bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eight items of the ruminative response scale are sufficient to measure weekly within-person variation in rumination
Authors: Brose Annette , Raedt Rudi De , Vanderhasselt Marie-Anne
Published: July 2020

The Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) is commonly used to measure people’s general tendency to ruminate. In this study, we explored whether only few items from the RRS can be used to capture within-person variation in rumination in intensive longitudinal studies. Such a short RRS version would allow, for example, monitoring the development of rumination during clinical interventions. We measured rumination on five occasions, with at least one week in between. We used multilevel analyses to analyze the data at the within- and between-person level. Using only eight RRS items, we successfully modeled a reflective self-regulation and depressive brooding factor, similar to the two subfacets of rumination as distinguished by Treynor et al. (2003). We also established convergent validity of depressive brooding at the within- and between-person level of analysis and convergent validity of reflection at the between-person level. We thus introduced a short form of the RRS that captures within-person variation in depressive brooding and reflection well. The short RRS is readily applicable in studies on within-person variation or change in rumination.
Development and Validation of a Learning Quality Inventory for In-Company Training in VET (VET-LQI)
Authors: Böhn Svenja , Deutscher Viola Katharina
Published: July 2020

Despite the importance of dual VET for economic growth and stability, internationally, systems struggle with quality assurance and quality improvement. In recent years, numerous research efforts have been made to identify and describe quality aspects in dual VET, especially with regard to in-company training conditions as perceived by apprentices. This has resulted in an outsized number of test instruments, comprising numerous scales and numerous items. The research presented here aims to assemble and organize all existing survey instruments in the VET context and to develop a comprehensive and validated questionnaire for dual VET that measures workplace characteristics (VET-LQI). For this purpose, 43 test instruments were identified and categorized using a qualitative meta-synthesis, and integrated into a general theoretical framework (Tynjälä 2013). The results of the meta-synthesis reveal diverse content areas as the current foci of VET quality research. The applicability of any existing survey is limited, as the majority of studies either focus on a small range of selected categories and/or do not report the validation results of their scales. Hence, a synthesized item pool was used. Short scales were extracted and tested in seven commercial training occupations in Germany, which covered all identified content areas of VET quality research. On the basis of item and factor analyses, 22 scales (containing 99 items) are identified that, taken together, satisfactorily reflect all common workplace characteristic scales in existent measurement instruments. The resulting instrument provides a broad collection of short scales reflecting the various foci of a longstanding and diverse research tradition, and will allow future researchers to analyze in-company training conditions more comprehensively, given limited opportunities and time resources for testing.
Machine Learning for 3D Particle Tracking in Granular Gases
Authors: Puzyrev Dmitry , Harth Kirsten , Trittel Torsten , Stannarius Ralf
Published: July 2020

Dilute ensembles of granular matter (so-called granular gases) are nonlinear systems which exhibit fascinating dynamical behavior far from equilibrium, including non-Gaussian distributions of velocities and rotational velocities, clustering, and violation of energy equipartition. In order to understand their dynamic properties, microgravity experiments were performed in suborbital flights and drop tower experiments. Up to now, the experimental images were evaluated mostly manually. Here, we introduce an approach for automatic 3D tracking of positions and orientations of rod-like particles in a dilute ensemble, based on two-view video data analysis. A two-dimensional (2D) localization of particles is performed using a Mask R-CNN neural network trained on a custom data set. The problem of 3D matching of the particles is solved by minimization of the total reprojection error, and finally, particle trajectories are tracked so that ensemble statistics are extracted. Depending on the required accuracy, the software can work fully self-sustainingly or serve as a base for subsequent manual corrections. The approach can be extended to other 3D and 2D particle tracking problems.
Hierarchical assemblies of molecular frameworks—MOF-on-MOF epitaxial heterostructures
Authors: Haldar Ritesh , Wöll Christof
Published: July 2020

Functional, porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention as a very flexible class of crystalline, porous materials. For more advanced applications that exploit photophysical properties, the fabrication of hierarchical assemblies, including the creation of MOF/MOF heterointerfaces, is important. For the manufacturing of superstructures with length scales well beyond that of the MOF pore size, layer-by-layer (lbl) methods are particularly attractive. These allow the isoreticular approach to be extended to superstructures with micrometer length scales, a range that is not accessible using conventional MOF design. The lbl approach further substantially extends the compositional diversity in MOFs. At the same time, the favorable elastic properties of MOFs allow for heteroepitaxial growth, even in the case of lattice misfits as large as 20%. While the MOF-on-MOF approach to designing multicomponent superstructures with synergistic multifunctionality can also be realized with sophisticated solvothermal synthesis schemes, the lbl (or liquid-phase epitaxy) approach carries substantial advantages, in particular when it comes to the integration of such MOF superstructures into optical or electronic devices. While the structure vertical to the substrate can be adjusted using the lbl method, photolithographic methods can be used for lateral structuring. In this review, we will discuss the lbl liquid-phase epitaxy approach to growing surface-anchored MOF thins films (SURMOFs) as well as other relevant one-pot synthesis methods for constructing such hierarchically designed structures and their emerging applications.
House of the dead-exceptional burials of the Avar period (seventh century AD) in Podersdorf am See (Burgenland/A)
Authors: Tobias Bendeguz , Waldner Thomas Koch , Strobl Christina , Niederstätter Harald , Musalek Christina , Saliari Konstantina , Töchterle Ulrike , Parson Walther
Published: July 2020

