bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PAPP‐A2 and Inhibin A as Novel Predictors for Pregnancy Complications in Women With Suspected or Confirmed Preeclampsia
Authors: Neuman Rugina I. , Alblas van der Meer Maaike M. , Nieboer Daan , Saleh Langeza , Verdonk Koen , Kalra Bhanu , Kumar Ajay , Alpadi Kannan , van den Meiracker Anton H. , Visser Willy , Danser A. H. Jan
Published: September 2020

Background

We aimed to evaluate the value of inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 (pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A2) as novel biomarkers in the prediction of preeclampsia‐related complications and how they compare with angiogenic biomarkers.

Methods and Results

Making use of a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, observational study, intended to evaluate the usefulness of sFlt‐1 (soluble Fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1)/PlGF (placental growth factor) ratio, we measured inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 levels in 524 women with suspected/confirmed preeclampsia. Women had a median gestational age of 35 weeks (range, 20–41 weeks) while preeclampsia occurred in 170 (32%) women. Levels of inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 were significantly increased in women with preeclampsia and in maternal perfusate of preeclamptic placentas. Inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 (C‐index = 0.73 and 0.75) significantly improved the prediction of maternal complications when added on top of the traditional criteria; gestational age, parity, proteinuria, and diastolic blood pressure (C‐index = 0.60). PAPP‐A2 was able to improve the C‐index from 0.75 to 0.77 when added on top of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio for the prediction of maternal complications. To discriminate fetal/neonatal complications on top of traditional criteria, inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 showed additive value (C‐index = 0.79 to 0.80 and 0.82, respectively) but their discriminative ability remained inferior to that of sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio or PlGF. Interestingly, the PAPP‐A2/PlGF ratio alone showed remarkable value to predict pregnancy complications, being superior to sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in the case of maternal complications.

Conclusions

Inhibin A and PAPP‐A2 show significant potential to predict preeclampsia‐related pregnancy complications and might prove beneficial on top of the angiogenic markers.
“Salting with Fire” (Mark 9:49)
Authors: Doran Robert
Published: September 2020

At Mark 9:49, the verb ἁλίζω is translated as “to salt, season”: “For everyone will be salted with fire.” No satisfactory explanation has been given of what “salting with fire” means. Here, the author suggests that the other meaning of the same verb be taken: “to collect, gather”: “For everyone will be gathered by fire.” Before the final division into those who go to Gehenna or to heaven, the work of everyone will be examined by fire, similar to what is said in 1 Cor 3:13, to see where they should go. This is the meaning found in patristic commentators on this verse.
The Number of Rulers in Plato’s Statesman
Authors: Fossheim Hallvard
Published: September 2020

This essay poses the question of how many rulers are envisaged in Plato’s Statesman. After pointing out that this is a crucial question for issues concerning non-ideal as well as ideal approaches to political rule, the essay focuses on three relevant aspects of rule in the Statesman: the notion of kingly rule, the limitations posed by human nature, and the importance of self-rule. It is shown how each of these dimensions of Plato’s discussion demonstrates the complexity of the question. Particular attention is then given to features inherent to political rule: the need for subordinate functions and a distribution of offices, seen in light of the ends of political rule as helping citizens obtain their potential. It is argued that while the Statesman does not lead to any certain conclusion concerning the number of rulers, and some of its considerations conflict with each other, the text as a whole allows for a fairly broad basis of political rule.
An Origin for Political Culture’: Laws 3 as Political Thought and Intellectual History
Authors: Atack Carol
Published: September 2020

Plato’s survey in Laws book 3 of the development of human society from its earliest stages to the complex institutions of democratic Athens and monarchical Persia operates both as a conjectural history of human life and as a critical engagement with Greek political thought. The examples Plato uses to illustrate the stages of his stadial account, such as the society of the Cyclops and the myths of Spartan prehistory, are those used by other political theorists and philosophers, in some cases also drawing on the presence of the same stories in classical Greek epic and tragedy. By incorporating his critique into a timeline Plato is able to suggest that some approaches are limited in scope to specific social conditions, whereas his Athenian Stranger presents his analysis from an external and superior viewpoint, looking down on human society from above.
Polis and Cosmos in Plato’s Laws
Authors: Balot Ryan
Published: September 2020

Recent scholarship has followed Glenn Morrow in seeking to understand Plato’s politics in light of his cosmology. This essay takes a different tack and interprets the theology and cosmology of the Laws as an outgrowth of the Athenian Stranger’s conversation with Kleinias, which focuses on politics and warfare. In that sense the arguments of Book 10 are closely tied to the context of the dialogue. The Athenian Stranger’s religious ideology is not designed to be permanent or universally applicable. Rather, it is intended for an audience that finds itself immersed in an unhealthy world of motion, disorder, and antagonism.
Placoneis cattiensis sp. nov.—a new, diatom (Bacillariophyceae: Cymbellales) soil species from Cát Tiên National Park (Vietnam)

