bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in urban environments: Concentrations and joint risks in surface soils with diverse land uses
Authors: Wang Chunhui , Wang Junxiao , Zhou Shenglu , Tang Junhong , Jia Zhenyi , Ge Liang , Li Yan , Wu Shaohua 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAlthough polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) are abundant around cities, few researchers have studied the complex concentrations and joint risks of these pollutants in urban surface soils containing diverse land uses. We collected 69 urban surface soil samples from roadside districts, green belts, public green space, commercial districts, and residential district in urban areas of Nanjing, China to determine the concentrations, distributions, deposition patterns, and joint risks of PAH and HM contaminants. No significant differences were found among the five studied land uses, but a wide range of PAH levels were found in these land uses, as these diverse land uses have similar PAH pollution sources. As these areas persistently generate high PAH levels by gasoline/diesel engine or coal combustion, the PAH distribution characteristics indicated that commercial centers or city centers are the most heavily contaminated sites. The distributions of black carbon and HMs, except for Pb, were found to be significantly correlated. Except for Cd and As, HM levels among diverse land uses also showed no significant differences, possibly stemming from the non‐point source pollution of these metals in the study areas. Factor analysis showed that 46.2% of the elevated pollutant concentrations resulted from combustion processes, 24.3% were caused by natural background fluctuations, and 11.9% resulted from non‐combustion processes. The studied PAHs and As presented low carcinogenic risks. Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn depicted acceptable total non‐carcinogenic risks in all land uses; however, the risks associated with these HMs possessed detailed differences.
Outcome of Liver Transplant Patients With Preformed Donor‐Specific Anti–Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies
Authors: Del Bello Arnaud , Neau‐Cransac Martine , Lavayssiere Laurence , Dubois Valérie , Congy‐Jolivet Nicolas , Visentin Jonathan , Danjoux Marie , Le Bail Brigitte , Hervieu Valérie , Boillot Olivier , Antonini Teresa , Kamar Nassim , Dumortier Jérôme 
Published: October 2019

After liver transplantation (LT), the role of preformed donor‐specific anti–human leukocyte antigen antibodies (pDSAs) remains incompletely understood. We conducted a retrospective, case‐control analysis to determine the impact of pDSAs after LT in 3 French transplant centers (Bordeaux, Lyon, and Toulouse). Among the 1788 LTs performed during the study period, 142 (7.9%) had at least 1 pDSA. The patient survival rate was not different between patients who received an LT with pDSAs and the matched‐control group. A liver biopsy was performed 1 year after transplantation in 87 recipients. The metavir fibrosis score did not differ between both groups (1 ± 0.8 versus 0 ± 0.8; P = 0.80). However, undergoing a retransplantation (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02‐6.77; P = 0.05) and receiving induction therapy with polyclonal antibodies (HR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.33‐4.74; P = 0.01) were associated with a higher risk of mortality. Nonetheless, high mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) donor‐specific antibodies (ie, >10,000 with One Lambda assay or >5000 with Immucor assay) were associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (HR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.12‐3.49; P = 0.02). Acute antibody‐mediated rejection was diagnosed in 10 patients: 8 recipients were alive 34 (1‐125) months after rejection. The use of polyclonal antibodies or rituximab as an induction therapy did not reduce the risk of acute rejection, but it increased the risk of infectious complications. In conclusion, high MFI pDSAs increase the risk of graft rejection after LT, but they do not reduce medium‐term and longterm patient survival. The use of a T or B cell–depleting agent did not reduce the risk of acute rejection.
