectative to be used for several other elements
and with other plants, which will be discussed. However, the particular case of Mn nanoparticles involves an important option to generate nanoparticles in the range of 1–4 nanometers with a well controlled size and with a structure based on an fcc-like geometry for the smallest clusters
and with more complex arrays for cluster greater than four shells, which involves magnetic moments significantly related to their atomistic configuration. At the same time, the use of the characterization methods establishes the dependence of the nanoparticle's size on the pH conditions used
during the synthesis; small clusters in the range of 1–2 nm were generated using pH = 5, and it was shown that for the smallest aggregates, simple polyhedron shapes are stable.
Sonochemical Fabrication and Characterization of Ceria (CeO2) Nanowires
Authors: Chen Hong-Liang , Zhu Hai-Yang , Wang Hui , Dong Lin , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: March 2020

Ceria (CeO2) nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a sonochemical method in ambient air and alkali aqueous solution from CeO2 nanoparticles without using any templates. The results showed that both alkali concentration and ultrasonic irradiation played
critical roles in the formation of the nanowires. The crystalline structure and dimensions of the nanowires were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction
(SAED). The UV-visible absorption spectrum result showed that the products had conspicuous shape-specific effect. Microstructural analysis in HRTEM revealed that the preferential growth direction of CeO2 nanowires was [110]. Moreover, the catalytic activity of Au/CeO2
using CeO2 nanowires as support for CO conversion was higher than that obtained using bulk CeO2 as support.
Negative Photoconductivity and Memory Effects of Germanium Nanocrystals Embedded in HfO2 Dielectric
Authors: Wang Shiye , Liu Weili , Zhang Miao , Song Zhitang , Lin Chenglu , Dai J. Y. , Lee P. F. , Chan H. L. W. , Choy C. L.
Published: March 2020

A metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure containing an HfO2/SiO2 stack tunnel layer, isolated Germanium (Ge) nanocrystals, and an HfO2 capping layer, was obtained by an electron-beam evaporation method. A high-resolution transmission electron
microscopy (HRTEM) study revealed that uniform and pronounced Ge nanocrystals had formed after annealing. Raman spectroscopy provided evidence for the formation of Ge–Ge bonds and the optimal annealing temperature for the crystallization ratio of the Ge. The electric properties of the
MIS structure were characterized by capacitance-voltage (C-V) and current–voltage (I–V) measurements at room temperature. Negative photoconductivity was observed when the structure was under a forward bias, which screened the bias voltage, resulting
in a decrease in the current at a given voltage and a negative shift in flat band voltage. A relatively high stored charge density of 3.27 × 1012 cm−2 was also achieved.
Large-Scale Synthesis of Single Crystal Silver Nanowires by a Sodium Diphenylamine Sulfonate Reduction Process
Authors: Liu Qi , Liu Hongjiang , Zhu Jianmin , Liang Yongye , Xu Zheng , Yin Gui , Han Min
Published: March 2020

Silver nanowires with high aspect ratios of up to more than 60 were synthesized on a large scale by the redox reaction between silver nitrate and sodium diphenylamine sulfonate at room temperature and in the absence of surfactant and hard-template and seed. When the molar ratio of reductant
sodium diphenylamine sulfonate and silver nitrate ≤1, most products were all the nanowires. When the molar ratio increases to 2:1, silver nanowires and nanobelts were concomitantly formed. The redox product N, N′-diphenylbenzidinedisulfonate and sodium diphenylamine sulfonate all
play an important role in the formation of silver nanostructures. The structure, morphology, and composition of the silver nanowires were characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive
microanalysis (EDX), and UV-Vis spectroscopy respectively. High-resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) reveal the single-crystal nature of the silver nanowires.
Synthesis and Characterization of Indium Xanthates and Their use for the Preparation of β-In2S3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Dutta Dimple P. , Sharma Garima , Ghoshal Shamik , Kushwah Nisha P. , Jain Vimal K.
Published: March 2020

Synthesis and characterization of various classical indium xanthate complexes of the type [InCl3−n(S2COR)n] (n = 1,2, or 3; R = Me, Et, Pri, and Bus) have been discussed. Crystalline β-In2S3
nanoparticles were obtained by the solvent thermolysis of indium tris-alkylxanthates in ethylene glycol at 196 °C, and were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, powder XRD, and XPS techniques. TEM results showed that the size of β-In2S3 nanoparticles
depended on the nature of the precursor used. The optical properties of β-In2S3 nanocrystals have shown quantum confinement of the excitonic transition.
Effect of Niobium on the Structure and Photoactivity of Anatase (TiO2) Nanoparticles
Authors: Hirano Masanori , Matsushima Kazumasa
Published: March 2020

