Premature End Research Articles

Stochastic model for crop water stress during agricultural droughts

The increasing occurrence of severe droughts and sparse rainfall due to climate change is resulting in high and costly demand for water resources. A greater understanding of uncertainties associated with the creeping occurrence of agricultural drought and proactive planning to mitigate drought impact hence needs a probabilistic assessment. This study presents the probabilistic characterization of agricultural drought, depicted by the cumulative soil moisture deficit above a threshold (Severity) and water stress in the plants (WSP‐sum) during dry periods (duration). The concept of Crop Growing Process (CGP) for specified crops is introduced and defined as a continuous flow of water from the soil through the roots of the plant to the leaves then transformed into water vapor and finally released. The CGP is a two‐state process, either a normal or subnormal state. The probability density function (PDF) of the WSP‐sum manifests the overall subnormal state of CGP over the duration by means of the failure probability estimated as the sum of two distinct parts from two independent phases. Phase1 estimates the part of the failure probability influenced by the average duration; and Phase‐2 estimates the remaining part influenced by the average severity. The phase with the smallest rate parameter determines the WSP‐sum, which indicates whether a premature end of CGP was due to drought or the CGP survived until the end of the cropping season. The predicted designed drought components for specified return periods are presented to assist in proactive drought management. The combined influence of all the drought components upon the WSP‐sum probabilistically characterizes agricultural drought, given the CGP.

Obsolescence in LCA–methodological challenges and solution approaches

Obsolescence, as premature end of use, increases the overall number of products produced and consumed, and thereby can increase the environmental impact. Measures to decrease the effects of obsolescence by altering the product or service design have the potential to increase use time (defined as the realized active service life) of devices, but can themselves have (environmental) drawbacks, for example, because the amount of material required for production increases. As such, paying special attention to methodological choices when assessing such measures and strategies using life cycle assessment (LCA) needs is crucial. Open questions and key aspects of obsolescence, including the analysis of its effects and preventative measures, are discussed against the backdrop of the principles and framework for LCA given in ISO 14040/44, which includes guidance on how to define a useful functional unit and reference flow in the context of real-life use time. The open and foundational requirements of ISO 14040/14044 already form an excellent basis for analysis of the phenomenon obsolescence and its environmental impact in product comparisons. However, any analysis presumes clear definition of the goal and scope phase with special attention paid to aspects relevant to obsolescence: the target product and user group needs to be placed into context with the analysed “anti-obsolescence” measures. The reference flow needs to reflect a realized use time (and not solely a technical lifetime when not relevant for the product under study). System boundaries and types of data need to be chosen also in context of the anti-obsolescence measure to include, for example, the production of spare parts to reflect repairable design and/or manufacturer-specific yields to reflect high-quality manufacturing. Understanding the relevant obsolescence conditions for the product system under study and how these may differ across the market segment or user types is crucial for a fair and useful comparison and the evaluation of anti-obsolescence measures.

On Failing to Perform: Kunst und Revolution, Vienna 1968

Nineteen sixty eight's Kunst und Revolution (Art and Revolution) has long been seen as an artistic and a political failure, marking the dissolution of the student left in Vienna and the premature end of so-called “Viennese Actionism.” This essay argues, however, that the failure of Kunst und Revolution was precisely the point: It exhibited a crisis of Austrian impotence that had long since been underway. Rather than considering the event to have been discredited for its ineffective political activism or misguided artistic “Actionism,” one is better off seeing it as an instance of what the author calls “in-action.” Through its failure to perform, Kunst und Revolution provoked the escalatory attentions of the police, the press, and the public. By attending to the mediatization of the event and the central role of the police, this essay argues that Kunst und Revolution, and in particular the performances of Günter Brus and Anna Brus, staged an institutional critique of Austria's most venerable national symbols: the university, the courts of justice, the tradition of the fine arts, and the Viennese family home.

It Takes a Village to Break Up a Match: A Systemic Analysis of Formal Youth Mentoring Relationship Endings

Although early closure of formal youth mentoring relationships has recently begun to receive some attention, more information about factors that contribute to premature endings, and how those factors interact, is needed so that empirically-based program practices can be developed and disseminated to prevent such endings and to ensure that youth reap the benefits mentoring can provide. This qualitative interview study applies a systemic model of youth mentoring relationships (Keller in J Prim Prev 26:169–188, 2005a) to the study of mentoring relationship endings in community-based mentoring matches to understand why these matches ended. Mentors, parents/guardians and program staff associated with 36 mentoring matches that had ended were interviewed about their experiences of these relationships and their understanding of why they had ended. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts and mentoring program case notes for each match followed by systemic modeling of the relationships yielded three major findings. A strong mentor–youth relationship is necessary but not sufficient for match longevity. The mentor–youth relationship, even when relatively strong, is unlikely to withstand disruptions in other relationships in the system. Agency contextual factors, such as program practices and policies and staffing patterns, have a critical role to play in sustaining mentoring matches, as they directly influence all of the relationships in the mentoring system. These findings highlight the importance of considering not just the mentoring dyad but also the parent/guardian and program context when trying to prevent match closures. They also point to several program practices that may support longer mentoring relationships.

