bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Sustained Inflation or Positive Pressure Ventilation on the Release of Adrenomedullin in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Failure at Birth
Authors: La Verde Azzurra , Franchini Simone , Lapergola Giuseppe , Lista Gianluca , Barbagallo Ignazio , Livolti Giovanni , Gazzolo Diego
Published: July 2019

Objective Delivery room (DR) management may play an important role in the development and prevention of lung injury. Therefore, in a cohort of low birth weight infants (LBW), we investigated the effects of two different lung recruitment maneuvers, such as positive pressure ventilation (PPV) and sustained inflation (SI) on adrenomedullin (AM), a well-established lung-specific vasoactive agent.

Study Design This is a prospective case-control randomized study in 44 LBW infants spontaneously breathing with respiratory failure at birth requiring respiratory support. LBW were randomized to receive PPV (n = 22) or SI (n = 22) support. AM was measured from blood in samples collected at birth from arterial artery (BLT0) and at 1-hour (BLT1) and at 24-hour (BLT2) from peripheral venous site. AM assessment in urine samples was performed at 1-hour (URT1) and at 24-hour (URT2).

Results No significant differences in AM (p > 0.05) blood (T0–T2) and urine (T1, T2) levels were observed between groups.

Conclusion The present data, showing the absence of any differences in AM blood and urine levels, suggest that PPV and SI are both feasible and equally effective DR maneuvers. The findings open the way to further studies evaluating the effects of PPV and SI on short-/long-term respiratory outcome through biomarkers assessment.
Topically Applied Etamsylate: A New Orphan Drug for HHT-Derived Epistaxis (Antiangiogenesis through FGF Pathway Inhibition)
Authors: Albiñana Virginia , Giménez-Gallego Guillermo , García-Mato Angela , Palacios Patricia , Recio-Poveda Lucia , Cuesta Angel-M , Patier José-Luis , Botella Luisa-María
Published: July 2019

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia characterized by recurrent and spontaneous epistaxis (nose bleeds), telangiectases on skin and mucosa, internal organ arteriovenous malformations, and dominant autosomal inheritance. Mutations in Endoglin and ACVRL1/ALK1, genes mainly expressed in endothelium, are responsible in 90% of the cases for the pathology. These genes are involved in the transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) signaling pathway. Epistaxis remains as one of the most common symptoms impairing the quality of life of patients, becoming life-threatening in some cases. Different strategies have been used to decrease nose bleeds, among them is antiangiogenesis. The two main angiogenic pathways in endothelial cells depend on vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The present work has used etamsylate, the diethylamine salt of the 2,5-dihydroxybenzene sulfonate anion, also known as dobesilate, as a FGF signaling inhibitor. In endothelial cells, in vitro experiments show that etamsylate acts as an antiangiogenic factor, inhibiting wound healing and matrigel tubulogenesis. Moreover, etamsylate decreases phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. A pilot clinical trial (EudraCT: 2016–003982–24) was performed with 12 HHT patients using a topical spray of etamsylate twice a day for 4 weeks. The epistaxis severity score (HHT-ESS) and other pertinent parameters were registered in the clinical trial. The significant reduction in the ESS scale, together with the lack of significant side effects, allowed the designation of topical etamsylate as a new orphan drug for epistaxis in HHT (EMA/OD/135/18).
Monoparesis Post Bronchial Artery Embolization: Clinicoradiological Discordance in Anterior Spinal Artery Infarct—Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Gupta Saurabh , Prakash Siddharth , Mittal Ashima , Garg Cherry , Singh Suryaveer
Published: July 2019

Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an established minimally invasive treatment for massive or recurrent haemoptysis. Anterior spinal artery (ASA) infarct is an uncommon but serious complication of the procedure. The interventional radiologist doing these procedures must be well versed with the bronchial artery anatomy, its variations, and its relation with ASA to avoid this dreaded complication. The authors report a case in which the patient developed monoparesis and mild transient autonomic dysfunction post BAE but magnetic resonance imaging of spine showed diffuse symmetric cord involvement in ASA territory from D1–D4 level.
Analysis of feed-in tariff models for photovoltaic systems in Thailand: An evidence-based approach
Authors: Sagulpongmalee Kangsadan , Therdyothin Apichit , Nathakaranakule Adisak
Published: July 2019

