bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomic river restoration: A new focus for river management
Authors: Johnson Matthew F. , Thorne Colin R. , Castro Janine M. , Kondolf G. Mathias , Mazzacano Celeste Searles , Rood Stewart B. , Westbrook Cherie
Published: August 2019

River management based solely on physical science has proven to be unsustainable and unsuccessful, evidenced by the fact that the problems this approach intended to solve (e.g., flood hazards, water scarcity, and channel instability) have not been solved and long‐term deterioration in river environments has reduced the capacity of rivers to continue meeting the needs of society. In response, there has been a paradigm shift in management over the past few decades, towards river restoration. But the ecological, morphological, and societal benefits of river restoration have, on the whole, been disappointing. We believe that this stems from the fact that restoration overrelies on the same physical analyses and approaches, with flowing water still regarded as the universally predominant driver of channel form and structural intervention seen as essential to influencing fluvial processes. We argue that if river restoration is to reverse long‐standing declines in river functions, it is necessary to recognize the influence of biology on river forms and processes and re‐envisage what it means to restore a river. This entails shifting the focus of river restoration from designing and constructing stable channels that mimic natural forms to reconnecting streams within balanced and healthy biomes, and so levering the power of biology to influence river processes. We define this new approach as biomic river restoration.
A more intuitive and modern way to compute a small‐sample confidence interval for the mean of a Poisson distribution
Authors: Hanley James A.
Published: August 2019

Small‐sample confidence intervals for the mean of a Poisson distribution have been used since the 1930s. They can be computed by trial and error, or using a computation‐saving link that few are aware of and that, even if they are, is neither intuitive nor easy to remember. I trace how and why this link has been used, even if the basis for it has been lost or ignored. I promote a direct and more meaningful link that can be easily used today without having to resort to tables or approximations suited to hand calculators. More importantly, this (time‐based) link is instructive and intuitive, and thus more easily derived and understood.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Assessment of Novel 2‐(4‐Alkoxybenzylidine)‐2,3‐dihydro‐5,6‐dimethoxy‐1H‐inden‐1‐one Derivatives as hAChE and hBuChE Enzyme Inhibitors
Authors: Mozaffarnia Sakineh , Parsaee Faeze , Payami Elmira , Karami Hosna , Soltani Somaieh , Rashidi Mohammad‐Reza , Teimuri‐Mofrad Reza
Published: August 2019

A novel series of 2‐(4‐alkoxybenzylidine)‐2,3‐dihydro‐5,6‐dimethoxy‐1H‐inden‐1‐one derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (hBuChE) enzymes. The in vitro studies showed that some of these molecules exhibited a significant ability to inhibit AChE and BuChE. Among them, 2‐[4‐[2‐(piperidine‐1‐yl)ethoxy]benzylidine]‐2,3‐dihydro‐5,6‐dimethoxy‐1H‐inden‐1‐one exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.3 and 7.4 μM for AChE and BuChE, respectively. This compound was found to be less toxic than donepezil.
Hydrogen Bonding versus H−H Interactions in Pillar[n]arenes
Authors: Athare Sulakshana V. , Gejji Shridhar P.
Published: August 2019

We employ the ωB97x based density functional theory to explore the electronic structure and bonding features of macrocyclic hosts composed of hydroquinone aromatic units endowed with pillar‐like structure, namely the pillar[n]arenes (Pn, n=5–8, 10, 12) family. It has been shown that Pn (n=5–7) possess single‐cavitand structure. The stability of P5‐P7 hosts is governed by C−H−O cooperative hydrogen bonding. A gradual decrease in C−H−O cooperative hydrogen bonding along the P5–P7 series was noticed. The homologated Pn (n=8, 10, 12) hosts on the other hand, favour the conformer wherein the methylene groups at the bridging position orient mutually at an angle of ∼64° which engender a noncavitand structure which can be attributed to H−H interactions prevailing over C−H−O cooperative hydrogen bonding. Besides P8 and P10 hosts furnish bi‐cavitand structures comprised of cavities with four and five monomeric hydroquinone units (P8–44 and P10–55) 42.9 kJ mol−1 and 79.7 kJ mol−1 higher in energy, respectively over their lowest energy twisted conformer. Moreover, P12 scaffold bicavitand conformers with (i) each cavity composed of six hydroquinone units (P12–66) and (ii) one cavity with seven and other with five hydroquinone units (P12–75) were also characterized. Unlike the lower Pn hosts H−H interactions contribute largely to the twisted conformers of Pn (n≥8) while cooperative CH−O hydrogen bonding dominates in their bicavitand structures. These inferences are corroborated through the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules.
Selective Hypoxia‐Cytotoxin 7‐Fluoro‐2‐Aminophenazine 5,10‐Dioxide: Toward “Candidate‐to‐Drug” Stage in the Drug‐Development Pipeline
Authors: Dávila Belén , Sánchez Carina , Fernández Marcelo , Cerecetto Hugo , Lecot Nicole , Cabral Pablo , Glisoni Romina , González Mercedes
Published: August 2019