A unique archaeological finding of five individuals buried in an early medieval pit house was discovered in Podersdorf am See (Austria). Three of those individuals were buried in narrow grave pits that had been deepened into the house floor; two of them were lying on the pit floor in a crouched position. Pit houses with six-post construction are known since Roman times and were particularly widespread during the Migration Period. On the basis of radiocarbon analyses of charcoal from the hearth, the use phase of the pit house of Podersdorf am See can be dated to the sixth century AD. The burials took place around the same time in the second half of the seventh century AD, when the house lost its original function. Around that time, regular burials took place in the cemetery in the immediate vicinity of the house. The anthropological examination of the five skeletons showed no significant differences in comparison to the ones that were buried in the cemetery. By means of aDNA analyses, it could be established that at least two of the individuals were closely related to each other.
Understanding and using AlloSure donor derived cell-free DNA
Authors: Seeto R. K. , Fleming J. N. , Dholakia S. , Dale B. L.
Published: July 2020

Renal transplant is a lifesaving and cost-effective intervention for patients with End Stage Renal Failure. Yet it is often regarded as replacement therapy rather than a cure given the overall failure rate over time. With a shortage of organs, this global issue has been further compounded by increased incidences of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, such that the disease burden and need for transplantation continues to increase. Considering the lifetime of immunosupression in transplant patients, there will also be significant associated co-morbidities By leveraging the advances in innovation in Next Generation Sequencing, the field of transplant can now monitor patients with an optimized surveillance schedule, and change the care paradigm in the post-transplant landscape. Notably, low grade inflammation is an independent risk for mortality across different disease states. In transplantation, sub-clinical inflammation enhances acute and chronic rejection, as well as accelerates pathologies that leads to graft loss. Cell free DNA has been shown to be increased in inflammatory processes as we all as provide an independent predictor of all-cause mortality. This review considers the utility of AlloSure, a donor derived cell free DNA molecular surveillance tool, which has shown new clinical insights on how best to manage renal transplant patients, and how to improve patient outcomes.
Direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing in China and its role in GWAS discovery and replication
Authors: Kang Kang , Sun Xue , Wang Lizhong , Yao Xiaotian , Tang Senwei , Deng Junjie , Wu Xiaoli , Research Team WeGene , Yang Can , Chen Gang
Published: July 2020

Background

The direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing (DTC‐GT) industry has exploded in recent years, initiated by market pioneers from the United States and quickly followed by companies from Europe and Asia. In addition to their primary objective of providing ancestry and health information to customers, DTC‐GT services have emerged as a valuable data resource for large‐scale population and genetics studies.

Methods

We assessed DTC‐GT market leaders in the U.S. and China, user participation in research, and academic reports based on this information. We also investigated DTC‐GT end‐user value by tracing key updates of companies provided via health risk reports and evaluating their predictive power. We then assessed the replicability of several genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) based on a Chinese DTC‐GT biobank.

Results

As recent entrants to the market, Chinese DTC‐GT service providers have published less academic research than their Western counterparts; however, a larger proportion of Chinese users consent to participate in research projects. Dramatic increases in user volume and resultant report updates led to reclassification of some users’ polygenic risk levels, but within a reasonable scale and with increased predictive power. Replicability among GWAS using the Chinese DTC‐GT biobank varied by studied trait, population background, and sample size.

Conclusions

We speculate that the rapid growth in DTC‐GT services, particularly in non‐Caucasian populations, will yield an important and much‐needed resource for biobanking, large‐scale genetic studies, clinical trials, and post‐clinical applications.
Investigation on the wear of spur gears generated by modified cutter
Authors: Zheng Fangyan , Zhang Jun , Yao Ligang , Tan Rulong
Published: July 2020

Tooth surface wear damage is one of the main causes of gearing system failure. Excessive wear leads to tooth profile loss and an increase in transmission errors, as the worn gear surfaces are no longer conjugate. Thus, the enhancement of gear durability against wear is important for gear application. Recent works show that cutter modification can aid in reducing the tool wear in gear processing, while the wear performance of the gears produced by modified cutters is still unknown. Therefore, this study focuses on the wear performance of the gear generated by modified cutter. Numerical results show that the wear resistance can be enhanced through proper cutter modification.
Surface Water Pollution by Untreated Municipal Wastewater Discharge Due to a Sewer Failure
Authors: Preisner Michał
Published: July 2020

