bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Fanconi Anemia Patients in Turkey
Authors: Toksoy Güven , Uludağ Alkaya Dilek , Bagirova Gülendam , Avcı Şahin , Aghayev Agharza , Günes Nilay , Altunoğlu Umut , Alanay Yasemin , Başaran Seher , Berkay Ezgi G. , Karaman Birsen , Celkan Tiraje T. , Apak Hilmi , Kayserili Hülya , Tüysüz Beyhan , Uyguner Zehra O.
Published: September 2020

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare multigenic chromosomal instability syndrome that predisposes patients to life-threatening bone marrow failure, congenital malformations, and cancer. Functional loss of interstrand cross-link (ICL) DNA repair system is held responsible, though the mechanism is not yet fully understood. The clinical and molecular findings of 20 distinct FA cases, ages ranging from perinatal stage to 32 years, are presented here. Pathogenic variants in FANCA were found responsible in 75%, FANCC, FANCE, FANCJ/BRIP1, FANCL in 5%, and FANCD1/BRCA2 and FANCN/PALB2 in 2.5% of the subjects. Altogether, 25 different variants in 7 different FA genes, including 10 novel mutations in FANCA, FANCN/PALB2, FANCE, and FANCJ/BRIP1, were disclosed. Two compound heterozygous germline cases were mosaic for one allele, revealing that the incidence of reverse mutations may not be uncommon in FA. Another case with de novo FANCD1/BRCA2 and paternally inherited FANCN/PALB2 pathogenic alleles at first glance suggested a digenic inheritance, because the presence of a second pathogenic variant in the unexamined regions of FANCD1/BRCA2 and FANCN/PALB2 were exluded by sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis. A better understanding of the complexity of the FA genotype may provide further access to undiscovered ICL components and apparently dispensable cellular pathways where FA proteins may play important roles.
Elevated Serum Level of CD48 in Patients with Intermittent Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Branicka Olga , Jura-Szołtys Edyta , Rogala Barbara , Glück Joanna
Published: September 2020

Background: In the pathogenesis of intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR), the inflammatory reaction is of importance. CD48, belonging to the CD2 family, participates in mast cell-stimulating cross-talk, facilitates the formation of the mast cell/eosinophil effector unit, and is expressed by eosinophils. Objectives: To assess the serum level of soluble form of CD48 (sCD48) in patients with IAR during and out of the pollen season and correlate with the disease severity and with eosinophil-related parameters. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients (female: 79%; mean age: 30.58) were included to the study. Forty-five patients were assessed during the pollen season and other 42 patients during out of the pollen season. Twenty-four patients (female: 37.50%; mean age: 27.90) were evaluated twice, during the pollen season and out of the pollen season. sCD48, ECP, eotaxin-1/CCL11 serum levels together with complete blood count, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide bronchial and nasal fraction (FeNO) were performed. The severity of symptoms was assessed using the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte (ELR) ratios were calculated. Results: sCD48 serum level, FeNO nasal and bronchial fractions, and TNSS were significantly higher in the IAR group in the pollen season compared with out of the pollen season. Differences in ECP, eotaxin-1/CCL11 serum levels, and NLR and ELR were not significant between season and out of the season. No correlations were found between sCD48 and eosinophil-related parameters. Conclusions: sCD48 may be a biomarker to the exacerbation phase in patients with IAR. One can assume that CD48 participates in the pathogenesis of IAR.
Clinical, Virological, and Immunological Profiles of DENV, ZIKV, and/or CHIKV-Infected Brazilian Patients
Authors: Sánchez-Arcila Juan Camilo , Badolato-Correa Jessica , de Souza Thiara Manuele Alves , Paiva Iury Amâncio , Barbosa Luciana Santos , Nunes Priscila Conrado Guerra , Lima Monique da Rocha Queiroz , dos Santos Flavia Barrento , Damasco Paulo Vieira , da Cunha Rivaldo Venancio , Azeredo Elzinandes Leal de , de Oliveira-Pinto Luzia Maria
Published: September 2020

Background: Arboviruses co-circulating within a population that are transmitted by the same vector have the potential to cause coinfections. Coinfections with dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have been occurring in Brazil, but it is not well-understood how human responses vary during mono- or coinfections and whether they play different roles in pathogenesis. Methods: We investigated the clinical, virological, and immunological status during patients’ acute infections, focusing on the CCL/CXC chemokines, proinflammatory, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines levels quantified by ELISAs. Viral load was determined by qRT-PCR in serum samples from 116 acute DENV, ZIKV, CHIKV, DENV/ZIKV, and CHIKV/ZIKV-infected adult patients from Brazil. Results: Most of the acute patients displayed fever, headache, prostration, and myalgia, regardless of the type of arbovirus infection. Zika viral load was higher in CHIKV/ZIKV coinfected patients compared with ZIKV or DENV/ZIKV infections. All infected individuals presented increased concentrations of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10/interferon protein-10 (CXCL10/IP-10), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) compared to healthy donors. Interestingly, the ZIKV group separated from CHIKV/ZIKV due to higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and lower levels of TNF-α. While DENV/ZIKV differentiated from CHIKV due to their higher levels of CCL2/MCP-1, in CHIKV- and CHIKV/ZIKV-infected patients, levels of CXC10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1, and migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were associated with CHIKV viral load. By contrast, in DENV/ZIKV- and CHIKV/ZIKV-infected patients, levels of CXCL10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1, and TNF-α showed a significant inverse correlation with ZIKV viral load. Conclusions: From all the circulating mediators measured, we detected differences of IL-10, TNF-α, and CCL2/MCP-1 between arbovirus groups. We hypothesize that CXC10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1, and MIF in the CHIKV-infected group could regulate the CHIKV viral load, while CXC10/IP-10, CCL2/MCP-1, and TNF-α in DENV/ZIKV, and CHIKV/ZIKV groups, could regulate ZIKV viral load.
Exenatide and Renal Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Zhang Huijie , Zhang Qian , Guan Meiping , Sheng Shuyue , Mo Wei , Zou Mengchen , Li Jimin , Bi Jianlu , Tang Xianyu , Zeng Huiyan , He Jiali , Xu Gugen , Li Ping , Xue Yaoming
Published: September 2020