Since 2006, Thailand has adopted several feed-in tariff (FIT) models. Thailand's FIT has decreased continuously from 11.50 baht/kW h in 2006 to 4.16 baht/kW h in 2016 as a result of the rapid global decline in the price of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Three FIT policies were incorporated in models (i.e., premium, fixed-price, and front-end loaded FIT), to stimulate the installation of PV systems. This study evaluated the economics of utility-scale 1 MW solar PV systems in Thailand, with support from the FIT policy. The net present value was calculated as 28.75–38.72 × 106 baht, with an internal rate of return of 11.83%–15.32%, a payback period of 7.49–10.06 years, and a benefit–cost ratio of 1.53–2.15. These data indicate that Thailand's FIT policy already successfully operates as a solar PV support mechanism. The FIT models from countries where PV systems have been successfully installed (China, Japan, and Germany) were also studied, to help policy-makers devise a suitable FIT scheme for Thailand. Thailand's FIT model should implement the FIT policy in three main phases for new investors. In the first phase, the installed PV capacity is not high, and high fixed FIT rates will be set to attract investors. In the second phase, the FIT will be adjusted and the degression rate will reduce the profitability of the project. In the final phase, the installed PV capacity will reach the target and the FIT will be changed via an auction to allow investors to compete for the tender.
Off-the-shelf DFT-DISPersion methods: Are they now “on-trend” for organic molecular crystals?
Authors: Geatches Dawn , Rosbottom Ian , Marchese Robinson Richard L. , Byrne Peter , Hasnip Phil , Probert Matt I. J. , Jochym Dominik , Maloney Andrew , Roberts Kevin J.
Published: July 2019

Organic molecular crystals contain long-range dispersion interactions that can be challenging for solid-state methods such as density functional theory (DFT) to capture, and in some industrial sectors are overlooked in favor of classical methods to calculate atomistic properties. Hence, this publication addresses the critical question of whether dispersion corrected DFT calculations for organic crystals can reproduce the structural and energetic trends seen from experiment, i.e., whether the calculations can now be said to be truly “on-trend.” In this work, we assess the performance of three of the latest dispersion-corrected DFT methods, in calculating the long-range, dispersion energy: the pairwise methods of D3(0) and D3(BJ) and the many-body dispersion method, MBD@rsSCS. We calculate the energetics and optimized structures of two homologous series of organic molecular crystals, namely, carboxylic acids and amino acids. We also use a classical force field method (using COMPASS II) and compare all results to experimental data where possible. The mean absolute error in lattice energies is 9.59 and 343.85 kJ/mol (COMPASS II), 10.17 and 16.23 kJ/mol (MBD@rsSCS), 10.57 and 18.76 kJ/mol [D3(0)], and 8.52 and 14.66 kJ/mol [D3(BJ)] for the carboxylic acids and amino acids, respectively. MBD@rsSCS produces structural and energetic trends that most closely match experimental trends, performing the most consistently across the two series and competing favorably with COMPASS II.
Stochastic neuron based on IGZO Schottky diodes for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Dang Bingjie , Liu Keqin , Zhu Jiadi , Xu Liying , Zhang Teng , Cheng Caidie , Wang Hong , Yang Yuchao , Hao Yue , Huang Ru
Published: July 2019

Neuromorphic architectures based on memristive neurons and synapses hold great prospect in achieving highly intelligent and efficient computing systems. Here, we show that a Schottky diode based on Cu-Ta/InGaZnO4 (IGZO)/TiN structure can exhibit threshold switching behavior after electroforming and in turn be used to implement an artificial neuron with inherently stochastic dynamics. The threshold switching originates from the Cu filament formation and spontaneous Cu–In–O precipitation in IGZO. The nucleation and precipitation of Cu–In–O phase are stochastic in nature, which leads to the stochasticity of the artificial neuron. It is demonstrated that IGZO based stochastic neurons can be used for global minimum computation with random walk algorithm, making it promising for robust neuromorphic computation.
Role of coherence in the plasmonic control of molecular absorption
Authors: Coccia Emanuele , Corni Stefano
Published: July 2019

The interpretation of nanoplasmonic effects on molecular properties, such as metal-enhanced absorption or fluorescence, typically assumes a fully coherent picture (in the quantum-mechanical sense) of the phenomena. Yet, there may be conditions where the coherent picture breaks down, and the decoherence effect should be accounted for. Using a state-of-the-art multiscale model approach able to include environment-induced dephasing, here we show that metal nanoparticle effects on the light absorption by a nearby molecule is strongly affected (even qualitatively, i.e., suppression vs enhancement) by molecular electronic decoherence. The present work shows that decoherence can be thought of as a further design element of molecular nanoplasmonic systems.
Positive effects of increasing crop diversity in land use on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and bacterial community composition
Authors: Jiao Yujie , Yuan Ling
Published: July 2019

A rotation of summer tobacco–winter barley–next summer maize (T-B-M) has been suggested by Chinese government programs as an alternative land use practice to replace the conventional tobacco–fallow monoculture (T) and tobacco–barley succession (T-B) management systems. Crop yield in each crop system was recorded from 2010 to 2016 and routine and 454 pyrosequencing approaches were used to evaluate the effects of these cropping systems on organic matter, enzyme activity, and bacterial biomass and community composition within the same soil type. Tobacco leaf yields, barley grains, organic matter, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity (urease, neutral phosphatase, invertase and dehydrogenase) in the soil increased with crop species (but differences were not significant for dehydrogenase activity between T and T-B, and for neutral phosphatase activity between T-B and T-B-M). Indices of richness and diversity of soil bacterial communities also increased as the number of 16S rRNA gene sequences and bacterial phylotypes in the soil increased. The presence of many different bacteria in a soil system may prevent excess reproduction of any single pathogenic bacterium and subsequently reduce the risk of large-scale disease spread. All cropping soils were dominated by Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobactria, Bacteroidetes, and unclassified bacteria. Of the 20 predominant bacteria, 13 were commonly found in all soils studied, whereas only four to five were unique in each of the soils examined. This suggests that the presence of those bacteria was more influenced by soil properties than cropping systems in a period of land use.
The role of shape-dependent flight stability in the origin of oriented meteorites
Authors: Amin Khunsa , Huang Jinzi Mac , Hu Kevin J. , Zhang Jun , Ristroph Leif
Published: July 2019

