bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of radiographers’ knowledge and attitudes of image quality optimisation in paediatric digital radiography in Saudi Arabia and Australia: a survey‐based study
Authors: Alsleem Haney , Davidson Rob , Al‐Dhafiri Bandar , Alsleem Raghad , Ameer Hussain 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIntroductionDigital radiography (DR) systems enable radiographers to reduce the radiation dose to patients while maintaining optimised image quality. However, concerns still exist about paediatric patients who may be exposed to an increased level of radiation dose which is not needed for clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, awareness and attitudes, in terms of image quality optimisation of radiographers undertaking paediatric DR in Australia and Saudi Arabia.MethodsA survey‐based study was devised and distributed to radiographers from Australia and Saudi Arabia. Questions focused on Australian and Saudi Arabian radiographers’ knowledge and attitude of paediatric DR examinations.ResultsThere were 376 participants who responded to the survey from both countries. A major finding showed that most participants lack knowledge in the area of paediatric DR examinations. Most participants from Australia had received no formal training in paediatric digital radiography (79%), whereas nearly half of the participants from Saudi Arabia received no training (45%). Approximately three out of four radiographers from both countries believed that when using DR they did not need to change the way they collimate the beam as DR images can be cropped using post‐processing methods.ConclusionThe finding of this study demonstrates that radiographers from both countries should improve their understanding and clinical use of DR in paediatric imaging. More education and training for both students and clinicians is needed to enhance radiographer performance in digital radiography and improve their clinical practices.
Using B‐spline functions (BSFs) of various degrees to obtain a powerful method for numerical solution for a special class of optimal control problems (OCPs)
Authors: Kafash Behzad , Alavizadeh Seyed Rouhollah 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this paper, the optimal control problems (OCPs) are converted into a constrained optimization problem based on state parameterization via the B‐spline functions (BSFs). In fact, the state variable can be considered as a series of the BSFs with unknown coefficients, and the OCPs are transformed into a constrained optimization problem. With the proposed method, the control and state variables also the performance index can be obtained approximately. Also, the convergence theorem of the presented approach is proved in details, some illustrative examples are reported. Also, an example, which has analytic noncontinuous state and control variable, is presented to show the efficiency and reliability of the purposed method, compared with other existing methods.
Tropical cyclone—Induced heavy rainfall and flow in Colima, Western Mexico
Authors: Khouakhi Abdou , Pattison Ian , López‐de la Cruz Jesús , Martinez‐Diaz Teresa , Mendoza‐Cano Oliver , Martínez Miguel 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC) landfall is often accompanied by storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rain that cause destructive flash floods, especially in mountainous regions. However, there is limited understanding of the contribution of TCs to major flood events, especially in Western Mexico. In this study, we assess the contribution of TCs to the annual rainfall, extreme rainfall and stream flow in the mountainous region of Colima, one of the most TC‐exposed areas in Western Mexico. The top 1% of daily rainfall and stream flow, annual maximum rainfall and the highest 20 stream flow events from 1970 to 2015 are examined for their association to TCs. Results indicate that the relative contribution of TCs to the average annual rainfall can exceed 25% in the coastal area of Colima. Over 25–35% of heavy daily rainfall (top 1% rainfall) recorded in the coastal rain gauges is found to be associated with TCs. In terms of high flow, approximately 20–24% of the top 1% flow events and 28–35% (~7 events) of the top 20 flow events are driven by TCs. The heaviest precipitation and high flow events occur typically in the late TC season (September and October). Our results provide insights on the role of TCs in inducing rainfall and stream flow relevant for water and flood risk management.
