bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Sprague Dawley Rats Is Suppressed by Hydroethanolic Extract ofCordia vigneiLeaves through Reduced Serum Levels of TNF-αand IL-6
Authors: Owusu George , Obiri David D. , Ainooson George K. , Osafo Newman , Antwi Aaron O. , Duduyemi Babatunde M. , Ansah Charles
Published: February 2020

Background. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes long-lasting inflammation on the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. Leaf decoctions ofCordia vigneihave been used in traditional medicine either alone or in combination with other plant preparations to treat the disease.Aim. In this study, we investigated the effect of hydroethanolic extract ofCordia vigneileaves (CVE) on acetic acid-induced UC in rats.Method. Male Sprague Dawley rats received oral treatment of either saline (10 ml/kg), sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg), or CVE (30-300 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. On day 4, colitis was induced by a single intrarectal administration of 500 μl of acetic acid (4%v/v). Rats were sacrificed on day 8 and colons were collected for histopathological examination. Blood was also collected for haematological assessment.Results. CVE significantly (P < 0.05) prevented colonic ulceration and reduced the inflammatory score. Serum levels of TNF-αand IL-6 were significantly reduced. Depletion of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities by acetic acid was significantly inhibited while lipid peroxidation indexed as malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the colon was reduced. However, loss of body weight was not significantly affected by treatment with CVE.Conclusion. This data suggest that CVE has a potential antiulcerative effect.
Prediction of Production Performance of Refractured Shale Gas Well considering Coupled Multiscale Gas Flow and Geomechanics
Authors: Li Zhiqiang , Qi Zhilin , Yan Wende , Xiang Zuping , Ao Xiang , Huang Xiaoliang , Mo Fei
Published: February 2020

Production simulation is an important method to evaluate the stimulation effect of refracturing. Therefore, a production simulation model based on coupled fluid flow and geomechanics in triple continuum including kerogen, an inorganic matrix, and a fracture network is proposed considering the multiscale flow characteristics of shale gas, the induced stress of fracture opening, and the pore elastic effect. The complex transport mechanisms due to multiple physics, including gas adsorption/desorption, slip flow, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, stress sensitivity, and adsorption layer are fully considered in this model. The apparent permeability is used to describe the multiple physics occurring in the matrix. The model is validated using actual production data of a horizontal shale gas well and applied to predict the production and production increase percentage (PIP) after refracturing. A sensitivity analysis is performed to study the effects of the refracturing pattern, fracture conductivity, width of stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), SRV length of new and initial fractures, and refracturing time on production and the PIP. In addition, the effects of multiple physics on the matrix permeability and production, and the geomechanical effects of matrix and fracture on production are also studied. The research shows that the refracturing design parameters have an important influence on the PIP. The geomechanical effect is an important cause of production loss, while slippage and diffusion effects in matrix can offset the production loss.
Pan-Cancer Efficacy of Vemurafenib in BRAFV600-Mutant Non-Melanoma Cancers
Authors: Subbiah Vivek , Puzanov Igor , Blay Jean-Yves , Chau Ian , Lockhart A. Craig , Raje Noopur S. , Wolf Juergen , Baselga José , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Roszik Jason , Diamond Eli L. , Riely Gregory J. , Sherman Eric J. , Riehl Todd , Pitcher Bethany , Hyman David M.
Published: February 2020

BRAF V600 mutations occur in a wide range of tumor types, and RAF inhibition has become standard in several of these cancers. Despite this progress, BRAFV600 mutations have historically been considered a clear demonstration of tumor lineage context–dependent oncogene addiction, based predominantly on the insensitivity to RAF inhibition in colorectal cancer. However, the true broader activity of RAF inhibition pan-cancer remains incompletely understood. To address this, we conducted a multicohort “basket” study of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in non-melanoma BRAFV600 mutation–positive solid tumors. In total, 172 patients with 26 unique cancer types were treated, achieving an overall response rate of 33% and median duration of response of 13 months. Responses were observed in 13 unique cancer types, including historically treatment-refractory tumor types such as cholangiocarcinoma, sarcoma, glioma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and salivary gland carcinomas. Collectively, these data demonstrate that single-agent BRAF inhibition has broader clinical activity than previously recognized.

Significance:

These data suggest that BRAFV600 mutations lead to oncogene addiction and are clinically actionable in a broad range of non-melanoma cancers, including tumor types in which RAF inhibition is not currently considered standard of care.