The study is an attempt to assess the pollution impact on the aquatic ecosystem related with an emergency discharge of untreated municipal wastewater from the “Czajka” wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Warsaw. The present case study is based on the analysis of available monitoring data for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4), and total phosphorus (TP) in the effluent mixing zone (MZ), the stretch of the river and before the discharge point. Data analysis was supported by a basic statistical analysis based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results proved the importance of efficient and reliable nutrient removal technologies used in modern WWTPs. A statistically significant correlation was achieved between the COD (r = 0.567) and TP (r = 0.714) discharged loads and their concentration in the MZ. However, no significant correlation has been identified with TN and N-NH4. Furthermore, the dissolved oxygen (DO) deficits in the MZ were observed within 7 days of the discharge period resulting in an average DO concentration decrease from 8.4 to 7.1 mgO2/L. The river stretch has not been affected by DO deficits while the average observed DO concentration 30 km behind the discharge point was 9.1 mgO2/L. The analysis results present the pollutants assimilation capacity of a river ecosystem and its real reaction to sudden excessive nutrient loads discharge.
Solvent-Free Synthesis of Ultrafine Tungsten Carbide Nanoparticles-Decorated Carbon Nanosheets for Microwave Absorption
Authors: Lian Yunlong , Han Binhua , Liu Dawei , Wang Yahui , Zhao Honghong , Xu Ping , Han Xijiang , Du Yunchen
Published: July 2020

Carbides/carbon composites are emerging as a new kind of binary dielectric systems with good microwave absorption performance. Herein, we obtain a series of tungsten carbide/carbon composites through a simple solvent-free strategy, where the solid mixture of dicyandiamide (DCA) and ammonium metatungstate (AM) is employed as the precursor. Ultrafine cubic WC1−x nanoparticles (3–4 nm) are in situ generated and uniformly dispersed on carbon nanosheets. This configuration overcomes some disadvantages of conventional carbides/carbon composites and is greatly helpful for electromagnetic dissipation. It is found that the weight ratio of DCA to AM can regulate chemical composition of these composites, while less impact on the average size of WC1−x nanoparticles. With the increase in carbon nanosheets, the relative complex permittivity and dielectric loss ability are constantly enhanced through conductive loss and polarization relaxation. The different dielectric properties endow these composites with distinguishable attenuation ability and impedance matching. When DCA/AM weight ratio is 6.0, the optimized composite can produce good microwave absorption performance, whose strongest reflection loss intensity reaches up to − 55.6 dB at 17.5 GHz and qualified absorption bandwidth covers 3.6–18.0 GHz by manipulating the thickness from 1.0 to 5.0 mm. Such a performance is superior to many conventional carbides/carbon composites.
Standardisation efforts of ISO/TC 261 “Additive Manufacturing”: Reports from 14th and 15th Plenary Meeting
Authors: Pei Eujin
Published: July 2020

The main objective of ISO/TC 261 is to standardise the processes of Additive Manufacturing, the process chains (Data, Materials, Processes, Hard- and Software, Applications), test procedures, quality parameters, supply agreements, environment, health and safety, fundamentals and vocabularies. The technical contents for those standards are developed in different Working Groups of ISO/TC 261. This section provides readers with news regarding standardisation efforts of ISO/TC 261.
A Study of the Truncated Square Pyramid Geometry for Enhancement of Super-hydrophobicity
Authors: Gong Wei , Wang Yangang , Chen Yiyi , Li Xiang , Li Kongjing , Wang Zhongxu , Yan Yuying
Published: July 2020

Super-hydrophobic surfaces are quite common in nature, inspiring people to continually explore its water-repellence property and applications to our lives. It has been generally agreed that the property of super-hydrophobicity is mainly contributed by the microscale or nanoscale (or even smaller) architecture on the surface. Besides, there is an energy barrier between the Cassie-Baxter wetting state and the Wenzel wetting state. An optimized square post micro structure with truncated square pyramid geometry is introduced in this work to increase the energy barrier, enhancing the robustness of super-hydrophobicity. Theoretical analysis is conducted based on the wetting transition energy curves. Numerical simulation based on a phase-field lattice Boltzmann method is carried out to verify the theoretical analysis. The numerical simulation agrees well with the theoretical analysis, showing the positive significance of the proposed micro structure. Furthermore, another novel micro structure of rough surface is presented, which combines the advantages of truncated pyramid geometry and noncommunicating roughness elements. Theoretical analysis shows that the novel micro structure of rough surface can effectively hinder the Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state transition, furtherly enhancing the robustness of the surface hydrophobicity.
Principles of Disinfectant Use and Safety Operation in Medical Facilities During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
Authors: Takagi Gen , Yagishita Kazuyoshi
Published: July 2020

