bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long Non-Coding Ribonucleic Acid Forkhead Box P4-Antisense RNA 1 Targets microRNA-655-3p to Regulate the Proliferation, Transfer, and Invasion of Mammary Cancer Cells
Authors: Hu Zhe , Wang Peien , Miao Beibei , Qu Haijiang
Published: May 2021

LncRNA FOXP4-AS1 expresses at a higher level in gastric carcinoma cells and can promote proliferation and other biological behaviors. However, the effect of FOXP4-AS1 on mammary cancer cells has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, this article explores the influence of lncRNA FOXP4-AS1
on the proliferation and other biological processes of mammary cancer MDA-MB-231 cells via its regulation of miRNA-655-3p. Firstly, nanoPCR was used to quantify the expression of FOXP4-AS1 and miRNA-655-3p in mammary cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. Compared to the adjacent tissues, the
expression level of FOXP4-AS1 in mammary cancer tissue was significantly increased, while that of miRNA-655-3p was substantially reduced. Then, si-FOXP4-AS1, miRNA-655-3p mimics, si-FOXP4-AS1 + anti-miRNA-655-3p were transfected into human mammary cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The transfection
of si-FOXP4-AS1 or miRNA-655-3p mimics considerably reduced cell viability and the protein levels of Ki-67 and MMPs. The transfection of si-FOXP4-AS1 or miRNA-655-3p mimics could reduce cell migration and invasion. The dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed that FOXP4-AS1 could target miRNA-655-3p.
The co-transfection of si-FOXP4-AS1 and anti-miRNA-655-3p increased cell viability, migration, and invasion; the same co-transfection also elevated the protein levels of Ki-67 and MMPs. In conclusion, this study suggests that knocking down FOXP4-AS1’s expression can reduce mammary cancer
cells’ ability to proliferate and execute other biological processes by targeting the expression of miRNA-655-3p.
Radix Tetrastigma Hemsleyani Flavone Inhibits the Occurrence and Development of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Regulating miRNA-4458 Expression
Authors: Liu Ping , Guo Yanjuan , He Yanfang , Tang Yajuan
Published: May 2021

Ovarian cancer (OC) has been identified to have the highest mortality rate among gynecological tumors. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage because of its asymptomatic nature and a lack of effective early diagnostic methods. Advanced-stage cancer cells are prone to metastasis which reduces the efficacy of standard therapies. Thus, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations of radix tetrastigma hemsleyani flavone (RTHF) on SKOV3 OC cells. Our findings indicated a significant inhibition in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. RTHF treatment resulted in a significant increase in p21 protein expression, whereas the expression of cyclin D1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 has reportedly decreased. In addition, the expression of miRNA-4458 expression increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Co-transfection of miRNA-4458 mimics into SKOV3 cells revealed that overexpressed miRNA-4458 can increase SKOV3 cell proliferation and p21 protein expression. Reduced cell migration and invasion were also observed along with decreased expression of cyclin D1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Furthermore, inhibition of miRNA-4458 expression reversed the RTHF effect on SKOV3 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cyclin D1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression. These results indicate that RTHF reduces the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells, and the underlying mechanism is associated with the upregulation of miRNA-4458 expression. These findings provide a new treatment strategy for advanced OC.
miRNA-200a Regulating Proliferation, Migration, and Infiltration of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Targeting DEK Proto-Oncogene
Authors: Ouyang Jiajie , Hu Chao , Zhang Xueyang , Wu Qianqi
Published: May 2021

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most frequently occurring oral cancer and is characterized by high proliferation and metastasis rates. Incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of TSCC coupled with frequent tongue movement increases the difficulty of therapy. Additionally,
TSCC is prone to recurrence and metastasis after treatment. Thus, exploring mechanisms of proliferation, migration, and infiltration of TSCC cancer cells is essential for reducing morbidity and mortality. Transfection of miRNA-200a mimics into SCC15 cells showed that miRNA-200a expression
decreased significantly, and DEK expression significantly increased. Transfection of miRNA-200a mimics (miRNA-200a group), negative control mimics (miRNA-NC group), empty vector (miRNA-200a + pcDNA3.1 group), and miRNA-200a mimics and DEK overexpression vector (miRNA-200a + DEK group) into
SCC15 cells respectively indicates that overexpression of miRNA-200a substantially inhibits SCC15 cell proliferation, infiltration and migration, decreases PCNA and Vimentin expression, and promotes E-cadherin expression. miRNA-200a + DEK transfection induced greater cell proliferation, infiltration
and migration, much higher PCNA and Vimentin expression, and significantly lower E-cadherin expression. Luciferase reporter gene detection of overexpressed DEK or DEK expression after inhibiting miRNA-200a expression indicated a targeting association between miRNA-200a and DEK. miRNA-200a
inhibits proliferation, infiltration and migration ability of TSCC by targeting DEK and may represent a novel means for clinical intervention in TSCC. miRNA-200a inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration of TSCC by targeting DEK.
Sufentanil Affects High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress in and Apoptosis of Cardiomyocytes by Regulation of miR-142-3p Expression
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , Ding Cuiqing , Yao Changqing , Chen Jinhui
Published: May 2021

