bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sleep‐Disordered Breathing and 24‐Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Renal Transplant Patients: Longitudinal Study
Authors: Mallamaci Francesca , Tripepi Rocco , D'Arrigo Graziella , Panuccio Vincenzo , Parlongo Giovanna , Caridi Graziella , Versace Maria Carmela , Parati Gianfranco , Tripepi Giovanni , Zoccali Carmine
Published: June 2020

Background

Sleep‐disordered breathing (
SDB
) is considered a strong risk factor for hypertension in the general population. This disturbance is common in end‐stage kidney disease patients on long‐term hemodialysis and improves early on after renal transplantation. Whether
SDB
may be a risk factor for hypertension in renal transplant patients is unclear.

Methods and Results

We investigated the long‐term evolution of simultaneous polysomnographic and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring recordings in a cohort of 221 renal transplant patients. Overall, 404 paired recordings were made over a median follow‐up of 35 months. A longitudinal data analysis was performed by the mixed linear model. The apnea‐hypopnea index increased from a median baseline value of 1.8 (interquartile range, 0.6–5.0) to a median final value of 3.6 (interquartile range, 1.7–10.4;
P
=0.009). Repeated categorical measurements of the apnea‐hypopnea index were directly associated with simultaneous 24‐hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic ambulatory BP monitoring (adjusted analyses;
P
ranging from 0.002–0.01). In a sensitivity analysis restricted to 139 patients with at least 2 visits, 24‐hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic
BP
significantly increased across visits (
P
<0.05) in patients with worsening
SDB
(n=40), whereas the same
BP
metrics did not change in patients (n=99) with stable apnea‐hypopnea index.

Conclusions

In renal transplant patients, worsening
SDB
associates with a parallel increase in average 24‐hour, daytime, and nighttime systolic
BP
. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that the link between
SDB
and hypertension is causal in nature. Clinical trials are, however, needed to definitively test this hypothesis.
Peace is Everything: An Examination of the Bahá’í Faith’s Concept of Peace
Authors: Mahmoudi Hoda
Published: June 2020

This paper describes the central role of peace in the Bahá’í Faith. For Bahá’ís, peace begins at the level of the individual and migrates outward to the community, nation, and the world. The article explains how the Bahá’í Faith outlines a covenant – an agreement between Bahá’ís and between Bahá’ís and the world – made manifest in an Administrative Order in which the ascertainment of peaceful principles and the establishment of peaceful practices are developed. The paper explains how concepts like the oneness of humanity, the symbiosis between science and religion, and the unity of religion and God combine with ideals like justice, equality, and consultation to form a Bahá’í approach to the creation and maintenance of peace. Integration and disintegration – broad-structured, dynamic effects that shift societies and the world – will help to usher in two main aspects of a present and future Bahá’í order: the Lesser Peace and the Most Great Peace. The Lesser Peace is defined by the efforts of nations and international actors to form a broad-based, global peace. The Most Great Peace describes the arrival and ascendance of the Bahá’í Administrative Order, which will result in an unprecedented level of global peace and security.
Das „Feindbild Bahai“ im Wandel der politischen Verhältnisse im Iran
Authors: Eschraghi Armin
Published: June 2020

The Bahai Faith originated in 19th century Iran. Since the early days of its inception and up until today, in Iran the followers of the faith have been subject to persecution, carried out under different pretexts. A study of polemical anti-Bahai writings demonstrates that the accusations against Bahais evolved and in fact changed over time. The portrayal of the Bahais as “enemies” was reshaped and adapted time and again to current needs and ideological agendas. Anti-Bahaism, it is argued in this paper, is part of the contemporary political discourse and mirrors the different stages of political developments in Iran over the past one and a half centuries. Anti-Bahai polemics, while in general wholly unreliable as a source for Bahai doctrine and history, serve as a vivid example for mechanisms employed in the “othering” of minority groups and the preparation for their physical persecution.
Consultation of EU Immigration Databases for Law Enforcement Purposes: a Privacy and Data Protection Assessment
Authors: Vavoula Niovi
Published: June 2020

Since the past three decades, an elaborate framework of EU-wide information systems processing the personal data of third-country nationals has emerged. The vast majority of these systems (VIS, Eurodac, EES, ETIAS) are conceptualised as multi-purpose tools, whereby their consultation for crime-related objectives is listed among their ancillary objectives. As a result, immigration records may be accessed by national law enforcement authorities and Europol for the purposes of fighting terrorism and other serious crimes under specified and limited conditions. Drawing from the relevant jurisprudence of the European Court, this article evaluates whether the EU rules on law enforcement access to EU immigration databases comply with the rights to respect for private life and protection of personal data, as enshrined in Article 7 and 8 of the EU Charter respectively. In addition, challenges posed by the forthcoming interoperability between databases are also examined.
Labour Immigration Policy in the European Union: How to Overcome the Tension between Further Europeanisation and the Protection of National Interests?
Authors: Farcy Jean-Baptiste
Published: June 2020

