bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Analects and Sense of Justice: The Spirit of Law and Historical Practice
Authors: Jiang Dong , Ma Xiaohong
Published: June 2019

Moralism generally does not constitute a major part of the content of modern Western legal scholarship, but it must occupy the very center of any meaningful discussion of Chinese law. In short, there can be no real understanding of Chinese law without grasping its moral anchor and content. This article focuses on the most important of classical Chinese moral texts, the Confucian Analects, to show how it in fact formed both the core content and the overarching framework for Chinese law since the establishment of Confucianism as the official state ideology in the early Han period. Our approach, unlike previous scholarship, focuses on the Analects as a legal text.
Conventional Wisdom? Analyzing Public Support for a State Constitutional Convention Referendum
Authors: Lewis Daniel C. , Collens Jack D. , Cutler Leonard
Published: June 2019

Although fourteen American states periodically hold automatic referendums on whether to hold a state constitutional convention, no state has approved a constitutional convention referendum since 1984. This study explores the puzzle of why voters would oppose an opportunity to broadly reform state government and the factors that underlie these attitudes. Analyses of two statewide surveys of registered voters in New York during the 2017 Constitutional Convention Referendum campaign reveal that campaign framing, elite cues, and instrumental concerns have led voters to take risk-averse positions in order to minimize potential losses that could result from a constitutional convention.
“We’re building their data”: Labor, alienation, and idiocy in the smart city
Authors: Attoh Kafui , Wells Katie , Cullen Declan
Published: June 2019

In 2017, Uber Technologies Inc. launched a new service called Uber Movement. Designed by a team of 10 engineers, the new service provided a select number of cities access to Uber’s vast trove of transportation data. One of the first cities to partner with Uber on this initiative was Washington, DC. Playing directly to the city’s longstanding “smart city” aspirations, the initiative was greeted warmly by city officials eager to market the region as a symbol of data-driven urban growth and smart technology. Largely missing from this response, however, was any mention of Uber drivers themselves. Over the course of the paper, and drawing on 40 interviews conducted with Washington, DC-based Uber drivers, we examine the labor conditions that we argue are central to the production of Uber’s smart data. Beyond placing labor more centrally in critiques of the smart city, the paper suggests that the experience of Uber drivers offers us a window into the type of smart city on offer. As we argue, the city that emerges from our interviews is less a city defined by data-driven growth, than it is a city defined by alienation and isolation.
Effect of subsurface pressure on the interface pressure measurement in an in vitro experiment
Authors: Chi Yung-Wei , Lin Ray , Tseng Kuo-Hao , Durbin-Johnson Blythe
Published: June 2019

Introduction

It was hypothesized that subsurface pressure (mimicking subcutaneous pressure) variation may affect interface pressure measurement.

Method

BISCO® (Rogers, CT) foam was placed on a cylinder cuff model for the experiment. Picopress® and a piezoresistive sensor were used for interface pressure measurement. External pressure was applied using an automated pressure cuff at 40 mmHg. Subsurface pressure mimicking subcutaneous pressure from 3 mmHg to 12 mmHg was generated by a pressure pump underneath the foam. Interface pressure was compared between the true pressure, 40 mmHg, versus Picopress® and the piezoresistive sensor using linear mixed effect model (SAS software, version 9.4, SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

Result

Interface pressure measurement using Picopress® did not differ between the incremental subsurface pressures (mean 45.4 ± 0.4) ( P = 0.54), in contrast to piezoresistive sensor, which demonstrated a difference (mean 42.65 ± 2.7) ( P < 0.001). This difference appeared to be linearly related.

Conclusion

Subsurface pressure mimicking subcutaneous pressure may affect the overall interface pressure measurement according to the piezoresistive sensor but not Picopress®.
A study validating the Italian version of the Level of Sitting Scale in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Tofani Marco , Candeloro Costanza , Sabbadini Maurizio , Field Debra , Frascarelli Flaminia , Lucibello Luca , Valente Donatella , Galeoto Giovanni , Castelli Enrico
Published: June 2019

Objectives:

To assess measurement properties of the Italian version of the Level of Sitting Scale when classifying sitting ability of children with cerebral palsy.

Design:

Methodological study.

Setting:

Children’s hospital (inpatients and outpatients).

Subjects:

Children 18 years of age or younger with cerebral palsy.

Methods:

The original English version of the Level of Sitting Scale was translated and culturally adapted for the Italian culture following international guidelines. Examination of reliability and validity of the Italian Level of Sitting Scale was then undertaken. Inter-rater and one-week test–retest reliability were estimated using both intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with 95% confidence intervals and Bland–Altman plots. Construct validity of the Italian Level of Sitting was evaluated using three approaches examining Pearson’s correlation coefficient ( r) and Mann–Whitney U test ( P-value < 0.05).

Main measures:

Italian Level of Sitting Scale and Gross Motor Function Classification System.