To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of sufentanil on high glucose-induced oxidative stress in and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, cardiomyocytes H9c2 cells were classified into groups based on different treatments as high-glucose (HG), HG with low, medium, or high-dose sufentanil,
HG with high-dose sufentanil and anti-miR-NC, HG with high-dose sufentanil and anti-miR-142-3p, and control. The cells’ superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected using respective kits. The apoptosis rate in each group was detected by flow cytometry.
The expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and pro-caspase3 were determined using western blotting. The expression of miR-142-3p in cardiomyocytes was detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Compared with the control group, the HG group had decreased SOD activity, pro-caspase-3 expression,
and miR-142-3p expression and increased MDA content, apoptosis, and cleaved caspase-3 expression (P < 0.05). Compared with the HG group, the SOD activity and pro-caspase-3 expression increased and the MDA content, apoptosis rate, and cleaved caspase-3 expression decreased in HG cells
treated with low, medium, or high-dose sufentanil. The expression of miR-142-3p was increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The interference of miR-142-3p reversed the effect of sufentanil on high glucose-induced oxidative stress in and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Sufentanil
may inhibit high glucose-induced oxidative stress in and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by upregulating miR-142-3p expression.
Examining the Relationship Between Racialized Poverty Segregation and Hazardous Industrial Facilities in the U.S. Over Time
Authors: Ard Kerry , Smiley Kevin
Published: May 2021

Scholars interested in understanding the unequal exposure to environmental harms by race and class have often relied on urban sociological theory. Specifically, the argument that the outmigration of middle-class Whites and African Americans from America’s industrial areas, and the decline in manufacturing employment in these communities, concentrated minority poverty around industrial sites. These nested, community-level, processes have not yet been measured as such in the environmental inequality literature. This article addresses this limitation by using spatial measures of poverty segregation between and within racial groups. Multilevel models are presented that examine how the density of industrial facilities is related to the economic health of a host tract, the broader economic context of the county, and the level of poverty segregation (both within and between racial/ethnic groups). Results demonstrate a spatial separation of the economic benefits and environmental harms across the United States, a pattern that has remained consistent over time.
The effect of nanoparticle content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ZA27-Al2O3-Gr hybrid nanocomposites produced by powder metallurgy
Authors: Çelebi Müslim , Güler Onur , Çanakçı Aykut , Çuvalcı Hamdullah
Published: May 2021

In this study, ZA27-Al2O3-Gr hybrid nanocomposite materials (HNMs) were prepared by powder metallurgy method including mechanical-milling and hot-pressing (HP). The physical and mechanical properties of ZA27-Al2O3-Gr HNMs have been investigated with the primary objective of understanding the influence of the alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticle (n-Al2O3) reinforcement. The density, hardness and tensile strength tests of HNMs carried out to determine the physical and mechanical properties of ZA27-Al2O3-Gr HNMs. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is used for the microstructural evolution of the HNMs. As a result of microstructure examination results, n-Al2O3 were observed around grain boundary while the graphite (Gr) nanoparticles (n-Gr) were dispersed homogeneous throughout ZA27 matrix. Relative density values decreased with the increase of nanoparticle reinforcement ratio from 1%vol to 4%vol., while an increase in porosity values was detected for HNMs. Moreover, the results showed that the addition of n-Al2O3 significantly improved the mechanical properties of the HNMs. Additionally, the HNMs reinforced with 4%vol. n-Al2O3 and 1%vol. n-Gr exhibited the highest tensile strength of about 158 MPa and hardness of 160 HB in comparison with the other HNMs reinforced with different content of n-Al2O3.
What is the real productivity of organic farming systems?
Authors: Connor David J
Published: May 2021

The impact of current calls for transformation of agriculture away from reliance on agrochemical inputs (conventional agriculture) to natural processes (organic agriculture) is gaining strength because the limited productivity of agriculture transformed in this way is unappreciated and/or ignored. Of course, it is possible to produce high yields of individual crops adequately fertilized organically or chemically, but organic fertilizers require land set aside for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by legumes to provide the key macronutrient nitrogen (N) on which organic production relies. The consequence is more area to produce the same amount of food and expansion of agriculture can only be done at the expense of land allocated to nature, presently in critically short supply. The current clamour to reduce animal production and eat less meat will impact negatively on the productivity of organic crops. An analysis of the productivity of organic farms reveals, using the common metric of human food energy, that equal production requires 2–3 times the land area of conventional farms. This was well established before the current post-truth era and, if not reincluded in planning, will lead to both more hunger and less land allocated to natural biodiversity and conservation. The ‘transformationists’ avoid scientific scrutiny by publishing in colourful promotional literature rather than in peer-reviewed journals. More attention is needed in the debate to bring two currently separated spheres of publication together and to include ‘land-use efficiency’, the output per unit land area, in this case human food, from an increasingly scarce resource.
Shot blasting dust as a filler in elastomer composites
Authors: Prochoń Mirosława , Sawicki Jacek , Reda Maciej , Sirek Piotr , Suwalska Małgorzata , Werstak Bartosz
Published: May 2021

