bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The income earned by women: impacts on welfare outcomes
Authors: Haddad Lawrence
Published: January 2020

This paper provides an updated review of the evidence on income pooling across household members. Income pooling is one of the main predictions of the unitary model of the household. New studies come to much the same conclusion as do past studies: income pooling and the unitary model are rejected. The paper then looks beyond the mere rejection of the unitary model and explores some of the issues that arise. First, what is the progress in testing the restrictions imposed by non‐unitary models of the household? Second, what are the implications of rejection of the unitary model for policy and program design? Finally, what are some of the challenges faced by programs and policies that internalize the rejection of income pooling in terms of impact evaluation?
Seasonality and spatial integration in agricultural (product) markets
Authors: Zanias George P.
Published: January 2020

The recent testing approaches of the ‘Law of One Price’ which ate based on co‐integration analysis are modified by incorporating the seasonal components of the agricultural price series into the testing procedure. Application of the modified testing approach to the soft wheat market of live European Union member stales produces mixed results as some of the markets turn out to be integrated while in some cases a unified market cannot be assumed. I hese results differ in some cases from those obtained by co‐integration tests which ignore seasonal unit roots.
The organization of agricultural research in western developed countries
Authors: Huffman Wallace E. , Just Richard E.
Published: January 2020

This paper reviews agricultural research structural and organizational changes in western developed countries, examines new financing prospects for agricultural research, and provides some tentative conclusions about which organizations are best positioned to provide services for the twenty‐first century. Given that these countries face many similar economic, political, scientific, and agroclimatic factors and fiscal issues, we can expect a set of similar new developments that have potentially important and widespread long‐run implications. After three common developments are outlined, principles of impure public good financing are applied leading to the following agricultural science policy recommendations: (i) new political jurisdictions should be formed to finance research, e.g. new alliances across countries and subregions within large countries; (ii) intellectual property rights should be strengthened to increase the total amount and share of total (public and private) agricultural research that is privately financed and conducted, i.e. the private sector should find it profitable to undertake a large share of applied research but not be expected to finance public‐sector agricultural research; and (iii) the public sector should redirect its research efforts increasingly to areas that are socially worthwhile, but not privately undertaken, e.g. in the basic and pretechnology areas, on environmental, resources, food safety and human nutrition, and policy. Finally, large countries that have developed a system of shared public anti private financing and performance and decentralized public support of agricultural research seem best positioned for meeting the needs of the twenty‐first century.
Meat and milk self‐sufficiency in Asia: forecast trends and implications
Authors: Rutherford A.S.
Published: January 2020

Recent structural changes in dietary patterns in Asia resulting from economic development are placing increasing pressure on the existing production systems in the region‐particularly those systems producing ruminant meat, non‐ruminant meat and milk. This has significant policy implications for the countries in the region in terms of self‐sufficiency goals in these commodities and the associated inter‐and intra‐regional trade opportunities in the future. Forecasts of ruminant meat, non‐ruminant meat and milk production and consumption for selected Asian countries between the years 2000 and 2010 revealed the following: China, Pakistan and Viet Nam are likely to be self‐sufficient with respect to ruminant meat; Malaysia is likely to continue to be a net importer of ruminant meat; India and Malaysia will be more than self‐sufficient with respect to non‐runvinant meat with the converse being true for Pakistan; and India, Laos and Pakistan will be self‐sufficient with respect to milk production with the possibility of Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia becoming self‐sufficient if the current trends continue. Structural changes in the early 1980s generally resulted in higher average annual growth rates of production‐particularly in non‐ruminant meat production. Thus forecasts of ruminant meat production and consumption by 2000 using the medium‐term average annual growth rates for production present a more favourable outcome in terms of self‐sufficiency for countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and Viet Nam but a less favourable outcome for countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and India. Similar forecasts for non‐ruminant meat indicated an improvement in the long‐term non‐ruminant self‐sufficiency estimates for most cases‐particularly for Bangladesh, China and Cambodia. Intensification and commercialisation of meat production systems have increased meat self‐sufficiency in a number of countries but often at the expense of grain self‐sufficiency. Given these trends, the impact of trade liberalisation measures on livestock production in the region and inter‐and intra‐regional trade of livestock commodities and grain is likely to be significant.
A comparative analysis of water price support versus drought compensation scheme
Authors: Becker N.
Published: January 2020

