bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marketing Student Perceptions of Academic Program Quality and Relationships to Surface, Deep, and Strategic Learning Approaches
Authors: Faranda William T. , Clarke Theresa B. , Clarke Irvine
Published: July 2020

A substantial body of empirical research outside of the marketing education literature indicates that students adopt surface, deep, or strategic learning approaches based on their learning environment, among other factors. Using the Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory and the Course Experience Questionnaire, this exploratory research examines upper-level marketing majors’ learning approaches, their perceptions of the overall academic quality of their program of study, and the relationships between those two sets of indicators. Findings from 345 senior-level marketing students indicate the heaviest use of the strategic approach, followed by the deep approach, and then the surface approach. Results also suggest that strategic and deep learning approaches are associated with higher perceptions of the quality of the academic program. Surface learning is the least preferred approach and negatively associated with the perception of academic program quality and satisfaction with academic achievement. Recommendations are offered for reaching strategic learners.
Circulating exosomal long non-coding RNA H19 as a potential novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer
Authors: Zhou Hui , Shen Weifeng , Zou Hongxing , Lv Qingshan , Shao Pingyang
Published: July 2020

Objective

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in carcinogenesis and could be used as diagnostic biomarkers. Our study aimed to elucidate the clinical role of serum exosomal lncRNA H19 in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

In this prospective clinical study, we determined serum exosomal lncRNA H19 levels in 81 patients with GC and analysed the correlations between serum lncRNA H19 levels and clinical characteristics. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the diagnostic performance of exosomal lncRNA H19 in GC.

Results

Serum exosomal lncRNA H19 levels were significantly upregulated in patients with GC both before and after surgery compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, serum exosomal lncRNA H19 levels were significantly decreased after compared with before surgery in patients with GC. Preoperative lncRNA H19 levels were significantly correlated with TNM stage. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) value for exosomal lncRNA H19 was 0.849, which was significantly higher than the AUC values for cancer antigens 19-9 and 72-4 and carcinoembryonic antigen, either alone or combined.

Conclusions

These results suggest that circulating exosomal lncRNA H19 may be a potential biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic value in GC.
Evaluation of the alkali and oxidation resistance of PBO fibers
Authors: Jiang Zhaohui , Tian Mingyue , Guo Zengge , Wang Qicai , Jia Zhao , Zhang Caiyun , Jin Jian
Published: July 2020

Poly( p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fiber, well-known for its super high strength, is a novel fiber with excellent heat resistance and flame retardancy. However, chemical stability appears to be one of its few weaknesses. In this study, PBO fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solutions under various conditions. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the variations of its structure and properties. The results show that many longitudinal corrosion grooves appeared on the surface of PBO fibers treated with KMnO4, while only subtle microcracks occurred after treatment with NaOH. The breaking tenacity of the fiber decreased from 38.13 cN dtex−1 to 2.76 cN dtex−1 after treatment with KMnO4 for 6 h, while it remained at a higher level (27.67cN dtex−1) when treated with NaOH. After treatment with KMnO4 solution, a more obvious absorption peak appeared in the vicinity of 1448.3 cm−1, inferring an occurrence of chemical changes for oxazole ring. Moreover, the remaining mass and initial degradation temperature are significantly improved, also indicating that the cyclic or cross-linked structure is rebuilt. Furthermore, the cyclization or cross-linking of macromolecules destroyed the highly ordered structure of PBO fibers, demonstrated by acromion melting peaks at low temperature in the DSC curves. However, the aggregation and chemical structures of PBO fibers have no obvious changes after treatment with NaOH.
Influence of microwave heating on metallurgical and mechanical properties of Ni-40Cr3C2 composite clads in the context of cavitation erosion resistance characteristics
Authors: Mago Jonty , Bansal Sandeep , Gupta Dheeraj , Jain Vivek
Published: July 2020

Surface modification is one of the most reliable solutions for protecting the material damage in hydraulic turbines due to cavitation phenomena. However, the conventional coating/cladding process has many drawbacks like high porosity, weak adhesion strength, and poor fracture toughness. In contrast, the cladding process with microwave hybrid heating can overcome these limitations. Hence, this study aims to develop the microwave processed composite clad of Ni-based alloy with 40% Cr3C2 (by wt.) on SS-316 substrate in the domestic microwave oven of 2.45 GHz frequency and 900 W power. The selection of the material system for this study was based on mitigating the effect of cavitation erosion. The thorough metallurgical and mechanical characterization of the developed composite clad was done. Microstructural characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed that the developed composite clads had a uniform thickness of 600 µm and free from interfacial cracks and visible pores (measured porosity ∼1.67% – as per ASTM B276). Uniformly dispersed hexagonal and stripe type carbides precipitate in the Ni-based alloy matrix of the composite clad was observed through scanning electron microscopy images. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that various hard carbides (SiC, Ni3C, Cr3Ni2SiC, Cr7C3, and NiC) and intermetallic (Ni3Fe, Ni2Si, and Cr3Si) phases were formed during microwave heating. The microhardness, flexural strength, fracture toughness of the Ni-40Cr3C2 clads were evaluated. The results reveal that the composite clad possesses microhardness = 605 ± 80 HV0.3 (∼3 times SS-316), flexural strength = 813.23 ± 16.2 MPa, and fracture toughness = 7.44 ± 0.2 MPa√m. The appropriate value of these properties makes this composite clad suitable for cavitation erosion resistance application.
Evaluating fossil charcoal representation in small peat bogs: Detailed Holocene fire records from southern Sweden
Authors: Cui Qiao-Yu , Gaillard Marie-José , Vannière Boris , Colombaroli Daniele , Lemdahl Geoffrey , Olsson Fredrik , Benito Blas , Zhao Yan
Published: July 2020