This article critically assesses EU harmonisation in the field of labour immigration. It argues that EU directives are limited both in scope and intensity which explains their relatively low effectiveness and added value. Given the current political and institutional context, the article claims that a truly common labour immigration policy is unrealistic. Labour immigration remains a predominantly national prerogative and EU rules have done little to overcome normative competition between EU Member States. Looking forward, the EU should adopt complementary measures to Member States’ policies. The role of the EU in this sensitive policy area should be better defined and justified, in particular in relation to the principle of subsidiarity.
Evidentiary Value of Forensic Medical Evidence in Asylum Procedures: Where Can the CJEU Bring Light into the Darkness?
Authors: Reneman Marcelle (A.M.)
Published: June 2020

The evidentiary value of forensic medical reports in asylum procedures is highly contested, mainly for two reasons. First, a physician usually cannot establish when, where, why and by whom the applicant has been ill-treated. Moreover, a physician can almost never establish with complete certainty which treatment caused a scar or physical or psychological problem. Nevertheless, both the ECtHR and the Committee against Torture (CAT) have recognised the importance of forensic medical reports as evidence in asylum cases in their judgments and decisions. However, they rarely explicitly address fundamental questions relating to the duty to arrange for a medical examination and the evidentiary value of forensic medical reports. This article examines where the Court of Justice of the European Union may step in to provide more guidance regarding these issues to the Member States of the European Union, by interpreting Article 18 of the recast Procedures Directive.
Conflicts of Interest in Sport: A Comparative Analysis of International and European Remedies
Authors: Di Marco Antonio
Published: June 2020

This research studies the management of conflicts of interest in sporting context, trough a comparative analysis of the current wave of reforms at national and international level. It suggests that the notion of conflict of interests in sport is wholly specific and it requires particular remedies, illustrating potential convergences with the public and private governance practices. Firstly, the paper identifies the endemic conflicts of interest due to the specific pyramid structure of sports movement, and the individual conflicts of interest that could occur in sporting organisations. Secondly, it detects the solution foreseen by the European authorities and the recent reforms concerning the sporting organizations adopted at national and international level. The study shows the elements that characterize conflicts of interest in sporting context, identifying convergences, limits, and the specific solutions suggested by the ethical and social function of sport.
The Nature of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Its Agreements
Authors: Channon Matthew
Published: June 2020

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (mib) was formed in 1946 to provide compensation for victims of road traffic accidents from uninsured drivers and later untraced drivers.
1
The mib and its agreements have been criticised by academics due to potential gaps in coverage.
2
The mib agreements are seen as ‘an entirely novel piece of extra-statutory machinery’,
3
due to not being based in statute and therefore without parliamentary control. This has brought challenges involving issues of transparency when new agreements are created. Claims against the mib, particularly in relation to untraced drivers, have also been controversial. With the UK in a transition period in terms of its relationship with the EU and with the potential absence of a cause of action against the mib post-transition period, the question arises as to whether the mib should be put on a statutory footing.

This article therefore aims to explore whether the mib should be put on a statutory footing. It will examine the relationships between the mib, its members, the state, and Parliament. It will further examine issues involving transparency and enforcement. It will go on to compare the Australian Capital Territory (act) approach in legislation with the United Kingdom (UK) approach, to see what will be gained or lost with the UK adopting the legislative route. It will then conclude on which, if any, examine potential reform options – radical or otherwise – might be usefully pursued to meet the criticisms of to the system in the UK.
Taxonomic reassessment of Rehderodendron gongshanense (Styracaceae) based on herbarium specimens and field observations

Authors: ZHAO WAN-YI , FRITSCH PETER W. , FAN QIANG , LIAO WEN-BO
Published: June 2020

Since its publication in 1988, Rehderodendron gongshanense (Styracaceae) has been considered endemic to Gongshan County, Yunnan Province, China and northern Myanmar. Based on morphological data from detailed field observations and examination of herbarium specimens, we demonstrate that R. gongshanense is actually a synonym of R. microcarpum, a species until now neglected taxonomically. We provide an updated description of R. microcarpum that accommodates the variation in the newly expanded concept of the species, along with comments on distribution and ecology, conservation status, specimens cited, and images of the living plants.
Taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis of Clinoconidium lauracearum (Cryptobasidiaceae) producing galls on fruits of Cinnamomum tamala (Lauraceae) in India

Authors: SINGH ANKIT , NAUTIYAL MOHAN CHANDRA , GAUTAM AJAY KUMAR , SINGH PARAS NATH , SINGH SANJAY KUMAR
Published: June 2020