Solvent‐Vapor Annealing of Amphiphile/Metal Interface for Orientated Molecular Stacking and Upgraded Resistive Memory Performance
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Li Hua , Li Zhuang , Li Yang , Zhang Qi‐jian , Lu Jian‐mei 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIt is discovered that the molecular packing and the orientation of crystallite arrangement in the film state are critical to the performance of the typical sandwich organic‐based memory devices (OMDs). Here, a solvent‐vapor annealing (SVA) strategy is firstly developed for amphipathic molecules to regulate the film morphology and intermolecular stacking, so as to obtain the satisfied performance. Through the screening of SVA solvents, an evidently upgraded nonvolatile memory behavior based on MeOH‐annealed film with superior reproducibility, a low switching voltage of −2.3 V and high ON/OFF ratio of 104 are observed. This work not only gives a fresh application of the amphipathic materials to OMDs, but really provides a general guiding significance for SVA solvent selection to achieve controllable crystallite orientation and effective OMDs performance.
Sustainable Galactarate‐Based Polymers: Multi‐Enzymatic Production of Pectin‐Derived Polyesters
Authors: Vastano Marco , Pellis Alessandro , Botelho Machado Carla , Simister Rachael , McQueen‐Mason Simon J. , Farmer Thomas J. , Gomez Leonardo D. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractLarge amounts of agricultural wastes are rich in pectins that, in many cases, disrupt the processing of food residues due to gelation. Despite pectins being a promising sustainable feedstock for bio‐based chemical production, the current pathways to produce platform molecules from this polysaccharide are hazardous and entail the use of strong acids. The present work describes a sequence of biocatalyzed reactions that involves 1) the extraction of pectin from sugar beet pulp and enzymatic recovery of galacturonic acid (GalA), followed by 2) the enzymatic oxidation of the GalA aldehyde and the recovery of galactaric acid (GA), and 3) the biocatalyzed polycondensation of GA to obtain fully bio‐based polyesters carrying lateral hydroxy functionalities. The acid‐free pectin extraction is optimized using enzymes and microwave technology. The conditions for enzymatic oxidation of GalA allow the separation of the GA produced by a simple centrifugation step that leads to the enzyme‐catalyzed polycondensation reactions.
Correction model for rainfall forecasts using the LSTM with multiple meteorological factors
Authors: Zhang Chang‐Jiang , Zeng Jing , Wang Hui‐Yuan , Ma Lei‐Ming , Chu Hai 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe goal of this study was to improve the accuracy of model forecasting, such that forecasters could use model products to make more efficient daily weather predictions. Historical data of the 12 hr following a given time for various meteorological factors from the control forecasts of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) between 20 ° and 40 ° N latitude and 110 °–130 ° E longitude were used to verify the performance of the proposed method. Eight major meteorological factors were selected via correlation analysis between control forecast meteorological factors and real‐time rainfall. The samples were divided into four types using the K‐means clustered method. Each type was respectively modelled by long short‐term memory (LSTM) in order to correct rainfall forecasts for eastern China. The eight major meteorological factors were used as the model input, and the differences between real‐time rainfall data and model‐forecast rainfall were used as the model output. The corrected results revealed that the root mean square error decreased by 0.65, and the threat scores of light rainfall and rainstorms were improved.
Production of Polymer Particles Loaded with Corrosion Inhibitor for Applications in Oil Wells
Authors: de S. Miranda Letícia , Nele Márcio , Pinto José Carlos 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDuring petroleum exploration, the use of corrosion inhibitors is necessary to reduce equipment maintenance costs, to guarantee the operation safety, and to make process operation more robust. For this reason, the present manuscript investigates the production of polymer particles loaded with a commercial corrosion inhibitor intended for controlled release applications in oil wells. The process comprises two steps: the first step regards the water‐in‐oil (W/O) heterogeneous styrene polymerization, while the second step involves the water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W/O/W) styrene polymerization, prepared through dispersion of the W/O emulsion obtained in the first step in an aqueous medium. The results reveal that the morphologies of the produced particles are significantly affected by the analyzed process operation variables, such as reaction time, temperature, and feed ratios. Particularly, the duration of the first reaction step strongly influences the obtained particle size distributions and the encapsulation efficiencies. Finally, it is shown that the encapsulated inhibitor is released slowly in aqueous saline media.