In this study, we assess how representative a single charcoal record from a peat profile in small bogs (1.5–2 ha in area) is for the reconstruction of Holocene fire history. We use high-resolution macrocharcoal (>250 μm) analysis of continuous series of 2 cm3 samples from two small bogs in southern Sweden. We compare (1) duplicate charcoal records from the same core, (2) duplicate charcoal records from profiles in the same site (10 m apart), and (3) charcoal records from two sites within the same region (15 km apart). Comparisons are made for charcoal counts and area expressed as accumulation rates. The results suggest that (a) charcoal counts and area are highly correlated in all records; (b) duplicate charcoal records within the same core are very similar, although some charcoal peaks are found in only one of the two records; (c) although long-term trends in fire regimes are similar between duplicate charcoal records from nearby profiles within the same site and between charcoal records from sites within the same region, some individual charcoal peaks/fire events are asynchronous between records. The known historical fires of the town of Växjö (1570 and 1612 CE) are recorded at the two study sites, which indicates a macrocharcoal source area of minimum 15 km in diameter. The 2 cm3 peat samples contained relatively low amounts of macrocharcoal; we therefore recommend to analyse larger samples from small peat bogs with comparable peat accumulation rates. This will improve the reliability of the macrocharcoal record and its interpretation.
The transformation of cropping patterns from Late Neolithic to Early Iron Age (5900–2100 BP) in the Gansu–Qinghai region of northwest China
Authors: Ren Lele , Yang Ying , Wang Qianqian , Zhang Shanjia , Chen Tingting , Cui Yifu , Wang Zhongxin , Liang Guanjin , Dong Guanghui
Published: July 2020

The Gansu–Qinghai region lies in the key position for trans-Eurasian cultural exchange, and hence investigations of the history of agricultural development in this region are significant for understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of prehistoric crop dispersal in Eurasia. However, systematic archaeobotanical studies concerning the history of the development of prehistoric agriculture in this area are scarce. Here, based on archaeobotanical analysis and radiocarbon dating at the Jinchankou site, we investigated the history of agricultural development in the Datong River valley during the Qijia culture. Combined with previous archaeobotanical studies of the Gansu–Qinghai region, we explored the diachronic changes in the cropping patterns from the Late Neolithic to the Early Iron Age. The results suggest that millet remained the most important subsistence plant during 4100–3700 BP, while barley and wheat were first cultivated around 3900 BP at the Jinchankou site. Humans only cultivated foxtail and broomcorn millet in the Gansu–Qinghai region with a high level of agricultural management during 5900–4000 BP. Barley and wheat were added to the agricultural system in the area during 4000–3600 BP, although they played a subsidiary role compared with millet. During 3600–2100 BP, barley played an increasingly important role in the Gansu–Qinghai region but with evident differences among geomorphic units, and there was an obvious decrease in agricultural management level. It is likely that the transformation of cropping patterns and agricultural management levels in the Gansu–Qinghai region from 5900 to 2100 BP was primarily promoted by prehistoric trans-continental cultural exchange and secondly by climate change in the area.
A working likelihood approach for robust regression
Authors: Fu Liya , Wang You-Gan , Cai Fengjing
Published: July 2020

Robust approach is often desirable in presence of outliers for more efficient parameter estimation. However, the choice of the regularization parameter value impacts the efficiency of the parameter estimators. To maximize the estimation efficiency, we construct a likelihood function for simultaneously estimating the regression parameters and the tuning parameter. The “working” likelihood function is deemed as a vehicle for efficient regression parameter estimation, because we do not assume the data are generated from this likelihood function. The proposed method can effectively find a value of the regularization parameter based on the extent of contamination in the data. We carry out extensive simulation studies in a variety of cases to investigate the performance of the proposed method. The simulation results show that the efficiency can be enhanced as much as 40% when the data follow a heavy-tailed distribution, and reaches as high as 468% for the heteroscedastic variance cases compared to the traditional Huber’s method with a fixed regularization parameter. For illustration, we also analyzed two datasets: one from a diabetics study and the other from a mortality study.
Comparison of Photoscreening to Chart Methodology for Vision Screening
Authors: Vaughan Joannah , Dale Talitha , Herrera Daniel
Published: July 2020