7‐Fluoro‐2‐aminophenazine 5,10‐dioxide, 1, has displayed in vitro bioreductive selective cytotoxicity, which could acts towards tumors containing hypoxic regions. In this work, we describe some preclinical studies of compound 1 confirming its in vivo antitumor activity. The synthesis of compound 1 was scaled up to 3 g improving the micro‐scale yield. Some drug‐like properties for compound 1 were theoretically‐predicted and others, i. e. aqueous‐solubility and toxicity ‐mutagenicity, in vivo chromosomal‐aberrations and ip acute LD50‐, were experimentally confirmed. Antitumoral activity was studied in mice bearing hypoxic 4T1‐breast‐tumor by assessing evolution of the tumor‐sizes, animal‐survival and bio‐chemical/hematological. Compound 1 in vivo efficacy, with the absence of systemic toxicity, was confirmed.. Results highlight the potential of 7‐fluoro‐2‐aminophenazine 5,10‐dioxide as promissory therapeutic agent for solid tumors.
Microwave‐Assisted Multicomponent Reaction: A Green and Catalyst‐Free Method for the Synthesis of Poly‐Functionalized 1,4‐Dihydropyridines
Authors: Maddila Suresh , Nagaraju Kerru , Chinnam Sampath , Jonnalagadda Sreekantha B
Published: August 2019

A facile and an efficient procedure for the synthesis of poly‐substituted 1,4‐dihydropyridine derivatives under catalyst‐free conditions has been established by a one‐pot multi‐component reaction in EtOH solvent under microwave irradiation (150 W). The remarkable benefits of this approach are: simple operation, non‐toxic, short reaction time (< 5 min), excellent yields (93‐98%), no column chromatography, clean reaction profile and environmentally friendly reaction.
Phase Transformation and Precipitation Mechanism of Nb Microalloyed Bainite–Martensite Offshore Platform Steel at Different Cooling Rates
Authors: Xiong Wenming , Song Renbo , Yu Ping , Huo Weifeng , Qin Shuai , Liu Zhijun
Published: August 2019

The phase transformation and precipitation mechanism of Nb microalloyed offshore platform steel during continuous cooling are studied by the thermal expansion method and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that a large amount of NbC is precipitated in the investigated steel during phase transformation and is classified into three types according to its size: Type I (>100 nm) is randomly generated in the austenitization stage; type II (20–100 nm) is precipitated by stress induction during thermal deformation; and type III (≈10 nm) is formed by the combination of segregated C and Nb during the cooling process after the formation of bainitic ferrite matrix. In addition, herein, a model of phase transition and precipitation behavior at different cooling rates is designed. At a low cooling rate (0.5 °C s−1), the microstructure consists of a granular structure formed by diffusion and granular bainite formed by shearing, which is a diffusion phase transformation. At a medium cooling rate (3 °C s−1), the orientation relationship of ferrite and austenite is [001]α//[011]γ and (110)α//(−1−11)γ, which is semidiffusion and a half‐shear mechanism. At a high cooling rate (15 °C s−1), there are a large number of intertwined dislocations in martensite, which is a shear mechanism.
A New Mill Design for the Production of a Strip with Zero Strip Crown
Authors: Zamanian Ahmad , Nam Seung Yeon , Hwang Sang Moo
Published: August 2019

These days production of a strip with uniform thickness (zero or a very small strip crown) has crucial importance in mill industries. However, it is not possible to achieve with various existing technologies such as pair cross (PC) mill, high crown control mill (HC mill), continuously variable crown (CVC), etc. Herein, the uniform thickness control (UTC) technology is introduced, which enables the manifestation of perfectly flat strip profiles at each mill stand in the hot strip mill. It is demonstrated by finite element (FE) simulation that UTC technology has the high capability of flatness as well as strip crown control for a wide range of widths and roll forces, indicating its potential to give rise to revolutionary changes in the current mill practices in the future.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of Austenite Homogenization on Carbidic Ductile Iron
Authors: Yang Penghui , Fu Hanguang , Lin Jian , Guo Xingye , Lei Yongping
Published: August 2019

The austenite homogenization of carbidic austempered ductile iron is studied from both thermodynamics and dynamics by calculation and experimentation, and a mathematical model of carbide dissolution is established to predict the dissolved quantity of carbides. The results indicate that the mass fraction of carbon in austenite (austenite–graphite stable equilibrium) calculated by the Thermo‐Calc software is similar to the results quantitatively analyzed by electron probe. Based on Fick's second law, the elemental diffusion kinetics is analyzed by MATLAB software. Because the diffusion rate of chromium in austenite is lower than carbon, the carbon content is significantly decreased around undissolved carbides, but the chromium content is still high. Two equations of undissolved carbides' area are obtained by linear fitting.
Acoustic context effects in speech perception
Authors: Stilp Christian
Published: August 2019