This paper examines the preferred governmental intervention towards crops growing methods in semi‐arid regions. These regions are characterized by an average amount of rain which is sufficient to grow the crop but it is also very risky. The farmers' attitude towards risk motivates the government to encourage them to shift to more profitable and riskier crop rotations. The paper analyses two alternatives of which the government can work through: drought compensation scheme (DCS) and water price support (WPS). The semi‐arid region in Israel is analyzed and policy conclusions are derived. In particular it is shown that for different sub‐regions within the semi‐arid region different mechanisms are preferred by the government and the farmers. Sometimes these mechanisms coincide and sometimes they do not. A welfare analyzes compares the different situations.
Externalities in the agricultural export sector and economic growth: a developing country perspective
Authors: de Piñeres Sheila Amin Gutiérrez
Published: January 2020

For years economists have ignored the diversity in agriculture and its potential to increase long run growth rates by enhancing a country's knowledge base. Non‐traditional agriculture requires significant investments in the infrastructure and knowledge; and therefore, has the potential to increase long run growth rates. Policy makers in developing countries have tended to enact macroeconomic policies designed to enhance the manufacturing sector at the expense of the agricultural sector. A theoretical model is developed to explain the dynamics between two non‐traditional export sectors and the long run economic growth of the country. The model illustrates that growth in highly perishable agricultural exports, not domestic production of manufactured goods, can potentially lead to higher long run growth rates. The model is applied to the fruit and flower industries in Colombia to bring forth an example with real world relevance.
News
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: January 2020

Downing Street adviser posts atypical job advert seeking “unusual” candidates
“Nudge” and Statistics
Authors: Pilling Mark
Published: January 2020

Mark Pilling highlights the role of statistics and study design in helping policy-makers and business leaders to determine the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions
Living by The Evidence
Authors: Goldstein Harvey
Published: January 2020

Public policies often claim to be “evidence informed”, but hardly ever does the public stop to ask about the quality of the underlying evidence, how it is presented and how it is used. In an article based on his 2019 Otto Wolff Lecture, Harvey Goldstein explores these very questions
Aligning α‐alumina platelets via uniaxial pressing of ceramic‐filled polymer blends for improved sintered transparency
Authors: Costakis William J. , Schlup Andrew , Youngblood Jeffrey P. , Trice Rodney W.
Published: January 2020

Uniaxial warm pressing was used to align alumina platelet‐filled polyethylene‐based copolymer blends. The solids loading (30‐40 vol.%) and platelet diameter (1.2 and 11 μm) were varied to compare effects on viscosity, percent reduction, and final alignment. All ceramic‐filled thermoplastic polymer blends exhibited pseudoplastic behavior. Crystallographic alignment of green body samples was quantified by the orientation parameter (r) and grain misalignment angle (full width at half maximum, FWHM) obtained from rocking curve analysis. Blends with 11 μm diameter platelets displayed a higher temperature sensitivity constant, better flow properties, and higher alignment compared to blends with 1.2 μm diameter platelets. Optimal samples produced with blends containing 30 vol.% of 11 μm diameter platelets demonstrated an alignment of r = .251 ± .017; FWHM = 11.16° ± 1.16°. A sample with optimal alignment was hot‐pressed to transparency and obtained an in‐line transmission of 70.0% at 645 nm. The final alignment of this pre‐aligned hot‐pressed sample (r = .254 ± .008; FWHM = 11.38° ± 0.54°) improved when compared to a non‐pre‐aligned sample (r = .283 ± .005; FWHM = 13.40° ± 0.38°).
Identification of immune‐enhanced molecular subtype associated with BRCA1 mutations, immune checkpoints and clinical outcome in ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Mingjun , Hu Yuexin , Gou Rui , Liu Ouxuan , Nie Xin , Li Xiao , Liu Qing , Hao Yingying , Liu Juanjuan , Lin Bei
Published: January 2020

Ovarian carcinoma has the highest mortality among the malignant tumours in gynaecology, and new treatment strategies are urgently needed to improve the clinical status of ovarian carcinoma patients. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were performed to explore the immune function of the internal environment of tumours and its clinical correlation with ovarian carcinoma. Finally, four molecular subtypes were obtained based on the global immune‐related genes. The correlation analysis and clinical characteristics showed that four subtypes were all significantly related to clinical stage; the immune scoring results indicated that most immune signatures were upregulated in C3 subtype, and the majority of tumour‐infiltrating immune cells were upregulated in both C3 and C4 subtypes. Compared with other subtypes, C3 subtype had a higher BRCA1 mutation, higher expression of immune checkpoints, and optimal survival prognosis. These findings of the immunological microenvironment in tumours may provide new ideas for developing immunotherapeutic strategies for ovarian carcinoma.
Positioning as Normative Actors: China and the EU in Climate Change Negotiations
Authors: Wunderlich Jens‐Uwe
Published: January 2020