Supplier innovation value from a buyer–supplier structural equivalence view: Evidence from the PACE awards in the automotive industry
Authors: Chae Sangho , Yan Tingting , Yang Yang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWith the growing demand for smarter, cleaner, and safer cars, automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly seeking novel inventions from innovative new or foreign suppliers. However, not all innovative suppliers are equally valuable for an OEM. When transforming novel inventions into products, OEMs could find it challenging to work with the suppliers with whom they lack trust or have limited shared understanding. In this study, we adopt a social capital perspective to understand how three types of social capital (i.e., structural, relational, and cognitive) influence a supplier's innovation value to the OEM. Hypotheses are tested using a unique data set combining the supply network structure and automotive supplier innovation award. Our results suggest that it is more difficult to obtain innovation value from a new or culturally distant foreign supplier. However, we also found that suppliers whose networks overlap more with the OEM's network are more likely to provide valuable innovations to the OEM, an effect that is stronger for culturally distant suppliers. This study contributes to the supply network and innovation literature by highlighting the importance of understanding the dyadic social capital between the buyer and supplier when evaluating innovation value of a supplier to a buying firm.
Predicting overall and major postoperative morbidity in gastric cancer patients
Authors: Coimbra Felipe J. F. , de Jesus Victor Hugo F. , Franco Carolina Parucce , Calsavara Vinícius Fernando , Ribeiro Héber S. C. , Diniz Alessandro L. , de Godoy André Luís , de Farias Igor Correia , Riechelmann Rachel P. , Begnami Maria Dirlei F. S. , da Costa Wilson L. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative complications after gastric cancer resection vary in different series and they might have a significant impact in long‐term outcomes. Our aim was to build a prediction rule on gastric cancer patients' overall and major morbidity risks.MethodsThis retrospective study included 1223 patients from a single center who were resected between 1992 and 2016. Overall and major morbidity predictors were identified through multiple logistic regression. Models' performances were assessed through discrimination, calibration, and cross‐validation, and nomograms were constructed.ResultsThe mean age was 61.3‐year old and the male gender was more frequent (60%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A D2‐distal gastrectomy was the most frequent procedure and 87% of all lesions were located in the middle or distal third. Age, COPD, coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease, pancreatic resection, and operative time were independent predictors of overall and major morbidity. The extent of resection and splenectomy was associated with overall events and HTN with major ones. Both models were very effective in predicting events among patients at higher risk.ConclusionsThe overall and major morbidity models and nomograms included clinical‐ and surgical‐related data that were very effective in predicting events, especially for high‐risk patients.
Barriers and Facilitators to Help‐Seeking for Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Smith Jennifer R. , Workneh Aklile , Yaya Sanni 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brings with it diagnostic symptoms that can be debilitating and persist for years. Left untreated, PTSD can have far‐reaching and damaging consequences for the individual, families, communities, and society at large. Although early detection and intervention are recognized as key to the effective treatment of PTSD, many individuals who suffer from PTSD do not seek essential health services. The aim of the present study was to identify the barriers and facilitators to help‐seeking for individuals with PTSD, based on existing literature. A systematic review, modeled on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews, examined studies cited in PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PILOTS published from January 1980 to January 2019. Eligible studies measured barriers and facilitators to help‐seeking for adults with PTSD. Two reviewers independently screened citations, and double data extraction was exercised. Of 2,391 potentially relevant citations, 21 studies, published between 1989 and 2018 and based in six countries, were included. Seventeen studies focused on military as a target population. We identified 10 principal barrier and facilitator themes: trauma‐related; treatment; therapist or provider; knowledge; access; health care system; sociocultural environment; values, beliefs, and priorities; past experiences; and medical care needs and illness burden. In identifying prominent barriers and facilitators to help‐seeking for individuals with PTSD, this review highlights opportunities to inform policies and programs that promote PTSD knowledge and recognition, reduce public and personal stigma, improve access and quality of care, and encourage support for patients and families living with PTSD.