The goal of this study is to assess the referral rate accuracy of photoscreening versus the chart methodology in identifying preschool children at risk of amblyopia and amblyogenic refractive error. Vision screenings using the plusoptiX S12 and the LEA chart were performed on 127 children, aged 3–5 years old. Comprehensive eye exams were performed after screenings. The sensitivity and specificity of the plusoptiX S12 were 80.3% and 92.1% and the LEA chart were 43.6% and 94.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of the plusoptiX S12 is significantly higher than the LEA ( p value: <.001). After eye exams, 82.9% were correctly passed by the plusoptiX S12 and 64% were correctly passed by the LEA chart ( p value: .009). Objective photoscreening is significantly more accurate in identifying preschool children at risk of developing amblyopia and should be considered best practice. The chart methodology provides an inaccurate report on a preschool child’s amblyopic risk.
Relationship of Press Ganey Satisfaction and PROMIS Function and Pain in Foot and Ankle Patients
Authors: Nixon Devon C. , Zhang Chong , Weinberg Maxwell W. , Presson Angela P. , Nickisch Florian
Published: July 2020

Background:

Patient satisfaction has garnered interest as a tool to measure health care quality. However, orthopedic studies in total joint arthroplasty, spine, and hand patients have offered conflicting relationships between Press Ganey (PG) satisfaction metrics and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. No prior study has assessed the relationship between PG and PROs in foot and ankle patients. Whether satisfaction and outcomes instruments, though, measure similar or differing aspects of the patient experience is unclear. Here, we tested if there was an association between Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) outcomes and PG satisfaction scores.

Methods:

PG and PROMIS outcomes data for new patient visits to an orthopedic foot and ankle clinic between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients that completed PG satisfaction surveys were included for study. All patients who completed PG surveys and completed one or both PROMIS physical function (PF) or pain interference (PI) metrics administered by computerized adaptive testing were included. Negative binomial regressions were used to compare PRO scores to PG overall satisfaction and PG satisfaction with care provider, adjusting for patient characteristics. Results were reported as dissatisfaction score ratios, which represented the amount of PG dissatisfaction associated with a 10-point increase in PROMIS PF or PI. Of the 3984 new patient visits, only 441 completed the PG survey (11.3% response rate).

Results:

Ceiling effects were seen with PG data: 64% of patients reported perfect satisfaction with care provider and 27% had perfect overall satisfaction. Higher function on the PROMIS PF was weakly associated with increased overall satisfaction (ratio = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99, P = .039) and increased satisfaction with care provider (ratio = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40-0.92, P = .019). However, pain (PROMIS PI) was not associated with overall satisfaction or with satisfaction with care provider.

Conclusions:

Based on our data here, patient satisfaction was weakly related to patient-reported function but not pain interference among this subset of new patients presenting to a foot and ankle clinic. Given our essentially negative findings, further study is needed to determine which aspects of the PG satisfaction and PROMIS scores track similarly. Further, our findings add to the growing literature showcasing limitations of the PG tool, including low response rates and notable ceiling effects. If satisfaction metrics and patient-reported outcomes capture differing aspects of the patient experience, we need to better understand how that influences the measurement of health care quality and value.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative study.
Hemodynamic Effects of a Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator, Riociguat, and an Activator, Cinaciguat, During NO-Modulation in Healthy Pigs
Authors: Næsheim Torvind , How Ole-Jakob , Myrmel Truls
Published: July 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are often characterized by dysfunctional endothelium. To compensate for the related lack of nitric oxide (NO), a class of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators and activators have been developed with the purpose of acting downstream of NO in the NO-sGC-cGMP cascade. These drugs have been discovered using photoaffinity labeling of sGC and high-throughput screening of a vast number of chemical compounds. Therefore, an understanding of the integrated physiological effects of these drugs in vivo is necessary on the path to clinical application. We have characterized the integrated hemodynamic impact of the sGC stimulator riociguat and the activator cinaciguat in different NO-states in healthy juvenile pigs (n = 30). We assessed the vascular effects in both systemic and pulmonary circulation, the contractile effects in the right and left ventricles, and the effects on diastolic cardiac functions. Nitric oxide-tone in these pigs were set by using the NO-blocker l-NAME and by infusion of nitroglycerine. The studies show a more pronounced vasodilatory effect in the systemic than pulmonary circulation for both drugs. Riociguat acts integrated with NO in an additive manner, while cinaciguat, in principle, completely blocks the endogenous NO effect on vascular control. Neither compound demonstrated pronounced cardiac effects but had unloading effect on both systolic and diastolic function. Thus, riociguat can potentially act in various disease states as a mean to increase NO-tone if systemic vasodilation can be balanced. Cinaciguat is a complicated drug to apply clinically due to its almost complete lack of integration in the NO-tone and balance.
AutoParallel: Automatic parallelisation and distributed execution of affine loop nests in Python
Authors: Ramon-Cortes Cristian , Amela Ramon , Ejarque Jorge , Clauss Philippe , Badia Rosa M.
Published: July 2020