Medical collapse became a major concern under coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak; prevention of medical accidents is essential during disinfection either. The objective of this review is to enhance the awareness regarding the safety aspects towards infection prevention practices and to offer solutions for safe patient care practices including side effects of disinfectants and precaution in specific medical facilities especially in hemodialysis rooms, intensive care unit, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) chambers, or patient transport vehicle. Literature was researched that was obtained from studies of human coronavirus infections, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and created a summary of the characteristics of these disinfectants. This review is not intended to replace infection prevention policies and procedures established by hospitals, and manufacturers, but to provide some update confidence in the safety measures that each medical facility already uses and to offer additional input that should optimally reduce the risk of infection.
A Modified Normalized Weighting Factor method for improving the efficiency of the blended high-resolution advection schemes in the context of multiphase flows
Authors: Mariño-Salguero Jessica , Schäfer Michael
Published: July 2020

This work deals with a new methodology for the implementation of high-resolution (HR) schemes employed to advect the volume fraction in the volume of fluid (VOF) method, in which the numerical stability and convergence depend heavily on the numerical advection scheme and implementation method. The proposed method is based on the normalized weighting factor (NWF) method, which linearizes the normalized interpolation profile and rewrites the face value directly using the donor, acceptor, and upwind nodes. However, unlike the NWF, which is fully implicit and results in pentadiagonal linear systems, the new modified normalized weighting factor (MNWF) method only forms the implicit terms with the contribution of the donor and acceptor nodes, while the contribution of the upwind node explicitly forms part of the source term. Therefore, the method results in a tridiagonal linear system. The comparison of the new method with the deferred correction (DC), downwind weighting factor (DWF), and the RNWF methods shows that the MNWF requires about 5%–25% fewer iterations than DC and RNWF, and around 10%–85% less than DWF. Thus, a similar order of accuracy of the results can be o btained with less computational time.
On the numerical ranges of matrices in max algebra
Authors: Thaghizadeh D. , Zahraei M. , Peperko A. , Aboutalebi N. Haj
Published: July 2020

Let $$M_{n}({\mathbb {R}}_{+})$$

M
n

(

R
+

)

be the set of all $$n \times n$$

n
×
n

nonnegative matrices. Recently, in Tavakolipour and Shakeri (Linear Multilinear Algebra 67, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1080/03081087.2018.1478946), the concept of the numerical range in tropical algebra was introduced and an explicit formula describing it was obtained. We study the isomorphic notion of the numerical range of nonnegative matrices in max algebra and give a short proof of the known formula. Moreover, we study several generalizations of the numerical range in max algebra. Let $$1 \le k \le n$$

1
≤
k
≤
n

be a positive integer and $$C \in M_{ n}({\mathbb {R}}_{+}).$$

C
∈

M
n

(

R
+

)

.

We introduce the notions of max $$k-$$

k
-

numerical range and max $$C-$$

C
-

numerical range. Some algebraic and geometric properties of them are investigated. Also, max numerical range $$W_\text {max}(\varSigma )$$

W
max

(
Σ
)

of a bounded set $$\varSigma$$
Σ
of $$n \times n$$

n
×
n

nonnegative matrices is introduced and some of its properties are also investigated.
Muscle and cardiac therapeutic strategies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: past, present, and future
Authors: Łoboda Agnieszka , Dulak Józef
Published: July 2020

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked neuromuscular childhood disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration and results in functional decline, loss of ambulation and early death of young men due to cardiac or respiratory failure. Although the major cause of the disease has been known for many years—namely mutation in the DMD gene encoding dystrophin, one of the largest human genes—DMD is still incurable, and its treatment is challenging.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review of literature on the gene, cell, and pharmacological experimental therapies aimed at restoring functional dystrophin or to counteract the associated processes contributing to disease progression like inflammation, fibrosis, calcium signaling or angiogenesis was carried out.

Results

Although some therapies lead to satisfying effects in skeletal muscle, they are highly ineffective in the heart; therefore, targeting defective cardiac and respiratory systems is vital in DMD patients. Unfortunately, most of the pharmacological compounds treat only the symptoms of the disease. Some drugs addressing the underlying cause, like eteplirsen, golodirsen, and ataluren, have recently been conditionally approved; however, they can correct only specific mutations in the DMD gene and are therefore suitable for small sub-populations of affected individuals.

Conclusion

In this review, we summarize the possible therapeutic options and describe the current status of various, still imperfect, strategies used for attenuating the disease progression.
Evaluation of the Content Validity and Cross-Cultural Validity of the Study Participant Feedback Questionnaire (SPFQ)
Authors: Greene Alison , Elmer Mary , Ludlam Sean , Shay Kathyjo , Bentley Sarah , Trennery Claire , Grimes Rebecca , Gater Adam
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The Study Participant Feedback Questionnaire (SPFQ) is a patient-completed tool designed to assess patient experiences and satisfaction with aspects associated with being involved in a clinical trial. Originally developed in oncology and among English-speaking participants, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the content and cross-cultural validity of the SPFQ in other indications and non-English-speaking countries.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with 80 participants across eight non-English-speaking countries (in Europe, South America and Asia) who had received an investigational medicinal product as part of a clinical trial in the past three years. Interviews comprised concept elicitation to identify concepts of importance to participants’ trial experiences, and cognitive debriefing to assess understanding and perceived importance of SPFQ instructions, items and response options.