Results:

The Italian Level of Sitting Scale was administered to 109 subjects. Inter-rater reliability and one-week test–retest showed excellent value with ICCs of 0.99 for both. (1) The Pearson correlation coefficient comparing Italian Level of Sitting Scale with Gross Motor Function Classification System was −0.91 and (2) correlation with total amount of adaptive seating components was −0.90. Differences in sitting abilities and use/non-use of wheelchair were found. All reported a statistical significance of P < 0.01.

Conclusion:

Our findings provide evidence of reliability and validity when using the Italian Level of Sitting Scale to classify seated postural abilities in a sample of Italian children with cerebral palsy.
Highlights of high-resolution computed tomography imaging in evaluation of complications and co-morbidities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Ricci Francesca , Pugliese Luca , Cavallo Armando Ugo , Forcina Marco , De Stasio Vincenzo , Presicce Matteo , Di Tosto Federica , Di Donna Carlo , Spiritigliozzi Luigi , Rogliani Paola , Floris Roberto , Chiocchi Marcello
Published: June 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) represents a condition included in the heterogeneous group of interstitial lung diseases without known causes. The recent ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines and the white paper published by the Fleischner Society have well-defined diagnosis and management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis management is complex because it is also influenced by several co-morbidities and complications. The new frontier in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is represented by the effort to understand the complex mechanism of the pathogenesis and progression of disease in order to predict several consequences and co-morbidities. In our review, we tried to distinguish co-morbidities from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In each complication, we have reviewed the existing literature and we have emphasized the complex pathobiological pathway which links the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to the development of the complication itself. For every co-morbidity, we tried to identify share common risk factors which explain the coexistence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with its co-morbidities. We then analyzed high-resolution computed tomography (CT) aspects of co-morbidities and complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that the radiologist should be aware of. In this review, we focused on the role of high-resolution CT imaging in the evaluation of co-morbidities and complications in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis because their early diagnosis and treatment could change the prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We have also pointed out that in some cases the final combined quantitative CT tools and conventional visual CT score would allow to get an accurate analysis and quantification of disease progression, co-morbidities, and complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in order to improve staging systems in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand modulates angiogenesis and apoptosis to inhibit non-small cell lung carcinoma tumor growth in mice
Authors: Chen Yuanmei , Xu Yuanji , Zhu Kunshou , Cao Zhiyun , Huang Zhengrong
Published: June 2019

Objective

To investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in mice.

Methods

We first established NSCLC animal models using 20 BALB/c nude mice that were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 10): TRAIL-treated and control untreated groups. We measured expression levels of B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF receptor (VEGFR). We also performed microvessel density, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and immunohistochemical assays to determine the effect of TRAIL on apoptosis and angiogenesis in NSCLC tumors in vitro.

Results

TRAIL inhibited tumor growth in the NSCLC mouse model, and the TUNEL assay showed that it induced tumor cell apoptosis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that TRAIL induced Bcl-2 protein downregulation, suggesting that the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is involved in regulating NSCLC apoptosis. However, TRAIL did not affect Bax protein expression. Immunohistochemical staining also revealed significantly reduced VEGF and VEGFR protein expression in the TRAIL group, indicating that TRAIL limits angiogenesis in NSCLC tumor tissues.

Conclusions

In conclusion, TRAIL inhibits NSCLC growth both by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and restricting angiogenesis in tumors.
Impact of prior statin use on mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and bloodstream infection
Authors: Cheng Chi-Yung , Kung Chia-Te , Chen Fu-Cheng , Cheng Hsien-Hung , Tsai Tsung-Cheng , Hsiao Sheng-Yuan , Su Chih-Min
Published: June 2019

Objective

This study assessed the effect of prior statin use on the 28-day mortality of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who develop bloodstream infections.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included all adult type 2 DM patients with bacteremia and verified prior medication history who visited the emergency department of a single tertiary hospital between January 2007 and December 2013. All major adverse consequences including septic shock events, use of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and 28-day mortality were assessed.

Results

A total of 1,979 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 507 were taking statins. Statin users had less severe disease presentation and lower levels of sepsis biomarkers such as bandemia (1.3 ± 3.1 vs 1.8 ± 4.2). After adjustment for confounding variables using a Cox regression model, only older age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.04), urinary tract infection (adjusted HR: 0.56, 95% CI, 0.43–0.75), and prior statin use (adjusted HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42–0.85) were significantly associated with 28-day in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

Prior statin treatment in patients with type 2 DM and bacteremia was associated with a lower 28-day in-hospital mortality rate.
A Novel Technique to Expose Impacted Canine by Using Punch Biopsy Instrument
Authors: Mendigeri Vijaylaxmi , Ramdurg Praveenkumar , Ganeshkar Sanjay , Handral Ravichandra
Published: June 2019

In orthodontics, the impaction of maxillary canine is a common problem. Treatment for this clinical hitch usually requires surgical exposure of the impacted tooth, followed by orthodontic traction to align the tooth in the arch. To expose labially impacted canine, several methods are used in literature. In this article, we throw light on an innovative technique showing the surgical procedure for uncovering impacted canine by using a punch biopsy instrument.
Aptamer-Functionalized Bioscaffold Enhances Cartilage Repair by Improving Stem Cell Recruitment in Osteochondral Defects of Rabbit Knees
Authors: Wang Xin , Song Xiongbo , Li Tao , Chen Jiajia , Cheng Guotao , Yang Liu , Chen Cheng
Published: June 2019

Background:

Recruitment of endogenous stem cells has been considered an alternative to cell injection/implantation in articular cartilage repair.