Significance

Motivated by the conical shape of so-called oriented meteorites, we assess experimentally how the flight dynamics and postural stability of a body moving through a fluid depend on its shape. The family of cones of varying apex angle permits the systematic study across shapes from slender or sharp to broad or dull, and we find that only specific forms achieve the stably oriented flight needed to explain this class of meteorites. More generally, our study provides the map relating body shape to free fall motions, such as gliding, tumbling, straight descent, and fluttering, which will prove useful in aeronautics, the atmospheric sciences, and chemical engineering.
The empirical relationship between nonstandard economic behaviors
Authors: Dean Mark , Ortoleva Pietro
Published: July 2019

Significance

A large literature in behavioral and experimental economics has identified a long list of robust phenomena that are hard to explain within the classic model of economic choice. These are, however, typically analyzed independently. We study the joint distribution of 11 of the most prominent behaviors using an incentivized laboratory experiment involving undergraduate students. Our main aim is to provide empirical guidance in the construction of a unified, parsimonious model of economic behavior, an important step in integrating behavioral insights into broader economic and policy analysis. We find that some of these phenomena are strongly related to each other, while others are independent. This provides evidence in support of some of the proposed attempts at unification, but not others.
Variation in methods for studying political metaphor
Authors: Thibodeau Paul H. , Fleming James , Lannen Maya
Published: July 2019

This chapter explores methodological variation in the study of political metaphor, focusing on a comparison of two approaches: the Critical Discourse Approach (CDA) and experiments (the Response Elicitation Approach; REA). What kinds of political metaphors have been investigated on the two approaches and what insights have these studies revealed? What are the strengths and limitations of each approach? As cognitive psychologists, we have more experience with experiments, and our discussion is grounded in an exposition of the logic and mechanics of experimental design. But we advocate for methodological pluralism because understanding political metaphor is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary endeavor. Some research questions are better addressed through discourse analysis; others are better addressed with experiments; scholars should use the method that is best suited to addressing their research question.
Subjectivity and Causality in discourse and cognition
Authors: Sanders Ted J.M. , Evers-Vermeul Jacqueline
Published: July 2019

Cognitively oriented linguists have various
linguistic resources at their disposal, and therefore need to
develop methodological strategies of when to use which method. This
chapter illustrates the benefits of using converging evidence. We
review research results from several methodologies, including the
use of corpus-based, acquisition and processing data, in order to
illustrate what kinds of insights this brings at the level of
discourse. The results suggest that Causality and Subjectivity are
two basic cognitive notions that organize our knowledge of coherence
relations. They help us explain the system and use of causal
relations and their linguistic expressions in everyday language use,
and they account for discourse processing and representation, as
well as the acquisition order of connectives.
Peter Skehan’s influence in research on task difficulty
Authors: Wang Liping , Zhang Lawrence Jun
Published: July 2019

This paper presents results of a bibliometric analysis of studies on task difficulty over a period of nearly 40 years from 1990 to 2018 using CiteSpace V. The research data, consisting of 164 research articles and their 1706 citing references, were retrieved from the core collection of the Web of Science-SSCI database. The top 20 most often cited references were visualized and highlighted through a 406-node network of cited references. The results demonstrate that Skehan’s (2009) article was ranked as the most influential reference in studies on task difficulty or task complexity, which is clear evidence of Skehan’s far-reaching impacts on key areas in TBLT and SLA research.
Electroacoustic cochlear stimulation advantages in severe-profound hearing loss
Authors: Cantore Italo , Santandrea Alessandro , Carelli Gabriella , De Canio Claudia , Oliveto Gina , Piedilato Maria Emanuela , Valente Paola , Santandrea Lorenzo
Published: July 2019

Objectives:

Electroacoustic stimulation allow very interesting performances mainly in noisy condition for bisyllabic words recognition. In this paper, we studied some very difficult timbric tasks in noise conditions.

Methods:

We studied 10 adult patients with Hybrid implants (group A-Hybrid implants) and 70 adult patients with traditional ones (group B-Traditional implants). We made the following tests in noise: (1) Bisyllabic words recognition; (2) Voice kinds recognition; and (3) Musical instruments recognition.

Results:

Mean results in quiet: test 1: 63% for group A, 42% for group B; test 2: 75% group A, 33% group B; test 3: 55% group A, 20% group B. We obtained a p < .05 for tests 2 and 3.