Authors: KEZLYA ELENA , GLUSHCHENKO ANTON , MALTSEV YEVHEN , GUSEV EVGENIY , GENKAL SERGEI , KUZNETSOV ANDREY , KOCIOLEK JOHN PATRICK , KULIKOVSKIY MAXIM
Published: September 2020

A new species from the genus Placoneis (Bacillariophyceae: Cymbellales) is described on the basis molecular and morphological data. Placoneis cattiensis Glushchenko, Kezlya, Kulikovskiy & Kociolek sp. nov. is described from soil collected from the bottom of a dry, temporary stream in the forest of Сát Tiên National Park in Vietnam. On the basis of molecular data our new species appears to be more closely related to two strains of Placoneis previously identified as P. elginensis. However, P. cattiensis shows lower statistical support with two strains of P. elginensis on the basis ML. Additionally, P. cattiensis is distinguished from P. elginensis on the basis of morphological features such as the shape of the valve, breadth and density of areolae and striae. Comparisons of P. cattiensis with other similar species are given.
Is a Consistent Message Achievable?: Defining “Message Consistency” for Weather Enterprise Researchers and Practitioners
Authors: Williams Castle A. , Eosco Gina M.
Published: September 2020

Although both research and practice contend that message consistency is a critical component of effective risk communication, neither provide systematic evidence demonstrating if, when, and where consistency matters. For this reason, meteorologists view message consistency as both a relevant research and operational concern. To address these concerns, members of the weather enterprise organized conference sessions, panels, webinars, and workshops to achieve message consistency, but were unable to make progress without a definition. Fortunately, research scholars in the fields of psychology and communication studies offer important theoretical insights for defining message consistency. As such, this paper takes an important first step by combining the needs of operational meteorologists with insights from social science research to offer a definition of message consistency for the weather enterprise. While it is logical to present both a definition and a recommendation on how to achieve message consistency, the systematic review revealed various research limitations and practical constraints that call into question the feasibility of achieving it. To further bridge research and practice, this paper recommends that researchers and practitioners collaboratively develop a message consistency evaluation process for the weather enterprise. A persistent community effort will shed light on when, where, and under which circumstances consistency is necessary, and more importantly, move us one step closer toward achieving a more consistent message within the weather enterprise.
A Drought Monitoring Method Based on Precipitable Water Vapor and Precipitation
Authors: Zhao Qingzhi , Ma Xiongwei , Yao Wanqiang , Liu Yang , Yao Yibin
Published: September 2020

Precipitable water vapor (PWV) with high precision and high temporal resolution can be obtained based on the global navigation and satellite positioning system (GNSS) technique, which is important for GNSS in disaster prevention and mitigation. However, related studies on drought monitoring using PWV have rarely been performed before, which becomes the focus of this paper. This paper proposes a novel drought monitoring method using GNSS-derived PWV and precipitation, and a multi-time-scale standardized precipitation conversion index (SPCI) is established. This index is different from the traditional index in terms of expression, standardization, and time scale. The proposed SPCI is then compared with the standardized precipitation index/standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index/self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index (SPI/SPEI/scPDSI) and applied to local and global drought monitoring. Validated results show that multi-time-scale SPCI has good consistency with the corresponding SPI/SPEI/scPDSI. The correlation between SPCI and SPEI is the strongest (more than 0.96) on a 12-month scale, which indicates the application potential of SPCI in drought monitoring. In addition, applications for regional (Queensland, Australia) and global drought/wet monitoring further verify the capability of the proposed SPCI. The average percentage deviations of drought/wet monitoring between SPCI and SPEI are 2.77% and 3.75%, respectively on a global scale. The above results show that the SPCI developed in this study is efficiently applied to global flood/wet studies.
Nocturnal Destabilization Associated with the Summertime Great Plains Low-Level Jet
Authors: Parish Thomas R. , Clark Richard D. , Sikora Todd D.
Published: September 2020