The last improvements in programming languages and models have focused on simplicity and abstraction; leading Python to the top of the list of the programming languages. However, there is still room for improvement when preventing users from dealing directly with distributed and parallel computing issues. This paper proposes and evaluates AutoParallel, a Python module to automatically find an appropriate task-based parallelisation of affine loop nests and execute them in parallel in a distributed computing infrastructure. It is based on sequential programming and contains one single annotation (in the form of a Python decorator) so that anyone with intermediate-level programming skills can scale up an application to hundreds of cores.

The evaluation demonstrates that AutoParallel goes one step further in easing the development of distributed applications. On the one hand, the programmability evaluation highlights the benefits of using a single Python decorator instead of manually annotating each task and its parameters or, even worse, having to develop the parallel code explicitly (e.g., using OpenMP, MPI). On the other hand, the performance evaluation demonstrates that AutoParallel is capable of automatically generating task-based workflows from sequential Python code while achieving the same performances than manually taskified versions of established state-of-the-art algorithms (i.e., Cholesky, LU, and QR decompositions). Finally, AutoParallel is also capable of automatically building data blocks to increase the tasks’ granularity; freeing the user from creating the data chunks, and re-designing the algorithm. For advanced users, we believe that this feature can be useful as a baseline to design blocked algorithms.
The Practice of Innovating Research Methods
Authors: Lê Jane Kirsten , Schmid Torsten
Published: July 2020

In this article, we examine how scholars innovate research methods. Based on a review of published qualitative strategy and management research, we identify highly innovative academic papers, that is, papers that demonstrate substantial novelty in every part of the research process. We work through these papers in detail to demonstrate their novelty, highlighting concrete ways in which scholars have innovated three interconnected parts of the research process: data generation, data analysis, and presentation of findings. Based on our analysis, we develop a two-layered “iceberg” model of method innovation, which shows that important principles guide the innovative use of organizational research tools. These principles are engaging in holistic innovation, being excruciatingly clear in the presentation of methods, developing theory and method together, and being reflexive in innovating methods. Our model demystifies the largely implicit process of innovating research methods. We hope it serves to orient and encourage a more creative use of methods in future studies.
Early failure of an uncemented femoral stem, as compared to two other stems with similar design, following primary total hip arthroplasty performed with direct anterior approach
Authors: Macheras George A , Lepetsos Panagiotis , Galanakos Spyridon P , Papadakis Stamatios A , Poultsides Lazaros A , Karachalios Theofilos S
Published: July 2020

Introduction:

An increased risk of early femoral component loosening has been reported using the direct anterior approach (DAA) compared with other common surgical approaches. However, long-term data are scarce. The purpose of this study is: (1) to determine the incidence of early femoral loosening in a high volume, single surgeon’s practice utilising the DAA approach; and (2) to examine the effect of stem design and type of coating on aseptic loosening in the early and mid-term postoperative period.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 1650 consecutive patients (1800 hips) who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the DAA between August 2011 and December 2017 was conducted at our institution. 3 types of uncemented femoral stems (Quadra-S, Avenir, TwinSys), with similar design, but different coating, were implanted. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically at 4 weeks, 3 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter.

Results:

After a mean follow-up of 46.4 months, the total incidence of revision for aseptic loosening was 0.44% ( n = 8). All loose stems were Quadra-S, failing to achieve osseointegration, for an overall incidence of 0.96% ( p = 0.002). None of the other stems were loose. Radiolucent lines around the proximal stem portion were visible in 75 Quadra-S stems (4.1%) on radiographs taken at 1 year postoperatively and continued to deteriorate at the latest follow-up.

Conclusions:

In this specific cohort of patients, the increased rate of femoral stem aseptic loosening was implant-related and was attributed only to a specific type of femoral stem (Quadra-S). No relation to other factors was proven suggesting that the surface characteristics of this femoral stem and the lack of bioactive coating are responsible for the observed early femoral failures. These findings should be confirmed by additional registry work and larger population sample sizes are needed to evaluate the prosthesis performance after implantation through the DAA.
Tumefactive multiple sclerosis in association with fingolimod initiation and discontinuation
Authors: Croteau David , Tobenkin Anne , Brinker Allen , Kortepeter Cindy M
Published: July 2020

Background:

Tumefactive multiple sclerosis (TMS) is a rare multiple sclerosis (MS) form that usually manifests as the initial presentation or in the early stages of MS.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to evaluate reports of TMS associated with fingolimod use.