Clinoconidium lauracearum sp. nov. (Cryptobasidiaceae) is described and illustrated from infected fruits of Cinnamomum tamala (Lauraceae) collected from Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand State, India. The species shows characteristics of Clinoconidium and Drepanoconis, but differs from other species in these genera by the combination of shapes, sizes, and septation of basidiospores. Molecular data also indicate that the present taxon is distinct from the other known species of Clinoconidium and Drepanoconis. Analyses of combined ITS and LSU rDNA and separate LSU rDNA sequence data reveal a close association of the present taxon to the genus Clinoconidium, but also that it is distinct from the other known species in the genus.
Myrcia suberosa: a new species of Myrcia sect. Eugeniopsis (Myrciinae, Myrteae, Myrtaceae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest

Authors: SANTOS MATHEUS FORTES , FERNANDES THIAGO
Published: June 2020

A new species, Myrcia suberosa, is here proposed based in an ongoing taxonomic revision of Myrcia sect. Eugeniopsis, a group nearly endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Myrcia suberosa occurs in Brazil from Southern Bahia to Southern Rio de Janeiro states, but only three collections are known and the real distribution of the species is barely known. The new species is morphologically related to Myrcia pseudomarlierea and Myrcia teuscheriana, differing by sexual system, cork thickness, indument, and leaf and flower morphologies. Morphological description, images and conservation status are provided, as well as discussion about distribution, habitat, phenology and taxonomy.
Portanini (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): morphology of female terminalia, first record of host plants, a new species of Portanus from Brazil, and taxonomic notes
Authors: FELIX MÁRCIO , QUINTAS VICTOR , PRANDO JÁDILA SANTOS , MEJDALANI GABRIEL
Published: June 2020

Portanus adenomari sp. nov. from the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Maranhão is described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished by the aedeagus with a pair of apical, slender curved processes, crossing each other medially. The previously unknown females of Portanus restingalis Felix & Mejdalani, 2016 and Metacephalus facetus (Kramer, 1961), as well as the female terminalia of Metacephalus sakakibarai Souza, Takiya & Felix, 2017, are also described in detail. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the ovipositor valvulae of P. restingalis are given. Comparative notes on the morphology of the female terminalia in the tribe Portanini are provided. Specimens of P. restingalis were observed feeding and resting on Bromeliaceae leaves; this is the first record of host plants for the Portanini. Metacephalus marica (Felix & Mejdalani, 2016) is regarded as a junior synonym of Metacephalus longicornis (Osborn, 1923).
Morphological description and DNA barcoding of some Diamesinae (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago and the Vaigach Island (Russian Arctic)
Authors: KRASHENINNIKOV ANDREY B. , MAKARCHENKO EUGENYI A. , SEMENCHENKO ALEXANDER A. , GAVRILO MARIA V. , VSHIVKOVA KRISTINA A.
Published: June 2020

Chironomids of the Diamesinae subfamily from the Russian Arctic were studied using both morphological characters and molecular data. Adult males of Diamesa urvantsevi sp. nov., D. amplexivirilia Hansen, Arctodiamesa appendiculata (Lundström) from Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago and D. arctica (Boheman), Pseudokiefferiella sp. from Vaigach Island were described, redescribed, annotated and figured. A reference 658 bp barcode sequence from a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was used as a tool for species delimitation. For D. arctica (Boheman) and Pseudokiefferiella sp. close DNA barcodes from Norway were performed, which allowed to relate these specimens to the described species. Comparisons with corresponding regions of COI between each described species and close related congeneric species produced K2P genetic distances of 0.11–0.16, values well associated with interspecific variation. Phylogenetic relationships for genera Arctodiamesa Makarchenko and Pseudokiefferiella Zavřel were reconstructed for the first time.
Comparative analysis of mitogenomes among three species of Haplotropidini grasshoppers and a new species of the genus Sulcotropis (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae) from China
Authors: LI XIN-JIANG , ZHANG DA-PENG , YIN HAI-XIANG
Published: June 2020

The complete mitochondrial genomes of three species of Haplotropidini were sequenced, annotated and analyzed. Then, combined with 18 species mitogenomes of Acridoidea and 1 species of Tridactyloidea, the phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed by maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BI) methods based on PCGs. The phylogenetic relationship tree showing that Sulcotropis Yin et Chou is a valid genus and not a synonym of Haplotropis Saussure, 1888. A new species Sulcotropis xiaowutaiensis sp. nov. is described in this paper from China, it is allied to Sulcotropis cyanipes Yin et Chou, 1979, but differs from latter by median carina of pronotum cut by posterior transverse sulcus slightly, epiphallus with middle part equal both sides in high, cercus of male gradually widened at base, interspace of mesosternum narrowed in the base slightly and subgenital plate of female oblong, hind margin with small acute angle in the middle. Type specimens are deposited in the College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.
Simplified Signs
Authors: Bonvillian John D. , Lee Nicole Kissane , Dooley Tracy T. , Loncke Filip T.
Published: June 2020

Simplified Signs presents a system of manual sign communication intended for special populations who have had limited success mastering spoken or full sign languages. It is the culmination of over twenty years of research and development by the authors. The Simplified Sign System has been developed and tested for ease of sign comprehension, memorization, and formation by limiting the complexity of the motor skills required to form each sign, and by ensuring that each sign visually resembles the meaning it conveys.

