bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Road Performance of Calcium Sulfate Whisker and Polyester Fiber Composite‐Modified Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Wang Xiushan , Dong Bowen , Wang Junjie
Published: September 2020

In order to better improve the practical engineering problems such as rutting, cracking, pit, and groove in highway engineering, the stability and strength characteristics of calcium sulfate whisker and polyester fiber in asphalt mixture are evaluated based on the road performance test. In this experiment, three different methods of the calcium sulfate whisker content and three different polyester fiber content were used to determine the best asphalt aggregate ratio to prepare different modified asphalt mixture samples. Its high temperature stability, water stability, and low‐temperature performance were tested. The results show that the composite modifier of calcium sulfate whisker and polyester fiber can significantly improve the strength stability of asphalt mixture and make its high temperature stability reach 2900.3∼4230.7 Times/mm without reducing its low‐temperature bending strength. The optimum content of calcium sulfate whisker is in the range of 2‰∼2.5‰ and polyester fiber is in the range of 2‰∼3‰. The rutting strength and Marshall stability reach the maximum.
Therapeutic Nanomaterials for Neurological Diseases and Cancer Therapy
Authors: Wang Kankai , Zhu Xiaohong , Yu Enxing , Desai Priyanka , Wang Hao , Zhang Chun-li , Zhuge Qichuan , Yang Jianjing , Hu Jiangnan
Published: September 2020

In the recent decade, nanomedicine and nanotechnology have been broadly developed leading to a significant advancement in biomedical research as well as clinical practices. The application of several functionalized nanomaterials on the molecular and cellular levels has yielded a lot of promising progresses in various fields of regenerative medicine including disease diagnosis, combinational cell therapy, tissue engineering, and drug and gene delivery. In this review, we will summarize the recent approaches of nanoscale materials utilized in neurological diseases and cancer therapy, with highlights on the most current findings and future prospects of diverse biomedical nanomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug innovations, and the synthesis of delivery system.
Evaluation of the Biomarkers HMGB1 and IL-6 as Predictors of Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients with Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: de Oliveira Gomes Célio Geraldo , de Andrade Marcus Vinicius Melo , Guedes Ludmila Resende , Rocha Henrique Carvalho , Guimarães Roberto Gardone , Carvalho Fernando Antônio Castro , Vilela Eduardo Garcia
Published: September 2020

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects from 20% to 50% of cirrhotic patients, and the one-month mortality rate is 60%. The main cause of AKI is bacterial infection, which worsens circulatory dysfunction through the release of HMGB1 and IL-6. Objectives. To evaluate HMGB1 and IL-6 as biomarkers of morbidity/mortality. Methods. Prospective, observational study of 25 hospitalised cirrhotic patients with AKI. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at the time of diagnosis of AKI, including serum HMGB1 and IL-6. Results. The mean age was 55 years; 70% were male. Infections accounted for 13 cases. The 30-day and three-month mortality rates were 17.4% and 30.4%, respectively. HMGB1 levels were lower in survivors than in nonsurvivors at 30 days (1174.2 pg/mL versus 3338.5 pg/mL, p=0.035), but not at three months (1540 pg/mL versus 2352 pg/mL, p=0.243). Serum IL-6 levels were 43.3 pg/mL versus 153.3 pg/mL (p=0.061) at 30 days and 35.8 pg/mL versus 87.9 pg/mL (p=0.071) at three months, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for HMGB1 was 0.842 and 0.657, and that for IL-6 was 0.803 and 0.743 for discriminating nonsurvivors at 30 days and three months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, no biomarker was independently associated with mortality. Conclusion. HMGB1 levels were associated with decreased survival in cirrhotics. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.
Dietary Practice and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Misha Woreda, South Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Abute Lonsako , Beyamo Abera , Erchafo Belay , Tadesse Tegegn , Sulamo Dawit , sadoro Tagesse
Published: September 2020

Background. Proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth, mental development, performance and productivity, and health and well-being. Pregnancy is a critical phase in a woman's life. The aim of this study is to assess the dietary practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Misha woreda, south Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Misha woreda, South Ethiopia, on pregnant women. Data were collected by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were entered in EpiData V-3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Binary logistic regression analysis was also employed to examine the association between dependent and independent variables. A P value of <0.05 was considered as the cutoff point to declare statistical significance. Result. Out of 618 pregnant women, almost all of them 618 interviewed with the response rate of 100%. The mean age of pregnant women was 27.31 years (±5.622). From total study participants, 54.1% of the respondents were followers of protestant religion and 80.2% of husband occupation were farmers and 78.7% pregnant women occupation were house wives. From the total participants, 43.6% had illness on the current pregnancy. Almost two third 66.2% of the pregnant women travel ≥ 1 hr to reach HF. Majority of the participants (62%) had moderate knowledge about dietary practice in pregnancy, and 29.5% practiced good dietary practice. Educational status (AOR = 4.07 [2.13, 9.18]), occupation (AOR = 5.32 [1.08, 13.95]), dietary knowledge (AOR = 7.2 [3.9, 17.09]), and food craving (AOR = 2.07 [1.41, 5.5]) were variables having a significant association with dietary practice. Conclusion. The prevalence of good dietary practice among pregnant women in Misha district was low when compared to other studies. According to the study result, educational status, occupation, dietary knowledge, and food craving were factors that affect dietary practice.
Both Gut Microbiota and Differentially Expressed Proteins Are Relevant to the Development of Obesity
Authors: Li Yuchuan , Liu Qiuxia , Peng Chunting , Ruan Bing
Published: September 2020