The Great Plains low-level jet (LLJ) has long been associated with summertime nocturnal convection over the central Great Plains of the United States. Destabilization effects of the LLJ are examined using composite fields assembled from the North American Mesoscale Forecast System for June and July 2008–12. Of critical importance are the large isobaric temperature gradients that become established throughout the lowest 3 km of the atmosphere in response to the seasonal heating of the sloping Great Plains. Such temperature gradients provide thermal wind forcing throughout the lower atmosphere, resulting in the establishment of a background horizontal pressure gradient force at the level of the LLJ. The attendant background geostrophic wind is an essential ingredient for the development of a pronounced summertime LLJ. Inertial turning of the ageostrophic wind associated with LLJ provides a westerly wind component directed normal to the terrain-induced orientation of the isotherms. Hence, significant nocturnal low-level warm-air advection occurs, which promotes differential temperature advection within a vertical column of atmosphere between the level just above the LLJ and 500 hPa. Such differential temperature advection destabilizes the nighttime troposphere above the radiatively cooled near-surface layer on a recurring basis during warm weather months over much of the Great Plains and adjacent states to the east. This destabilization process reduces the convective inhibition of air parcels near the level of the LLJ and may be of significance in the development of elevated nocturnal convection. The 5 July 2015 case from the Plains Elevated Convection at Night field program is used to demonstrate this destabilization process.
Walking Under the Influence
Authors: Knight Margot T. , Li Tong , Dhillon Navpreet K. , Srour Marissa , Huang Raymond , Margulies Daniel R. , Ley Eric J. , Barmparas Galinos
Published: September 2020

Aim

Pedestrian fatalities commonly involve alcohol. We sought to characterize alcohol intoxication among pedestrians struck by vehicles and examine correlations between admission time and injury severity.

Methods

The Los Angeles County Trauma and Emergency Medicine Information System database was reviewed for pedestrians struck by vehicles over a 16-year period starting January 2000. Subjects aged ≥18 years with available time and day of admission were selected. Patients with available blood alcohol content (BAC) were analyzed and those with positive (+) BAC (≥ 0.01%) were compared with those with negative (−) BAC. The primary outcome was mortality.

Result

35 840 patients met criteria, with 12 122 (33.8%) tested for BAC. 71.2% were (+) BAC. The proportion of (+) BAC pedestrians peaked at 02:00 (48.9% of admitted pedestrians, 88.5% of BAC tested pedestrians). Patients with a (+) BAC were more likely hypotensive (3.5% vs 2.7%, P = .019) and admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8 (9.4% vs 7.1%, P < .001). Overall mortality was 4.6%. Those admitted from 06:00 to 11:00 had the highest odds of mortality in (+) BAC patients (4.7%, adjusted odds ratio 3.16, adjusted P < .001).

Conclusion

Pedestrians struck by vehicles during late hours are commonly intoxicated. These findings could help legislators to implement changes and strategies to decrease the risk and burden of injury in intoxicated pedestrians.
Recess as a practical strategy to implement the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model in schools
Authors: McLoughlin Gabriella M , Massey William V , Lane Hannah G , Calvert Hannah G , Turner Lindsey , Hager Erin R
Published: September 2020

Objectives:

Schools can provide an optimal environment for promoting children’s health behaviours. The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model addresses 10 aspects of the school environment that can be used to promote student health behaviours and academic outcomes: namely, Health Education; Nutrition Environment and Services; Employee Wellness; Social and Emotional School Climate; Physical Environment; Health Services; Counselling, Psychological and Social Services; Community Involvement; Family Engagement; and Physical Education and Physical Activity.

Design:

Guidelines for practical use of the WSCC model for school professionals are limited, impeding potential impact on school health promotion. Accordingly, in this article, we seek to demonstrate an application of the WSCC model to a specific school-based practice: recess.

Setting:

School recess.

Results:

An overview of literature and evidence-informed practices details how recess can facilitate WSCC adoption and initial implementation. Areas requiring further empirical research prior to making additional recommendations are also discussed.

Conclusion:

Strategies to enhance learning and health are described, attempting to bridge the gap between research and practice in school settings using the WSCC model.
Predicting Procedure Step Performance From Operator and Text Features: A Critical First Step Toward Machine Learning-Driven Procedure Design
Authors: McDonald Anthony D. , Ade Nilesh , Peres S. Camille
Published: September 2020

Objective

The goal of this study is to assess machine learning for predicting procedure performance from operator and procedure characteristics.

Background

Procedures are vital for the performance and safety of high-risk industries. Current procedure design guidelines are insufficient because they rely on subjective assessments and qualitative analyses that struggle to integrate and quantify the diversity of factors that influence procedure performance.

Method

We used data from a 25-participant study with four procedures, conducted on a high-fidelity oil extraction simulation to develop logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), and decision tree (DT) algorithms that predict procedure step performance from operator, step, readability, and natural language processing-based features. Features were filtered using the Boruta approach. The algorithms were trained and optimized with a repeated 10-fold cross-validation. After training, inference was performed using variable importance and partial dependence plots.