Volume 1 outlines the research underpinning and informing the project, and places the Simplified Sign System in a wider context of sign usage, historically and by different populations. Volume 2 presents the lexicon of signs, totalling approximately 1000 signs, each with a clear illustration and a written description of how the sign is formed, as well as a memory aid that connects the sign visually to the meaning that it conveys.

While the Simplified Sign System originally was developed to meet the needs of persons with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, or aphasia, it may also assist the communication needs of a wider audience – such as healthcare professionals, aid workers, military personnel, travellers or parents, and children who have not yet mastered spoken language. The system also has been shown to enhance learning for individuals studying a foreign language.

Lucid and comprehensive, this work constitutes a valuable resource that will enhance the communicative interactions of many different people, and will be of great interest to researchers and educators alike.
3. Deaf Persons and Sign Languages
Authors: Bonvillian John D. , Kissane Lee Nicole , Dooley Tracy T. , Loncke Filip T.
Published: June 2020

Chapter 3 introduces the reader to various aspects of sign languages, including their historical development and use within educational contexts by Deaf communities in Europe and the United States. Also covered is the initiation of the field of sign language linguistics by William C. Stokoe, a linguist who systematically proved that American Sign Language (ASL) was indeed a language with its own distinct structure and properties that differed from any spoken language. The phonological parameters of signs receive considerable attention, highlighting ways in which the unique properties of sign languages allow them to represent meaning in ways that are more consistently transparent and iconic than similar phenomena in the speech modality. Despite these similarities across sign languages, the differences among the sign languages of the world led Deaf persons to create and develop the lingua franca of International Sign (previously Gestuno) for use at international conventions. Finally, the similarities and distinctions between the processes of language development and acquisition across the modalities of speech and sign are discussed, as well as how signing benefits the learning of spoken language vocabulary by hearing children.
4. Sign Communication in Persons with an Intellectual Disability or with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Bonvillian John D. , Kissane Lee Nicole , Dooley Tracy T. , Loncke Filip T.
Published: June 2020

In Chapter 4, the authors begin an in-depth discussion of the use of signs with special populations, including an early study that occurred in the West of England in the 1840s with deaf students with intellectual disabilities. Various types of intellectual disability are identified, including fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, and Angelman syndrome. The successes and failures of speech-based and sign-based interventions are covered for individuals with these syndromes (particularly the latter two) as well as in persons with multiple disabilities. The authors next move on to a discussion of the relatively sparse research related to teaching signs to children who have cerebral palsy. Recommendations for enhancing the sign-learning environment are provided so that all persons who use signs as an augmentative or alternative means of communication may derive the greatest benefit from their communicative interactions. In addition to maximizing the positive atmosphere in which signing individuals interact with others at school, at home, and in public, the authors suggest that the types of signs employed may also have an impact on whether or not signing is successful.
9. Application and Use of the Simplified Sign System with Persons with Disabilities
Authors: Bonvillian John D. , Kissane Lee Nicole , Dooley Tracy T. , Loncke Filip T.
Published: June 2020

In Chapter 9, various approaches to teaching signs to non-speaking or minimally verbal persons are examined, including general exposure, an incidental or milieu approach, games and group activities, and specific training sessions. Learning goals are identified not only for the main or primary user of the system, but also for that person’s communication partners (family members, caregivers, friends) and persons in the wider environment. Guidelines for using the Simplified Sign System with the target populations are provided in order to establish good and consistent communication practices that will help to maximize users’ success with the system. Such guidelines or strategies include ensuring a positive signing environment, establishing visual contact, using key word signing, accepting errors in sign formation from the main user, rewarding progress, using facial expressions and environmental cues or contextual information to enhance vocabulary acquisition, and adapting the rate and frequency of signing. Finally, the authors anticipate and address many of the questions or concerns that teachers or caregivers may have as they embark on a program of using Simplified Signs.
Activating the ‘ideal jobseeker’: Experiences of individuals with mental health conditions on the UK Work Programme
Authors: Scholz Frederike , Ingold Jo
Published: June 2020

