bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arthroscopically Guided Proximal Tibial Epiphysiodesis Screw Placement as Treatment of a Bilateral Partial Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury in a Juvenile Dog
Authors: Olive Mélanie , Caron Alexandre , Fournet Alexandre , Vanel Maïa
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to describe surgical technique of arthroscopically guided proximal tibial epiphysiodesis screw placement in the treatment of a bilateral partial cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture in a 5.6-month-old Golden Retriever. A 19-kg, 5.6-month-old female Golden Retriever was diagnosed with bilateral partial CrCL rupture. Proximal tibial epiphysiodesis was performed bilaterally under arthroscopic guidance. Arthroscopic stifle joint inspection was performed bilaterally with a 2.7 mm arthroscope. A medial port at the level of the distal one-third of the patella was used as camera portal. A lateral instrument port was positioned at the level of the distal one-third of the patella. A 3.0 mm diameter headless cannulated self-compressive screw was placed into the centre of the tibial cranial intercondyloid area as parallel as possible to the tibial shaft axis under arthroscopic control. Screw head was buried. Arthroscopic guidance allowed good accuracy in screw placement, specifically in its insertion point. However, the screw orientation was less satisfactory. The tibial plateau angle progressively decreased in both stifles to achieve 15 degrees on the left and 16 degrees on the right at the last follow-up. A varus deformity developed on both stifles. No clinical consequences were observed. Recurrence of right pelvic lameness occurred 1 year postoperatively because of a medial meniscal lesion, which necessitated partial caudal meniscectomy. Arthroscopically guided proximal tibial epiphysiodesis is technically feasible and is a minimally invasive treatment of CrCL injury in a juvenile dog.
Long-Term Neurodevelopmental and Functional Outcomes of Normally Developing Children Requiring PICU Care for Bronchiolitis
Authors: Shein Steven L. , Roth Elizabeth , Pace Elizabeth , Slain Katherine N. , Wilson-Costello Deanne
Published: September 2020

Bronchiolitis is a common pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) illness and often affects generally healthy children, making it a promising disease in which to study long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. We previously found that approximately 15% of critical bronchiolitis patients have evidence of post-PICU morbidity using coarse definitions available in administrative data sets. In this study, we measured neurodevelopmental outcomes using four more precise tools. Children who had previously been admitted to our PICU with bronchiolitis were included; those with evidence of developmental delay at PICU admission were excluded. Approximately 1 to 2 years after PICU discharge, the parent of each subject completed two questionnaires (Ages and Stages Questionnaire and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test). Each subject also underwent two in-person assessments administered by a certified examiner (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition, and the Amiel-Tison neurological assessment). For each domain of each test, a score of > 1 standard deviation below the norm for the subject's age defined “moderate” disability and a score ≥ 2 standard deviations below the norm defined “severe” disability. Eighteen subjects (median ages of 3.7 months at PICU admission and 2.3 years at testing) were enrolled, 17 of whom were supported by high-flow nasal cannula and/or mechanical ventilation. Fifteen children (83%) scored abnormally on ≥ 1test. Eight children (44%) had disabilities in ≥ 3 domains and/or ≥ 1 severe disability identified. Our findings that motor, language, and cognitive disabilities are commonly observed months to years after critical bronchiolitis require larger studies to confirm this finding, assess causality, and identify modifiable risk factors.
Arachnoid Cyst Causing an Oculomotor Nerve Palsy in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Hennein Lauren , Rasool Nailyn , Indaram Maanasa
Published: September 2020

An arachnoid cyst causing a compressive oculomotor nerve palsy is rare in the pediatric population. We describe a case of an acquired, partial oculomotor nerve palsy in a 3-year-old boy caused by an arachnoid cyst in the left crural cistern with associated amblyopia. The patient's amblyopia was aggressively treated, and he underwent cyst fenestration. Two months postoperatively, he continued to demonstrate a partial oculomotor palsy with improved visual acuity and recurrence of the cyst. This case demonstrates that cyst fenestration may not always resolve these paretic effects, cysts may recur after fenestration, and amblyopia must be treated in this setting.
Catalog of magnetic topological semimetals
Authors: Akanda Md. Rakibul Karim
Published: September 2020

Magnetic topological semimetals offer higher mobility due to massless fermion, promising applications in spintronics, anomalous Hall effect at significantly higher temperature, and applications in topological Weyl superconductivity. However, the number of known magnetic topological semimetals is quite limited to explore different applications experimentally. In this paper, a total of 257 magnetic topological semimetals are identified from two materials databases. Using the information about topological semimetals and their magnetic properties, magnetic topological semimetals are identified considering the spin polarization of the unit cell at the Fermi level, magnetization per atom, and magnetization per cell. Besides classifying, a machine learning model is also used by utilizing a large number of material properties to identify some more magnetic topological semimetals. A large number of magnetic topological semimetals will help experimentalists to explore different interesting phenomena of this emerging frontier at room temperature.
Investigation of a novel solid-state dual meander pulse-forming line with 10 kV-class withstand voltage
Authors: Zhao Yuxin , Wang Langning , Chu Xu , Xun Tao , Yang Hanwu
Published: September 2020