The extreme acoustic variability of speech is well established, which makes the proficiency of human speech perception all the more impressive. Speech perception, like perception in any modality, is relative to context, and this provides a means to normalize the acoustic variability in the speech signal. Acoustic context effects in speech perception have been widely documented, but a clear understanding of how these effects relate to each other across stimuli, timescales, and acoustic domains is lacking. Here we review the influences that spectral context, temporal context, and spectrotemporal context have on speech perception. Studies are organized in terms of whether the context precedes the target (forward effects) or follows it (backward effects), and whether the context is adjacent to the target (proximal) or temporally removed from it (distal). Special cases where proximal and distal contexts have competing influences on perception are also considered. Across studies, a common theme emerges: acoustic differences between contexts and targets are perceptually magnified, producing contrast effects that facilitate perception of target sounds and words. This indicates enhanced sensitivity to changes in the acoustic environment, which maximizes the amount of potential information that can be transmitted to the perceiver.

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Language in Mind and Brain

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics
Task-evoked reconfiguration of the fronto-parietal network is associated with cognitive performance in brain tumor patients
Authors: De Baene Wouter , Jansma Martijn J. , Schouwenaars Irena T. , Rutten Geert-Jan M. , Sitskoorn Margriet M.
Published: August 2019

In healthy participants, the strength of task-evoked network reconfigurations is associated with cognitive performance across several cognitive domains. It is, however, unclear whether the capacity for network reconfiguration also plays a role in cognitive deficits in brain tumor patients. In the current study, we examined whether the level of reconfiguration of the fronto-parietal (‘FPN’) and default mode network (‘DMN’) during task execution is correlated with cognitive performance in patients with different types of brain tumors. For this purpose, we combined data from a resting state and task-fMRI paradigm in patients with a glioma or meningioma. Cognitive performance was measured using the in-scanner working memory task, as well as an out-of-scanner cognitive flexibility task. Task-evoked changes in functional connectivity strength (defined as the mean of the absolute values of all connections) and in functional connectivity patterns within and between the FPN and DMN did not differ significantly across meningioma and fast (HGG) and slowly growing glioma (LGG) patients. Across these brain tumor patients, a significant and positive correlation was found between the level of task-evoked reconfiguration of the FPN and cognitive performance. This suggests that the capacity for FPN reconfiguration also plays a role in cognitive deficits in brain tumor patients, as was previously found for normal cognitive performance in healthy controls.
Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy by MRI-Based Machine Learning Texture Analysis in Rectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Shayesteh Sajad P. , Alikhassi Afsaneh , Farhan Farshid , Gahletaki Reza , Soltanabadi Masume , Haddad Peiman , Bitarafan-Rajabi Ahmad
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical resection is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Radiomics can be used as noninvasive biomarker for prediction of response to therapy. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MRI texture features of LARC with nCRT response and the effect of Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) filter and feature selection algorithm in prediction process improvement.

Methods

All patients underwent MRI with a 3T clinical scanner, 1 week before nCRT. For each patient, intensity, shape, and texture-based features were derived from MRI images with LoG filter using the IBEX software and without preprocessing. We identified responder from a non-responder group using 9 machine learning classifiers. Then, the effect of preprocessing LoG filters with 0.5, 1 and 1.5 value on these classification algorithms’ performance was investigated. Eventually, classification algorithm’s results were compared in different feature selection methods.

Result

Sixty-seven patients with LARC were included in the study. Patients’ nCRT responses included 11 patients with Grade 0, 19 with Grade 1, 26 with Grade 2, and 11 with Grade 3 according to AJCC/CAP pathologic grading. In MR Images which were not preprocessed, the best performance was for Ada boost classifier (AUC = 74.8) with T2W MR Images. In T1W MR Images, the best performance was for aba boost classifier (AUC = 78.1) with a σ = 1 preprocessing LoG filter. In T2W MR Images, the best performance was for naive Bayesian network classifier (AUC = 85.1) with a σ = 0.5 preprocessing LoG filter. Also, performance of machine learning models with CfsSubsetEval (CF SUB E) feature selection algorithm was better than others.

Conclusion

Machine learning can be used as a response predictor model in LARC patients, but its performance should be improved. A preprocessing LoG filter can improve the machine learning methods performance and at the end, the effect of feature selection algorithm on model’s performance is clear.
Weeding Out Flawed Versions of Shareholder Primacy: A Reflection on the Moral Obligations That Carry Over from Principals to Agents
Authors: Mejia Santiago
Published: August 2019

The distinction between what I call nonelective obligations and discretionary obligations, a distinction that focuses on one particular thread of the distinction between perfect and imperfect duties, helps us to identify the obligations that carry over from principals to agents. Clarity on this issue is necessary to identify the moral obligations within “shareholder primacy” (i.e., “shareholder theory”), which conceives of managers as agents of shareholders. My main claim is that the principal-agent relation requires agents to fulfill nonelective obligations, but it does not always require (and sometimes actually prohibits) discharging discretionary obligations. I show that the requirement to fulfill nonelective obligations is more far-reaching than has been acknowledged by most defenders and critics of shareholder primacy. But I also show that managers are not bound by certain discretionary obligations like charity, showing that their moral obligations are more circumscribed than the obligations that apply to human beings in general.
Behavioural Economics and Public Support for Carbon Pricing: A Revenue Recycling Scheme to Address the Political Economy of Carbon Taxation
Authors: DOMINIONI Goran , HEINE Dirk
Published: August 2019