Results

The RF, DT, and LR algorithms with all features had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.78, 0.77, and 0.75, respectively, and significantly outperformed the LR with only operator features (LROP), with an AUC of 0.61. The most important features were experience, familiarity, total words, and character-based metrics. The partial dependence plots showed that steps with fewer words, abbreviations, and characters were correlated with correct step performance.

Conclusion

Machine learning algorithms are a promising approach for predicting step-level procedure performance, with acknowledged limitations on interpolating to nonobserved data, and may help guide procedure design after validation with additional data on further tasks.

Application

After validation, the inferences from these models can be used to generate procedure design alternatives.
Optimum design parameters and mechanical properties of polymeric nanocomposites using NSGA-II optimization method
Authors: Rabothata Mahlatse , Muthu Jacob , Wegner Leon
Published: September 2020

The aim of this work was to develop a method for optimizing both the design parameters and the mechanical properties of polymer-based nanocomposites using multi-objective optimization (MOO) methods. The objective was to maximize both the elastic modulus and the tensile strength of nanocomposites simultaneously by varying the design parameters. The Ji and Zare models were selected as the objective functions for the elastic modulus and tensile strength of polymer nanocomposites, respectively. For this purpose, the NSGA-II approach implemented in MATLAB was used to obtain optimal solutions of the design variables. The optimization model was able to successfully find optimum solutions of the design variables and the overall optimization results were found to be in good agreement with the available published data. In addition, the proposed optimization model was found to be sufficiently accurate in finding the optimum values of the design variables for improving the mechanical properties of nanocomposites.
What are the drivers of diplomacy? Introducing and testing new annual dyadic data measuring diplomatic exchange
Authors: Moyer Jonathan D , Turner Sara D , Meisel Collin J
Published: September 2020

This article introduces a new dyadic dataset measuring formal diplomatic relations. These data were coded from the Europa World Yearbook annually from 1960 to 2013 for 18,317 unique country dyads, and include the level of diplomatic representation (whether the diplomatic connection is focused on a single or multiple target countries) as well as a summary measure that captures both directed and shared dyadic level of representation. We compare the new data with data gathered previously by the Correlates of War project and find significant specific discrepancies in the period between 1970 and 1985. We then test the new data by replicating Neumayer (2008) generally validating those findings: distance, power, and ideological affinity each matter when sending and receiving formal diplomatic relations. However, using the new annual diplomatic representation data, we demonstrate a different relationship between power, affinity, and probability of diplomatic connection: dyadic foreign policy affinity is a more important driver of diplomatic exchange if both the sending and receiving countries have average relative material capabilities and matters little if one or both countries in the dyad are very powerful or very weak relative to previous model results.
Arms for education? External support and rebel social services
Authors: Huang Reyko , Sullivan Patricia L
Published: September 2020

How does foreign support for rebel groups affect rebel governance of civilians during armed conflict? Existing studies primarily examine the local and domestic politics of rebel rule, leaving the effects of foreign intervention on rebel governance underexplored. Focusing on rebel provision of social services, this study considers two competing arguments. The first suggests that foreign sponsorship reduces rebels’ need to rely on local civilians for resources and hence decreases rebels’ incentives to provide services. The second anticipates that by augmenting rebels’ resources and military capabilities, foreign support increases their capacity to provide welfare services. These competing logics suggest that different types of foreign support have divergent effects on rebel social service provision. The article tests this theory using cross-sectional time-series data on external support for rebel groups and rebel governance for the post-1945 period. It finds that rebel groups that receive external funding, weapons or training are significantly more likely to provide education and health services to civilians. In contrast, direct military intervention to assist insurgent forces has no effect on rebel service provision. This article is among the first to systematically study the impact of external support and third-party intervention on rebel social service provision during civil war and holds implications for civilian welfare in contested territories.
The Journey Within
Authors: Dumitru Ana Maria
Published: September 2020

A reflection on the challenges and joys of practicing medicine as a Catholic physician: God often leads us on paths we could not have imagined, and there is a beauty in the surrender to His will. The practice of medicine is increasingly challenging and yet we are called to shine brightly and to live out our vocations without fear, as stumbling blocks to our colleagues. Written from the perspective of a first-year resident in general surgery, this essay is a collection of experiences aimed at inspiring hope and providing encouragement to other Catholic physicians on our collective journey through the practice of medicine as a vocation.