Results

Concept elicitation findings supported the content validity of the SPFQ. During cognitive debriefing, SPFQ instructions and the majority of items were well understood by participants. Participants generally considered the SPFQ items important to their clinical trial experience, albeit a handful of items assessed concepts that had not been experienced by trial participants or were redundant with other SPFQ items. The instructions, response options and recall period of the SPFQ were generally well understood. No country-level differences in understanding or importance were apparent.

Conclusion

Study findings provide evidence for the content and cross-cultural validity of the SPFQ and support implementation of the SPFQ as a means of obtaining participant feedback across global development programmes in a variety of indications.
High‐fat diet‐induced adipose tissue expansion occurs prior to insulin resistance in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: He Ming‐Qian , Wang Jing‐Ya , Wang Yue , Sui Jing , Zhang Meng , Ding Xi , Zhao Yang , Chen Zi‐Yi , Ren Xiao‐Xiao , Shi Bing‐Yin
Published: July 2020

Background

To date, there is only scare evidence characterizing the temporal features and progression of metabolic dysfunction in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed obese mice. Hence, its specific pathogenesis remains unclear.

Methods

Sixty 6‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into HFD and control diet (CD) groups and sacrificed at 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 weeks, respectively. At weekly intervals, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance testing (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance testing (IPITT) were performed in both groups. A detailed time course in HFD‐fed mice was investigated by evaluating the initiation of glucose homeostasis impairment, dyslipidemia, systemic insulin sensitivity, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) levels, epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) expansion, macrophage content changes, pro‐inflammatory (M1)/anti‐inflammatory (M2) macrophage imbalance, lipid accumulation in the liver, and β‐cell morphometry in the pancreas.

Results

In the HFD group, progressive weight gain and impairments in glucose metabolism (elevated fasting blood glucose and area under the curve (AUC) of IPGTT) were observed from the 3rd week, and a significantly elevated AUC of IPITT was first detected after week 7 of HFD feeding. As for dyslipidemia, after 9 weeks of feeding, the low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level and total cholesterol level in HFD group were significantly higher than those in the CD group (all P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were shown in triglyceride level. Adipocyte size increased significantly in the HFD group in the 1st week, a phenotypic switch in eWAT from anti‐inflammatory (M2) to pro‐inflammatory (M1) macrophages was observed in the 5th week, and the metabolic inflammation was distinct in eWAT in the 9th week. Additionally, liver steatosis was considerably obvious at the 17th week and pancreatic β‐cell morphometry did not change during 21 weeks of HFD feeding.

Conclusion

The eWAT expansion was detected early in HFD‐induced obese mice, which occurred prior to obvious insulin resistance.
Critical Affective Civic Literacy: A Framework for Attending to Political Emotion in the Social Studies Classroom
Authors: Keegan Patrick
Published: July 2020

Heightened political polarization challenges civic educators seeking to prepare youth as citizens who can navigate affective boundaries. Current approaches to civic education do not yet account for the emotional basis of citizenship. This paper presents an argument for critical affective literacy in civic education classrooms. Drawing from concepts and theories in critical emotion studies, affective citizenship, and agonistic political theory, critical affective civic literacy challenges the rationalistic bent of civic education, and offers instructional strategies for educating the political emotions of students. The voices of late-arrival migrant youth enacting affective citizenship are featured in order to help illuminate the contributions of critical affective literacy to social studies research and practice.
Patterns and Trajectories of Anal Intercourse Practice Over the Life Course Among US Women at Risk of HIV
Authors: Owen Branwen Nia , Baggaley Rebecca F. , Maheu-Giroux Mathieu , Elmes Jocelyn , Adimora Adaora A. , Ramirez Catalina , Edmonds Andrew , Sosanya Kemi , Taylor Tonya , Plankey Michael , Cederbaum Julie , Seidman Dominika , Weber Kathleen M. , Golub Elizabeth T. , Sheth Anandi N. , Bolivar Hector , Konkle-Parker Deborah , Boily Marie-Claude
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Condomless anal intercourse (AI) confers a far greater likelihood of HIV transmission than condomless vaginal intercourse (VI). However, little is known about AI practice over the life course of women, to what extent AI practice is condom-protected, and whether it is associated with other HIV risk behaviors. We aim to describe longitudinal AI practice among HIV-seronegative women and to identify subgroups with distinct trajectories of AI practice.

Methods

Using data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study, an observational cohort of US women with or at risk for HIV, we described AI practice among HIV-seronegative participants. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct AI trajectories. We used multinomial regression to examine associations between baseline characteristics and trajectory group membership.