See related commentary by Ribas and Lo, p. 640.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 627
Casa/Cidade/Migrante
Authors: Barbosa Paulo Eduardo
Published: February 2020

O artigo problematiza a representação da casa em duas pinturas de acervos públicos à luz do conceito de hibridismo cultural como meio para avaliar a contribuição criativa do trânsito de patrimônios simbólicos possibilitado por processos de deslocamento populacional.
Horizontes da visualidade: um ensaio visual acerca das fronteiras patrimoniais no Le Louvre-Lens
Authors: Rizolli Marcos
Published: February 2020

Os encontros com a arte, quase sempre, nos levam às fronteiras do sensível e seus espaços tendem a ser desvios do cotidiano. Esse ensaio pretende abordar um episódio muito peculiar: minha visita, em 2017, ao Le Louvre-Lens. Um museu surpreendente – por sua distância da pólis, por sua arquitetura indutora ao desconforto dos hábitos, por sua expografia plena de high-lights artísticas e pela vocação de diversificação e multiplicação do patrimônio cultural irradiado de sua célula-mãe, o Musée du Louvre de Paris.
Rice Intake, Arsenic Exposure, and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Among US Adults in MESA
Authors: Sobel Marisa H. , Sanchez Tiffany R. , Jones Miranda R. , Kaufman Joel D. , Francesconi Kevin A. , Blaha Michael J. , Vaidya Dhananjay , Shimbo Daichi , Gossler Walter , Gamble Mary V. , Genkinger Jeanine M. , Navas‐Acien Ana
Published: February 2020

Background

Arsenic‐related cardiovascular effects at exposure levels below the
US
Environmental Protection Agency's standard of 10 μg/L are unclear. For these populations, food, especially rice, is a major source of exposure. We investigated associations of rice intake, a marker of arsenic exposure, with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers in a multiethnic population.

Methods and Results

Between 2000 and 2002, MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) enrolled 6814 adults without clinical
CVD
. We included 5050 participants with baseline data on rice intake and markers of 3
CVD
domains: inflammation (hsCRP [high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein], interleukin‐6, and fibrinogen), vascular function (aortic distensibility, carotid distensibility, and brachial flow‐mediated dilation), and subclinical atherosclerosis at 3 vascular sites (carotid intima‐media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and ankle‐brachial index). We also evaluated endothelial‐related biomarkers previously associated with arsenic. Rice intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Urinary arsenic was measured in 310 participants. A total of 13% of participants consumed ≥1 serving of rice/day. Compared with individuals consuming <1 serving of rice/week, ≥1 serving of rice/day was not associated with subclinical markers after demographic, lifestyle, and
CVD
risk factor adjustment (eg, geometric mean ratio [95%
CI
] for hs
CRP
, 0.98 [0.86–1.11]; aortic distensibility, 0.99 [0.91–1.07]; and carotid intima‐media thickness, 0.98 [0.91–1.06]). Associations with urinary arsenic were similar to those for rice intake.

Conclusions

Rice intake was not associated with subclinical
CVD
markers in a multiethnic
US
population. Research using urinary arsenic is needed to assess potential
CVD
effects of low‐level arsenic exposure. Understanding the role of low‐level arsenic as it relates to subclinical
CVD
may contribute to
CVD
prevention and control.
How Computational Experiments Can Improve Our Understanding of the Genetic Architecture of Common Human Diseases
Authors: Moore Jason H. , Olson Randal S. , Schmitt Peter , Chen Yong , Manduchi Elisabetta
Published: February 2020

Susceptibility to common human diseases such as cancer is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors that work together in a complex manner. The state of the art is to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that measures millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the genome followed by a one-SNP-at-a-time statistical analysis to detect univariate associations. This approach has identified thousands of genetic risk factors for hundreds of diseases. However, the genetic risk factors detected have very small effect sizes and collectively explain very little of the overall heritability of the disease. Nonetheless, it is assumed that the genetic component of risk is due to many independent risk factors that contribute additively. The fact that many genetic risk factors with small effects can be detected is taken as evidence to support this notion. It is our working hypothesis that the genetic architecture of common diseases is partly driven by non-additive interactions. To test this hypothesis, we developed a heuristic simulation-based method for conducting experiments about the complexity of genetic architecture. We show that a genetic architecture driven by complex interactions is highly consistent with the magnitude and distribution of univariate effects seen in real data. We compare our results with measures of univariate and interaction effects from two large-scale GWASs of sporadic breast cancer and find evidence to support our hypothesis that is consistent with the results of our computational experiment.
Autonomously Moving Pine-Cone Robots: Using Pine Cones as Natural Hygromorphic Actuators and as Components of Mechanisms
Authors: Tamaru Juntaro , Yui Toshiya , Hashida Tomoko
Published: February 2020

We have developed autonomously moving pine-cone robots, which are made of multiple joined pine-cone scales for outdoor natural environments. We achieved these natural robots by using pine cones as both natural hygromorphic actuators and components of the mechanisms. When they are put in outdoor places where moist periods (e.g., rain) and dry periods repeatedly occur, they can move up and down on the spot or move forward. This article describes the motivation behind our research, the design and implementation of three different hygromorphic actuators, and applications for autonomously moving robots in nature.
The Complexity Ratchet: Stronger than Selection, Stronger than Evolvability, Weaker than Robustness
Authors: Liard Vincent , Parsons David P. , Rouzaud-Cornabas Jonathan , Beslon Guillaume
Published: February 2020

