bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Speleothems from Western Europe as Recorders of Regional Climate: a Critical Assessment of the SISAL Database
Authors: Lechleitner Franziska , Amirnezhad-Mozhdehi Sahar , Columbu Andrea , Comas-Bru Laia , Labuhn Inga , Pérez-Mejías Carlos , Rehfeld Kira
Published: September 2018

Western Europe is the region with the highest density of published speleothem δ18O (δ18Ospel) records worldwide. Here we review these records in light of the recent publication of the Speleothem Isotopes Synthesis and Analysis (SISAL) database [1]. We investigate how representative the spatial and temporal distribution of the available records is for climate in Western Europe, and review potential sites and strategies for future studies. We show that spatial trends in precipitation δ18O are mirrored in the speleothems, providing means to better constrain the factors influencing δ18Ospel at a specific location. Coherent regional δ18Ospel trends are found over stadial-interstadial transitions of the last glacial, especially in high altitude Alpine records. Over the Holocene, regional trends are less clearly expressed, due to lower signal-to-noise ratios in δ18Ospel, but can potentially be extracted with the use of statistical methods. Overall, this first assessment highlights the potential of the European region for speleothem palaeoclimate reconstruction, while underpinning the importance of knowledge of local factors for a correct interpretation of δ18Ospel.
Group entropies: from phase space geometry to entropy functionals via group theory
Authors: Jeldtoft Jensen Henrik , Tempesta Piergiulio
Published: September 2018

The entropy of Boltzmann-Gibbs, as proved by Shannon and Khinchin, is based on four axioms, where the fourth one concerns additivity.
The group theoretic entropies make use of formal group theory to replace this axiom with a more general composability axiom.
As has been pointed out before, generalized entropies crucially depend on the number of allowed number degrees of freedom $N$.
The functional form of group entropies is restricted (though not uniquely determined) by assuming extensivity on the equal probability ensemble,
which leads to classes of functionals corresponding to sub-exponential, exponential or super-exponential dependence of the phase space volume $W$ on $N$.
We review the ensuing entropies, discuss the composability axiom, relate to the Gibbs' paradox discussion and explain why group entropies may be particularly relevant
from an information theoretic perspective.
About the Accuracy and the Grid Convergence of the Numerical Solution of the Energy Equation in Fluid Film Lubrication
Authors: Zhang Silun , Hassini Mohamed-Amine , Arghir Mihai
Published: September 2018

The present work is focused on the numerical solution of the complete energy equation used in fluid film lubrication. The work was motivated by the fact the complete energy equation has no analytic solution that could be used for validations. Its accuracy and computation time are related to the employed numerical method and to the grid resolution. The natural discretization method (NDM) applied on different grids is systematically compared with the spectral method (the Lobatto Point Colocation Method or LPCM) with different polynomial degrees. A one dimensional inclined slider is used for the numerical tests and the energy equation is artificially decoupled from Reynolds. This approach enables to focus all the attention on the numerical solution of the energy equation. The results show that the LPCM is one or two orders of magnitudes more efficient than the NDM in terms of computation time. The energy equation is then coupled with Reynolds equation in a thermo-hydrodynamic analysis of the same 1D slider; the numerical results confirm again the efficiency of the LPCM. A thermo-hydrodynamic analysis of a two-lobe journal bearing is then presented as a practical application.
Organochlorine Pesticide Residues and Microbiological Quality Assessment of Dried Barb, Puntius sophore from the North-Eastern Part of Bangladesh
Authors: Hussain Md. Ashraf , Kabir Md. Lutful , Sayeed Md. Abu , Mahbub-E-Elahi A.T.M. , Ahmed Md. Sultan , Islam Md. Jakiul
Published: September 2018

The present study was carried out at the north-eastern part of Bangladesh to investigate organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues and microbiological quality of dried barb (Puntius sophore). Samples were collected from both producers and retailers from December 2016 to April 2017. A control sample was also prepared with the same raw fish used by the producers in the laboratory to compare the result. Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) was used to detect and quantify OCP residues. Around 22 % (6) samples out of 27 were found contaminated with OCP residues. Among these six adulterated samples, four were from retailers and two from producers. Only Aldrin was detected in four samples and rest two samples were detected with both Aldrin + Dieldrin and Aldrin + Endrin. Aldrin was found between 0.332 to 0.967 ppm, Dieldrin 0.762 ppm, and Endrin 0.828 ppm. All these values were much higher than the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) 0.1 ppm. Aerobic Plate Count (APC) of producer samples were ranged between log5.3 ± 0.02 to log5.4 ± 0.03, log6.2 ± 0.02 to log6.4 ± 0.02 for retailer samples and log5.0 ± 0.03 to log5.2 ± 0.04 for control samples. While fungal count was ranged between log3.2 ± 0.04 to log3.5 ± 0.04, log3.4 ± 0.04 to log3.6 ± 0.03 and log2.2 ± 0.05 to log2.5 ± 0.03 for producer, retailer and control samples respectively. All the producer and retailer samples and one-third of the control samples were found contaminated with Escherichia coli. Whereas, Salmonella sp. was detected as 13.3% in producer samples, 20% in retailer samples except for the control. In case of Vibrio sp., maximum count was found for retailer samples (13.3%), whereas, producer and control samples showed no detection. The finding of the present study revealed the presence of pesticides and poor microbiological quality of dried barb are alarming for the consumers of Bangladesh and which may cause chronic disease and potential long-term risk for human health.
Endothelin 1, NF-κB, and ADAM-15 Expression in Diabetic Foot Wounds
Authors: Atiç Ramazan , Deveci Engin
Published: September 2018