Purpose:

(1) To develop a cartilage tissue-engineering scaffold with clinically available biomaterials and functionalize the scaffold with an aptamer (Apt19s) that specifically recognizes pluripotent stem cells. (2) To determine whether this scaffold could recruit joint-resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) when implanted into an osteochondral defect in a rabbit model and to examine the effects of cartilage regeneration.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

The reinforced scaffold was fabricated by embedding a silk fibroin sponge into silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid–tyramine hydrogel and characterized in vitro. A cylindrical osteochondral defect (3.2 mm wide × 4 mm deep) was created in the trochlear grooves of rabbit knees. The rabbits were randomly assigned into 3 groups: Apt19s-functionalized scaffold group, scaffold-only group, and control group. Animals were sacrificed at 6 and 12 weeks after transplantation. Repaired tissues were evaluated via gross examination, histologic examination, and immunohistochemistry.

Results:

In vitro, this aptamer-functionalized scaffold could recruit bone marrow–derived MSCs and support cell adhesion. In vivo, the aptamer-functionalized scaffold enhanced cell homing in comparison with the aptamer-free scaffold. The aptamer-functionalized scaffold group also exhibited superior cartilage restoration when compared with the scaffold-only group and the control group.

Conclusion:

The Apt19s-functionalized scaffold exhibited the ability to recruit MSCs both in vitro and in vivo and achieved a better outcome of cartilage repair than the scaffold only or control in an osteochondral defect model.

Clinical Relevance:

The findings demonstrate a promising strategy of using aptamer-functionalized bioscaffolds for restoration of chondral/osteochondral defects via aptamer-introduced homing of MSCs.
Effect of Pokémon GO on the Cognitive Performance and Emotional Intelligence of Primary School Students
Authors: Hsieh Chia-Yen , Chen Tim
Published: June 2019

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of using Pokémon GO for 10 weeks on the cognitive performance (memory, selective attention, concentration, and creative imagination) and emotional intelligence (well-being, self-control, emotionality, and sociability) of Taiwanese primary students in the fifth and sixth grade. A mixed experimental design was used, with a control group (CG; n = 62) that did not use Pokémon GO, and an experimental group ( n = 61) that used Pokémon GO for 10 weeks. Confounders were age, sex, education level of the family, number of computers in the home, daily study time, and Internet access. The results showed that the players spent about 40 minutes/day on this game during this period. Boys played more and won more points in the game than girls. Compared against their peers, the players playing Pokémon GO showed a significant increase in their selective attention ( p = .025), concentration levels ( p = .004), creative imagination ( p < .001), emotionality ( p = .001), and sociability levels ( p = .005) but not memory, well-being, or self-control (all p > .05). It is concluded that Pokémon GO, in a playful way, could positively affect their cognitive performance (selective attention, concentration levels, and creative imagination) and improve their social relationships. However, if future researchers would like to ascertain whether Pokémon GO is a useful viable cognitive and social approach or not, more randomized controlled trial studies will be needed to compare Pokémon GO with traditional teaching approaches and educational methods.
Determination of activation energy during the thermal degradation of Polyamide 66/glass fiber composites
Authors: Azimi Hamidreza , Abedifard Pardis
Published: June 2019

The objective of this study was to clarify the mechanical properties and the non-isothermal degradation kinetics of Polyamide 66 (PA 66)/glass fiber (GF) composites. The non-isothermal degradation behavior of the samples was studied by thermal gravimetric analysis under nitrogen purge. The perfect compatibility of GFs with polymer matrix in composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that with increasing content of GFs in samples due to good distribution of fibers in PA 66, the degradation temperature and calculated activation energy in composites increased in all heating rates. The activation energy was calculated by the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method (isoconversional method). It was concluded that the model-free methods can be a reliable way to determine the kinetic parameters. Furthermore, the isokinetic relationship was used to estimate a model-independent pre-exponential factor (ln A) corresponding to a given degree of conversion.
Can Concerns for Social Status Mitigate the ‘Lemons Problem’? Experimental Evidence from the Indian Caste Hierarchy
Authors: Dugar Subhasish , Bhattacharya Haimanti
Published: June 2019