Using the in silico experimental evolution platform Aevol, we have tested the existence of a complexity ratchet by evolving populations of digital organisms under environmental conditions in which simple organisms can very well thrive and reproduce. We observed that in most simulations, organisms become complex although such organisms are a lot less fit than simple ones and have no robustness or evolvability advantage. This excludes selection from the set of possible explanations for the evolution of complexity. However, complementary experiments showed that selection is nevertheless necessary for complexity to evolve, also excluding non-selective effects. Analyzing the long-term fate of complex organisms, we showed that complex organisms almost never switch back to simplicity despite the potential fitness benefit. On the contrary, they consistently accumulate complexity in the long term, meanwhile slowly increasing their fitness but never overtaking that of simple organisms. This suggests the existence of a complexity ratchet powered by negative epistasis: Mutations leading to simple solutions, which are favorable at the beginning of the simulation, become deleterious after other mutations—leading to complex solutions—have been fixed. This also suggests that this complexity ratchet cannot be beaten by selection, but that it can be overthrown by robustness because of the constraints it imposes on the coding capacity of the genome.
Greater Early Disambiguating Information for Less-Probable Words: The Lexicon Is Shaped by Incremental Processing
Authors: King Adam , Wedel Andrew
Published: February 2020

There has been much work over the last century on optimization of the lexicon for efficient communication, with a particular focus on the form of words as an evolving balance between production ease and communicative accuracy. Zipf’s law of abbreviation, the cross-linguistic trend for less-probable words to be longer, represents some of the strongest evidence the lexicon is shaped by a pressure for communicative efficiency. However, the various sounds that make up words do not all contribute the same amount of disambiguating information to a listener. Rather, the information a sound contributes depends in part on what specific lexical competitors exist in the lexicon. In addition, because the speech stream is perceived incrementally, early sounds in a word contribute on average more information than later sounds. Using a dataset of diverse languages, we demonstrate that, above and beyond containing more sounds, less-probable words contain sounds that convey more disambiguating information overall. We show further that this pattern tends to be strongest at word-beginnings, where sounds can contribute the most information.
Inconvenient Samples: Modeling Biases Related to Parental Consent by Coupling Observational and Experimental Results
Authors: Yu Yue , Shafto Patrick , Bonawitz Elizabeth
Published: February 2020

In studies involving human subjects, voluntary participation may lead to sampling bias, thus limiting the generalizability of findings. This effect may be especially pronounced in developmental studies, where parents serve as both the primary environmental input and decision maker of whether their child participates in a study. We present a novel empirical and modeling approach to estimate how parental consent may bias measurements of children’s behavior. Specifically, we coupled naturalistic observations of parent–child interactions in public spaces with a behavioral test with children, and used modeling methods to impute the behavior of children who did not participate. Results showed that parents’ tendency to use questions to teach was associated with both children’s behavior in the test and parents’ tendency to participate. Exploiting these associations with a model-based multiple imputation and a propensity score–matching procedure, we estimated that the means of the participating and not-participating groups could differ as much as 0.23 standard deviations for the test measurements, and standard deviations themselves are likely underestimated. These results suggest that ignoring factors associated with consent may lead to systematic biases when generalizing beyond lab samples, and the proposed general approach provides a way to estimate these biases in future research.
Shifting the Focus: Viewing Indigenous Consent Not as a Snapshot But As a Feature Film
Authors: Coyle Michael
Published: February 2020

Whether Indigenous peoples have a right to withhold their consent to proposed resource developments on their traditional lands is a topic of much debate at the moment. Canada’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples raises questions about Canada’s existing consultation law, which generally does not require Indigenous peoples’ advance consent to proposed uses of their traditional lands. While the issue of consent is important, the author argues that focusing only on the end point of consultations misses important questions about the capacity of existing consultation processes to promote consensus-building between the state and Indigenous peoples. This article takes a critical look at the structure of current consultation processes in Canada and proposes changes that would strengthen their capacity to manage conflicts effectively, to respect Indigenous values and legal orders, and to advance the long-term relationship between the Canadian state and Indigenous peoples.
Consent, Resistance and the Duty to Consult
Authors: Eisenberg Avigail
Published: February 2020

Until recently, conflicts between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian state over land development projects have proceeded without the requirement that the state or companies obtain Indigenous consent. In 2018, this changed when the Government of Canada released a statement identifying ‘free, prior, and informed consent’ (fpic) as a requirement of meaningful engagement on projects that implicate Indigenous rights. This article considers the promise of consent within consultation processes. Consent is better than its absence, but conflicts over land development often involve rival claims to authority. The principle of consent cannot alone address the challenges posed by these rival claims nor offer appropriate responses to them. Through organised resistance, communities develop collective agency, forge political alliances, and re-appropriate their authority over territory and resources that are significant to them. The introduction of fpic clarifies but does not replace the benefits of resistance for some communities.
Improving Cultural Heritage Policy for the Preservation of Historic Minority Quarters
Authors: Dastgerdi Ahmadreza Shirvani , De Luca Giuseppe
Published: February 2020