Active labour market programmes (ALMPs) are critical preparation mechanisms to assist people to enter the workplace. This article analyses qualitative data from a hard-to-access group of individuals with mental health conditions (MHCs) participating in a large-scale UK ALMP, the Work Programme (WP). Using the lens of the ‘extended social model of disability’ and the concept of the ‘ideal worker’, the article demonstrates that ableist norms of the ‘ideal jobseeker’ were embedded within the Programme’s design, prioritising individuals with certain abilities and behaviour over others. Second, the article extends Acker’s framework of inequality regimes to demonstrate that formal and informal inequality practices within the Programme maintained, rather than challenged, disability inequality. This was visible along four dimensions: (1) ALMPs as organising processes producing disability inequality; (2) the visibility of disability inequality; (3) the legitimacy of disability inequality; and (4) control and compliance derived from hierarchical social relations within ALMP design and implementation, involving either stabilising or destabilising effects on disabled jobseekers. The theoretical and practical contributions of this article demonstrate that the design of the WP as an employment preparation mechanism pushed disabled jobseekers further away from paid employment, rather than towards workplace inclusion.
The Joint and Multilevel Effects of Training and Incentives from Upstream Manufacturers on Downstream Salespeople’s Efforts
Authors: Magnotta Sarah , Murtha Brian , Challagalla Goutam
Published: June 2020

Manufacturers frequently face the challenge of motivating distributor salespeople to focus efforts on their products rather than competitors’ products. The present research explores two mechanisms that manufacturers use to address this challenge: training and incentives (spiffs). The authors find that the impact of these mechanisms on distributor salespeople’s efforts (toward a manufacturer’s products) largely depends on the extent to which manufacturers also provide training and incentives to distributor sales managers. More specifically, providing greater incentives to distributor sales managers undermines the relationship between their salespeople’s training and effort but enhances the relationship between their salespeople’s incentives and effort. Furthermore, greater sales manager training enhances the impact of salespeople’s incentives on effort; however, greater salesperson training undermines the relationship between salesperson incentives and effort. Thus, this research shows that the combination of mechanisms (training and incentives) and the levels at which manufacturers provide them (distributor salespeople and sales managers) can have different implications for distributor salespeople’s efforts.
Examination of the Influence of Cognitive Behavior Therapy Components, Consumer Satisfaction and Engagement in Mothers Referred for Drug Abuse and Child Neglect on Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Plant Christopher P. , Donohue Bradley , Freeman Andrew J. , Allen Daniel N.
Published: June 2020

Psychological interventions for child maltreatment have predominately been limited to family-supported, multi-component behavioral therapies. Although these comprehensive programs have resulted in positive outcomes, they are relatively costly and there is limited information available as to how the components of these programs influence treatment outcomes. In this study, the CBT components of an evidence-based treatment for child neglect and drug abuse (Family Behavior Therapy) were examined in regards to consumer preferences, consumer engagement and treatment outcomes. Thirty-five mothers identified for child neglect and drug abuse were administered various CBT components successively and cumulatively based on their preferences. Repeated measure ANOVAs indicated that participants chose to receive components that were specific to managing antecedents to drug abuse and child neglect most frequently, followed by parenting skills training, communication skills training, and job/financial skills training. No differences were found in treatment providers’ ratings of the participants’ engagement across intervention components throughout treatment. Participants rated the intervention components as similarly helpful. Partial correlations revealed that participants’ ratings of helpfulness and provider ratings of participants’ engagement were not associated with improved drug use outcomes at 6- and 10-months post baseline. Participants’ ratings of helpfulness were associated with child maltreatment outcomes at 10-month post baseline, and provider ratings of participants’ engagement were associated with child maltreatment outcomes at both 6- and 10-month post baseline. Participants identified for neglect not related to drug exposure in utero improved at a higher percentage than did participants identified for in utero drug exposure, and receiving behavioral intervention components more frequently led to greater percentages of participants improving in both drug use and child maltreatment outcomes.
A rapidly progressing mass of nasal cavity in a child: Nodular fasciitis
Authors: Chen Yujie , Lv Wei , Zhu Zhenzhen
Published: June 2020

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, self-limiting, reactive soft tissue tumor that is composed of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and is often misdiagnosed as a malignant lesion. Nodular fasciitis is often reported in adults but rarely seen in children. We report the case of a 3-year-old girl with a rapidly growing NF in the left nasal cavity. The initial biopsy suggested the possibility of a spindle cell tumor or low-grade malignant tumor, respectively. The child underwent complete excision of the tumor. With the help of immunohistochemistry and pathological consultation, the final diagnosis was confirmed as NF. There was no recurrence during an 18-month follow-up period.
The Effects of Pollution and Business Environment on Firm Productivity in Africa
Authors: Soppelsa Maria E. , Lozano-Gracia Nancy , Xu L. Colin
Published: June 2020