Association Between Pembrolizumab-related Adverse Events and Treatment Outcome in Advanced Melanoma: Results From the Dutch Expanded Access Program.

Toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as ipilimumab and nivolumab is likely associated with clinical efficacy. In this study, we aim to evaluate this association for pembrolizumab. To this end, data of 147 patients included in the Dutch cohort of the Pembrolizumab Expanded Access Program were collected. All data were collected prospectively. Patients with adverse events (AEs) at any time during therapy showed a higher chance of achieving disease control compared with patients without AEs (low-grade AEs vs. no AEs: odds ratio=12.8, P=0.0002, high-grade AEs vs. no AEs: odds ratio=38.5, P=0.0001) according to a multivariate logistic regression analysis. In addition, Cox regression analysis showed a lower risk of death (hazard ratio: 0.51, 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.97) and disease progression (hazard ratio: 0.54, 95% confidence interval: 0.30-0.98) over time for patients with high-grade AEs at any time during therapy compared with patients without AEs during therapy. To correct for time dependency of occurrence of AEs, a pseudolandmark analysis at 6 months of therapy was performed. Although significance was lost (Wald test P>0.05), prolonged survival in 3 patients who stopped therapy within 6 months due to the occurrence of AEs was observed, suggesting the potential treatment benefit despite the premature ending of therapy. The occurrence of high-grade toxicity at any time during treatment was associated with higher objective response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival. There remains a need to assess the predictive value of early occurring AEs on patient survival.

Vlogging at the end of life.

Despite advances in treatment options, many patients diagnosed with cancer ultimately face the premature ending of their life. Under these circumstances, patients are confronted with the challenge of re-articulating their personal experiences and identities in ways that accommodate a changed reality and help them create meaning at the end of life. Their storytelling constitutes a particular type of illness story, distinct from other related categories. For example, although restitution narratives are driven by recovery, end-of-life stories come forth in relation to unattainable health and the contemplation of death.

Long-term effectiveness of psychodynamic inpatient therapy on depressive disorders - Catamnestic- Results of the STOP-D-Study

Long-term effectiveness of psychodynamic inpatient therapy on depressive disorders - Catamnestic- Results of the STOP-D-Study Objectives: Depression is one of the most common disorders with a rate of recurrence between 60-75 %. The effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy is well-proven, but there is still a lack of studies proving the long-term effectiveness of inpatient treatment on depressive symptom load. Methods: After psychodynamic inpatient treatment in a psychodynamically oriented psychosomatic hospital unit, the reduction in general and depressive symptom load (e. g. BDI, HAMD, SCL-90-R) was evaluated by a six-month follow up design. The study was set up as naturalistic multicenter intervention study including a female follow-up sample (N = 291; age 25-45 years). Results: The symptom improvement reached by the inpatient treatment remained stable at the follow-up survey. Patients treated with antidepressant medication showed stronger depressive symptom load at discharge and follow-up survey compared to patients without antidepressant medication. Sociodemographic variables and a comorbid personality disorder were not associated with increased drop-out rates, but depressive symptom load and a premature ending of the treatment. Conclusions: The obtained results demonstrate the long-term effectiveness of inpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy. Further studies about the influence of post-hospital psychotherapy and medical treatment as well as patient satisfaction seem necessary.

