bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive investigation of cutting mechanisms and hole quality in dry drilling woven aramid fibre–reinforced plastic with typical tools
Authors: Liu Sinan , Yang Tao , Liu Chang , Du Yu
Published: April 2019

Due to high specific strength and strong toughness, aramid fibre–reinforced plastics have been widely used in the aircraft, military, and automobile industries. However, in the hole-making process, these excellent properties make aramid fibre–reinforced plastics difficult to machine and prone to severe entrance and exit damages. In this article, the cutting mechanisms of three typical tools (twist drill, burr tool, and brad drill) are thoroughly investigated during dry drilling of aramid fibre–reinforced plastic. On this basis, systematic experiments are conducted to evaluate the cutting performance and hole quality. At the hole entrance, the cutting edges of the twist drill peel and tear the uncut material, which results in severe fuzzing damage. Due to the radial rake angles of the burr tool and brad drill, the radial component of the cutting force can pre-tension aramid fibres prior to being cut, which effectively reduces the fuzzing defect. At the hole exit, the extrusion action of the chisel edge and the severe chip adherence are the main causes of exit damage for the twist drill and burr tool, respectively. Due to the decrease in the thrust force and improvement in the shearing action, the best hole quality is achieved by the brad drill. To further improve the hole quality, an auxiliary approach using collars is introduced to effectively restrain the damage by enhancing interfacial bonding strength. This article provides comprehensive and available information on tool performance for drilling aramid fibre–reinforced plastics, which can help guide process optimizations to achieve the desired hole quality.
Effects of Cu–Ag hybrid nanoparticles on the momentum and thermal boundary layer flow over the wedge
Authors: Hassan Mohsan , Faisal Abrar , Ali Irfan , Bhatti Muhammad Mubashir , Yousaf Muhammad
Published: April 2019

In this work, the effects of hybrid nanoparticles on the momentum and thermal boundary layers as well as flow characteristics and thermal performance of the hybrid nanofluid are investigated over the wedge. The fluid in the enclosure is water containing hybrid nanoparticles Cu–Ag. The physical model of homogenous hybrid nanofluid is derived using the elementary equations of thermo-hydrodynamic and co-relation's model of a mixture that supports the effective physical features. The results are calculated to measure the effects of nanoparticle concentration on thermal and momentum boundary layers and displayed in graphs for discussions. In addition, the effects of nanoparticles concentration and different compositions of hybrid nanoparticles on temperature and velocity profiles, physical properties, skin friction, and convective heat transfer coefficient are deliberated through graphs and tables. To check its heat transfer performance, a comparison of hybrid nanofluid is made between the base fluid and single material nanofluids. It is found that the efficiency of hybrid nanofluids as a heat transfer fluid is much more than conventional fluids or single nanoparticles-based nanofluids. These results in terms of boundary layers phenomena, heat transfer performance, and temperature and velocity profiles under hybrid nanomaterial could help chemical engineers to design the critical equipment in a process industry such as heat exchangers and pumps and others.
Automatic localization of anatomical regions in medical ultrasound images of rheumatoid arthritis using deep learning
Authors: Hemalatha RJ , Vijaybaskar V , Thamizhvani TR
Published: April 2019

The pace of population aging is growing faster worldwide. The quality of life of the aging population is mostly affected by rheumatic diseases. With the increasing rate of rheumatoid arthritis in the aging population, technological advances in the field of automatic image processing and analysis have paved way for automatic detection and diagnosis of arthritis based on how the grade of the synovial region is designed. The proposed method is based on spatial analysis using intensity-based approach to segment the skin border, thresholding and connectivity algorithm for bone region segmentation, hit-or-miss transform for bone line segmentation and distance measure with image profile to detect the joint region. After this process of localization, the synovial region is determined using the active contour technique. In arthritis condition, synovitis also occurs which is categorized into four different grades based on the fluid expansion in the synovial region. The different grades are defined and analyzed through deep learning. Convolutional neural network in a deep learning algorithm is used to diagnose the particular grade of synovitis to describe the nature of arthritis. With these results, a module to detect the nature of arthritis automatically is defined.
Electrophysiological Evidence for Top-Down Lexical Influences on Early Speech Perception
Authors: Getz Laura M. , Toscano Joseph C.
Published: April 2019