Background: Cardiovascular outcomes in clinical trials with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have shown that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist can have a beneficial effect on the kidney. This trial aimed to assess the effects of exenatide on renal outcomes in patients with T2DM and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methods: We performed a randomized parallel study encompassing 4 general hospitals. T2DM patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and macroalbuminuria, defined as 24-h urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) >0.3 g/24 h were randomized 1:1 to receive exenatide twice daily plus insulin glargine (intervention group) or insulin lispro plus glargine (control group) for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the UAER percentage change from the baseline after 24 weeks of intervention. The rates of hypoglycemia, adverse events (AEs), and change in eGFR during the follow-up were measured as safety outcomes. Results: Between March 2016 and April 2019, 92 patients were randomized and took at least 1 dose of the study drug. The mean age of the participants was 56 years. At baseline, the median UAER was 1,512.0 mg/24 h and mean eGFR was 70.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. After 24 weeks of treatment, the UAER percentage change was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.0255). Moreover, the body weight declined by 1.3 kg in the intervention group (the difference between the 2 groups was 2.7 kg, p = 0.0001). Compared to the control group, a lower frequency of hypoglycemia and more gastrointestinal AEs were observed in the intervention group. Conclusion: Exenatide plus insulin glargine treatment for 24 weeks resulted in a reduction of albuminuria in T2DM patients with DKD.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer: An Appraisal of the Current High-Level Evidence
Authors: Müller Philip C. , Frey Michael C. , Ruzza Claudio M. , Nickel Felix , Jost Christian , Gwerder Christoph , Hackert Thilo , Z’graggen Kaspar , Kessler Ulf
Published: September 2020

At the time of diagnosis, only about 20% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have resectable disease. PDAC treatment necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, and adjuvant chemotherapy after upfront resection is an established means of preventing recurrence. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT), originally introduced to downstage tumor size, is nowadays more frequently used for selection of patients with favorable tumor biology and to control potential micrometastases. While NAT is routinely applied in locally advanced (LA) PDAC, there is increasing evidence demonstrating benefits of NAT in borderline resectable (BR) PDAC. The concept of NAT has recently been tested in resectable PDAC, but to date NAT has been restricted to clinical trials, as the data are limited and no clear benefits have yet been shown in this patient group. This review summarizes the current evidence for NAT in resectable, BR, and LA PDAC, with a focus on high-level evidence and randomized controlled trials.
Phenotypic and Molecular Cytogenetic Analysis of a Case of Monosomy 1p36 Syndrome due to Unbalanced Translocation
Authors: Hussen Dalia F. , Kamel Alaa K. , Mekkawy Mona K. , Ashaat Engy A. , El Ruby Mona O.
Published: September 2020

Monosomy 1p36 syndrome is one of the most common submicroscopic deletion syndromes, which is characterized by the presence of delayed developmental milestones, intellectual disability, and clinically recognizable dysmorphic craniofacial features. The syndrome comprises 4 cytogenetic groups including pure terminal deletions, interstitial deletions, complex rearrangements, and derivative chromosomes 1 due to unbalanced translocations, where unbalanced translocations represent the least percentage of all cases of monosomy 1p36 (7%). Most patients with monosomy 1p36 due to an unbalanced translocation can be cytogenetically diagnosed using conventional techniques. However, chromosomal microarray analysis is mandatory in these cases to detect copy number variance and size of the deletion and allows for setting a phenotype-genotype correlation. Here, we studied a 1.5-year-old female patient who showed intellectual disability, delayed milestones, hypotonia, seizures, and characteristic dysmorphic features including brachycephaly, straight eyebrows, deep-set eyes, downslanting palpebral fissures, midface hypoplasia, depressed nasal bridge, long philtrum, and pointed chin. Conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA), microarray study, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis were performed. CCA showed a translocation involving chromosomes 1 and 21, 45,XX,der(1)t(1;21)(p36.32;q21.1)dn. Microarray analysis revealed copy number losses at both 1p36 and proximal 21q. FISH confirmed the presence of the 1p36 deletion, but was not performed for 21q. We have concluded that phenotype-genotype correlation for monosomy 1p36 syndrome can be performed for the fundamental clinical manifestations; however, the final aspect of the syndrome depends on composite factors. Monosomy 1p36 due to unbalanced translocation may present either classically or with additional altered features of various severity based on the copy number variations involving different chromosomes.
YKL-40 (Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1) Serum Levels in Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Arain Fizza , Abraityte Aurelija , Bogdanova Mariia , Solberg Ole G. , Michelsen Annika E. , Lekva Tove , Aakhus Svend , Holm Sverre , Halvorsen Bente , Finsen Alexandra V. , Vinge Leif-Erik , Nymo Ståle , Espeland Torvald , Ranheim Trine , Aukrust Pål , Vaage Ingvar Jarle , Auensen Andreas , Gullestad Lars , Ueland Thor
Published: September 2020