Although the role of the gut microbiota in obesity has recently received considerable attention, the exact mechanism is unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the profiles of bacterial communities in fecal samples and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the peripheral blood in mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) and standard diet (SD) and at providing new insights into the pathogenesis of obesity. The profiles of bacterial communities in fecal samples and DEPs in the peripheral blood were characterized in mice fed HFD and SD, respectively. The levels of 3 DEPs increased in HFD mice. The alpha diversity was significantly lower after 4 and 12 weeks in HFD mice. The beta diversity was higher after 4, 8, and 12 weeks in HFD mice. A total of 16 gut bacterial clades were significantly different with the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score higher than 4 over time. The relative abundance levels of Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres were higher, while those of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were lower in HFD mice at the phylum level. The relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and Rikenellaceae increased in HFD mice at the family level. The relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes_S24‐7_group and Lachnospiraceae was lower in HFD mice. The gut microbiota had a significant correlation with serum lipid indexes and expression of DEPs at the phylum and family levels. The changes in the gut microbiota of HFD mice and their associations with the levels of inflammatory proteins could be one of the major etiological mechanisms underlying obesity.
The Effect of Salvianolic Acid on Vascular Protection and Possible Mechanisms
Authors: Wu Yalan , Xu Suowen , Tian Xiao Yu
Published: September 2020

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), as an important traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has been used in China for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for hundreds of years. Salvianolic acids (salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B) as the most abundant water-soluble component extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza have attracted more and more attention from cardiovascular scientists due to its comprehensive cardiovascular actions. In vivo and in vitro studies have rendered salvianolic acid an excellent drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we surveyed the protective effects of salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B against cardiovascular diseases and the pharmacological basis, providing a strong scientific rationale for elucidating the important role of Salvia miltiorrhiza in cardiovascular therapy. More importantly, we also hope to provide new inspiration and perspectives on the development and innovation of small-molecule cardiovascular drugs based on salvianolic acid.
Dynamic Coupling Analysis of Vehicle‐Bridge System for Long‐Span Suspension Bridge Based on Backpropagation Neural Network Method
Authors: Luo Zuolong , Zheng Xiaobo , Yuan Haoyun , Niu Xirong
Published: September 2020

As the suspension bridge structures become more flexible and the forms of the vehicle load become more diverse, the dynamic coupling problem of the vehicle‐bridge system has become gradually prominent in long‐span suspension bridges, resulting in an increase in accuracy and efficiency requirements for dynamic coupling analysis of the vehicle‐bridge system. Conventional method such as finite element method (FEM) for dynamic coupling analysis of vehicle‐bridge system often requires separate iteration of vehicle system and bridge system, and the contact and coupling interactions between them are used as the link for convergence inspection, which is too computationally intensive and time‐consuming. In addition, the dynamic response of the vehicle‐bridge coupling system obtained by FEM cannot be expressed explicitly, which is not convenient for engineering application. To overcome these drawbacks mentioned above, the backpropagation (BP) neural network technology is proposed to the dynamic coupling analysis of the vehicle‐bridge system of long‐span suspension bridges. Firstly, the BP neural network was used to approximate the dynamic response of the suspension bridge in the vehicle‐bridge coupling system, and the complex finite element analysis results were thus explicitly displayed in the form of a mathematical analytical expression. And then the dynamic response of the suspension bridge under vehicle load was obtained by using a dynamic explicit analysis method. It is shown through a numerical example that, compared with FEM, the proposed method is much more economical to achieve reasonable accuracy when dealing with the dynamic coupling problem of the vehicle‐bridge system. Finally, an engineering case involving a detailed finite element model of a long‐span suspension bridge with a main span of 1688 m is presented to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency under the premise of ensuring the approximation accuracy, which indicates that the proposed method provides a new approach for dynamic coupling analysis of the vehicle‐bridge system of long‐span suspension bridges.
Determinants of Maternal Satisfaction with Existing Delivery Care at Wolaita Sodo University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Ethiopia
Authors: Wolka Sintayehu , Assegid Sahilu , Tantu Temesgen , Gunta Muluken , Duko Bereket
Published: September 2020