This article focuses on the communication tools employed by the EU and the People's Republic of China to project themselves as normative actors and their construction of specific role conceptions in the context of global climate change negotiations. The empirical spine of the article consists of a discourse analysis of 134 documents released by the EU and China on the issue of climate change and climate change negotiations between the 2008 Copenhagen and the 2015 Paris climate summits. The findings are that both the EU and China go to great lengths to position themselves as responsible global citizens, employing relatively consistent framing devices. Not only are the findings interesting when it comes to EU and China identity‐building as foreign policy actors; they also hint at more generic parameters along which the role of normative actor is constructed.
Concentration of citrus fruit juices in membrane pouches with solar energy Part 2: How solar drying setup and juice pretreatment determine the microbiological quality
Authors: Phinney Randi , Tivana Lucas Daniel , Östbring Karolina , Sjöholm Ingegerd , Dhulappanavar Gayatri , Jeje Imaculada , Guibundana Deize , Rayner Marilyn
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate how solar drying setup and choice of juice pretreatment determine the microbiological quality in a fruit juice concentration process called solar assisted pervaporation (SAP). With this process, hygienic membrane pouches and solar energy are used to concentrate and preserve fruit juices. In this study, citrus (tangerine) marmalades were produced with SAP membrane pouches under realistic conditions in rural Mozambique with three solar drying setups and eight juice pretreatments. The results showed that the choice of solar drying setup had a negligible effect on the total aerobic plate count but a significant effect on the yeast plate count. Pasteurization as a juice pretreatment lowered the total aerobic count and the probability of fermentation, while lemon juice had no beneficial effect on the microbiological quality. The recommendations are to add sucrose and pasteurize the juice before drying and to use a direct active solar dryer.

Practical Applications

Solar drying is a sustainable approach to food preservation for the future. However, there are food safety challenges with solar drying that make the process difficult to control. One challenge is the direct contact between the product and the surrounding air since the air may be contaminated with microorganisms. One approach to reduce the probability of contamination is by solar drying fruit juices with membrane pouches that provide a hygienic barrier between the product and the surrounding air. These types of pouches are especially suitable for juicy, citrus fruits that are difficult to preserve with traditional solar drying practices. The pouches can be used to concentrate citrus juices into marmalades in rural areas of tropical countries where established infrastructure is not available. This study investigated the hygienic nature of the approach in rural Mozambique with the help of small‐scale producers to determine the optimal way to produce safe marmalades.
The perceived financial effects of mandatory audit firm rotation
Authors: Harber Michael , Marx Ben , De Jager Phillip
Published: January 2020

This paper explores the perceptions of key audit industry stakeholders concerning the direct and indirect financial effects of the implementation of mandatory audit firm rotation (MAFR) in South Africa. Globally, concerns over audit quality, in response to corporate failures, have resulted in renewed debate over MAFR as a solution. The European Union and South Africa have recently ruled in its favor, while other countries have rejected it on grounds that the benefits do not exceed the costs. Using structured surveys, the informed perspectives of experienced auditors, chief financial officers, audit committee chairs, and equity fund managers are explored and contrasted. We find that considerable costs will be imposed on audit firms in the form of “setup and transition costs,” as well as costs incurred to submit and present competitive tenders to secure appointment. Although auditors will try to recoup these costs with fee increases, this will likely not be allowed by the clients, resulting in a squeeze of audit firm profits. The Big 4 firm fee premium, relative to non‐Big 4 firms, will decrease due to increased competition. From the clients' perspective, the costs will be in the form of audit inefficiency translating into staff time and disruption, caused by the incoming auditors being less familiar with the complexities of the business. We contribute to the literature detailed descriptions and estimations of the nature and extent of potential cost implications, as expressed by experienced practitioners. The findings inform audit industry regulators, standard‐setters, and practitioners to more effectively mitigate potential unintended consequences of the regulation.
Quantitative method for estimating stain density in electron microscopy of conventionally prepared biological specimens
Authors: FERA A. , HE Q. , ZHANG G. , LEAPMAN R.D.
Published: January 2020

Stain density is an important parameter for optimising the quality of ultrastructural data obtained from several types of 3D electron microscopy techniques, including serial block‐face electron microscopy (SBEM), and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM). Here, we show how some straightforward measurements in the TEM can be used to determine the stain density based on a simple expression that we derive. Numbers of stain atoms per unit volume are determined from the measured ratio of the bright‐field intensities from regions of the specimen that contain both pure embedding material and the embedded biological structures of interest. The determination only requires knowledge of the section thickness, which can either be estimated from the microtome setting, or from low‐dose electron tomography, and the elastic scattering cross section for the heavy atoms used to stain the specimen. The method is tested on specimens of embedded blood platelets, brain tissue and liver tissue.
Development and Validation of a Photo‐Evidence Tool to Examine Characteristics of Effective Drinking Water Access in Schools
Authors: Patel Anisha I. , Podrabsky Mary , Hecht Amelie A. , Morris Sophie , Yovanovich Sasha , Walkinshaw Lina P. , Ritchie Lorrene , Hecht Christina
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Federal law requires water access in schools where meals are served. Schools report high rates of water accessibility in cafeterias, but observations indicate lower adherence. Although observation is costly, it permits a more detailed assessment of a water source to determine whether it provides effective access that encourages water consumption and thus, healthy hydration for students.