Anatase-type TiO2 nanoparticles doped with 0–30 mol% niobium were directly formed from precursor solutions of TiOSO4 and NbCl5 under mild hydrothermal conditions at 120–180 °C for 5 h using the hydrolysis of urea. When the niobium content
increased from 0 to 30 mol%, the crystallite size of anatase increased from 8.5 to 19 nm. The band gap of anatase was slightly decreased by making solid solutions with niobium. Their photocatalytic activity and adsorptivity were evaluated separately by the measurement of the concentration
of methylene blue (MB) remained in the solution after maintained in the dark or under UV-light irradiation. To form anatase-type solid solutions by doping 5–15 mol% niobium into TiO2 was effective for improvement of the photoactivity of TiO2. The photocatalytic
activity (the photooxidation rate) and the adsorption amount of MB for the sample containing 15 mol% niobium became more than approximately nine times and six times as much as those of the hydrothermal anatase-type pure TiO2, respectively.
Synthesis of α-Fe Nanoparticles by Solventless Thermal Decomposition
Authors: Cha Hyun Gil , Kim Young Hwan , Kim Chang Woo , Lee Don Keun , Moon Sung Doo , Kwon Hae Woong , Kang Young Soo
Published: March 2020

A new preparation for highly crystalline and monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticle is reported. This synthesis requires the use of rather complicated procedures including delicate control of surfactants ratios and inert reaction conditions due to the toxic and unstable
nature of the precursors none the less because thermal decomposition methods were tried to synthesize monodispersed inorganic nanocrystallites until very recently. The synthesis of Fe3O4 nanocrystallites by using Fe+2-oleate2 complex was studied.
The Fe+2-oleate2 complex was prepared from the reaction of iron chloride and sodium oleate in water. The thermal decomposition of the complex at the reduced pressure (0.3 torr) and about 300° was done without any solvent. We demonstrated that a new solventless synthesis
of size- and shape-monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticles depends on the amount of Na-oleate. And it is possible to remove the oleate ligand using reduction process. We confirmed that the nanoparticles changed from Fe3O4 to α-Fe phase obtained
higher magnetic properties and crystallites by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Removal of the organic surfactant and other volatile components surrounding Fe3O4 nanoparticles was detected by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
(FT-IR).
Insertion of a Specular Reflective and Transmissive Nano-Oxide Layer into Giant Magnetoresistance Spin-Valve Structure
Authors: Nam Chunghee , Jang Youngman , Lee Ki-Su , Shim Jungjin , Cho B. K.
Published: March 2020

We have studied the influence of the insertion of a nano-oxide layer (NOL) into a magnetic GMR spin-valve. It was found that the spin-valve with NOL has a higher GMR ratio than that of the normal spin-valve without NOL. Naturally formed NOL without vacuum break shows a uniform layer,
which effectively suppresses the current shunt, resulting in the reduction of the sheet resistance of GMR. The NOL spin-valve also shows a lower interlayer coupling (Hin) than that of the optimal normal spin-valve, which is consistent with AFM measurement showing lower roughness
of NOL formed CoFe surface. Based on the advantage of NOL, we succeeded in lowering Hin while maintaining GMR ratio by insertion of NOL inside the CoFe free layer, where the free layer consists of CoFe/NOL/CoFe/NOL/Capping layer.
Low Loss High Mesa Optical Waveguides Based on InGaAsP/InP Heterostructures
Authors: Choi W. S. , Jang J. H. , Yu B.-A. , Lee Y. L. , Zhao W. , Bae J. W. , Adesida I.
Published: March 2020