A collection of short stories from medical school, graduate school and the first year of residency, with reflections on the personal transformation that occurs along the journey of practicing as a Catholic physician scientist.
Garment mass customization methods for the cutting-related processes
Authors: Xu Yanni , Thomassey Sébastien , Zeng Xianyi
Published: September 2020

In the garment industry, upgrading from mass production to mass customization is imperative, due to ever-changing fashion trends and customers’ increasing personal demands. Based on pattern variations, several practical mass customization methods in terms of custom-fit and co-design are developed in this study for cutting-related processes (i.e. the sizing process and the cutting process). The increment of size number by generating additional sizes and the expansion of size capacity by setting multi-sized darts are two custom-fit methods, while material (fabric) variation by spreading “rainbow plies” and module variation by making a stepwise cutting are two co-design methods. Compared with existing mass customization methods mainly related to the garment design processes, the proposed methods emphasize the garment manufacturing processes in order to resolve the conflict between personalization and cost. A case study on the women’s basic straight skirt is conducted for the performance evaluation (about personalization and cost) of the proposed methods. The experimental results demonstrate the ability of these methods to significantly raise the personalization level with an acceptable price in garment customization. This study provides a reference for garment manufacturers to make proper production strategies, enabling garment mass customization.
Colored spun fabric texture representation and application by combining spatial features with frequency features
Authors: Yuan Li , Gong Xue , Liu Junping , Yang Yali , Liu Muli
Published: September 2020

Colored spun fabrics are difficult to accurately characterize with a local binary pattern due to texture anisotropy caused by the uneven distribution of dyed fibers. In this paper, we present a texture representation model based on spatial and frequency characteristics. The proposed model takes advantage of the local binary pattern and local phase quantization to extract the texture of woven fabric. Then, the two features are connected in series, and the features of dimension reduction by principal component analysis are used to represent the texture of the fabric image. Finally, the hierarchical hybrid classifier is applied to classify the fabric structure. The experimental results show that the local phase quantization feature is robust to the fuzzy transformation and the texture representation model has a stronger ability of texture description than the single local binary pattern feature, with the average classification accuracy of 97.59% on 336 samples. In addition, compared with the deep learning algorithm, the texture representation algorithm can ensure a high classification accuracy.
Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Mahoney Pain Scale Among Iranian Elderly With Dementia: A Methodological Study
Authors: Zare Mohammad , Tagharrobi Zahra , Sharifi Khadijeh , Sooki Zahra , Abolhasani Javad
Published: September 2020

Valid and reliable measurement tools are necessary for pain assessment among the elderly with dementia. This study aimed to translate the Mahoney Pain Scale (MPS) into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties among Iranian elderly with dementia. In this methodological study, after translating and assessing the face and content validity of MPS, 100 elderly with dementia were selected via convenience sampling from nursing homes and clinics in Kashan in 2018–19; then, MPS was completed for them both at rest and during a movement pain protocol. MPS was assessed by exploratory factor analysis, known-group comparison, convergent validity, internal consistency, equivalence, and stability. The factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure, which explained 57.11% of the total variance. The Persian MPS differentiated patients with and without known painful conditions, as well as pain at rest and during the movement pain protocol (p < .0001). There was a significant positive correlation between the scores of MPS and PACSLAC-II (r = .87, p < .0001). The Cronbach’s α, intraclass correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement of MPS were .91, .79, and ±1.37, respectively. As a valid and reliable tool, the Persian MPS can be used for pain assessment among Iranian elderly with dementia.
‘I Can't Breathe’: The Suffocating Nature of Racism
Authors: Apata Gabriel O.
Published: September 2020

The death of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked an unprecedented global wave of protests that appeared to mark a turning point in the battle against racial injustice. But protests against racism are not new; each comes and soon passes into the archives of history, leaving few lasting changes in its wake. What was different about the death of Floyd was that the graphic manner of its unfolding was captured on film: the slow act of wilful suffocation (8 minutes and 46 seconds), and how the entire world was seemingly invited to witness the torment and the execution of this man, in broad daylight, even as he cried I can't breathe. However, this discussion attempts to move beyond that moment of death, the protests that followed and the distracting debate about statues and monuments to argue that the death of Floyd must be seen as the culmination of the process of systemic and structural racism. It aims to show how racism shifted from the black body as the visible and material target of racial oppression to air/breath, and how suffocation became the characteristic feature as well as the weapon of contemporary racial injustice.
The geopolitics of presence and absence at the ruins of Fort Henry
Authors: Miller Jacob C , Prieto Manuel , Vila Xurxo M. Ayán
Published: September 2020

In recent years, scholars have examined the non- or more-than-human world from a variety of unique positions. This article draws on contemporary archaeology and assemblage theories in geography to put forward an understanding of everyday geopolitics that includes the presence of objects in the formation of state subjectivity. Our approach, however, reveals not only this disciplining force of objects but also the ontological absences that are also at the heart of post-structuralist theories of subjectivity. As such, the formation of object-oriented geopolitical subjectivity is also always haunted by these other affective forces that are part of being in the world. These theoretical considerations are substantiated in our study of the material culture of a military outpost in the highlands of northern Chile where the objects left behind by soldiers offer insight into the complexities of state subjectification and state–society relations in border regions.
Who do sovereign wealth funds say they are? Using structural topic modeling to delineate variegated capitalism in their official reports
Authors: Nowacki Caroline E , Monk Ashby , Decoster Bertrand
Published: September 2020