Background. Assessing maternal satisfaction on delivery service has significant public health importance to measure the quality of maternal and child care services in a country. Therefore, the objective of this study was to further investigate the determinants of maternal satisfaction on delivery service provided at the Woliata Sodo University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods. An institutionally based cross‐sectional study was employed at the Wolaita Sodo University Hospital, Ethiopia. All mothers who gave birth between March and May 2018 were included in the study. Data were collected through using a pretested and structured interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. A P value of <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Result. A total of 398 delivered mothers were included in the study. The rate of maternal satisfaction on existing delivery care was found to be 67.3%. Being less educated (AOR = 5.06, [2.22‐11.53]), primigravida (AOR = 3.59, [1.17‐11.04]), planned and wanted pregnancy (AOR = 2.74, [1.21‐6.18]), having antenatal care follow‐up for current pregnancy (AOR = 4.48, [2.04‐9.83]), ever used family planning service (AOR = 3.83, [1.95‐67.52]), labor duration of less than 6 hours (AOR = 5.96, [2.61‐13.57]), and spontaneous vaginal delivery (AOR = 2.82, [1.07‐7.42]) were factors significantly associated with maternal satisfaction. Conclusion. In this study setting, maternal satisfaction was lower compared to other studies. Unreserved effort should be considered for future interventions.
Trichoscopy of Alopecia Areata: Hair Loss Feature Extraction and Computation Using Grid Line Selection and Eigenvalue
Authors: Seo Sunyong , Park Jinho
Published: September 2020

Recently, the hair loss population, alopecia areata patients, is increasing due to various unconfirmed reasons such as environmental pollution and irregular eating habits. In this paper, we introduce an algorithm for preventing hair loss and scalp self-diagnosis by extracting HLF (hair loss feature) based on the scalp image using a microscope that can be mounted on a smart device. We extract the HLF by combining a scalp image taken from the microscope using grid line selection and eigenvalue. First, we preprocess the photographed scalp images using image processing to adjust the contrast of microscopy input and minimize the light reflection. Second, HLF is extracted through each distinct algorithm to determine the progress degree of hair loss based on the preprocessed scalp image. We define HLF as the number of hair, hair follicles, and thickness of hair that integrate broken hairs, short vellus hairs, and tapering hairs.
New Results for Some Generalizations of Starlike and Convex Functions
Authors: Ebadian Ali , Hameed Mohammed Nafya , Analouei Adegani Ebrahim , Bulboacă Teodor
Published: September 2020

The purpose of the current paper is to investigate several various problems for the categories STLs,SNe∗, and other related categories such as various new outcomes for the coefficients of f, together with majorization issues, the Hankel determinant, and the logarithmic coefficients with sharp inequalities and differential subordination implications.
Catalan–Qi Numbers, Series Involving the Catalan–Qi Numbers and a Hankel Determinant Evaluation
Authors: Chammam Wathek
Published: September 2020

In this paper, using a study of the polynomial of Jacobi, we give an evaluation of the Hankel determinants that are associated with the sequence of Catalan–Qi numbers and several sequences of series involving the Catalan–Qi numbers.
Genome‐Wide Regulation of Electroacupuncture and Treadmill Exercise on Diet‐Induced Obese Rats
Authors: Zhang Yanji , Li Jia , Wei Dan , Mo Guoyan , Yu Chaochao , Wang Lihua , Zhuo Yue , Xu Kou , Zhang Yingrong , Xue Yixuan , Huang Wei , Zhou Zhongyu
Published: September 2020

Acupuncture has been widely used for obesity treatment, but its mechanism is still unclear. To investigate the molecular mechanisms, we applied electroacupuncture (EA) at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint and treadmill exercise (TE) in a diet‐induced obese (DIO) rat model and used RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) to identify molecular consequences. Forty Sprague‐Dawley male rats were selected and randomly divided into five groups: control (C), DIO model (M), EA, TE, and EA + TE groups. According to the results, acupuncture reduced body weight and the ratio of retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (retro‐WAT) to body weight. Total RNA was extracted from the retro‐WAT from five groups for RNA‐seq. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) analysis showed that there were obvious differences among the four comparisons of C vs. M, M vs. EA, M vs. TE, and M vs. EA + TE, followed by 1383, 913, 3324, and 2794 DE genes. Gene ontology (GO) term enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed to further classify the DEGs. Several GO terms were commonly significantly enriched in both M vs. TE and M vs. EA, such as myofibril and muscle contraction. In addition, some pathways were regulated by EA and TE, such as the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. This study is the first to compare and analyze the differences in gene expression profiles in the retro‐WAT of rats in different groups, which provide a clue for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms of obesity treatment by EA and TE.
Multimodal Multiobject Tracking by Fusing Deep Appearance Features and Motion Information
Authors: Zhang Liwei , Lai Jiahong , Zhang Zenghui , Deng Zhen , He Bingwei , He Yucheng
Published: September 2020