Low loss high mesa optical waveguides were fabricated on InGaAsP/InP heterostructures by utilizing inductively-coupled-plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE) and electron beam lithography technique. The fabrication process was optimized by measuring sidewall roughness of deep-etched
waveguides. Atomic force microscope loaded with carbon nanotude was used to obtain three-dimensional image of the etched sidewall of waveguides. The obtained statistical information such as rms roughness and correlation length was used to theoretically calculate scattering loss of waveguides.
Several waveguides with different number of sharp bends and the length were fabricated and their propagation losses were measured by modified Fabry-Perot method. The measured propagation losses were compared with theoretically calculated losses.
Nanosized Pt-Co Catalysts for the Preferential CO Oxidation
Authors: Ko Eun-Yong , Park Eun Duck , Seo Kyung Won , Lee Hyun Chul , Lee Doohwan , Kim Soonho
Published: March 2020

The preferential CO oxidation in the presence of excess hydrogen was studied over Pt-Co/γ-Al2O3. CO chemisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and temperature programmed
reduction (TPR) were conducted to characterize active catalysts. The catalytic activity for CO oxidation and methanation at low temperatures increased with the amounts of cobalt in Pt-Co/γ-Al2O3. This accompanied the TPR peak shift to lower temperatures.
The optimum molar ratio between Co and Pt was determined to be 10. The co-impregnated Pt-Co/γ-Al2O3 appeared to be superior to Pt/Co/γ-Al2O3 and Co/Pt/γ-Al2O3. The reductive pretreatment
at high temperature such as 773 K increased the CO2 selectivity over a wide reaction temperature. The bimetallic phase of Pt-Co seems to give rise to high catalytic activity in selective oxidation of CO in H2-rich stream.
Complete Oxidation of Ethylene over Supported Gold Nanoparticle Catalysts
Authors: Ahn Ho-Geun , Choi Byoung-Min , Lee Do-Jin
Published: March 2020

Complete oxidation of ethylene was performed over supported noble metals or transition metals oxide catalysts and on monoliths under atmospheric pressure. Gold nanoparticles on Al2O3 or MxOy (M = Mo, Fe, Mn) were prepared by
impregnation, coprecipitation, deposition, and dispersion methods. Nanoparticles prepared by impregnation method were irregular and very large above 25 nm, but those by coprecipitation and deposition method were uniformly nanosized at 4 ∼ 5 nm. The gold nanoparticle were outstandingly
active in catalyzing oxidation of ethylene. The activity order of these catalysts with preparation methods was deposition > coprecipitation > impregnation, and Au/Co3O4 prepared by deposition method showed the best performance in ethylene oxidation. The addition
of gold particles to MxOy/Al2O3 catalyst enhanced the ethylene oxidation activity significantly. The main role of the gold nanoparticles apparently was to promote dissociative adsorption of oxygen and to enhance the reoxidation of the
catalyst.
Highly Responsive Sensor on a Nanostructured Surface Via the Self-Assembly of a Biomolecule with an Evanescent Wave Technique
Authors: Hong Surin , Kang Taewook , Moon Jungwoo , Oh Seogil , Yi Jongheop
Published: March 2020

A self-assembled biomolecule was used to create a highly sensitive sensor surface for detecting toxic chemical species (polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs). We fabricated the nanostructured sensor surface via the self-assembly of cytochrome c on a Au thin film. Surface plasmon resonance
(SPR), an evanescent wave technique possessing maximum sensitivity on the surface and characterized by an exponential decay of sensitivity with distance from the surface, was utilized as the principle for signal transduction. When this sensor surface was used for the detection of PCB, even
trace amounts of PCB (from 0.1 ppb to 8.0 ppb) in an aqueous solution were readily detectable.
Charge Transfer Property of Self-Assembled Viologen Derivative by Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance Response
Authors: Lee Dong-Yun , Kafi A. K. M. , Park Sang-Hyun , Kwon Young-Soo
Published: March 2020

Viologen modified electrodes have been extensively investigated with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), which has been known as a nano-gram order mass detector, because of their highly reversible electrochemical properties, especially the first reduction-oxidation cycle of V2+
↔ V•+. The purpose of this work was to study the charge transfer characteristics of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) by changing electrolyte solutions where the cations and anions are different. The redox peak currents were nearly equal charges during redox processes and
showed an excellent linear interrelation between the scan rates and second redox peak currents. The charge transfer of self-assembled viologen monolayer was determined by the mass change during the cyclic voltammetry (CV). The total frequency change was about 17.8 Hz, 19.6 Hz, 9.5 Hz, and
8.4 Hz. From this data, we could know the transferred mass was about 19.0 ng, 20.9 ng, 10.2 ng, and 9.0 ng. Finally, the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) has been employed to monitor the electrochemically induced adsorption of self-assembled monolayer.
Numerical Analysis and Optimal Design of All-Optical Fiber Differential Acceleration Sensor
Authors: Li Ya-Lin , Cui Xiao-Guang , Fang Xiao-Yong
Published: March 2020