Conclusions:

Hybrid patients seem to have better results mainly in noisy timbric tasks. This should be explained by the better quality of low frequency stimulation. The presence of good residual hearing on low frequencies should orientate surgeons and audiologists to consider electroacoustic stimulation procedures.
The ALICE Inner Tracker System Upgrade
Authors: Ronchetti Federico
Published: July 2019

The phase II upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is planned under the assumption that the LHC will progressively increase the luminosity of heavy ion beams, eventually reaching an interaction rate of about 50 kHz in Pb-Pb collisions, i.e. instantaneous luminosities of L = 6 × 1027 cm−2s−1. In this perspective, the two main ALICE tracking devices, the TPC and the Inner Tracking system (ITS) will be both upgraded to cope with the foreseen interaction rates. In particular, the various ALICE silicon detectors will be fully replaced with a new, high-resolution, multi-layered, low-material, 12500 megapixel system allowing for very high data rates, and enhancing the vertexing and tracking capabilities at low transverse momenta (pT
).

The challenge and the uniqueness of the new ALICE ITS is the very small material budget of the silicon tracker, which will be a factor 4 to 5 smaller than existing similar systems at CERN. The present article describes the design and implementation of complex and reliable assembly procedures (focusing on the detector Outer Layers) which was crucial to push the new ITS technology into production.
Search for a Higgs boson decaying through Zd to 4 leptons
Authors: Boye D , Mapekula X
Published: July 2019

The Standard Model (SM) is known to be incomplete (it cannot explain dark matter, dark energy, gravitational waves, matter-antimatter asymmetry, etc). The introduction of a Dark Sector via an additional U(1)
d
gauge symmetry added to the SM Lagrangian could be the long-awaited solution. In this model there is a dark vector boson Zd
which can mix with the SM hypercharge gauge boson. This opens the Hypercharge Portal which can mediate the fluctuation of a Z to a Zd
, or the decay of the Zd
to SM leptons. If a dark Higgs singlet also exists, then this breaks the U(1)
d
symmetry, allowing for Higgs mixing (parametrised by ) between the SM and dark sector Higgs bosons, and thereby opening the Higgs portal as a discovery channel. Including dark fermionic fields in the Lagrangian allows for long-lived cold Dark Matter candidates. The various connections between the Dark and SM sectors allow descriptions of many key astro-physical phenomena. This contribution discusses an ATLAS search for the dark force boson Zd
using its production via the Higgs Portal and its decay back to SM leptons:

H
→

Z
d

Z
d

→
4
ℓ

. The biggest deviation from the Standard Model expectation is from a single event at

〈

m

ℓ
ℓ

〉

≈
20

GeV

, with a local significance of 3.2 σ in the 2e2µ channel, and the corresponding global significance is approximately 1.9 σ.
Constraints on Standard Model physics from colliders
Authors: Schmieden Kristof
Published: July 2019

Effective field theories provide an elegant approach to study possible new physics scenarios, by comparing precision measurements with Standard Model predictions. The latest results on multi-boson processes from the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at the LHC, which are sensitive to anomalous gauge couplings and thus can be used to constrain EFT operators, are presented. The consistency of the Standard Model can also be tested by a global electroweak fit to precision observables in the electroweak sector. We present here the precision measurement of the W boson mass as well as the new results on the determination of the electroweak mixing angle and the top quark mass.
Tests of Lepton Flavour Universality at LHCb
Authors: Müller Katharina
Published: July 2019

In the Standard Model of particle physics the three charged leptons are identical copies of each other, apart from mass differences, and the electroweak coupling of the gauge bosons to leptons is independent of the lepton flavour. This prediction is called lepton flavour universality (LFU) and is well tested. In tree level decays, any violation of LFU would be a clear sign of physics beyond the Standard Model. Experimental tests of LFU in semileptonic decays of b-hadrons or rare b decays are highly sensitive to New Physics particles which preferentially couple to the 2nd and 3rd generations of leptons. Recent results from LHCb on lepton flavour universality in

b
→
c
ℓ
v

transitions and rare

b
→
s
ℓ
ℓ

decays are discussed. The results are based on 3 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions collected at centre of mass energies

s

=
7

TeV

and 8 TeV.
Cornering top-philic dark matter with colliders and cosmology: the importance of QCD corrections
Authors: Fuks Benjamin
Published: July 2019

Constraining dark matter models necessitates accurate predictions for large set of observables originating from collider physics, cosmology and astrophysics. We consider two classes of top-philic dark matter models where the dark sector is coupled to the Standard Model via the top quark and study the complementarity of dark matter relic density, direct and indirect detection and collider searches in exploring the model parameter space. We moreover investigate how higher-order corrections affect the results.
Hydrodynamic flow in small systems or: “How the heck is it possible that a system emitting only a dozen particles can be described by fluid dynamics?”
Authors: Heinz Ulrich , Scott Moreland J.
Published: July 2019