Even though carbon pricing is widely accepted as the most efficient policy instrument for climate change mitigation, it has been severely held back by a lack of public support. Building on research in behavioural sciences, we propose a revenue recycling scheme that aims to foster public support for carbon taxes. The scheme has two main strengths: (i) it may allow the implementatin of carbon taxes with higher tax rates than those currently prevailing in most jurisdictions; (ii) it relies on a number of accessible technologies, and thus it can be implemented in a wide variety of settings, both in urban and rural areas of developing and developed countries.
Hypersonic compression corner flow with large separated regions
Authors: Gai Sudhir L. , Khraibut Amna
Published: August 2019

The structure of large-scale hypersonic boundary layer separation and reattachment is studied numerically using a flat plate/compression corner geometry. Apart from verifying the large scale separation characteristics in hypersonic flow, a detailed discussion of secondary separation and fragmentation into multiple vortices embedded within the main recirculation region is presented. The unique relation between the second minimum in shear stress and the scaled angle is highlighted in the context of the reverse flow singularity of Smith (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A, vol. A420, 1988, pp. 21–52) and it appears that for a small wall temperature ratio, such a singularity is unlikely. It is shown that the size of the separation can be estimated in terms of Burggraf’s expression based on asymptotic theory.
Stimulation-induced side effects after deep brain stimulation – a systematic review
Authors: Zarzycki Marcin Zygmunt , Domitrz Izabela
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was approved by Food and Drug Administration for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, primary generalised or segmental dystonia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment. The exact mechanism of DBS remains unclear which causes side effects. The aim of this review was to assess variables causing stimulation-induced chronic psychiatric/personality-changing side effects.

Methods:

The analysis of scientific database (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE) was conducted. The included articles had to be research study or case report and DBS to be conducted in therapeutic purposes. The researches with mental disorders in patients’ medical histories were excluded.

Results:

Seventeen articles were used in the review. In the group of movement disorders the characteristic of side effects was strongly related to the placement of the electrode implantation. Tiredness/fatigue was correlated with DBS in thalamus. Implantations in subthalamic nucleus were mostly followed by affective side effects such as depression or suicide. The higher voltage of electrode was connected with more severe depression after implantation. The analysis of affective disorder contained only three articles – two about OCD and one about depression. Forgetfulness and word-finding problems as activities connected with cognition may be an inevitable side effect if obsessive thoughts are to be inhibited.

Conclusion:

DBS of subthalamic nucleus should be seen as the most hazardous place of implantation. As a result there is a strong need of ‘gold standards’ based on the connectivity research and closer cooperation of scientists and clinicians.
Estimating subnational preferences across the European Union
Authors: Lipps Jana , Schraff Dominik
Published: August 2019

Subnational analyses of political preferences are substantively relevant and offer advantages for causal inference. Yet, our knowledge on regional political preferences across Europe is limited, not least because there is a lack of adequate data. The rich Eurobarometer (EB) data is a promising source for European-wide regional information. Yet, it is only representative for the national level. This paper compares state-of-the-art methods for estimating regional preferences from nationally representative EB data, validating predictions with regionally representative surveys. Our analysis highlights a number of challenges for estimating regional preferences across Europe, such as data availability, variable selection, and over-fitting. We find that predictions are best using a Bayesian additive regression tree with synthetic post-stratification.
Mediating effect of waist:height ratio on the association between BMI and frailty: the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Minseo , Lee Yunhwan , Kim Eun-Young , Park Yongsoon
Published: August 2019

Body weight is a major risk determinant of frailty, but the effect of obesity on frailty is controversial. The present study aimed to confirm the hypothesis that the risk of frailty is positively associated with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), but the association is mediated by the waist:height ratio (WHtR) in older women and men. A total of 2862 community-dwelling older individuals aged 70–84 years were assessed for frailty using the Korean version of Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of weight index. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was associated with a higher risk of frailty compared with BMI 18·5–<23 kg/m2 in all the older individuals (OR 1·88; 95 % CI 1·11, 3·17; P = 0·018) and in older women (OR 1·86; 95 % CI 1·01, 3·42; P = 0·047) before adjusting for WHtR but was not associated with BMI after adjusting for WHtR. Additionally, obesity was not significantly associated with the risk of frailty before and after adjusting for WHtR in older men. Mediation analysis revealed that the association between BMI and frailty score was mediated by WHtR. Moreover, the mediating effect of WHtR on frailty score was positive in both women and men, but the frailty score was associated with BMI positively in women and negatively in men. The present study suggests that the risk of frailty is higher in obese women, which is mediated by WHtR, but not in obese men.
Maternal dietary selenium intake is associated with increased gestational length and decreased risk of preterm delivery
Authors: Barman Malin , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Nilsson Staffan , Haugen Margaretha , Lundh Thomas , Combs Gerald F. , Zhang Ge , Muglia Louis J. , Meltzer Helle Margrete , Jacobsson Bo , Sengpiel Verena
Published: August 2019