Methods:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and the medical literature were searched for cases of TMS occurring during or after fingolimod treatment.

Results:

We identified 29 TMS cases, 19 following fingolimod initiation and 10 following fingolimod discontinuation. In these cases, a TMS diagnosis occurred at a median of 7 years after MS diagnosis, and a median of 7 and 3 months following initiation and discontinuation of fingolimod, respectively. Twenty-two cases were assessed as possible and seven as probable from a causal association perspective. A much larger crude number of TMS reports was observed for fingolimod compared to other disease-modifying therapies.

Conclusion:

TMS should be considered when a severe or atypical MS relapse occurs shortly after fingolimod initiation or discontinuation, and should prompt imaging evaluation and appropriate treatment initiation. Prescribers’ awareness of the association between TMS and fingolimod may avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures. In light of our findings, fingolimod (Gilenya) prescribing information was amended to include TMS in the Warnings and Precautions section.
Nighttime Appendectomy is Safe and has Similar Outcomes as Daytime Appendectomy: A Study of 1198 Appendectomies
Authors: Mönttinen T. , Kangaspunta H. , Laukkarinen J. , Ukkonen M.
Published: July 2020

Introduction:

Although it is controversial whether appendectomy can be safely delayed, it is often unnecessary to postpone operation as a shorter delay may increase patient comfort, enables quicker recovery, and decreases costs. In this study, we sought to study whether the time of day influences the outcomes among patients operated on for acute appendicitis.

Materials and Methods:

Consecutive patients undergoing appendectomy at Tampere University Hospital between 1 September 2014 and 30 April 2017 for acute appendicitis were included. Primary outcome measures were postoperative morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and amount of intraoperative bleeding. Appendectomies were divided into daytime and nighttime operations.

Results:

A total of 1198 patients underwent appendectomy, of which 65% were operated during daytime and 35% during nighttime. Patient and disease-related characteristics were similar in both groups. The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 4.8% and 0.2%, respectively. No time categories were associated with risk of complications or complication severity. Neither was there difference in operation time and clinically significant difference in intraoperative bleeding. Patients undergoing surgery during night hours had a shorter hospital stay. In multivariate analysis, only complicated appendicitis was associated with worse outcomes.

Discussion:

We have shown that nighttime appendectomy is associated with similar outcomes than daytime appendectomy. Subsequently, appendectomy should be planned for the next available slot, minimizing delay whenever possible.
Standing out in a networked communication context: Toward a network contingency model of public attention
Authors: Yang Aimei , Saffer Adam J
Published: July 2020

Social media can offer strategic communicators cost-effective opportunities to reach millions of individuals. However, in practice it can be difficult to be heard in these crowded digital spaces. This study takes a strategic network perspective and draws from recent research in network science to propose the network contingency model of public attention. This model argues that in the networked social-mediated environment, an organization’s ability to attract public attention on social media is contingent on its ability to fit its network position with the network structure of the communication context. To test the model, we combine data mining, social network analysis, and machine-learning techniques to analyze a large-scale Twitter discussion network. The results of our analysis of Twitter discussion around the refugee crisis in 2016 suggest that in high core-periphery network contexts, “star” positions were most influential whereas in low core-periphery network contexts, a “community” strategy is crucial to attracting public attention.
Towards more-than-human digital data studies: developing research-creation methods
Authors: Lupton Deborah , Watson and Ash
Published: July 2020

As the number of digital technologies expands, entering more domains of everyday life, people’s activities, bodies and preferences are rendered into constantly changing flows of digitised information. The interdisciplinary field of critical data studies has emerged in response. In this article, we outline the design and development of methods employed in our new project ‘Living with Personal Data’ as a move towards expanding the knowledge base and methodological approaches of critical data studies. Our approach takes up more-than-human theoretical perspectives and research-creation methods to elicit the affective and multisensory contexts of people’s feelings, practices and imaginaries concerning their digital data. We describe a set of workshops established to experiment with some new methods we have devised for our project’s fieldwork. The article ends with some reflections on what these theories and methods can offer for a reimagined digital data studies that can acknowledge and surface more-than-human dimensions.
Facile method for tent fabrics with eco-friendly/durable properties using waterborne polyurethane/lignin: Preparation and evaluation
Authors: Zhang Yue , Li Ting-Ting , Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: July 2020