In this article, we explore the links between city competitiveness and air pollution and business environment. Because competitive cities not only attract more productive firms but also facilitate their business, we choose to look at firm performance as a proxy for city competitiveness. We particularly focus on African firms because this region is developing fast, experiencing increasing pollution levels and the effects of agglomeration economies. We find two interesting results. First, the negative association between air pollution and firm performance can be seen at lower than expected levels of pollution. Second, the effects of capacity agglomeration on labor productivity growth are stronger compared to other regions. These findings suggest that cities in this region should address pollution issues soon, as they continue to grow fast and pollution levels are becoming an increasing concern.
Erich Fromm and the Critical Theory of Communication
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: June 2020

Erich Fromm (1900–1980) was a Marxist psychoanalyst, philosopher, and socialist humanist. This article asks: How can Fromm’s critical theory of communication be used and updated to provide a critical perspective in the age of digital and communicative capitalism? In order to provide an answer, this article discusses elements from Fromm’s work that allow us to better understand the human communication process. The focus is on communication (the second section), ideology (the third section), and technology (the fourth section). Fromm’s approach can inform a critical theory of communication in multiple respects: His notion of the social character allows to underpin such a theory with foundations from critical psychology. Fromm’s distinction between the authoritarian and the humanistic character can be used for discerning among authoritarian and humanistic communication. Fromm’s work can also inform ideology critique: the ideology of having shapes life, thought, language, and social action in capitalism. In capitalism, technology (including computing) is fetishized and the logic of quantification shapes social relations. Fromm’s quest for humanist technology and participatory computing can inform contemporary debates about digital capitalism and its alternatives.
Teaching the Calendar Application on a Mobile Device to Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Balint-Langel Kinga , Yuan Chengan , Hua Youjia
Published: June 2020

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have difficulties with self-management skills such as scheduling daily tasks for educational, vocational, and leisure purposes. In this study, we used a multiple probe across participant design to evaluate the effects of constant time delay in teaching young adults with IDD the necessary steps to schedule events and set reminders using the Calendar application (app). Three students with IDD in a postsecondary education setting participated in this study and acquired the steps required for programming events and their reminders in the Calendar app. In addition, two participants independently attended the scheduled events without additional reminders from adults. Limitations, future research, and practical implications are discussed.
A topic analysis method based on a three-dimensional strategic diagram
Authors: Feng Jia , Mu Xiaomin , Wang Wei , Xu Ying
Published: June 2020

With the tremendous growth of scientific literature in recent years, methods of detecting and analysing research topics have become more and more important. This study proposes a topic analysis method combining latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and a three-dimensional strategic diagram. This study constructs the three-dimensional strategic diagram by three dimensions of centrality, density and novelty, and we classify topics into seven categories according to their strategic positions. Using this topic analysis method, the paper analyses 62,340 publications in the field of medical informatics between 1991 and 2018. Results show that the research scope of medical informatics has become increasingly interdisciplinary. Data analytical methods and technologies are sub-domains with persistent popularity. New health technologies, drug safety, algorithm optimisation and standardisation of medical information are emerging research topics. We hope the findings could help researchers identify potential research topics and facilitate in-depth analysis of the current state of various fields.
Protective effect of dexmedetomidine infusion combined with epidural blockade on postoperative complications after surgery: A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhu Xuqin , He Zhiyong , Sun Zhirong , Wu Xin , Zhong Jing
Published: June 2020

Objectives

This prospective, randomized, controlled study aimed to explore the efficacy of dexmedetomidine combined with epidural blockade on postoperative recovery of elderly patients after radical resection for colorectal cancer.

Methods

Ninety-six elderly patients who underwent radical resection for colorectal cancer were randomly divided into the following four groups: dexmedetomidine, epidural blockade (ropivacaine), combined (dexmedetomidine + epidural blockade), and control (0.9% saline). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Ramsay scores at 48 hours, and time to first activity, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complication rates at 3 months were assessed.

Results

Twelve hours after surgery, Ramsay scores were higher in the combined compared with the control and epidural blockade groups. Twenty-four hours after surgery, MMSE scores were higher in the combined compared with the other groups. The combined group showed the lowest VAS scores except at 48 hours. Time to first activity and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in the combined compared with the other groups. There was no difference in total postoperative complication rates among the groups.