The meander pulse-forming line (MPFL) is one kind of prospective solid-state device for compact, reliable pulsed power systems. This paper demonstrates that a dual meander pulse-forming line (DMPFL) further improves its withstand voltage upon previous MPFLs by optimizing the distribution of the fringing electric field around the electrodes to mitigate the field enhancement. The DMPFL is formed by connecting two MPFLs in parallel on a glass-ceramic substrate. The dispersion characteristics of the DMPFL including its characteristic impedance and electric length are analyzed. Then, the delay time and pulse-forming characteristics are simulated with computer simulation technology (CST) Microwave Studio software. On this basis, experiments are performed to investigate its practical withstand voltage and pulse-forming ability. The experimental results agree with the calculation and simulation results. At last, we tried to integrate the Blumlein module based on the DMPFL with the photoconductive semiconductor switch to form a compact solid-state pulse generator.
A facile approach for enhancing device performance of excitonic solar cells with an innovative SnO2/TCNE electron transport layer
Authors: Aatif Md. , Tiwari J. P.
Published: September 2020

The spread of the Internet of things created the need for huge amounts of off-grid energy sources for tens of billions of electronic devices with low power consumption for indoor applications. Excitonic solar cells may provide a better solution as compared with other solar cells due to their advantages such as low-cost, large-area module, and fabrication by solution printing and coating techniques. However, the organic solar cells (OSCs) or perovskite solar cells (PSCs) should have a low energy loss, suitable absorption spectrum, and minimum trap mediated charge recombination for its proper commercialization. Interface engineering is one of the ways of achieving better performance for these devices. Herein, we report a facile and effective strategy for interfacial modulation to achieve the improved performance of inverted bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells with a solution-processable SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) modified by an organic small molecule tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). We can say that a few nano-meter thin film of TCNE supports to reduce the energy barrier of SnO2, resulting in the efficient extraction and transport of negative charge carriers toward the cathode. The TCNE also passivates the surface defects of SnO2 and hence decreases the charge recombination rate for iOSCs. Furthermore, it brings the better interfacial contact between SnO2 and BHJ blend in which the polymer PTB7 and fullerene PC71BM are the donor and acceptor, respectively, showing average power conversion efficiencies of ∼4.58%, ∼4.98%, and ∼2.95% with varying concentrations of TCNE (0.5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml, and 2 mg/ml), respectively, in methanol, on top of SnO2, as ETLs, which are comparably better than that of pristine SnO2 (3.28%). We assumed that the TCNE modified SnO2 method is a potent and easy way to get efficient inverted BHJ solar cells with higher efficiency and may also be an appropriate alternative for other organic semiconducting devices where an ETL is required, such as organic light-emitting diodes and PSCs.
Challenges in obtaining research ethics and governance approvals for an Australian national intersector, multisite audit study
Authors: Buck Kimberly , Nolte Linda , Kelly Helana , Detering Karen , Sinclair Craig , White Ben P. , Sellars Marcus
Published: September 2020

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe timelines and challenges encountered in obtaining ethics and governance approvals for an Australian multicentre audit study involving 100 public (n=22) and private (n=78) sites from three health sectors and all eight Australian states and territories. MethodsWe determined and compared the processes, documentation and number of business days required to prepare applications and obtain research ethics and governance approvals. ResultsIn total, the full ethics and governance process (calculated from the date the first application was started to the date the final approval was granted) took 203 business days (79% of the study timeline). Standard risk ethics applications (n=4) took a median of 17 business days (range 3–35 days) to prepare and 32 business days (range 17–67 days) to be approved; expedited ethics applications (n=4) took a median of 5 business days (range 1–20 days) to prepare and 10 business days (range 1–44 days) to be approved. Governance approvals (n=23) took a median of 27 business days (range 4–63 days) to prepare and 20 business days (range 4–61 days) to be approved. Challenges included the lack of a nationwide single-site ethical review process, the extensive time required to duplicate content across applications, variability in application requirements and submission systems, and contract negotiations. ConclusionFurther improvements are needed to reduce duplication and increase the efficiency of Australian ethics and governance review processes. What is known about the topic?The process for obtaining ethics approval for multicentre research has been streamlined through the introduction of single-site ethics review. However, the process of gaining ethics and governance approvals for national multicentre research continues to be time-consuming, resource-intensive and duplicative. What does this paper add?This is the first study to examine the challenges of obtaining ethics and governance approvals for a non-interventional multicentre study involving three health sectors (hospital, aged care, general practice), both private and public services and all eight Australian jurisdictions. Previous examinations of Australian multicentre studies have considered only one health sector, focused on the public system and/or were not national in scope. What are the implications for practitioners?Researchers and funders need to be aware of the considerable time, resources and costs involved in gaining research ethics and governance approvals for multicentre studies and include this in budgets and study timelines. Policy makers and administrators of ethics and governance review processes must address barriers to conducting multicentre research in Australia.
The ensete in Gurage
Authors: Menuta Fekede
Published: September 2020