An unresolved issue in speech perception concerns whether top-down linguistic information influences perceptual responses. We addressed this issue using the event-related-potential technique in two experiments that measured cross-modal sequential-semantic priming effects on the auditory N1, an index of acoustic-cue encoding. Participants heard auditory targets (e.g., “potatoes”) following associated visual primes (e.g., “MASHED”), neutral visual primes (e.g., “FACE”), or a visual mask (e.g., “XXXX”). Auditory targets began with voiced (/b/, /d/, /g/) or voiceless (/p/, /t/, /k/) stop consonants, an acoustic difference known to yield differences in N1 amplitude. In Experiment 1 ( N = 21), semantic context modulated responses to upcoming targets, with smaller N1 amplitudes for semantic associates. In Experiment 2 ( N = 29), semantic context changed how listeners encoded sounds: Ambiguous voice-onset times were encoded similarly to the voicing end point elicited by semantic associates. These results are consistent with an interactive model of spoken-word recognition that includes top-down effects on early perception.
Memory for Repeated Images in Rapid-Serial-Visual-Presentation Streams of Thousands of Images
Authors: Thunell Evelina , Thorpe Simon J.
Published: April 2019

Human observers readily detect targets in stimuli presented briefly and in rapid succession. Here, we show that even without predefined targets, humans can spot repetitions in streams of thousands of images. We presented sequences of natural images reoccurring a number of times interleaved with either one or two distractors, and we asked participants to detect the repetitions and to identify the repeated images after a delay that could last for minutes. Performance improved with the number of repeated-image presentations up to a ceiling around seven repetitions and was above chance even after only two to three presentations. The task was easiest for slow streams; performance dropped with increasing image-presentation rate but stabilized above 15 Hz and remained well above chance even at 120 Hz. To summarize, we reveal that the human brain has an impressive capacity to detect repetitions in rapid-serial-visual-presentation streams and to remember repeated images over a time course of minutes.
Social versus liberal collective skill formation systems? A comparative-historical analysis of the role of trade unions in German and Swiss VET
Authors: Emmenegger Patrick , Graf Lukas , Strebel Alexandra
Published: April 2019

We distinguish between social and liberal collective skill formation systems and demonstrate that the German VET system is a social system with a strong (parity) role for trade unions in its governance. In contrast, unions play a considerably weaker role in the more liberal Swiss system, which privileges employers’ interests. We show that the different position of unions in VET systems has the expected consequences on a range of indicators. We further examine why unions are less important in Switzerland and show how, after the First World War, differences in the institutional environment and power resources of the union movements set Germany and Switzerland on different paths, which are still visible today.
Does union membership matter? Political participation, attachment to democracy and generational change
Authors: Turner Thomas , Ryan Lorraine , O’Sullivan Michelle
Published: April 2019

We examine whether trade union membership enhances political activism and beliefs in the democratic system, and argue that trade unions and union membership are more likely to develop workers’ capacities to participate as citizens in the democratic process. Union members are more likely to engage in political activities and hold more positive attitudes towards democracy than non-union respondents across 11 stable European democracies with varying levels of union density and collective bargaining coverage. A notable trend is the decline over generations of the positive gap in political participation levels between union and non-union workers. It appears that the effects of union membership for political participation and attitudes to democracy, though still significant, are less salient for the 1980s generation.
Dibutyl phthalate-induced activation of ROS and ERK1/2 causes hepatic and renal damage in Kunming mice
Authors: Cheng L , Li J , Cheng J , Wu Z
Published: April 2019

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has been reported to be involved in hepatic and renal tissue damage. However, the role of DBP in oxidative stress and in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathways remains unclear. To investigate the underlying mechanism, Kunming (KM) mice received daily doses of combinations of 50 mg/kg DBP, 50 mg/kg vitamin E (VitE), and 1 mg/kg PD98059 for 28 consecutive days. Any changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as any histopathological alterations in tissues, were observed to assess oxidative stress. In addition, the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and albumin in serum were used to evaluate liver function. The levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen in serum were measured to evaluate kidney function. We found that DBP significantly increased oxidative damage and the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2. Furthermore, pretreatment with the ERK inhibitor PD98059 followed by the antioxidant VitE attenuated the levels of ROS, MDA, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and DBP-mediated disorders, indicating that the oxidative stress and the ERK1/2 pathways are associated with DBP-induced hepatic and renal dysfunction in KM mice.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Males: Analysis of Clinical and Laboratory Features
Authors: Olcay Aydintug A. , Domenech Ines , Cervera Ricard , Khamashta Munther A. , Jedryka-Goral Anna , Vianna Joao L. , Hughes Graham R.V.
Published: April 2019

We analysed the clinical and laboratory features of 16 males in comparison with 231 females from a series of 247 unselected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There was no significant difference between male and female patients with regard to age at onset and age at diagnosis. Apart from serositis, which was found to occur at a significantly higher frequency in male patients, the incidence of clinical features at disease onset was similar in both sexes. Analysis of clinical findings during the evolution of the disease showed no significant difference between male and female patients. Similarly, no significant immunological difference was found between the two groups. Thus, except for a higher frequency of serositis as the presenting symptom in males, we could not find any notable differences in clinical and serological parameters of male and female patients with SLE.
Ophthalmologic Safety Profile of Antimalarial Drugs
Authors: Rynes Richard I. , Bernstein Howard N.
Published: April 2019