The “unreasonable effectiveness” of relativistic fluid dynamics in describing high energy heavy-ion and even proton-proton collisions will be demonstrated and discussed. Several recent ideas of optimizing relativistic fluid dynamics for the specific challenges posed by such collisions will be presented, and some thoughts will be offered why the framework works better than originally expected. I will also address the unresolved question where exactly hydrodynamics breaks down, and why.
The global burden of transportation tailpipe emissions on air pollution-related mortality in 2010 and 2015
Authors: Anenberg Susan C , Miller Joshua , Henze Daven K , Minjares Ray , Achakulwisut Pattanun
Published: July 2019

Emissions from the transportation sector are a major contributor to ambient air pollution, the leading environmental health risk factor globally. This study aims to quantify the contribution of tailpipe emissions from global transportation, disaggregated by four sub-sectors, to the global disease burden associated with ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone in 2010 and 2015. We use the GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model to simulate transportation-attributable PM2.5 and ozone concentrations, combined with epidemiological health impact assessment methods consistent with the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study to estimate the associated burden of disease. We estimate that emissions from the transportation sector were associated with 361 000 (95% CI, 258 000–462 000) PM2.5 and ozone deaths in 2010 and 385 000 (95% CI, 274 000–493 000) in 2015. These results translate into 11.7% of total global ambient PM2.5 and ozone deaths in 2010 and 11.4% in 2015. Together, PM2.5 and ozone concentrations from transportation tailpipe emissions resulted in an estimated 7.8 million years of life lost and approximately $1 trillion (2015 US$) in health damages globally in 2015. Among transportation sub-sectors, on-road diesels contributed most to the health burden from transportation tailpipe emissions in nearly all trade blocs, for both PM2.5 and ozone, though other sub-sectors also contributed substantially (particularly on-road non-diesel vehicles for ozone mortality, and shipping and non-road mobile sources for PM2.5 mortality). These results indicate that despite recent adoption of more stringent vehicle emission regulations in many countries, the transportation sector remains a major contributor to the air pollution disease burden globally. Future work may explore the degree to which currently adopted policies, as well as expected growth in the transportation sector in India, Africa, and other rapidly developing locations, will influence future transportation-attributable public health burdens.
Disaster and Tourism: How Tourism Responds to Disasters in Magelang District
Authors: Widodo E. , Hastuti
Published: July 2019

Disasters can occur anytime and anywhere. Potential disasters can occur not least in the tourism area. This study aims to determine the potential of disasters and response to disasters in the tourism area. This study uses a spatial geography approach with the theme of spatial patterns. The research method used is qualitative descriptive and additional statistical spatial data is average nearest neighbor to support qualitative statements. The results of the study show that natural disasters dominate threats to tourism areas in Magelang Regency. Potential catastrophic disasters include tectonics, volcanic and landslides. The manager, the merchant community in the tourism area, and tourists do not know the potential for disasters in the tourism area because there is no notification in the form of information boards, signs or maps. Accessibility in tourism areas is in the form of asphalt and cement roads. The asphalt road has good quality and is quite good. The cement road has good quality. The results of spatial statistical analysis show the distribution of tourism and health centers have a random spatial pattern.
Identify of Multi-Hazard on Muhammadiyah Education Area by VISUS Method in Jakarta
Authors: Rosyidin W.F. , Dahlia S. , Zahro A.A , Putra AR. , Katami M , Najiyullah M.
Published: July 2019

The research did in Jakarta Province with school area focus. Nowadays, Jakarta is the capitol area with high risk potentials occurence. As the capitol, Jakarta have many schools area. However, there are many potentials hazard in each school (two of schools) with number of risk element. the area are SMP Muhammadiyah 36 Duren Sawit Jakarta Timur and SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Jakarta Selatan. The element at risk at schools are human, building, vehicles and other. The methode used VISUS. The VISUS is Visual Inspection for Safety Upgrading Strategis. It is the way of identify hazard at education area for safety with focus in weakness to hazard (vulnerability), number of safety (capacity) and magnitude of hazard. The identifying see of physic area visibility. The focus assessment hazard were earthquake, flood, and fire. Stage of observe are prepare, survey then input the data. Futhermore, surveying process at schools have three puposes. Those are identify location, surround area, building inside and outside. The identify process did the identify process did by surveyors who have certified form UNESCO. The surveyors used of VISUS application support which is developed by UNESCO to identify all items focus at schools. the result is identity of data schools based on hazard observe in surround.
Community Perceptions on Mangrove Forest Sustainability in Dukuh Bendo, Jatikontal Village, Purwodadi District, Purworejo Regency, Central Java
Authors: Setiyaningrum I. F.
Published: July 2019

Mangrove forest has many functions, such as prevention of coastal erosion and seawater intrusion, reduce the risk of hurricane and tsunami, the place for spawning, nursery, and feeding grounds of marine biota, carbon storage, and direct use for human. However, many functions that mangrove has, unsustainable utilization of mangrove make the area of mangrove has decreased. The mangrove forest of Jatikontal, Purwodadi District, Jawa Tengah is studied as a case area that has suffered from degradation and declining the area during some years. Whereas, the south coast of Purworejo has a high risk of a tsunami. This research has aims to know the perception and behaviour of a community with the mangrove forest. The method of collecting data use the questionnaire giving to 30 respondents in Bendo, Jatikontal sub-district. Respondent is chosen with the purposive technique. The result of this study is as much 83.3% respondents have good perception, 16,7% respondents have moderate perception, and no respondent has a low perception of the sustainability of mangrove forests. Most of the community (66,7%) in Dukuh Bendo have a high concern for the preservation of mangrove forests. No single respondent is not concerned about the preservation of mangrove forests.
Zoning of School Vulnerability to Sinabung Eruptions in Karo District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
Authors: Setiawan C. , Muzani  , Warnadi
Published: July 2019