The aim of this article is to investigate the way Gurage people
name the diverse ensete (Ensete ventricosum) varieties and how that
naming categorises varieties of the plant. It also attempts to describe lexical
entities associated with ensete and its products, meaning extensions of ensete names
and the associated vocabularies in everyday language use, such as in proverbs and
insults. The study follows cross-sectional research design and qualitative
methodology. Key consultant interviews and interview guides were used as a method
and tool, respectively. Eight key consultants from Gumer, Chaha, Inor, Ezha, and
Gyeta participated in the study. The findings show that there are about 71 ensete
varieties in Gurage. The people classify ensete varieties according to color, size,
value, propensity, source of the plant, height, and other variables. The lexical
nets related to the plant, its products and byproducts are significantly large and
qualify documenting them as part of lexicography. Some ensete variety names are
metaphorically used to insult someone, as in
gjɨnbwə ‘obese’ and in proverbs, as in
gjɨnbwə ɨhata birəzɨn t’onata
jɨmwəsɨn [Gynbuwe its.water heavy.on.it its.power it. seems.to
it] ‘When the ensete variety Gynbuwe carries much water in its stem, it considers
itself as an entity that has much power’. The study can help linguists,
anthropologists, and ethno-botanists in studying the interaction between man,
language and nature, in this case the ensete plant.
Ethnolinguistic perception and identity in Gurage
Authors: Bekele Birkie Emebet
Published: September 2020

This study was conducted with the objectives of exploring the
perceptions and attitudes of speakers towards language use and ethnolinguistic
identity within the complex sociopolitical and linguistic milieu of the Gurage
people in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) of
Ethiopia. In so doing, five out of twelve groups with relatively different
backgrounds were systematically selected for the study. Data was collected
concurrently via questionnaires and semi-structured in-depth interviews involving a
total of 386 participants. Respondents were asked to express their perceptions of
the associations of language and ethnicity, and feelings about belongingness to the
Gurage identity. The concurrent research design was informed by pragmatism as a
theoretical framework, so findings of the mixed methods approach were integrated at
the end for comparative descriptive analyses. The empirical data reveal that there
is an observably different pattern of perceived association of language and
ethnicity and varying senses of belongingness to the common Gurage identity across
sampled groups.
Manner of movement in Amharic
Authors: Yimam Baye
Published: September 2020

Movement is a situation type with a source, a goal, a path,
timeline and a figure. It starts from the source, and heads towards the goal, along
the path, a timeline, and speed, and terminates at the centre of the goal. It
comprises sub-movements that define the main movement in subordinate clauses
predicated of compounds involving the verb ‘to say’. The path could be straight,
sloppy, bumpy, etc., which defines the movement as durative, iterative and
terminative. The speed can be slow, extra slow, fast or extra fast, which
characterizes the figure as sober or edgy, and his stature as awkward or elegant,
depending on the path, age and gender. This paper argues that both the manner of
movement and the behaviour of the figure are expressed in subordinate clauses of
extended verbal stems, derived adjectivals, nominals, and prepositional phrases, all
of which are treated here as manner adverbials necessitated by the lack a productive
category of lexical manner adverbs in the language.
Verbal derivations in Inor
Authors: Abza Tsehay
Published: September 2020

This paper is concerned with the verbal derivation of Inor
(which is the group’s self-designation), formerly called Ennemor, its Amharic name,
a Peripheral Western Gurage language in the southern part of Ethiopia. Conducting
research on this topic is a task well worth doing, as a detailed work has not been
carried out on this area. Verbal derivation applies to the verb stem and has the
function of increasing or decreasing arguments, as well as conveying intensity,
reciprocity or reflexivity. It may do so by affixation or by altering the stem’s
morpho-phonological properties. However, not all root morphemes of a simplex stem
may apply to all the possible derivational processes. The linguistic data have been
collected from consultants. The findings show that affixes that are involved in the
verbal derivational processes in Inor are the passive prefix tə-,
and the causative prefixes a – and at- that are
attached to a template (Berhanu & Hetzron
2000: 39–44 for Inor, Rose
2007: 411 for Chaha). Another group of derivational morphemes (internal
root-morpheme modification) increases the number of consonants vis-à-vis the simplex
by reduplication of root-consonants, and insertion of an additional vowel
a after the first or second root-consonant in combination with
the passivizer tə-. The findings of this study also show that
certain derivations are only applicable to a restricted set of root-morphemes.
Durational variations in Oromo vowels
Authors: Negesse Feda , Amansa Tujube
Published: September 2020