The diabetic foot is an important and destructive complication of diabetes. This study examined 65 individuals (35 males, 30 females) diagnosed with diabetic foot and having open wounds on their feet. Blood parameters differed significantly between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. After washing the foot with isotonic solution, the wound was debrided and the excised tissues (diabetic dermis) were fixed with neutral buffered 10% formalin solution. Specimens stained with haematoxylin-eosin, endothelin-1 (ET-1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and ADAM 15 antibodies were used to examine angiogenesis, cytokine activity, and the extracellular matrix, respectively. Histopathologically, in the diabetic feet of males, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages were spread diffusely throughout the lesion, with inflammatory cells invading all layers of blood vessels. In the diabetic feet of females, dilation and congestion of the blood vessels, degenerative changes in the subendothelial layer, and perivascular infiltration by lymphocytes were observed. ET-1 was expressed in inflammatory cells around pre-capillary vessels in the stromal area. NF-κB was expressed in macrophages around blood vessels, and in nodular organised cells distributed throughout the perivascular space. ADAM 15 was expressed in fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells. ET-1 expression in the endothelial cells of diabetic foot ulcers is an important determinant of insulin resistance at the onset of disease and induces macrophages to produce NF-κB, which regulates inflammation. It is thought that ADAM 15 contributes to angiogenic effects as a means of stimulating endothelial cells.
British Fictions after Devolution: William Boyd’s Culinary Arts
Authors: McNeill Dougal
Published: September 2018

Taking William Boyd's post-2000 novels as symptomatic of wider problems in British writing during the period of the break-up of Britain, this essay suggests that what looks, at first, like a simple collapse in Boyd's talent in fact has produced texts illuminating, in their limitations, the difficulties of British affiliation in the era of Britishness's ideological exhaustion. Boyd is, on this reading, an exemplary counter-example to the canon of self-consciously Scottish fiction more commonly studied in the years since 1979.
Muslim Feminists` Reading of the Quran: A Juristic Analysis on Family Law Issues
Authors: Haneef Sayed Sikandar Shah , Bt Mohd Yunus Saidatolakma , Al-Fijawi Mohammed Farid Ali
Published: September 2018

Muslim feminist movement represents an indigenous voice among the contemporary literature on women and family. Its main contention is that women in Muslim society are accorded less favourable treatment especially in terms of legal rights. To remedy the situation, feminist scholarship`s main argument is that there is a need for feminist-reading of the sacred texts so as to purge the juristic legacy of male-biased views and achieve justice and equality for Muslim women in contemporary families. One principal methodological framework for this idea to materialise is to embark on the re-reading of the Qur`an from the women`s perspective. In this context, this paper presents issue-based analysis of Amina Wadud`s reading of the relevant Qur`anic passages on family law matters and finds that in spite of its merits, its main handicap lies on its methodological flaws, both in terms of approach and outcome. Methodologically, it is regarded as selective and ultra-vires of Islamic methodology of legal reform. It terms of impact, it is suspected as being tainted with Western inspired assumptions of rights in terms of justice and equality between the genders. To overcome this impasse, the paper argues for a mediated holistic approach to harmonise relations between men and women in the family.  Keywords: Family law, gender equality, justice, Muslim feminist.
Islamic Law and Copyright In Academic World: The Dynamic Debates between Privatization and Distribution of Knowledge
Authors: Darmawati Darmawati
Published: September 2018