Validation of the Chinese Non‐pharmacological Therapy Experience Scale in persons with intellectual disability
Authors: Ho Lily Yuen Wah , Chin Kenny Chi Wing , Fung Connie Yuen Yee , Lai Claudia Kam Yuk 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimTo validate the 4‐ and 7‐point Chinese Non‐pharmacological Therapy Experience Scales and test the psychometric properties of the scales on persons with intellectual disability.DesignA validation study.MethodsSixty‐seven persons with intellectual disability were recruited from six hostels or centres for persons with intellectual disability in Hong Kong. A total of 1,163 and 1,161 observations were collected by the trained observers with the 4‐point and 7‐point scales, respectively. The floor and ceiling effects, inter‐rater reliability, internal consistency, responsiveness of both scales and the scale equivalence were examined.ResultsThe Cronbach's α of the 4‐ and 7‐point scales was .762 and .797, respectively. The correlation between the two scales was 0.906. The inter‐rater reliability of the 4‐ and 7‐point scales was 0.774 and 0.835, respectively. Neither scale had the floor or ceiling effects. The effect size of the 7‐point scale was consistently higher than that of the 4‐point scale.
Analysis of factors that influence neurosurgical length of hospital stay among newly diagnosed pediatric brain tumor patients
Authors: Hasan Muhammad , Diep Dion , Manoranjan Branavan , Maharaj Arjuna , Chaudhry Sabrina , Shaheen Saqib , Farrokhyar Forough , Fleming Adam J. , Ajani Olufemi , Singh Sheila K. , Yarascavitch Blake 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative length of stay (LOS) carries a high burden of healthcare costs. In resource‐intense specialties such as neurosurgery, it is imperative to identify factors that influence LOS to improve care. The current study investigates the potential for variables that affect clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and postoperative complications to impact overall LOS in pediatric brain tumor patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study design was used with patients enrolled in the McMaster Pediatric Brain Tumor Study Group database. All patients up to 18 years of age, presenting with a newly diagnosed brain tumor admitted to and discharged from neurosurgery, were included. Patients were sorted into three cohorts: short LOS (≤3 days), extended LOS (≥20 days), and control LOS (4‐19 days).ResultsOf the 124 patients included, 20 (65% male; median age: 9.1 years; range, 0.8‐17.4 years) were considered short LOS, 28 (61% male; median age: 4.7 years; range, 0.4‐14.7 years) were considered extended LOS, and 76 (57% male; median age: 8.5 years; range, 0.3–17.9 years) were considered control LOS. Variables that prolonged LOS were emesis at presentation (P < 0.001), developmental delay (P = 0.02), multiple surgeries (P = 0.004), tumor location (P < 0.05), subtotal resection (P = 0.02), feeding tube (P < 0.001), adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (P < 0.001), and posterior fossa syndrome (P = 0.004).ConclusionsThis study identifies variables related to clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and postoperative complications associated with extended LOS. These findings uncover novel predictors of LOS that can be used to guide future research and improve health resource management.
Occupational attainment and depressive symptoms in young adulthood
Authors: Ueno Koji , Krause Alexandra 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPast studies have shown that various aspects of occupational attainment (unemployment, job instability, low occupational status, and low earnings) are associated with poor mental health, but each of these studies focused on one or two aspects of occupational attainment. Consequently, it remains unclear whether their associations are independent of each other. Further, little is known about whether negative self‐assessments of occupational attainment are linked to poor mental health. We sought to overcome these limitations of past research while focusing on depressive symptoms as a mental health outcome and young adulthood as a life stage context. The study analysed U.S. data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 13,178) using ordinary least square models. The analysis showed that all aspects of occupational attainment were associated with depressive symptoms in the expected directions. Further, unemployment, job instability, and negative self‐assessment of career progress showed stronger associations, and those associations were independent of other occupational attainment variables. Overall, the results suggested that understanding the association between occupational attainment and mental health requires close attention to the life stage context.
