bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teresa Brennan, William James, and the Energetic Demands of Ethics
Authors: Guilmette Lauren
Published: February 2020

This article engages the late feminist philosopher Teresa Brennan in conversation with William James on “energetics” and “living attention.” Brennan should be prominent in what has been called the “affective turn”; yet, due to her untimely death, she remains peripheral. Against this trend, Shannon Sullivan (2015) recently appealed to Brennan's Transmission of Affect (2004) to supplement James on emotion, recalibrating his sense of energetic relationality at times obscured by Victorian individualistic tropes. I extend Sullivan's claim to consider how Brennan builds upon a Jamesian discourse of “energy” to describe the concrete possibilities of—and structural obstacles to—solidarity, with concern for the circulation of affects that energize some and drain others. While Brennan rarely references James, her papers in Brown's Feminist Theory Archive show that she read him actively in her last years, planning to write her next book on “consciousness.” It is less surprising, then, that Brennan's theories would resonate with Jamesian ideas, and I develop this resonance in Brennan's published work.
A Heuristic Theory of Metrical Transformation and Tune Metamorphosis: Tracking Creativity in Traditional Cantonese Opera
Authors: Yung Bell
Published: February 2020

This article shows how the ambiguous nature of the metrical structure of the preexistent tunes used in Cantonese opera, which Rulan Chao Pian called “aria types,” allows for multiple interpretations. The flexibility inherent in such metrical ambiguity enables singers to create new musical expressions, leading to new versions and eventually to new aria types that enrich the repertoire. In tracking these processes, the article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the “preexistent” nature of tunes and to suggest the creativity of the singers.

中國傳統戲曲利用板腔體曲調的多元化表達戲劇中喜怒哀樂等情感。從純音樂節奏方面 看，粵劇板腔曲調中詞格與曲格的分佈關係引起強弱拍衝突，形成節拍轉型，使唱腔節奏 靈活多變，啓發演員即興創作，推動板腔曲調的演變發展。本文以慢板，快中板，和快點 為例闡釋對以上的幾點體會
Palimpsestic Images of Landscape, Gender, and Ethnicity in Toni Morrison’s A Mercy
Authors: Marwan Hayat Ali
Published: February 2020

This study explores Morrison’s A Mercy as a palimpsest, both in terms of its adoption of multiple narrators and in the way, landscape is layered with vestiges of history, myths, and most importantly, with traces of black women creativity. Reading landscape in Morrison’s novel as a multi-textured palimpsest entails an assessment of the interplay of ethnicity and gender in the novel. This study finds in Alice Walker’s employment of the symbolic connotations of the “garden” to depict the creativity of black women discussed in her book In Search of Our Mother’s Garden (1984) a theoretical framework for interpreting Florens’s creativity in reading the land and the development of her identity in relation to the natural realm. This study also explores the palimpsestic aspects in Morrison’s text both synchronically and diachronically. The diachronic aspect examines the way Morrison’s A Mercy delves into history towards earlier representations of the American landscape and shows how her text reads and overwrites others. As a model of intertextuality, the palimpsest enables Morrison to overwrite the writings of American Transcendental figures such as Emerson and Thoreau, who have gained precedence in writing and visualizing the American landscape. Conversely, the synchronic angle addresses the implications of Morrison’s adoption of multiple voices, which are laid over each other and either rival or endorse each other in the form of a palimpsest. Reading each experience as a separate layer reveals other minor embedded layers that surface through Morrison’s stylistic language and evocation of smells and colours.
Form the Optimal Investment Portfolio Applied Study in the Jordanian Banking Sector (2013-2017)
Authors: Al-Oshaibat Suleiman Daood , Al-Oshaibat Daood
Published: February 2020

The study aimed to form the optimal investment portfolio in the Jordanian banking sector. The research covered a period (2013-2017) and the sample of the study was selected from its community of Jordanian banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange, consisting of (15) working banks for which the necessary data are available to study.

The importance of the research lies in the formation of a thought and methodology that can be applied and utilized by investors and securities analysts in the management of their investment portfolio.

The study shows that the effective rate of return is higher than the required rate of return in the Jordanian commercial banks. This indicates that the commercial banks have succeeded in their estimates of the required or actual rate of return for the optimal investment portfolio banks. the correlation matrix between returns on each bank in the investment portfolio is mostly low, which confirms that the investment portfolio of Jordanian banks is efficient, as Markowitz stressed on his focus on the correlation coefficient between returns and its impact on the return and risk of the optimal investment portfolio that achieve the highest return at a certain level of risk.
IMMIGRATION ANALYSIS AND REMITTANCES COMPOSITION: A CASE STUDY FROM KORCA, ALBANIA
Authors: Nasto Kostandin , Sulillari Junada , Bundo Satiola
Published: February 2020