In the traditional structure of Iranian cities, quarters represent a geographical, social and cultural unit which are distinguished by different characteristics, such as ethnicity, religion, and economics. Today, the growing urbanism, on the one hand, and the inefficiency of urban planning, on the other hand, have caused the decline in the cultural values of many Iranian historic sites. This paper addresses the diagnosis of urban planning aiming to manage the spatial changes facing the historic minority quarters in Iran. Over the past four decades, the spatial changes in the two Armenian and Jewish quarters in the historic city of Isfahan have shown that the preservation of the urban heritage requires the fundamental policies to protect minority rights. In this way, urban management can achieve an optimal level of sustainability in the historic quarters by utilising the bottom-up model and involving the minorities in the urban planning process.
So Many Tall Tales: Constantijn L’Empereur’s Polemical Reading of Benjamin of Tudela’s Book of Travels
Authors: Freedman Marci
Published: February 2020

The twelfth-century Jewish traveller, Benjamin of Tudela and his Book of Travels has attracted widespread attention since the Middle Ages. The narrative, however, has largely been read and studied in the context of what it can tell scholars about the medieval world. This article shifts the approach away from the Book of Travels’ content to its reception. Under discussion is Constantijn L’Empereur’s 1633 Latin edition. This article reveals how L’Empereur elevated the Book of Travels from a travelogue into a work of rabbinic literature to undermine the text’s authority. It argues that by attacking the veracity of the account, L’Empereur employed the narrative in anti-Jewish polemics against the cunning, and theologically blind Jews to illustrate the errors of their beliefs. By illuminating L’Empereur’s engagement with the text, the article also situates L’Empereur’s use of rabbinic literature in the wider early modern debate about the utility of Hebrew language study and rabbinic literature for Christian scholars.
Słowiński comparativus jako paralela dla rekonstruowanych zjawisk przedhistorycznych
Authors: Szeptyński Rafał
Published: February 2020

This is the corrected version of the retracted article under the same title, which was published with the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.11649/sfps.1736The Slovincian Comparative as a Parallel for Reconstructed Prehistoric PhenomenaThis article deals with an innovative type of comparatives in Slovincian (Kashubian) (cf., e.g. gąstńei̯šï ‘thicker’ ← gąstï ‘thick’, as opposed to the inherited forms gąstšï, gąscei̯šï). The -ń- extension of the formative originates from intransitive change-of-state verbs of the type gąstńec ‘to become thick(er)’ ← gąstï. This phenomenon reflects a more general tendency in the development of Slavic and Indo-European languages. The significance of the Slovincian material is that it provides synchronic evidence from the first half of the twentieth century. To jest poprawiona wersja wycofanego artykułu o tym samym tytule, który był opublikowany pod następującym numerem DOI: https://doi.org/10.11649/sfps.1736Słowiński comparativus jako paralela dla rekonstruowanych zjawisk przedhistorycznychNiniejszy artykuł dotyczy pewnego innowacyjnego typu comparatiwów w słowińskim (kaszubskim) (por. np. gąstńei̯šï ‘gęstszy’ ← gąstï ‘gęsty’ wobec odziedziczonych gąstšï, gąscei̯šï). Rozszerzenie -ń- w wykładniku wywodzi się z nieprzechodnich czasowników zmiany stanu typu gąstńec ‘gęstnieć’ ← gąstï. Zjawisko to odzwierciedla ogólniejszą tendencję w rozwoju języków słowiańskich i indoeuropejskich. Znaczenie materiału słowińskiego polega na możliwości potwierdzenia procesu na poziomie synchronicznym w pierwszej połowie XX wieku.
The Optimal Item Pool Design in Multistage Computerized Adaptive Tests With the p-Optimality Method
Authors: Yang Lihong , Reckase Mark D.
Published: February 2020

The present study extended the p-optimality method to the multistage computerized adaptive test (MST) context in developing optimal item pools to support different MST panel designs under different test configurations. Using the Rasch model, simulated optimal item pools were generated with and without practical constraints of exposure control. A total number of 72 simulated optimal item pools were generated and evaluated by an overall sample and conditional sample using various statistical measures. Results showed that the optimal item pools built with the p-optimality method provide sufficient measurement accuracy under all simulated MST panel designs. Exposure control affected the item pool size, but not the item distributions and item pool characteristics. This study demonstrated that the p-optimality method can adapt to MST item pool design, facilitate the MST assembly process, and improve its scoring accuracy.
Trusting Autonomous Security Robots: The Role of Reliability and Stated Social Intent
Authors: Lyons Joseph B. , Vo Thy , Wynne Kevin T. , Mahoney Sean , Nam Chang S. , Gallimore Darci
Published: February 2020

Objective

This research examined the effects of reliability and stated social intent on trust, trustworthiness, and one’s willingness to endorse use of an autonomous security robot (ASR).