This study aims to determine the school vulnerability around Sinabung. This research was conducted in May to August 2018. Spatial analysis was used to determine school vulnerability of Sinabung eruptions. School vulnerability from ash and school vulnerability from eruption area was determined with buffering. There was three categories school vulnerability, namely hight, medium and low. It is known that there are 30 schools into the Sinabung volcanic eruption prone zone, 10 schools are in the volcanic lava flow prone zone, 44 schools are in the vulnerable zone of the Sinabung volcano, 5 schools are affected by lava flows, and 6 schools must be relocated due located in the hight vulnerability zone of Sinabung volcano. The Ministry of Education and Culture has just established and implemented a special disaster prevention education curriculum at all school levels since the 2011-2012 academic year.
The Direction of Development of Jambi City Based on Flood Disaster Mitigation
Authors: Fitri S. H. , Sumunar D. R. S.
Published: July 2019

The city of Jambi as the capital of Jambi Province, hold an important role in the development of the region, namely as a National Service Center, the location of the city of Jambi which is located in alluvial causes the city of Jambi often flooded so that in the direction of development of the city need to consider the existence of flood- prone areas. The spatial planning of Jambi City needs to be anticipated through study of the direction of urban development which emphasizes disaster mitigation efforts in the form of a typology of disaster-prone areas, regulating space utilization through regulation of spatial functions and spatial development rules, as well as the rules of spatial forming elements. By delineating the hazard area and development arrangements in the region, the development of the city can be directed to develop a relatively safe area.
A spectral approach for quenched limit theorems for random hyperbolic dynamical systems
Authors: Dragičević D. , Froyland G. , González-Tokman C. , Vaienti S.
Published: July 2019

We extend the recent spectral approach for quenched limit theorems developed for piecewise expanding dynamics under general random driving to quenched random piecewise hyperbolic dynamics.

For general ergodic sequences of maps in a neighborhood of a hyperbolic map we prove a quenched large deviations principle (LDP), central limit theorem (CLT), and local central limit theorem (LCLT).
New-Onset Resistant Hypertension in a Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer Patient
Authors: Klomjit Nattawat , Rowan Daniel J , Kattah Andrea G , Bancos Irina , Taler Sandra J
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND

New onset resistant hypertension in a previously stable patient with chronic hypertension should lead to consideration of secondary causes. Electrolyte abnormalities are useful clues for identifying some common causes, especially mineralocorticoid excess.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 69-year-old man who developed severe resistant hypertension despite the use of 6 antihypertensive medications, including diuretics. He had metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia with suppressed plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone. Concurrently, he was diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate gland, a rare form of prostate cancer. Despite absence of typical Cushingoid features, investigation confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome from neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Because of the severity of his hypercortisolism, he underwent urgent bilateral adrenalectomy for hormonal and symptomatic control. Blood pressure improved significantly and he was dismissed with a single antihypertensive agent. Unfortunately, the patient died from his cancer 1 month later.

CONCLUSION

Primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism are usually diagnosed based on measurements of aldosterone and plasma renin activity. However, if plasma renin activity and aldosterone are both low, rare causes of mineralocorticoid excess such as ectopic ACTH syndrome should be entertained.
Exercise is Effortful: Executive Functions Predict Strenuous Exercise in the Past Week
Authors: Wong R E , Agate F T , Duggan E C , Karr J K , Carr A D , Garcia-Barrera M A
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Executive functions (EF) are a dynamic collection of complex cognitive processes governing volitional, goal-directed behaviour. EFs are particularly susceptible to environmental influences such as exercise or concussion. Exercise improves EF but it is unclear if having good EF improves exercise engagement habits. Expanding upon a previously derived higher-order, four-factor screener for executive behaviour problems (Duggan et al., 2018), we extracted a common EF factor using a bifactor structure and examined if self-reported executive difficulties predict weekly engagement in strenuous exercise. We also examined if a history of concussion affects self-ratings of executive difficulties.

Methods

197 university students (Mean age=20.46; 79% female) completed the BASC-2-COL and self-report of concussion history and past 7-day exercise habits. An a-priori bifactor model of executive behaviour was established using CFA. Using SEM, the bifactor latent executive function was used to predict past 7-day exercise. Concussion history was used to predict variations in the bifactor executive function.

Results

Bifactor fit indices were not optimal but generally adequate (CFI=.897; TLI=.868; RMSEA=.037). Latent bifactor EF was predictive of past week strenuous exercise (p=.046). Concussion history was not predictive of EF problems (p=.296).