We conducted a lab-in-the-field experiment to analyse if and how information about an individual’s social status influences efficient choices in a two-party hidden information game in which trust and trustworthiness play a central role. Recruitment of subjects from three status groups based on the Indian caste system allows us to distinguish between identity-based and status-based preferences. We find that all status groups exhibit strong in-group favouritism which fosters efficiency. The decisions of subjects from the two lower-status groups align well with identity-based preferences as they treat their out-group co-players in a statistically equivalent manner. However, subjects from the top of the hierarchy exhibit behaviour consistent with status-based preferences as their propensity to choose efficient actions systematically declines with an increase in the distance between their status and their co-player’s status. Thus, the behaviour of the top-status group closely conforms to the actual social rankings of these caste groups in India, whereas the behaviour of lower-status groups displays a binary classification of people into ‘us’ and ‘them’.
Global Risks for Eurasia in 2019
Authors: Saltybayev Yerzhan
Published: June 2019

The Rating of Global Risks for Eurasia in 2019 is the first analytical project to assess global risks for the Eurasian macroregion. The risk rating was released as part of the Astana Club international meeting and is based on a survey of over 1,000 professional respondents from 60 countries and detailed opinions of 30 prominent international experts. The world’s vulnerability to global risks will grow – the overwhelming majority of experts who participated in the project are sure of this. Pessimism seems to be associated with a new round of tension in the Middle East, crises around Iran and Ukraine, rising tensions in the South China Sea, and sanctions against Russia. Another trend that will continue in the coming year is the rise of protectionism. 56 percent of polled experts are inclined to this opinion. Pessimism is added by the aggravation of trade conflicts between the United States and its key trading partners: China, the European Union, as well as the NAFTA members such as Canada and Mexico. Although part of the conflict has been resolved, the confrontation between the United States and China will not lose its relevance in 2019. The global geopolitical and geo-economic confrontation has been spilling over onto the new area: the cyber environment. World tensions have also kept the countries from finding common ground on solving environmental problems and challenges.
Localization of deformation and its effects on power-law singularity preceding catastrophic rupture in rocks
Authors: Xue Jian , Hao Shengwang , Yang Rong , Wang Ping , Bai Yilong
Published: June 2019

Three distinct length scales are involved in the deformation evolution and catastrophic rupture of heterogeneous rocks in general: two essential ones are the specimen size macroscopically and the grain size at micro-scale respectively, the other is the emerging localized band of deformation and damage. The band initiates almost nearby the peak load, and the rupture eventually occurs afterwards within the localized band. In this paper, we report that with the evolution of concentrated high strain and damage in the localized band, a power-law singularity emerges within the localized band preceding the eventual rupture. The localization of deformation imposes a spatial non-uniqueness on the power-law singularity, and then leads to a trans-scale characteristic of the power-law singularity. Based on this characteristic, it is demonstrated that the singularity presented by the global response of a whole specimen comes from the singularity of local response in the localized band. The localization and the power-law singularity are associated precursory events, spatially and temporally, respectively, before macroscopic rupture. In particular, based on the power-law singularity exhibited in the zonal areas near or across the rupture surface, a prediction of the occurrence time of catastrophic rupture can be made accordingly. This provides a practically helpful approach to the prediction of rupture, merely by means of monitoring the zonal areas adjacent to the localized band.
A screw dislocation in a three-phase composite strip
Authors: Wang Xu , Schiavone Peter
Published: June 2019

Using the technique of analytic continuation, we derive analytical solutions to the problem of a screw dislocation in a three-phase strip. The two traction-free boundaries of the strip are perpendicular to the two perfect interfaces formed by adjacent materials. The screw dislocation can be located anywhere in the composite strip. Elementary expressions for the image force acting on the screw dislocation are obtained. When the strip is extremely thick, our solutions simply recover those in the literature. Our solutions allow us to observe some very interesting and quite unexpected phenomena concerning the mobility and stability of the screw dislocation interacting with the aforementioned interfaces and boundaries.
Chronic pain in cats: Recent advances in clinical assessment
Authors: Monteiro Beatriz P , Steagall Paulo V
Published: June 2019

Practical relevance:

Chronic pain is a feline health and welfare issue. It has a negative impact on quality of life and impairs the owner–cat bond. Chronic pain can exist by itself or may be associated with disease and/or injury, including osteoarthritis (OA), cancer, and oral and periodontal disease, among others.

Clinical challenges:

Chronic pain assessment is a fundamental part of feline practice, but can be challenging due to differences in pain mechanisms underlying different conditions, and the cat’s natural behavior. It relies mostly on owner-assessed behavioral changes and time-consuming veterinary consultations. Beyond OA – for which disease-specific clinical signs have been described – little is known regarding other feline conditions that produce chronic pain.

Recent advances:

Knowledge of the subject has, however, greatly improved in the past few years, informed by study of the mechanisms of pain in cats with OA and the development of pain scales that can be used by owners or veterinarians. Pain scales may facilitate the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of chronic painful conditions, providing a basis for therapeutic decision-making. Assessment of quality of life is also recommended in cats with chronic pain, and its improvement can be used as a positive outcome in response to therapy.