The ophthalmologic safety of antimalarial drugs is well established, but absolute safety cannot be assured. Three types of side effects may develop. Corneal deposits and neuromuscular-associated blurred vision are always reversible and therefore benign. Visual loss has occurred in patients with retinopathy. Retinopathy may be divided into true retinopathy and premaculopathy. It is true retinopathy that may be associated with visual loss, while premaculopathy consists of subtle visual field and funduscopic abnormalities. These premaculopathic changes are generally completely reversible with drug discontinuation and have not been shown to progress. Hydroxychloroquine appears safer than chloroquine when currently accepted equivalent doses are’ used. Fewer than 20 patients with true retinopathy caused by hydroxychloroquine have been reported; more patients have developed true retinopathy when taking chloroquine. The safety profile is most dependent on low daily dose and regular ophthalmologic monitoring. The optimal strategy of ophthalmologic testing has not yet been determined, but visual acuity, funduscopic examination and visual field examination should be monitored. Self-administered ophthalmologic testing with Amsler grids may contribute additional safety but is not a replacement for physician testing.
Antimalarial Drugs, Pregnancy and Lactation
Authors: Parke Ann L.
Published: April 2019

Disease activity has been demonstrated to be one of the major factors contributing to fetal loss in SLE patients, and discontinuation of antimalarial therapy can precipitate a flare of disease. It is therefore important to determine whether it is safe to continue antimalarial therapy throughout pregnancy. We have previously stated that we consider lupus patients and their fetuses to be at risk for disaster if antimalarial therapy is discontinued during pregnancy, and it has been our experience that lupus patients can produce normal offspring even if they are taking daily chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Several other reports now support our findings that it is probably safe to continue antimalarial therapy during pregnancy, although there are no large studies published. Data on the secretion of hydroxychloroquine in the breast milk of patients on steady-state hydroxychloroquine therapy are minimal, and further studies are required to determine whether these women can safely nurse their infants while taking hydroxychloroquine daily.
Lymphocyte Subsets in a Large Cohort of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Erkeller-Yüksel Feza , Hulstaart Frank , Hannet Irene , Isenberg David , Lydyard Peter
Published: April 2019

In search of markers of disease activity in patients with SLE we have investigated blood lymphocyte subsets from a large cohort of patient. Seventy-one patients were studied using a well-defined panel of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies which recognize the major T, B and NK lymphocyte subsets and activated cells. Flow cytometry was used with standard automated software.

Overall, SLE patients were lymphopenic. The proportion of activated T cells was increased and NK cells were decreased in both proportion and absolute numbers (P < 0.001). This decrease was more pronounced in the more active patients.

None of the T cell activation markers was shown to distinguish different degrees of disease activity. However, the percentage of NK cells was significantly reduced in active disease states (P< 0.01). Decreased numbers of NK cells could potentially reduce the resistance of SLE patients to infectious organisms.
Detection of Anti-Phospholipid and Anti-DNA Antibodies and their Idiotypes in Newborns of Mothers with Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome and Sle
Authors: Zurgil N. , Bakimer R. , Tincani A. , Faden D. , Cohen J. , Lorber M. , Valesini G. , Shoenfeld Y.
Published: April 2019

The titers, isotypes and idiotypes of antiphospholipid and anti-dsDNA antibodies were determined in seven pairs of mothers with antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) and their offspring, in 11 pairs of SLE mothers and their matched infants and in seven respective pairs of healthy subjects. In addition, maternal as well as fetal sera were evaluated for the presence of anti-SSA (Ro), anti-SSB (La) and anti-70 kd RNP autoantibodies.

In the sera from APLS patients, as well as in the sera from their offspring, the mean antibody titer of IgG aCL was found to be significantly higher then the corresponding value in the control group (P < 0.01). Highly significant increased titers of IgG anti-DNA antibodies were found in the sera of SLE mothers and their matched offspring (P < 0.0008).

The prevalance of anti-SSA, anti-SSA, and anti-7OKd RNP antibodies was lower then that of antiphospholipid and anti-dsDNA antibodies. Only one of the respective offspring had increased levels of these antibodies.

The quantity of maternal antibodies transferd to the fetus was depended on their concentration in the maternal circulation, as well as on their type and specificity. Follow-up of newborn sera showed a progressive decrease in the antiphospholipid antibody titers during 3 months. After 6 months it was undetected.