The aim of this article was to determine the impact of using shot blasting dust as a filler in natural rubber (NR) composites. Increasing filler contents were used, from 0 to 30 parts by weight per 100 g of rubber. Examination of the wetting characteristics of the dust confirmed its hydrophobic nature. This characteristic makes it easier to introduce dust into the elastomer structure, with better binding to the mixture ingredients. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of the filler in the elastomer matrix, with changes in absorbency intensity and the absence of peaks at given wave numbers. SEM images were taken to compare the surface topography of the compositions with and without the filler. The compositions with fillers showed the presence of a common spatial network. The functional properties of the obtained elastomer compositions were analyzed. Mechanical examinations demonstrated that the introduction of dust into the elastomer compositions contributed to improve the mechanical properties of the compositions. The conductivity of the elastomer structures increased with the addition of the filler but these changes were minor and allow the vulcanizates to remain classified as insulators. TGA/DSC demonstrated an increase in the thermal stability of the composites after the introduction of shot blasting dust into the elastomer structure. The decomposition temperature shifted toward higher values and an increase in glass transition temperature was observed for the filled compositions. The results of this study indicate that the use of shot blasting dust as a filler in NR improves the functional properties of the vulcanizates and could be competitive with more widely-used methods using fillers such as silica or chalk.
The trajectory and determinants of loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
Authors: Ray Colter D.
Published: May 2021

In March of 2020, state governments in the United States began implementing stay-at-home orders in an attempt to curtail the spread of COVID-19. As a result, most people experienced a decrease in face-to-face interactions as they limited their participation in social gatherings, travel, and in-person work. Although these orders aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19, a potential unintended consequence of these guidelines was an increase in loneliness, which has several negative mental and physical health consequences. The goals of the present study were to investigate the extent that one’s romantic relationship status and living arrangements affected self-reports of loneliness and to track how self-reports of loneliness changed over the span of 1 month following the first stay-at-home orders in the United States. Participants ( N = 311) reported their loneliness at three time points in 2-week intervals. Results showed considerable overlap between living arrangements and romantic relationship status in predicting loneliness; however, it appears that living with another person has a greater protective effect against loneliness compared to relationship status. That is, whereas living with others or being in a romantic relationship both predicted lower loneliness scores, one’s living arrangements accounted for variance in loneliness scores beyond what was accounted for by one’s relationship status. The researcher also explored whether loneliness increased across three time points throughout data collection. Results showed that loneliness levels remained approximately the same across time. An unhypothesized interaction effect did emerge between time and age. Subsequent probing of this interact effects showed that young adults experienced the greatest level of loneliness but this loneliness decreased over the month, whereas older adults experienced less loneliness but experienced a small increase in loneliness over the during this time. Together, these results suggest that certain groups of people were more likely to experience loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaplan-Meier Curves, Cox Model, and P-Values Are Not Enough for the Prognostic Evaluation of Tumor Markers: Statistical Suggestions for a More Comprehensive Approach
Authors: Boracchi Patrizia , Roccabianca Paola , Avallone Giancarlo , Marano Giuseppe
Published: May 2021

The assessment of prognostic markers is key to the improvement of therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Some promising markers may fail to be applied in clinical practice, or some useless markers may be applied, because of misleading results ensuing from inadequate planning of the study and/or from an oversimplified statistical analysis. This commentary illustrates and discusses the main issues involved in planning an effective clinical study and the subsequent statistical analysis for the prognostic evaluation of a cancer marker. Another aim is to extend the most applied statistical models (ie, those using Kaplan-Meier and Cox) to enable the choice of the best-suited methods for study endpoints. Specifically, for tumor-centered endpoints like tumor recurrence, the issue of competing risks is highlighted. For markers measured on a continuous numerical scale, a loss of relevant prognostic information may occur by setting arbitrary cutoffs; thus, the methods to analyze the original scale are explained. Furthermore, because the P-value is not a sufficient criterion to assess the usefulness of a marker in clinical practice, measures for evaluating the ability of the marker to discriminate between “good” and “bad” prognoses are illustrated. Several tumor markers are considered both in human and veterinary medicine. Given the similarity between markers for human breast cancer and canine mammary cancer, an application of the statistical methods discussed within the article to a public dataset from human breast cancer patients is shown.
Optimal Approach to Improving the Utilization of Regenerative Energy Considering Power Profile
Authors: Cai Juanjuan , Xun Jing , Ji Xiangyu , Lei Yue
Published: May 2021