This study aims to realize an analysis of immigration issues and also issues related to remittances. Our focus will be the analysis of these issues in the case of Albanian immigrants from the Korca region. Through the study, we will reveal some of the immigrant's characteristics, the reason for immigration, the benefits that immigration has brought to them, financial and also other benefits. Regarding the remittances, we will see in detail the composi-tion of remittances sent from the immigrants of this region, the reason why they are being sent, their supposed and real usage and other issues. The greatest part of the study is based on the information collected by using a ques-tionnaire, which included the participation of 210 respondents. The analysis conducted revealed that the main part of the respondents had chosen to immigrate for financial reasons, the most part of them had not a high level of education, and what we also revealed was the fact that immigration had improved the employment status of the respondents and had increased their opportunities for career. Regarding the remittances, the study revealed that the main purpose of using remittances was for consumption and moral responsibility was one of the main reasons for sending remittances. In general, the study revealed that immigration has had a great impact on the immigrants' life and also on their families' life.
TAKING RISK FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT DURING ASSESSING BANK’S FINANCIAL STABILITY IN UKRAINE
Authors: Ilchuk Pavlo , Kots Olha
Published: February 2020

In the article, the scientific literature on risk accounting when assessing a bank’s financial stability has been analyzed. The necessity of the bank’s financial stability estimation methods improving with consideration of risk factors has been identified. The set of indicators – “risk indicators” - which can be calculated on the basis of the bank’s annual reports, has been proposed. The proposed indicators have been tested on the example of three Ukrainian banks. The approach to interpreting the results of the risk indicators assessment and the list of recommended actions for managing the bank’s financial stability with consideration of risk factors have been proposed.
HEALTH, AGRICULTURAL EXPENDITURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA: ARDL AND ECM APPROACH
Authors: Omotayo Olayemi Henry , Ayomitunde Aderemi Timothy , Afolakemi Adeagbo Olayinka , Aromoke Olajide Olufunmilayo
Published: February 2020

This study examines the short run and long relationship between agricultural expenditure, health expenditure and economic growth in Nigeria. This study was motivated due to the lack of sufficient studies regarding this subject matter in recent times. Consequently, Data were collected from CBN Statistical Bulletin from 1981 to 2016. Relevant pre-estimation tests such as unit root and Bound tests were carried out because all the study variables were integrated of order zero and one. Estimated results from ARDL and ECM models established the existence of a short-run and long-run relationship between the variables of interest in Nigeria. While the error correction model reveals that about 19 percent of total disequilibrium due to external shock in the previous year is corrected in the current year. Therefore, it will take about five (5) years for the system to adjust back to its long-run equilibrium path. Results further showed that there is a significant positive relationship between agricultural expenditure and economic growth in Nigeria. However, there is a significant negative relationship between health expenditure and economic growth in the long run. Finally, policymakers in Nigeria should allocate substantial budget towards health and agricultural sectors in Nigeria.
ENTERPRISES IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM AS A MEANS OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: AWARENESS ON ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Authors: Rasaq Oke A. , Bose Ishola F. , Esther David O.
Published: February 2020

Agroforestry practice has a long history but recently has received more attention owing to the problems long-faced on forest reserves depletion and shortage of food supply. Agroforestry is becoming accepted as a land-use system that is capable of producing both food and wood while at the same time reduce forest resource user de-pendency as a means of livelihood thereby conserving and rehabilitating ecosystems. Enterprise in agroforestry is seen as a practice that serves as an alternative to the use and overuse of forest reserve resources. This paper re-views the studies of agroforestry businesses that are capable of sustaining a household in forest communities and rural areas, especially those that depend on forest resources. It enumerated on the processes of production of Shea-butter (Vitellaria paradoxa), Mushroom, locus beans (Parkia biglobosa) and setting up of nursery for seed-ling raising as a means of livelihood. It also talks about the cost implication and accruing profits. This paper be-lieves that education/training programs on agroforestry enterprises are eminent, with the conclusion that there is a dire need for an aggressive awareness on Agroforestry enterprises to persuade forest user as a better option of means of livelihood in order to save forest reserves from depletion as well rescue forest endangered species.
IMPACTOS DOS AVANÇOS TECNOLÓGICOS NO TELEJORNALISMO REGIONAL: A EXPERIÊNCIA DA TV FRONTEIRA ANALÓGICA
Authors: Silva Matheus  Honório  da , Bacco Thaisa  Sallum , Nascimento Clara  Dias , Tomimitsu Ingrid  Ferreira , Prieto Letícia Vieira de Araújo , Teodoro Pamela Liberato Wruck , Silva Thaís Aparecida dos Santos da
Published: February 2020