The article explores copyright problem dynamic in a globalized academic world, especially in the Muslim worlds. The discussed issue in this paper is a conflict of interest between knowledge privatization and distribution, and its relation to the Islamic norms. This paper argues that the main problem of the concept is that the discourse is dominated by the idea of knowledge privatization by the publishers as capitalists, supported by the Government through the policy represented in Copyright law. This study finds that there are several movements emerged in response to the development of copyright law. At least, there are two stream movements; anti copyright movement and movement which demand copyright reform. By presenting examples of copyright resistance movements in the academic world such as Sci-Hub, Libgen, A2K movement, and some copyright experiences in the Muslim world, this article will be guided by Foucauldian genealogical discourse theory. This article confirms that the interests of publishers and academic interests are two things that are difficult to discuss in order to achieve a win win solution. While copyright laws favor the ruling interests of things, it does not fully effective in handling the legal cases on academic and non-profit matters. Besides, Islamic law has its own ambivalence to the copyright case. On the one hand, Islam advocates the widespread dissemination of knowledge, but on the other hand the Muslim worlds have to limit the spread of the sciences in accordance with the interests of intellectual property rights.Keywords: Intellectual Property right, Islam and copyright, privatization of knowledge.
Una mirada documental de la fotografía underground a través del fanzine Rockocó. Análisis del Archivo Miguel Trillo en el Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS)
Authors:   Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Parras Parras Alicia , Rodríguez Cela Julia ,   Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Published: September 2018

En el siguiente artículo se realizará un análisis del archivo Miguel Trillo depositado en el Centro de Documentación del Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) con el objetivo de conocer las distintas partes que integran dicho archivo y, sobre todo, valorar la importancia documental del fanzine Rockocó en los años 80 y La Movida madrileña. Además, se revisará la biografía del fotógrafo Miguel Trillo, el contexto en el que se sitúa el archivo y otros conceptos relacionados con su obra como, por ejemplo, las tribus urbanas y una breve pincelada sobre la historia del fanzine en España.
Relaciones entre escultura, fotografía y acción en la práctica artística propia
Authors:   Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, del Castillo Naia
Published: September 2018

Este artículo es una revisión de la práctica artística propia inscrita en la escena contemporánea. El trabajo analizado es la obra realizada entre los años 2000 y 2017, conformando un conjunto de obras fotográficas y escultóricas bajo los títulos Atrapados, Sobre la seducción, Ofrendas y Posesiones, Desplazamientos, Flujos e Hilos y Trazos.En la experiencia propia, la noción de lo abyecto se establece como la energía vehicular y eje funcional de la obra artística, tanto por lo interdisciplinar de su funcionamiento como por el sujeto indescifrable que cuestiona. De esta manera, la observación, la noción de lo abyecto y la articulación de la escultura, la fotografía y la acción serán los tres puntos a desarrollar. Utilizados en la manera en que se integran, construyen la obra en forma y fondo. En este sentido, entretejen conceptos aparentemente opuestos como la apariencia o la presencia, el instante, la duración o la atemporalidad, junto con usos del fetiche o del doble conceptual. Todo ello plantea una reflexión sobre la realidad, no para representarla sino para darle réplica.
La fotografía documental y la utopía
Authors:   CEU Universidad San Pablo, Guerrero González-Valerio Beatriz
Published: September 2018

La fotografía docuemtal se distingue porque hace uso de la cámara como instrumento que le permite dar a conocer una determinada situación. Por tanto, no sólo hay un compromiso con la realidad, sino que se confía en la capacidad de convicción de la imagen fotográfica. Esta intención documental en la fotografía no se manifestará hasta los inicios del siglo XX. Su nacimiento tiene lugar en Estados Unidos, de la mano de Jacob Riis y de Lewis Hine, ambos realizan fotografías de temática social abogando porque se enmendasen ciertas injusticias. En los inicios del siglo XXI podemos constatar que las imágenes documentales siguen existiendo y funcionando. Dos serán las cuestiones que trataremos de esclarecer a lo largo del presente artículo, en primer lugar, qué se entiende por fotografía documental , que carácteristicas debe tener una imagen para ser considerada documental y, en segundo lugar, constatar si la fotografía documental actual sigue interesada en reformar, si sigue buscando persuadir a sus coetáneos de la necesidad de enderezar el mundo. Para dar respuesta a esta última cuestión nos basaremos en la obra de Ana Palacios, que realiza fotografía documental siempre vinculada a proyectos de cooperación al desarrollo en Asia y Africa subsahariana.
Narrativas audiovisuales y el impulso de la fotografía
Authors:   Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Jurado Martín Montserrat
Published: September 2018

Miguel Hernández Communication Journal es una revista internacional de índole científica especializada en la comunicación en sus distintas vertientes como la periodística, audiovisual y persuasiva, contemplándose también otras temáticas interdisciplinares relacionadas. MHCJ pertenece a la Plataforma Latina de Revistas de Comunicación, PLatCom, y su vocación es la de servicio público a las comunidades de investigadores para difundir sus resultados científicos. Con mucho esfuerzo logramos cumplir con los dos volúmenes al año en las fechas, enero y julio. 2017 fue un periodo de transición y publicamos en marzo y septiembre. Detrás de las cámaras está el esfuerzo de un equipo de profesionales que apostamos por la difusión de los resultados de investigación en abierto y accesibles para todo el planeta y, desde nuestro enclave geográfico, nos coordinamos para que los autores encuentren no sólo un lugar para publicar sus estudios, sino también un espacio en el que se vean arropados y asesorados durante todo el proceso. A tal fin incorporamos al equipo al profesor Francisco Julián Martínez Cano como responsable de monográficos.
The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: Focusing on the Critical Role of Communication and Collaboration to Further Research, Extension, and Industry Goals
Authors: Dorn Sheri , Bradley Lucy , Hamrick Debbie , Weisenhorn Julie , Bennett Pam , Callabro Jill , Behe Bridget , Bauske Ellen , Bumgarner Natalie
Published: September 2018