Urban rail transit (URT) develops rapidly in modern cities, and its energy efficiency attracts extensive attention. The utilization of regenerative energy (URE) is an important method for energy-efficient operation of URT. Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving train by converting its kinetic energy into electric energy. The electric energy can be utilized for other trains to accelerate in a cooperative way. To take full advantage of the regenerative energy, an energy calculation method which considers regenerative braking power to optimize the timetable is proposed in this paper. First, four operating modes of URE are defined and an integer programming model is formulated. Second, a branch and bound algorithm is designed to solve the optimal timetable in different scenarios. Third, the model is evaluated based on the operation data from the Yanfang Line, Beijing Metro, China. For peak hours, the results illustrate that the proposed method can significantly improve URE by 73.7% compared with the original timetable. Also, URE can be improved by 46.3% for off-peak hours. Finally, the comparison between the proposed method and the method based on the kinetic energy theorem is given. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed method could increase URE by 29.7% and 9.9% for peak and off-peak hours scenarios, respectively, in comparison with the method based on the kinetic energy theorem.
Protection du capital marque et nouvelles dynamiques géographiques : un travail empirique sur la franchise au Brésil
Authors: Fadairo Muriel , Kaswengi Joseph , Lanchimba Cintya , Bitti Eugênio José Silva
Published: May 2021

Cet article s’intéresse aux clauses contractuelles dans les contrats de franchise. Le succès de ces contrats peut dépendre du marché. La franchise commerciale repose sur le partage, au sein d’un réseau, d’une marque et d’un concept développés par le franchiseur. En tant qu’actifs immatériels, marques et concepts n’ont pas tous la même valeur. Ainsi, nous examinons l’impact de l’organisation spatiale sur les contrats de franchise impliquant la marque-mère dans le marché brésilien. Les travaux antérieurs, basés sur la théorie de l’agence ont montré que la présence de points de vente distants amène le franchiseur à choisir un mécanisme de paiement conçu pour fournir un maximum d’incitations aux franchisés, soit une faible redevance et un droit d’entrée élevé. A partir de données de panel brésiliennes uniques, nous montrons que la dispersion spatiale du réseau produit le résultat inverse. Ce nouvel éclairage suggère qu’il est nécessaire de protéger la marque dans le contexte d’un marché émergent. Par ailleurs, les clauses monétaires et les outils alternatifs jouent un rôle important dans la protection et l’assistance envers la marque.
Becoming a perfectionistic adolescent: Perceived parental behaviors involved in developmental trajectories of perfectionism
Authors: Damian Lavinia E , Negru-Subtirica Oana , Pop Eleonora I , Stoeber Joachim
Published: May 2021

Perfectionism is a pervasive and prevalent personality disposition with high implications for psychological maladjustment. Adolescence represents a particularly relevant period for the development of perfectionism, and perceived parental behaviors have been shown to play an important part. Yet, so far only few longitudinal studies have investigated the role of risk and protective parental behaviors in the development of perfectionism in adolescents. Examining a sample of 744 adolescents ( Mage = 15.2 years), the present study investigated developmental trajectories of self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented perfectionism over four waves spaced five to six months apart. Results of growth mixture modeling showed that self-oriented perfectionism followed three developmental trajectories (low and decreasing; medium and decreasing; high and stable) as did socially prescribed perfectionism (low and stable; medium and increasing; high and stable). Other-oriented perfectionism showed four developmental trajectories (low and decreasing; low and stable; high and stable; high and increasing). Significant differences were observed between groups regarding all investigated perceived parental behaviors (psychological control, behavioral control, responsiveness, and autonomy support). Similarities and differences between the development of each form of perfectionism and the role of each parental behavior as well as implications of these findings for the understanding of the development of perfectionism in adolescence are discussed.
Characteristics of newly diagnosed HIV-positive service users using a pan-London e-sexually transmitted infection screening service
Authors: Day Sara , Khan Kaywaan , Kelly Adrian M , Jones Sophie , Kinsella Ryan
Published: May 2021