Aims:

This article reviews recent advances and presents the challenges and some future perspectives on clinical chronic pain assessment. The most common feline chronic conditions associated with pain are also described.
T cells producing GM-CSF and IL-13 are enriched in the cerebrospinal fluid of relapsing MS patients
Authors: Ghezzi Laura , Cantoni Claudia , Cignarella Francesca , Bollman Bryan , Cross Anne H , Salter Amber , Galimberti Daniela , Cella Marina , Piccio Laura
Published: June 2019

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune demyelinating disease. Its pathogenesis involves humoral and cellular immunity, with production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by T cells.

Objective:

To analyze the cytokine profile of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T cells in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and non-inflammatory controls.

Methods:

T cell cytokine production was analyzed by flow cytometry in CSF samples collected from 34 untreated RRMS patients and 20 age-matched controls. Immunofluorescence studies were performed in spinal cord MS active lesions.

Results:

Percentages of CSF-derived IL-17A, IL-17A/IL-22, and IL-17A/GM-CSF producing T cells were significantly higher in RRMS patients compared to controls. Percentages of T cells producing IFN-γ were lower in RRMS patients compared to controls. Patients in relapse showed higher percentages of CD4+ T cells producing IL-13 and GM-CSF compared to patients in remission. We found a positive correlation between percentages of IL-13+ T cells and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS; ρ = 0.5; p < 0.05). Meningeal IL-13-producing T cells were detected in spinal cord MS active lesions.

Conclusion:

We observed differences in IL-17, IL-22, and IFN-γ production by CSF T cells in RRMS versus controls and a positive correlation between IL-13-producing T cells and EDSS in RRMS patients.
Rituximab treatment for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ineichen Benjamin V , Moridi Thomas , Granberg Tobias , Piehl Fredrik
Published: June 2019

Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20-antibody, attracts increasing attention as a treatment option for multiple sclerosis (MS). Apart from smaller controlled trials, an increasing number of studies in real-world populations indicate high efficacy based on clinical and neuroradiological outcomes for rituximab in relapsing-remitting MS patients. Additional evidence also demonstrates efficacy of rituximab with treatment of progressive MS phenotypes. In this topical review, we summarize and discuss current evidence on mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety, tolerance and other clinical aspects of rituximab in the treatment of MS. Finally, we will highlight current knowledge gaps and the need for comparative studies with other disease-modifying therapies in MS.
Modelling the overheating risk in an uniform high-rise building design with a consideration of urban context and heatwaves
Authors: Habitzreuter Leonardo , Smith Stefan Thor , Keeling Trevor
Published: June 2019

Overheating in buildings is one of the increasing concerns related to climate change and can lead to an increase in heat-related health issues and higher energy consumption due to the use of air conditioning systems. Literature shows that internal conditions and demand on environmental control systems can vary with height within buildings. However, an architectural trend towards highly glazed façades for tall buildings suggests the vertical gradient of performance is not always considered in the design process. By simulating a high-rise residential building in London, a comparative analysis of the overheating risks and daylighting at different levels in the building was conducted. In this study the model was able to consider the influence of surrounding built environment on solar gain and so influence of urban location on overheating risk was taken into account. Simulations were conducted using typical reference years as well as meteorological data for specific heat-wave periods experienced in London and that are expected to become more intense and frequent due to climate change. Passive mitigation options (external shading) are demonstrated to help reduce overheating occurrence by 74%, at the same time the impact of decreased daylighting (30%) is less problematic at higher levels where daylight factor is greater.
The spatial characteristics of precipitation and water-logging disaster during rainy season for urban planning in Xi’an
Authors: Wei Na , Sun Xian , Bi Xu , Wang Juan-Min , Li Xuxiang
Published: June 2019

This paper provides a spatial distribution characteristic of precipitation and water-logging disaster in Xi’an based on hourly precipitation at 23 automatic meteorological observatory stations and water-logging information from 2009 to 2015. The overall spatial distribution of precipitation and intensity is higher and stronger in the north and south of the city but weaker and less in the east and west. The peak precipitation in the south and north appears at 18:00, while in the north also at 20:00–21:00. There is no obvious diurnal variation in the precipitation in the east and west, and higher precipitation frequency was recorded in the east. The water-logging frequency is highest in the Baqiao District, but the water-logged area and depth are smaller and shallower. The water-logged areas are largest in Yanta, Xinchen and Beilin Districts, where frequency is less and the water are shallow. There are more water-logged sites in Lianhu and Weiyang Districts than in other regions. Precipitation intensity and underlying surface properties are the main two factors for water-logging. By using Shanghai Urban Flooding Assessment Model, the area, depth and location of water-logging were simulated through inputting the different magnitude hourly precipitation. The guidance information provided by this paper could help city planning to provide a long-term water-logging disaster management in Xi’an.
Air-fluctuation nozzle and its periodic, wave-like air distribution evaluation
Authors: Hou Yicun , Li Angui , Zhang Ying
Published: June 2019