Conclusion

Results suggest that latent EF predicts recent strenuous exercise engagement. Baseline EF should be accounted for when examining the positive effects of exercise. Having a history of one or more concussions did not appear to influence current self-report of behavioral EF problems.
Emotional Control is Predicted by Brain Reward Processing in Athletes with Previous Concussions
Authors: Agate F T , Wong R E , Gordon I , Webster L , Karr J , Garcia-Barrera M A
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Limited research examines how electrophysiological markers of reward sensitivity in athletes with concussion history may relate to corresponding executive behavior. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited during a reward-processing task, and self-report of emotional control and initiation problems in athletes with and without a history of concussion.

Methods

A total of 38 collegiate athletes (53% females, ages 18-27 years) completed a reward task in a “virtual T-maze” environment, as well as the BRIEF-A. The reward positivity (RewP), an ERP component associated with reward processing, was regressed on endorsement of emotional control and initiation problems in athletes with a history of concussion (n=16) and in athletes with no concussion history (n=22).

Results

A multiple regression analysis showed that in the concussion group, RewP peak amplitude explained a significant proportion of variance in emotional control, r2=.36, F(1,13)=6.76, p=.02, but did not for initiation, r2=.05, F(1,13)=.60, p>.05. For athletes with no history of concussion, RewP peak amplitude did not explain a significant proportion of variance in either emotional control, r2=.003, F(1,21)=.05, p>.05, or initiation, r2=.11, F(1,21)=2.49, p=.13.

Conclusion

Results indicate that for athletes with a history of concussion, a lower electrophysiological response to reward may predict greater problems concerning emotional control. Potential implications are discussed for how decision-making, an integral cognitive process driven by reward processing, might impact emotional regulation following concussion.
Relationship Between Verbal Fluency Performance, Fight Exposure, and Subcortical Region Brain Volumes in Professional Fighters
Authors: Bennett L , Bernick C , Banks S
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Verbal fluency performance has been shown to be sensitive to preclinical cognitive changes in neurodegenerative diseases and may detect early, trauma-related cognitive and volumetric changes amongst professional fighters. Baseline verbal fluency performance and volumes of relevant subcortical brain structures were expected to decline as number of professional fights (NoPF) increased, while controlling for education.

Methods

Baseline letter and semantic fluency performance, NoPF, and structural brain imaging from 548 active and retired fighters who participated in the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study were considered. ANCOVAs were conducted to assess differences in verbal fluency performance by NOPF, while controlling for years of education. Number of professional fights were stratified into low (0-20 fights), medium (21-40 fights), and high (41 or more fights).

Results

Semantic fluency performance differed across the three levels of NoPF (F(2, 542)=4.56; p<.02). In addition, significant positive correlations between semantic fluency performance and volumes in the following regions were observed: left thalamus, left putamen, left pallidum, bilateral caudates, bilateral amygdalae, bilateral hippocampi, and bilateral accumbens (all p’s<.05). In contrast, letter fluency performance was not significantly associated with NoPF or volumes of relevant subcortical brain structures (all p’s>.05).

Conclusion

Semantic fluency may be low-cost, easy-to-administer harbinger of emerging cognitive dysfunction and lower volumes in related subcortical brain regions. Additional assessment of clinical utility is necessary.
Sources of Acquired Concussion Information Reported by Parents of Youth Athletes
Authors: Bretzin A C , Beidler E , Anderson M , Schmitt A , Covassin T
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Examining the relationships between demographics (sex, geographic location) and sources of acquired concussion information, and where parents would take their child for concussion evaluation.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey collecting demographics and concussion knowledge of parents (male: n=136/359, 38%; female: n=22/359, 62%) of youth athletes (i.e., football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer) in Michigan (n=131/359, 36.5%) and Pennsylvania (n=228/359, 62%). Separate Chi-square tests for independence examined the relationship between demographics (sex, geographic location) and sources of acquired concussion information, and where parents would take their child for concussion evaluation.

Results

Overall, parents recognized common concussion signs and symptoms and had general knowledge of concussion. There was a significant association between sex and acquiring information from sports medicine physicians (male: 31.6%, female: 18.9%; χ2 (1, n=358)=6.83, p=.009), and sports news outlets (male: 32.4%, female: 18.9%; χ2 (1, n=358)=7.62, p=.006). There was a significant association between geographic location and acquiring information from a coach (Michigan: 72.5%, Pennsylvania: 40.4%; χ2 (1, n=359)=32.22, p<.001), recreational league officials/league mandated paperwork (Michigan: 50.4%, Pennsylvania: 26.3%; χ2 (1, n=359)=20.11, p<.001), and youth sport state concussion laws (Michigan: 38.2%, Pennsylvania: 10.5%; χ2 (1, n=359)=37.18, p<.001). There was a significant association between geographic location and where parents would take their child for concussion evaluation (χ2 (3, n=338)=19.76, p<.001).