This research had as the main goal to identify and analyze the practices of the audiovisual language of TV Fronteira’s regional telejournalism, during the analogical system from 1994 to 1997. The contribution proposal was the preservation of historical televiosio memory of Presidente Prudente. As metodology, it was used the qualitative research of the exploratory type and the method chosen was the case study. To make the data collection, some techniques were adopted as: bibliographic research, research and document review and in-depth interviews. The collected data were triangulated and, then, it was possible to identify, analyze and trace an overview about the production, filming, reporting and edition of the regional telejournalism content production during the analogical period.
Tricuspid Annular Plane of Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) for the Evaluation of Patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
Authors: Lahham Shadi , Lee Clifton , Ali Qumber , Moeller John , Fischetti Chanel , Thompson Maxwell , Saadat Soheil , Fox John
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Sepsis is a systemic infection that can rapidly progress into multi organ failure and shock if left untreated. Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the evaluation of patients with sepsis. However, limited data exists on the evaluation of the tricuspid annular plane of systolic excursion (TAPSE) in patients with sepsis. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with concern for severe sepsis or septic shock in a pilot study. In patients that screened positive, the treating physician then performed POCUS to measure the TAPSE value. We compared the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, hospital length of stay, and morbidity with their respective TAPSE values. Results: We enrolled 24 patients in the study. Eight patients had TAPSE values less than 16 millimeters (mm), two patients had TAPSE values between 16mm-20mm, and fourteen patients had TAPSE values greater than 20mm. There was no statistically significant association between TAPSE levels and ICU admission (p=0.16), or death (p=0.14). The difference of length of stay (LOS) was not statistically significant in case of hospital LOS (p= 0.72) or ICU LOS. Conclusion: Our pilot data did not demonstrate a correlation between severe sepsis or septic shock and TAPSE values. This may be due to several factors including patient comorbidities, strict definitions of sepsis and septic shock, as well as the absence of septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Future large-scale studies are needed to determine if TAPSE can be beneficial in the ED evaluation of patients with concern for SCM.
This Article Corrects: “Effectiveness of a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Curriculum in a Public Tanzanian Referral Hospital”
Authors: Chen Carol , Werne Alexander , Osborn Katharine , Vo Holly , George Upendo , Sawe Hendry , Addo Newton , Tenner Andrea
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The World Health Organization recently recognized the importance of emergency and trauma care in reducing morbidity and mortality. Training programs are essential to improving emergency care in low-resource settings; however, a paucity of comprehensive curricula focusing specifically on pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) currently exists. The African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM) developed a PEM curriculum that was pilot-tested in a non-randomized, controlled study to evaluate its effectiveness in nurses working in a public Tanzanian referral hospital. Methods: Fifteen nurses were recruited to participate in a two-and-a-half-day curriculum of lectures, skill sessions, and simulation scenarios covering nine topics; they were matched with controls. Both groups completed pre- and post-training assessments of their knowledge (multiple-choice test), self-efficacy (Likert surveys), and behavior. Changes in behavior were assessed using a binary checklist of critical actions during observations of live pediatric resuscitations. Results: Participant-rated pre-training self-efficacy and knowledge test scores were similar in both control and intervention groups. However, post-training, self-efficacy ratings in the intervention group increased by a median of 11.5 points (interquartile range [IQR]: 6-16) while unchanged in the control group. Knowledge test scores also increased by a median of three points (IQR: 0-4) in the nurses who received the training while the control group’s results did not differ in the two periods. A total of 1192 pediatric resuscitation cases were observed post-training, with the intervention group demonstrating higher rates of performance of three of 27 critical actions. Conclusion: This pilot study of the AFEM PEM curriculum for nurses has shown it to be an effective tool in knowledge acquisition and improved self-efficacy of pediatric emergencies. Further evaluation will be needed to assess whether it is currently effective in changing nurse behavior and patient outcomes or whether curricular modifications are needed.
Cryptosporidiosis in HIV-Positive Patients, Bandar Abbas, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Najafi-Asl Majid , Hosseini Teshnizi Saeed , Davoodian Parivash , Sharifi-Sarasiabi Khojasteh
Published: February 2020

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by a small protozoan of the genus coccidian. It is important in the medical and veterinary area, since it is a zoonotic parasite. Transmission of fecal-oral infections occurs through direct and indirect contact with food and contaminated drinks. Many HIV-positive individuals live in the areas where intestinal parasites are hyperendemic. Objectives: Given the significance of the study associated with opportunistic infectious diseases in this group of patients, we decided to study the prevalence of the parasite in those individuals. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we collected a single fecal specimen of 133 HIV-positive patients seeking treatment from the center for Behavioral Disease Counseling of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Stool samples examined by direct, formalin-ether concentration method and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain for Cryptosporidium spp. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.15 (ranged 12 - 82 years). No oocyst of cryptosporidium spp. or other intestinal coccidian was found in any of the samples. Only four species including Giardia lamblia, Hymenolepis nana, and both Entamoeba coli and Blastocystis hominis were found in three patients, which indicated less diversity and low frequency of parasitic infection in this study. Conclusions: Monitoring and evaluating the therapeutic process of the patients lead to less infectious diseases, especially those of opportunistic parasites.
El ejercicio del banco: Federico Correa
Authors: Muro Carles
Published: February 2020

3 ejercicios del 'banco público' realizados a partir del enunciado de Federico Correa
Bang Nong Saeng
Authors: Sarquella Pau
Published: February 2020