The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) is a diverse consortium of leaders who provide a unified voice for promoting the benefits and value of consumer horticulture (CH). NICH endeavors to unite national research efforts with the goals of the diverse stakeholders in the industry, the public sector, and the gardening public in an effort to advance knowledge and increase benefits and application of horticulture for cultivating a healthy world through landscapes, gardens, and plants, and an improved quality of life. Benefits of CH are broadly applicable, whether economic, environmental, or community- and health-related. A benefits approach to marketing sets the stage for unprecedented collaboration, such as that demonstrated by NICH. NICH members have developed three broad goals: recognizing CH as a driver of the agricultural economy; highlighting that CH restores, protects, and conserves natural resources through research and education; and cultivating healthy, connected, and engaged communities through CH. Three NICH committees (Economic, Environmental, and Community and Health Benefits) have focused their efforts on NICH goals for the past 10 months. The three committee chairs, representing ≈30 committee members, presented the results of their efforts and future directions for their committees. The Economic and Environmental committees have proceeded with campaigns to better market CH by promoting the benefits of plants and to increase environmental benefits by changing consumer behavior. After reviewing current research, the Community and Health Benefits Committee suggested that a gap exists in research related to specific benefits of CH and personal gardening (as opposed to benefits accrued by enjoying forests, horticulture therapy, indoor atriums, community gardens, parks, and other public places). The committee suggested that overcoming this gap requires strategic collaboration of skill and expertise from a more diverse group of industry representatives, specialists, and scientists. This approach has tremendous potential to affect the CH marketplace, especially when drawing multiple sources of value from the products and experiences.
Evaluation of Ethyl Formate, Phosphine, and Their Combination to Disinfest Harvested Celery against Purple Scum Springtails
Authors: Ahmed Qasim , Ren Yonglin , Emery Robert , Newman James , Agarwal Manjree
Published: September 2018

Export celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) from Australia has been affected by a natural infestation of purple scum springtails (Hypogastrura vernalis). These insects live inside the celery head, contaminating fresh celery, but do not cause any visible damage. As a result, purple scum springtail-infested celery has led to rejection for export with an impact on market value for fresh produce. In this study, fumigation with ethyl formate (EF), phosphine (PH3), and their combination on mortality of purple scum springtails in naturally infested celery was evaluated. Laboratory experiments were conducted using concentrations of 50, 60, and 90 mg·L−1 of EF for 1, 2, and 4 hours; 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 mg·L−1 of PH3 for 2, 4, and 6 hours; and 20, 30, and 40 mg·L−1 of EF combined with 1 mg·L−1 of PH3, for 2 and 4 hours at the laboratory temperature 25 °C. Complete control was achieved at 90 mg·L−1 of EF for 2 hours; however, phytotoxicity was observed in celery treated by EF at all concentrations. PH3 at 2.5 mg·L−1 achieved 100% mortality within 6 hours, and no phytotoxicity was evident. Mortality of 100% was achieved also at 30 and 40 mg·L−1 EF combined with 1 mg·L−1 of PH3 for 2 and 4 hours exposure time; however, phytotoxicity occurred with EF alone treatments and with the combination. From these data, we conclude that PH3 alone has potential as a fumigant for the preshipment treatment of celery infested with purple scum springtails.
Water Requirements of Landscape Plants Studies Conducted by the University of California Researchers
Authors: Hartin Janet S. , Fujino David W. , Oki Lorence R. , Reid S. Karrie , Ingels Charles A. , Haver Darren
Published: September 2018