The first positive genome-wide association study on gestational length and preterm delivery showed the involvement of an Se metabolism gene. In the present study, we examine the association between maternal intake of Se and Se status with gestational length and preterm delivery in 72 025 women with singleton live births from the population-based, prospective Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). A self-reported, semi-quantitative FFQ answered in pregnancy week 22 was used to estimate Se intake during the first half of pregnancy. Associations were analysed with adjusted linear and Cox regressions. Se status was assessed in whole blood collected in gestational week 17 (n 2637). Median dietary Se intake was 53 (interquartile range (IQR) 44–62) µg/d, supplements provided additionally 50 (IQR 30–75) µg/d for supplement users (n 23 409). Maternal dietary Se intake was significantly associated with prolonged gestational length (β per sd = 0·25, 95 % CI, 0·07, 0·43) and decreased risk of preterm delivery (n 3618, hazard ratio per sd = 0·92, 95 % CI, 0·87, 0·98). Neither Se intake from supplements nor maternal blood Se status was associated with gestational length or preterm delivery. Hence, the present study showed that maternal dietary Se intake but not intake of Se-containing supplements, during the first half of pregnancy was significantly associated with decreased risk of preterm delivery. Further investigations, preferably in the form of a large randomised controlled trial, are needed to elucidate the impact of Se on pregnancy duration.
Don't Call It a Comeback: Autocratic Ruling Parties After Democratization
Authors: Miller Michael K.
Published: August 2019

When autocratic ruling parties accede to democratization, they do not always fade away into history. Following forty-one transitions since 1940, including those in Mexico, Taiwan, Bulgaria and Ghana, the ruling party survived and won power after democratization. Why do some former autocratic parties prosper under democracy while others quickly dissolve? What effect does this have on democratic survival? This article uses original data to predict the post-transition fates of eighty-four autocratic ruling parties through 2015. Whereas extant theories emphasize radical reinvention and outsider struggle, the author argues that success is instead about maintaining ruling-party advantages into the democratic period. Parties succeed when they have authoritarian legacies that easily translate to democratic competition, such as broad programmatic experience, strong organization and policy success. In addition, democratic institutions that disadvantage new parties and actors benefit autocratic parties. Lastly, an instrumental variables design shows that autocratic party success negatively impacts democratic survival and quality.
Media's Influence on LGBTQ Support Across Africa
Authors: Winkler Stephen
Published: August 2019

Political leaders across Africa frequently accuse the media of promoting homosexuality, while activists often use the media to promote pro-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) narratives. Despite extensive research on how the media affects public opinion, including studies that show how exposure to certain information can increase support of LGBTQs, there is virtually no research on how the media influences attitudes towards LGBTQs across Africa. This study develops a theory that accounts for actors' mixed approach to the media and shows how different types of media create distinct effects on public opinion of LGBTQs. Specifically, the study finds that radio and television have no, or a negative, significant effect on pro-gay attitudes, whereas individuals who consume more newspapers, internet or social media are significantly more likely to support LGBTQs (by approximately 2 to 4 per cent). The author argues that these differential effects are conditional on censorship of queer representation from certain mediums. The analysis confirms that the results are not driven by selection effects, and that the relationship is unique to LGBTQ support but not other social attitudes. The results have important implications, especially given the growing politicization of same-sex relations and changing media consumption habits across Africa.
Why Do They Run? The Psychological Underpinnings of Political Ambition
Authors: Blais Julie , Pruysers Scott , Chen Philip G.
Published: August 2019

What drives individuals toward a career in politics? Prior research on political ambition has often focused on socio-demographic variables while generally ignoring the importance of individual personality differences. Yet personality consistently predicts political knowledge, interest and participation, suggesting that individual differences may matter in addition to resources and the social environment. To this end, we assess the impact of both the HEXACO and Dark Triad models of personality in predicting nascent political ambition (that is, the initial desire to run for elected office) while controlling for well-established socio-demographic variables (for example, gender, income). Overall, we find considerable support for the predictive power of personality, especially the traits of honesty-humility, extraversion and narcissism. These results have important implications for understanding the kinds of people who are interested in a political career.
Is Indigeneity like Ethnicity? Theorizing and Assessing Models of Indigenous Political Representation
Authors: Williams Meaghan , Schertzer Robert
Published: August 2019