An acoustic study of vowels of Cushitic languages has not been
undertaken, though their vowels seem to exhibit durational variations. We wanted to
identify factors that would affect vowel length in Oromo, a Cushitic language widely
spoken in the Horn of Africa. Sixty-four speakers (F = 32,
M = 32) from four dialect areas of the language in Ethiopia
produced vowel data in different environments. An acoustic analysis of the data
showed that duration of the vowels varies significantly across dialects, with the
longest duration in the Eastern dialect and the shortest duration in the Western
dialect. Gender has no significant effect on duration of the vowels, but the vowels
have significantly longer duration when followed by voiced singletons than
voiceless, and when followed by voiced singletons than by voiced geminates.
Collectively, phonologically long vowels are two times longer than short ones, and
this difference is significantly affected by dialect and environment, but not by
gender. A significant variation was also observed among the vowels with regard to
their intrinsic duration. It is concluded that, besides phonological length, the
regional background of speakers and phonetic environment are key factors determining
duration of Oromo vowels.
The languages of Ethiopia
Authors: Ado Derib , Gelagay Almaz Wasse , Johannessen Janne Bondi
Published: September 2020

This book is part of the research work supported by the project
Linguistic Capacity Building, tools for the inclusive development of Ethiopia
(LCB),1 which has been working on the
development of resources and training of human power involved in linguistic work. The
works in this volume are papers presented at different international conferences
including the 46th North Atlantic Conference on Afroasiatic Linguistics, Long
Beach, California from 1–3 June 2018 and the 20th International Conference of
Ethiopian Studies, Mekele, Ethiopia from 1–5 October 2018 with support from the LCB
project. The researches focus on different languages in all the three language families
in the Afro-Asiatic phyla, namely Cushitic and Omotic and a Nilotic language from the
Nilo-Saharan phyla. This volume also included two papers on Ethiopian sign language, for
which there are no prior publications in any of the microlinguistic fields.

Ethiopia is home to more than 85 varieties of languages. There
have been a lot of grammatical descriptions and other linguistic works produced as PhD
dissertations and MA theses, mainly at Addis Ababa University. Nevertheless, most of the
works by PhD students and staff remain unpublished. This volume is a contribution
towards dissemination of linguistic research on Ethiopian languages conducted mostly by
staff and PhD students in Ethiopian universities. We believe that such collective
volumes give access to dissemination of research on Ethiopian languages while building
the capacity of the linguists involved.

In this introductory section, we present the genetic
classification, geographical distribution, population and functions of
the major Ethiopian languages. We also provide a brief overview on language and identity in contemporary Ethiopia. Then we give a short overview of this book: the
individual chapters and the reviewers.
Connectives and cyclicity
Authors: Ghezzi Chiara , Molinelli Piera
Published: September 2020

This paper focuses on the formal and functional development of Italian allora (< Latin
ad illa(m) hora(m) [‘in that hour’]) ‘at that time, then, well’ considering its polyfunctionality and its
relationship with the functional space of dunque (‘then, therefore’). The developments of both forms revolve
around their functional domains as connectives and as discourse markers which over the centuries have shown different degrees of
functional overlap. Even though the two forms show a fairly stable functional overlap, since the twentieth century
allora has begun to replace dunque with increasing frequency in many discourse marker
functions. This substitution can be described in terms of a semantic–pragmatic cycle, while the formal development of
allora from Latin ad illa(m) hora(m) is an instance of a morphological cycle.
Parallels between the negative cycle and the rise of interrogative marking in French
Authors: Waltereit Richard
Published: September 2020

In this paper, I discuss a type of construction that is rarely if ever mentioned in connection with diachronic
cyclicity: wh-interrogative marking. In particular, I shall compare sentential negation with
wh-marking in French and point to interesting commonalities between the prototypical diachronic cycle (negation)
and interrogative marking. The pragmatic contrast between question types in Old French is shown to be mirrored in a similar
contrast in Modern French, with the previously “strong” est-ce que interrogative now being a weaker one. In
addition, I argue that reversal of anaphoric direction is another shared feature in the history of negation and of the
est-ce que interrogative.
Activated iridium oxide film (AIROF) electrodes for neural tissue stimulation
Authors: Frederick Rebecca A , Meliane I Yasmine , Joshi-Imre Alexandra , Troyk Philip R , Cogan Stuart F
Published: September 2020