Background:

Identification of novel biomarkers could provide prognostic information and improve risk stratification in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). YKL-40 (chitinase-3-like protein 1), a protein involved in atherogenesis, is upregulated in human calcific aortic valves. We hypothesized that circulating YKL-40 would be elevated and associated with the degree of AS severity and outcome in patients with symptomatic AS.

Methods:

Plasma YKL-40 was analyzed in 2 AS populations, one severe AS (n=572) with outcome measures and one with mixed severity (n=67). YKL-40 expression in calcified valves and in an experimental pressure overload model was assessed.

Results:

We found (1) patients with AS had upregulated circulating YKL-40 compared with healthy controls (median 109 versus 34 ng/mL,
P
<0.001), but levels were not related to the degree of AS severity. (2) High YKL-40 levels (quartile 4) were associated with long-term (median follow-up 4.7 years) all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.37–2.73],
P
<0.001). (3) YKL-40 protein expression in human calcific valves co-localized with its putative receptor IL-13rα2 in close proximity to valve interstitial cells. (4) Myocardial YKL-40 increased in experimental pressure overload (6-fold in decompensated versus sham mice).

Conclusions:

YKL-40 levels were elevated in AS and associated with mortality but not with other metrics of disease severity including the degree of AS severity. Despite scientific rationale for its role in AS, the clinical utility of circulating YKL-40 as a biomarker is limited.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01794832.
Ionic Mechanisms of Impulse Propagation Failure in the FHF2-Deficient Heart
Authors: Park David S. , Shekhar Akshay , Santucci John , Redel-Traub Gabriel , Solinas Sergio , Mintz Shana , Lin Xianming , Chang Ernest Whanwook , Narke Deven , Xia Yuhe , Goldfarb Mitchell , Fishman Glenn I.
Published: September 2020

Rationale:

FHFs (fibroblast growth factor homologous factors) are key regulators of sodium channel (Na
V
) inactivation. Mutations in these critical proteins have been implicated in human diseases including Brugada syndrome, idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias, and epileptic encephalopathy. The underlying ionic mechanisms by which reduced Na
v
availability in
Fhf2
knockout (
Fhf2

KO

) mice predisposes to abnormal excitability at the tissue level are not well defined.

Objective:

Using animal models and theoretical multicellular linear strands, we examined how FHF2 orchestrates the interdependency of sodium, calcium, and gap junctional conductances to safeguard cardiac conduction.

Methods and Results:

Fhf2

KO

mice were challenged by reducing calcium conductance (gCa
V
) using verapamil or by reducing gap junctional conductance (Gj) using carbenoxolone or by backcrossing into a cardiomyocyte-specific Cx43 (connexin 43) heterozygous background. All conditions produced conduction block in
Fhf2

KO

mice, with
Fhf2
wild-type (
Fhf2

WT

) mice showing normal impulse propagation. To explore the ionic mechanisms of block in
Fhf2

KO

hearts, multicellular linear strand models incorporating FHF2-deficient Na
v
inactivation properties were constructed and faithfully recapitulated conduction abnormalities seen in mutant hearts. The mechanisms of conduction block in mutant strands with reduced gCa
V
or diminished Gj are very different. Enhanced Na
v
inactivation due to FHF2 deficiency shifts dependence onto calcium current (I
Ca
) to sustain electrotonic driving force, axial current flow, and action potential (AP) generation from cell-to-cell. In the setting of diminished Gj, slower charging time from upstream cells conspires with accelerated Na
v
inactivation in mutant strands to prevent sufficient downstream cell charging for AP propagation.

Conclusions:

FHF2-dependent effects on Na
v
inactivation ensure adequate sodium current (I
Na
) reserve to safeguard against numerous threats to reliable cardiac impulse propagation.
Formation of Calcified Nodule as a Cause of Early In‐Stent Restenosis in Patients Undergoing Dialysis
Authors: Nakamura Norihito , Torii Sho , Tsuchiya Hiroko , Nakano Akihiko , Oikawa Yuji , Yajima Junji , Nakamura Shigeru , Nakano Masataka , Masuda Naoki , Ohta Hiroshi , Yumoto Kazuhiko , Natsumeda Makoto , Ijichi Takeshi , Ikari Yuji , Nakazawa Gaku
Published: September 2020

Background

Dialysis is an independent risk factor for in‐stent restenosis (ISR) after stent implantation in coronary arteries. However, the characteristics of ISR in patients undergoing dialysis remain unclear, as there are no histological studies evaluating the causes of this condition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the causes of ISR between patients who are undergoing dialysis and those who are not by evaluating tissues obtained from ISR lesions using directional coronary atherectomy.