Maximising opportunities and removing barriers to HIV testing can help reduce the undiagnosed HIV population. Digital STI/HIV screening services have increased in availability and can improve access and testing coverage. We identified the characteristics of individuals who tested HIV positive using a regional, integrated, self-sampling STI service. The e-notes of service users with reactive HIV screening results were reviewed. Between 8 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, 0.097% (144/148,257) users received a reactive HIV result, 30/144 (20.8%) of whom had previously diagnosed HIV infection. All of the remaining 114 users were notified of their screening result, an estimated 109/114 (95.6%) received confirmatory testing (CT) at a sexual health clinic (SHC) and the confirmatory outcome was documented in 102/114 (89.5%) of cases: 34/114 (29.8%)were HIV positive, 68/114 (59.6%) HIV were negative and the result was unknown in 12/114 (10.5%). All new diagnoses transitioned to HIV outpatient care. These individuals were median age 28 years; 94.1% (32/34) male; 88.2% (30/34) men who have sex with men and 11.8% (4/34) heterosexual; 58.8% (20/34) of white/‘white other’ ethnicity and 42.2% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic group; 50%(17/34) had a concurrent STI; 9% and 21% had never tested for HIV or attended a SHC before. n HIV test reactivity rate of 0.1%(95% CI) was observed. Confirmed new HIV diagnoses comprised 0.023% of all HIV tests performed. All individuals where CT confirmed a new HIV diagnosis transitioned to HIV specialist care.
Wound Healing by Allogeneic Transplantation of Specific Subpopulation From Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Palma María Belén , Luzzani Carlos , Andrini Laura B. , Riccillo Fernando , Buero Guillermo , Pelinski Pablo , Inda Ana M , Errecalde Ana Lía , Miriuka Santiago , Carosella Edgardo D. , Garcia Marcela N.
Published: May 2021

In normal physiological conditions, restoration of a functional epidermal barrier is highly efficient; nevertheless, when it fails, one of the main consequences is a chronic ulcerative skin defect, one of the most frequently recognized complications of diabetes. Most of these chronic venous ulcers do not heal with conventional treatment, leading to the appearance of infections and complications in the patient. Treatments based on the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been successful; however, its implementation entails complications. The umbilical cord offers an unlimited source of adult MSC (ucMSC) from the Wharton’s jelly tissue with the same relevant features for clinical applicability and avoiding difficulties. It has recently been characterized by one specific subpopulation derived from ucMSC, the differentiated mesenchymal cells (DMCs). This subpopulation expresses the human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) molecule, a strong immunosuppressive checkpoint, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the most potent angiogenic factor. Considering the importance of developing a more effective therapy for wound treatment, especially ulcerative skin lesions, we analyzed DMC safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential. By immunohistochemistry, umbilical cords HLA-G and VEGF positive were selected. Flow cytometry revealed that 90% of the DMC subpopulation are HLA-G+, CD44+, CD73+, CD29+, CD105+, CD90+, and HLA-DR−. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed the expression of HLA-G in all of DMC subpopulations. Upon co-culture with the DMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation was inhibited by 50%. In a xenograft transplantation assay, DMC improved wound healing with no signs of rejection of the transplanted cells in immunocompetent mice. This study confirms that HLA-G allows allogeneic cell transplantation, and VEGF is fundamental for the restoration of the failure in blood supply. DMC population has positive effects on wound healing by promoting local angiogenesis in skin lesions. DMC could play a very important role in regenerative medicine and could be a novel allogeneic cell-therapeutic tool for wound healing.
Book review: Jonathan Parry (in collaboration with Ajay T. G.). 2019. Classes of Labour: Work and Life in a Central Indian Steel Town
Authors: Harriss John , Subramanian Ashwin
Published: May 2021

Jonathan Parry (in collaboration with Ajay T. G.). 2019. Classes of Labour: Work and Life in a Central Indian Steel Town. Delhi: Social Science Press. ISBN 978-93-83166-34-3 (paperback), pp. +702, ₹1850.
Reading the Entanglements of Nature-culture Conservation and Development in Contemporary India
Authors: Rajangam Krupa , Sundar Aparna
Published: May 2021

In this article we argue for greater attention to the practice of (nature-culture) conservation as a specific form of intervention with implications for development. Outlining the dominant frameworks through which the often vexed relationship between conservation and development has been understood, the article offers an alternative analytical framework that is grounded in ethnographic attention to everyday practice. Applying this framework, the three papers in this special section examine conservation-development dilemmas at diverse conservation sites in India—Rushikulya, Orissa, a globally significant site for the conservation of marine turtles; Nagarahole, in southern Karnataka, one of India’s most successful tiger reserves; and the Hampi region, northern Karnataka, where the archaeological remains of the medieval Vijayanagara Empire have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). The papers reveal a relationship between conservation and development that is paradoxically both more structurally imbricated and more contingent and variable than a focus on official frameworks, discourses and plans would suggest. They lead us to argue that, rather than focusing on the stated objectives of the formal conservation plan alone, attention to its ambivalent adoptions and unintended outcomes, as well as to negotiations between diverse actors and forms of knowledge, can contribute to both a more balanced theorization of conservation’s relation to development as well as to more effective conservation practices.
Robust multi-steps input command for liquid sloshing control
Authors: Alshaya Abdullah , Alshayji Adel
Published: May 2021