Survival and Conflict Behavior of American Black Bears after Rehabilitation
Authors: Blair Coy D. , Muller Lisa I. , Clark Joseph D. , Stiver William H. 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTWildlife agencies face difficult situations when orphaned or injured American black bear (Ursus americanus) cubs (<12 months old) or yearlings (≥12 and <24 months old) are captured. One option is bear rehabilitation, the care and feeding of cubs or yearlings in a semi‐natural environment, followed by release. Unfortunately, the survival and movements of bears released from rehabilitation facilities are often poorly documented and the ultimate reasons for success or failure poorly understood. Our goal was to assess survival and post‐release conflict of orphaned bear cubs and yearlings following release from a rehabilitation facility, Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR), in Townsend, Tennessee, USA, from 2015–2016. We predicted that rehabilitated bears would survive at similar rates, die from similar causes, and engage in similar conflict behavior to wild conspecifics. We equipped 42 black bear cubs and yearlings from ABR with global positioning system‐collars and released them in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee and North Carolina, USA. Estimated annual survival using known‐fate methods for all released bears was 0.93 ± 0.06 [SE]). Survival for 13 bears released as cubs was 0.64 ± 0.14, whereas none of the bears released as yearlings died within 1 year after release (n = 29). Survival of rehabilitated bears was similar to or higher than published rates for wild conspecifics. Three of 42 bears (7.1%) released from ABR engaged in conflict behavior up to 1 year following release, and those had spent time involved in conflict behavior with their mothers (e.g., approaching humans) prior to being orphaned. Despite not having the typical post‐natal experience with their mothers, the bears in our study appeared to behave and survive similarly to their wild conspecifics. Rehabilitation is effective for managing orphaned or injured bears. Best survival occurred for bears released as yearlings; however, managers can maximize cub survival through fall releases when plentiful wild foods are available. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
A global analysis of the impact of zero‐tillage on soil physical condition, organic carbon content, and plant root response
Authors: Mondal Surajit , Chakraborty Debashis , Bandyopadhyay Kalikinkar , Aggarwal Pramila , Rana Dharamvir Singh 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFood security involves the sustainable utilization of soil and land resources. Zero‐tillage (ZT) practice is a proponent of better resource utilization, to improve soil physical condition, and a potential sink to atmospheric carbon. However, the impact varies across climates, over the ZT history, cropping systems, and soil depths. A meta‐analysis was performed, based on 4,131 paired data from 522 studies spread globally, to evaluate the effect of ZT in comparison to conventional tillage, on soil physical condition (bulk density; mean weight diameter of aggregates; field capacity water content; and steady‐state infiltration rate), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, and the root response (root length density). Zero‐tillage significantly improved mean weight diameter of aggregates and field capacity water content at surface and subsurface layers by 19–58% and 6–16%, respectively, and resulted in no change in bulk density in either of the layers, but infiltration rate increased by 66%. Surface 0‐ to 5‐ and 5‐ to 10‐cm layers had significantly higher SOC content under ZT, whereas in other layers, the SOC content either reduced or did not change, resulting in a small and insignificant variation in the SOC stock (~1.1%) in favor of ZT. The root length density improved by ~35% in ZT only at 0‐ to 5‐cm soil depth. Effect of climate, soil type, or cropping system could not be broadly recognized, but the impact of ZT certainly increased over time. Improvements in soil aggregation and hydraulic properties are highly convincing with the adoption of ZT, and therefore, this practice leads to the better and sustainable use of soil resources.