Results

A third of the 1,085 women in our sample reported any AI over follow-up (median follow-up = 14 years). AI decreased more sharply with age compared to VI. Consistent condom use during AI was low: twice the proportion of women never reported using condoms consistently during AI compared to during VI. 5 trajectory groups were identified: AI & VI persistors (N = 75) practiced AI and VI consistently over follow-up (AI & VI desistors (N = 169) tended to practice AI and VI when young only, while VI persistors (N = 549), VI desistors (N = 167), and AI & VI inactives (N = 125) reported varying levels of VI practice, but little AI. AI & VI persistors reported multiple male partners and exchange sex at more visits than other groups. Women who identified as bisexual/lesbian (vs heterosexual), who had ever experienced physical and sexual violence (vs never), and/or who reported above the median number of lifetime male sex partners (vs median or below) had approximately twice the odds of being AI & VI persistors than being VI persistors.

Conclusions

We identified a small subgroup of women who practice AI and report inconsistent condom use along with other risk behaviors throughout the life course; they may therefore particularly benefit from ongoing access to HIV prevention services including pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Young, Heterosexual Couples: The Role of Sexual Frequency and Sexual Communication
Authors: Roels Rick , Janssen Erick
Published: July 2020

Background

Although their individual contributions to sexual and relational outcomes are well-established, there has been a lack of research on the importance of sexual frequency and sexual communication to sexual and relationship satisfaction.

Aim

To examine the contribution of sexual frequency and sexual communication to sexual and relationship satisfaction in the early stages of couple relationships.

Methods

A sample of 126 young, heterosexual couples (mean age = 23.3 years, SD = 2.4; average relationship duration = 1.9 years, SD = 0.9) filled out questionnaires about sexual frequency, sexual communication, and sexual and relationship satisfaction. Analyses were guided by the actor-partner interdependence model.

Outcomes

Main outcome variables were sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction, measured by the Quality of Sex Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index, respectively.

Results

Analyses revealed a significant actor effect of both sexual communication and sexual frequency for sexual satisfaction. Only sexual communication, not sexual frequency, predicted relationship satisfaction. No significant partner or gender effects were found.

Clinical Translation

These findings lend support to the notion that couples could benefit from focusing on non-behavioral processes (eg, sexual communication), rather than sexual behavior per se, when pursuing a fulfilling partnership.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths of the study include the dyadic nature of the data and analyses, allowing for the evaluation of both individual- and couple-level processes. Also, to our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically examine the importance of sexual frequency and sexual communication to both sexual and relationship satisfaction. Limitations include the reliance on self-report measures and a relatively homogeneous sample.

Conclusion

Although both sexual frequency and sexual communication were relevant to the prediction of sexual satisfaction, only sexual communication predicted relationship satisfaction in this sample of young, heterosexual couples.
Endovascular Therapy or Alteplase in Patients with Comorbidities: Insights from UNMASK EVT
Authors: Ganesh Aravind , Kashani Nima , Ospel Johanna M. , Wilson Alexis T. , Foss Mona M. , Saposnik Gustavo , Al-Mekhlafi Mohammed A. , Goyal Mayank , Menon Bijoy K. , Hill Michael D.
Published: July 2020

Objective:

Decisions to treat large-vessel occlusion with endovascular therapy (EVT) or intravenous alteplase depend on how physicians weigh benefits against risks when considering patients’ comorbidities. We explored EVT/alteplase decision-making by stroke experts in the setting of comorbidity/disability.

Methods:

In an international multi-disciplinary survey, experts chose treatment approaches under current resources and under assumed ideal conditions for 10 of 22 randomly assigned case scenarios. Five included comorbidities (cancer, cardiac/respiratory/renal disease, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], physical dependence). We examined scenario/respondent characteristics associated with EVT/alteplase decisions using multivariable logistic regressions.

Results:

Among 607 physicians (38 countries), EVT was chosen less often in comorbidity-related scenarios (79.6% under current resources, 82.7% assuming ideal conditions) versus six “level-1A” scenarios for which EVT/alteplase was clearly indicated by current guidelines (91.1% and 95.1%, respectively, odds ratio [OR] [current resources]: 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.47). However, EVT was chosen more often in comorbidity-related scenarios compared to all other 17 scenarios (79.6% versus 74.4% under current resources, OR: 1.34, 1.17–1.54). Responses favoring alteplase for comorbidity-related scenarios (e.g. 75.0% under current resources) were comparable to level-1A scenarios (72.2%) and higher than all others (60.4%). No comorbidity independently diminished EVT odds when considering all scenarios. MCI and dependence carried higher alteplase odds; cancer and cardiac/respiratory/renal disease had lower odds. Being older/female carried lower EVT odds. Relevant respondent characteristics included performing more EVT cases/year (higher EVT-, lower alteplase odds), practicing in East Asia (higher EVT odds), and in interventional neuroradiology (lower alteplase odds vs neurology).