In order to improve the sensitivity of measurement and realize its miniaturization, an all-optical fiber differential acceleration sensor is studied. This sensor adopts a novel four-port ring fiber coupler, which can realizes the difference of optical signals and the isolation of light
source and optical signal. Therefore, the sensitivity of this sensor is doubled compared with that of traditional fiber sensors. The stress–strain relationship simulation results of the sensor probe model show that with the increase of the measured acceleration value, the relative sensitivity,
relative resolution, and relative error of the sensor all decrease. In the structural parameters of the probe-sensitive unit, the film thickness has the greatest influence on the performance of the sensor. The radius of the diaphragm 65 μm, a thickness of 2 μm, taking the
thickness of the center of mass 20 μm, the mass 20 μm taken radius conditions, sensitivity of this fiber acceleration sensor is not less than 0.0025 m–1 · s2, less than 2% error, the linear measuring range of 0 to 2800 m · s–2.
This design combines microelectronics and optical fiber technology, which can more easily realize the miniaturization and multi-function of acceleration sensor.
Projected Changes in Snow Water Equivalent over the Tibetan Plateau under Global Warming of 1.5° and 2°C
Authors: You Qinglong , Wu Fangying , Wang Hongguo , Jiang Zhihong , Pepin Nick , Kang Shichang
Published: March 2020

Snow water equivalent (SWE) is a critical parameter for characterizing snowpack, which has a direct influence on the hydrological cycle, especially over high terrain. In this study, SWE from 18 coupled model simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) is validated against the Canadian Sea Ice and Snow Evolution Network (CanSISE) SWE. The model simulations under RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 are employed to investigate projected changes in spring/winter SWE over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) under global warming of 1.5° and 2°C. Most CMIP5 models overestimate the CanSISE SWE. A decrease in mean spring/winter SWE for both RCPs over most regions of the TP is predicted in the future, with most significant reductions over the western TP, consistent with pronounced warming in that region. This is supported by strong positive correlations between SWE and mean temperature in the future in both seasons. Compared with the preindustrial period, spring/winter SWE over the TP under global warming of 1.5° and 2°C will reduce significantly, at faster rates than over China as a whole and the Northern Hemisphere. SWE changes over the TP do not show a simple elevation dependency under global warming of 1.5° and 2°C, with maximum changes in the elevation band of 4000–4500 m. Moreover, there are also strong positive correlations between projected SWE and historical mean SWE, indicating that the initial conditions of SWE are an important parameter of future SWE under specific global warming scenarios.
Quantifying the Radiative Impact of Clouds on Tropopause Layer Cooling in Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Rivoire Louis , Birner Thomas , Knaff John A. , Tourville Natalie
Published: March 2020

A ubiquitous cold signal near the tropopause, here called “tropopause layer cooling” (TLC), has been documented in deep convective regions such as tropical cyclones (TCs). Temperature retrievals from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) reveal cooling of order 0.1–1 K day−1on spatial scales of order 1000 km above TCs. Data from the Cloud Profiling Radar (onboardCloudSat) and from the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization [onboard theCloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations(CALIPSO)] are used to analyze cloud distributions associated with TCs. Evidence is found that convective clouds within TCs reach the upper part of the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) more frequently than do convective clouds outside TCs, raising the possibility that convective clouds within TCs and associated cirrus clouds modulate TLC. The contribution of clouds to radiative heating rates is then quantified using theCloudSatandCALIPSOdatasets: in the lower TTL (below the tropopause), clouds produce longwave cooling of order 0.1–1 K day−1inside the TC main convective region, and longwave warming of order 0.01–0.1 K day−1outside; in the upper TTL (near and above the tropopause), clouds produce longwave cooling of the same order as TLC inside the TC main convective region, and up to one order of magnitude smaller outside. Considering that clouds also produce shortwave warming, it is suggested that cloud radiative effects inside and outside TCs only explain modest amounts of TLC while other processes must provide the remaining cooling.
The standardised cancer booklet and beyond: Patient perspectives on patient education for breast cancer care
Authors: Choudhury Romita , Pujadas-Botey Anna , Wheeler Laura , Marlett Nancy , Estey Angela
Published: March 2020

Objective:

This qualitative study engaged with breast cancer patients to create a standardised cancer education booklet. This paper identifies lessons from that engagement process, showing how patients experienced their cancer education and how they were able to ensure their concerns and priorities were included in the standardised patient education booklet.