METHODS

To offer a less costly alternative to observations, researchers developed and validated a photo‐evidence tool to examine characteristics of effective school drinking water access. Two observers recorded characteristics of 200 water sources in 30 schools, including type, wear, cleanliness, and water flow, and examined obstructions and beverage promotion near sources, as well as, drinking vessel availability. Observers photographed sources which were coded by a separate research team. Agreement between observation audits and photograph coding was assessed through percent agreement, and kappa statistics and correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

Kappas indicated substantial (K > 0.60) or near perfect agreement (K > 0.80) for all characteristics of effective drinking water access with exception of wear. There was moderate agreement (r = 0.66) for water source cleanliness.

CONCLUSIONS

Development and validation of a photo‐evidence tool to examine characteristics of effective drinking water access in schools.
Evaluating a Strategy for Implementation and Sustainability of School‐Based Health Centers in 3 Disparate Communities
Authors: Johnson Veda , Ellis Ruth S. , Hutcherson Valerie
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

School‐based health centers (SBHCs) increase access to health care and improve academic achievement for underserved students. We report on the test of a strategy to take SBHCs to scale by addressing the issues of community need and support and financial sustainability.

METHODS

Using mixed methods, we collected data on student enrollment, utilization, health outcomes, seat time, patient revenues, surveys and key informant interviews from SBHCs located in 3 geographically and demographically different communities over a 2‐year period.

RESULTS

The 3 health centers were comparable in their capacity to implement their operations and achieve quality outcomes but varied considerably in their abilities to achieve sustainability after 2 years of operation. All participated in a planning phase and were able to achieve community buy in and support which impacted their implementation. Only one of the SBHCs which had the highest patient utilization was able to generate enough revenue from patient billings to become sustainable after the second year.

CONCLUSION

Expanding SBHCs requires a period of planning to generate community buy in and support which is required for successful implementation. Sustainability requires sustained high clinic utilization and is enhanced by health centers that are able to receive high Medicaid reimbursements.
Lay Concepts of Art, Craft, and Manufacture and the Implications for Sustainable Consumption
Authors: Judge Madeline , Fernando Julian W. , Paladino Angela , Mikolajczak Gosia , Kashima Yoshihisa
Published: January 2020

An object's creation history plays an important role in how we perceive, value, and interact with that object, and has consequences for policy on sustainable consumption. Here, we propose that laypeople in industrialized societies have three dominant concepts of how objects can be created: art, craft, and manufacture. These concepts are differentiated by the perceived properties and environmental sustainability of objects, as well as the perceived capabilities of producers. In three experiments, we examined the consequences of framing an object's creation history as art, craft, or manufacture. In general, art and craft objects were valued more highly than manufactured objects, and this effect was partially mediated by the perceived transfer of positive emotional residue. Mass‐produced goods may be treated as disposable consumables, whereas arts and crafts are more deserving of preservation. That this effect was stronger in Australia than China suggests that these effects may be related to a postmaterialist orientation.
Fat Reproductive Justice: Navigating the Boundaries of Reproductive Health Care
Authors: LaMarre Andrea , Rice Carla , Cook Katie , Friedman May
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we explored the experiences of people in larger bodies seeking fertility and/or pregnancy care through a reproductive justice lens, integrating an understanding of weight stigma with an understanding of who has access to reproductive technologies, who is “allowed” to become pregnant, and the discourses that surround pregnancy. We conducted a thematic analysis of the narratives of 17 participants who had been labeled “overweight” or “obese” while pregnant and/or seeking reproductive health care related to fertility and/or pregnancy. Participants’ narratives speak to experiences of being surveilled and controlled in medical settings; this surveillance and control negatively impacted their access to desired care. In order to receive the kinds of care they wanted, many participants had to become self‐advocates. This self‐advocacy speaks to resistance and “resilience”; we discuss how individualizing “resilience” represents an incomplete solution to navigating the shaming and blaming encounters participants experienced with healthcare providers. We argue for health care that is more caring and responsive to the needs of diverse individuals who are or who are seeking to become pregnant.
Elite Mobilization: A Theory Explaining Opposition to Gay Rights
Authors: Bishin Benjamin G. , Hayes Thomas J. , Incantalupo Matthew B. , Smith Charles Anthony
Published: January 2020