Numerical thermofluid simulation of high current air arcs at fault point contaminated with metal vapor from evaporation of metal electrode in open air
Authors: Takeshima Toru , Tanaka Yasunori , Uesugi Yoshihiko , Ishijima Tatsuo 
Published: October 2019

AbstractA numerical simulation was conducted to simulate behavior of an arc discharge in open air contaminated with metallic vapor for kA‐class high current. This simulation is concerned with a fundamental study on an arc discharge in a high‐energy arcing fault (HEAF), which can be found occasionally in electric equipment inside nuclear power plants. To understand phenomena in HEAF, it is useful to study air arc behavior at high fault currents, considering metallic vapor contamination from the metallic electrodes because the fault arcs often form in air between metallic parts in electric equipment. In this model, metal electrode evaporation and metal vapor contamination of the arcs were taken into account. Using this model, the temperature, pressure rise, and heat flux in arc plasmas established between Fe electrodes were calculated for ac currents of 3, 5, and 7 kApeak in open air. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Network analysis of kampo formulas based on crude drug composition and indications
Authors: Oku Makito 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTAimMany kampo formulas have been developed by combining crude drugs in various ways, providing diverse medicinal effects. Similarity between kampo formulas is usually determined based on their compositions and medicinal effects, but the entire network structure of Kampo formulas has not been analyzed systematically. In this study, I investigated the associations between kampo formulas based on their compositions and indications in order to provide an overview of the complex network structure of kampo formulas. In addition, relationships between crude drugs and indications were also investigated in a similar manner.MethodsThe list of the 294 over‐the‐counter kampo formulas defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan was analyzed to construct networks of kampo formulas. Kampo formulas were connected by edges if their crude drug compositions or indications had significant overlap. A network of crude drugs and indications was also constructed by linking crude drugs and indications if they co‐occurred in significantly many kampo formulas.ResultsThree groups related to keishito, shosaikoto, and rikkunshito were identified in the network of kampo formulas based on crude drug composition. Three groups related to the treatment of gastric disorders, women's diseases, and neuralgia were also identified in the network of kampo formulas based on indications. Major groups were also identified in the network of crude drugs and indications.ConclusionThe networks of kampo formulas as well as crude drugs and indications were successfully obtained, which may help to facilitate our understanding of kampo formulas and crude drugs.
Development of a medical education program with abdominal palpation simulators to support the understanding of traditional Japanese (kampo) medicine in beginners
Authors: Arita Ryutaro , Numata Takehiro , Saito Natsumi , Takayama Shin , Togashi Takafumi , Kaneko Soichiro , Kikuchi Akiko , Ohsawa Minoru , Kamiya Tetsuharu , Abe Michiaki , Ishii Tadashi 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTAimTraditional Japanese (kampo) medicine has recently been included in the medical education curriculum in Japan; hence, an education program in kampo physical examination for beginners is needed. The aim of the present study was to develop an education program using a simulator of kampo abdominal palpation that would enable beginners to acquire this skill, and to assess the effectiveness and usefulness of the education program.MethodsFirst, we conducted a preliminary trial. Fifteen beginners received a lecture about abdominal findings and the associated representative kampo formulas and underwent a simulator palpation test. Following this trial, we created and conducted a 1 day education program as a prospective study. The program included a general lecture on physical examination in kampo medicine, followed by a pre‐test assessment involving palpation of the simulators, a specific lecture about abdominal palpation, and finally a post‐test assessment. The pre‐ and post‐test accuracy rates were evaluated.ResultsHigh accuracy rates were obtained in the preliminary trial, but the research protocol did not enable an assessment of the effectiveness or usefulness of the trial. In the subsequent education program, 41 participants had significantly higher accuracy rates after the lecture than before the lecture, in both abdominal findings (from 78.2% to 94.4% on average, P < 0.001) and in the associated representative kampo formulas (from 21.8% to 59.7% on average, P < 0.001).ConclusionAn education program using simulators for kampo abdominal palpation can be effective and useful for beginners in kampo medicine.