Objective. Iridium oxide films are commonly used as a high charge-injection electrode material in neural devices. Yet, few studies have performed in-depth assessments of material performance versus film thickness, especially for films grown on three-dimensional (instead of planar) metal surfaces in neutral pH electrolyte solutions. Further, few studies have investigated the driving voltage requirements for constant-current stimulation using activated iridium oxide (AIROF) electrodes, which will be a key constraint for future use in wirelessly powered neural devices. Approach. In this study, iridium microwire probes were activated by repeated potential pulsing in room temperature phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.1–7.3). Electrochemical measurements were recorded in three different electrolyte conditions for probes with different geometric surface areas (GSAs) as the AIROF thickness was increased. Main results. Maintaining an anodic potential bias during the inter-pulse interval was required for AIROF electrodes to deliver charge levels considered necessary for neural stimulation. Potential pulsing for 100–200 cycles was sufficient to achieve charge injection levels of 2.5 mC cm−2 (50 nC/phase in a biphasic pulse) in PBS with 2000 µm2 iridium probes. Increasing the electrode surface area to 3000 µm2 and 4000 µm2 significantly increased charge-injection capacity, reduced the driving voltage required to deliver a fixed amount of charge, and reduced polarization of the electrodes during constant-current pulsing. Significance. This study establishes methods for choosing an activation protocol and a desired GSA for three-dimensional iridium electrodes suitable for neural tissue insertion and stimulation, and provides guidelines for evaluating electrochemical performance of AIROF using model saline solutions.
How urbanization enhanced exposure to climate risks in the Pacific: A case study in the Republic of Palau
Authors: Mason David , Iida Akiko , Watanabe Satoshi , Jackson Luke P , Yokohari Makoto
Published: September 2020

The increasing risk of coastal flooding and water shortage in Pacific Island Countries is usually attributed to climate change hazards. This ignores other risk components, exposure and vulnerability, of which a major contributor is urbanization.

We develop simplified analyses that can be applied to other PICs. By dividing climate risks into hazard and exposure components we determine how urbanization contributed to present-day risks and then predict how growing climate change hazards may increase future risk, using the Republic of Palau as a case study.

Results show that urbanization was responsible for 94% of the buildings exposed to coastal flooding today. Projected sea level rise, 30.2 cm by 2050, only increased exposure of today’s buildings by 0.5%. In both present and future scenarios exposure resultant from urbanization was more significant than sea level rise.

Our water scarcity index showed urbanization caused 3 of the 7 recorded water shortages from 1980–2018. From 2041–2079, analysis of projected rainfall showed mean reductions between 1.6–16.6% and increased variance between 0.3–3.4%. This led to three times as many water shortages under present population levels. In historical and future scenarios exposure from increased population was just as significant in causing water shortages as rainfall variation.

These findings suggest that urban management is an important tool to lower exposure to coastal flooding and water shortage and we recommend that decision makers prioritize urbanization within climate risk policy in Pacific Island Countries.
One from many: estimating a function of many parameters
Authors: Gross Jonathan A , Caves Carlton M
Published: September 2020

Difficult it is to formulate achievable sensitivity bounds for quantum multiparameter estimation. Consider a special case, one parameter from many: many parameters of a process are unknown; estimate a specific linear combination of these parameters without having the ability to control any of the parameters. Superficially similar to single-parameter estimation, the problem retains genuinely multiparameter aspects. Geometric reasoning demonstrates the conditions, necessary and sufficient, for saturating the fundamental and attainable quantum-process bound in this context.
Evaluation of strain-stress state of vertical tank reinforced by carbon tyre based on numerical researches in ANSYS PC
Authors: Vlasov V A , Klopotov A A , Plyaskin A S , Bunkov V E , Ustinov A M , Savintceva M E
Published: September 2020

The article presents the results of numerical studies of the stress-strain state of the models of a vertical cylindrical tank with corrosion wear and with the strengthening of the wall of the first ring by an external and internal composite tyre. Based on the results of the studies, the maximum percentage of corrosion wear of the wall of the first ring of the tank have been determined, and the dependences of the influence of the installation of the internal and external carbon composite tyre on the stress-strain state have been obtained.
Assessment of energy efficiency of yielding supports for reinforced concrete beams under dynamic loading
Authors: Kumpyak O G , Galyautdinov Z R , Galyautdinov D R
Published: September 2020

When designing reinforced concrete structures subjected to intense dynamic loading, it is necessary to take into account the simultaneous influence of the thrust reaction, which leads to significant increase in strength and crack resistance, and the influence of yielding supports used to increase the energy intensity of structures. The purpose of this study is to assess feasibility of yielding supports application in thrust structures. The paper presents results of experimental studies of reinforced concrete beams with thrust on yielding supports under short-term dynamic loading. The paper considers the influence of thrust on strength, deformability and crack resistance of reinforced concrete structures under short-term dynamic loading, as well as the joint application of yielding supports and limitation of horizontal displacement of the support contour. The results of the study indicate positive effect of yielding supports application in structures with thrust.
Neural Correlates of Temporal Presentness in the Precuneus: A Cross-linguistic fMRI Study based on Speech Stimuli
Authors: Tang Long , Takahashi Toshimitsu , Shimada Tamami , Komachi Masayuki , Imanishi Noriko , Nishiyama Yuji , Iida Takashi , Otsu Yukio , Kitazawa Shigeru
Published: September 2020