Media and scholastic accounts describe a strong backlash against attempts to advance gay rights. Academic research, however, increasingly raises questions about the sharply negative and enduring opinion change that characterizes backlash among the mass public. How can we reconcile the widespread backlash described by the media with the growing body of academic research that finds no evidence of the opinion change thought to be its hallmark trait? We argue that rather than widespread opinion change, what appears to be backlash against gay rights is more consistent with elite-led mobilization—a reaction by elites seeking to prevent gays and lesbians from achieving full incorporation in the polity. We present evidence from what is widely considered to be a classic case of anti-gay backlash, the 2010 Iowa Judicial Retention Election. Analysis of campaign contribution data in Iowa versus other states between 2010 and 2014, and voter roll-off data exploiting a unique feature of the 2010 retention election supports this argument. The results simultaneously explain how reports of backlash might occur despite increased support for gay rights, and an academic literature that finds no evidence of backlash.
Histological characteristics of early‐stage oral tongue cancer in young versus older patients: A multicenter matched‐pair analysis
Authors: Bello Ibrahim O. , Almangush Alhadi , Heikkinen Ilkka , Haglund Caj , Coletta Ricardo D. , Kowalski Luiz P. , Mäkitie Antti A. , Nieminen Pentti , Leivo Ilmo , Salo Tuula
Published: January 2020

Little is known about the histopathological characteristics that may differentiate early oral tongue cancer (OTSCC) between young and older patients. From a total of 311 cases diagnosed with clinically early‐stage OTSCC at 6 institutions, only 42 patients were young patients were aged ≤45 years. For comparison, 42 patients >60 years old were matched for center of management, clinical stage and gender. We compared epithelial and stromal histopathologic parameters between the two groups. Most of the parameters were similar between the two groups, although the young patients appeared to have marginally higher intensity of tumor budding, histologic risk score, infiltrative pattern of invasion and tumor‐stroma ratio. However, none of the factors showed significant difference when comparing the two groups. The histological parameters reflect mechanisms of invasive growth and tissue response to invasive growth, but not the etiological difference in OTSCC between young and older patients. Further investigations are necessary to compare the genetic background of early OTSCC in the two groups.
Predicting United Arab Emirates' real effective exchange rates using oil prices
Authors: Baghestani Hamid , AbuAl‐Foul Bassam
Published: January 2020

We examine whether oil prices help produce accurate forecasts of the real broad effective exchange rate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using monthly data for 1994–1999, we formulate a univariate moving average (MA) and an augmented moving average (A‐MA) model to generate multi‐period forecasts of UAE real exchange rates for 2000–2019. The MA model utilises past information in real exchange rates, while the A‐MA model utilises past information in both real exchange rates and oil prices. Our results indicate that oil prices help produce accurate forecasts of UAE real exchange rates only for 2000–2009; that is, for this period, the A‐MA forecasts are unbiased, outperform the MA forecasts and are directionally accurate. As for 2009–2019, we take a non‐parametric approach and show that oil price changes accurately predict directional change in UAE real effective exchange rates.
A multiscale approach reveals regulatory players of water stress responses in seeds during germination
Authors: Saux Marine , Ponnaiah Maharajah , Langlade Nicolas , Zanchetta Catherine , Balliau Thierry , El‐Maarouf‐Bouteau Hayat , Bailly Christophe
Published: January 2020

Seed germination is regulated by environmental factors, particularly water availability. Water deficits at the time of sowing impair the establishment of crop plants. Transcriptome and proteome profiling was used to document the responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds to moderate water stress during germination in two hybrids that are nominally classed as drought sensitive and drought tolerant. Differences in the water stress‐dependent accumulation reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes activities were observed between the hybrids. A pathway‐based analysis of the hybrid transcriptomes demonstrated that the water stress‐dependent responses of seed metabolism were similar to those of the plant, with a decreased abundance of transcripts encoding proteins associated with metabolism and cell expansion. Moreover, germination under water stress conditions was associated with increased levels of transcripts encoding heat shock proteins. Exposure of germinating seeds to water stress specifically affected the abundance of a small number of proteins, including heat shock proteins. Taken together, these data not only identify factors that are likely to play a key role in drought tolerance during seed germination, but they also demonstrate the importance of the female parent in the transmission of water stress tolerance.
Determining the prevalence of depression among older adults living in Burdur, Turkey, and their associated factors
Authors: Güzel Aysun , Kara Fatih
Published: January 2020

Background

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among older adults living in Burdur, Turkey, and their associated factors.