Our results point to a transplacental transfer of aCL and anti-DNA antibodies, a phenomenon which is not necessarily associated with respective clinical manifestations, in contrast to the classical humoral mediated autoimmune diseases (e.g. myasthenia gravis).
Maternal Autoantibodies and Congenital Heart Block: No Evidence for the Existence of a Unique Heart Block-associated Anti-Ro/SS-A Autoantibody Profile
Authors: Meilof J.F. , Frohn-Mulder I.M.E. , Stewart P.A. , Szatmari A. , Hess J. , Veldhoven C.H.A. , Smeenk R.J.T. , Swaak A.J.G.
Published: April 2019

One of the rare examples of the transfer of autoimmune disease from mother to (unborn) child is the neonatal lupus syndrome. This syndrome comprises the development of fetal heart disease (congenital heart block) or neonatal skin rash and is specifically associated with maternal anti-Ro/SS-A autoantibodies. Previous studies have suggested that especially maternal autoantibody reactivity against the 52 kDa protein of the Ro/SS-A antigen and/or against the La/SS-B antigen is responsible for the development of congenital heart block (CHB).

To determine the CHB-associated antibody response in more detail, we analysed the presence of autoantibodies in sera from mothers of children with isolated heart block. All 14 mothers of children with congenital heart block were positive for anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies. Remarkably, their antibody profile, including recognition of different Ro/SS-A proteins and autoantibody levels against these proteins, did not differ from anti-Ro/SS-A positive mothers of healthy children. In contrast, all 8 anti-Ro/SS-A negative mothers had children with acquired heart block.

We conclude from our data that maternal anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies are essential for CHB but that fine analysis of this autoantibody response does not predict the occurrence of CHB.
Anti-malarial drugs: possible mechanisms of action in autoimmune disease and prospects for drug development
Authors: Fox R
Published: April 2019

A wide variety of mechanisms of anti-rheumatic action have been proposed for antimalarial agents. The molecular actions of chloroquine have been most thoroughly studied in vitro and in vivo, but it is likely that hydroxychloroquine works by a similar mechanism. Both agents are weak diprotic bases that can pass through the lipid cell membrane and preferentially concentrate in acidic cyto-plasmic vesicles. The resulting slight elevation of pH within these vesicles in macrophages or other antigen-presenting cells may influence the immune response to autoantigens. We hypothesize that anti-malarial agents influence the association of autoantigenic peptides with class II MHC molecules in the compartment for peptide loading and/or the subsequent processing and transport of the peptide-MHC complex to the cell membrane. This model of anti-malarial action provides a method to test additional drugs for their ability to modulate the immune response.
Pharmacokinetics of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine during treatment of rheumatic diseases
Authors: Furst Daniel E
Published: April 2019

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are well absorbed (0.7-0.8 bioavailability) when given orally. Severe malnutrition (such as kwashiorkor) effects absorption but diahrrea does not. Both HCQ and CQ have prolonged half-lives, between 40 and 50 days, and low blood clearance (e.g. hydroxychloroquine's blood clearance is 96 ml/min). There is great variability of blood concentrations with an eleven-fold range of drug concentrations found after similar doses in RA patients. Protein binding ranges between 30 and 40% with binding to both albumin and alpha1 glycoprotein. There is differential binding and metabolism of the (R) and (S) stereoisomers. Both drugs bind strongly to pigmented tissues but also bind to mononuclear cells, muscles, etc. There is stereo-selective excretion of both drugs and 40-50% of the drug is excreted renally. Between 21 and 47% is excreted unchanged. There is a suggestion of concentration response and concentration toxicity relationships with decreased morning stiffness as HCQ concentrations increase and increased EKG abnormalities as CQ concentrations become higher, but further testing is required. Pharmacokinetic interaction studies are limited. Potentially important kinetic interactions have been documented for d-penicillamine and cimetidine but have not been found for aspirin, ranitidine or imipramine.
The efficacy of antimalarials in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Nayak V , Esdaile Jm
Published: April 2019

The use of antimalarial drugs to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is receiving increased attention. A retrospective controlled study suggested that antimalarials were useful in suppressing disease activity in SLE. A randomized discontinuation trial of hydroxychloroquine sulphate supported the clinical belief that antimalarials are of benefit in SLE of mild to moderate disease activity and might have a role as adjunctive therapy to protect against more severe relapses of SLE. A randomized trial of the ability of hydroxychloroquine sulphate to suppress articular manifestations of SLE demonstrated no consistent statistically significant benefit, although the sample size was small. Anecdotal reports and the experience of expert clinicians have suggested a corticosteroid sparing role for antimalarials, although no controlled study has been conducted to specifically address this hypothesis. Thus, the evidence favors a role for antimalarials in suppressing mild to moderate disease activity in SLE and possibly in preventing severe disease exacerbations. Their role as corticosteroid sparing agents in SLE is widely believed, but unproven.
Antimalarials in Sjogren's syndrome-the Greek experience
Authors: Manoussakis MN , Moutsopoulos HM
Published: April 2019