The text takes three experiences from the author to develop three different tòpics as layers of architectural interest.The first, references new young practices and their ephemeral architectures, which due to their freedom, are seen as a key point in architectural speculation and advancement.The second uses Persiana Barcelona, an industrial product designed out of an architectural competition, to talk about different and non-standard ways of making architecture. It also states the need of our society to learn again how to inhabit the spaces we dwell. The third and last, talks about the experience the author had when living and working for four years in a tropical country highly influenced by its climate. He also presents some of the aspects and ideas behind a community project he developed in that area.
FACTORS OF JOB SATISFACTION AND THEIR EFFECTS ON EMPLOYEES’ BEHAVIOR IN A MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Authors: Ristovska Andrijana , Eftimov Ljupčo
Published: February 2020

This paper elaborates the issue about job satisfaction, observing it through the prism of the factors that lead towards its achievement, but also observing whether its absence has an impact on the employees’ behavior in the organization, employees’ productivity, absenteeism, fluctuation, as well as customers’ behavior, satisfaction and loyalty. Based on a sample of 100 employees with different gender, educational and age structure from one of the leading manufacturing companies in the Republic of Macedonia, this research revealed which factors cause job satisfaction of the employees in the Republic of Macedonia, whether the demographic characteristics influence the differences in the ranking of these factors, as well as which conditions and processes at the workplace, the absence of job satisfaction affects significantly. We can conclude that employee job satisfaction in the country is largely determined by the factors that enable the realization of self-esteem and self-realization needs, according to the Maslow's hierarchy of needs, while the wages and the financial rewards and benefits are not ranked as the most significant factors observed at the level of all respondents. Analyzing them individually, according to gender, as well as by the level of education, which often arises as a reason for the difference in the choice of the respondents, the findings show that the financial motivators have key influence on the job satisfaction of the male employees, as well as of those with completed secondary education.
Intrinsic RGB and multispectral images recovery by independent quadratic programming
Authors: Krebs Alexandre , Benezeth Yannick , Marzani Franck
Published: February 2020

This work introduces a method to estimate reflectance, shading, and specularity from a single image. Reflectance, shading, and specularity are intrinsic images derived from the dichromatic model. Estimation of these intrinsic images has many applications in computer vision such as shape recovery, specularity removal, segmentation, or classification. The proposed method allows for recovering the dichromatic model parameters thanks to two independent quadratic programming steps. Compared to the state of the art in this domain, our approach has the advantage to address a complex inverse problem into two parallelizable optimization steps that are easy to solve and do not require learning. The proposed method is an extension of a previous algorithm that is rewritten to be numerically more stable, has better quantitative and qualitative results, and applies to multispectral images. The proposed method is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively on standard RGB and multispectral datasets.
Genome-wide analysis of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs forming a prognostic scoring system in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shi Xiaobo , Li You , Sun Yuchen , Zhao Xu , Sun Xuanzi , Gong Tuotuo , Liang Zhinan , Ma Yuan , Zhang Xiaozhi
Published: February 2020

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main subtype of esophageal carcinoma. Protein coding genes and non-coding RNAs can be powerful prognostic factors in multiple cancers, including ESCC. However, there is currently no model that integrates multiple types of RNA expression signatures to predict clinical outcomes.

Methods

The sequencing data (RNA-sequencing and miRNA-sequencing) and clinical data of ESCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and Differential gene expression analysis, Cox regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to construct prognosis-related lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and scoring system with multiple types of RNA. The potential molecular mechanisms of prognostic mRNAs were explored by functional enrichment analysis.

Results

A total of 62 prognostic lncRNAs, eight prognostic miRNAs and 66 prognostic mRNAs were identified in ESCC (P-value < 0.05) and a prognosis-related lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was created. Five prognosis-related hub RNAs (CDCA2, MTBP, CENPE, PBK, AL033384.1) were identified. Biological process analysis revealed that mRNAs in prognosis-related co-expression RNA network were mainly enriched in cell cycle, mitotic cell cycle and nuclear division. Additionally, we constructed a prognostic scoring system for ESCC using ten signature RNAs (MLIP, TNFSF10, SIK2, LINC01068, LINC00601, TTTY14, AC084262.1, LINC01415, miR-5699-3p, miR-552-5p). Using this system, patients in the low-risk group had better long-term survival than those in the high-risk group (log-rank, P-value < 0.0001). The area under the ROC curve (AUCs) revealed that the accuracy of the prediction model was higher than the accuracy of single type of RNA prediction model.

Conclusion

In brief, we constructed a prognostic scoring system based on multiple types of RNA for ESCC that showed high predicting prognosis performance, and deeply understood the regulatory mechanism of prognosis-related lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network.
Gene flow between subpopulations of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Rosado-Nic Oscar de Jesús , Hogan J. Derek , Lara-Arenas José Héctor , Rosas-Luis Rigoberto , Carrillo Laura , Villegas-Sánchez Carmen Amelia
Published: February 2020

Background

The gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) has a tropical and subtropical distribution. In much of its range this species represents one of the most important fishery resources because of its high quality meat and market value. Due to this, this species is vulnerable to overfishing, and population declines have been observed in parts of its range. In recent decades, it has been established that knowing the level of genetic connectivity is useful for establishing appropriate management and conservation strategies given that genetic isolation can drive towards genetic loss. Presently the level of genetic connectivity between subpopulations ofL. griseusof the southern region of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea remains unknown.