Methods

This analytical cross‐sectional study was conducted between May 1, 2015 and August 20, 2015 comprising 35 339 subjects aged ≥65 years living in Burdur; the sample was 770 subjects identified using a population‐weighted cluster sampling method. Data were collected by using personal information forms, Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Older People's Quality of Life Scale of the World Health Organization. The statistical analysis was performed by using t‐test for independent samples, one‐way analysis of variance and post hoc multiple comparison tests, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

Of the study population, 51.8% had a score of ≥14 (definite depression). According to the regression model, the prevalence of depression was higher in older adults aged ≥85 years than in older adults aged 65–74 years (P < 0.01), in females than in males (P < 0.01), in individuals who never consumed alcohol than in those who consumed alcohol (P = 0.04), and in older adults who perceived their health as poor than in those who were unsure about their health and perceived their health as good (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed a poor, negative, and significant correlation (r = −0.38; P < 0.01) between the total scores of Older People's Quality of Life Scale of the World Health Organization and Geriatric Depression Scale.

Conclusions

The prevalence of depression is high among older adults aged ≥65 years. Age, gender, alcohol consumption, health perception, and quality of life are important predictors of depression.
Background of the neuropathological site in neurocognitive decline in elderly schizophrenic patients
Authors: Hirano Mitsuaki , Iritani Shuji , Sekiguchi Hirotaka , Torii Youta , Habuchi Chikako , Fujishiro Hiroshige , Ozaki Norio , Yoshida Mari , Fujita Kiyoshi
Published: January 2020

We herein report the neuropathological findings of a schizophrenic patient who showed cognitive decline and deterioration of psychiatric symptoms in his elderly years. In the neuropathological investigation in this case, Alzheimer‐type pathology and argyrophilic grain pathology were observed. Schizophrenic patients can sometimes show cognitive decline in later life as an intrinsic symptom. However, they may also be complicated with dementia in later life, although these complications in a clinical setting have not been well examined. Few reports have investigated whether or not schizophrenic patients are likely to be complicated with dementia, and the findings remain controversial. We confirmed relatively mild ageing changes neuropathologically in the present case. How much these pathological changes influenced his psychiatric symptoms is unclear, but these changes were thought to have some degree of relevance. We also discuss the relationship between schizophrenia and dementia. We should remain alert to the fact that even schizophrenic patients can contract neurodegenerative diseases as a dual diagnosis in their clinical course and that they can show complicated symptoms. Further investigations of the clinical‐pathological relationship between schizophrenia and dementia are thus needed.
Dental management of a child with Wiskott Aldrich syndrome prior to bone marrow transplant: A case report
Authors: Santosh Anitha , Banthiya Karun , Deshmukh C.T. , Bhange Prasad , Shah Shagun , Kakade Adesh
Published: January 2020

Aim

Orodental manifestations are commonly presented in Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome (WAS). The purpose of this paper is to report a case of dental management of a 5‐year‐old male child with WAS before Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). Such patients are more prone to infection due to pretransplantation chemotherapy and posttransplantation immunosuppression; thus, it becomes imperative to eliminate all potential sources of infection before transplantation.

Materials and Methods

Fluctuating blood parameters before the dental procedure was an important challenge in rendering dental treatment. Dental procedures were carried out under general anesthesia by maintaining the hematological parameters with blood and platelet transfusion. The conventional dental treatment may not be applicable in such patients as failure of dental treatment can cause the failure of HSCT, and it has to be modified based on the clinical acumen and recommendations.

Conclusions

This case report focuses on the measures to be taken before, during, and after the dental procedure to ensure the success of the dental therapy and prevent failure of HSCT due to residual dental foci of infection. A multidisciplinary approach involving a pedodontist, a pediatrician, and a hematologist can improve the quality of life of such patients.
Hopeful struggling for health: Experiences of participating in computerized cognitive training and aerobic training for persons with stress‐related exhaustion disorder
Authors: Eskilsson Therese , Fjellman‐Wiklund Anncristine , Ek Malmer Elin , Stigsdotter Neely Anna , Malmberg Gavelin Hanna , Slunga Järvholm Lisbeth , Boraxbekk Carl‐Johan , Nordin Maria
Published: January 2020