In this paper, a novel facile strategy is reported for fabricating an environment friendly, aging-resistant, and waterproof-breathable fabric using a “pad-knife” coating technique and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) containing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and lignin as an antioxidant agent. Morphology, hydrophobic property, accelerated weathering aging property and artificial degradation performance as well as water vapor transmission and tensile property are characterized. Results show that, IPDI can effectively prevent PU discoloration. Lignin amount affects the morphological structure, tearing strength, WVTR and hydrostatic pressure capability of coated fabrics. Moreover, a 2% lignin addition provides fabrics with enhanced waterproof-breathable properties and tearing strength performance compared with pure WPU coated fabrics after accelerated weathering exposure. The facile coating technology can be applied to protective and functional textiles for military and civil polyester tents.
Endovascular Management of a Ruptured Iliac Aneurysm With an Inferior Vena Cava Fistula
Authors: Torrealba Jose Ignacio , Vargas José Francisco , Mertens Renato A. , Valdes Francisco J. , Marine Leopoldo A. , Bergoeing Michel P.
Published: July 2020

Aortocaval fistula is uncommon and often associated with a ruptured iliac or abdominal aortic aneurysm. It has a high mortality secondary to the aneurysmal rupture but also to a high output heart failure. Open surgery has been the standard; however, endovascular management has emerged with lower mortality. We present a patient with a ruptured iliac aneurysm and an inferior vena cava fistula successfully treated with an endograft with embolization of the right hypogastric artery. The patient arrested on induction and was resuscitated with aortic balloon inflation. Endovascular therapy can be safely used in the management of iliac/aortocaval fistula.
Layout optimization of a military operations center using a genetic algorithm
Authors: Wang Wenbi
Published: July 2020

A genetic algorithm was developed to support the spatial layout design of military operations centers. Based on an abstract representation of the workplace, the algorithm uses a textual string as the genetic encoding method, two genetic operations (i.e., selection and swap) for simulating an evolution process, a fitness function that reflects a human factors characterization of workplace layout requirements, and an elitist strategy for improving its search efficiency. The effectiveness of the algorithm was demonstrated in the design of a mid-sized operations center that involved a team of 68 operators. This algorithm expands the human factors practitioners’ toolkit and enhances their ability to examine layout options of complex workplaces using modeling and simulation.
Optimized hydroentanglement processing parameters for nonwoven fabrics composed entirely of cotton fibers
Authors: Hron Rebecca J , Hinchliffe Doug J , Condon Brian D
Published: July 2020

A study was conducted on a commercial grade hydroentanglement system to assess the effects of jet strip configuration in terms of both orifice diameter (0.10 mm, 0.12 mm, and 0.14 mm) as well as the number of orifices per inch (40 and 50) on the properties of resultant nonwoven cotton fabrics at various hydroentanglement pressures (0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 14.0 MPa). It was found that an increase in the energy applied to the fabric web resulted in a nonwoven with increased absorbency. The results of air permeability testing indicate that a combination of variations in the orifice diameter and the number of orifices per inch as well as the energy applied determine the overall air permeability of the fabric. Tensile testing revealed that increasing the energy applied to the fabric resulted in increased strength in both the machine and cross directions and decreased elongations. These results indicate that the mechanical and performance characteristics of nonwoven cotton fabrics produced by hydroentanglement may be manipulated to obtain the desired characteristics for the targeted end-use application.
Drawing Out Their Stories: A Scoping Review of Participatory Visual Research Methods With Newcomer Children
Authors: Brown Alison , Spencer Rebecca , McIsaac Jessie-Lee , Howard Vivian
Published: July 2020

Researchers are increasingly using participatory visual methods (PVM) to gain a deeper understanding of newcomer children’s experiences, sense of identity, relationships, needs, strengths, and aspirations. By taking photos, producing digital stories, creating maps, drawing, sculpting, and other visual-based practices, children can help us understand how they navigate their complex worlds. We conducted a scoping review to explore what is known about participatory visual research with newcomer children. We searched nine databases, screened 692 articles, and included 21 articles for synthesis and analysis. Five common and connected areas were identified as important for consideration when envisioning, planning, and conducting this type of research with newcomer children: PVM provides an opportunity for children to communicate complex feelings and disrupt deficit discourse; participation in PVM research is highly dependent on varying cultural, economic, and relational factors; providing a range and choice of data collection activities permits deeper engagement and higher quality data; PVM can enhance meaningful engagement, reduce power asymmetry, and engender confidence and self-awareness; developing and sustaining trusted relationships are integral to the research process. The review reveals the need for more researcher reflexivity with an explicit attention to assumptions, values, and ethical considerations and suggests opportunities for researchers to better ensure newcomer children can share and shape their own stories.
System-level prognostics and health management: A graph convolutional network–based framework
Authors: Ruiz-Tagle Palazuelos Andrés , Droguett Enrique López
Published: July 2020