Conclusion

Sex and geographic location may influence where parents of youth athletes acquire concussion information and where they may seek medical attention.
Evaluating the Prevalence of Low Factor Scores on the ImPACT™ Quick Test in Adolescents and Adults using Multivariate Base Rates
Authors: Wallace J , Covassin T , Schatz P , Iverson G
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The ImPACT™ Quick Test (QT) is a brief iPad-based battery of neurocognitive tests that has been standardized on a sample of children, adolescents, and adults (ages 12-70). We sought to provide information regarding the prevalence of low ImPACT™ QT scores in the normative sample to improve clinical interpretation and reduce the risk of over-interpreting, or misinterpreting, a single low score.

Methods

Participants included 616 individuals ranging in age from 12 to 70, who were assessed individually. The ImPACT QT includes five subtests, contributing to three factor scores: Motor Speed, Memory, and Attention Tracker. The prevalence of low factor scores, stratified by age and gender, were calculated using multivariate base rates.

Results

In the total sample, obtaining 1 score below the 25th percentile was common (base rate, BR=31.8%), but obtaining 2 or more scores in this range was uncommon (BR=13.3%). Similarly, obtaining 1 score below the 16th percentile was common (BR=22.3%), but obtaining two or more scores in this range was very uncommon (BR=5.4%). There were small differences in base rate between genders and the number of low scores were fairly similar across the age groups.

Conclusion

Results from this study parallel previous work illustrating that a substantial percentage of healthy individuals will obtain one or more low test score when administered a battery of multiple cognitive test measures. Given that some healthy, non-concussed individuals will obtain a single score below expected cut-offs, clinicians should caution against overinterpreting a single low test score.
Age of First Exposure to Contact Sports and Neurocognitive Performance in U.S. Service Academy Athletes
Authors: Caccese J B , Iverson G L , Cameron K L , Houston M N , McGinty G T , Jackson J C , O’Donnell P , Pasquina P , Broglio S P , McCrea M A , McAllister T W
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To examine the association between estimated age of first exposure (eAFE) to contact sports and neurocognitive performance and symptom ratings in collegiate U.S. Military Service Academy athletes. We hypothesized that contact-sports participation before the age of 12 would not be associated with worse neuropsychological test performance or greater symptom reporting.

Methods

Male cadets (N=891) who participated in contact sports [i.e., in lacrosse (n=211), wrestling (n=170), ice hockey (n=81), soccer (n=119), rugby (n=10)], or non-contact sports (n=298), completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test before the season. Generalized linear modeling was used to predict each cognitive domain score and the symptom severity score. Predictor variables were entered in the following order: group (contact vs. non-contact), eAFE (eAFE<12 vs. eAFE≥12), group-by-eAFE, and covariates for learning accommodation status, concussion history, and age.

Results

The group-by-eAFE interaction was not significant for any of the ImPACT composite scores (Verbal Memory, Wald Χ2=.073, p=.788; Visual Memory, Wald Χ2=2.71, p=.100; Visual Motor Speed, Wald Χ2=.078, p=.780; Reaction Time, Wald Χ2=.003, p=.955; Symptom Severity, Wald Χ2=2.87, p=.090). Learning accommodation history was associated with lower scores on Visual Motor Speed (Χ2=6.19, p=.013, B=-2.97). Older age was associated with faster reaction time (Χ2=4.40, p=.036, B=-.006) and lesser symptom severity (Χ2=5.55, p=.019, B=-.068). No other parameters were significant.

Conclusion

We observed no association between eAFE, contact-sport participation, cognitive functioning, or subjectively-experienced symptoms in this cohort. Earlier eAFE to RHI is not related to worse neurocognitive performance or greater subjectively-experienced symptoms in collegiate student-athletes enrolled in military academies.
Altitude and Concussions in the NFL: Is There Really a “Mile-High” Effect?
Authors: Bogar K , Schatz P
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The literature on altitude and concussions in football shows some evidence of protective effects of living and training and playing at high altitudes. We explored the likelihood of sustaining concussions within the AFC West division, specifically comparing games hosted at high altitude in Denver versus games hosted by at low altitudes in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Kansas City.

Methods

Information was recorded for all regular season AFC West division games (N= 42) occurring in the 2012–2018 seasons. Altitude for each stadium was calculated using DaftLogic’s Google Sandbox. Concussion incidence for the 2012–2018 seasons was collected from PBS Frontline’s Concussion-Watch and weekly injury reports (NFL.com). Chi-square analyses compared likelihood of: concussions occurring in High Altitude versus Low Altitude, a Broncos player sustaining a concussion in High Altitude versus Low Altitude, and a non-Broncos AFC West player sustain a concussion in High Altitude versus Low Altitude.

Results

Chi-square analyses revealed no greater likelihood of players sustaining concussions in High Altitude versus Low Altitude (p=.35), or of Broncos (p=1.00) or non-Broncos (p=.47) AFC West players sustaining concussions in High Altitude versus Low Altitude.

Conclusion

Altitude is not a significant factor for increased likelihood of concussions, and popular theories such as “the mile-high effect” are not supported by the data. We found no evidence for the proposed protective factor of living and training at high altitude for Broncos team members, as they showed an equal likelihood of sustaining a concussion at high and low altitude.