It is important to understand how people with exhaustion disorder (ED) perceive interventions aiming to facilitate cognitive functioning. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to explore experiences from persons with ED after participating in a 12‐week intervention of either computerized cognitive training or aerobic training. Both interventions were performed in addition to a multimodal rehabilitation programme. Thirteen participants, 11 women and 2 men, were interviewed about pros and cons with participating in the training. The interviews were analysed with Qualitative Content Analysis. The analyses resulted in the theme hopeful struggling for health and the categories support, motivation and sensations. It was hard work recovering from ED. Support from others who are in the same situation, family members, and technology and routines for the training were strongly emphasized as beneficial for recovery. Timing, i.e., matching activities to the rehabilitation programme, getting feedback and perceiving joy in the training were important for motivation. Participants in both interventions experienced positive sensations with improved memory performance, everyday life functioning and increased faith in the prospect of recovery. However, it is important to consider various aspects of support and motivation in both computerized cognitive training and aerobic training to enable participants to pursue their participation.
Gasification of Torrefied Sewage Sludge With the Addition of Calcium Carbonate
Authors: Pawlak-Kruczek Halina , Wnukowski Mateusz , Niedzwiecki Lukasz , Kowal Mateusz , Krochmalny Krystian
Published: January 2020

Utilization of sewage sludge, in a way friendly to the environment, is still a subject of intensive investigation. One of the possible solutions is the gasification of sewage sludge. Torrefaction and the use of additive can enhance this process. This study presents the results of the gasification of raw and mildly torrefied sewage sludge, as well as mildly torrefied sewage sludge with the addition of calcium carbonate. Overall, the torrefaction in mild conditions had little influence on the composition of the obtained gas. The influence was much more visible when 5% of calcium carbonate was added. The additive caused the increased average concentration of CH4 and decreased average concentration of H2 in the producer gas. The use of additive also improved the kinetics of the gasification of torrefied sewage sludge. Moreover, the tar deposition diagram confirmed that the use of calcium carbonate enhanced the quality of the produced gas by decreasing the content of the compounds, with a melting point higher than 30 °C, thus minimizing the deposition problem.
Development of Real-Time System Identification to Detect Abnormal Operations in a Gas Turbine Cycle
Authors: Bonilla-Alvarado Harry , Bryden Kenneth M. , Shadle Lawrence , Tucker David , Pezzini Paolo
Published: January 2020

This paper presents a novel online system identification methodology for monitoring the performance of power systems. This methodology was demonstrated in a gas turbine recuperated power plant designed for a hybrid configuration. A 120-kW Garrett microturbine modified to test dynamic control strategies for hybrid power systems designed at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) was used to implement and validate this online system identification methodology. The main component of this methodology consists of an empirical transfer function model implemented in parallel to the turbine speed operation and the fuel control valve, which can monitor the process response of the gas turbine system while it is operating. During fully closed-loop operations or automated control, the output of the controller, fuel valve position, and the turbine speed measurements were fed for a given period of time to a recursive algorithm that determined the transfer function parameters during the nominal condition. After the new parameters were calculated, they were fed into the transfer function model for online prediction. The turbine speed measurement was compared against the transfer function prediction, and a control logic was implemented to capture when the system operated at nominal or abnormal conditions. To validate the ability to detect abnormal conditions during dynamic operations, drifting in the performance of the gas turbine system was evaluated. A leak in the turbomachinery working fluid was emulated by bleeding 10% of the airflow from the compressor discharge to the atmosphere, and electrical load steps were performed before and after the leak. This tool could detect the leak 7 s after it had occurred, which accounted for a fuel flow increase of approximately 15.8% to maintain the same load and constant turbine speed operations.
Active Heating of Outdoor Swimming Pool Water Using Different Solar Collector Systems
Authors: Singh A. K. , Tiwari G. N. , Singh R. G. , Singh R. K.
Published: January 2020

In this communication, a theoretical thermal model has been developed by using basic energy balance equation for outdoor swimming pool in terms of design and climatic parameters. An analytical expression for swimming pool water temperature has been obtained to optimize the design parameters to get an optimum temperature of swimming pool by using solar energy. For general analysis, an integration of photo-voltaic thermal (PVT)-compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) collectors with swimming pool water has been proposed along with special cases, namely, (i) evacuated tube collectors, (ii) conventional flat plate collectors (FPCs), (iii) CPC–FPCs, and (iv) PVT flat plate collectors. Numerical computations have been carried out for cold climatic condition of Srinagar, India. The effect of sensitive parameters on thermal and electrical performance of swimming pool has also been carried out.
Methodological and Technical Aspects of a Two-Degrees-of-Freedom Hardware-In-the-Loop Setup for Wind Tunnel Tests of Floating Systems
Authors: Ambrosini Simone , Bayati Ilmas , Facchinetti Alan , Belloli Marco
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the methodological and technical aspects of the implementation of a hardware-in-the-loop experimental setup, suitable to simulate the dynamics of a floating system in wind tunnel experiments. The presented work is based on the specific application of a floating offshore wind turbine scale model, even if the approach holds also for floating systems in general, being subjected to the simultaneous action of wind and waves. The setup is based on a two degrees-of-freedom system, providing the motion of the floating system along surge and pitch. With reference to the implementation of the HIL test methodology the following topics are thoroughly analyzed: scaling issues, numerical issues, mechanical system characterization, force corrections, measurement, and signal processing. For each of these topics the methodological approach is presented, and the technical issues are described. A subset of results is then reported to show the effectiveness of such experimental apparatus, for different sea states: still water, regular, and irregular waves.
Experimental Investigation on the Lumped Model of Nonlinear Rocker–Rocker Mechanism With Flexible Coupler
Authors: Chang Ren-Jung , Wang Ying-Chuan
Published: January 2020