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are an emerging community of investment organizations, subject to the conflicting demands of international and domestic institutions. From the lens of variegated capitalism, one can explain their diversity and apparent contradictions by underlining how they embody negotiations between global and local institutional pressures. Many SWFs now publish official reports, which represents a unique opportunity to analyze how they portray these institutional influences. We use an unsupervised machine learning method, structural topic modeling, to analyze the 2015 official reports of 40 SWFs and 17 public pension funds globally. With this novel method, we propose the first international, community-wide study that shows how capitalism is adapted across regions, political systems, and even organizational frontiers through SWFs. We show that region and political systems are factors supporting a polarization of missions between neoliberal and state capitalist view. However, this is nuanced by international clubs that support new investment strategies, and some high-profile SWFs that mix the neoliberal and state capitalist views.
Comparison of small-diameter decellularized scaffolds from the aorta and carotid artery of pigs
Authors: He Zhijuan , Liu Guofeng , Ma Xu , Yang Daping , Li Qingchun , Li Ning
Published: September 2020

Aim:

Tissue-specific extracellular matrix promotes tissue regeneration and repair. We aimed to identify the optimal decellularized matrices for tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG).

Methods:

Decellularized aorta of fetal pigs (DAFP, n = 6, group A), decellularized aorta of adult pigs (DAAP, n = 6, group B), and decellularized carotid artery of adult pigs (DCAP, n = 6, group C) were prepared. Scaffolds were compared using histology and ultrastructure. Endothelial cell (EC) and myofibroblast (MFB) infiltration assessments were performed in vitro. Cell infiltration was measured in vivo. Biomechanical properties were also determined.

Results:

Almost original cells were removed by the acellularization procedure, while the construction of the matrix basically remained. In vitro, monolayer ECs and multi-layer MFBs were formed onto the internal surface of the specimens after 3 weeks. In vivo, cell infiltration in group A significantly increased at the 6th and 8th week when compared with groups B and C ( p < 0.01). The infiltrated cells were mainly MFBs and a few CD4+ T-lymphocytes/macrophages in the specimens. Groups A and B showed greater axial compliance than group C ( p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

DAFP was the most suitable for use as a small-caliber vascular graft.
Co-occurrence of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Authors: Mingbunjerdsuk Dararat , Wong Melissa , Bozarth Xiuhua , Sun Angela
Published: September 2020

Phelan-McDermid syndrome or 22q13.3 deletion syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by neonatal hypotonia, severe speech delay, moderate to profound intellectual disability, and minor dysmorphic features. Regression of developmental milestones is often recognized as characteristic of this syndrome. We report a 6-year-old patient with Phelan-McDermid syndrome who presented with rapid neurologic deterioration secondary to metachromatic leukodystrophy due to a mutation of the arylsulfatase A gene ( ARSA) on the other allele of 22q13.3. Metachromatic leukodystrophy was diagnosed later after clinical deterioration. Currently, there are no guidelines for screening Phelan-McDermid syndrome patients for metachromatic leukodystrophy. We propose screening for urine sulfatides at the time of Phelan-McDermid syndrome diagnosis to identify patients with pre-symptomatic or early symptomatic metachromatic leukodystrophy as it is important to facilitate discussion of treatment options and prognosis and provide medical surveillance for associated complications.
It Happened to a Friend of Mine: The Influence of Perspective-taking on the Acknowledgment of Sexual Assault Following Ambiguous Sexual Encounters
Authors: Lamarche Veronica M. , James-Hawkins Laurie
Published: September 2020

Failure to acknowledge that one has been the victim of sexual violence is an important, yet understudied, barrier that prevents women from seeking appropriate support following sexual violence. Drawing from a literature of demonstrating the benefits of self-distancing when evaluating emotionally charged personal information, the effects of self-distancing on acknowledgment of sexual assault were tested. Four experimental studies ( Ntotal = 1,609) manipulated perspective-taking, either by asking women to imagine a series of hypothetical sexual encounters as experiences that happened to themselves or to their friends, or by asking women to describe a sexual experience from a first- or third-person perspective. Findings from the studies suggest that taking another person’s perspective can help women to label ambiguous sexual experiences as more inappropriate and coercive. Notably, this did not seem to stem from women downplaying or dismissing experiences when they imagined themselves, as they reported anticipating more negative and less positive emotions in the scenarios where they imagined themselves compared to a friend. Nonetheless, in spite of the stronger anticipated negative emotional response when imagining themselves, women were less open to information about resources associated with sexual assault and support when they imagined themselves compared to a friend. This pattern of findings replicated for own, past sexual experiences but only to the extent that women spontaneously engaged in distanced perspective-taking themselves. This research suggests in addition to using contextual information to disambiguate and determine whether a sexual experience was inappropriate, taking a distanced perspective might provide a route through which women can come to terms with the experience and open up to the use of community-based services and sexual assault resources.
A Qualitative Analysis of Sexual Consent among Heavy-drinking College Men
Authors: Orchowski Lindsay M. , Oesterle Daniel W. , Moreno Oswaldo , Yusufov Miryam , Berkowitz Alan , Abbey Antonia , Barnett Nancy P. , Borsari Brian
Published: September 2020