University of California (UC) researchers have been involved in research and extension pertaining to measuring evapotranspiration (ET) rates and determining the minimum irrigation requirements of landscape plants for more than 30 years. Early work included the design and implementation of the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) weather station network and determining crop coefficients for warm and cool season turfgrasses based on historical ET and CIMIS data. Other researchers determined the minimum irrigation requirements for several species of established landscape trees, shrubs, and groundcovers in diverse climate zones throughout the state. In addition, the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) system was developed by UC personnel in the early 1990s which, to date, has classified more than 3500 landscape species into very low, low, moderate, and high water-use categories based on observation and personal experience by industry experts and UC personnel. Future work in the area of landscape water use and conservation will include updating WUCOLS as more data from replicated trials become available. New research at UC Riverside aims to improve irrigation efficiency (IE) through precision irrigation using smart controllers, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis under controlled conditions. Irrigation training and certification for public and private landscape managers must remain a priority because, even with advanced smart controller technologies, water savings will not occur with poorly designed and functioning irrigation systems.
Flurprimidol and Paclobutrazol Substrate Drenches on Potted Pineapple Lily
Authors: Lyons Shawn D. , Miller William B. , Wien H. Christian , Mattson Neil S.
Published: September 2018

When grown in containers, pineapple lily (Eucomis sp.) can produce excessively long foliage and tall scapes, particularly in cultivars with tall pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa) parentage. Height control, through the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs), is necessary to improve crop quality of potted pineapple lily. In year 1 of these trials, bulbs of cultivars Reuben, Tugela Jade, and Tugela Gem were given substrate drenches of flurprimidol or paclobutrazol, each at 2, 4, or 6 mg per 6-inch pot. Drenches were applied at the “visible inflorescence” stage. As concentration increased, scapes were generally shorter in all cultivars for both PGRs, but there was no effect on foliage length or production time. At the rates tested, the reduction in scape length was insufficient to produce marketable plants of the three cultivars. In the second year, substrate drenches were applied at an earlier stage than in year 1, at “leaf whorl emergence,” when shoots were about 7 cm tall. The PGR treatments were notably more effective at controlling plant height in the second year. As concentration increased, scape and foliage length was reduced relative to the controls in all three cultivars for both PGRs. For all cultivars, inflorescence leaning and toppling were sharply reduced at all application rates compared with untreated controls. The reduction in plant height observed in year 2, particularly in plants treated with 4 or 6 mg/pot, resulted in plants with compact scapes and foliage proportional with their 6-inch containers.
Growth and Flowering Responses of Seed-propagated Strawberry Seedlings to Different Photoperiods in Controlled Environment Chambers
Authors: Tsuruyama Johshin , Shibuya Toshio
Published: September 2018

The present study investigated growth properties and flowering response of seed-propagated strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) seedlings under artificial lighting with different photoperiods to support the development of a high-performance system for the indoor production of strawberry plug transplants. Seedlings of ‘Elan’ and ‘Yotsuboshi’ were grown for 38 days under sunlight in a greenhouse or under light-emitting diode (LED) illumination with photoperiods of 8/16, 12/12, 16/8, or 24/0 hours (light/dark) in growth chambers. The photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) in these photoperiods was maintained at 350, 230, 175, or 115 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively, to provide the same daily light integral (DLI) of 10 mol·m−2·d−1. The average of DLI of sunlight was 9.9 mol·m−2·d−1. Seedling growth was greater with the 16- and 24-hour photoperiods than with sunlight even though all three treatments provided about the same DLI. Flower buds of the seedlings grown under longer photoperiods started significantly earlier after transplanting in ‘Elan’ but not in ‘Yotsuboshi’. Thus, strawberry transplant production under artificial lighting with an optimized photoperiod can provide high-quality transplants, although the effectiveness is cultivar-specific.
Ocular Ciliopathies: Genetic and Mechanistic Insights into Developing Therapies
Authors: Shivanna Mahesh , Anand Manisha , Chakrabarti Subhabrata , Khanna Hemant
Published: September 2018

Developing suitable medicines for genetic diseases requires a detailed understanding
of not only the pathways that cause the disease, but also the identification of the genetic
components involved in disease manifestation. This article focuses on the complexities associated
with ocular ciliopathies – a class of debilitating disorders of the eye caused by ciliary
dysfunction. Ciliated cell types have been identified in both the anterior and posterior segments
of the eye. Photoreceptors (rods and cones) are the most studied ciliated neurons in the
retina, which is located in the posterior eye. The photoreceptors contain a specialized lightsensing
outer segment, or cilium. Any defects in the development or maintenance of the outer
segment can result in severe retinal ciliopathies, such as retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital
amaurosis. A role of cilia in the cell types involved in regulating aqueous fluid outflow
in the anterior segment of the eye has also been recognized. Defects in these cell types are
frequently associated with some forms of glaucoma. Here, we will discuss the significance of
understanding the genetic heterogeneity and the pathogenesis of ocular ciliopathies to develop
suitable treatment strategies for these blinding disorders.
Drug Target Selection for Trypanosoma cruzi Metabolism by Metabolic Control Analysis and Kinetic Modeling
Authors: Saavedra Emma , González-Chávez Zabdi , Moreno-Sánchez Rafael , Michels Paul A.M.
Published: September 2018