Conclusions

A combination of intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion and epidural blockade could mitigate pain after surgery, improve cognitive dysfunction in early surgery, and facilitate recovery.
E-Cadherin Expression in Canine Melanocytic Tumors: Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Survival Analysis
Authors: Silvestri Serenella , Porcellato Ilaria , Mechelli Luca , Menchetti Laura , Iussich Selina , De Maria Raffaella , Sforna Monica , Bongiovanni Laura , Brachelente Chiara
Published: June 2020

E-cadherin, a glycoprotein involved in cell-cell adhesion, has a pivotal role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a process through which neoplastic epithelial cells develop an invasive phenotype. In human cutaneous melanomas, decreased E-cadherin expression is associated with shorter survival and increased Breslow thickness, whereas in the dog its role is poorly understood. Tumor thickness and modified Clark level were recently proposed as useful features to assess canine melanocytic tumors, but no studies investigated their association with E-cadherin expression. We performed immunohistochemistry on 77 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary canine melanocytic tumors. A 3-tier and a 2-tier classification system for assessing E-cadherin expression were tested, with the latter being more informative for the assessment of canine melanocytic tumors. E-cadherin expression was lower in cutaneous melanomas than melanocytomas, as well as in amelanotic tumors compared to pigmented tumors. In amelanotic melanomas, absent E-cadherin expression was associated with an unfavorable outcome, suggesting a potential use of this marker in defining the prognosis of amelanotic melanomas. E-cadherin expression was lower in tumors with greater tumor thickness and modified Clark level ≥IV, suggesting its possible utility in identifying the most invasive tumors. The expression of E-cadherin in oral melanomas was heterogeneous, but was associated with pigmentation and clinical outcome; thus, E-cadherin evaluation could be advantageous to detect the most aggressive neoplasms. However, cutaneous melanomas without E-cadherin expression frequently had a favorable clinical outcome. Hence, its importance as prognostic factor should be carefully considered depending on the tumor origin.
Quantitative and Qualitative Assessments of Cholesterol Association With Bacterial Infection Type in Sepsis and Septic Shock
Authors: Black Lauren Page , Puskarich Michael A. , Henson Morgan , Miller Taylor , Reddy Srinivasa T. , Fernandez Rosemarie , Guirgis Faheem W.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Reduced cholesterol levels are associated with increased organ failure and mortality in sepsis. Cholesterol levels may vary by infection type (gram negative vs positive), possibly reflecting differences in cholesterol-mediated bacterial clearance.

Methods:

This was a secondary analysis of a combined data set of 2 prospective cohort studies of adult patients meeting Sepsis-3 criteria. Infection types were classified as gram negative, gram positive, or culture negative. We investigated quantitative (levels) and qualitative (dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein [HDL]) cholesterol differences. We used multivariable logistic regression to control for disease severity.

Results:

Among 171 patients with sepsis, infections were gram negative in 67, gram positive in 46, and culture negative in 47. Both gram-negative and gram-positive infections occurred in 11 patients. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were lower for culture-positive sepsis at enrollment (TC, P < .001; LDL-C, P < .001; HDL-C, P = .011) and persisted after controlling for disease severity. Similarly, cholesterol levels were lower among culture-positive patients at 48 hours (TC, P = .012; LDL-C, P = .029; HDL-C, P = .002). Triglyceride (TG) levels were lower at enrollment ( P =.033) but not at 48 hours ( P = .212). There were no differences in dysfunctional HDL. Among bacteremic patients, cholesterol levels were lower at enrollment (TC, P = .010; LDL-C, P = .010; HDL-C, P ≤ .001; TG, P = .005) and at 48 hours (LDL-C, P = .027; HDL-C, P < .001; TG, P = .020), except for 48 hour TC ( P = .051). In the bacteremia subgroup, enrollment TC and LDL-C were lower for gram-negative versus gram-positive infections (TC, P = .039; LDL-C, P = .023).

Conclusion:

Cholesterol levels are significantly lower among patients with culture-positive sepsis and bacteremia.
Comparative study on the mechanical, tribological, and thermal properties of POM composites filled with different PTFE
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wu Yue , Liang Mei , Wu Hang , Zou Huawei , Chen Yang , Zhou Shengtai
Published: June 2020

In this study, two different types of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fillers (i.e. fibrillar and particulate PTFE) were utilized to improve the tribological properties of polyoxymethylene (POM). POM/PTFE composites with various filler contents were tested on a commercial block-on-ring tester. To further probe the tribological properties of POM/PTFE composites under severe sliding conditions, a homemade pin-on-disc tester was employed. Results showed that the lowest coefficient of friction and wear rate are obtained from PTFE particle–filled POM composites at 20 wt%, which is attributed to the formation of uniform transfer film at the sliding interface thanks to the well distribution of PTFE particles. The mass wear rate of POM/PTFE fiber composites is lower than that of PTFE particle–containing counterparts due to the better load transfer of high aspect ratio fibers. The tensile properties of POM/PTFE composites deteriorate with the addition of PTFE fillers; however, the impact strength is significantly enhanced for PTFE fiber filled POM composites. Moreover, both the melting and crystallization properties of POM are affected by the morphology of PTFE fillers and filler concentration, as characterized by differential scanning calorimetry analysis.
Analysis of tensile-shear strength of single and multi-friction stir spot welding joints under fixed welding process conditions
Authors: Asadollahi Morteza , Jabbari Neda , Nakhodchi Soheil , Salimi Hossein , Khodaparast Hamed Haddad
Published: June 2020