The position of any event in time could be in the present, past, or future. This temporal discrimination is vitally important in our daily conversations, but it remains elusive how the human brain distinguishes among the past, present, and future. To address this issue, we searched for neural correlates of presentness, pastness, and futurity, each of which is automatically evoked when we hear sentences such as “it is raining now,” “it rained yesterday,” or “it will rain tomorrow.” Here, we show that sentences that evoked “presentness” activated the bilateral precuneus more strongly than those that evoked “pastness” or “futurity.” Interestingly, this contrast was shared across native speakers of Japanese, English, and Chinese languages, which vary considerably in their verb tense systems. The results suggest that the precuneus serves as a key region that provides the origin (that is, the Now) of our time perception irrespective of differences in tense systems across languages.
Sentiment Analysis of Fast Food Companies With Deep Learning Models
Authors: Abdalla Ghazi , Özyurt Fatih
Published: September 2020

In the modern era, Internet usage has become a basic necessity in the lives of people. Nowadays, people can perform online shopping and check the customer’s views about products that purchased online. Social networking services enable users to post opinions on public platforms. Analyzing people’s opinions helps corporations to improve the quality of products and provide better customer service. However, analyzing this content manually is a daunting task. Therefore, we implemented sentiment analysis to make the process automatically. The entire process includes data collection, pre-processing, word embedding, sentiment detection and classification using deep learning techniques. Twitter was chosen as the source of data collection and tweets collected automatically by using Tweepy. In this paper, three deep learning techniques were implemented, which are CNN, Bi-LSTM and CNN-Bi-LSTM. Each of the models trained on three datasets consists of 50K, 100K and 200K tweets. The experimental result revealed that, with the increasing amount of training data size, the performance of the models improved, especially the performance of the Bi-LSTM model. When the model trained on the 200K dataset, it achieved about 3% higher accuracy than the 100K dataset and achieved about 7% higher accuracy than the 50K dataset. Finally, the Bi-LSTM model scored the highest performance in all metrics and achieved an accuracy of 95.35%.
The Other Arena: Poetics Goes Global in the Iberian Atlantic, 1500–1650+
Authors: Feile Tomes Maya
Published: September 2020

The period 1500–1650 is the period during which Europe’s poetic traditions — of ultimately Greco-Roman (i.e. Mediterranean Basin) origin — first came to be systematically exported outside the strictly European geographical sphere: the new contexts offered by the Portuguese- and especially Spanish-controlled zones of the rapidly expanding Iberian imperial world is where this first took place. This chapter moves away from the time-honoured Eurocentrisms of some of the more traditional approaches to early modern poetics by insisting upon 1500–1650+ as precisely the period during which the European literary tradition began to take on a life, or lives, of its own elsewhere across the globe. After surveying the key literary-historical developments in this connection, the chapter proceeds to consider how the Americas themselves came to be figured and indeed forged as a new zone of poetic activity — a new poetic(s) space — in early modern Ibero-American poetry itself. The selection of tropes identified and surveyed in this part of the chapter is offered as a sample of the dynamic literary phenomena that make up what we can call the poetics of the New World.
The SpaTemp cohort: 168 nondysplastic Barrett’s esophagus surveillance patients with and without progression to early neoplasia to evaluate the distribution of biomarkers over space and time
Authors: Frei N F , Konté K , Duits L C , Klaver E , Ten Kate F J , Offerhaus G J , Meijer S L , Visser M , Seldenrijk C A , Schoon E J , Weusten B L A M , Schenk B E , Mallant-Hent R C , Bergman J J , Pouw R E
Published: September 2020

The ReBus cohort is a matched nested case–control cohort of patients with nondysplastic (ND) Barrett’s esophagus (BE) at baseline who progressed (progressors) or did not progress (nonprogressors) to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or cancer. This cohort is constructed using the most stringent inclusion criteria to optimize explorative studies on biomarkers predicting malignant progression in NDBE. These explorative studies may benefit from expanding the number of cases and by incorporating samples that allow assessment of the biomarker over space (spatial variability) and over time (temporal variability). To (i) update the ReBus cohort by identifying new progressors and (ii) identify progressors and nonprogressors within the updated ReBus cohort containing spatial and temporal information. The ReBus cohort was updated by identifying Barrett’s patients referred for endoscopic work-up of neoplasia at 4 tertiary referral centers. Progressors and nonprogressors with a multilevel (spatial) endoscopy and additional prior (temporal) endoscopies were identified to evaluate biomarkers over space and over time. The original ReBus cohort consisted of 165 progressors and 723 nonprogressors. We identified 65 new progressors meeting the same strict selection criteria, resulting in a total number of 230 progressors and 723 matched nonprogressors in the updated ReBus cohort. Within the updated cohort, 61 progressors and 107 nonprogressors (mean age 61 ± 10 years) with a spatial endoscopy (median level 3 [2–4]) were identified. 33/61 progressors and 50/107 nonprogressors had a median of 3 (2–4) additional temporal endoscopies. Our updated ReBus cohort consists of 230 progressors and 723 matched nonprogressors using the most strict selection criteria. In a subgroup of 168 Barrett’s patients (the SpaTemp cohort), multiple levels have been sampled at baseline and during follow-up providing a unique platform to study spatial and temporal distribution of biomarkers in BE.
Temporal variation in soil bacterial communities can be confounded with spatial variation
Authors: Hermans Syrie M , Buckley Hannah L , Curran-Cournane Fiona , Taylor Matthew , Lear Gavin
Published: September 2020