A robust input command based on multiple steps for eliminating the residual vibrations of a multimode linear system is proposed. Only the system resonant frequencies are needed to determine the step magnitudes in the shaped command. The command duration is selectable to help in designing an optimum command that compensates between the reduction in the transient vibration, the enhancement in the command robustness, and the increase in the total maneuver time. The induced transient and residual sloshing oscillations of a suspended water-filled container are suppressed using the proposed command. The dynamics of the sloshing is numerically simulated using finite element method that accommodates the interactions between the fluid, structural, and multi-body dynamics. A short move time penalty is incurred with the price of significant reduction in the liquid sloshing. The performance of the shaped command to the system parameters and the robustness to their uncertainty are investigated. An improved robust input command in the presence of uncertainties in the cable length and water depth is also introduced. The effectiveness and excellence of the proposed command is demonstrated through a comparison with multimode zero-vibration input shaper and time-optimal flexible-body control.
Studies on the damping mechanism of shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber attached to a multi-degree-of-freedom structure
Authors: Lu Zheng , Rong Kunjie , Tian Li , Qiu Canxing , Du Jiang
Published: May 2021

To mitigate the adverse structural responses, an improved version of the traditional tuned vibration absorber has been proposed based on the shape memory alloy spring, referred as the shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber. The finite element numerical models of the multi-degree-of-freedom structure (e.g., transmission tower) and shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber are developed by using the commercial software ANSYS, and the nonlinear behavior of the shape memory alloy spring is validated based on a previous experimental study. The damping mechanism of the shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber attached to a multi-degree-of-freedom structure under seismic excitations is investigated, and the nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the shape memory alloy spring is also discussed. The results show that the proposed damper has a two-stage damping mechanism, and its control performance is remarkable. Because the coupled system response is sensitive to the amplitude level, the optimal configuration of the shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber can be obtained by parametric analysis. Particularly, because of the nonlinear target energy transfer and transient resonance capture mechanism, the shape memory alloy-spring tuned vibration absorber exhibits stable control ability under different seismic waves, indicating a good stability in vibration control of a multi-degree-of-freedom system.
Confronting Disparities: Race, Ethnicity, and Immigrant Status as Intersectional Determinants in the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Obinna Denise N.
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease–2019) pandemic has exposed long-standing inequalities in U.S. health care. Historically, racial and ethnic minorities have been the most likely to suffer from inadequate health care access and insurance coverage. With the spread of COVID-19, these disparities have dramatically increased. Focusing on native and foreign-born racial/ethnic minorities, this article discusses how entrenched health inequities and structural discrimination have led to COVID-19 morbidities and mortalities. Considering that “essential” frontline workers are disproportionately native and foreign-born racial/ethnic minorities, this work evaluates the impact(s) of social exclusion and the lack of support systems for these workers. Using the framework of intersectionality, this work also examines how race and immigrant status affect COVID-19 spread in prisons and immigration detention centers—facilities that often lack effective health and sanitary conditions and where inmates are also likely to be racial/ethnic minorities.
Analysis of genotype-phenotype correlation in Walker-Warburg syndrome with a novel CRPPA mutation in different clinical manifestations
Authors: Bayram Nurettin , Bayram Ayşe Kaçar , Per Hüseyin , Gümüş Hakan , Ozsaygili Cemal , Doğan Mehmet Said , Çağlayan Ahmet Okay
Published: May 2021

Purpose:

Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital muscular dystrophy and severe brain and eye malformations. This study aims to analyze genotype-phenotype correlations in WWS with a novel cytidine diphosphate-l-ribitol pyrophosphorylase A ( CRPPA) mutation in different clinical manifestations.

Case description:

We report a girl with a presentation of multiple brain and ocular anomalies. Her ophthalmological evaluation showed a shallow anterior chamber, cortical cataract, iris hypoplasia, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in the right eye, punctate cataract, iris hypoplasia, primary congenital glaucoma, and a widespread loss of fundus pigmentation in the left eye. She was hypotonic, and her deep tendon reflexes were absent. Laboratory investigations showed high serum levels of serum creatine kinase. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated hydrocephalus, agenesis of the corpus callosum, retrocerebellar cyst, cerebellar dysplasia and hypoplasia, cobblestone lissencephaly, and hypoplastic brainstem. Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in the first exon of the CRPPA gene (NM_001101426.4, c.217G>T, p.Glu73Ter).

Conclusions:

The study findings expand the phenotypic variability of the ocular manifestations in the CRPPA gene-related WWS. Iris hypoplasia can be a part of clinical manifestations of the CRPPA gene-related WWS. The uncovering of the genes associated with ocular features can provide preventative methods, early diagnosis, and improved therapeutic strategies.
An ECG method for positioning the tip of a PICC in “mirror people” with dextrocardia: A case report
Authors: Liu Chunli , Jin Tao , Meng Aifeng , Mao Jing , Shi Ruchun , Liu Lagen
Published: May 2021