In the search for therapeutic targets in the intermediary metabolism of trypanosomatids
the gene essentiality criterion as determined by using knock-out and knock-down genetic
strategies is commonly applied. As most of the evaluated enzymes/transporters have
turned out to be essential for parasite survival, additional criteria and approaches are clearly
required for suitable drug target prioritization. The fundamentals of Metabolic Control
Analysis (MCA; an approach in the study of control and regulation of metabolism) and kinetic
modeling of metabolic pathways (a bottom-up systems biology approach) allow quantification
of the degree of control that each enzyme exerts on the pathway flux (flux control coefficient)
and metabolic intermediate concentrations (concentration control coefficient). MCA
studies have demonstrated that metabolic pathways usually have two or three enzymes with
the highest control of flux; their inhibition has more negative effects on the pathway function
than inhibition of enzymes exerting low flux control. Therefore, the enzymes with the highest
pathway control are the most convenient targets for therapeutic intervention. In this review,
the fundamentals of MCA as well as experimental strategies to determine the flux control coefficients
and metabolic modeling are analyzed. MCA and kinetic modeling have been applied
to trypanothione metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi and the model predictions subsequently
validated in vivo. The results showed that three out of ten enzyme reactions analyzed
in the T. cruzi anti-oxidant metabolism were the most controlling enzymes. Hence, MCA and
metabolic modeling allow a further step in target prioritization for drug development against
trypanosomatids and other parasites.
Immune-mediated Cerebellar Ataxias: Practical Guidelines and Therapeutic Challenges
Authors: Mitoma Hiroshi , Manto Mario , Hampe Christiane S.
Published: September 2018

Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs), a clinical entity reported for the first time
in the 1980s, include gluten ataxia (GA), paraneoplastic cerebellar degenerations (PCDs), antiglutamate
decarboxylase 65 (GAD) antibody-associated cerebellar ataxia, post-infectious cerebellitis,
and opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS). These IMCAs share common features with regard
to therapeutic approaches. When certain factors trigger immune processes, elimination of the antigen(
s) becomes a priority: e.g., gluten-free diet in GA and surgical excision of the primary tumor in
PCDs. Furthermore, various immunotherapeutic modalities (e.g., steroids, immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis,
immunosuppressants, rituximab) should be considered alone or in combination to prevent
the progression of the IMCAs. There is no evidence of significant differences in terms of response
and prognosis among the various types of immunotherapies. Treatment introduced at an
early stage, when CAs or cerebellar atrophy is mild, is associated with better prognosis. Preservation
of the “cerebellar reserve” is necessary for the improvement of CAs and resilience of the cerebellar
networks. In this regard, we emphasize the therapeutic principle of “Time is Cerebellum” in
IMCAs.
Future of multiscale modelling of concrete - Toward a full integration of cement chemistry and concrete structural engineering
Authors: Ishida Tetsuya , Wang Tiao
Published: September 2018

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to improve concrete performance has increased around the world in recent decades. Engineering practices demand a unified model for SCMs to predict and optimise the performance of blended concrete.DuCOM-COM3 is a multi-chemo-physical and multiscale analysis platform that can trace the whole-life behaviour and performance of reinforced concrete structures. However, the intrinsic heterogeneity and variability of SCMs present great challenges to the modelling of blended concrete. This paper first reviews the challenges and difficulties of current models of blended concrete. A multiphase modelling scheme based on DuCOM-COM3 analysis platform is introduced to consider different SCMs. Using the modelling scheme, a research road map for blended concrete modelling is introduced for future study. It is hoped that the roadmap will help to reveal the mechanism of SCM reactions and their effect on concrete performance.
Implementing mHealth Apps for Child Developmental Screenings: Opportunities and Challenges (Preprint)
Authors: Miller Andrew , Swec Katie , Watkins Sarah , Chen Elizabeth , Paul Alison , Huskins Jordan , Lee Jin , Bauer Nerissa
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Clinical care guidelines for universal developmental screening are meant to identify at-risk children as early as possible so that early intervention can be initiated. However, despite years of initiatives, developmental screening rates remain less than ideal. Recent innovations in mHealth apps that integrate developmental screening may offer an alternate way to optimize screening rates if it can encourage co-use and seamless integration into clinical workflow.

OBJECTIVE

Prior to the planned deployment of a clinic-based mHealth developmental screening app, the research team sought to identify and characterize opportunities and challenges to implementation, focusing on clinic workflow and multi-stakeholder engagement with providers and parents.

METHODS

Three clinic settings were recruited to participate from one children’s hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Preimplementation clinical observations of workflow and team dynamics were performed. Potential adoption barriers and facilitators were explored through interviews with health care teams guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Parents with children aged 0-5 were recruited from study clinics and social media to complete a 26-item survey to gauge their attitudes towards using apps in place of paper screening forms and for tracking their child’s development.