Methods

In the present study we analyze genetic structure and diversity for seven subpopulations in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean Sea. Eight microsatellite primers of phylogenetically closely related species toL. griseuswere selected.

Results

Total heterozygosity was 0.628 and 0.647 in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean Sea, however, results obtained from AMOVA andRSTindicated a lack of genetic difference between the major basins. We also found no association between genetic difference and geographic distance, and moderately high migration rates (Nm= > 4.1) suggesting ongoing gene flow among the subpopulations. Gene flow within the southern Gulf of Mexico appears to be stronger going from east-to-west.

Conclusions

Migration rates tended to be higher between subpopulations within the same basin compared to those across basins indicating some regionalization. High levels of genetic diversity and genetic flow suggest that the population is quite large; apparently, the fishing pressure has not caused a bottleneck effect.
Behaviour of Salicornia neei Cultivated in Different Spacing and Irrigated with Desalinizer Tailings
Authors: V. De Figueiredo C. F. , Fernandes J. G. , W. F. Gomes E. , S. Messias A.
Published: February 2020

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of line and row spacing on biomass yield and minerals absorbed by Salicornia neei irrigated with desalination reject. The experiment was conducted in beds at the headquarters of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco-IPA, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with treatments consisting of six spacings between plants and rows: 5x5, 10x10, 15x15, 20x20, 30x30 and 40x40 cm, with three repetitions and 30 Salicornia neei plants per repetition. After six months, the aerial part of the plant was collected and analyzed bromatologically. It was statistically noticed that the 15x15 cm spacing between plants favored where most bromatological determinations: dry matter weight - DMW (9,353.0 kg/ha); total nitrogen - NT (3.09%); total protein - PT (19.31%); acid detergent fiber - ADF (30.50%); neutral detergent fiber - NDF (38.15%); total fiber - FT (26.71%) and ethereal extract - EE (1.91%). Regarding the phytoextraction by Salicornia neei, the most efficient spacing were: 20x20 cm for sodium - Na (15.5%); 30x30 cm for potassium - K (3.00%) and 40x40 cm for calcium - Ca (4.18%) and magnesium - Mg (3.90%), showing the potential use of Salicornia neei in soils affected by salts.
Metabolic Risk Factors and Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Attri Ritu , Kaur Harsimran , Singh Sibia Raminderpal , Singh Bhatia Mandip
Published: February 2020

Introduction: CAD is the most common cause of mortality in India. It is a common multifarious public health crisis today and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed countries. Hence, understanding the predominant risk factors among the Indian population is important.

Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based age and sex matched case control study, carried out at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital Patiala. A total of 100 patients of Acute coronary syndrome were studied. Patients and controls were enquired about  the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors and the significance of association of these risk factors with the occurrence of Acute coronary syndrome was given by p value of  <0.05.

Results: Majority of the cases were in the age group 61-70 years (32%) with male to female ratio  of 1.25:1. Significant association was found between ACS and risk factors like smoking, positive family history of IHD, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, waist hip ratio and body mass index. Overall, most common outcome of ACS in the present study was NSTEMI (45%) followed by STEMI (35%) followed by Unstable angina (20%).

Conclusion: Significant association was found between smoking and occurrence of STEMI and significant association was found between Hypertension and occurrence of NSTEMI.
Optimization of Mild Steel Welding Process Parameters Using Multivariate Linear Regression
Authors: Odinikuku William E. , Atadious David , P. Onwuamaeze Ikechukwu
Published: February 2020

Local welders in Nigeria are prone to poor quality weldment because of their lack of welding technical skills. When these local welders carry out their welding operation, the welded joints are considered to be good enough because the metal materials welded together are seen to be good and satisfactory. In most case, when these welded joints have not fully served their service life, these materials fail due to the poor quality of the weldment. Material quality can easily be assessed by inspecting the microstructure of the weldment. In this wok, mild steel welding process parameters were optimized using multivariate linear regression (MLR). The study involves the determination of the suitable set of conditions for the welding process parameters that would give the optimum weld of mild steel (low carbon steel) using Gas Metal Arc welding (GMAW) technique and obtain a relationship between the three welding process parameters and the ultimate tensile strength and Brinell hardness number. For this reason, an experimental study was carried out using nine samples of the specimen of mild steel. The experimental and predicted results show that arc voltage and gas flow rate affect the ultimate tensile strength and the Brinell hardness number of mild steel. The maximum ultimate tensile strength and Brinell hardness number were obtained at 180A, 15V and 20l/min. It was also observed that the ultimate tensile strength decreases with increases in arc voltage and gas flow rate. But these two parameters tend to have a positive effect on the Brinell hardness number.
Assessing structure building in college classrooms at scale
Authors: Soicher Raechel N. , Becker‐Blease Kathryn A.
Published: February 2020

