bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain-Wide Functional Dysconnectivity in Schizophrenia: Parsing Diathesis, Resilience, and the Effects of Clinical Expression
Authors: Guo Shuixia , He Ningning , Liu Zhening , Linli Zeqiang , Tao Haojuan , Palaniyappan Lena
Published: November 2019

Background:

The functional dysconnectivity observed from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in schizophrenia is also seen in unaffected siblings indicating its association with the genetic diathesis. We intended to apportion resting-state dysconnectivity into components that represent genetic diathesis, clinical expression or treatment effect, and resilience.

Methods:

fMRI data were acquired from 28 schizophrenia patients, 28 unaffected siblings, and 60 healthy controls. Based on Dosenbach’s atlas, we extracted time series of 160 regions of interest. After constructing functional network, we investigated between-group differences in strength and diversity of functional connectivity and topological properties of undirected graphs.

Results:

Using analysis of variance, we found 88 dysconnectivities. Post hoc t tests revealed that 62.5% were associated with genetic diathesis and 21.6% were associated with clinical expression. Topologically, we observed increased degree, clustering coefficient, and global efficiency in the sibling group compared to both patients and controls.

Conclusion:

A large portion of the resting-state functional dysconnectivity seen in patients represents a genetic diathesis effect. The most prominent network-level disruption is the dysconnectivity among nodes of the default mode and salience networks. Despite their predisposition, unaffected siblings show a pattern of resilience in the emergent connectomic topology. Our findings could potentially help refine imaging genetics approaches currently used in the pursuit of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
The Invisibility of Spiritual Nursing Care in Clinical Practice
Authors: Hawthorne Dawn M. , Gordon Shirley C.
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose: Spirituality has been identified as the essence of being human and is recognized, by many health care professionals, as a central component in health and healing. Scholars have identified spiritual nursing care as essential to nursing practice and include caring for the human spirit through the development of relationships and interconnectedness between the nurse and the patient. However, despite the recognition of spiritual practices as important to health, little attention has been given to spirituality in nursing practice and education in the literature. The purpose of this article is to explore factors contributing to the invisibility of spiritual nursing care practices (SNCP), recognition and offer strategies to enhance the visibility of SNCP. Two major factors that reduce visibility of SNCP are conceptual confusion differentiating between spirituality and religion and limited education in the area of spirituality including nursing curricula and organizations. Strategies to enhance visibility of SNCP include educational approaches in nursing curricula and health care organizations. to influence nurses’ perceptions about spirituality and creation of a culture of spiritual care. Conclusion: Holistic nursing includes assessing and responding to the spiritual needs of patients. Changes in nursing education and health care systems are needed to increase the visibility of SNCP.
Comparative study on the supercapacitive properties of PANI nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanospheres
Authors: Xiong Shanxin , Zhang Yong , Wang Yuyun , Wu Bohua , Chu Jia , Wang Xiaoqin , Zhang Runlan , Gong Ming , Li Zhen , Chen Zhenming
Published: November 2019

In this study, polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures with different morphologies (nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanospheres) were obtained via interfacial polymerization, rapid mixing reaction, and hydrothermal method. The influences of the synthesis methods on the morphologies and supercapacitive properties of PANI nanostructures were investigated. The chemical structures of materials were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images were used to explore the morphologies of PANI nanostructures. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, cyclic voltammetry, charge–discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the pore distribution, electrochemical, and supercapacitive properties of PANI nanostructures. The results show that PANI nanotubes (PANI-T) exhibit the best electrochemical performances among three kinds of PANI nanostructures. The PANI-T exhibits high specific capacitances of 648 and 290 F g−1 at current densities of 0.5 and 10 A g−1, respectively, indicating its good supercapacitive property and rate capability. The enhanced electrochemical and supercapacitive performances can be attributed to its hollow nanotube structure.
A rapid parameter configuration method for film hole component in pipe-net calculation
Authors: Li Jixing , Ning Tao , Wang Tian , Hu Bifu , Xi Ping , Xu Jingliang
Published: November 2019