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of exocrine glands, mainly of salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to dryness of mouth and eyes. It can occur either alone (primary SS) or in association with almost every systemic autoimmune rheumatic SS). Usually, SS patients have slowly progressive disease confined in exocrine glands, however, in approximately one third of primary SS patients the disorder presents a systemic and progressive course with involvement of diverse extraglandular sites and in a small but significant number of patients with lymphoid neoplasia development. Although the aetiology of SS remains unknown, chronic immune system stimulation is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disorder, as illustrated by several indices of immunological hyperactivity, including various autoantibodies, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and circulating paraproteins. To date, treatment of SS remains largely empirical and symptomatic, and no clinical trial has been proved capable to change the course of the disease. Hydroxychloroquine has been successfully applied for the treatment of arthralgias, myalgias and general constitutive symptoms of SS patients. In an initial small open study, hydroxychloroquine administration has been shown to improve features of immunological hyperreactivity, such as hyper-gammaglobulinaemia and autoantibody levels. However, large prospective double-blind studies are still needed to assess the long-term efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in preventing extraglandular involvement and lymphoma development in primary SS patients.
Treatment of primary Sjögren's syndrome with hydroxychloroquine: a retrospective, open-label study
Authors: Fox Ri , Dixon R , Guarrasi V , Krubel S
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To determine whether patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), diagnosed according to San Diego criteria, had improvement in their laboratory or clinical features during treatment with hydroxychloroquine (6–7 mg/kg/day) for at least two years., Methods: The study population included 50 consecutive patients with primary SS who were diagnosed according to San Diego criteria, and in whom hydroxychloroquine was suggested as treatment. This group included 10 patients who were early dropouts (side effects or desire not to take antimalarial drugs) and 40 patients who received drugs for at least two years (range 24-48 months). In a subset of SS patients, values for ESR (westergren) and quantitative immunoglobulins were available for comparison. Improvement with therapy was defined as: (a) ≥20% improvement in variables of tear flow (Schirmer's test I) or corneal integrity (rose Bengal): (b) ≥20% salivary function (flow rate); and (c) improvement in at least two of the following measures: physicians assessment of global disease activity by ≥ 20%, patient assessment of improvement in pain or fatigue by ≥20%, and ESR improved by ≥20mm/ hr.

Results

In a retrospective study of SS patients who completed the trial, a significant improvement was noted in ocular symptoms (pain and dryness) in patients (55 and 57%) and improved corneal integrity (rose Bengal straining) in 53% of patients. The Schirmer's test was improved by ≥ 2 mm/5 minutes in 50% in patients. Improvement was noted in oral symptoms (pain and dryness) in patients (57 and 60%) and salivary flow rate was increased in 82% of patients. In a subset of SS patients evaluated, the ESR improved by ≥20mm/hr in 17/32 patients (53%) and quantitative IgG level by ≥20% in 8/13 patients (61%). Physician global assessment of overall patient status and patient assessment of overall status indicated improvement in over 62% of patients.

Conclusion

In a retrospective study of patients fulfilling San Diego Criteria for SS, we found: (a) sustained improvement of local symptoms (painful eyes, painful mouth) and improvement of systemic manifestations (arthralgias and myalgias) after treatment with hydroxychloroquine 6-7 mg/kg/day over mean three-year follow-up; (b) laboratory analysis showed a significant improvement in their ESR and their quantitative IgG levels; (c) no significant late toxicity was observed in this study cohort. A prospective study of hydroxychloroquine in patients fulfilling San Diego criteria for SS is indicated.
The role of anti-malarials in rheumatoid arthritis – the American experience
Authors: Khraishi Mm , Singh G
Published: April 2019

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease with significant morbidity and functional disability. The traditional treatment for RA relied on the use of NSAIDs early in the disease course, followed by disease-modifying agents later. More recently, the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have become the mainstay of RA therapy because of the recognition of their superior efficacy/toxicity profile. The antimalarial drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, are some of the most commonly used DMARDs in the management of RA. They have been shown to be significantly more effective than NSAIDs alone in several clinical trials, and have a benign toxicity profile. A combination of hydroxychloroquine with methotrexate appears to reduce significantly the hepatic toxicity of methotrexate. In this review, we summarize the efficacy and toxicity profiles of the antimalarial drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.
The use of antimalarials in combination with other disease modifying agents in rheumatoid arthritis–the French Experience
Authors: Kahan A , Menkès C-J
Published: April 2019

A significant proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an aggressive, severe disease that may contribute to excess mortality. It has been suggested that early, aggressive therapy might improve the prognosis of these patients with active, severe rheumatoid arthritis. Combinations of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including antimalarials are increasingly used in patients with active disease. While several open trials showed encouraging results, some controlled studies gave less support for the use of combination therapy. Ongoing controlled trials of double or triple combination therapy, such as hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate and sulphasalazine, should help define its place in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Openness in Financial Services Trade and Financial Development: Evidence from the BRICS Economies
Authors: Khatun Rabia
Published: April 2019