Investigating temporal variation in soil bacterial communities advances our fundamental understanding of the causal processes driving biological variation, and how the composition of these important ecosystem members may change into the future. Despite this, temporal variation in soil bacteria remains understudied, and the effects of spatial heterogeneity in bacterial communities on the detection of temporal changes is largely unknown. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we evaluated temporal patterns in soil bacterial communities from indigenous forest and human-impacted sites sampled repeatedly over a 5-year period. Temporal variation appeared to be greater when fewer spatial samples per site were analysed, as well as in human-impacted compared to indigenous sites (P < 0.01 for both). The biggest portion of variation in bacterial community richness and composition was explained by soil physicochemical variables (13–24%) rather than spatial distance or sampling time (<1%). These results highlight the importance of adequate spatiotemporal replication when sampling soil communities for environmental monitoring, and the importance of conducting temporal research across a wide variety of land uses. This will ensure we have a true understanding of how bacterial communities change over space and time; the work presented here provides important considerations for how such research should be designed.
Changes in Health Care Use by Mexican American Medicare Beneficiaries Before and After a Diagnosis of Dementia
Authors: Downer Brian , Al Snih Soham , Chou Lin-Na , Kuo Yong-Fang , Raji Mukaila , Markides Kyriakos S , Ottenbacher Kenneth J
Published: September 2020

Background

Evidence from predominantly non-Hispanic White cohorts indicates health care utilization increases before Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is diagnosed. We investigated trends in health care utilization by Mexican American Medicare beneficiaries before and after an incident diagnosis of ADRD.

Methods

Data came from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly that has been linked with Medicare claims files from 1999 to 2016 (n = 558 matched cases and controls). Piecewise regression and generalized linear mixed models were used to compare the quarterly trends in any (ie, one or more) hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) admissions, and physician visits for 1 year before and 1 year after ADRD diagnosis.

Results

The piecewise regression models showed that the per-quarter odds for any hospitalizations (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.43–1.84) and any ER admissions (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.27–1.54) increased before ADRD was diagnosed. Compared to participants without ADRD, the percentage of participants with ADRD who experienced any hospitalizations (27.2% vs 14.0%) and any ER admissions (19.0% vs 11.7%) was significantly higher at 1 quarter and 3 quarters before ADRD diagnosis, respectively. The per-quarter odds for any hospitalizations (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80–0.97) and any ER admissions (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82–0.97) decreased after ADRD was diagnosed. Trends for any physician visits before or after ADRD diagnosis were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Older Mexican Americans show an increase in hospitalizations and ER admissions before ADRD is diagnosed, which is followed by a decrease after ADRD diagnosis. These findings support the importance of a timely diagnosis of ADRD for older Mexican Americans.
Long-read only assembly of Drechmeria coniospora genomes reveals widespread chromosome plasticity and illustrates the limitations of current nanopore methods
Authors: Courtine Damien , Provaznik Jan , Reboul Jerome , Blanc Guillaume , Benes Vladimir , Ewbank Jonathan J
Published: September 2020

Background

Long-read sequencing is increasingly being used to determine eukaryotic genomes. We used nanopore technology to generate chromosome-level assemblies for 3 different strains of Drechmeria coniospora, a nematophagous fungus used extensively in the study of innate immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Results

One natural geographical isolate demonstrated high stability over decades, whereas a second isolate not only had a profoundly altered genome structure but exhibited extensive instability. We conducted an in-depth analysis of sequence errors within the 3 genomes and established that even with state-of-the-art tools, nanopore methods alone are insufficient to generate eukaryotic genome sequences of sufficient accuracy to merit inclusion in public databases.

Conclusions

Although nanopore long-read sequencing is not accurate enough to produce publishable eukaryotic genomes, in our case, it has revealed new information about genome plasticity in D. coniospora and provided a backbone that will permit future detailed study to characterize gene evolution in this important model fungal pathogen.
Achieving Target Infliximab Drug Concentrations Improves Blood and Fecal Neutrophil Biomarkers in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Colman Ruben J , Tsai Yi-Ting , Jackson Kimberly , Boyle Brendan M , Noe Joshua D , Hyams Jeffrey S , D’Haens Geert R A M , van Limbergen Johan , Rosen Michael J , Denson Lee A , Minar Phillip
Published: September 2020

Background

The neutrophil fecal biomarkers, calprotectin (FCP) and lactoferrin (LCT), and peripheral blood neutrophil CD64 surface receptor (nCD64) are biomarkers for mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although FCP has been evaluated as a biomarker for mucosal healing, cut points for LCT and nCD64 are less known. We aimed to identify the cut points for LCT and nCD64 that were associated with FCP remission, with a secondary aim to evaluate the relationship between biochemical outcomes and infliximab (IFX) trough concentrations.