Multiobject Tracking (MOT) is one of the most important abilities of autonomous driving systems. However, most of the existing MOT methods only use a single sensor, such as a camera, which has the problem of insufficient reliability. In this paper, we propose a novel Multiobject Tracking method by fusing deep appearance features and motion information of objects. In this method, the locations of objects are first determined based on a 2D object detector and a 3D object detector. We use the Nonmaximum Suppression (NMS) algorithm to combine the detection results of the two detectors to ensure the detection accuracy in complex scenes. After that, we use Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to learn the deep appearance features of objects and employ Kalman Filter to obtain the motion information of objects. Finally, the MOT task is achieved by associating the motion information and deep appearance features. A successful match indicates that the object was tracked successfully. A set of experiments on the KITTI Tracking Benchmark shows that the proposed MOT method can effectively perform the MOT task. The Multiobject Tracking Accuracy (MOTA) is up to 76.40% and the Multiobject Tracking Precision (MOTP) is up to 83.50%.
Evaluation of Commercial Disinfectants against Staphylococcus lentus and Micrococcus spp. of Poultry Origin
Authors: Saha Otun , Rakhi Nadira Naznin , Istiaq Arif , Islam Israt , Sultana Munawar , Hossain M. Anwar , Rahaman Md. Mizanur
Published: September 2020

Introduction. Effective sanitation strategies for poultry farms require an appropriate selection of the disinfectant based on the contaminants present and their sensitivity to the disinfectants. Aim. The current study investigated the prevalence of streptococci/micrococci in poultry farms of Bangladesh and the efficacy of commercial disinfectants (Savlon, Lysol, Quatovet, Virkon S, and Virocid) along with alcohol against these pathogens to adopt appropriate strategies. Materials and Methods. Conventional approaches and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to confirm the isolates at the species level along with microtiter biofilm assay to determine their biofilm-forming ability. Efficacy of the disinfectants was tested against those isolates using agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test by broth dilution method using different dilutions of the disinfectants. Results. Staphylococcus lentus (n = 32), Micrococcus luteus (n = 7), and Micrococcus aloeverae (n = 4) were confirmed among 102 presumptively screened streptococci/micrococci isolates from 43 samples. No single disinfectant showed equally high efficacy against all three bacterial species in agar well diffusion test, although Virocid showed the lowest MIC against all three of them. Lysol was least effective among the commercial disinfectants by both MIC and diffusion method, although each commercial disinfectant was more effective than alcohol. Considering both the average diameter of the inhibition zones and the MIC values, efficacy can be interpreted as Virocid > Quatovet > Savlon > Virkon S > Lysol. Although the efficacy decreased with decreasing concentration, the disinfectants retained a satisfactory level of efficacy at 50% concentration. Among test pathogens, M. aloeverae was the most sensitive to the disinfectants and the weakest biofilm producers, whereas 4/14 S. lentus and 1/5 M. luteus were strong biofilm producers, which may cause more reduction in the efficacy in environmental conditions. Conclusion. As no ideal disinfectant was found in the study, the efficacy of the disinfectants should be routinely evaluated and validated to ensure the sanitation standards in the poultry sector.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Ben-Arie Eyal , Kao Pei-Yu , Lee Yu-Chen , Ho Wen-Chao , Chou Li-Wei , Liu Hsin-Ping
Published: September 2020