Sensing technologies have been used to gather massive amounts of data to improve system reliability analysis with the use of deep learning. Their use has been mainly focused on specific components or for the whole system, resulting in a drawback when dealing with complex systems as the interactions among components are not explicitly taken into account. Here, we propose a system-level prognostics and health management framework based on geometrical deep learning where a system, its components with their interactions, and sensor data are represented as a graph. This enables reliability analysis at different hierarchical levels by means of (1) a system-level module for system health diagnosis and prognosis based on embeddings of the system’s learned features from a graph convolutional network; (2) a component-level module based on a deep graph convolutional network for health state diagnosis for the system’s components; (3) a component interactions module based on a graph convolutional network autoencoder that allows for the identification of interactions among components when the system is in a degraded state. The framework is exemplified via a case study involving a chlorine dioxide generation system, in which it is shown that integrating both components’ interactions and sensor data in the form of a graph improves health state diagnosis capabilities.
Gender punitivism: Queer perspectives on identity politics in criminal justice
Authors: Pérez Moira , Radi Blas
Published: July 2020

The article examines the convergence of identity politics and punitivism, two tendencies that profoundly affect current LGBT activism and state criminal policies. It considers the case of Argentina, a country often deemed exemplary in terms of gender-related legislation, and analyses a 2018 sentence that incorporates the concept of ‘travesticide’ in order to examine how the role of identity in political strategies, added to prevailing notions of gender, limits the possible approaches and answers to violence against gender non-conforming communities. It then takes this a step forward to understand how these answers are, in turn, often reduced to punitivist outcomes, narrowing the understanding of reparation and exposing the most vulnerable subjects in the community to further violence. As a contribution to Queer Criminologies, the article seeks to expose the limitations of identity politics, and in particular of its advocacy for gendered rights, showing how they can force gender non-conforming subjects to choose between rights, most notably between legal recognition of their gender identity, and safety vis-à-vis the state apparatus of criminal justice.
Relieving exertional dyspnea during the 3-min constant speed shuttle test in patients with COPD with indacaterol/glycopyrronium versus tiotropium: the RED trial
Authors: Beaulieu Jessie , Jensen Dennis , O’Donnell Denis E. , Brouillard Cynthia , Tracey Lauren , Vincent Sandra , Nadreau Éric , Bernard Emmanuelle , Bernard Sarah , Maltais François
Published: July 2020

Background:

Exertional dyspnea is a cardinal feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a major cause of activity limitation. Although dual bronchodilation is more effective than bronchodilator monotherapy at improving resting pulmonary function, it is unclear to which extent this translates into superior relief of exertional dyspnea.

Methods:

We conducted a randomized controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial comparing indacaterol 110 µg/glycopyrronium 50 µg once daily (OD) with tiotropium 50 µg OD in patients with moderate to severe COPD and resting hyperinflation (functional residual capacity >120% of predicted value). The primary outcome was Borg dyspnea score at the end of a 3-min constant speed shuttle test after 3 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes in Borg dyspnea score after the first dose of study medication, expiratory flows and lung volumes. Statistical analysis was conducted using a cross-over analysis of variance model with repeated measurements.

Results:

A total of 50 patients with COPD and a mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 54 ± 11% (mean ± SEM) predicted participated in the cross-over phase of the trial. Compared with baseline, there was a decrease in dyspnea after the first dose of medication with indacaterol/glycopyrronium [mean −1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.49 to −0.52] but not with tiotropium alone (mean −0.36, 95% CI −0.81 to 0.08). The reduction in dyspnea after the first dose was statistically significant between the two treatments (mean difference of −0.64, 95% CI −1.11 to −0.17). Despite indacaterol/glycopyrronium providing further bronchodilation and lung deflation throughout the trial, the reduction in dyspnea was not sustained at 3 weeks of treatment (mean between-treatment difference at 3 weeks of 0.09, 95% CI −0.44 to 0.61).

Conclusion:

In comparison with bronchodilator monotherapy, indacaterol/glycopyrronium provided greater immediate exertional dyspnea relief, although this difference was not sustained after 3 weeks of therapy despite evidence of further bronchodilation and lung deflation. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
One New Veratramine-Type Alkaloid From Veratrum maackii var. japonicum and Antioxidative Activities of Isolated Compounds
Authors: Kim Ji-Yul , Son Eunjung , Kim Dong-Seon
Published: July 2020

A new veratramine-type alkaloid (1), along with 4 known compounds (2-5), was isolated from the roots of Veratrum maackii var. japonicum (Baker) T. Shimizu. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and mass spectroscopic data. All compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activities using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS +) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging assays. Compounds 1 and 3-5 showed ABTS+ radical scavenging activity with IC50 values ranging from 15.0 to 85.7 μM.
Anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of matricin on human non-small cell lung cancer H1299 cells via MAPK pathway activation
Authors: Bai Xiaoying , Wang Wei , Wang Yan , Li Jing
Published: July 2020