Promoting the Transformation of Li2 S2 to Li2 S: Significantly Increasing Utilization of Active Materials for High-Sulfur-Loading Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high sulfur loading are urgently required in order to take advantage of their high theoretical energy density. Ether-based Li-S batteries involve sophisticated multistep solid-liquid-solid-solid electrochemical reaction mechanisms. Recently, studies on Li-S batteries have widely focused on the initial solid (sulfur)-liquid (soluble polysulfide)-solid (Li2 S2 ) conversion reactions, which contribute to the first 50% of the theoretical capacity of the Li-S batteries. Nonetheless, the sluggish kinetics of the solid-solid conversion from solid-state intermediate product Li2 S2 to the final discharge product Li2 S (corresponding to the last 50% of the theoretical capacity) leads to the premature end of discharge, resulting in low discharge capacity output and low sulfur utilization. To tackle the aforementioned issue, a catalyst of amorphous cobalt sulfide (CoS3 ) is proposed to decrease the dissociation energy of Li2 S2 and propel the electrochemical transformation of Li2 S2 to Li2 S. The CoS3 catalyst plays a critical role in improving the sulfur utilization, especially in high-loading sulfur cathodes (3-10 mg cm-2 ). Accordingly, the Li2 S/Li2 S2 ratio in the discharge products increased to 5.60/1 from 1/1.63 with CoS3 catalyst, resulting in a sulfur utilization increase of 20% (335 mAh g-1 ) compared to the counterpart sulfur electrode without CoS3 .

Taming Active Material-Solid Electrolyte Interfaces with Organic Cathode for All-Solid-State Batteries

Summary Attaining stable active material-solid electrolyte interfaces is a great challenge in sulfide-based all-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSSBs). A resistive layer forms at the interface upon charging above the anodic stability potential of sulfide electrolytes. In addition, contact failure at the interface during cycling is long known, but a fundamental solution is not yet available. Herein, we use an organic cathode material, pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone (PTO), to enable high-performance ASSSBs. We report, for the first time, a reversible active material-electrolyte interfacial resistance evolution during cycling. We further show for the first time that a low-modulus cathode material such as PTO maintains intimate interfacial contact with solid electrolytes during cycling, thus improving cycle life. The PTO-based cells exhibit a high specific energy (587 Wh kg−1) and a record cycling stability (500 cycles) among ASSSBs. This work reveals an effective cathode material design strategy toward compatibility with solid electrolytes and thus high-performance ASSSBs.

The Effects of Different Vase Solutions on the Postharvest Life of Rose Flower- Review

One of the utmost difficulties in postharvest of rose flower is the blockage of vascular system, due to air or bacterial growth, which reduces water uptake and blocks xylem vessels leading to water stress. That was expressed in the form of early wilting of leaves or flowers, and might appear when water uptake and transpiration are out of balance during a lasting period of time. This finally leads to an unrecoverable situation and the premature end of flower vase life. Antimicrobial compounds like metal salts prevent and slowdown bacterial growth, ensure proper water uptake and delay senescence. Different Preservatives solution are used to increases the longevity of many cut flowers including, sucrose as source of nutrition for tissues approaching carbohydrate starvation, Silver in the form of Silver Thiosulphate (STS) to inhibit the action of ripening/senescence hormone ethylene, aluminum sulfate to lower the pH of vase solution and as an antimicrobial agent in the solution and salicylic acid to prevent ACC-oxidase activity that is the direct precursor of ethylene and decrease ROS with increase enzyme antioxidant activity. Currently, synthetic germicides containing AgNO 3 are no longer used in commercial vase solutions because the silver can pollute the environment and cause damage to human health. Thus, it is better to use ecofriendly extracts of several plant species contain antimicrobial compound that has the potential to be used as a natural germicide in floral preservative solutions of vase cut flowers. Keywords: Aluminum sulfate, Plant Extract, Salicylic Acid, silvar thiosulphate, vase life DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-02 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Mechanical failure of garnet electrolytes during Li electrodeposition observed by in-operando microscopy

Metallic Li anodes are key to reaching high energy densities in next-generation solid-state batteries, however, major problems are the non-uniform deposition of Li at the interface and the penetrative power of Li metal during operation, which cause failure of the ceramic electrolyte, internal short-circuits and a premature end of battery life. In this work, we explore the anode-electrolyte interface instability of a Li metal-garnet electrolyte system during Li electrodeposition, and its implications for mechanical fracture, Li metal propagation, and electrolyte failure. The degradation mechanism was followed step-by-step during in-operando electrochemical cycling using optical and scanning electron microscopy. High amounts of Li electrodeposition in a localized zone of the interface lead to ceramic fracture followed by an electrode-to-electrode electrical connection via a conductor Li metal filament. This work enables deeper understanding of battery failure modes in all-solid-state batteries containing a ceramic electrolyte membrane.