Intracavitary electrocardiogram (ECG) has been widely used for PICC tip positioning in patients with a normal left heart. However, there is little information about using ECG for PICC insertion in patients with mirror dextrocardia. We report a 70-year-old stomach cancer patient with mirror dextrocardia admitted to our vascular access center for four Fr silicon Groshong PICC insertion. We successfully performed an ultrasound-guided modified Seldinger technique for insertion. First, the usual standardized ECG technique was used for tip positioning, and it failed. Then, we changed the procedure slightly, using the opposite electrode connections (RA: the first intercostal space of the midline of the left clavicle; LA: the first intercostal space of the midline of the right clavicle; and LL: the inferior margin of the right costal arch) to obtain an evident P-wave change to guide catheter placement in this case. We confirm that we can use the opposite electrodes to obtain an apparent P-wave for locating the catheter tip in patients with mirror dextrocardia.
A trial of an emotional intelligence intervention in an Iranian residential institution for adolescents
Authors: Ghelbash Zakiye , Zarshenas Ladan , Dehghan Manshadi Zobeydeh
Published: May 2021

Aims:

As a vulnerable group in society, orphaned and abandoned adolescents are faced with various social issues as well as lack of healthy social skills that can lead to high-risk behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of emotional intelligence skills training on the social skills of orphaned and abandoned adolescents.

Methods:

The present study was an interventional research with a pretest-posttest design. The sample included 30 orphaned and abandoned male teen-agers, residing in a care center, who were randomly selected and divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group had four emotional intelligence-based training sessions. In this study, the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY) was used to evaluate the variables. The results were analyzed, using SPSS Statistics 22.

Results:

The results showed significant difference between the mean MESSY scores in the intervention group before and after the intervention ( p < .05). There was also a significant difference between the mean scores of the intervention and control group, following the intervention.

Conclusion:

An emotional intelligence-based training program can be effective in improving the social skill levels amongst orphaned and abandoned adolescents as a vulnerable social group.
Job strain and sense of coherence: Associations with stress-related outcomes among teachers
Authors: Ramberg Joacim , Låftman Sara Brolin , Nilbrink Jannike , Olsson Gabriella , Toivanen Susanna
Published: May 2021

Background: Teachers constitute an occupational group experiencing high levels of stress and with high sick-leave rates. Therefore, examining potentially protective factors is important. While prior research has mainly focused on the link between teachers’ own experiences of their work environment and stress-related outcomes, it is also possible that colleagues’ perception of the work environment and their possibilities for dealing with work-related stress contribute to influencing individual teachers’ stress. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how teachers’ reports of high job strain (i.e. high demands and low control) and sense of coherence (SOC), as well as the concentration of colleagues reporting high strain and high SOC, were associated with perceived stress and depressed mood. Methods: The data were derived from the Stockholm Teacher Survey, with information from two cross-sectional web surveys performed in 2014 and in 2016 ( N=2732 teachers in 205 school units). Two-level random intercept linear regression models were performed. Results: High job strain at the individual level was associated with higher levels of perceived stress and depressed mood, but less so for individuals with high SOC. Furthermore, a greater proportion of colleagues reporting high SOC was associated with lower levels of perceived stress and depressed mood at the individual level. Conclusions: High SOC may be protective against work-related stress among teachers. Additionally, the proportion of colleagues reporting high SOC was related to less individual stress, suggesting a protective effect of school-level collective SOC.
Questioning Anglocentrism in plural policing studies: Private security regulation in Belgium and the United Kingdom
Authors: Leloup Pieter , White Adam
Published: May 2021

Recent Continental European scholarship has identified a problematic Anglocentric bias running through the field of comparative plural policing studies. It has sought to counter this bias by emphasizing a series of divergent plural policing trajectories between the more market-friendly countries in the Anglosphere and the more state-centric countries in Continental Europe. While acknowledging the significance of this corrective, we argue that it tends to overemphasize the levels of divergence between these two regions. We substantiate this claim by examining the rise of the private security industry and its regulation by the state in the UK (representing the Anglosphere) and Belgium (representing Continental Europe). Interpreting historical and contemporary data through Sabatier and Weible’s advocacy coalition framework, which focuses on the cut and thrust of democratic politics, we observe how in both countries this important dimension of the plural policing landscape is characterized not by counterposed market-friendly and state-centric trajectories, but rather by a complex mix of state–market interactions. In other words, the dynamics of private security regulation are more state-centric in the UK and more market-friendly in Belgium than recent Continental European scholarship suggests. Moreover, we illustrate how, under conditions of post-financial crisis austerity, the overarching pattern is, if anything, one of convergence towards a common set of political dynamics. This is an important finding that not only makes an original contribution towards private security regulation scholarship but also encourages us to question the nature of Anglocentric bias within comparative plural policing studies.
Motor Dysfunction in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: A Rehabilitation Framework for Prodromal Synucleinopathy
Authors: Summers Rebekah L. S. , Rafferty Miriam R. , Howell Michael J. , MacKinnon Colum D.
Published: May 2021