The current study sought to examine how heavy-drinking college men describe communication of sexual interest and sexual consent. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 12 heavy-drinking college men identified three themes. Themes included: (a) expectations about parties and sexual activity, (b) observing and communicating sexual interest, and (c) communication of sexual consent. Men reported visiting drinking environments to locate women who they assumed would be open to sexual advances. In these environments, sexual interest was inferred indirectly through shared alcohol use. Anticipating token resistance men reported “trying and trying again” to pursue escalating types of sexual activity. Consent was inferred when participants did not hear “no” from a sexual partner, highlighting the importance of continued education on verbal consent in the context of sexual assault prevention programs.
Youth Service Provision and Coordination among Members of a Regional Human Trafficking Task Force
Authors: Vollinger Lauren , Campbell Rebecca
Published: September 2020

Trafficked youth have numerous needs that must be addressed to give them opportunities to rebuild their lives. Few organizations offer comprehensive services to meet all these needs, which forces survivors to seek out services from multiple organizations and puts them at risk for not receiving important services. This study highlights the needs of organizations in an interagency task force that serve trafficked youth to identify barriers and generate potential solutions to service provision challenges. We conducted a mixed-methods needs assessment by conducting interviews with 15 service providers belonging to a regional human trafficking task force, which revealed a need for more services for trafficked youth, particularly in criminal justice and gender-based violence organizations. Implications of these findings include a need for centralized referral processes and more prevention services, such as a youth drop-in center and educational interventions.
Emergency Oral Contraceptive Consultations in Pharmacies in a Rural Setting: An Epidemiological Analysis
Authors: Pearce Emma , Jolly Kate
Published: September 2020

Background:

Emergency contraception has been available in pharmacies across England since 2001.There is a paucity of evidence describing those women accessing the service, particularly in rural locations, where pharmacies are integral to improving healthcare accessibility.

Methods:

Routinely collected data from all pharmacy consultations for emergency contraception in Shropshire, England, were obtained and anonymized for the study period April 1, 2016 to January 31, 2019. Consultations were described by time, age of consultee, rationale for consultation, method dispensed (levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate), referral for copper intrauterine device fitting, chlamydia screening where appropriate and reason for choosing pharmacy setting. Repeat attenders were also described separately.

Results:

3499 consultations occurred during the study period; 39% were aged between 16-20 years, and 52% attended following unprotected sexual intercourse. Levonorgestrel was initially most prescribed, however ulipristal acetate overtook it in 2018. Onward referral for copper intrauterine device and age-appropriate chlamydia screening took place in 3% and 4% of the eligible populations respectively. Women overwhelmingly chose the pharmacy setting owing to its convenience. Repeat attenders tended to be younger than single attenders, but otherwise similar.

Conclusion:

Pharmacy-based emergency contraception is an important and well-utilized service in this rural location and continued funding and possible service expansion should be considered.
Developing collaboration between research-oriented and practice-oriented experts in public administration: How does expert participation make a difference in public policy making and governance practice?
Authors: Yang Lihua
Published: September 2020

The contradiction between experts’ research (or theory) and practitioners’ practice has plagued public administration for over a century. However, this study emphasizes that experts themselves are not exactly the same. To address the contradiction between research and practice and to improve the role of experts, we need not only to improve the collaboration between experts and practitioners but also to strengthen the collaboration between research-oriented and practice-oriented experts. Using desertification control experiences in 12 counties in northern China as policy examples and through case studies and analysis of a survey of more than 4000 individuals, the study finds that the collaboration with high participation of both research-oriented and practice-oriented experts had the highest governance performance, due to reducing information and knowledge asymmetry, enhancing trust, and strengthening expert participation in public governance. The study also reveals that there are eight institutional design principles that are important for the success of experts’ participation. These principles emphasized knowledge and experts themselves, experts’ relationship with other social actors, and external support (support from laws and regulations and financial support). The study is enlightening to policy makers and public administrators in their endeavor to integrate research (theory) and practice, design public policy, and maximize the use of their knowledge and expertise to advance the cause of public administration.
The synthesis of consciousness and the latent life of the mind: Philosophy, psychopathology, and ‘cryptopsychism’ in fin-de-siècle France
Authors: Terzi Pietro
Published: September 2020