Conclusion:

Moderate-to-severe comorbidities did not consistently deter experts from EVT, suggesting equipoise about withholding EVT based on comorbidities. However, alteplase was often foregone when respondents chose EVT. Differences in decision-making by patient age/sex merit further study.
Technocratic Populism and Subnational Governance
Authors: Drápalová Eliška , Wegrich Kai
Published: July 2020

Although scholarly interest in populism has increased as populist parties have risen across Europe, the subnational level has been largely overlooked. This article adopts an original subnational focus and explores an unlikely but increasingly prevalent political agenda: the combination of technocracy and populism. We focus on technocratic populism as a political and governance strategy at the municipal level and assess how the interaction of populism and technocracy plays out empirically in relation to administration and public policies and how the tensions and synergies between technocracy and populism are solved at the local level. The article argues that the local level is especially prone to this kind of intersection between technocratic and populist ideology. While the article is mainly an exercise in concept development, two illustrative cases at the city level, namely the Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S, Five Star Movement) in Rome and the Akce nespokojených občanů (ANO, Action of Dissatisfied Citizens) in Prague are used to support the argument.
Impact of healthcare worker shift scheduling on workforce preservation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kluger Dan M. , Aizenbud Yariv , Jaffe Ariel , Parisi Fabio , Aizenbud Lilach , Minsky-Fenick Eyal , Kluger Jonathan M. , Farhadian Shelli , Kluger Harriet M. , Kluger Yuval
Published: July 2020

Reducing severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among healthcare workers is critical. We ran Monte Carlo simulations modeling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in non–COVID-19 wards, and we found that longer nursing shifts and scheduling designs in which teams of nurses and doctors co-rotate no more frequently than every 3 days can lead to fewer infections.
Erosion of the Mediterranean diet among adolescents: evidence from an Eastern Mediterranean Country
Authors: Naja Farah , Hwalla Nahla , Hachem Fatima , Abbas Nada , Chokor Fatima Al Zahraa , Kharroubi Samer , Chamieh Marie-Claire , Jomaa Lamis , Nasreddine Lara
Published: July 2020

At a time when the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MD) are pervasively recognised, a paradoxical observation is the decreasing adherence to this dietary pattern in its native countries. This study aims to investigate temporal trends in adherence to the MD among adolescents (10–19 years old) in Lebanon. Data were drawn from three national cross-sectional surveys conducted at three points in time: 1997 (n2004), 2009 (n3656) and 2015 (n1204). Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recalls, and adherence to the MD was assessed using two country-specific indexes: the composite Mediterranean diet (c-MED) index and Lebanese Mediterranean diet (LMD) index. Significant decreases in c-MED and LMD scores and in the proportion of adolescents adhering to the MD were observed between 1997 and 2015, with more consistent results among females (P< 0·05). Projections for the year 2030 showed further decreases, with less than a quarter of adolescents remaining adherent to the MD. Based on linear regression analyses, belonging to the year 2009 was associated with significantly lower MD scores compared with 1997, even after adjustment for potential covariates (c-MEDβ= –0·16, 95 % CI –0·30, –0·01; LMDβ= –0·42, 95 % CI –0·67, –0·17). Similar results were obtained when comparing survey year 2015 with 1997 (c-MED scoreβ= –0·20, 95 % CI –0·33, –0·06; LMD scoreβ= –0·60, 95 % CI –0·82, –0·37). Findings highlight the erosion of the MD among Lebanese adolescents and underline the need for a comprehensive food system approach that fosters the promotion of the MD as a nutritionally balanced and sustainable dietary pattern.
English language education in Indonesia: A review of research (2011–2019)
Authors: Zein Subhan , Sukyadi Didi , Hamied Fuad Abdul , Lengkanawati Nenden Sri
Published: July 2020

This article reviews the significant and diverse range of research on English language education in Indonesia in the eight-year period 2011–2019. It brings together a body of research consisting of 108 sources, ranging from journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings and doctorate dissertations, to inform the international research and practice community. The contributions cover primary education, secondary education and tertiary education in highly diverse Indonesia where 707 living languages co-exist and struggle to find space in its linguistic ecology. The discussion will provide insights into how factors such as educational policies, ideologies as well as sociocultural and religious values are in contestation in shaping research into and the practice of English language education in the complex, dynamic and polycentric sociolinguistic situation of Indonesia, which has been recently conceptualized as superglossia (Zein, 2020). It is hoped our insights will help inform other multilingual contexts facing the unprecedented need for transforming English language education in this increasingly globalized world.
Regulation of blood flow in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Nippert Amy R. , Newman Eric A.
Published: July 2020

Blood flow in the retina increases in response to light-evoked neuronal activity, ensuring that retinal neurons receive an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients as metabolic demands vary. This response, termed “functional hyperemia,” is disrupted in diabetic retinopathy. The reduction in functional hyperemia may result in retinal hypoxia and contribute to the development of retinopathy. This review will discuss the neurovascular coupling signaling mechanisms that generate the functional hyperemia response in the retina, the changes to neurovascular coupling that occur in diabetic retinopathy, possible treatments for restoring functional hyperemia and retinal oxygen levels, and changes to functional hyperemia that occur in the diabetic brain.
Images of the European Crisis: Populism and Contemporary Crime TV Series
Authors: Pagello Federico
Published: July 2020