This article investigates the long-run relationship between openness in financial services trade (OPTIFS) and financial development in five BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economies, for the period of 1990–2012. It is found that the variables under consideration possess a long-run relationship in the mentioned economies. Fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) have been performed to find the long-run coefficient of the variables. Results from FMOLS and DOLS have confirmed that OPTIFS has a positive and significant impact on financial development. The study reveals that 1 per cent increase in trade in financial services causes 0.109 increase in total credit to private sector, which is used as a proxy for financial development, indicating that the government should try to remove barriers from trade in financial services in order to develop better financial structure, thereby promoting further growth. It is also found that some of the control variables like gross savings and gross domestic product have positive and significant impact on financial development at 5 per cent level of significance
Common matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene variants and altered susceptibility to breast cancer and associated features in Tunisian women
Authors: Habel Azza F , Ghali Rabeb M , Bouaziz Hanen , Daldoul Amira , Hadj-Ahmed Mariem , Mokrani Amina , Zaied Sonia , Hechiche Monia , Rahal Khaled , Yacoubi-Loueslati Besma , Almawi Wassim Y
Published: April 2019

A role for matrix metalloproteinase polymorphisms in breast cancer development and progression was proposed, but with inconclusive results. We assessed the relation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants with breast cancer and related phenotypes in Tunisians. This case-control retrospective study involved 430 women with breast cancer and 498 healthy controls. Genotyping of matrix metalloproteinase-2 rs243866, rs243865, rs243864, and rs2285053 was analyzed by allelic exclusion. The minor allele frequency of rs2285053 was significantly lower in women with breast cancer cases as compared to control women; minor allele frequencies of the remaining single-nucleotide polymorphisms were similar between cases and control women. The distribution of rs243865 and rs2285053 genotypes was significantly different between breast cancer patients and control subjects. This persisted when key covariates were controlled for. None of the matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants were associated with estrogen receptor positivity, progesterone receptor positivity, or with double estrogen receptor–progesterone receptor positivity in breast cancer patients. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 rs243866, rs243865, and rs243864 were positively associated with menstrual irregularity and histological type, while rs243866 and rs2285053 were negatively associated with menarche and nodal status. In addition, rs2285053 was negatively associated with triple negativity, tumor size, distance metastasis, molecular type, and chemotherapy. Haploview analysis revealed high linkage disequilibrium between matrix metalloproteinase-2 variants. Four-locus Haploview analysis identified haplotypes GCTT and GTTC to be negatively associated with breast cancer, which remained statistically after controlling for key covariates. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 alleles and genotypes, along with four-locus haplotypes, are related to reduced susceptibility to breast cancer in Tunisian women, suggesting a protective effect.
The collateral liquidity problem in contemporary finance and the resurrection of quantity theory
Authors: Krarup Troels
Published: April 2019

Since the 2008 crisis, the liquidity of collateral has become a serious concern for financial market institutions and regulators due to its increased importance in risk and cash flow management. Surprisingly, market participants mobilize old-fashioned economic theory, such as Irving Fisher’s quantity theory of money in their discussions of how to deal with the new problems of collateral liquidity. Today, ‘collateral is the new cash’, as one sector report claims, marking a shift from a quantity theory of money to one of collateral. Liquidity, I argue, poses not only practical problems to market participants and regulators, but also epistemic ones. Accordingly, practitioners not only produce practical but also theoretical responses to it, mobilizing classical economic theory in so doing. The problem of liquidity is shown to relate closely to a problem of ‘sovereignty’ in the narrow sense of guaranteeing the safe value of collateral. Contrary to established conceptions, sovereignty in this sense is not limited to states, but can also occur with monopolistic agents in the market such as global custodians. Thus, following the recent decade of crisis, general epistemic problems of liquidity and sovereignty in contemporary finance become visible through the practical problems and solutions in relation to collateral – specifically in the practical problems of buttressing liquidity in its double nature of collateral velocity and quality or safety.
Early Identification of Pediatric Neurology Patients With Palliative Care Needs: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lyons-Warren Ariel Maia , Stowe Robert C. , Emrick Lisa , Jarrell Jill Ann
Published: April 2019

Palliative care services are beneficial for pediatric neurology patients with chronic, life-limiting illnesses. However, timely referral to palliative care may be impeded due to an inability to identify appropriate patients. The aim of this pilot case–control study was to test a quantitative measure for identifying patients with unmet palliative care needs to facilitate appropriate referrals. First, a random subset of pediatric neurology patients were screened for number of hospital admissions, emergency center visits, and problems on the problem list. Screening results led to the hypothesis that having six or more hospital admissions in one year indicated unmet palliative care needs. Next, hospital admissions in the past year were counted for all patients admitted to the neurology service during a six-month period. Patients with six or more admissions as well as age- and gender-matched controls were assessed for unmet palliative care needs. In hospitalized pediatric neurology patients, having six or more admissions in the preceding year did not predict unmet palliative care needs. While this pilot study did not find a quantitative measure that identifies patients needing a palliative care consultation, the negative finding highlights an important distinction between unmet social needs that interfere with care and unmet palliative care needs. Further, the method of screening patients used in this study was simple to implement and provides a framework for future studies.
Depression as a Mediator or Moderator Between Preparatory Grief and Sense of Dignity in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Parpa Efi , Kostopoulou Sotiria , Tsilika Eleni , Galanos Antonis , Mystakidou Kyriaki
Published: April 2019