Background

Human–robot interactions in the domain of security is plausible, yet we know very little about what drives acceptance of ASRs. Past research has used static images and game-based simulations to depict the robots versus actual humans interacting with actual robots.

Method

A video depicted an ASR interacting with a human. The ASR reviewed access credentials and allowed entrance once verified. If the ASR could not verify one’s credentials it instructed the visitor to return to the security checkpoint. The ASR was equipped with a nonlethal device and the robot used this device on one of the three visitors (a research confederate). Manipulations of reliability and stated social intent of the ASR were used in a 2 × 4 between subjects design ( N = 320).

Results

Reliability influenced trust and trustworthiness. Stated social intent influenced trustworthiness. Participants reported being more favorable toward use of the ASR in military contexts versus public contexts.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that reliability of the ASR and statements regarding the ASR’s stated social intent are important considerations influencing the trust process (inclusive of intentions to be vulnerable and trustworthiness perceptions).

Application

If robotic systems are authorized to use force against a human, public acceptance may be increased with availability of the intent-based programming of the robot and whether or not the robot’s decision was reliable.
Inquiry in Action: Reflections on the Implementation of Best Practices in Child- and Family-Focused University–Community Partnerships
Authors: Walsh Mary E. , Adams Shauna M. , Ferguson Susan , Hearst Mary O. , Jones Jo-Viviane , Wall Shavaun , Petsagourakis Despina , Chung Agnes , Shannon Una , Theodorakakis Maria
Published: February 2020

University–community partnerships (UCPs) are increasingly utilized to address issues in education. In this article, we present reflections on best practices for child- and family-focused UCPs. These reflections emerged before, during, and after a convening that brought together representatives from five UCPs in the United States that emphasized early childhood development and received funding from the same philanthropic source. The convening elicited perspectives on best practices for UCPs and identified community- and university-related contextual factors that affected implementation of these best practices. The findings from this study will contribute to the enhancement of future UCPs in education.
The Back Burner: A Teacher’s Dilemmas When Working With English Learners in a School With Few English Learners
Authors: Sugimoto Amanda T.
Published: February 2020

Demographic and policy shifts in U.S. schools have contributed to English learners enrolling in schools with historically few English learners. This phenomenological study used interview data to identify dilemmas that one elementary teacher navigated while working with the sole English learner in her classroom. This context has the potential to inform the design of professional development for teachers working with English learners. Using a dilemmatic spaces framework, three dilemmas were identified related to whether to privilege professional experience or professional development, collaboration with the English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, and how to navigate conflicting administrative expectations.
Prospective Teachers’ Expectations and Concerns About the Future: Using Possible Selves Theory
Authors: Yavuz Tabak Burcu , Yenel Kübra , Tabak Hasan , Şahin Fatih
Published: February 2020

This research aims to discover the opinions of students who will become teachers in the future concerning the expectations and concerns about themselves in the context of the possible selves theory (PST). Qualitative phenomenological research design has been used in this study. The study group consists of 449 students. In the research, the criterion sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, has been used. Descriptive analysis has been used in the analysis of data. The findings revealed that the concerns and expectations of the prospective teachers were mostly in the area of pedagogical formation and general culture. It is determined that the most frequent expectation and concern of prospective teachers is to be competent in the profession and losing belief in the profession.
Effects of Massed versus Distributed Practice on Gross and Fine Motor Proficiency of Educable Mentally Handicapped Adolescents
Authors: Rider Robert A. , Abdulahad Dhari T.
Published: February 2020

Gross and fine motor proficiency were studied in a sample of 52 educable mentally handicapped students ( M = 15.8 yr.), half of whom were assigned to 15 30-sec. trials, a relatively massed practice schedule with 5 sec. between trials, and half to a distributed practice schedule with 30-sec. rests. 5 trials were given 24 hr. later. All subjects performed the stabilometer balance task to measure gross motor proficiency and a 45-rpm pursuit rotor task to measure fine motor proficiency. No significant differences with regard to the practice schedule used early in learning were found, however, boys scored significantly higher on the pursuit rotor than girls.
Attachment and Epigenetics: A Scoping Review of Recent Research and Current Knowledge
Authors: Darling Rasmussen Pernille , Storebø Ole Jakob
Published: February 2020

Background

Epigenetic research has pointed to that the interaction between genetics and environmental factors may play a role in making some individuals more vulnerable than others.