During the last two decades a dramatic shift in the production and distribution strategies of TV series has taken place on a global level. This article discusses how these broad changes also led to a transformation in the form and the themes of European crime series, which emerge as ideal objects to study the representation of European societies in contemporary popular culture. The article looks at recent serial crime dramas such asLa casa de papel,Suburra, andPeaky Blinders, which have abandoned the classic formula of European crime TV series, usually focused on the figure of the detective and primarily addressed to a national audience. Designed for an international market, these series provocatively concentrate on the figure of the criminal and adopt an explicitly sensationalist approach. The article argues that this style and the bleak depiction of European society in these series are both an expression and a critical representation of the rise of populism across the Old Continent.
Dishing on dinner: a life course approach to understanding the family meal context among families with preschoolers
Authors: Walton Kathryn , Breen Andrea , Gruson-Wood Julia , Jewell Kira , Haycraft Emma , Haines Jess
Published: July 2020

Objective:

Family meals promote healthful dietary intake and well-being among children. Despite these benefits, family meal participation typically declines as children age. This study utilises life course theory to explore parents’ perceptions of family meals in order to understand how parents’ past experiences with family meals (in childhood and earlier in adulthood) influence their current beliefs and practices regarding mealtimes with their own children.

Design:

Semi-structured qualitative interviews.

Setting:

In-person interviews were conducted in participants’ homes.

Participants:

Twenty families (twenty-one mothers and fifteen fathers) with a child aged between 18 months and 5 years.

Results:

Thematic analysis revealed that families seemed to primarily approach mealtimes from one of three overarching orientations: meals for (1) Togetherness, (2) Nutrition Messaging or (3) Necessity. These orientations were informed by parents’ own mealtime experiences and significant life transitions (e.g. parenthood). The current family meal context, including the messages parents shared with their children during mealtimes and the challenges experienced with mealtimes, characterised the orientations and families’ approaches to mealtimes.

Conclusions:

Parents’ own early life experiences and significant life transitions influence why families eat meals together and have important implications for the intergenerational transmission of mealtime practices. Results may help to inform the content and timing of intervention strategies to support the continuation of frequent family meals beyond the preschool years.
Ultra-Fast Electron Microscopic Imaging of Single Molecules With a Direct Electron Detection Camera and Noise Reduction
Authors: Stuckner Joshua , Shimizu Toshiki , Harano Koji , Nakamura Eiichi , Murayama Mitsuhiro
Published: July 2020

Time-resolved imaging of molecules and materials made of light elements is an emerging field of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the recent development of direct electron detection cameras, capable of taking as many as 1,600 fps, has potentially broadened the scope of the time-resolved TEM imaging in chemistry and nanotechnology. However, such a high frame rate reduces electron dose per frame, lowers the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and renders the molecular images practically invisible. Here, we examined image noise reduction to take the best advantage of fast cameras and concluded that the Chambolle total variation denoising algorithm is the method of choice, as illustrated for imaging of a molecule in the 1D hollow space of a carbon nanotube with ~1 ms time resolution. Through the systematic comparison of the performance of multiple denoising algorithms, we found that the Chambolle algorithm improves the SNR by more than an order of magnitude when applied to TEM images taken at a low electron dose as required for imaging at around 1,000 fps. Open-source code and a standalone application to apply Chambolle denoising to TEM images and video frames are available for download.
Effects of Convection Representation and Model Resolution on Diurnal Precipitation Cycle Over the Indian Monsoon Region: Toward a Convection‐Permitting Regional Climate Simulation
Authors: Konduru Rakesh Teja , Takahashi Hiroshi G.
Published: July 2020

This study investigated the reproducibility of rainfall characteristics of the Indian summer monsoon using a regional climate model (RCM), focusing on the convection representation and model horizontal grid resolution. To understand the importance of convection representation and model horizontal grid resolution, the study employed the Weather Research and Forecasting model WRFv3.8.1 as the RCM. Two series of experiments, that is, cumulus parameterization on/off (CON/COFF), were performed for the monsoon with three different spatial resolutions. Three contrasting monsoon years were selected for the simulations. The simulated rainfalls were evaluated with the India Meteorological Department data set and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission 3B42 Version 7. The results revealed that COFF captured fundamental aspects of the rainfall characteristics, such as diurnal cycle, rainfall intensity, and rainfall frequency. Over central India, in COFF, the diurnal precipitation peaks were simulated in afternoon/evening in close agreement with the observations. However, the diurnal precipitation peak in CON appeared 3–6 hr earlier than the observations. The diurnal precipitation variation was more associated with the horizontal grid resolution of the numerical model than representation of convection. Additionally, COFF could simulate diurnally propagating rainfall systems over the Bay of Bengal. Over the Indian land area, COFF simulated less‐frequent intense precipitation systems, whereas CON simulated more‐frequent widespread weak precipitation. This study demonstrated that convection representation is very important for simulation of diurnal rainfall systems over the Indian monsoon region, although refinement of model horizontal grid resolution is required over mountainous regions, where precipitation is closely related to orography.