Methods and Results

A total of 29 ISR lesions from 29 patients included in a multicenter directional coronary atherectomy registry of 128 patients were selected for analysis and divided into a dialysis group (n=8) and a nondialysis group (n=21). Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that an in‐stent calcified nodule was a major histological characteristic of ISR lesions in the dialysis group and the prevalence of an in‐stent calcified nodule was significantly higher in the dialysis group compared with the nondialysis group (75% versus 5%, respectively;
P
<0.01). On the other hand, the prevalence of an in‐stent lipid‐rich plaque was significantly lower in the dialysis group compared with the nondialysis group (0% versus 43%, respectively;
P
=0.03). In all cases with an in‐stent calcified nodule, the underlying calcification before stent implantation was moderate to severe. When tissue characteristics were stratified according to duration post–stent implantation, an in‐stent calcified nodule in the dialysis group was mainly observed within 1 year after stent implantation.

Conclusions

In‐stent calcified nodules are a common cause of ISR in patients undergoing dialysis and are observed within 1 year after stent implantation, suggesting different causes of ISR between patients undergoing dialysis and those who are not.
Hyperoxygenation With Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Targeted Temperature Management Improves Post–Cardiac Arrest Outcomes in Rats
Authors: Li Jingru , Wang Jianjie , Shen Yiming , Dai Chenxi , Chen Bihua , Huang Yuanyuan , Xu Senlin , Wu Yi , Li Yongqin
Published: September 2020

Background

Oxygen plays a pivotal role in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and postresuscitation intervention for cardiac arrest. However, the optimal method to reoxygenate patients has not been determined. This study investigated the effect of timing of hyperoxygenation on neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest/CPR rats treated with targeted temperature management.

Methods and Results

After induction of ventricular fibrillation, male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups (n=16/group): (1) normoxic control; (2) O2_CPR, ventilated with 100% O2during CPR; (3) O2_CPR+postresuscitation, ventilated with 100% O2during CPR and the first 3 hours of postresuscitation; and (4) O2_postresuscitation, ventilated with 100% O2during the first 3 hours of postresuscitation. Targeted temperature management was induced immediately after resuscitation and maintained for 3 hours in all animals. Postresuscitation hemodynamics, neurological recovery, and pathological analysis were assessed. Brain tissues of additional rats undergoing the same experimental procedure were harvested for ELISA‐based quantification assays of oxidative stress–related biomarkers and compared with the sham‐operated rats (n=6/group). We found that postresuscitation mean arterial pressure and quantitative electroencephalogram activity were significantly increased, whereas astroglial protein S100B, degenerated neurons, oxidative stress–related biomarkers, and neurologic deficit scores were significantly reduced in the O2_CPR+postresuscitation group compared with the normoxic control group. In addition, 96‐hour survival rates were significantly improved in all of the hyperoxygenation groups.

Conclusions

In this cardiac arrest/CPR rat model, hyperoxygenation coupled with targeted temperature management attenuates ischemia/reperfusion‐induced injuries and improves survival rates. The beneficial effects of high‐concentration oxygen are timing and duration dependent. Hyperoxygenation commenced with CPR, which improves outcomes when administered during hypothermia.
Dynamics of Word Production in the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood
Authors: Atanasova Tanja , Fargier Raphaël , Zesiger Pascal , Laganaro Marina
Published: September 2020

Changes in word production occur across the lifespan. Previous studies have shown electrophysiological, temporal, and functional differences between children and adults accompanying behavioral changes in picture-naming tasks (Laganaro, Tzieropoulos, Fraunfelder, & Zesiger, 2015). Thus, a shift toward adult-like processes in referential word production occurs somewhere between the ages of 13 and 20. Our aim was to investigate when and how children develop adult-like behavior and brain activation in word production. Toward this aim, performance and event-related potentials (ERP) in a referential word production task were recorded and compared for two groups of adolescents (aged 14 to 16 and 17 to 18), children (aged 10 to 13), and young adults (aged 20 to 30). Both groups of adolescents displayed adult-like production latencies, which were longer only for children, while accuracy was lower in the younger adolescents and in children, compared to adults. ERP waveform analysis and topographic pattern analysis revealed significant intergroup differences in key time-windows on stimulus-locked ERPs, both early (150–220 ms)—associated with pre-linguistic processes—and late (280–330 ms)—associated with lexical processes. The results indicate that brain activation underlying referential word production is completely adult-like in 17-year-old adolescents, whereas an intermediate pattern is still observed in adolescents aged 14 to 16 years old, although their production speed, but not their accuracy, is already adult-like.
The Innovative Strategies for Observations in the Arctic Atmospheric Boundary Layer Project (ISOBAR): Unique Finescale Observations under Stable and Very Stable Conditions
Authors: Kral Stephan T. , Reuder Joachim , Vihma Timo , Suomi Irene , Haualand Kristine F. , Urbancic Gabin H. , Greene Brian R. , Steeneveld Gert-Jan , Lorenz Torge , Maronga Björn , Jonassen Marius O. , Ajosenpää Hada , Båserud Line , Chilson Phillip B. , Holtslag Albert A. M. , Jenkins Alastair D. , Kouznetsov Rostislav , Mayer Stephanie , Pillar-Little Elizabeth A. , Rautenberg Alexander , Schwenkel Johannes , Seidl Andrew W. , Wrenger Burkhard
Published: September 2020