Within the broader literature on political representation, studies exploring Indigenous forms of representation are rather limited. Where they exist, they tend to explore how Western models of political representation include Indigenous peoples, conflating Indigenous groups with ethnic minorities. This article asks whether and how Indigenous political representation might be distinguished from the representation of ethnic minorities. Our argument is that Indigenous groups’ identities tend to be based on different claims and relationships to the state than ethnic groups, which leads to political mobilization seeking a means to respond to the colonial nation-state project. We develop a theoretical framework that identifies three principles that ought to inform an effective and legitimate model of Indigenous political representation: recognition, protection and decolonization. We then apply this theoretical framework to assess the extent to which existing models of Indigenous representation in Bolivia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway correspond with these three principles.
Inter-relationships among psychopathology, premorbid adjustment, cognition and psychosocial functioning in first-episode psychosis: a network analysis approach
Authors: Chang W. C. , Wong C. S. M. , Or P. C. F. , Chu A. O. K. , Hui C. L. M. , Chan S. K. W. , Lee E. M. H. , Suen Y. N. , Chen E. Y. H.
Published: August 2019

Background

Better understanding of interplay among symptoms, cognition and functioning in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is crucial to promoting functional recovery. Network analysis is a promising data-driven approach to elucidating complex interactions among psychopathological variables in psychosis, but has not been applied in FEP.

Method

This study employed network analysis to examine inter-relationships among a wide array of variables encompassing psychopathology, premorbid and onset characteristics, cognition, subjective quality-of-life and psychosocial functioning in 323 adult FEP patients in Hong Kong. Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) combined with extended Bayesian information criterion (BIC) model selection was used for network construction. Importance of individual nodes in a generated network was quantified by centrality analyses.

Results

Our results showed that amotivation played the most central role and had the strongest associations with other variables in the network, as indexed by node strength. Amotivation and diminished expression displayed differential relationships with other nodes, supporting the validity of two-factor negative symptom structure. Psychosocial functioning was most strongly connected with amotivation and was weakly linked to several other variables. Within cognitive domain, digit span demonstrated the highest centrality and was connected with most of the other cognitive variables. Exploratory analysis revealed no significant gender differences in network structure and global strength.

Conclusion

Our results suggest the pivotal role of amotivation in psychopathology network of FEP and indicate its critical association with psychosocial functioning. Further research is required to verify the clinical significance of diminished motivation on functional outcome in the early course of psychotic illness.
Cost-analysis of virtual reality training based on the Virtual Reality for Upper Extremity in Subacute stroke (VIRTUES) trial
Authors: Islam M. Kamrul , Brunner Iris
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Stroke is a major cause of lasting disability worldwide. Virtual reality (VR) training has been introduced as a means of increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation by providing large doses of task-related training with many repetitions and different modes of feedback. As VR is increasingly used in neurorehabilitation, cost considerations are important.

Methods

A cost-analysis was conducted based on the Virtual Reality for Upper Extremity in Subacute stroke (VIRTUES) trial, a recent international randomized controlled observer-blind multicenter trial. Average therapist time required per therapy session may differ between VR and conventional training (CT), leading to potential cost savings due to a therapist being able to supervise more than one patient at a time. Exploratory cost analyses are presented to explore such assumptions.

Results

Based on our calculations, VR incurs extra costs as compared with CT when the same amount of therapist contact is provided, as was the case in VIRTUES. However, the exploratory analyses demonstrated that these costs may be rapidly counterbalanced when time for therapist supervision can be reduced.

Conclusions

Extra costs for VR can be outweighed by reduced therapist time and decreasing VR system costs in the nearer future, and not least by increased patient motivation.
Tightly combined GPS + GLONASS positioning with consideration of inter-system code bias and GLONASS inter-frequency code bias
Authors: Shang Rui , Gao Chengfa , Pan Shuguo , Meng Xiaolin , Gao Wang
Published: August 2019

Inter-system code double differencing is an effective method for improving the positioning accuracy of low-cost receivers in complex environments. Due to the adoption of Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) code observations are affected by the Inter-Frequency Code Biases (IFCBs), which makes it difficult to calculate the Differential Inter-System Code Biases (DISCBs) between GLONASS and the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems directly. In this contribution, the focus is on the performance of tightly combined Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS code Double Difference (DD) positioning. After analysing the relationship between IFCBs and GLONASS channel numbers, an IFCB correction model and an inter-system code differencing model between GLONASS and GPS are proposed. Results show that even if there is no obvious relationship between IFCBs and channel numbers, the long-term stable IFCB values of each satellite can be obtained by using the proposed model. In addition, the GPS + GLONASS DISCB is also stable. Therefore, compared with the intra-system model, the inter-system model can benefit from prior IFCBs and DISCBs parameters and thus can significantly improve the positioning accuracy in obstructed environments.
Public support for protected areas in new forest frontiers in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Cunha Helenilza Ferreira Albuquerque , Souza Adriano Ferreira de , Cardoso da Silva José Maria
Published: August 2019