The tensile-shear strength of AA 5052 single and multi-friction stir spot welding joints were analyzed using experimental, numerical, and analytical approaches. Benchmark specimens were designed and manufactured in a similar manner with respect to industrial practice. Under the fixed welding process condition, the failure mechanism of friction stir spot welded specimens under tensile-shear loading was first determined by using macro- and micro-structural analysis. It is shown that increasing the tool shoulder diameter and the number of friction stir spot weldings may nonproportionally increase the strength of the joints. In the linearly arranged multi-friction stir spot welding joints, the strength of these joints was discussed using analytical approach. It is demonstrated that in certain cases, increasing the nugget diameter is preferred than increasing the number of nuggets. This is only applicable to a certain friction stir spot welding failure mechanism. A finite element model prediction tool was developed to predict the tensile-shear strength of friction stir spot welded joints using the material properties obtained from the measurement of experimental hardness.
An efficient and robust simulator for wear of total knee replacements
Authors: Burchardt Ansgar , Abicht Christian , Sander Oliver
Published: June 2020

Wear on total knee replacements is an important criterion for their performance characteristics. Numerical simulations of such wear have seen increasing attention over the last years. They have the potential to be much faster and less expensive than the in vitro tests in use today. While it is unlikely that in silico tests will replace actual physical tests in the foreseeable future, a judicious combination of both approaches can help making both implant design and pre-clinical testing quicker and more cost-effective. The challenge today for the design of simulation methods is to obtain results that convey quantitative information and to do so quickly and reliably. This involves the choice of mathematical models as well as the numerical tools used to solve them. The correctness of the choice can only be validated by comparing with experimental results. In this article, we present finite element simulations of the wear in total knee replacements during the gait cycle standardized in the ISO 14243-1 document, used for compliance testing in several countries. As the ISO 14243-1 standard is precisely defined and publicly available, it can serve as an excellent benchmark for comparison of wear simulation methods. We use comparatively simple wear and material models, but we solve them using a new wear algorithm that combines extrapolation of the geometry changes with a contact algorithm based on nonsmooth multigrid ideas. The contact algorithm works without Lagrange multipliers and penalty parameters, achieving unparalleled stability and efficiency. We compare our simulation results with the experimental data from physical tests using two different actual total knee replacements. Even though the model is simple, we can predict the total mass loss due to wear after 5-million gait cycles, and we observe a good match between the wear patterns seen in experiments and our simulation results. When compared with a state-of-the-art penalty-based solver for the same model, we measure a roughly fivefold increase of execution speed.
Clinical Pharmacist–Led Impact on Inappropriate Albumin Utilization and Associated Costs in General Ward Patients
Authors: Buckley Mitchell S. , Agarwal Sumit K. , Lansburg Jake M. , Kopp Brian J. , Erstad Brian L.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Inappropriate albumin use in clinical practice remains problematic. Health-systems face continued challenges in promoting cost-appropriate use.

Objective:

To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of a clinical pharmacist–led intervention strategy targeting inappropriate albumin use in general ward patients.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study evaluated all adult (≥18 years) general ward patients administered ≥1 dose of albumin at a university medical center over a 2-year period. The intervention consisted of a clinical pharmacist–led strategy intervening on all albumin orders not in accordance with institutional guidelines. The primary end point was to compare inappropriate albumin utilization before and after implementation. Secondary end points compared the rates of inappropriate albumin use adjusted for hospital admission and patient-days as well as associated costs by appropriateness between study periods.

Results:

A total of 4420 patients were screened, with 1971 (44.6%) patients meeting inclusion criteria. The clinical pharmacist strategy significantly reduced inappropriate albumin (grams) utilization by 86.0% ( P < 0.001). A 7-fold reduction of inappropriate albumin administered adjusted for the number of patient admissions was found from the preimplementation period following clinical pharmacist intervention strategy implementation (415.3 ± 83.2 vs 57.5 ± 34.2 g per 100 general ward hospital admissions, respectively; P < 0.001). Also, the adjusted inappropriate albumin rate was reduced from 62.2 ± 12.3 to 8.6 ± 5.2 g per 100 patient-days in the preimplementation and postimplementation periods, respectively ( P < 0.001). Annual cost savings were $421 455 overall, with $341 930 resulting from mitigation of inappropriate use.

Conclusion and Relevance:

Clinical pharmacist–led interventions significantly reduced inappropriate albumin use and costs in hospitalized patients.