Background. Frozen shoulder (FS) is associated with pain, reduced range of motion (ROM), and shoulder function. The condition occurs in 2–5% of the population, and it is especially common around the age of 50 years. FS symptoms will recover after 1–4 years. Many patients turn to acupuncture in order to alleviate the FS symptoms. Objective. In this review, we will investigate the efficiency of acupuncture as a FS treatment. Methods. A literature search of acupuncture and FS‐related keywords was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. Thirteen publications were included for a systematic review, and a meta‐analysis was done using the following measurements: visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, Constant‐Murley Shoulder Outcome Score (CMS) for shoulder function, and active shoulder ROM including flexion, abduction, and external rotation. The Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool and quality of evidence GRADE recommendations and STRICTA 2010 were used to grade the included publications. Results. A meta‐analysis on VAS pain score showed significant pain reduction, restoring CMS shoulder function, and flexion ROM in favor of acupuncture versus the control. In external rotation and abduction ROM, a meta‐analysis was not significant. The most used acupoints are Jian Yu (LI15) and Jian Liao (TB14). Conclusions. The results indicate that acupuncture could be safe and effective for pain reduction, restoring shoulder function, and restoring flexion ROM for FS patients in the short term and midterm. However, the level of evidence was very low. More high‐quality and longer studies are needed in order to robust the evidence.
Vertebral Fractures Associated with Spinal Sagittal Imbalance and Quality of Life in Acromegaly: A Radiographic Study with EOS 2D/3D Technology
Authors: Cellini Miriam , Biamonte Emilia , Mazza Massimiliano , Trenti Nicoletta , Ragucci Pasquala , Milani Davide , Ferrante Emanuele , Rossini Zefferino , Lavezzi Elisabetta , Sala Elisa , Mantovani Giovanna , Arosio Maura , Fornari Maurizio , Balzarini Luca , Lania Andrea G. , Mazziotti Gherardo
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Acromegaly is commonly complicated by arthropathy and skeletal fragility with high risk of vertebral fractures (VFs). Objective: This study aimed to assess whether VFs may be associated with sagittal spine deformities, arthropathy, impaired quality of life (QoL), pain, and disability. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with acromegaly (median age: 55 years, 20 males) and 38 matched control subjects were evaluated by a low-dose sagittal and coronal planes, X-ray imaging system (EOS®-2D/3D) for morphometric VFs, radiological signs of spine arthropathy, and spine deformities (Cobb thoracic index ≥40°, pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis ≥10°, pelvic tilt >20°, and sagittal vertical axis ≥4 cm) determining sagittal spine imbalance. Acromegalic patients were also evaluated by questionnaires for QoL (Acromegaly QoL Questionnaire [AcroQoL] and Short Form-36 [SF-36]) and pain and disability (Western Ontario and McMaster University [WOMAC]). Results: Acromegalic patients showed higher prevalence of thoracic hyperkyphosis (i.e., Cobb thoracic index ≥40°; p = 0.04) and pelvic tilt >20° (p = 0.02) than control subjects. VFs were found in 34.2% of acromegalic patients (p = 0.003 vs. control subjects), in relationship with higher prevalence of hyperkyphosis (p = 0.03), pelvic tilt >20° (p = 0.04), sagittal vertical axis ≥4 cm (p = 0.03), and moderate/severe subchondral degeneration (p = 0.01). Moreover, patients with VFs had lower AcroQoL general health (p = 0.007) and SF-36 general health (p = 0.002) scores and higher WOMAC pain (p = 0.003) and global (p = 0.009) scores than patients who did not fracture. Conclusions: In acromegaly, VFs may be associated with spine deformities and sagittal imbalance, spine arthropathy, impaired QoL, and disability.
Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Reducing Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension to Established Hypertension
Authors: Fu Jinming , Liu Yupeng , Zhang Lei , Zhou Lu , Li Dapeng , Quan Hude , Zhu Lin , Hu Fulan , Li Xia , Meng Shuhan , Yan Ran , Zhao Suhua , Onwuka Justina Ucheojor , Yang Baofeng , Sun Dianjun , Zhao Yashuang
Published: September 2020

Background

Nonpharmacologic interventions that modify lifestyle can lower blood pressure (BP) and have been assessed in numerous randomized controlled trials and pairwise meta‐analyses. It is still unclear which intervention would be most efficacious.

Methods and Results

Bayesian network meta‐analyses were performed to estimate the comparative effectiveness of different interventions for lowering BP. From 60 166 potentially relevant articles, 120 eligible articles (14 923 participants) with a median follow‐up of 12 weeks, assessing 22 nonpharmacologic interventions, were included. According to the surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) quality of evidence, for adults with prehypertension to established hypertension, high‐quality evidence indicated that the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) was superior to usual care and all other nonpharmacologic interventions in lowering systolic BP (weighted mean difference, 6.97 mm Hg; 95% credible interval, 4.50–9.47) and diastolic BP (weighted mean difference, 3.54 mm Hg; 95% credible interval, 1.80–5.28). Compared with usual care, moderate‐ to high‐quality evidence indicated that aerobic exercise, isometric training, low‐sodium and high‐potassium salt, comprehensive lifestyle modification, breathing‐control, and meditation could lower systolic BP and diastolic BP. For patients with hypertension, moderate‐ to high‐quality evidence suggested that the interventions listed (except comprehensive lifestyle modification) were associated with greater systolic BP and diastolic BP reduction than usual care; salt restriction was also effective in lowering both systolic BP and diastolic BP. Among overweight and obese participants, low‐calorie diet and low‐calorie diet plus exercise could lower more BP than exercise.

Conclusions

DASH might be the most effective intervention in lowering BP for adults with prehypertension to established hypertension. Aerobic exercise, isometric training, low‐sodium and high‐potassium salt, comprehensive lifestyle modification, salt restriction, breathing‐control, meditation and low‐calorie diet also have obvious effects on BP reduction.
Outcomes of Atrial Arrhythmia Surgery in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Houck Charlotte A. , de Groot Natasja M. S. , Kardys Isabella , Niehot Christa D. , Bogers Ad J. J. C. , Mouws Elisabeth M. J. P.
Published: September 2020

Background

The improved life expectancy of patients with congenital heart disease is often accompanied by the development of atrial tachyarrhythmias. Similarly, the number of patients requiring redo operations is expected to continue to rise as these patients are aging. Consequently, the role of arrhythmia surgery in the treatment of atrial arrhythmias is likely to become more important in this population. Although atrial arrhythmia surgery is a well‐established part of Fontan conversion procedures, evidence‐based recommendations for arrhythmia surgery for macroreentrant atrial tachycardia and atrial fibrillation in other patients with congenital heart disease are still lacking.