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the relationship between depression, preparatory grief, and loss of dignity in patients with advanced cancer and whether depression has a mediator and/or a mediator role between preparatory grief and dignity. The participants were 120 patients with advanced cancer who completed the Greek version of the Patient Dignity Inventory, the Greek Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer Patients questionnaire. Depression was highly correlated with preparatory grief and loss of dignity. Additionally, strong relationship was found between preparatory grief and loss of dignity. Mediation analyses revealed that preparatory grief influenced loss of dignity as well as indirectly by its effect on depression. However, there was not any affect of depression as moderator. The effect of depression on preparatory grief in patients with advanced cancer and dignity emphasizing the need for further research to confirm the current relationship as well as the need for treatment of depression.
Using Smartpens to Support Note-Taking Skills of Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Boyle Joseph R. , Joyce Rachael L.
Published: April 2019

For students with learning disabilities (LD), note taking during lectures and discussions is a difficult task. Many students have difficulties with listening comprehension and written expression, two important skills vital for successful note taking during teacher lectures. Note taking is a cognitively demanding task whereby students must temporarily hold/rehearse incoming verbal lecture information, quickly construct representations into meaningful bits of information that can be recorded, and then transcribe the bits of meaningful information onto paper before the information is lost and before processing any new incoming information. Despite the difficulty of this task, smartpen technology can aid students during note taking by storing verbal lecture information and then syncing it up when students amend their partial notes. This article provides an overview of a smartpen strategy and a guide for teachers to implement this assistive technology in their classroom and improve the note taking of students with LD.
Antibiotic Use and Respiratory Pathogens in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease and Acute Chest Syndrome
Authors: Claudio Alyssa M. , Foltanski Lindsey , Delay Tracie , Britell Ashley , Duckett Ashley , Weeda Erin R. , Bohm Nicole
Published: April 2019

Background: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is an acute complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Historically, the most common pathogens were Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and respiratory syncytial virus. Pediatric patients receiving guideline-adherent therapy experienced fewer ACS-related and all-cause 30-day readmissions compared with those receiving nonadherent therapy. This has not been evaluated in adults. Objectives: The primary objectives were to characterize antibiotic use and pathogens. The secondary objective was to assess the occurrence of readmissions associated with guideline-adherent and clinically appropriate treatment compared with regimens that did not meet those criteria. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for adults with SCD hospitalized between August 1, 2014, and July 31, 2017, with pneumonia (PNA) or ACS. The study was approved by the institutional review board. Results: A total of 139 patients with 255 hospitalizations were reviewed. Among 41 respiratory cultures, 3 organisms were isolated: Cryptococcus neoformans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and budding yeast. Respiratory panels were collected on 121 admissions, with 17 positive for 1 virus; all were negative for Chlamydophila pneumoniae and M pneumoniae. There were significantly more ACS-/PNA-related 7-day readmissions from patients on guideline-adherent regimens compared with nonadherent regimens (3.7% vs 0%; P = 0.04). Conclusion and Relevance: These findings challenge existing knowledge regarding the most common pathogens in adults with SCD with ACS or PNA. Routine inclusion of a macrolide may not be necessary. Future studies focused on pathogen characterization with standardized assessment are necessary to determine appropriate empirical therapy in this population.
British Couples’ Experiences of Men as Partners in Family Planning
Authors: Wilson Amanda D.
Published: April 2019

This study explores how British couples experience men partners’ roles within family planning. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with couples and analyzed using discourse analysis. From the analysis, three discourses emerged: “Men’s role as partners is perceived differently within the couple”; “As partners men do not like their options for procuring condoms”; and “Family planning services are for women partners.” The first discourse considers the support of informal systems, whereas the second and third discourses reflect the formal support couples experienced when utilizing health services. Together, these three discourses construct a social structure where men partners’ roles are restricted within family planning. These findings are discussed in relation to changes to policy and practice, which aim to engage men as partners in family planning.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Lung Cancer Histological Types in Kentucky, 1995–2014
Authors: Christian W. Jay , Vanderford Nathan L. , McDowell Jaclyn , Huang Bin , Durbin Eric B. , Absher Kimberly J. , Walker Courtney J. , Arnold Susanne M.
Published: April 2019