Method:

In semi-structured focus groups and interviews, patients reviewed the print materials they had received and a draft standardised booklet. Discussions were then analysed thematically through comparison and interpretive coding.

Results:

Patient education needs to provide key information on breast cancer and its treatment while also providing the kind of educational support that can strengthen patient capacity to take decisions, feel a sense of control, and move through the journey with optimism and courage.

Conclusion:

Patient education, including standardised materials, can reflect patient autonomy and empowerment if patients are engaged in developing educational materials in a broad, inclusive and sustained way.
Inverted Papilloma Completely Obstructing Anterior Nasal Orifice
Authors: Lee Jae-Hoon
Published: March 2020

Sinonasal inverted papilloma is a benign lesion that occurs in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Fungiform papillomas have been described as arising from the septum or the nasal vestibule, while inverted and cylindrical papillomas have been characterized as developing from an attachment site on the lateral nasal wall or a mucosal surface in the paranasal sinuses. Here, we present a rare case of an inverted papilloma that completely obstructed the anterior nasal orifice.
Comparison of methods between CT perfusion source images and CT angiography in collateral flow assessment
Authors: Yang Lumeng , Ling Yifeng , Wu Fei , Cheng Xin , Dong Qiang , Cao Wenjie
Published: March 2020

Background

The methods used for grading leptomeningeal collateral flow (LMF) on single-phase computed tomography angiography (CTA) are heterogeneous and limited by temporal resolution.

Purpose

To compare the reliability of relative filling time delay (rFTD) on CT perfusion source images (CTP-SI) and the currently used single-phase CTA collateral assessment methods and evaluate their ability to predict clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Material and Methods

We analyzed consecutive middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery occlusion patients who received multimodal CT before treatment and within 12 h of stroke symptom onset from October 2015 to December 2018. Patients were dichotomized using the 90-day mRS into good (0–1) versus adverse (2–6) outcomes. CTP-SI was used to identify the rFTD score. CTA images were reconstructed to assess collateral status using the collateral score (Cs) and region leptomeningeal collateral score (rLMCs). Two observers independently assessed images.

Results

The baseline characteristics (n = 54) were median age of 67 years and 68.5% of the participants were men. The baseline median NIHSS was 14. Good clinical outcomes were observed in 19 (35.2%) patients. The k value was higher for rFTDs ( k = 0.779, P < 0.001) than Cs ( k = 0.666, P < 0.001) and rLMCs ( k = 0.763, P < 0.001). Higher rFTDs were correlated with lower rLMCs (Spearman’s rho –0.68, P < 0.001) and Cs (rho –0.66, P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, rFTD was associated with functional outcomes ( P = 0.044).

Conclusion

The rFTDs method is comparable to single-phase CTA-based assessments in assessing LMFs in acute ischemic stroke patients. Higher rFTDs is independently associated with adverse long-term functional outcomes.
Side of contrast injection and breast size correlate with motion artifacts grade and image quality on breast MRI
Authors: Carbonaro Luca A , Schiaffino Simone , Clauser Paola , Tomkova Ludmila , Iodice Maria , Zuiani Chiara , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: March 2020

Background

Motion is a relevant cause of artifacts in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), potentially degrading image quality, even with optimized protocols.

Purpose

To investigate the causes of motion artifacts (MA) impacting on image quality (IQ) of contrast-enhanced breast MRI.

Material and Methods

Retrospective two-center study on consecutive 1.5-T contrast-enhanced breast MRI, independently reviewed by two radiologists on first subtracted and maximum intensity projection images to define the side most affected by MA. IQ was scored as 1 (optimal), 2 (reduced, but without reduction of diagnostic power), or 3 (reduced, with reduced diagnostic power). Correlations with injection side, breast size (A/B vs. C/D cups), patient age, clinical indication, and MRI scanner/protocol were assessed using χ2 and Fisher’s exact statistics.