Methods and Results

Twenty‐eight studies were included in this systematic review. The median reported arrhythmia recurrence was 13% (interquartile range, 4%–26%) during follow‐up ranging from 3 months to 15.2 years. A large variation in surgical techniques was observed. Based on the acquired data, biatrial lesions are more effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation than exclusive right‐sided lesions. Right‐sided lesions may be more appropriate in the treatment of macroreentrant atrial tachycardia; evidence for the superiority of additional left‐sided lesions is lacking. There are not enough data to support the use of exclusive left‐sided lesions. Theoretically, prophylactic atrial arrhythmia surgery may be beneficial in this population, but evidence is currently limited.

Conclusions

To be able to provide recommendations for arrhythmia surgery in patients with congenital heart disease, future studies should report outcomes according to the type of preoperative arrhythmia, underlying congenital heart disease, lesion set, and energy source. This is essential for determining which surgical techniques should ideally be applied under which circumstances.
Limited Spin: When the Public Punishes Leaders Who Lie about Military Action
Authors: Maxey Sarah
Published: September 2020

Presidents have significant incentives to mislead the public about the use of force. Under what conditions are members of the public willing to hold presidents accountable for what they say about military action? This article examines both spin and deceit at the micro-level to clarify when individuals are most likely to punish presidents for misinformation. Three survey experiments demonstrate that presidents incur political costs for misinformation, even when operations succeed. Introducing partisanship into the analysis then reveals that not all individuals are equally likely to punish all presidents—Republican leaders primarily concerned with their base have the most leeway to mislead. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of democratic accountability and domestic constraints on military force. Rather than a static institutional feature, the strength of accountability can vary across presidents and electoral coalitions. Additionally, the results show political costs are not limited to large-scale deception—even spin generates backlash.
The role of various types of capital in transnational labor migration from the Philippines
Authors: Christ Simone
Published: September 2020

The Philippine government has been engaged in state-supported international labor migration for more than 40 years. Migrants and non-migrants alike are embedded in multifocal transnational lives as family members and friends are spread over different localities and nation-states. This study looks at the role of economic, social, cultural and symbolic capital as defined by Bourdieu (1986) in Filipino migration. The article analyzes the transformability of the different forms of capital in relation to labor migration. Moreover, the study asks how the four forms of capital are transferred from the Philippines to the destination country and back to the Philippines. Based on ethnographic data collected in the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines, the study concludes that having economic, social and cultural capital largely decides whether one is able to migrate and what destinations are accessible. Cultural capital is not easily transferable across the transnational space due to discriminating labor markets. After return, migrants have gained symbolic capital through the migration experience.
Ozone Reacts With Carbon Black to Produce a Fulvic Acid-Like Substance and Increase an Inflammatory Effect
Authors: Ghio Andrew J. , Gonzalez David H. , Paulson Suzanne E. , Soukup Joleen M. , Dailey Lisa A. , Madden Michael C. , Mahler Beth , Elmore Susan A. , Schladweiler Mette C. , Kodavanti Urmila P.
Published: September 2020

Exposure to ambient ozone has been associated with increased human mortality. Ozone exposure can introduce oxygen-containing functional groups in particulate matter (PM) effecting a greater capacity of the particle for metal complexation and inflammatory effect. We tested the postulate that (1) a fulvic acid-like substance can be produced through a reaction of a carbonaceous particle with high concentrations of ozone and (2) such a fulvic acid-like substance included in the PM can initiate inflammatory effects following exposure of respiratory epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells and an animal model (male Wistar Kyoto rats). Carbon black (CB) was exposed for 72 hours to either filtered air (CB-Air) or approximately 100 ppm ozone (CB-O3). Carbon black exposure to high levels of ozone produced water-soluble, fluorescent organic material. Iron import by BEAS-2B cells at 4 and 24 hours was not induced by incubations with CB-Air but was increased following coexposures of CB-O3 with ferric ammonium citrate. In contrast to CB-Air, exposure of BEAS-2B cells and rats to CB-O3 for 24 hours increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lung injury, respectively. It is concluded that inflammatory effects of carbonaceous particles on cells can potentially result from (1) an inclusion of a fulvic acid-like substance after reaction with ozone and (2) changes in iron homeostasis following such exposure.
Hope, home and insecurity: Gendered labours of resilience among the urban poor of Metro Cebu, the Philippines
Authors: Ramalho Jordana
Published: September 2020

This article traces the labours of hope embedded in the everyday social reproductive practices of urban poor homeowner association members in Metro Cebu, the Philippines. It explores how aspirations for housing and land tenure security and the (failed) promises of opportunity bound in the urban materialise in the narratives and activities of women and men living in informal settlements. I argue that the sociality of hope, which propels and sustains homeowner associations, produces gendered labours of resilience amidst everyday circumstances of poverty, uncertainty, risk and displacement. As I reveal, these care-based practices constitute expressions of hope that are driven by moral codes associated with the family, industriousness and service to others. These findings reinforce the utility of hope as an analytical lens in geographical studies; one which broadens conceptualisations of labour beyond economic production to include, in this case, the emotional embodiments and reproductive activities that underpin people’s everyday resilience.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Building Visibility for Critical Gender Perspectives Exploring Markets, Marketing and Society
Authors: Gurrieri Lauren , Previte Josephine , Prothero Andrea
Published: September 2020