Lung cancer in humans is majorly represented by non-small cell lung cancer cells, and there is a constant search for an efficient therapeutic approach. This study aims to find the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of matricin on H1299 cells via activation of MAPK pathway. Non-small cell H1299 cells were subjected to viability analysis with MTT assay and anti-proliferation analysis with different concentrations of matricin. Apoptosis was determined with annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) and flow cytometric analysis. Analysis of oxidative stress markers, reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were done using standard assay kits. Apoptosis enzymes caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 levels were measured using colorimetric kit analysis. Western blot analysis on apoptotic proteins was performed to determine the involvement of MAPK pathway activation in apoptosis. Matricin significantly ( P < 0.01) exerted anti-proliferative activities on H1299 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric apoptosis analysis showed increasing concentrations of matricin had increased apoptosis ( P < 0.01) in the H1299 cells. Levels of oxidative stress markers were altered significantly ( P < 0.01) by matricin. Caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 levels were significantly increased ( P < 0.01) in matricin-treated H1299 cells. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, increased expressions of Bax and phosphorylated JNK, ERK 1/2, and p-38 MAPK proteins in matricin-treated H1299 cells. Matricin has significant anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects via activation of MAPK pathway in non-small cell lung cancer cells.
Introduction to creative and collaborative approaches to research and practice with a social and criminal justice focus
Authors: Parsons Julie , Letherby Gayle
Published: July 2020

An introduction to creative and collaborative approaches to research and practice, with a social and criminal justice focus.
Superior Labral Injuries in Elite Gymnasts: Symptoms, Pathology, and Outcomes After Surgical Repair
Authors: Takeuchi Yasutaka , Sugaya Hiroyuki , Takahashi Norimasa , Matsuki Keisuke , Tokai Morihito , Morioka Takeshi , Ueda Yusuke , Hoshika Shota
Published: July 2020

Background:

Superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions are common among elite gymnasts and throwing athletes. Although SLAP lesions in throwers are well-described in the literature, no study has described the characteristics of SLAP lesions in gymnasts. We aimed to reveal the characteristics of SLAP lesions in gymnasts by comparing the location and extension of these lesions between gymnasts and throwers.

Hypothesis:

The location and arc of SLAP lesions in gymnasts will be different from those in throwing athletes.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This study included 27 shoulders in 20 males and 3 females with a mean ± SD age of 20 ± 2.5 years (range, 16-25 years). We performed debridement alone for shoulders with a stable lesion. Anterior and/or posterior labral repair was added for unstable SLAP lesions depending on the extension and stability of the lesions. We investigated symptoms, onset, return to sport (based on patient records), and subjective shoulder values. SLAP lesions were evaluated through use of the Snyder classification. The location and arc of SLAP lesions were determined from surgical records and videos and described by use of the right shoulder clockface method. During the same period, 65 baseball players (65 shoulders; all males; mean age, 23 ± 7.0 years; range, 16-44 years) underwent arthroscopic SLAP surgery. We compared the location and arc of SLAP lesions between gymnasts and baseball players.

Results:

Symptoms during gymnastics included pain (100%), apprehension (48%), or catching (11%). We found that 20 shoulders had symptom onset during gymnastics, most commonly during rings events. Type II SLAP lesions were found in 17 shoulders, type III in 2 shoulders, and type IV in 8 shoulders. The mean center of SLAP lesions was at the 11:40 clockface position in 27 gymnasts and 10:40 clockface position in 65 baseball players, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < .001). The mean arc of SLAP lesions was 125° in gymnasts and 140° in baseball players, and the difference was not significant. We performed debridement in 2 shoulders (7%) and labral repair in 25 shoulders (93%). After surgery, all patients returned to gymnastics. The mean subjective shoulder value was 35 (range, 10-90) preoperatively and 76 (range, 40-100) postoperatively.

Conclusion:

SLAP lesions in gymnasts were significantly located anteriorly compared with those in baseball players. All patients returned to gymnastics after arthroscopic surgery. Secure repair of SLAP lesions may be important for good surgical outcomes, because 50% of patients experienced preoperative shoulder apprehension.
A world transformed by climate justice
Authors: Standke-Erdmann Madita , Viehoff Alina
Published: July 2020

What will the world look like in 2040 and how did we get there? How will climate change, one of, if not the most pressing issue of our times be tackled on a global scale? With these questions in mind, this article invites the reader to perform a thought experiment into the future. Following an imagined snapshot of the year 2040, the reader is guided through major global developments regarding climate change, social movements and, eventually, climate justice from the 2020s to 2040s. By imagining social, political and economic consequences of climate change and responses to them, this article paints a picture of what the future could look like if climate justice became a guiding principle in the struggle of mitigating the effects of climate change. Suggesting a paradigm shift from securitizing climate change to securing climate justice, this ‘future’ calls for a discursive turn of the manner in which climate change is thought of and acted upon. It requires different entities, including academia, to recognize their role as political actors within society. Consequently, it is crucial to reflect upon whose security is (not) considered but also which responses are taken into account in what way to mitigate security risks related to climate change. The article concludes that imagining a future of climate justice is pivotal to finding solutions to the challenges we are confronted with, that is, keeping the metaphoric ship from crashing into the cliffs.