Methods

We analyzed FCP, LCT, and nCD64 before and after IFX induction in a pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) cohort study. Week-14 FCP biomarker remission was defined as FCP <250 µg/g, with clinical response defined as a weighted Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index <12.5 or Δ>17.5 improvement. Predictive outcomes were calculated by receiver operating characteristics (ROCs).

Results

Among 56 CD patients, ROC analysis identified an infusion 4 LCT <8.06 (area under the receiver operator characteristics [AUROC], 0.934, P < 0.001) and nCD64 <6.12 (AUROC, 0.76, P = 0.02) as the ideal cut points for week-14 FCP biomarker remission. End of induction IFX-trough of >9.4 µg/mL (AUROC, 0.799, P = 0.002) and >11.5 µg/mL (AUROC, 0.835, P = 0.003) were associated with a FCP <250 and FCP <100, respectively. We found patients achieving end of induction trough >5 µg/mL had a median FCP improvement (dose 1 to dose 4) of 90% compared with a median of 35% with levels <5 µg/mL (P = 0.024) with a similar median reduction in nCD64 (48% vs 20%, P = 0.031).

Conclusions

This study establishes cut points in neutrophil stool and blood biomarkers for both biochemical remission and therapeutic trough levels following induction therapy. Further studies that evaluate pharmacodynamic biomarker targets for endoscopic and histologic healing are warranted.
Synergistic effect of ZnO nanoparticles with organic compound as corrosion inhibition
Authors: AL-Mosawi Buraq T Sh , Sabri Mohammed M , Ahmed Muhanad A
Published: September 2020

In chemical manufactures, the corrosion inhibitors were added in order to reduce the corrosion of mild steel. Chemical molecules are often used on mild steel surfaces as portion of the latest finishing steps before painting and/or storage. Here, this work elucidated the utilization of an isatin derivative, namely, 3-((3-acetylphenyl)imino)indolin-2-one synergistic with zinc oxide nanoparticles for improving the impedance of mild steel (MS) against corrosion in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid using the weight loss method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Weight loss measurements demonstrated that the best 3-((3-acetylphenyl)imino)indolin-2-one concentration was 0.5 mM and the inhibition efficiency was 83% whereas the inhibition efficiency was 92% with addition of ZnO NPs. 3-((3-Acetylphenyl)imino)indolin-2-one retards the corrosion process at 300 K and demonstrates low inhibition efficiencies at 310, 320 and 330 K.
Brazilian Portrayals of Indigenous Rights in Western Europe during the 1970s and 1980s
Authors: Grimaldi Anna Isabella
Published: September 2020

From the mid-1960s, Brazilian and European activists collaborated to raise awareness about human rights violations in Brazil, which at the time was under an authoritarian military regime. From reports on torture, to week-long conferences, cultural events, boycotts, petitions and protests, a wide range of activities contributed to the emerging transnational human rights movement. For the most part, activists focused on the themes of political repression, torture, inequality and development. However, at some point during the dictatorship, the discourse of Brazilians—and, by association, of their solidarity networks—began to address the indigenous question, raising indigenous peoples’ struggles as a matter of human rights, as valid as any other, and contributing to their salience within the domains of international human rights organizations and institutions. Given the Brazilian Left’s failures to cohesively mobilize for indigenous rights thus far, this change in discourse is deserving of further attention. In this article, I address the emergence of indigenous rights within the Western European network of solidarity movements comprising resistance to Brazil’s military regime. These debates, as components of the transnational human rights movement of the 1970s, can be used to better understand the behaviour of Brazil’s Left in this international setting, as well as the wider movement itself. Furthermore, it will be shown that indigenous rights were portrayed through the conceptual framework of ‘Latin American Theory’, as opposed to more commonly cited concepts of minority rights or multicultural citizenship.
In Limbo: Survey of Impact of COVID-19 on Venezuelan Migrants in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Bolivar Duerto Cristher M
Published: September 2020

Between 10 May and 10 June 2020, the author conducted a mixed online survey amongst Venezuelan refugees and migrants currently living in Trinidad and Tobago, to assess the impact of local COVID-19 measures on their livelihoods and food security. Responses were alarming: 92 per cent felt their livelihoods disrupted; 50 per cent lost all income, and a further 36 per cent lost between half and three-quarters. Almost 80 per cent resorted to borrowing money to avoid eviction and meet basic needs; 83 per cent either skipped meals or reduced choice. The majority of respondents indicated that individuals or independent church organizations were their main source of help. Assistance from organizations whose raison d’être is to protect refugees and migrants in Trinidad and Tobago was classed as insufficient by 39 per cent, and seriously insufficient by 33 per cent.