In this introduction to the special issue on gender and macromarketing, we explore how gender research within the journal has remained “hidden in plain sight”; and, offer concrete proposals to build visibility for critical gender perspectives which explore markets, marketing and society. This introduction is divided into four sections. First, we examine existing research in the journal which has focused on gender. Next, we provide a summary of the eight articles published in this special issue. We then examine systemic gender inequalities and injustices currently evidenced within macromarketing. Finally, we proffer suggestions for future gender research directions within the journal, alongside our reflections on addressing the problematic gendered dynamics that persist within the journal and the Macromarketing Society.
Rare localization of angiolipoma in the gastrointestinal tract: a case series
Authors: Sun Juan , Kang Weiming , Zeng Ziyang , Zhang Zimu , Wang Xianze
Published: September 2020

Objective

Angiolipoma is a benign tumor that rarely occurs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This case series was performed to increase clinicians’ understanding of the diagnosis and management of GI angiolipoma.

Methods

We evaluated the clinical presentations, diagnoses, and treatments of 3 patients with angiolipoma in the upper GI tract in our hospital and 27 cases reported in the literature.

Results

Among all 30 cases of GI angiolipoma, 2 originated in the esophagus, 4 in the stomach, 2 in the duodenum, 1 in the jejunum, 7 in the ileum, 1 in the cecum, 9 in the colon, 2 in the rectum, and 2 in both the duodenum and colon.

Conclusion

Angiolipoma of the GI tract may be more likely to occur in middle-aged and elderly men and be located in the ileum and colon. The clinical manifestations generally involve upper GI hemorrhage and lower GI pain and obstruction. Computed tomography and endoscopy may be effective diagnostic techniques, but postoperative histopathologic examination is still the gold standard. The management of angiolipoma in the GI tract depends on the size and type of lesion. Most cases in the present series were managed by complete surgical resection, after which no recurrence was found.
SOX2 Expression in Canine Neoplasia
Authors: Miranda Ileana C. , Miller Andrew D.
Published: September 2020

SOX2 is a major transcriptional regulator of stem cell pluripotency and self-renewability. Its expression in cancer stem cells from several different tumor types in humans and rodent models directly implicates SOX2 in tumorigenicity, metastasis, drug resistance, recurrence, and poor survival. Our objective was to investigate the expression of SOX2 in canine neoplasia. Immunohistochemistry for SOX2 was performed in sets of 10 archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 45 distinct canine neoplasms. Normal expression of SOX2 was evaluated in a canine tissue microarray. Strong and diffuse SOX2 intranuclear immunolabeling was consistently found in the majority of ectodermal (13/15) and endodermal tumors (5/7). Negative, variable, or inconsistent SOX2 intranuclear immunolabeling was detected in the majority of mesodermal tumors (10/16) and in tumors with dual or uncertain origin (5/7). Although further studies are necessary to understand mechanistically how SOX2 contributes to the biology of each tumor type, this study demonstrates the expression of SOX2 in a wide variety of canine cancers. In the future, screening methods based on cellular plasticity and pluripotency biomarkers may provide avenues for the rational design of therapeutic strategies that target vulnerable signals upstream or downstream of SOX2 in different cancers, and possibly offer novel clinical applications for SOX2 as a prognostic indicator.
Comparison of the recognition scores of stop and fricative consonants in babble noise between musicians and non-musicians
Authors: Sajjadi Ebtesam , Mohammadzadeh Ali , Sayadi Nushin , Nazeri Ahmadreza , Tabatabai Seyyed Mehdi
Published: September 2020

Everyday communication mostly occurs in the presence of various background noises and competing talkers. Studies have shown that musical training could have a positive effect on auditory processing, particularly in challenging listening situations. To our knowledge, no groups have specifically studied the advantage of musical training on perception of consonants in the presence of background noise. We hypothesized that musician advantage in speech in noise processing may also result in enhanced perception of speech units such as consonants in noise. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the recognition of stops and fricatives, which constitute the highest number of Persian consonants, in the presence of 12-talker babble noise between musicians and non-musicians. For this purpose, stops and fricatives presented in the consonant-vowel-consonant format and embedded in three signal-to-noise ratios of 0, −5, and −10 dB. The study was conducted on 40 young listeners (20 musicians and 20 non-musicians) with normal hearing. Our outcome indicated that musicians outperformed the non-musicians in recognition of stops and fricatives in all three signal-to-noise ratios. These findings provide important evidence about the impact of musical instruction on processing of consonants and highlight the role of musical training on perceptual abilities.
Low-cost electronic sensors for environmental research: Pitfalls and opportunities
Authors: Chan Kristofer , Schillereff Daniel N , Baas Andreas CW , Chadwick Michael A , Main Bruce , Mulligan Mark , O’Shea Francis T , Pearce Reagan , Smith Thomas EL , van Soesbergen Arnout , Tebbs Emma , Thompson Joseph
Published: September 2020