The Innovative Strategies for Observations in the Arctic Atmospheric Boundary Layer Program (ISOBAR) is a research project investigating stable atmospheric boundary layer (SBL) processes, whose representation still poses significant challenges in state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. In ISOBAR ground-based flux and profile observations are combined with boundary layer remote sensing methods and the extensive usage of different unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). During February 2017 and 2018 we carried out two major field campaigns over the sea ice of the northern Baltic Sea, close to the Finnish island of Hailuoto at 65°N. In total 14 intensive observational periods (IOPs) resulted in extensive SBL datasets with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, which will form the basis for various numerical modeling experiments. First results from the campaigns indicate numerous very stable boundary layer (VSBL) cases, characterized by strong stratification, weak winds, and clear skies, and give detailed insight in the temporal evolution and vertical structure of the entire SBL. The SBL is subject to rapid changes in its vertical structure, responding to a variety of different processes. In particular, we study cases involving a shear instability associated with a low-level jet, a rapid strong cooling event observed a few meters above ground, and a strong wave-breaking event that triggers intensive near-surface turbulence. Furthermore, we use observations from one IOP to validate three different atmospheric models. The unique finescale observations resulting from the ISOBAR observational approach will aid future research activities, focusing on a better understanding of the SBL and its implementation in numerical models.
Determinants of General and Specified Resilience to Extreme Temperatures
Authors: Nunes Ana Raquel
Published: September 2020

Extreme temperatures impact human health and well-being. Yet, very little empirical evidence exists on what determines human resilience, both in general and in relation to specified extreme temperatures. This paper addresses this serious gap in knowledge by developing a quantitative measure of general resilience (i.e., the resilience of individuals to all daily life circumstances). This is complemented with qualitative elicitations of specified resilience (i.e., the resilience of individuals to a particular type of threat, stress, or event), which in this study are extreme heat and extreme cold. This research uses the “sense of coherence” (SOC) approach (i.e., Orientation to Life Questionnaire—SOC-13 scale) to develop a general resilience index (GRI) using a composite index approach and to develop assessments of heat-related resilience (HRR) and cold-related resilience (CRR) using primary data from mixed-method interviews with 52 older people living in Lisbon, Portugal. The findings show that most participants exhibited high levels of general resilience but low levels of specified resilience. In particular, resilience to cold was lower than resilience to heat. Sources of general and specified resilience were found to be dependent on cognitive, behavioral, and motivational factors in older people’s lives. The findings reveal that believing threats (e.g., extreme temperatures) are structured and ordered, perceiving that assets are available to respond to them, and feeling it is worth responding are sources of resilience. Concrete policy recommendations can be generated from this study by both central and local governments to strengthen resilience. These can take the form of programs, plans, and actions that support individuals and enable them to better deal with challenging life events such as extreme temperatures and to improve both general and specified resilience.
Agricultural Perspectives on Hailstorm Severity, Vulnerability, and Risk Messaging in Eastern Colorado
Authors: Childs Samuel J. , Schumacher Russ S. , Demuth Julie L.
Published: September 2020

Eastern Colorado is one of the most active hail regions in the United States, and individual hailstorms routinely surpass millions of dollars in crop loss and physical damage. Fifteen semistructured interviews with eastern Colorado farmers and ranchers were conducted in the summer of 2019 to gauge perceptions of the severity and vulnerability associated with hailstorms, as well as to understand how forecasts and warnings for severe hail are received and acted upon by the agricultural community. Results reveal a correspondence between perceived and observed frequency of hailstorms in eastern Colorado and highlight financial losses from crop destruction as the greatest threat from hailstorms. In contrast to the National Weather Service defining severe hail as at least 1.0 in. (25.4 mm) in diameter, the agricultural community conceptualizes hail severity according to impacts and damage. Small hail in large volumes or driven by a strong wind are the most worrisome scenarios for farmers, because small hail can most easily strip crop heads and stalks. Larger hailstones are perceived to pose less of a threat to crops but can produce significant damage to physical equipment and injure livestock. Eastern Colorado farmers and ranchers are avid weather watchers and associate environmental cues with hailstorms in addition to receiving warning messages, primarily via alerts on mobile telephones. Hailstorms elicit feelings of dejection and anxiety in some respondents, whereas others accept hailstorms as part of the job. Increasing awareness of the agricultural perceptions of hailstorms can help the meteorological community direct hail prediction research efforts and improve risk communication to the agricultural sector.
Introducing Juice and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Early Infancy: Parental Knowledge and Intended Behaviors
Authors: Musial Sandra , Abioye Ajibola , Murillo Anarina L. , Eskander Jessica , Sykes Olivia , Rodriguez Lixis , Friedman Jennifer F. , Bancroft Barbara , Golova Natalia
Published: September 2020

Objective

Assess caregivers’ knowledge about juice and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and identify factors that contribute to their early introduction.