Film hole component is one of the most important cooling components in pipe-net calculation for blade design. However, owing to a large number of gas film holes, manual parameter configuration for film hole components will affect the efficiency of pipe-net calculation. Extracting parameters from the geometric structure of film holes automatically could significantly shorten the time consumption of pipe-net calculation. In this paper, numeric analysis parameter and group data required by film hole components were summarized and analyzed, based on which a parameter configuration strategy was proposed. Aiming at the extraction of group data, a film hole grouping method was presented. By converting the grouping requirements in fluid-heat analysis into a geometric row pattern recognition problem, it further redefines the geometric row as a linear distribution by a projection method and a parametric mapping method and finally solves the grouping problem by a linear search algorithm. A numeric parameter extraction method was put forward to redefine analysis parameters with geometric properties and identify certain geometry primitives. The proposed algorithm and method are verified with instances. The results illustrate that our method could shorten parameter configuration process of film hole component into several minutes from several hours in manual, with more reliable accuracy.
Theoretical and numerical investigation into brush seal hysteresis without pressure differential
Authors: Kang Yuchi , Liu Meihong , Hu Xiangping , Kao-Walter Sharon , Zhang Baodi
Published: November 2019

Brush seal is a novel type contact seal, and it is well-known due to its excellent performance. However, there are many intrinsic drawbacks, such as hysteresis, which need to be solved. This article focused on modeling hysteresis in both numerical way and analytic way without pressure differential. The numerical simulation was solved by the finite element method. General contact method was used to model the inter-bristle contact, bristle–rotor contact, and bristle–backplate contact. Bristle deformation caused by both vertical and axial tip force was used to validate the numerical model together with reaction force. An analytic model in respect of the strain energy was created. The influence of structure parameters on the hysteresis ratio, with the emphasis on the derivation of hysteresis ratio formula for brush seals, was also presented. Both numerical model and analytic model presented that cant angle is the most influential factor. The aim of the article is to provide a useful theoretical and numerical method to analyze and predict the hysteresis. This work contributes the basis for future hysteresis investigation with pressure differential.
An Empirical Inquiry into Per Capita Convergence of Indian States
Authors: Roy Subaran , Sen Chitrakalpa , Sanyal Rohini
Published: November 2019

The topic of growth convergence (or the lack of it) has always been one of the most important economic phenomena for Indian states. This study undertakes more than 3 decades of data for Indian states from the 1980s and traces convergence of state-level per capita income; breaking the data down into the subperiods based on time and levels of income using panel unit root tests. The results show no discernible evidence of convergence across the states, especially after post-liberalization. However, taking into account control variables for capital expenditure, development expenditure, and fiscal deficit, we find significant evidence for convergence of state-level per capita GDP. This indicates that the nature of inequality across states is not structural in nature and can be reduced through active policy interventions.
Article 140 Between Baghdad and KRG: The Future of Kirkuk Status in Post 16 October
Authors: Hama Hawre Hasan
Published: November 2019

The Iraqi state and the Kurds have always been at the odds over the territory around Kirkuk, particularly following the discovery of oil in the province in 1927. Both sides have claimed ownership of the province since that time and have sought to gain advantage over the other through various means. The region was subjected to a forced demographic change under the Arabisation policy during the reign of Ba’ath Party between 1968 and 2003. Following the overthrow of Saddam’s regime in 2003, the status of Kirkuk was to be constitutionally and peacefully resolved according to Article 58 of the 2004 interim constitution and then Article 140 of the 2005 permanent constitutions, which called for normalisation, a census, and a referendum in Kirkuk and other disputed areas to determine the will of their residents. Practically, however, various Iraqi governments and the two dominant Kurdish parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, were able to politicise implementation of Article 140. Although each blame the other, all share responsibility for the lack of implementation. This research investigates that experience and argues that the joint administration is the optimal scenario in the short run and independent region within the Iraqi state would be the best-case scenario in the long term.
Developing Listening and Oral Expression Skills: Pillars of Influential Oral Communication
Authors: Costigan Robert D. , Brink Kyle E.
Published: November 2019