Results

In total, 237 examinations were included, with right injection performed in 124 (52%) and left in 113 (48%). MA were more frequent on the side ipsilateral to the injection (144/237, 61%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 54–67%) than on the contralateral (93/237, 95% CI 33–46%) ( P < 0.001); IQ was scored 1 in 154/237 (65%), 2 in 63/237 (27%), and 3 in 20/237 (8%) examinations; patients with A/B cups showed higher IQ score than patients with C/D cups (scores 1, 2, and 3: 54% vs. 70%; 29% vs. 25%; 17% vs. 5%, respectively, P = 0.002). No significant correlations were found for MA ( P≥0.106) or IQ ( P ≥ 0.318) between ipsi- or contralateral injection and right/left injection, breast size, age, indication, or scanner/protocol.

Conclusion

MA were more frequent in breasts ipsilateral to contrast injection and showed a reduced IQ for small breasts.
Violent Extremism and Moral Disengagement: A Study of Colombian Armed Groups
Authors: Blanco Amalio , Davies-Rubio Amanda , De la Corte Luis , Mirón Lourdes
Published: March 2020

Violent extremism is commonly conditioned by a variety of psychological processes and mechanisms that when activated or deactivated aid implication in extreme behavior, including destructive actions with a large dose of cruelty against people and groups. One of those processes is moral disengagement, which was originally postulated by Bandura. To test this relationship, the present research focused on studying these mechanisms in members of Colombian illegal armed groups. Total sample size was 18 (14 males and four females) demobilized members of the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia [AUC]) and guerrilla organizations (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [FARC], National Liberation Army [ELN], among others), which had participated directly or indirectly in violent actions against people and groups, which included murders, tortures, and massacres. Qualitative methodology was used, specifically in-depth interviews and content analysis. This analysis led to the verification in the narratives of the participants of the use of all the mechanisms of moral disengagement described by Bandura aiming to justify their behavior within the armed group. The most noteworthy mechanisms were those that minimized participation (especially, attributing behavior to obeying orders: displacement of responsibility) and moral justification, especially, the context of confrontation. Moral disengagement processes are found in armed group members (such as insurgency, terrorist organizations, or militias). These mechanisms cancel ordinary psychological reactions of rejection, fear, and moral controls that oppose the carrying out of cruelty and extreme violence.
On epistemic violence in psychological science
Authors: Markus Keith A.
Published: March 2020

Held (2020) questioned the support for rejecting all objective knowledge as a response to epistemological violence. However, the argument presented appears to understate the support for its conclusion due to its structure. Also, the scientist/folk dichotomy invites further attention from the perspective of Derridean deconstruction. The root of the epistemological violence problem seems to be the characterization of knowledge production as a solitary activity and Habermas’s discourse ethics offers a form of objective knowledge which avoids this characterization and can thus fend off epistemological violence without a wholesale rejection of objectivity.
Dexmedetomidine protects against lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity through SIRT1 downregulation-mediated activation of FOXO3a
Authors: Zheng L-N , Guo F-Q , Li Z-S , Wang Z , Ma J-H , Wang T , Wei J-F , Zhang W-W
Published: March 2020

Lidocaine, a typical local anesthetic, has been shown to directly induce neurotoxicity in clinical settings. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an alpha-2-adrenoreceptor agonist that has been used as anxiolytic, sedative, and analgesic agent which has recently found to protect against lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) signaling is critical for maintaining neuronal function and regulation of the apoptotic pathway. In the present study, we designed in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the potential effects of lidocaine and DEX on SIRT1 and FOXO3a and to verify whether SIRT1/FOXO3a-mediated regulation of apoptosis is involved in DEX-induced neuroprotective effects against lidocaine. We found that in both PC12 cells and brains of mice, lidocaine decreased SIRT1 level through promoting the degradation of SIRT1 protein. Lidocaine also increased FOXO3a protein level and increased the acetylation of SIRT1 through inhibiting SIRT1. Upregulation of SIRT1 or downregulation of FOXO3a significantly inhibited lidocaine-induced changes in both cell viability and apoptosis. DEX significantly inhibited the lidocaine-induced decrease of SIRT1 protein level and increase of FOXO3a protein level and acetylation of FOXO3a. Downregulation of SIRT1 or upregulation of FOXO3a suppressed DEX-induced neuroprotective effects against lidocaine. The data suggest that SIRT1/FOXO3a is a potential novel target for alleviating lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity and provide more theoretical support for the use of DEX as an effective adjunct to alleviate chronic neurotoxicity induced by lidocaine.