Aim

The aim of this article was to present a broad perspective on the current state of knowledge in a relatively new and complex field of “attachment and epigenetic processes.”

Method

We conducted a scoping review based on a systematic literature search in PsycINFO, PubMed, and Embase databases for relevant abstracts using the terms attachment and epigenet*.

Results

In total, 11 studies were included. Research predating 2009 and animal studies were excluded in order to review the current state of research in humans.

Conclusion

Overall, there seems to be a consistency in the literature, pointing to a link between early childhood adversity, attachment processes, and epigenetic changes. However, research in human subjects is still limited.
Evaluation of Algorithms Used for PrEP Surveillance Using a Reference Population From New York City, July 2016–June 2018
Authors: Furukawa Nathan W. , Smith Dawn K. , Gonzalez Charles J. , Huang Ya-Lin A. , Hanna David B. , Felsen Uriel R. , Zhu Weiming , Arnsten Julia H. , Patel Viraj V.
Published: February 2020

Objective:

Daily tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) use as HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is monitored by identifying TDF/FTC prescriptions from pharmacy databases and applying diagnosis codes and antiretroviral data to algorithms that exclude TDF/FTC prescribed for HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), HIV treatment, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment. We evaluated the accuracy of 3 algorithms used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Gilead Sciences, and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) using a reference population in Bronx, New York.

Methods:

We extracted diagnosis codes and data on all antiretroviral prescriptions other than TDF/FTC from an electronic health record database for persons aged ≥16 prescribed TDF/FTC during July 2016–June 2018 at Montefiore Medical Center. We reviewed medical records to classify the true indication of first TDF/FTC use as PrEP, PEP, HIV treatment, or HBV treatment. We applied each algorithm to the reference population and compared the results with the medical record review.

Results:

Of 2862 patients included in the analysis, 694 used PrEP, 748 used PEP, 1407 received HIV treatment, and 13 received HBV treatment. The algorithms had high specificity (range: 98.4%-99.0%), but the sensitivity of the CDC algorithm using a PEP definition of TDF/FTC prescriptions ≤30 days was lower (80.3%) than the sensitivity of the algorithms developed by Gilead Sciences (94.7%) or NYSDOH (96.1%). Defining PEP as TDF/FTC prescriptions ≤28 days improved CDC algorithm performance (sensitivity, 95.8%; specificity, 98.8%).

Conclusions:

Adopting the definition of PEP as ≤28 days of TDF/FTC in the CDC algorithm should improve the accuracy of national PrEP surveillance.
Computational fluid dynamics approaches to drag and wake of a long-line mussel dropper under tidal current
Authors: Xu Zhijing , Qin Hongde , Li Peng , Liu Rujun
Published: February 2020

Hydrodynamic effects of mussel farms have attracted increased research attentions in recent years. The understanding of the hydrodynamic impacts is essential for predicting the sustainability of mussel farms. A large mussel farm includes thousands of mussel droppers, and the combined drag on the mussel droppers is sufficient to possibly affect the longevity of the entire long-lines. This article intends to study the drag and wake of an individual long-line mussel dropper using computational fluid dynamics approaches. Two equivalent rough cylinders, namely, Curved-Model and Sharp-Model, have been utilized to simulate the mussel dropper, and each rough cylinder is assigned with surface roughness. The porosity is not considered in this article due to its complexity from inhalant and exhalant of mussels. Two-dimensional laminar simulations are conducted at Reynolds number from 10 to 200, and three-dimensional large eddy simulations are conducted at subcritical Reynolds number ranging from 3900 to [Formula: see text]. The results show that larger drag coefficients and Strouhal numbers are attributed to surface roughness and sharp crowns on the rough cylinder. The obtained drag coefficient ranges from 1.1 to 1.2 with respect to the diameter of the mussel dropper and the peak value of the tidal velocities. Wakes behind rough cylinders fluctuate more actively compared to those of smooth cylinders. This research work provides new insight for further investigations on hydrodynamic interactions between fluid and mussel droppers.
Mexican Consular Protection Services across the United States: How Local Social, Economic, and Political Conditions Structure the Sociolegal Support of Emigrants
Authors: Martínez-Schuldt Ricardo D.
Published: February 2020

Scholars have increasingly examined the policies that states adopt to forge relationships with, deliver services to, and protect the rights of emigrants living abroad. Much of this research has focused on explaining the emergence and scope of emigrant policies. This article contributes to existing research by analyzing variation in the outcome of one particular emigrant policy: the Mexican state’s delivery of sociolegal consultations and support through its consular network in the United States. Specifically, I assess how the Mexican state’s provision of consular protection services diverges in frequency and form over time and within local contexts of reception. To address my research questions, I conducted a longitudinal analysis of data representing all 50 Mexican consulate districts in the United States (2010 through 2015). My dataset merges information from a variety of sources, such as the American Community Survey, with an administrative database that documents the Mexican state’s provision of sociolegal services in matters related to human rights, penal, migratory, labor, civil, or administrative issues. I find that the frequency of services across these issues varies in conjunction with the social, political, and economic characteristics of the administrative districts within which Mexican consulates operate. Furthermore, I argue that local contexts of reception can structure the frequency of sociolegal consultations between Mexican migrants living in the United States and the Mexican government through three pathways related to migrant incorporation experiences and vulnerabilities in receiving societies. Overall, my findings reveal how local receiving-society contexts can shape the support sending states provide to emigrants.
Anthropocene futures: Linking colonialism and environmentalism in an age of crisis
Authors: Erickson Bruce
Published: February 2020