Methods

One hundred forty-four parents of young infants completed a 45-item questionnaire focused on infant nutrition.

Results

Seventy-two percent of parents plan to give juice to their babies starting in the first year of life; only 16% plan to introduce SSBs. Parents with some college education or more were significantly less likely to report an intention to introduce juice ( P < .0001) and SSBs ( P < .001) in their children’s diets. Education level was significantly associated with knowledge about juice and SSBs ( P < .001). Parents with higher knowledge were significantly less likely to plan on introducing juice ( P < .001) and SSBs ( P < .001).

Conclusion

Parents of young infants lack enough knowledge about the detrimental effects of juice and sugary drinks. These knowledge gaps give pediatric providers a unique opportunity to provide anticipatory guidance starting in early infancy on the adverse health effects of juice and SSBs.
Racialised professionals’ experiences of selective incivility in organisations: A multi-level analysis of subtle racism
Authors: Ozturk Mustafa Bilgehan , Berber Aykut
Published: September 2020

This article explores how racialised professionals experience selective incivility in UK organisations. Analysing 22 in-depth, semi-structured interviews, we provide multi-level findings that relate to individual, organisational and societal phenomena to illuminate the workings of subtle racism. On the individual level, selective incivility appears as articulated through ascriptions of excess and deficit that marginalise racialised professionals; biased actions by white employees who operate as honest liars or strategic coverers; and white defensiveness against selective incivility claims. On the organisational level, organisational whitewashing, management denial and upstream exclusion constitute the key enablers of selective incivility. On the societal level, dynamic changes relating to increasing intolerance outside organisations indirectly yet sharply fuel selective incivility within organisations. Finally, racialised professionals experience intersectional (dis-)advantages at the imbrications of individual, organisation and society levels, shaping within-group variations in experiences of workplace selective incivility. Throughout all three levels of analysis and their interplay, differences in power and privilege inform the conditions of possibility for and the continual reproduction of selective incivility.
What small NGOs can deliver: A case study of a Canadian community-based project making fabric scrub caps for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jiang Qiuyu
Published: September 2020

This essay examines how a small-scale non-governmental organization mobilizes community members in Montreal, Canada, to respond to the city’s shortage of personal protective equipment during COVID-19 by making more than 1600 scrub caps for local healthcare workers. As the CAP-MTL project has progressed, organizers have constantly adjusted how they run the project in order to meet evolving needs through three major phases: (1) centralizing resource allocation, (2) building a self-sufficient production team and (3) pairing volunteers with healthcare workers. This case study highlights how in crisis response projects, organizers must be flexible and adapt to fluid and dynamic situations.
Mental Fatigue Reduces Training Volume in Resistance Exercise: A Cross-Over and Randomized Study
Authors: Queiros Victor Sabino de , Dantas Matheus , Fortes Leonardo de Sousa , Silva Luiz Felipe da , Silva Gilson Mendes da , Dantas Paulo Moreira Silva , Cabral Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco
Published: September 2020

The present study aimed to determine the effect of mental fatigue (MF) on total training volume (TTV; number of repetitions x number of sets x load) and on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg, 1982 ) in the half-back squat exercise (HBSE). Nine male subjects ( M age = 22.6 years, SD =  2.3; M height = 172.3 cm , SD =  6.8; M weight = 76.2 kg , SD =  9.8; M years of resistance training experience = 4.1, SD = 2.3 years) recruited from a university population were study participants in this participant-blind cross-over and randomized study. Participants underwent either the Stroop task – a highly demanding cognitive task (CT) – or a control condition (CON) in which they viewed a documentary exhibition for 30 minutes. Perception of MF and motivation were assessed after treatments using a visual analog scale of 100 mm. Participants then engaged in a countermovement jump (CMJ) test and three sets of HBSE until they reached momentary concentric failure, reporting RPE at the end of each exercise set. Following the CT, participants showed a significantly increased self-perception of MF in relation to the CON condition ( p = 0.01; d = 1.2), but this did not affect their motivation to engage in subsequent tests ( p = 0.99; d = 0.006). Neither the CMJ performances nor the RPE were statistically different between CT and CON conditions ( p = 0.33; d = 0.09 and p = 0.20 ; η2 = 0.20, respectively). TTV was significantly lower in the CT relative to the CON experimental condition (Δ = −15.8%; p = 0.04; η2 = 0.48). Prolonged involvement in a CT was associated with reduced volume on a resistance exercise, though this effect was not associated with changes in CMJ performance or motivation to exercise.
A Demonstration of Machine Learning in Detecting Frequency Following Responses in American Neonates
Authors: Hart Breanna N. , Jeng Fuh-Cherng
Published: September 2020