Parkinson disease (PD) and other related diseases with α-synuclein pathology are associated with a long prodromal or preclinical stage of disease. Predictive models based on diagnosis of idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) make it possible to identify people in the prodromal stage of synucleinopathy who have a high probability of future disease and provide an opportunity to implement neuroprotective therapies. However, rehabilitation providers may be unaware of iRBD and the motor abnormalities that indicate early motor system dysfunction related to α-synuclein pathology. Furthermore, there is no existing rehabilitation framework to guide early interventions for people with iRBD. The purpose of this work is to (1) review extrapyramidal signs of motor system dysfunction in people with iRBD and (2) propose a framework for early protective or preventive therapies in prodromal synucleinopathy using iRBD as a predictive marker. Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies indicate that the earliest emerging motor deficits in iRBD are bradykinesia, deficits performing activities of daily living, and abnormalities in speech, gait, and posture. These deficits may emerge up to 12 years before a diagnosis of synucleinopathy. The proposed rehabilitation framework for iRBD includes early exercise-based interventions of aerobic exercise, progressive resistance training, and multimodal exercise with rehabilitation consultations to address exercise prescription, progression, and monitoring. This rehabilitation framework may be used to implement neuroprotective, multidisciplinary, and proactive clinical care in people with a high likelihood of conversion to PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple systems atrophy.
Online 3D model reconstruction and virtual display for garment
Authors: Liu Haisang , Jiang Gaoming , Dong Zhijia
Published: May 2021

An online garment model reconstruction method is proposed using the axial deformation to simulate the various garment models to display the wearing effect under different sizes. The garment model is classified into three categories according to the structural features. The main sections and key points are determined based on the existing dimensional features. Inverse operation and radial weight are used in the garment deformation. Texture mapping is applied to the model reconstruction result to obtain a new model with clothing patterns. An online system is developed and garment models with multiple scales are applied to adapt to various devices. The reconstruction results are compared and analyzed, which proves that the method proposed can realize real-time 3D reconstruction of garment models with the changing sizes on the web page.
Life Quality and Participation of Disabled Children and Young People: Design and Methods of a Transformative Study
Authors: Egilson Snæfrídur Thóra , Ólafsdóttir Linda B. , Ingimarsdóttir Anna Sigrún , Haraldsdóttir Freyja , Jóhannsdóttir Ásta , Gibson Barbara E. , Hardonk Stefan
Published: May 2021

The LIFE-DCY research project has two aims. First, to evaluate disabled children’s quality of life (QoL) as reported by themselves and their parents, and second, to locate commonalities, differences, and conflicting issues in the processes that may influence disabled children’s life quality and participation. This paper describes the study design, methodology, and methods along with lessons learned. In addition various methodological and ethical concerns are raised. A sequential mixed-methods design was applied. In Phase one (mapping) we used KIDSCREEN-27 to study how disabled children evaluate their QoL compared with the perspectives of their parents and those of non-disabled children and their parents. Using the Participation and environment measure we also studied parents’ perspectives of their children’s participation in different social contexts. Altogether 209 disabled children and their parents, and 335 children in a control group and their parents (paired reports) participated in phase one. Phase two (unpacking) consisted of 14 case studies with disabled children aged 8–18 years and focus groups with 21 disabled people aged 19–35 years. The initial analysis was inductive and data-oriented. We then used critical and transformative lenses to shed light on how meaning was made of life quality and participation in relation to the context in which study participants found themselves. The LIFE-DCY research promotes an understanding of how important aspects of life quality and participation may intersect within different contexts and at different times. The theoretical understandings from this study may also help unpack various aspects of childhood disability in terms of knowledge and power and enhance understandings of how ideas about normality and childhood disability are constructed.
An active learning method combining adaptive kriging and weighted penalty for structural reliability analysis
Authors: You Xiongxiong , Zhang Mengya , Tang Diyin , Niu Zhanwen
Published: May 2021

Reducing the surrogate model-based method computation without loss of prediction accuracy remains a significant challenge in structural reliability analysis. The unbalanced probability density, important information in critical region and information redundancy of added sample points are ignored in most of traditional surrogate-based methods, resulting in heavy computational burden. In this work, an active learning combining adaptive Kriging method and weighted penalty (AK-WP) is proposed to analyze the reliability of engineering structures. Firstly, an active learning and weighted penalty function (WPLF) is the result of integrating active learning method, weighted function and penalty function, which is proposed to find the most probable point (MPP). Meanwhile, to avoid redundant information, the best suitable MPP is determined by a proposed distance law established between the found MPP and the existing design of experiment (DoE). Secondly, the Kriging model is refined according to best suitable MPP in each iteration. Thirdly, the failure probability is estimated by the Monte Carlo sample points from the n-ball domain until the convergence condition is satisfied. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated by some numerical examples including the highly nonlinear, the small probability problems and implicit function, as well as a real engineering application.