How fast do apprenticeships come to a premature end? Insights into the factors that determine the speed of the process

This study draws on data on dual apprenticeship training in Germany to investigate which factors determine how fast the decision to terminate an apprenticeship before its completion is taken and executed. Information on the speed of this process can help organizations improve their decision-making in taking measures aimed at preventing premature terminations. As the results of our probit regression show, the decision to terminate an apprenticeship early is likely to be implemented in less than two months if the sole initiator of the termination is the apprentice and the decision is made within the probationary period or during the first year of the apprenticeship. Our analysis also shows that dissatisfaction with the quality of training increases the probability of a swift termination. In contrast, when the reason is unsatisfactory performance on the part of the apprentice at the vocational school, the process of premature termination is likely to be significantly slower.

Parties, personalities and political power: legacies of liberal peace-building in Timor-Leste

ABSTRACTThis article examines the tension between liberal peace-building and local political culture through the lens of party and personality politics in Timor-Leste. It argues that the efforts of the UN peacekeeping mission to promote multi-party democracy cut across the interests of two opposing political forces: the charismatic resistance leader, Xanana Gusmão, who was deeply suspicious of party politics and favoured supra-partisan coalitions; and the dominant political party, FRETILIN, which pursued majoritarian power. Over the 16 years since independence, FRETILIN maintained a strong party identity and the governments it led met strenuous opposition and came to a premature end, while the Gusmão-led or -backed governments formed and survived as pragmatic tactical alliances. The article concludes that although the UN peacekeeping mission guided institutional design to favour political party organisation as the foundation for achieving representational government, the institutions have subsequently evolved in response to local political drivers. While outside actors can seek to influence the formal rules of the game, local political culture will determine how the game is played.

Determinants of Tenancy Sustainment Following Homelessness: A Systematic Review.

Tenancy sustainment-maintenance of a tenancy to avoid a premature end of tenure-is fundamental to prevention of homelessness. Understanding what enables a successful tenancy is essential in informing interventions designed to support people in leaving homelessness. To conduct a systematic review identifying determinants associated with tenancy sustainment following homelessness. A detailed search of 12 electronic databases, as well as gray literature sources, was conducted in 2015 and updated in 2016. We included all study designs with a population of homeless or formerly homeless individuals in which tenancy sustainment was the primary outcome. Two reviewers independently carried out abstract and full-text reviews. QualSyst, a validated quality appraisal tool, was used in assessing the methodological quality of articles. A data extraction form was developed for the review and was completed by a pair of reviewers to ensure accuracy. The heterogeneity of the studies included indicated that a narrative overview of the results was most appropriate. Forty-three articles reporting 38 studies were included. Determinants were categorized at 4 levels: individual, interpersonal, community, and structural. Participation in specific programs (e.g., Housing First), receipt of social support, and older age were identified as positive determinants of tenancy sustainment. This systematic review is the first, to our knowledge, to focus solely on tenancy sustainment as a primary outcome. Although a range of determinants associated with tenancy sustainment were identified, it was difficult to draw strong conclusions owing to the heterogeneity of the studies. Despite being a fundamental concept in homelessness research, tenancy sustainment is poorly defined and conceptualized. A deeper understanding of tenancy sustainment will inform the development and evaluation of interventions that support people in leaving homelessness and maintaining tenancies. Public Health Implications. Housing stability is central to preventing homelessness and addressing the numerous public health concerns that can co-occur with homelessness. Our review highlights that a standardized approach to measuring housing stability and more high-quality intervention studies are essential.

M 1–92 revisited: the chemistry of a common envelope nebula?

AbstractWe report on new molecular-line observations of the bipolar pre-planetary nebula M 1–92. The new IRAM 30 m MRT and NOEMA data shows the presence of shock induced chemistry in the nebula. From the derived [17O]/[18O] ratio, we suggest that the sudden mass loss event responsible for the formation of the nebula 1200 yr ago may also have resulted in the premature end of the AGB phase of the central star.

The Reperfusion Delay in Finger Replantation by Vein Arterialization.

Background:Extensive arterial damage of arteries that were too small in diameter precluded finger replantation. Venous arterialization in which arterial blood inflows through a proximal arterial-to-distal venous anastomosis, allows performing replantation that was previously considered as impossible and has resulted in a successful outcome. The aim is to introduce the distinctive phenomenon of the reperfusion delay in finger replantation by vein arterialization and to analyze its clinical significance.Materials and Methods:In 2012–2015, vein arterialization was involved in 18 digits of 13 patients. The duration that the replants restore reperfusion following the release of tourniquet, defined as revascularization time, was recorded.Results:The results showed that revascularization time ranged from 0 to 540 min, with an average of 54.5 min. The revascularization time was shorter than 20 min in 8 digits, between 20 and 120 min in 9 digits, and 540 min in one digit.Conclusion:The study findings have shown that reperfusion delay is usual during vein arterialization. Failing to understand it would result in the premature endings of the procedure. It is worth maintaining further observation, thus rescue otherwise possibly abandoned replantation.