Bullying in university between peers and by personnel: cultural variation in prevalence, forms, and gender differences in four countries
Authors: Pörhölä Maili , Cvancara Kristen , Kaal Esta , Kunttu Kristina , Tampere Kaja , Torres Maria Beatriz 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This study reports results from cross-cultural comparisons of (a) the frequency of university students’ experiences of bullying victimization and perpetration between students, (b) students’ experiences of bullying victimization by university personnel, and (c) the breakdown of victimization by the forms of bullying students have experienced. Gender breakdowns are offered. Survey data were collected from undergraduates in a total of 47 universities, using large sample sizes, similar measures and assessment methods in four countries: Argentina (N = 969), Estonia (N = 1053), Finland (N = 4403), and the United States (N = 2072). The results confirmed previous findings which suggest that a notable number of students experience bullying during university studies by fellow students and/or staff members, and a smaller number of students admit to bully their fellow students. The results add to previous knowledge by demonstrating remarkable cultural differences in the prevalence and forms of bullying and suggesting that bullying at the university level starts to transform similar to bullying in the workplace. The overall rates of bullying victimization and perpetration between students were the highest in Argentina, followed by the USA, Finland, and finally Estonia. However, victimization by university personnel was reported the most in Estonia, followed by Argentina, the USA, and Finland. Gender breakdowns in bullying experiences varied between countries. Verbal forms of bullying were common experiences. The most often reported form in all countries was unjustified criticism, belittling or humiliation related to academic performance. Students in the USA reported the highest frequencies in most forms of victimization. The results are discussed by reflecting on higher education features and comparing cultural characteristics of the countries. Practical implications are provided.
An integrative design? How liberalised modal empiricism fails the integration challenge
Authors: Sjölin Wirling Ylwa 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe idea that justified modal belief can be accounted for in terms of empirically justified, non-modal belief is enjoying increasing popularity in the epistemology of modality. One alleged reason to prefer modal empiricism over more traditional, rationalist modal epistemologies is that empiricism avoids the problem with the integration challenge that arise for rationalism, assuming that we want to be realists about modal metaphysics. In this paper, I argue that given two very reasonable constraints on what it means to meet the integration challenge for modality, empiricism is currently at best on a par with, but potentially worse off than, rationalist alternatives, with respect to the integration challenge.
MRI appearance change during stereotactic radiotherapy for large brain metastases and importance of treatment plan modification during treatment period
Authors: Kubo Katsumaro , Kenjo Masahiro , Doi Yoshiko , Nakao Minoru , Miura Hideharu , Ozawa Shuichi , Nagata Yasushi 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Purpose
We aimed to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance changes during stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for large sized brain metastases, and analyze the lesions necessitating treatment plan modification.

Materials and methods
A total of 23 patients (27 lesions, >2 cm in tumor diameter) underwent SRT and all lesions were evaluated the appearance changes which had the necessity of the treatment plan modification. The appearance change of tumor during SRT was evaluated using gadolinium-enhanced MRI. The reasons of the modification were classified into tumor reduction, tumor enlargement, displacement, and shape change.

Results
Among the 27 lesions, 55.6% required the treatment plan modification. The reasons were tumor reduction in six lesions, tumor enlargement in three lesions, displacement in three lesions, and shape change in three lesions. The planning target volume (PTV) size changed up to 43.0% and the shift of center of PTV was a maximum of 1.7 mm. The pathological status (adenocarcinoma vs others) and timing of steroid administration (prior vs after SRT start) were the predictive factors of tumor changes required the modification.

Conclusions
As tumor changes might occur even during short period of SRT, the treatment plan evaluation and modification were important in SRT for large brain metastases.