Influence is a critical competency for success in the workplace. Past research has shown that two oral communication skills (listening and oral expression) are associated with interpersonal influence. This exploratory study examines the effectiveness of two pedagogies (leaderless group discussion [LGD] and oral presentation with a question and answer time [P+Q&A]) in developing these oral communication skills. MBA students enrolled in online courses participated in this pedagogical research. The results of paired-sample t test procedures and correlation analyses of self- and peer ratings suggest that LGD and P+Q&A are effective in developing listening and oral expression skills, which, in turn, are related to interpersonal influence. Other key findings indicate that the reactions of the MBA students to LGD and P+Q&A are favorable, and the intentions of MBA students to transfer these communication skills back to their jobs are strong. We discuss the two pedagogies from the perspectives of relevance, improvisation, inductive/deductive discourse, and Bloom’s taxonomy of learning. We end with a discussion of the implications of these findings for business education priorities and business instructors.
Environmental Degradation and Public Opinion: The Case of Air Pollution in Vietnam
Authors: Kim Sung Eun , Harish S. P. , Kennedy Ryan , Jin Xiaomeng , Urpelainen Johannes
Published: November 2019

Air pollution is a pressing problem of public health for developing countries, but governments have few incentives to abate air pollution without public awareness of the issue. Focusing on the case of Vietnam, we examine the determinants of public awareness of air pollution. Using representative survey data for the entire country from 2017, we find that local exposure to air pollution increases public awareness and reduces satisfaction with governments but does not provoke opposition to coal-fired power generation. In contrast, education leads people to oppose coal-fired power plants. These results suggest that while local air pollution contributes to awareness and dissatisfaction with the government, support for effective policy measures depends on education levels.
Comments on “Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy control for a wide class of fractional-order chaotic systems with uncertain parameters via linear matrix inequality”
Authors: Zhang Xuefeng
Published: November 2019

This article shows that sufficient conditions of Theorems 1–3 and the conclusions of Lemmas 1–2 for Takasi–Sugeno fuzzy model–based fractional order systems in the study “Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy control for a wide class of fractional order chaotic systems with uncertain parameters via linear matrix inequality” do not hold as asserted by the authors. The reason analysis is discussed in detail. Counterexamples are given to validate the conclusion.
Wetting of soap bubbles on soft elastomers with surface stress and gravity
Authors: Xu Peibao , Su Xiang , Zhao Jun , Yu Yong , Li Kai
Published: November 2019

Surface stress and gravitational force have significant effects on the deformation of soft elastomers. By considering surface stress and gravity of the soft elastomer, we study wetting behaviors of soap bubbles on a semi-space elastomer through the surface Green’s function method. The normal surface displacement of the elastomer caused by the surface tension and Laplace pressure is calculated. The normal surface displacement in the contact zone monotonously increases from the center to the triple line, and the contact zone is divided into concave zone and convex zone. The results show that surface stress and gravity have significant influence on the normal surface deformation caused by the wetting of the soap bubble. In general, surface stress and gravity suppress the amplitude of the normal surface displacement. With the increase of surface stress, the amplitude of the normal surface displacement in the concave and convex zones decreases. However, with the increase of gravity, the amplitude of the normal surface displacement in the concave zone decreases, while that in the convex zone increases. This counterintuitive phenomenon can be understood by the superimposition of displacements. The results have potential applications in the fields of adhesion, indentation, evaporation, cell migration on soft materials, etc.
Validity of Visual and Auditory Attention Tests for Detecting ADHD
Authors: Wang Liang-Jen , Lee Sheng-Yu , Tsai Ching-Shu , Lee Min-Jing , Chou Miao-Chun , Kuo Ho-Chang , Chou Wen-Jiun
Published: November 2019

Objective: This investigation examines the discriminative validity of visual and auditory attention tests for differentiating patients with ADHD from healthy control participants. Method: A total of 107 ADHD patients and 58 healthy control participants were recruited. Visual and auditory attention profiles were obtained using the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CPT3) and Conners’ Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (CATA), respectively. Results: We found that ADHD patients underperformed healthy controls on all CPT3 and CATA indexes, except Response Style and Hit Reaction Time. The CPT3, CATA, and CPT3 plus CATA all significantly differentiate ADHD patients and controls. CPT3 plus CATA had a greater sensitivity (82.6%), specificity (76%), positive predictive value (88.8%), negative predictive value (65.5%), and overall correct classification rate (80.6%) than CPT3 or CATA alone. Conclusion: Neuropsychological tests CPT3 and CATA provide objective information about cases of ADHD and should be used routinely for clinical assessment.
Surgical repair for abductor lesion after revision total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review
Authors: Di Martino Alberto , Geraci Giuseppe , Stefanini Niccolò , Perna Fabrizio , Mazzotti Antonio , Ruffilli Alberto , Faldini Cesare
Published: November 2019

Background:

Abductor mechanism lesions represent a severe complication after revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA). The resulting abductor insufficiency can cause limping, pain, instability, and a higher rate of failure, thus requiring further revision surgery. In case of severe degeneration and retraction of the abductor mechanism, several different surgical treatments are needed.