The nonlinear and flexible effects on the continuum dynamics of rocker–rocker flexible mechanism are investigated. An experimental rocker–rocker mechanism with flexible coupler was first established. The flexible mechanism which incorporats the buckling motion of flexible coupler is acted as a double-well oscillator. The mechanism was actuated by electromagnet and measured by charge-coupled device (CCD) visual system. Rich dynamic behavior such as complex period, amplitude modulation, and chaos in the intrawell and interwell oscillations were observed. For investigating nonlinear dynamics, the dynamic behavior was analyzed through identification of linear and nonlinear lumped models. Both time-domain and frequency-domain approaches were carried out in identifying linear time-invariant model. Averaging multiple models were employed for the time-domain identification of linear model. The identification of nonlinear model was undertaken by the extension of the two-stage linear identification scheme. The response identification in input space was analyzed by utilizing semi-analytical harmonic balance method. The important boundary of chaotic response in operation was investigated by the proposed energy-well criterion, Melnikov's criterion, Moon's criterion, as well as Szemplińska-Stupnicka and Rudowski's criterion.
Directional hearing sensitivity for 2–30 kHz sounds in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Accomando Alyssa W. , Mulsow Jason , Branstetter Brian K. , Schlundt Carolyn E. , Finneran James J.
Published: January 2020

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) depend on sounds at frequencies lower than 30 kHz for social communication, but little information on the directional dependence of hearing thresholds for these frequencies exists. This study measured underwater behavioral hearing thresholds for 2, 10, 20, and 30 kHz sounds projected from eight different positions around dolphins in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The results showed that the sound source direction relative to the dolphin affected hearing threshold, and that directional characteristics of the receiving beam pattern were frequency dependent. Hearing thresholds obtained from two adult dolphins demonstrated a positive relationship between directivity of hearing and stimulus frequency, with asymmetric receiving beam patterns in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Projecting sound from directly behind the dolphin resulted in frequency-dependent increases in hearing threshold up to 18.5 dB compared to when sound was projected in front. When the projector was situated above the dolphin thresholds were approximately 8 dB higher as compared to below. This study demonstrates that directional hearing exists for lower frequencies than previously expected.
Development of a French version of the Modified Rhyme Test
Authors: Zimpfer Véronique , Andéol Guillaume , Blanck Geoffroy , Suied Clara , Fux Thibaut
Published: January 2020

A reproducible method to measure the intelligibility of communication systems is required to assess their efficiency. The current study seeks to develop a French version of the Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) [(House, Williams, Heker, and Kryter (1965). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 37, 158–66], an intelligibility test composed of 50 six-word lists, originally developed for military applications and now widely used. An evaluation of the authors’ French MRT was carried out, reproducing the original experimental conditions used by House and colleagues. Very similar results were found between the original MRT and the French MRT, validating the latter for further use and dissemination.
On the utility of perceptual anchors during pure-tone frequency discrimination
Authors: Mathias Samuel R. , Varghese Leonard , Micheyl Christophe , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara G.
Published: January 2020

Perceptual anchors are representations of stimulus features stored in long-term memory rather than short-term memory. The present study investigated whether listeners use perceptual anchors to improve pure-tone frequency discrimination. Ten amateur musicians performed a two-interval, two-alternative forced-choice frequency-discrimination experiment. In one half of the experiment, the frequency of the first tone was fixed across trials, and in the other half, the frequency of the first tone was roved widely across trials. The durations of the interstimulus intervals (ISIs) and the frequency differences between the tones on each trial were also manipulated. The data were analyzed with a Bayesian model that assumed that performance was limited by sensory noise (related to the initial encoding of the stimuli), memory noise (which increased proportionally to the ISI), fluctuations in attention, and response bias. It was hypothesized that memory-noise variance increased more rapidly during roved-frequency discrimination than fixed-frequency discrimination because listeners used perceptual anchors in the latter condition. The results supported this hypothesis. The results also suggested that listeners experienced more lapses in attention during roved-frequency discrimination.