The effects of forestry and agroforestry plantations on bird diversity: A global synthesis
Authors: Bohada‐Murillo Mauricio , Castaño‐Villa Gabriel J. , Fontúrbel Francisco E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe increasing expansion of productive lands around the world during the last decades constitutes a strong driver of biodiversity loss, as they are usually established near to high diversity areas. Despite many studies that have compared bird diversity between natural and productive systems, a global synthesis is still missing and important for understanding how biodiversity is being altered. We conducted a meta‐analysis based on 144 case studies to assess the effects of four types of plantations (forestry, oil palm, coffee, and cacao) on bird species richness and abundance. We examined those effects in function of plantation type, latitudinal zone (temperate or tropical), geographical context (mainland or island), zoogeographic zone, and biodiversity hotspots. Plantations presented negative effects on both bird species richness and abundance. Oil palm plantations showed more negative effects followed by forestry plantations, whereas coffee and cacao agroforestry plantations had no significant effects. Those effects were geographically variable, being more pronounced in islands and temperate zones, as well as at the Oriental, Palearctic, and Neotropical zoogeograghic regions, and at the Sundaland and Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspots. Our results showed that productive systems reduce both species richness and abundance of bird species, being insular species particularly susceptible. Exotic monocultures with low structural heterogeneity (e.g., oil palm plantations) derive in highly impoverished bird communities dominated by generalist species. We identified South East Asia, tropical South America, and the Mediterranean Basin as the most threatened regions because of the sensitivity of their bird communities and the increasing rates of native forest replacement.
Land‐use change with pasture and short rotation eucalypts impacts the soil C emissions and organic C stocks in the Cerrado biome
Authors: Teixeira Rafael da Silva , Fialho Ricardo Cardoso , Costa Daniela Cristina , de Sousa Rodrigo Nogueira , Santos Rafael Silva , Teixeira Ana Paula Mendes , Reis Thalles Guimarães , da Silva Ivo Ribeiro 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe expansion of short rotation eucalypt plantations in low soil organic matter (SOM) sandy soils may offer an alternative to improve soil C sequestration. The goal of this study was to estimate the changes in C stocks and emissions in different SOM fractions following conversion of the native Cerrado to pasture and then to eucalypt plantation. Therefore, we studied soils under native Cerrado, planted pasture (cultivated for 34years following the clearing of the Cerrado) and eucalypt plantation (4years). The C and N stocks in particulate organic matter and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) were determined 4years after eucalypt planting. Soil CO2‐C, CH4‐C fluxes and CO2‐C concentrations in soil profile were measured in different seasons over 4years. Variation in the natural abundance of 13C was used to partition the SOM‐C. The soil CO2‐C and CH4‐C fluxes were influenced by soil surface moisture (r= 0.185o and r= 0.430**, respectively), whereas only the soil CH4‐C fluxes correlated with soil surface temperature (r= 0.355**). The highest soil CO2‐C flux in soil under eucalypt occurred after 4years of eucalypt planting (2.5 kg ha−1h−1, approximately 70%). The pasture soil acted as a CH4‐C source to the atmosphere. The pasture MAOM‐C losses in the 0.0–1.0‐m soil layers were not compensated by the new eucalypt C inputs (MAOM‐C lost ~9.6 Mg ha−1). In summary, the recent worldwide expansion of short rotation eucalypt plantations should be carefully considered, particularly under pasture degraded soil sandy soils, because land uses able to increase SOM are priorities.