Aim:

To systematically review all studies reporting on surgical treatment of severe abductor lesion after rTHA, focusing on surgical techniques, and clinical and functional results.

Method:

Scientific databases were accessed in December 2018 to identify studies addressing the surgical management of severe abductor disruption after rTHA. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Data were extracted from the identified articles and summarised. Only data about patients with symptoms of abductor insufficiency after rTHA were included in the database.

Results:

9 retrospective studies were included, all being retrospective case series reporting on a total of 92 patients. Several surgical strategies have been described and performed: a repair using a synthetic mesh was reported in 1 study; 2 studies reported on local muscle transfer (gluteus maximus transfer or advancement); vastus lateralis advancement was described in 4 studies while in 2 studies the injury was repaired with the use of an allograft. Overall positive results have been reported in terms of pain reduction, while poor to mild functional scores with persistent limping have often been observed in the postoperative period.

Conclusions:

The short follow-up time of the reviewed studies is inadequate to uncover any late dislocation, implant failure or different complications related to abductor mechanism reconstruction.
Leveraging real-world data to investigate multiple sclerosis disease behavior, prognosis, and treatment
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey A , Trojano Maria , Mowry Ellen M , Uitdehaag Bernard MJ , Reingold Stephen C , Marrie Ruth Ann
Published: November 2019

Randomized controlled clinical trials and real-world observational studies provide complementary information but with different validity. Some clinical questions (disease behavior, prognosis, validation of outcome measures, comparative effectiveness, and long-term safety of therapies) are often better addressed using real-world data reflecting larger, more representative populations. Integration of disease history, clinician-reported outcomes, performance tests, and patient-reported outcome measures during patient encounters; imaging and biospecimen analyses; and data from wearable devices increase dataset utility. However, observational studies utilizing these data are susceptible to many potential sources of bias, creating barriers to acceptance by regulatory agencies and the medical community. Therefore, data standardization and validation within datasets, harmonization across datasets, and application of appropriate analysis methods are important considerations. We review approaches to improve the scope, quality, and analyses of real-world data to advance understanding of multiple sclerosis and its treatment, as an example of opportunities to better support patient care and research.
How do beliefs and institutional context influence the portability of political and civil society behaviours among New Zealand return migrants?
Authors: Humpage Louise
Published: November 2019

Qualitative life-history narratives investigating the portability of political and civil society beliefs/behaviours of 42 New Zealand returnees help us to understand why some citizens engage in political and civil society activities while living overseas and on return. Personal beliefs such as civic duty, rights and self-interest are strongly associated with the portability of political and civil society behaviours. Yet findings also support theories of exposure, indicating that political/civil society learning can occur across the ‘migration life course’ and challenge resistance theory arguments that a break in participation inhibits political engagement later in life. Although civil society engagement is shaped more by self-interest than altruism overall, most returnees failed to volunteer as a way of better integrating on their return as many had overseas. Thus, the ‘ home’ context can inhibit citizenship engagement, reducing the benefits New Zealand could reap from exposure to new ideas, places and people while overseas.
An ethnography of public events: Reformulating the extended case method in contemporary social theory
Authors: Schritt Jannik
Published: November 2019

In this article, I discuss the methodological framework of the extended case method in light of both the findings of my case study and contemporary social theory. Taking the inauguration event of the first oil refinery in Niger in 2011 as a starting point from which to analyse the country’s socio-political order, I then extend the situation into time, space and theory to account for oil-induced transformations. To do so, I make use of Burawoy’s four moments of the extended case method but critique and consequently reformulate each moment in order to push them through theories of practice, process, globality and serendipity.
Genetic variation in TCF7L2 rs7903146 correlating with peripheral arterial disease in long-standing type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ku Eu Jeong , Won Gun Woo , Lee Yong Hee , Lee Dong-Hwa , Jeon Hyun Jeong , Oh Tae Keun
Published: November 2019

Aim:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene ( TCF7L2) rs7903146 polymorphism and peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

In total, 1818 Korean type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled from January 2013 to December 2017. Subjects were categorized into two groups according to their duration of type 2 diabetes: long (⩾10 years, n = 771) and short (<10 years, n = 1047) durations. A multivariate logistic regression model was used for assuming an additive effect on peripheral arterial disease for the presence of a variant allele in TCF7L2 rs7903146.