In this study, we sought to evaluate the efficiencies of multiple machine learning algorithms in detecting neonates’ Frequency Following Responses (FFRs). We recorded continuous brainwaves from 43 American neonates in response to a pre-recorded monosyllable/i/with a rising frequency contour. Recordings were classified into response and no response categories. Six response features were extracted from each recording and served as predictors in FFR identification. Twenty-three supervised machine learning algorithms with mean efficiency values of 86.0%, 94.4%, 97.2%, and 97.5% when 1, 10, 100, and 1000 random iterations were implemented, respectively. These high efficiency values obtained from the neonatal FFRs demonstrate that machine learning algorithms can help assess pitch processing in neonates and can be applied to auditory screening and intervention services for neonates at risk for disorders associated with decreased pitch processing.
Development of an early warning system for loose automobile tires
Authors: Wu Huibo , Song Fei , Wu Kainan , Chen Cheng , Wang Xiaohua
Published: September 2020

The looseness of tires or even falling off from cars will lead to serious traffic accidents. Once it occurs, it will bring casualties and huge economic losses to society, seriously affecting the traffic safety. To mitigate such possible safety concerns, an early loosening warning system is developed in this article. The system consists of the tire monitoring module and the working control module. The tire monitoring module is installed on the tire and is designed with no power supply. The control module is installed in the vehicle body. Signal transmission between the two modules is achieved through wireless radio frequency. In the driving, once the tire is loosened, the monitoring device will send out the alarm signal automatically and wirelessly. After the driver gets the alarm signal, he can immediately perform the emergency processing, parking, and inspection, which can avoid traffic accidents caused by it. This article introduces the detailed structure, working principle, and operation process of the system. This early warning system has simple structure, high reliability, and is easy to use. It can be used in the common working environment of automobiles. Meanwhile, it is also the foundation of intelligent connected vehicle.
802.11 wireless simulation and anomaly detection using HMM and UBM
Authors: Allahdadi Anisa , Morla Ricardo , Cardoso Jaime S
Published: September 2020

Despite the growing popularity of 802.11 wireless networks, users often suffer from connectivity problems and performance issues due to unstable radio conditions and dynamic user behavior, among other reasons. Anomaly detection and distinction are in the thick of major challenges that network managers encounter. The difficulty of monitoring broad and complex Wireless Local Area Networks, that often requires heavy instrumentation of the user devices, makes anomaly detection analysis even harder. In this paper we exploit 802.11 access point usage data and propose an anomaly detection technique based on Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Universal Background Model (UBM) on data that is inexpensive to obtain. We then generate a number of network anomalous scenarios in OMNeT++/INET network simulator and compare the detection outcomes with those in baseline approaches—RawData and Principal Component Analysis. The experimental results show the superiority of HMM and HMM-UBM models in detection precision and sensitivity.
Effects of alkali solution on the durability of sewing thread made of modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene
Authors: Huang Wanzhen , Zhang Bin , Alassod Abeer , Xu Guangbiao
Published: September 2020

The alkali resistance of sewing thread made of modified polyphenylene sulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene (MPPS/PTFE) has a crucial influence when used in the field of filtering high-temperature dusty gas. Therefore, the effects of alkali (NaOH) solution on the properties of MPPS/PTFE sewing thread at different temperatures, different concentrations and different times were studied. The results showed that white particulate matter and bump materials appeared on the surface of MPPS fibers in the MPPS/PTFE sewing thread. The maximum strength loss of MPPS/PTFE sewing thread was around 12.9% and the maximum deviation of elongation at break was about 4.5% after treatment with NaOH solution at a temperature of 25℃ and a concentration of 2 mol/L for 120 h. By analysis, it could be concluded that the structure of the benzene ring skeleton of the macromolecular chain in the MPPS/PTFE sewing thread did not change after treatment with NaOH solution, but the C-S bonds attached to the benzene ring in the MPPS/PTFE sewing thread had rotated, or even broken, which could be confirmed by the curves of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal stability of MPPS/PTFE sewing thread was decreased after treatment with NaOH solution, which was caused by surface damage of MPPS fibers in the MPPS/PTFE sewing thread.
Helping Those Who Need It the Least: A Counterfactual and Comparative Analysis of Whether Informal Mentoring Promotes Economic Upward Mobility for Low- and Middle-Income Youth
Authors: Gowdy Grace , Miller Daniel P. , Spencer Renée
Published: September 2020

Although there have been calls to expand mentoring as way to redress the growing problem of economic immobility in the United States, no study to date has directly examined whether mentoring and economic mobility are related. Using multiple waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and employing a propensity score matching approach, this quasi-experimental study compares youth who report having had an informal adult mentor in adolescence with those who did not from both low-income ( N = 795) and middle-income ( N = 3,158) samples to test whether having an informal mentor in adolescence is associated with economic mobility in early adulthood. We find that middle-income youth who report having had an informal mentor in adolescence are more likely to be upwardly mobile than those who did not but the same did not hold true for the low-income youth. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Exclusionary School Discipline Policies and Mental Health in a National Sample of Adolescents without Histories of Suspension or Expulsion
Authors: Eyllon Mara , Salhi Carmel , Griffith John L. , Lincoln Alisa K.
Published: September 2020