RESULTS

Proposed implementation workflows were co-created with each clinical team so to not increase overall visit length, which was the main concern for health care providers. Providers had enthusiasm for use of mHealth tools; however, concerns were expressed about potential technology failures, data security and HIPAA and the workflow impacts. Two hundred fifty parents responded to the social media survey. The top reason for downloading child health apps were for a convenient way to track development (62.6%). Two-thirds of respondents expressed interest in an app that included developmental screening forms. Most parents prefer to complete screening tools on the day of the clinic visit (47.7%) or electronically prior to the visit (44.8%). Seventy-four percent of parents expressed a higher likelihood of using an app if recommended by the pediatrician.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents and providers are interested and open to mHealth apps for child developmental screening. Provider buy-in and involvement in implementation planning is critical, both to integrating apps into clinic workflows and to encouraging parents to use the app.
Automated Patient Navigation Platform Increases Referral Conversion for Surgical Consultations (Preprint)
Authors: Feng Aiden , Elias Josephine , Hart Kevin , Roberts Philip , Laskowski Karl
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Provider organizations often lack closed-loop systems to convert referrals for surgical consultations, relying on patients to proactively follow-up and schedule their initial evaluation with surgeons. Referrals that do not promptly converted into appointments result in delays in care and lost revenue opportunities.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an automated referral navigation platform on referral conversion rate and scheduling efficiency.

METHODS

Referral information, prompts to schedule appointments, and appointment reminders with digital wayfinding services were delivered to patients using time-released text messages and emails via an automated HIPAA-compliant software platform (Medumo, Inc, Boston, MA). All patients who were referred for evaluation by General Surgery, Oral Medicine, Otolaryngology, and Urology at our institution for 16 weeks starting February 12, 2018 were enrolled in the automated referral navigation program (intervention cohort). Exclusion criteria were incomplete referral information and absence of email address and cell phone number in the medical record. The primary outcome metric was conversion rate of referrals to appointments within 12 business days. Outcome metrics on scheduling efficiency included conversion rate of referrals to appointments within 2 business days and percent of patients contacted within 24 hours of referral. Success of patient navigation was measured with appointment no-show rates, digital wayfinding service utilization, and patient satisfaction. All outcomes of the intervention cohort were compared to referrals made in the 16 weeks ending February 11, 2018 (baseline cohort).

RESULTS

During the intervention period, there were 4991 patients enrolled in the referral navigation program. Compared to the baseline cohort, the conversion rate of referrals to appointments within 12 business days increased from 63.4% to 65.6% (P=.01). Efficiency with which referrals were converted to appointments improved: referral conversion rate within 2 business days increased from 40.0% to 52.0% (P<.01) and patient contact rate within 24 hours increased from 54.5% to 95.9% (P<.01). For appointments scheduled during the study period, no-show rate decreased 22.7% (5.7% to 4.4%, P=.01) and utilization of the digital hospital wayfinding service increased 1777.6%. Average satisfaction score was 4.4/5.0 for the referral navigation program.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a software platform that facilitates referral capture with appointment navigation increased referral conversion, boosted efficiency of appointment scheduling, and improved patient preparedness with fewer no-shows in surgical specialties.
A Novel Digital Platform Approach to Enhance Enterprise-Wide Patient Portal Adoption (Preprint)
Authors: Solad Yauheni , Patel Shrawan , Hsiao Allen , Atreja Ashish
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

Patient portals provide a simplified route for health providers to share medical information with individual patients, and are incentivized under Meaningful Use. Currently there are numerous friction factors in the onboarding process of patient portals that limits patients signing up for them. As a result, health systems are spending significant resources to drive the adoption of patient portals, with limited success.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a innovative rules-driven digital patient engagement strategy for patients to sign up for online patient portal at an academic medical center.

METHODS

Rx.Universe is a digital platform integrated into provider EMR systems that enables physicians to directly “prescribe” mobile health applications and/or digital care bundles to patients. Rx.Universe Bulk Prescription feature was used to prescribe—via SMS—a direct link to the MyChart login page with the patient’s unique code and personal information embedded within the link. This removed several key barriers to adoption: patients needing to copy and paste access codes, fill in their personal data and complete this process within 30 days—after which their unique access code expires. The Rx.Universe engagement dashboard displayed the total number of patients who received prescribed messages, the number of unsuccessful prescriptions, prescriptions opened in the first 24 hours, and total prescriptions opened.