Structure building refers to the way in which people construct meaning from incoming information by creating a foundation of mental nodes, mapping incoming information to the foundational structure, and shifting to a new structure when necessary. Structure building ability has been shown to moderate learning both in laboratory‐based and classroom‐based research (e.g., use of outlines for effective note‐taking and course final grades, respectively). However, measurement of structure building can be resource intensive. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a shortened, scalable measure of structure building (developed by a textbook publisher) in a real‐world context. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that this tool, embedded in the online ancillary materials accompanying a textbook, can be used to measure a variable that is relevant to students' learning in introductory psychology courses.
A Clinically and Biologically Based Subclassification of the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies Using Machine Learning
Authors: Eng Simon W. M. , Olazagasti Jeannette M. , Goldenberg Anna , Crowson Cynthia S. , Oddis Chester V. , Niewold Timothy B. , Yeung Rae S. M. , Reed Ann M.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Published predictive models of disease outcomes in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are sparse and of limited accuracy due to disease heterogeneity. Computational methods may address this heterogeneity by partitioning patients based on clinical and biological phenotype.

Methods

To identify new patient groups, we applied similarity network fusion (SNF) to clinical and biological data from 168 patients with myositis (64 adult polymyositis [PM], 65 adult dermatomyositis [DM], and 39 juvenile DM [JDM]) in the Rituximab in Myositis trial. We generated a sparse proof‐of‐concept bedside classifier using multinomial regression and identified characteristics that distinguished these groups. We conducted χ2 tests to link new patient groups with the myositis subtypes.

Results

SNF identified five patient groups in the discovery cohort that subdivided the myositis subtypes. The sparse multinomial regressor to predict patient group assignments (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve = [0.78, 0.97]; areas under the precision‐recall curve = [0.55, 0.96]) found that autoantibody enrichment defined four of these groups: anti–Mi‐2, anti–signal recognition peptide (SRP), anti–nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2), and anti‐synthetase (Syn). Depletion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) defined the fifth group. Each group was associated with one subtype, with adult DM being associated with anti–Mi‐2 and anti‐Syn autoantibodies, JDM being associated with anti‐NXP2 autoantibodies, and adult PM being associated with IgM depletion and anti‐SRP autoantibodies. These associations enabled us to further resolve the current myositis subtypes.

Conclusion

Using unsupervised machine learning, we identified clinically and biologically homogeneous groups of patients with IIMs, forming the basis of an integrated disease classification based on both clinical and biological phenotype, thus validating other approaches and what has been previously described.
A Self‐Cleaning Mucus‐like and Hierarchical Ciliary Bionic Surface for Marine Antifouling
Authors: Ren Xiaoting , Guo Mingshuai , Xue Lili , Zeng Qingyang , Gao Xianze , Xin Yonglei , Xu Likun , Li Li
Published: February 2020

The flexible mucus film and hydrophilic hierarchical micro‐/nanoprotuberance structure on the skin surfaces of marine organisms contribute to an excellent intrinsic antifouling performance. Inspired by this fact, a self‐cleaning mucus‐like and hierarchical ciliary bionic antifouling surface (SMCAS) is designed for marine antifouling based on the electrostatic flocking technology. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the bioinspired SMCAS has a hierarchical micro‐/nanociliary structure and the micrometer array of polyamide (PA) microfibers is covered with the nanometer carbon nanotube/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/PVA) hydrogel particles. The biomasses of the two marine microoganisms, Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima and Marinobacter lipolyticus SM19 (T), attached on the SMCAS are investigated using a UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis) and SEM. The results reveal that the microoganisms attached on the SMCAS are significantly lower number in comparison with the organic silicon coating. In addition, the SMCAS has a greater ability of stain removal in the dyed petroleum ether washing test. Therefore, the SMCAS demonstrates an extraordinary antifouling performance due to the synergetic effect of the mucus‐like hydrogel film and the hierarchical micro‐/nanostructured micropillars.
A Novel NASICON‐Type Na4MnCr(PO4)3 Demonstrating the Energy Density Record of Phosphate Cathodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Jian , Liu Yongchang , Zhao Xudong , He Lunhua , Liu Hui , Song Yuzhu , Sun Shengdong , Li Qiang , Xing Xianran , Chen Jun
Published: February 2020

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted incremental attention as a promising candidate for grid‐scale energy‐storage applications. To meet practical requirements, searching for new cathode materials with high energy density is of great importance. Herein, a novel Na superionic conductor (NASICON)‐type Na4MnCr(PO4)3 is developed as a high‐energy cathode for SIBs. The Na4MnCr(PO4)3 nanoparticles homogeneously embedded in a carbon matrix can present an extraordinary reversible capacity of 160.5 mA h g−1 with three‐electron reaction at ≈3.53 V during the Na+ extraction/insertion process, realizing an unprecedentedly high energy density of 566.5 Wh kg−1 in the phosphate cathodes for SIBs. It is intriguing to reveal the underlying mechanism of the unique Mn2+/Mn3+, Mn3+/Mn4+, and Cr3+/Cr4+ redox couples via X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure spectroscopy. The whole electrochemical reaction undergoes highly reversible single‐phase and biphasic transitions with a moderate volume change of 7.7% through in situ X‐ray diffraction and ex situ high‐energy synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. Combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, the superior performance is ascribed to the low ionic‐migration energy barrier and desirable Na‐ion diffusion kinetics. The present work can offer a new insight into the design of multielectron‐reaction cathode materials for SIBs.
Facile Self‐Forming Superionic Conductors Based on Complex Borohydride Surface Oxidation
Authors: Luo Xiaoxuan , Rawal Aditya , Cazorla Claudio , Aguey‐Zinsou Kondo‐Francois
Published: February 2020