In order to investigate dynamic characteristics of fluctuating air, one kind of nozzles of producing periodical fluctuating air is presented in this paper. Assume that the jet is isothermal and free, the typical parameters of the airflow characteristics, such as the maximum jet velocity decay, the non-dimensional velocity profile on different sections and the turbulence intensity have been discussed. In addition, power spectrum density of experimental data was calculated and analysed. The result shows that compared with stable air supply, the fluctuating air velocity decay is slower, thus forming a more uniform velocity field. Furthermore, turbulence intensity of the fluctuating air is larger. The power spectrum density exponent value approaches to the value of typical natural wind when the air velocity decreases to 0.6 m/s. With airflow diffusion, the fluctuation characteristic of airflow changes to that of natural wind gradually.
The effects of surface compliance on greyhound galloping dynamics
Authors: Hayati Hasti , Eager David , Walker Paul
Published: June 2019

Greyhounds are the fastest breed of dog and can reach a speed up to 68 km/h. These racing animals sustain unique injuries seldom seen in other breeds of dog. The highest rate of life-threatening injuries in these dogs is hock fracture, mostly of the right hind-leg. One of the main injury contributing factors in this sport is the track surface. There are some studies into the ideal track surface composition for greyhound racing but almost no study has investigated the body–surface interaction. Accordingly, the purpose of this work is to study the effect of surface compliance on the galloping dynamics of greyhounds during the hind-leg single-support phase which is a critical phase in hock injuries. Thus, a three degrees-of-freedom model for the greyhound body and substrate surface is designed using spring-loaded inverted pendulum method. The results showed that forces acting on the hind-leg were substantially affected when the surface compliance altered from the relatively hard (natural grass) to a relatively soft surface (synthetic rubber). The main contribution of this work is designing a mathematical model to predict the dynamics of the hock and the hind-leg as the most vulnerable body parts in greyhounds. Furthermore, this model can be used to optimise the greyhound track surface composition and therefore improve the safety and welfare within the greyhound racing industry.
Mathematical models for drug delivery from textile
Authors: Martí Meritxell , Martínez Vanessa , Lis Manel J , Coderch Luisa
Published: June 2019

Gallic acid was microencapsulated in poly-ɛ-caprolactone by the solvent evaporation method and was applied onto biofunctional textile substrates, cotton, and polyamide fabrics using a finishing process. A higher content of microspheres on polyamide was obtained due to the more hydrophobic character of polyamide. Drug release in physiological serum was carried out with treated fabrics submerged into a thermostatized vessel at semi-infinite bath conditions. The kinetic study carried out allowed the determination of the drug-delivery behavior for all systems in the medium. The results showed that the hydrophobicity and affinity of textiles and gallic acid influenced the release mechanism. For cotton, a clear Fickian diffusion was obtained; for polyamide, the diffusion was anomalous. However, no differences were found in the global mass transport. The model could address the need of the medical and health sector for assessing the theoretical amount of drug released from biofunctional textile.
Tips for calculating and displaying risk-standardized hospital outcomes in Stata
Authors: Lenzi Jacopo , Pildava Santa
Published: June 2019

A major challenge of outcomes research is measuring hospital performance using readily available administrative data. When the outcome measure is mortality or morbidity, rates are adjusted to account for preexisting conditions that may confound their assessment. However, the concept of “risk-adjusted” outcomes is frequently misunderstood. In this article, we try to clarify things, and we describe Stata tools for appropriately calculating and displaying risk-standardized outcome measures. We offer practical guidance and illustrate the application of these tools to an example based on real data (30-day mortality following acute myocardial infarction in Latvia).
Unusual Drainage of the Bifurcated Left Renal Vein Into a Dilated Lumbar Azygos Vein and Inferior Vena Cava
Authors: Bialek Ewa J. , Malkowski Bogdan
Published: June 2019

We report a unique case of unusual drainage of the bifurcated retroaortic left renal vein, with the cranial wider branch draining into a dilated lumbar azygos vein and caudal thinner branch connecting with the inferior vena cava. The right renal vein was duplicated. The anomaly was discovered on multimodal 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography performed for oncological purposes. The basis enabling occurrence of such variation was probably persistent developmental extra left–right venous connections, intercardinal, or intersupracardinal, depending on the theory. The embryology of the chest and abdominal veins is a complicated process and there is no unanimity concerning its concepts. The old models are currently being questioned and reevaluated. Knowledge of possible variants of renal and azygos veins course is important from clinical, imaging, and surgical points of view. The retroaortic left renal veins course may sometimes cause pain, hematuria, proteinuria, and pelvic congestion syndromes. Dilated parts of uncommonly located veins, because of assuming a nodular shape on transverse images, may be mistaken for abnormal lymph nodes, other tumors or aneurysms on imaging. During a variety of surgical procedures, including venous sampling, renal transplantation, or any retroperitoneal surgery, knowledge of an aberrant venous course may be important for the success of the procedure and may be crucial even earlier during the qualification process.
On the Bridges: Insight Into the Current and Future Use of Automated Systems as Seen by Royal Navy Personnel
Authors: Barrett-Pink Chloë , Alison Laurence , Maskell Simon , Shortland Neil
Published: June 2019