Results:

The frequency of the minor T-allele was 7.6% ( n = 139), and this allele was significantly associated with a 2.6-fold higher risk of peripheral arterial disease (odds ratio = 2.595, 95% confidence interval = 1.177–5.722, p = 0.018) in patients exhibiting a long duration of type 2 diabetes (⩾10 years). This result was significant after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, familial history of diabetes, smoking, duration of diabetes and laboratory measurements, which included glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles. In patients with diabetes < 10 years, there was no significant association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 and peripheral arterial disease (odds ratio = 1.233, 95% confidence interval = 0.492–3.093, p = 0.655).

Conclusion:

Our results provide evidence that genetic variation in TCF7L2 rs7903146 could increase risk for peripheral arterial disease in patients exhibiting long-standing type 2 diabetes.
Stare Decisisand the Electoral Connection: Do Retention Systems Affect Judges’ Deference to Precedent?
Authors: Miller Michael G. , Tuma Michelle D.
Published: November 2019

Using data from nearly 5,000 votes cast by more than 400 judges in courts of last resort from all 50 states, we investigate whether there is a relationship between a state’s judicial retention method and the likelihood that a judge votes to join a precedent-overturning majority. We find that relative to judges retained by institutions such as judicial commissions or state legislatures, those retained via either partisan or retention elections are significantly more likely to join majorities that overturn precedent. Most of this effect is due to behavior in high-profile cases that garner media attention. We find little evidence that an impending election moderates these effects. Finally, we find no evidence that judges retained via nonpartisan elections treat precedent differently than their institutionally retained colleagues.
Energy-efficient scheme for target recognition and localization in wireless acoustic sensor networks
Authors: Algobail Afnan , Soudani Adel , Alahmadi Saad
Published: November 2019

The development of wireless acoustic sensor networks has driven the use of acoustic signals for target monitoring. Most monitoring applications require continuous network connectivity and data transfers, which can rapidly exhaust nodes’ energy. Consequently, sensors must collaborate in an adequate architecture to perform target recognition and localization tasks and then to send the results to a remote server with a reduced data volume. The design of an energy-efficient scheme that achieves acoustic target recognition and localization remains an open research problem. Accordingly, this article proposes a low-energy acoustic-based sensing scheme for target recognition and localization to be implemented in a cluster-based sensing approach designed to appropriately balance energy consumption and local processing performed by sensor nodes. A reduced set of low-complexity feature extraction methods in the time domain signal are used in the recognition process. The scheme uses the received energy of the acoustic signals for the target localization. This article details the network architecture, the scheme specification, and its implementation. The results show that the scheme can classify targets with 81.34% accuracy. It requires 3.2 mJ of energy when executed in MICAz, achieving 99% energy savings compared to streaming 3 s of an acoustic signal to a remote server.
Dietary Intakes Differ by Body Composition Goals: An Observational Study of Professional Rugby Union Players in New Zealand
Authors: Black Katherine E. , Hindle Chloe , McLay-Cooke Rebecca , Brown Rachel C. , Gibson Claire , Baker Dane F. , Smith Brett
Published: November 2019

Preseason in rugby union is a period of intensive training where players undergo conditioning to prepare for the competitive season. In some cases, this includes modifying body composition through weight gain or fat loss. This study aimed to describe the macronutrient intakes of professional rugby union players during pre-season training. It was hypothesized that players required to gain weight would have a higher energy, carbohydrate and protein intake compared to those needing to lose weight. Twenty-three professional rugby players completed 3 days of dietary assessment and their sum of eight skinfolds were assessed. Players were divided into three groups by the team coaches and medical staff: weight gain, weight maintain and weight loss. Mean energy intakes were 3,875 ± 907 kcal·d−1 (15,965 ± 3,737 kJ·d−1) (weight gain 4,532 ± 804 kcal·d−1; weight maintain 3,825 ± 803 kcal·d−1; weight loss 3,066 ± 407 kcal·d−1) and carbohydrate intakes were 3.7 ± 1.2 g·kg−1·d−1 (weight gain 4.8 ± 0.9 g.kg−1·d−1; weight maintain 2.8 ± 0.7 g·kg−1·d−1; weight loss 2. 6 ± 0.7 g·kg−1·d−1). The energy and carbohydrate intakes are similar to published intakes among rugby union players. There were significant differences in energy intake and the percent of energy from protein between the weight gain and the weight loss group.
A new fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control method for mechanical and aeronautical systems with neural estimators
Authors: Qi Haiying , Shi Yiran , Tian Yantao , Mayhew Clifford , Yu Ding-Li , Gomm J Barry , Zhang Qian
Published: November 2019