Endolymphatic volume in patients with meniere's disease and healthy controls: Three‐dimensional analysis with magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ito Taeko , Inui Hiroshi , Miyasaka Toshiteru , Shiozaki Tomoyuki , Hasukawa Akihito , Yamanaka Toshiaki , Kichikawa Kimihiko , Kitahara Tadashi 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveRecently, 3‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with intravenous gadolinium injection has been used to reveal endolymphatic hydrops (EH). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate EH in patients with Meniere's disease (MD) objectively and quantitatively, and compared the endolymphatic space (ELS) in individuals with MD and healthy controls, to gain understanding of the characteristics of MD.MethodsEighty‐two patients with unilateral MD (uMD), 16 patients with bilateral MD (bMD), and 47 healthy volunteers were enrolled. All participants underwent 3‐T MRI at 4 hours after intravenous gadolinium injection. The volumes of the total fluid space (TFS) and ELS were measured semiautomatically using our workstation, and the percentage of ELS to TFS (ELS percentage) was calculated.ResultsThe ELS percentage was 13.9 in the ears of controls, 18.2 in the contralateral ear of individuals with uMD, 26.1 in the affected ears of these individuals, and 23.0 in both ears of individuals with bMD. The ELS percentages in the affected ear of uMD and the ears of bMD individuals were significantly higher than that in the ears of control individuals (P < .01, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test).ConclusionThe ELS is significantly larger in the affected ears of uMD and in both ears of bMD individuals. Accurate diagnosis of MD can be facilitated by using 3‐T MRI 4 hours after intravenous gadolinium injection and performing volumetric measurements of the ELS.Level of Evidence2b
Connectivity Defects and Collective Assemblies in Model Metallo‐Supramolecular Dual‐Network Hydrogels
Authors: Ahmadi Mostafa , Löser Lucas , Fischer Karl , Saalwächter Kay , Seiffert Sebastian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDouble network hydrogels are composed of chemical and physical bonds, whose influences on the macroscopic material properties are convoluted. To decouple these, a model dually crosslinked network with independently tunable permanent and reversible crosslinks is introduced. This is realized by interlinking linear and tetra‐arm poly(ethylenegycol) (PEG) precursors with complementary reactive terminal groups. The former also carries a terpyridine ligand at each end, which forms reversible metallo‐supramolecular bonds upon addition of metal ions. These dual networks display different types and amounts of network defects, as studied by light scattering and proton double‐quantum (DQ) NMR. Dynamic light scattering suggests that the network mesh size decreases upon introduction of metal ions, as supported by a decrease of the residual dipolar coupling constant in NMR. Static light scattering indicates larger static inhomogeneities in those networks composed of stronger ions. This is complemented by a fast solid‐like component in the DQ buildup in NMR, attributed to the formation of nanoscopic clusters of charged complexes. The DQ buildup curves also suggest that the presence of strong physical bonds increases the fraction of mobile segments, like loops and dangling ends. This combined study unveils the interplay of chemical and physical bonds toward the formation of a hierarchical structure.
Spectral analysis of the Sturm‐Liouville operator on the star‐shaped graph
Authors: Bondarenko Natalia P. 
Published: November 2019

The Sturm‐Liouville operator on the star‐shaped graph is considered. We study its spectral properties, important for inverse problem theory. In particular, asymptotic formulas for the weight matrices are derived, by using contour integration. We also prove the Riesz‐basis property for a special sequence of vector functions, constructed by the spectral data.
Compact multiple cut‐corners square spiral antenna for stepped‐frequency continuous wave radar system
Authors: Tong Jisheng , Jin Yan , Ji Yongshun , Jiao Xiaoshuang , Guo Jiyu , Liao Binbin , Huo Jianjian , Shi Ruoyu , Ma Chunguang , Jiao Jiao , Zhao Qing 
Published: November 2019

AbstractStepped frequency continuous wave (SFCW) radar is a promising noncontact method to detection of human vital signs. Antenna as a key component of radar directly related to the performance of the radar. In this letter, we present a 0.5‐1.2 GHz compact multiple cut‐corners square spiral antenna for SFCW radar system. Compared with conventional planar spiral antennas, the improved antenna possesses the advantages of miniaturization and excellent axial ratio. The gradient‐change of the cut‐corners along the radiation determines its operation range: large cut‐corner corresponds to high frequency, while small cut‐corner affects low frequency. This design successfully leads to a small geometric size of 0.282 × 0.282 × 0.133 m. We measured this improved antenna in an anechoic chamber, and the results demonstrated that the circular polarization bandwidth for axial ratio ≤3 dB approached 100%, and a right‐hand circularly polarization (RHCP) gain of 4‐8.98 dBic in end‐fire direction is achieved in its operational range. Finally, we designed the experiment, experimental results show that the proposed antenna can work well with the SFCW radar in the detection of human vital sign (respiratory signals), indicating a great potential for detected life in practice.