Complex hydrides have attracted significant attention as better inorganic solid‐state electrolytes owing to their lightweight and good compatibility with metal anodes (Li, Na, and/or Mg) for all solid‐state batteries. However, high ionic conductivity is usually observed at high temperatures upon the stabilization of adequate crystalline phases enabling fast ionic mobility. Here, an extremely simple strategy to significantly increase the ionic conductivity of complex borohydrides is reported. By exposing complex borohydrides to oxygen, the rearrangement of surface atoms upon the oxidation of borohydride particles and the resulting defects lead to extremely high ionic conductivity. NaBH4 and LiBH4 exposed to 5% O2 show an ionic conductivity of ≈10−3 S cm−1 at 35 °C. Similarly, oxidized Mg(BH4)2 displays a conductivity of ≈10−6 S cm−1 at 25 °C instead of 9.63 × 10−13 S cm−1. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is to date, the simplest approach to tune the properties of borohydrides toward high ionic conductivity at room temperature as it does not rely on the difficult synthesis of large cage boron based anions to substitute BH4− and allow better ionic conduction paths. Owing its simplicity, the finding has the potential to enable new avenues toward the realization of viable complex borohydride based solid‐state electrolytes.
Climate‐risk assessment for winter wheat using long‐term weather data
Authors: Lollato Romulo P. , Bavia Guilherme P. , Perin Vinicius , Knapp Mary , Santos Eduardo A. , Patrignani Andres , DeWolf Erick D.
Published: February 2020

Temperature and water deficit stresses cause large year‐to‐year yield variability, and matching crop phenology with periods less prone to stresses can improve yield stability. We used 30 years of daily weather data from 69 stations in the U.S. Great Plains to quantify the risk of water deficit and temperature stresses for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in maturity, and to evaluate whether the selected variables explained variability in yield and area abandonment. Crop phenology was estimated using a simple temperature‐based model based on 282 field observations. A difference between the 15‐d running sums of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and precipitation greater than 40% of the soil's available water holding capacity (AWHC) determined atmospheric water deficit (AWD). Heat and freeze stresses occurred when maximum temperatures >27 °C and minimum temperatures <0 °C occurred around heading. Probabilities of AWD in the spring was greater in the west and in the south; however, latitudinal AWD gradients dissipated when crop maturity was considered. The day of year (DOY) for last freeze increased from south to north and from east to west; and the DOY for onset of heat stress increased from south to north but did not follow a longitudinal gradient. Early maturing varieties avoided heat and AWD stresses during heading but were more likely to experience freezing conditions. Regional yield decreased and area abandonment increased with early onset of spring AWD and heat stresses. This conceptual framework for evaluating the risk of environmental stresses can be applied to other regions and cropping systems.
Investigation of dendrimer‐based supramolecular networks as a new clay stabilizer for oil field
Authors: Yang Xiaoyan , Gou Shaohua , Fei Yumei , Zhou Lihua , He Yang , Liu Mengyu , Tan Lan , Liu Ling , Duan Ming
Published: February 2020

A novel cationic copolymer was synthesized with acrylamide (AM), [2‐(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (DAC) and 1‐allyl‐3‐phenyl thiourea (APTU). In association with hyperbranched poly (amido amine) (h‐PAMAM) guanidine, a dendrimer‐based supramolecular composite polymer solution as a new clay stabilizer was prepared. The inhibiting properties have been tested through various approaches including antiswelling, hot‐rolling recovery, and erosion resistant analysis. The optimal concentrations ofh‐PAMAM guanidine and P(AM‐DAC‐APTU) were 100 and 5,000 mg/L, separately. In this case, the supramolecular complex showed an excellent retention ratio of 87.6% and made a great progress in inorganic salts and temperature resistances. Moreover, after sourcing with the deionized water for five times, the antiswelling degree of composite solution was stabilized at 73.3%, showing high potential to use this new clay stabilizer for oil field.
Preparation of functionalized poly(caprolactone diol)/castor oils blends to be applied as photocrosslinkable tissue adhesives
Authors: Cernadas Teresa , Morgado Stacy , Alves Patrícia , Gonçalves Filipa A. M. M. , Correia Tiago R. , Correia Ilídio J. , Ferreira Paula
Published: February 2020

Polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL‐based materials are widely applied in the biomedical field, however, their slow biodegradation profile makes them more suitable to be used in hard tissues, where healing requires longer periods of time. In order to adjust their properties to suit for soft tissues applications, PCL can be blended with other biodegradable materials in order to tune its degradation rate. Herein, polymeric blends of PCL and castor oil (CO) were prepared after their chemical modification with 2‐isocyanatoethylmethacrylate (IEMA) in order to be applied as photocrosslinkable tissue adhesives. These functionalized macromers were chemically characterized and used to prepare polymeric blends (PCL‐IEMA/CO‐IEMA) with variable mass proportions. A biocompatible photoinitiator (Irgacure 2959) was added to these macromers blends which were then irradiated under UV light. The feasibility of the prepared materials as tissue adhesives was evaluated by assessment of their chemical/physical properties as well as their interaction with blood. Moreover, their cytotoxic profile was also evaluated through in vitro studies using human dermal fibroblasts as model cells.
Compounding and characterization of recycled multilayer plastic films
Authors: Jönkkäri Ilari , Poliakova Valeria , Mylläri Ville , Anderson Reetta , Andersson Mirja , Vuorinen Jyrki
Published: February 2020

Mechanical recycling of multilayer plastic films from food packages was investigated. The multilayer films were manually separated from municipal solid waste, washed, grinded, and finally compounded at 0–100 wt% concentrations with virgin low‐density polyethylene (PE‐LD). Polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MA) compatibilizer was used in two of the compounds to replace 2 and 5 wt% of the PE‐LD to study its effect as well. PE‐g‐MA is expected to improve the mechanical properties of the compounds by promoting the adhesion between incompatible polymer phases. The composition of the compounds was characterized with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry and their properties were studied with tensile testing and rotational rheometer measurements. All tested compounds had relatively good mechanical properties and processability. This indicates that recycled multilayer films could replace at least part of the virgin PE‐LD in applications where high‐thermal stability or good visual appearance is not required. The PE‐g‐MA compatibilizer did not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the compounds.
Association of a Type 2–Polarized T Cell Phenotype With Methotrexate Nonresponse in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Slauenwhite Drew , McAlpine Sarah M. , Hanly John G. , Malik Anikó , Haidl Ian D. , Marshall Jean S. , Issekutz Thomas B.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated through complex immunologic pathways. Among RA patients receiving low‐dose methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, approximately one‐half exhibit a meaningful clinical response within the first 6 months of starting treatment. Whether baseline immune phenotypes differ between subsequent MTX responders and nonresponders is unknown. This study utilized comprehensive T cell immunophenotyping to identify specific immunologic pathways associated with MTX‐nonresponsive joint inflammation in patients with RA.

Methods

In total, 32 patients with recent‐onset RA were treated with MTX therapy. After 6 months, 15 patients were categorized as responders and 17 as nonresponders. Comprehensive blood T cell immunophenotyping, using multiparameter immunofluorescence flow cytometry analyses, was performed at baseline and following 6 months of treatment.

Results

Baseline measures of disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], C‐reactive protein level, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) did not differ between MTX responders and nonresponders following MTX treatment. Frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were skewed to favor higher CD4:CD8 T cell ratios in MTX responders compared to nonresponders (P < 0.05). The proportion of inducible costimulator–expressing Treg cells was significantly greater among MTX nonresponders. Interleukin‐13 (IL‐13)–producing, but not interferon‐γ– or IL‐17–producing, CD4+ effector memory T (Tem) cells were significantly more frequent in MTX nonresponders (P < 0.05). The ratio of IL‐13+:IL‐17+ Tem cells among CD4+ Tem cells was 1.9‐fold higher in MTX nonresponders compared to responders (P < 0.05). Both the CD4:CD8 T cell ratio and the frequency of IL‐13+CD4+ Tem cells correlated with changes in the DAS28 score following MTX treatment, whereas T cell expression of immune checkpoint inhibitor markers (CTLA‐4, programmed death 1, and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain–containing protein 3) did not differ between MTX responders and nonresponders.

Conclusion

We observed a bias toward type 2–polarized T cell inflammatory responses in the peripheral blood of MTX‐nonresponsive RA patients. Targeting the IL‐13+CD4+ T cell pathway could be a new therapeutic strategy in RA patients whose disease remains resistant to MTX.
Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction with a Half‐Sandwich Cobalt Catalyst: Selectivity towards CO
Authors: Kumar Pandey Indresh , Kumar Abhishek , Choudhury Joyanta
Published: February 2020

We present herein a Cp*Co(III)‐half‐sandwich catalyst system for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in aqueous acetonitrile solution. In addition to an electron‐donating Cp* ligand (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), the catalyst featured a proton‐responsive pyridyl‐benzimidazole‐based N,N‐bidentate ligand. Owing to the presence of a relatively electron‐rich Co center, the reduced Co(I)‐state was made prone to activate the electrophilic carbon center of CO2. At the same time, the proton‐responsive benzimidazole scaffold was susceptible to facilitate proton‐transfer during the subsequent reduction of CO2. The above factors rendered the present catalyst active toward producing CO as the major product over the other potential 2e/2H+ reduced product HCOOH, in contrast to the only known similar half‐sandwich CpCo(III)‐based CO2‐reduction catalysts which produced HCOOH selectively. The system exhibited a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of about 70% while the overpotential for CO production was found to be 0.78 V, as determined by controlled‐potential electrolysis.