This paper explores the current state of automated systems in the Royal Navy (RN), as well as exploring where personnel view systems would have the most benefit to their operations in the future. In addition, personnel’s views on the current consultation process for new systems are presented. Currently serving RN personnel ( n = 46) completed a questionnaire distributed at the Maritime Warfare School. Thematic analysis was conducted on the 5,125 words that were generated by personnel. Results show that RN personnel understand the requirement to utilize automated systems to maintain capability in the increasingly complex environments they face. This requirement will increase as future warfare continues to change and increasingly sophisticated threats are faced. However, it was highlighted that current consultation and procurement procedures often result in new automated systems that are not fit for purpose at time of release. This has negative consequences on operator tasks, for example by increasing workload and reducing appropriate system use, as well as increasing financial costs associated with the new systems. It is recommended that an increase in communication and collaboration between currently serving personnel and system designers may result in preventing the release of systems that are not fit for purpose.
Liquid moisture transport in combined ceramic brick and natural hydraulic lime mortar samples: Does the hygric interface resistance dominate the moisture transport?
Authors: Calle Klaas , De Kock Tim , Cnudde Veerle , Van den Bossche Nathan
Published: June 2019

To reduce the energy use of the European building stock, a large potential can be found in the renovation of cultural heritage buildings. However, insulating these valuable masonry facades often increases the risk of moisture-related damage phenomena such as mold growth and frost damage. Therefore, detailed heat, air and moisture simulations are required to quantify and assess these risks. One of the unknown parameters in the simulations for historic masonries is the hygric interface resistance between the bricks and the lime mortars. Consequently, microfocus X-ray scans are performed during a capillary water absorption test on brick–lime mortar–brick samples to increase the insight into the moisture transport over the interface, dependent on the capillary pressure at the interface and the curing conditions of the mortar. The hygric interface resistance is found to be highly dependent on both capillary pressure and the curing conditions of the mortar. For the exact quantification of the interface resistance, highly detailed moisture transport and moisture storage properties of the brick and mortar are a prerequisite.
Informal caregivers in stroke: Life impact, support, and psychological well-being—A Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) study
Authors: Sennfält Stefan , Ullberg Teresa
Published: June 2019

Background

Informal caregivers provide a large amount of day-to-day assistance and are crucial for the ability of survivors to recover and adapt to life after stroke.

Aim

The development of caregiver support programs is limited by lack of large long-term follow-up studies. We present a comprehensive study of Swedish stroke caregivers' life situation in relation to degree of functional dependency of the survivor.

Patients and methods

In 2016, the Swedish Stroke Register, Riksstroke, conducted a long-term follow-up survey on caregivers to patients with stroke three and five years earlier. Items on psychological well-being were adapted from the 36-item short-form health survey and poor outcome was defined using the 36-item short-form health survey reference material. Survivor degree of dependency was indicated by the caregiver as independent, partially dependent, or completely dependent.

Results

A total of 5063 community dwelling dyads were included: 56.5% of survivors were independent, 33.4% partially dependent, and 10.1% completely dependent. Caregiver life impact, need of support, and proportion of poor psychological well-being increased incrementally with survivor degree of dependency. In the completely dependent group where 41.1% of survivors could not be left unattended for more than 1 h, 23.7% of caregivers expressed unmet need of caregiver support; 51.4% reported poor psychological well-being compared to 19.3% in the independent group.

Conclusion

The caregiver situation varies greatly with degree of survivor dependency which makes generalizations of caregiver needs difficult. Our results emphasize the need for integrating support aimed specifically at caregivers to survivors of stroke with a large degree of dependency.
α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Resin From Sakhalin fir Tree (Abies sachalinensis) and its Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Nakagawa Toshinori , Ashour Ahmed , Amen Yhiya , Koba Yurie , Ohnuki Koichiro , Shimizu Kuniyoshi
Published: June 2019