Recent metabolic and genetic research has demonstrated that risk for specific histological types of lung cancer varies in relation to cigarette smoking and obesity. This study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of lung cancer histological types in Kentucky, a largely rural state with high rates of smoking and obesity, to discern population-level trends that might reflect variation in these and other risk factors. The Kentucky Cancer Registry provided residential geographic coordinates for lung cancer cases diagnosed from 1995 through 2014. We used multinomial and discrete Poisson spatiotemporal scan statistics, adjusted for age, gender, and race, to characterize risk for specific histological types—small cell, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, and other types—throughout Kentucky and compared to maps of risk factors. Toward the end of the study period, adenocarcinoma was more common among all population subgroups in north-central Kentucky, where smoking and obesity are less prevalent. During the same time frame, squamous cell, small cell, and other types were more common in rural Appalachia, where smoking and obesity are more prevalent, and in some high poverty urban areas. Spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution of histological types of lung cancer are likely related to regional variation in multiple risk factors. High smoking and obesity rates in the Appalachian region, and likely in high poverty urban areas, appeared to coincide with high rates of squamous cell and small cell lung cancer. In north-central Kentucky, environmental exposures might have resulted in higher risk for adenocarcinoma specifically.
A smart solution for improving ride comfort in high-speed railway vehicles
Authors: Ripamonti F. , Chiarabaglio A.
Published: April 2019

The secondary suspensions of high-speed trains are designed to guarantee high comfort levels to passengers by reducing the perceived vibrations. Recent studies have shown that, besides the vertical and rigid pitch motions, the first deformable modes of the car-body are very important when dealing with comfort. Therefore, the suspension damper has to offer high performances at low frequencies, but at the same time, has to transmit low force at high frequencies. To achieve this target, in this work, a traditional passive oil damper was modified. A proper servo-valve was installed between the two chambers of the damper, and three different control logics were studied. A hardware-in-the-loop test bench was created and the proposed solutions were compared in terms of comfort improvement.
Caravan Poetry: An Inquiry on Four Wheels
Authors: Helin Jenny , Dahl Matilda , Guillet De Monthoux Pierre
Published: April 2019

How can we create possibilities for a generative moment between the research participants and ourselves? In a study about (day)dreaming, we searched for ways of doing our research in which we could meet and jointly explore the becoming of life and important matters through our experiences of dreaming. Inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s phenomenology of dreaming and in particular his book The Poetics of Space, in which he emphasized the importance of small, intimate spaces for poetic moments to occur, we decided to buy a small countryside caravan. Through this inquiry into a new spatiotemporality for our research encounters, we experienced how the caravan offers a rupture from the mundane ongoingness enabling us to reconnect to the moment, the place, each other, and ourselves. This rupture awakens the verticality of time allowing us to be looking anew and making novel connections. What may be seen as self-evident, but it was not for us, is the recognition that in developing research practices for studying dreaming, we had to first start dreaming ourselves.
Translating Descriptive Representation into Substantive Representation: The Role of Electoral Institutions in Urban School Districts in Texas
Authors: McBrayer Markie
Published: April 2019

Scholarship has explored how descriptive representation translates into substantive representation in American schools with mixed findings. I argue here that electoral institutions condition this relationship between descriptive and substantive representation, with Hispanic representatives elected to serve single-member districts providing better representation for bilingual students than their at-large counterparts, particularly when demand for bilingual programming is high. Using data from urban school campuses in Texas from 2003 to 2011, I seek to assess how the interaction between electoral institutions, descriptive representation, and demand affects substantive representation, here measured as bilingual funding. Results demonstrate that Hispanic representatives, elected to serve either at-large or a single-member district, have a positive effect on campus bilingual funding when there is low demand for the program. Yet, only Hispanic representatives elected to serve single-member districts substantively represent bilingual constituencies when there is high demand.
Evidence of Altered Habenular Intrinsic Functional Connectivity in Pediatric ADHD
Authors: Arfuso Melissa , Salas Ramiro , Castellanos F. Xavier , Krain Roy Amy
Published: April 2019

Objective: The habenula is a small region in the epithalamus that contributes to the regulation of midbrain dopaminergic circuits implicated in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This investigation aims to evaluate the intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of the habenula in children with ADHD. Method: A total of 112 children (5-9 years; 75 ADHD, 37 healthy comparisons) completed anatomical and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Habenula regions of interest (ROIs) were identified individually on normalized T1-weighted anatomical images. Seed-based iFC analyses and group comparisons were conducted for habenula ROIs, as well as thalamic ROIs to test the specificity of habenula findings. Results: Children with ADHD exhibited reduced habenula–putamen iFC compared with healthy comparisons. Group differences in thalamic iFC showed no overlap with habenular findings. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that habenula–putamen iFC may be disrupted in children with ADHD. Further work is needed to confirm and elucidate the role of this circuit in ADHD pathophysiology.