In fin-de-siècle France, we witness a strange circulation of concepts between philosophy, theoretical and experimental psychology, and the borderline realm of what we would now call meta- or parapsychology. This was a time characterized by a complex process of redefinition of the disciplinary frontiers between philosophy and psychology, which favoured the birth of hybrid conceptualities and stark oppositions as well. Furthermore, the great scientific advances in physics, physiology, and psychology fostered hope for a full rational explanation of reality, even of its most unfathomable layers and seemingly bizarre phenomena. Focusing on the case of Émile Boirac’s research on what he termed ‘cryptopsychism’, notably in his book Our Hidden Forces, this article aims to show how Kantian notions and models of consciousness belonging to the canon of French spiritualist philosophical psychology were taken up by scientists such as Pierre Janet and ended up being assimilated and discussed in the more obscure and precarious realm of scientific inquiry into metapsychical phenomena. Far from being a mere historical curiosity, this quest for a scientific account of the latent and subconscious life of the mind sheds light on the intricate relationship between philosophy and the human sciences between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Elastic wave propagation in 2D-FGM hollow cylinders with curved outer surface under moving shock loading using isogeometric analysis
Authors: Yavari Ahmad , Abolbashari Mohammad Hossein , Hassani Behrooz
Published: September 2020

Analysis of elastic wave propagation in a hollow cylinder with two-dimensional (2D) functionally graded material (FGM) and the curved outer surface under internal moving shock loading is the subject of this study. In the proposed method, there is no restriction on the distribution of material properties, the shape of the outer surface, and the applied shock loading. They are treated with non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS). The isogeometric approach is developed for solving the problem to ensure precise modeling of the geometry. Also, the Newmark approach is used for full discretization of the isogeometric equations. The distributions of all elastic field quantities are determined for two types of material distributions and shock loadings. The effects of shock loadings, the shape of the outer surface, and the material distribution on the elastic wave are thoroughly examined. Propagation, reflections, and propagation speed inside the hollow cylinder are investigated. It is found that the propagation speeds of elastic waves have a distribution associated with the distribution of the material properties. Also, the shape of the outer surface can affect the amplitude of the elastic wave and the locations of concentration stress. It is concluded that the sonic boom phenomenon occurs in the solids as well as in the air.
Impact of rail infrastructure maintenance conditions on the vehicle-track interaction loads
Authors: Kuka Naim , Ariaudo Caterina , Verardi Riccardo , Pombo João
Published: September 2020

The rail infrastructure and the track components are expensive assets with long life spans and high maintenance costs. The cost efficiency, performance and punctuality of train operations heavily depend on the track conditions. Ideally, the railway track would be completely smooth providing continuous support to the rolling stock running on it. In practice, however, the infrastructure cannot be installed without irregularities. These defects will increase over time due to the service loads imposed by the railway vehicles. The aim of this work is to use advanced computational tools to predict how the vehicles will respond to changing levels of track defects. For this purpose, the track and its maintenance conditions are characterized in realistic operation scenarios and modelled with detail in order to enable studying the interaction loads that are imposed to the vehicles by the track conditions. The presented methodology enables to identify the track health indexes that have higher influence on the dynamic loads transmitted to the rolling stock. It was observed that the track layout, track irregularities and degradation of the rails have the larger influence on the vehicle-track interaction loads with consequences in terms of safety and maintenance costs. In this way, this work contributes to the development of solutions with technological relevance, giving answer to the industry’s most recent needs in terms of reducing the maintenance costs and decreasing the incidents that cause traffic disruptions, contributing to improve the competitiveness of the railway transport.
Characteristics analysis of the side-blown gas jet mixing process
Authors: Liu Fanhan
Published: September 2020

The mixing performances of side-blown gas jets were studied by characterizing their manifold Betti numbers, namely 0-dimensional and 1-dimensional Betti numbers, through flow visualization and image processing techniques. The 0-dimensional Betti number reflects the mixing performance, and the 1-dimensional Betti number reflects the mixing unevenness degree. The mixing performances and flow fields were studied for different modified Froude numbers. As modified Froude numbers increase, the main flow was enhanced, promoting the macro-mixing of individual particles. The mixing performance of the stirring process was improved by a frequency conversion method, which destroyed the original flow pattern and promoted the micro-mixing process by chaotization.