We apply the theory of collateral consequences and a social stress process framework to school discipline to examine whether exclusionary school discipline policies are associated with the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents who have never been suspended or expelled and whether this association varies across race/ethnicity. Data are from 8,878 adolescents in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Hierarchical linear models examined associations between discipline policies and adolescent depressive symptoms and school-connectedness, and modification by race/ethnicity. Schools had high levels of exclusionary discipline for both violent and non-violent infractions. More exclusionary policies were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms ( b = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.15, 1.91, p < .05). Sense of school-connectedness was not associated with disciplinary policies. Neither association was modified by race/ethnicity.
Understanding and Addressing the Treatment Gap in Mental Healthcare: Economic Perspectives and Evidence From China
Authors: Qin Xuezheng , Hsieh Chee-Ruey
Published: September 2020

A common challenge faced by the healthcare systems in many low- and middle-income countries is the substantial unmet mental healthcare needs, or the large gap between the need for and the provision of mental healthcare treatment. This paper investigates the potential causes of this treatment gap from the perspective of economics. Specifically, we hypothesize that people with mental illness face 4 major hurdles in obtaining appropriate healthcare, namely the high nonmonetary cost due to stigma, the high out-of-pocket payment due to insufficient public funds devoted to mental health, the high time costs due to low mental healthcare resource availability, and the low treatment benefit due to slow technology diffusion. We use China as a study setting to show country-specific evidence. Our analysis supports the above theoretical argument on the 4 barriers to access, which in turn sheds light on the effective approaches to mitigate the treatment gap. Four policy options are then discussed, including an information campaign for mental health awareness, increasing public investment in primary mental healthcare resources, transforming the healthcare system towards an integrated people-centered system and capitalizing on e-health technologies.
Integration of aspiring artists: Japanese music students in Germany
Authors: Fujii Takuma
Published: September 2020

The article examines how students from Japan who attend German music colleges become integrated into Germany’s art worlds while also maintaining connections to transnational art worlds. Although Japan is one of the major countries that sends young music talents to Germany, only a few studies have examined this migration. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with Japanese music students in Germany that were conducted as part of the Asian Educational Mobilities Project, the article shows that the reasons for such migration, as well as its effects on music practices, and that future perspectives need a theoretical reorientation toward a transnational perspective. The results indicate that the art practices of aspiring Japanese students depend not only on institutional conditions in Germany but also on students´ transnational networks.
A Return to State-Led Integrated Regional Planning? Emerging Approaches from Three U.S. States
Authors: Green Timothy , Finn Donovan
Published: September 2020

After decades of neglect, several U.S. states have increased support for regional development planning, creating new programs, organizations, and funding streams to support it. Analysis of programs in three states (New York, Michigan, and Indiana) shows similarities among them as well as contrasts with prior episodes of state-led regional planning. The new programs deliberately sidestep older regional planning organizations like COGs and RPCs in favor of new organizations with larger roles for the private sector and greater access to public funds. The resulting plans focus on individual projects within a pro-development agenda, but still have potential to coordinate action at a regional scale.
English as lingua franca. Or the sterilisation of scientific work
Authors: Suzina Ana Cristina
Published: September 2020

This essay discusses the impact of defining English as the lingua franca in academia, taking it as an additional barrier to achieving more equitable participation and a diversity of perspectives in scientific publications in the field of communication studies. Two aspects are particularly problematised. The first is the characterisation of a so-called research that travels, contrasting the ideal model of a strategic definition on what materials should be published on which platform with a scoring and evaluation system that prevents or limits intelligence in these choices. The second aspect is the definition of an acceptable level of eloquence for international circulation, in which the domestication of language leads to an epistemological domination. The debate is illustrated with a series of data regarding the (in)visibility of Latin American scientific production in international academic publications. Such barriers are, finally, presented as mechanisms of power that feed the so-called status of #CommunicationSoWhiteAndRich. The reflection suggests that the search for scientific rigour should not be confused with the rigidity of forms, valuing the construction of solidarity networks that contribute to the decolonisation of scientific thought.
Parenting styles revisited: A longitudinal person-oriented assessment of perceived parent behavior
Authors: Kaniušonytė Goda , Laursen Brett
Published: September 2020

The pernicious consequences of parent psychological control are well-established. Parenting style classification schemes, however, typically exclude this behavioral practice, focusing instead on demandingness and responsiveness. The present study applies a person-oriented approach to the classification of parenting styles, taking into account psychological control. Lithuanian adolescents (239 girls, 215 boys; M age = 15.14 at the outset) completed questionnaires at annual intervals across high school, describing parent behavioral control, support, and psychological control. Longitudinal multidimensional latent class growth analysis (LCGA) yielded four parenting style categories. Two conventional groups emerged: authoritative (highest behavioral control and support, lowest psychological control) and indulgent (high support, low behavioral control, lowest psychological control). Two additional groups emerged in lieu of an authoritarian category: enmeshed (high behavioral control and psychological control, intermediate support) and affectively controlling (highest psychological control, lowest behavioral control and support). Children of authoritative parents reported favorable adjustment on a host of indicators, including behavior problems, school engagement, character, self-esteem and interpersonal caring and connection; children of affectively controlling parents reported the poorest adjustment on all variables measured.