The universal discourse of the Anthropocene presents a global choice that establishes environmental collapse as the problem of the future. Yet in its desire for a green future, the threat of collapse forecloses the future as a site for creatively reimagining the social relations that led to the Anthropocene. Instead of examining structures like colonialism, environmental discourses tend to focus instead on the technological innovation of a green society that “will have been.” Through this vision, the Anthropocene functions as a geophysical justification of structures of colonialism in the services of a greener future. The case of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement illustrates how this crisis of the future is sutured into mainstream environmentalism. Thus, both in the practices of “the environment in crisis” that are enabled by the Anthropocene and in the discourse of geological influence of the “human race,” colonial structures privilege whiteness in our environmental future. In this case, as in others, ecological protection has come to shape the political life of colonialism. Understanding this relationship between environmentalism and the settler state in the Anthropocene reminds us that the universal discourse of the Anthropocene is intertwined with the attempt to sustain whiteness into the future.
Effects of an integrated transitional care program for stroke survivors living in a rural community: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Deng Aiwen , Yang Sidong , Xiong Ribo
Published: February 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of an integrated transitional care program on health outcomes in stroke survivors based on an original community for healthcare.

Design:

A pilot randomized controlled trial with blinded assessment. Randomization by statistician using computer-generated, random numbers concealed in opaque envelopes.

Setting:

A tertiary hospital and participants’ home across Lishui, China.

Subjects:

A total of 98 people with acute cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction, eight weeks following discharge from our hospital.

Interventions:

Each participant received stroke unit–based treatment including acute medical treatment, early rehabilitation and health education. Patients in the intervention group received ongoing rehabilitation at home through multidisciplinary team, while patients in the control group received secondary stroke prevention.

Main measures:

Short-Form Health Survey-36, Modified Barthel Index and Caregiver Strain Index at four and eight weeks, respectively, after discharged.

Results:

A total of 98 participants were recruited (intervention n = 49, control n = 49). Patients had an average age of 61.4 years (61.4 ± 18.3). Mean values of Physical Components Summary and Mental Components Summary, integral components of Short-Form Health Survey-36, were significantly better in the intervention group at four and eight weeks (40.2 ± 6.3 and 42.9 ± 3.7 for the former; 43.9 ± 2.6 and 46.1 ± 1.8 for the later). The same trend was observed in Modified Barthel Index (87.1 ± 9.2 and 92.5 ± 6.7 at four and eight weeks, respectively). But the significant improvement in Caregiver Strain Index was only observed at four weeks. There were significant differences between groups in these scores.

Conclusion:

The transitional care program has been proven to be feasible and improve health-related outcomes.
Decoupled nonlinear adaptive control of position and stiffness for pneumatic soft robots
Authors: Trumić Maja , Jovanović Kosta , Fagiolini Adriano
Published: February 2020

This article addresses the problem of simultaneous and robust closed-loop control of joint stiffness and position, for a class of antagonistically actuated pneumatic soft robots with rigid links and compliant joints. By introducing a first-order dynamic equation for the stiffness variable and using the additional control degree of freedom, embedded in the null space of the pneumatic actuator matrix, an innovative control approach is introduced comprising an adaptive compensator and a dynamic decoupler. The proposed solution builds upon existing adaptive control theory and provides a technique for closing the loop on joint stiffness in pneumatic variable stiffness actuators. Under a very mild assumption involving the inertia and actuator matrices, the solution is able to cope with uncertainties of the model and, when the desired stiffness is constant or slowly varying, also of the pneumatic actuator. Position and stiffness decoupling is achieved by the introduction of a first-order differential equation for an internal state variable of the controller, which takes into account the time derivative of pressure in the stiffness dynamics. A formal proof of the stability of the position and stiffness tracking errors is provided. An appealing property of the approach is that it does not require higher derivatives of position or any derivatives of stiffness. The solution is validated with respect to several use-cases, first in simulation and then via a real pneumatic soft robot with McKibben muscles. A comparison with respect to existing techniques reveals a more robust position and stiffness tracking skill.
Production of hydrogen-rich gas from waste rigid polyurethane foam via catalytic steam gasification
Authors: Guo Xiaoya , Song Zijuan , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2020