Tratamiento Cognitivo-conductual de un Caso de Estrés Postraumático por Accidente Ferroviario. ¿Éxito Terapéutico o Evitación?

This paper presents the case of a 53-year old woman with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a train accident in Galicia (Spain) in July, 2013. The accident caused the patient several injuries and surgical interventions. The psychological impact is delayed and consists of PTSD symptoms, besides high anxiety, depression symptoms, and high anger. The treatment involved Prolonged Exposure into a broader cognitive-behavior therapy that included cognitive restructuring and training in emotional regulation to treat dysfunctional cognitive responses that promoted anger. The article describes the implementation of the treatment and the main difficulties encountered, namely, the avoidance of exposure to trauma memories and the premature end of the treatment at patient’s request. We present the results of the treatment, including 1, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-ups and discuss patient’s progression.

A Preliminary Study Into Meniscal Innervation in 2 Horses With Different Degrees of Chondropathy in the Femorotibial Joint

Osteoarthritis is a painful degenerative disease, sometimes responsible for the premature ending of the careers of sporting horses. In humans, meniscal neurogenesis has been suggested to contribute to pain in osteoarthritis. To the best of our knowledge, no study on this subject has been performed in equine species. The aim of this report was to compare the density of the nociceptive and sympathetic nerves in the menisci of two 11- and 13-year-old mares, one presenting a “low-chondropathy grade” in its stifle and the other a “high-chondropathy grade”. The cranial horns of the medial menisci, a commonly reported site of equine meniscal injuries, were harvested after a maximum of 48 hours postmortem. A macroscopic and microscopic grading system was established using a modified Pauli score. Nociceptive fibers were highlighted by immunohistochemical staining with an antibody against Substance P (SP) and postganglionic sympathetic fibers with an antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a nonparametric statistical test was used to analyze the data. The meniscus from the “high-chondropathy horse (HCH)” showed a higher density and frequency of postganglionic sympathetic nerves compared with the meniscus of the “low-chondropathy horse (LCH)”. No difference was observed regarding nociceptive nerves. This report shows possible meniscal sympathetic efferent-mediated pain in a “highly chondropathic horse”. Although these results cannot be extended to the equine population as a whole because of the small sample size, they are nevertheless interesting as they provide new information regarding the possible etiology of the pain in equine stifle osteoarthritis.

Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis of a Great Jewish Opera Singer.

George London was one of the most compelling vocal artists of the early twentieth century. At the age of 47, the great bass-baritone retired from singing. It has been suggested that the premature ending of his operatic career was due to unilateral vocal cord palsy (UVCP). When London retired, the common belief was that this UVCP was caused by viral hepatitis, although there is no evidence to support such an etiology. London’s medical records eliminate the possible etiology of a neck neoplasm, and the long period of time between a heart attack he experienced and his diagnosis of UVCP makes a cardiovascular etiology an unlikely causative factor. London’s relatively young age, the diagnosis of laryngitis prior to his UVCP, and the course of his disease indicate that the underlying cause of the termination of his singing career was post-viral neuropathy. This paper describes the clinical evidence related to London’s vocal cord function and explores the possible causes for his UVCP, which apparently led to his early retirement.

High Strain-Rate Compressive Properties of Carbon/Epoxy Laminated Composites – Effects of loading direction and temperature

The high strain-rate compressive characteristics of a cross-ply carbon/epoxy laminated composite in the three principal material directions or fibre (1-), in-plane transverse (2-) and throughthickness (3-) directions are investigated on the conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) over a range of temperatures between 20 and 80 °C. A nearly 10 mm thick cross-ply carbon/epoxy composite laminate fabricated using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM) was tested. Cylindrical specimens with a slenderness ratio (= length/diameter) of 0.5 are used in high strain-rate tests, and those with the slenderness ratios of 1.0 and 1.5 are used in low and intermediate strain-rate tests. The uniaxial compressive stress-strain curves up to failure at quasi-static and intermediate strain rates are measured on an Instron testing machine at elevated temperatures. A pair of steel rings is attached to both ends of the cylindrical specimens to prevent premature end crushing in the 1-and 2-direction tests on the Instron testing machine. It is shown that the ultimate compressive strength (or failure stress) exhibits positive strainrate effects and negative temperature ones over a strain-rate range of 10–3 to 103/s and a temperature range of 20 to 80 °C in the three principal material directions.