Gazetting and maintaining protected areas (PAs) are political processes and, as such, depend on wider society’s support in order to achieve their aims. In this paper, we evaluated the influence of gender, education, age, income, place of origin and place of residence on public support for PAs in the Brazilian state of Amapá, a new tropical forest frontier. We gathered 615 complete interviews with adults living in both rural and urban settings. We found that most (90.5%) of the participants support PAs and that this attitude is more likely to exist among urban than rural participants. We found that gender, education, age, income and place of origin did not influence support for PAs. Biodiversity conservation is the most common reason why PAs receive public support. In contrast, participants who do not favour PAs see them as providing no benefit to people. We suggest that support by local political leaders from dominant and rival political parties for conservation helps to promote acceptance of PAs by stakeholders. However, relatively low support for PAs among rural participants could indicate that the expectations of these populations regarding the social benefits associated with this conservation policy have yet to be fulfilled.
Malnutrition and related risk factors in older adults from different health-care settings: an enable study
Authors: Kiesswetter Eva , Colombo Miriam G , Meisinger Christa , Peters Annette , Thorand Barbara , Holle Rolf , Ladwig Karl-Heinz , Schulz Holger , Grill Eva , Diekmann Rebecca , Schrader Eva , Stehle Peter , Sieber Cornel C , Volkert Dorothee
Published: August 2019

Objective:

The origin of malnutrition in older age is multifactorial and risk factors may vary according to health and living situation. The present study aimed to identify setting-specific risk profiles of malnutrition in older adults and to investigate the association of the number of individual risk factors with malnutrition.

Design:

Data of four cross-sectional studies were harmonized and uniformly analysed. Malnutrition was defined as BMI < 20 kg/m2 and/or weight loss of >3 kg in the previous 3–6 months. Associations between factors of six domains (demographics, health, mental function, physical function, dietary intake-related problems, dietary behaviour), the number of individual risk factors and malnutrition were analysed using logistic regression.

Setting:

Community (CD), geriatric day hospital (GDH), home care (HC), nursing home (NH).

Participants:

CD older adults (n 1073), GDH patients (n 180), HC receivers (n 335) and NH residents (n 197), all ≥65 years.

Results:

Malnutrition prevalence was lower in CD (11 %) than in the other settings (16–19 %). In the CD sample, poor appetite, difficulties with eating, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases were associated with malnutrition; in GDH patients, poor appetite and respiratory diseases; in HC receivers, younger age, poor appetite and nausea; and in NH residents, older age and mobility limitations. In all settings the likelihood of malnutrition increased with the number of potential individual risk factors.

Conclusions:

The study indicates a varying relevance of certain risk factors of malnutrition in different settings. However, the relationship of the number of individual risk factors with malnutrition in all settings implies comprehensive approaches to identify persons at risk of malnutrition early.
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mozambique in 2005 and 2015
Authors: Fontes Filipa , Damasceno Albertino , Jessen Neusa , Prista António , Silva-Matos Carla , Padrão Patrícia , Lunet Nuno
Published: August 2019

Objective:

The ongoing demographic, nutritional and epidemiological transitions in sub-Saharan Africa highlight the importance of monitoring overweight and obesity. We aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mozambique in 2014/2015 and compare the estimates with those obtained in 2005.

Design:

Cross-sectional study conducted in 2014/2015, following the WHO Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS). Prevalence estimates with 95 % CI were computed for different categories of BMI and abdominal obesity, along with age-, education- and income-adjusted OR. The age-standardized prevalence in the age group 25–64 years was compared with results from a STEPS survey conducted in 2005.

Setting:

Mozambique.

Participants:

Representative sample of the population aged 18–64 years (n 2595).

Results:

Between 2005 and 2014/2015, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 18·3 to 30·5 % (P < 0·001) in women and from 11·7 to 18·2 % (P < 0·001) in men. Abdominal obesity increased among women (from 9·4 to 20·4 %, P < 0·001), but there was no significant difference among men (1·5 v. 2·1 %, P = 0·395). In 2014/2015, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was more than twofold higher in urban areas and in women; in the age group 18–24 years, it was highest in urban women and lowest in rural men.

Conclusions:

In Mozambique, there was a steep increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults between 2005 and 2014/2015. Overweight and obesity are more prevalent in urban areas and among women, already affecting one in five urban women aged 18–24 years.
Flower-Like MoS2 for Next-Generation High-Performance Energy Storage Device Applications
Authors: Majumder Sumit , Banerjee Sangam
Published: August 2019

Here, a well crystalline 3D flower-like structured MoS2 (~420 nm) has been successfully synthesized on a large scale by a simple hydrothermal technique. The evolution of morphology in the formation process has also been investigated. The crystallinity, purity, and morphology of the sample are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, fieldemission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The FESEM and TEM images reveal that the sample exhibits a uniform 3D flower-like microsphere shape with folded nanosheets, which are stretched out along the edge of the microsphere. The electrochemical performance of the sample has been investigated by cyclic voltammogram, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. The results of the electrochemical analysis suggest that the material delivers a maximum specific capacitance (Csp) of 350 F/g at a discharge current density of 0.25 A/g with energy density 17.5 Wh/kg. It also exhibits good capability and excellent cyclic stability (94% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles in 1 A/g) owing to the coupling effect of electrical conductivity with the interesting morphology and larger active surface area. Hence, the sample may be used as a promising electrode material for high-performance energy storage devices.
Tonsil cancer treated with radiotherapy during a pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Martinez Pineda Wendy Jazmin , Calva Espinosa Angel Luis , Gonzalez Noguez Alicia Guillermina , Osorio Solis Carlos , Vacio Olguin Alvar Jose
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

Cancer during pregnancy has an incidence of 1/1,000, and when diagnosed, the most common ones are breast cancer (1/10,000), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (1/6,000), and head and neck cancer (1/10,000). If a diagnosis is made during pregnancy, the treatment cannot wait until delivery, and there is concern about the effects that radiotherapy may have on the foetus. The multidisciplinary group has to assess and ethically make decisions with regard to the mother and foetus.