Catalytic steam gasification of waste rigid polyurethane foam, in the fixed-bed reactor, was performed to produce hydrogen-rich gas. The influence of nine kinds of additives on the yield of products (gaseous, solid and liquid product) and the volume fraction of hydrogen was investigated. Among the additives, calcium carbonate, as the catalyst, could effectively enhance the gas yield and the volume fraction of hydrogen. A three-factor three-level completely randomised factorial (3 × 3 × 3) design, with calcium carbonate as the catalyst, was applied to investigate the influence of experimental conditions (temperature, steam flowrate and catalyst dosage) on the volume fraction of gaseous product components. The data were processed with SPSS statistical software. The result showed that the main effects of one variable, the interactive effects between two factors and the interactive effects among three factors all have statistical high significance. The best catalysed process is realised when calcium carbonate is the catalyst, gasification temperature is 1100°C, steam flowrate is 0.7 kg h−1, catalyst dosage is 10 wt% of waste rigid polyurethane foam. Under this condition, the volume fraction of hydrogen reaches up to 79.85%.
Health Literacy Among Bhutanese Adult Refugees in the United States: The Sociocultural Approach
Authors: Chao Xia , Kang Boping
Published: February 2020

Drawing on the accounts of literacy as socioculturally situated, this 2-year ethnography explores Bhutanese adult refugees’ health literacy at the intersection of their culture and experiences. This study illustrates the multifaceted relations between health literacy, culture, integration, and empowerment. This study indicates health literacy as sociocultural practice. Health literacy is mediated by Bhutanese adults’ oral tradition, language, education, and experiences over time. This study highlights health literacy as sociocultural participation—it resides in individuals’ community engagement. Rather than simply describing their limited functional health literacy as “a big problem,” this study recognizes Bhutanese adults’ ability to take action to improve personal and community health. This study challenges the deficit view rooted in adult literacy. It advocates integrating health literacy into adult literacy education to raise public awareness that health literacy promotes social justice, human rights, and world citizenship. Implications for a bottom-up approach to health literacy education are provided.
Mimickers of Hill-Sachs Lesions
Authors: Herring Allison , Davis Derik L.
Published: February 2020

The purpose of this article is to describe the imaging appearance, etiology, clinical features, and treatment of rare presentations of common bone and joint diseases known to mimic Hill-Sachs lesions. Knowledge of uncommonly encountered manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic joint, hyperparathyroidism, hydroxyapatite deposition disease, malignant bone tumors, and benign bone cysts which mimic traumatic Hill-Sachs lesions is important for radiologists to guide the clinical care of patients who present with shoulder symptoms.
How Adolescents, Mothers, and Fathers Qualitatively Describe Their Experiences of Co-Occurrent Problems: Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use
Authors: Lessard Geneviève , Lévesque Sylvie , Lavergne Chantal , Dumont Annie , Alvarez-Lizotte Pamela , Meunier Valérie , Bisson Sophie M.
Published: February 2020

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of mothers, fathers, and adolescents on the relations they see between intimate partner violence, mental health and substances use parental problems that co-occur in their family, and the mothers’ and fathers’ associated parenting challenges. The sample was composed of 43 people (15 mothers, 16 fathers, and 12 adolescents) who were directly affected by the co-occurrence of intimate partner violence and mental health or substances use parental problems. The participants were recruited with the collaboration of public and community organizations in the Province of Québec (Canada). The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and combined with a table detailing the specific problems identified by the participants. A thematic content analysis method was employed to do the coding, and a summary of the results was returned to some participants who agreed to collaborate with the validation of the results. The analysis revealed numerous and diverse relations between the interviewees’ co-occurring problems, but two principal patterns emerged. The first one was chiefly observed in the comments made by mothers and adolescents who saw the co-occurring problems as being the consequence of the intimate partner violence on the mother. The second pattern was largely observed in the fathers’ comments, who explained that the substance use problems came before the intimate partner violence and acted as an aggravating factor. The co-occurrence of intimate partner violence with other parental problems strongly affected the mothers’ and fathers’ parenting, making it more difficult to meet the children’s needs. Considering the complexity and diversity of the experiences and needs of the mothers, fathers, and children in co-occurring situations, future studies should evaluate the services provided to these families and the coordination between the different concerned organizations.
Disabling complications of primary syphilis in a 34-year-old woman living with HIV
Authors: Lomonosov KM , Zaborova VA
Published: February 2020

A 34-year-old woman managed at the department of skin and venereal diseases was diagnosised with primary syphilis (with gangrenisation and phagedenisation of the hard chancre) and HIV co-infection. In the nasolabial triangle area there was a large ulcerated defect of an irregular configuration and with dense crusts of brown-black colour, transiting to the nasal septum. The complete scarring of the chancre was observed on the 17th day. Complications of syphilis can have physical, psychological and social consequences and even lead to disability.