Repeat observations underpin our understanding of environmental processes, but financial constraints often limit scientists’ ability to deploy dense networks of conventional commercial instrumentation. Rapid growth in the Internet-Of-Things (IoT) and the maker movement is paving the way for low-cost electronic sensors to transform global environmental monitoring. Accessible and inexpensive sensor construction is also fostering exciting opportunities for citizen science and participatory research. Drawing on 6 years of developmental work with Arduino-based open-source hardware and software, extensive laboratory and field testing, and incorporation of such technology into active research programmes, we outline a series of successes, failures and lessons learned in designing and deploying environmental sensors. Six case studies are presented: a water table depth probe, air and water quality sensors, multi-parameter weather stations, a time-sequencing lake sediment trap, and a sonic anemometer for monitoring sand transport. Schematics, code and purchasing guidance to reproduce our sensors are described in the paper, with detailed build instructions hosted on our King’s College London Geography Environmental Sensors Github repository and the FreeStation project website. We show in each case study that manual design and construction can produce research-grade scientific instrumentation (mean bias error for calibrated sensors –0.04 to 23%) for a fraction of the conventional cost, provided rigorous, sensor-specific calibration and field testing is conducted. In sharing our collective experiences with build-it-yourself environmental monitoring, we intend for this paper to act as a catalyst for physical geographers and the wider environmental science community to begin incorporating low-cost sensor development into their research activities. The capacity to deploy denser sensor networks should ultimately lead to superior environmental monitoring at the local to global scales.
Bone Marrow Stimulation in Arthroscopic Repair for Large to Massive Rotator Cuff Tears With Incomplete Footprint Coverage
Authors: Kim Chul , Lee Yun-Jae , Kim Sung-Jae , Yoon Tae-Hwan , Chun Yong-Min
Published: September 2020

Background:

There is no research on incomplete footprint coverage with single-row repair related to bone marrow stimulation (BMS) in large to massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs).

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose was to compare the clinical results and structural integrity between BMS and non-BMS groups that underwent arthroscopic repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears with <50% footprint coverage. It was hypothesized that both groups would exhibit improved clinical outcomes at 2 years after surgery but the BMS group would have significantly better clinical outcomes and structural integrity.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This study included 98 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair with <50% footprint coverage for large to massive RCTs with (BMS group; n = 56) or without (non-BMS group; n = 42) BMS. Functional outcomes at the 2-year follow-up were assessed using the visual analog scale for pain score, subjective shoulder value; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; University of California, Los Angeles, shoulder score; and active range of motion. Structural integrity was evaluated using magnetic resonance arthrography or computed tomography arthrography results at 6 months postoperatively.

Results:

At the 2-year follow-up, all functional outcomes significantly improved in both groups compared with preoperative values ( P < .001). However, there were no significant postoperative differences between groups. On follow-up magnetic resonance arthrography or computed tomography arthrography, the overall retear rate was not significantly different between the BMS group (30.3%; 17/56) and the non-BMS group (35.7%; 15/42).

Conclusion:

While both groups exhibited functional improvement after single-row repair with <50% footprint coverage for large to massive RCTs, BMS did not produce better clinical outcomes or structural integrity.
Application of life cycle assessment for municipal solid waste management options in Hohhot, People’s Republic of China
Authors: Liu Meichun , Tan Zhengze , Fan Xuechun , Chang Yuzhi , Wang Liping , Yin Xuefeng
Published: September 2020

With increasing population and urbanization levels in the People’s Republic of China, environmental problems related to the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) are inevitable. This study aimed to determine the environmental impact of the current MSW management system in Hohhot City and to establish an optimum future strategy for it by applying life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Four scenarios were compared using the CML-IA impact characterization method, which took into account their potential contribution to global warming, ozone depletion, human toxicity, photochemical ozone creation, acidification, and eutrophication potentials. The system boundaries included the collection and recycling, transfer and transportation of MSW, and its disposal by incineration, landfilling, and carbon dioxide (CO2) capture methods. The results showed that the scenario involving landfill and incineration in a ratio of 1:5 was the optimal waste management option; however, increasing the proportion of waste incinerated led to a significant increase in global warming potential. Additional technologies are thus required to overcome this problem, and it was found that the use of CO2 capture technology resulted in a 30% reduction in the total environmental impact potential. This study’s results indicate that LCA is a valuable and practical tool to support decision-making that can be used to suggest problematic areas in current waste management strategies and to determine an optimal alternative to the solid waste management option.