RESULTS

We digitally prescribed MyChart Activation to 23,485 patients under the care of Yale-New Haven Hospital over a period of 2 days. Of these prescriptions, 21,997 (93.66%) were successfully delivered and 1488 (6.33%) failed to be delivered because of incorrect cell phone numbers in EHR. Of the prescriptions successfully prescribed, 2170 (9.86%) were clicked within 24 hours of being prescribed with a total of 2378 (10.81%) clicked within a week.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital Medicine Platforms offer new channel for onboarding and following up patients through customized digital care plans. The power of this approach in removing barriers for patients is highlighted by the fact that Yale-New Haven Hospital met their yearly MyChart adoption target through this campaign within a week. Furthermore, the data could be assessed and acted upon in real-time as opposed to the usual weeks. This technology can be extended to close the care gaps for hospitals and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) in a scalable manner for a subpopulation, with manual processes reserved for patients unable to be reached in an automated fashion.
A Mobile Phone–Based Self-Monitoring Tool for Perioperative Gastric Cancer Patients With Incentive Spirometer: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Soh Ji Yeong , Lee Se Uk , Lee Inpyo , Yoon Ki Sang , Song Changho , Kim Nam Hun , Sohn Tae Sung , Bae Jae Moon , Chang Dong Kyung , Cha Won Chul
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

An incentive spirometer (IS) is a medical device used to help patients improve the functioning of their lungs. It is provided to patients who have had any surgery that might jeopardize respiratory function. An incentive spirometer plays a key role in the prevention of postoperative complications, and the appropriate use of an IS is especially well known for the prevention of respiratory complications. However, IS utilization depends on the patient’s engagement, and information and communication technology (ICT) can help in this area.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effect of mobile ICT on the usage of an IS (Go-breath) app by postoperative patients after general anesthesia.

METHODS

For this study, we recruited patients from April to May 2018, who used the Go-breath app at a single tertiary hospital in South Korea. The patients were randomly classified into either a test or control group. The main function of the Go-breath app was to allow for self-reporting and frequency monitoring of IS use, deep breathing, and active coughing in real time. The Go-breath app was identical for both the test and control groups, except for the presence of the alarm function. The test group heard an alarm every 60 min from 9 am to 9 pm for 2 days. For the test group alone, a dashboard was established in the nurse’s station through which a nurse could rapidly assess the performance of multiple patients. To evaluate the number of performances per group, we constructed an incentive spirometer index (ISI).

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients were recruited, and 42 of them completed the study protocol. ISI in the test group was 20.2 points higher than that in the control group (113.5 points in the test group and 93.2 points in the control group, P=.22). The system usability scale generally showed almost the same score in the 2 groups (79.3 points in the test group and 79.4 points in the control group, P=.94). We observed that the performance rates of IS count, active coughing, and deep breathing were also higher in the test group but with no statistically significant difference between the groups. For the usefulness “yes or no” question, over 90% (38/42) of patients answered “yes” and wanted more functional options and information.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the Go-breath app resulted in considerable differences between the test group and control group but with no statistically significant differences.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03569332; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03569332 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/74ihKmQIX).
Meningkatkan Keamanan Energi Melalui Perincian Indikator Energi Terbarukan dan Efisiensi Guna Membangun Ketahanan Nasional Dari Daerah
Authors: Yandri Erkata , Ariati Ratna , Ibrahim Riki Firmandha
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper was to discussed how to developed the concept of Indonesia's energy security model with of Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) programs. To did this, there were four important concepts must be completed: reconceptualized the Indonesia's energy security model; explained the energy security (ES) relationship with the details of the indicator; explained the potential of ET and EE in each sector; explained the role of local government in exploiting the potential of ET and EE.As an archipelago country  divided into several regions, in order to get accurate prediction, our result showed  that development Indonesian energy security models needed to be developed properly with more detailed indicators of RE and EE. To pursued the goal of national energy policy, the potential of RE and EE in each province should be utilized immediately, the role of local government was very important. The concept of detailed RE and EE indicators would create a contribution for local governments in realizing national energy security.ABSTRAKTujuan dari penulisan ini adalah untuk membahas bagaimana mengembangkan konsep model keamanan energi Indonesia dengan program Energi Terbarukan (ET) dan Efisiensi Energi (EE).Untuk melakukan ini, ada empat konsep penting yang harus diselesaikan: mengkonsepkan kembali model keamanan energi Indonesia; menjelaskan hubungan kemananan energi (ES) dengan perincian indikator; menjelaskan potensi ET dan EE di masing-masing sektor; menjelaskan peran pemerintah daerah dalam memanfaatkan potensi ET dan EE.Sebagai negara kepulauan yang terbagi menjadi beberapa provinsi,  analisis menunjukkan bahwa model keamanan energi Indonesia perlu dikembangkan dengan indikator ET dan EE yang lebih rinci. Untuk mengejar tujuan kebijakan energi nasional, potensi ET dan EE di setiap provinsi harus segera dimanfaatkan, maka peran pemerintah daerah sangat penting. Konsep model indikator ET dan EE yang terperinci ini akan merupakan kontribusi bagi pemerintah daerah dalam mewujudkan keamanan energi nasional.