Clinical case:

A 35-year-old female, a carrier of Behcet’s disease, underwent 5 years of treatment with hydroxychloroquine, prednisone and low-molecular-weight heparin (the patient being a carrier of Behcet’s disease, there is a high risk for cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx with an HR of 2·11, so the cancer could be related to the tonsil). The patient’s oncological situation started on December 2017 with a volume increase in preauricular, parotid and right mandibular angle, with a progressive growth. At this time, the foetus was of 17·5 weeks of gestation. An oral cavity tumour that invaded the right retromolar triangle was observed, and upon biopsy, a basaloid squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed.

Radiotherapy treatment was started at 22 weeks of gestation; intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was planned with a dose of 69·96 Gy to the primary tumour and 59·4 Gy to ganglion levels II, III and IV, bilaterally in 33 fractions. At fraction 27 a significant decrease in tumour volume was noted, so adaptive radiotherapy was performed to complete the treatment. Currently the patient has no clinical evidence of tumour pathology.

Discussion:

The risk of radiation exposure in pregnant women (after 20 weeks of gestation), being treated for cancers of the tonsil, reaching the foetus is minimal, with a reduced risk of a few or no effects.

Conclusions:

Radiotherapy in tonsil cancer has been shown to be effective in combination with chemotherapy for local control of the disease. In the case of this pregnant patient, radiotherapy, as the only modality, provided local control and little exposure of radiation to the foetus.
Tracing Geophysical Indicators of Fluid‐Induced Serpentinization in the Pampean Flat Slab of Central Chile
Authors: Nikulin A. , Bourke J. R. , Domino J. R. , Park J.
Published: August 2019

An apparent gap in the Andean volcanic arc in the Pampean section of the subduction zone in Chile (~28°–33°S) marks a section of flat slab subduction. In this tectonic environment, the fate of fluids released from the subducting Nazca slab remains uncertain and the degree of their interaction with the basal layer of the continental lithosphere is poorly understood. Results of a RF investigation and forward modeling effort at three long‐running stations of the Chilean National Seismic Network allow us to constrain the position of the subducting Nazca slab and to address the physical properties of the interplate contact zone in Central Chile. Our observations suggest a transition in seismic character, from a weakly anisotropic contact in the normally subducting section north of the flat slab region to a strongly anisotropic plate contact within the flat slab region. We attribute this change to a transition from sheared olivine to serpentinized peridotite generated as a result of fluid release across the flat slab. This interpretation is supported by forward modeling synthetic RFs at each of the stations. We propose that the identified layer extends across the flat slab region, acting as a mineral reservoir that captures and, possibly, transports fluids from the dehydrating Nazca Plate as it subducts below South America. We note that the Ps converted phase at the slab interface at southernmost station GO04 suffers a 2‐s discontinuity at 180° back azimuth, consistent with a 15–20‐km scarp or kink in the Nazca slab to the south of the station.
On-chip structure-switching aptamer-modified magnetic nanobeads for the continuous monitoring of interferon-gamma ex vivo
Authors: Liu Guozhen , Cao Chaomin , Ni Shengnan , Feng Shilun , Wei Hui
Published: August 2019

Cytokines are cell signaling molecules that indicate the health status of the body. In this study, we developed a microfluidic device integrated with structure-switching aptamers capable of continuously tracking the concentration of the cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in cell culture medium and blood serum. First, a ferrocene (Fc)-labeled structure-switching signaling aptamer with a hairpin structure targeting IFN-γ was immobilized on magnetic nanobeads by the strongest noncovalent interactions between streptavidin and biotin. The aptamer-modified magnetic nanobeads were trapped on a customized microfluidic chip by a magnetic field to form the sensing interface. The binding of IFN-γ could trigger the hairpin structure of the aptamer to unfold, pushing Fc redox molecules away from the sensing interface and consequently switching off the electrochemical signal. The change in the redox current of Fc was quantitatively related to the concentration of IFN-γ in a linear range of 10–500 pg mL−1 and with the lowest detection limit of 6 pg mL−1. This microfluidic device was specific to IFN-γ in the presence of overabundant serum proteins and allowed the continuous monitoring of IFN-γ without adding exogenous reagents. It provided a universal point-of-care biosensing platform for the real-time detection of a spectrum of analytes.