This study investigated in vitro the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of resin from the Sakhalin fir tree ( Abies sachalinensis). The resin showed extremely high activity (IC50 of 17.3 µg/mL). We isolated 8 compounds from the resin and identified them. All of the compounds isolated from A. sachalinensis resin are reported for the first time in the present study. In an α-glucosidase inhibitory assay, 6 compounds—(holophyllane C (1), (−) -(24 E)-23-oxo-3,4- seco-9β H-lanosta-4(28),6,8(14),24-tetraen-3,26-dioic acid (2), abiesonic acid (3), (−) -(24 E)-23-oxo-3,4- seco-9β H-lanosta-4(28),7,24-triene-3,26-dioic acid (4), 3,4- seco-4(28),6,8(14),22Z,24-mariesapentaen-26,23-olide-3-oic acid (5), and (−) -abiesonic acid 3-methyl ester (6))—showed high activity (their IC50 values were 25.1, 20.9, 82.4, 20.5, 27.3, and 20.5 µg/mL, respectively). These compounds should contribute to the resin’s α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. From an industrial point of view, these findings provide new data to support that the resin of A. sachalinensis is a rich source of α-glucosidase inhibitors, which are highly valuable for their potential to be developed as functional health foods.
Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Hydroxyectoine via MITF Inhibition by JNK, p38, and AKT Pathways in B16F10 Melanoma Cells
Authors: Chung You C. , Kim Min-Jin , Kang Eun Y. , Kim Yun B. , Kim Bong S. , Park Sung-Min , Hyun Chang-Gu
Published: June 2019

Melanin plays a role in determining human skin color of a person, and a large amount of melanin makes the skin color look darkened. The proper amount of melanin formation protects our skin from UV radiation, but excessive melanin production causes hyperpigmentation and leads to freckles, melasma, and lentigo. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of hydroxyectoine on melanogenesis and its mechanism in B16F10 cells. Melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity were determined. The expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and the activities of tyrosinase and other melanogenesis-related enzymes, such as tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein 2, were also examined. Hydroxyectoine treatment significantly inhibited melanin production and intracellular tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that hydroxyectoine also reduced the expressions of tyrosinase and TRP-1. In addition, hydroxyectoine significantly reduced the expression of MITF, a major regulator of melanin production, and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and activated the protein kinase B. The results demonstrated that hydroxyectoine inhibits the expression of MITF through the inhibition or activation of melanin-related signaling pathways and downregulates melanogenesis by inhibiting melanogenic enzyme expression and tyrosinase activity. Hydroxyectoine has potential value in functional cosmetics applications, such as whitening.
Unsurpassed Intrahepatic Islet Engraftment – the Quest for New Sites for Beta Cell Replacement
Authors: Liljebäck Hanna , Espes Daniel , Carlsson Per-Ola
Published: June 2019

The liver is currently the site of choice for clinical islet transplantation, even though many alternative implantation sites have lately been proposed as more ideal for graft survival. The suggested sites, for example intramuscular space, omentum, bone marrow, and spleen, are sometimes difficult to compare due to differences in animal model, islet isolation procedure, and islet quality. In addition, the variation in transplanted islet mass is vast. The aim of this commentary is to review alternative implantation sites tested experimentally as well as in clinical islet transplantation. Although many sites have been investigated, none have convincingly proved better suited for clinical islet transplantation than intraportal injection to the liver, regardless of whether it is autologous or allogeneic transplantation. However, in order to fully evaluate upcoming bioengineering techniques, such as scaffolds containing insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells, the need of an alternative site has arisen to enable cellular monitoring, which currently cannot be achieved within the liver.
Measurement and Prediction of Binaural-Temporal Integration of Speech Reflections
Authors: Rennies Jan , Warzybok Anna , Brand Thomas , Kollmeier Birger
Published: June 2019

For speech intelligibility in rooms, the temporal integration of speech reflections is typically modeled by separating the room impulse response (RIR) into an early (assumed beneficial for speech intelligibility) and a late part (assumed detrimental). This concept was challenged in this study by employing binaural RIRs with systematically varied interaural phase differences (IPDs) and amplitude of the direct sound and a variable number of reflections delayed by up to 200 ms. Speech recognition thresholds in stationary noise were measured in normal-hearing listeners for 86 conditions. The data showed that direct sound and one or several early speech reflections could be perfectly integrated when they had the same IPD. Early reflections with the same IPD as the noise (but not as the direct sound) could not be perfectly integrated with the direct sound. All conditions in which the dominant speech information was within the early RIR components could be well predicted by a binaural speech intelligibility model using classic early/late separation. In contrast, when amplitude or IPD favored late RIR components, listeners appeared to be capable of focusing on these components rather than on the precedent direct sound. This could not be modeled by an early/late separation window but required a temporal integration window that can be flexibly shifted along the RIR.
What Will Keep Me Coming Back to the Clinic: Factors Identified by Filipino Colorectal Cancer Patients Seen at a National Academic Referral Center
Authors: Sacdalan Danielle Benedict , Lucero Josephine Anne , Ting Frederic Ivan , Sacdalan Dennis Lee
Published: June 2019

Health-care decisions in the Philippines are widely affected by various factors such as family, community, health-care access, and educational attainment. We designed a questionnaire to evaluate patient views at the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital colorectal multidisciplinary clinic to identify factors that contribute to continued follow-up at the colorectal multidisciplinary clinic. A total of 128 patients, 62% of whom were being treated with curative intent participated in the study. We found that trust in their physicians, presence of family support, and affordability of treatment were factors highly valued by patients consulting at the clinic.