A new method of fault detection and fault-tolerant control is proposed in this article for mechanical systems and aeronautical systems. The faults to be estimated and diagnosed are malfunctions that occurred within the control loops of the systems, rather than some static faults, such as gearbox fault, component cracks, and so on. In the proposed method, two neural networks are used as online estimators, the fault will be accurately estimated when the estimators are adapted online with the post-fault dynamic information. Furthermore, the estimated values of faults are used to compensate for the impact of the faults, so that the stability and performance of the system with the faults are maintained until the faulty components to be repaired. The sliding mode control is used to maintain system stability under the post-fault dynamics. The control law and the neural network learning algorithms are derived using the Lyapunov method, so that the neural estimators are guaranteed to converge to the fault to be diagnosed, while the entire closed-loop system stability is guaranteed with all variables bounded. The main contribution of this article to the knowledge in this field is that the proposed method can not only diagnose and tolerant with constant fault but also diagnose and tolerant with the time-varying faults. This is very important because most faults occurred in industrial systems are time varying in nature. A simulation example is used to demonstrate the design procedure and the effectiveness of the method. The simulation results are compared with the two existing methods that can cope with constant faults only, and the superiority is demonstrated.
‘We have the right to stand up’: Elementary students’ conceptual understandings of civic virtue and engagement
Authors: Pennington Julie L , Obenchain Kathryn M , Carter Hannah , Bedford Melissa
Published: November 2019

Early purposes of education in the United States concentrated on preparing young citizens to understand democratic principles in order to participate in their democratic communities. Today elementary instruction has contracted in response to years of high stakes accountability measures. Social studies has not been a focus of federal accountability measures and therefore has become increasingly absent in elementary classrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine how elementary students understood and applied their knowledge of civic virtue and engagement within an integrated social studies and literacy unit of instruction based on the framework of Critical Democratic Literacy. A modified version of Design-Based Research was used with a classroom teacher in a multiage first, second, and third grade classroom with the goal of ‘improving practice’ and engaging in ‘an iterative, collaborative design’ in an authentic instructional environment. Findings demonstrated that the elementary students understood the concepts of civic virtue and civic engagement in both historical and present contexts, as well as its relevance to their lives and the lives of others as helping and standing up in the face of injustice.
Structure and photochromic properties of a novel diarylethene containing a 9-fluorenone hydrazone Schiff base moiety
Authors: Zhuge Yuexia , Zheng Chunhong , Liao Guanming , Pu Shouzhi
Published: November 2019

A novel diarylethene containing a 9-fluorenone hydrazone Schiff base moiety is designed and synthesized. The structure is characterized by single-crystal diffraction analysis and it shows excellent photochromism in the single crystalline phase. Moreover, the diarylethene product shows relatively high fluorescence modulation efficiency and good fatigue resistance.
Effects of task constraints on training workload in elite women’s soccer
Authors: Ibáñez Sergio J , Pérez-Goye Emilio , García-Rubio Javier , Courel-Ibáñez Javier
Published: November 2019

The purposes of this study were to identify which major constraints contribute to greater task workload and to determine distinctive training task profiles using an integrative approach during a regular season from a professional women’s soccer team. Twenty-seven elite soccer players from a team competing in the first Spanish women’s soccer league participated in this study. Data were obtained from 46 training sessions (112 training tasks) along five competitive months. Workload measures were collected using the SIATE integrative assessment tool and heart rate monitors during the team’s regular training routine. Results from cluster analysis effectively classified four types of training activities that caused a distinct physiological response from players. The most relevant constraints that increased the task workload were, in order of influence: interaction possibilities, opposition degree, simultaneous participation, game space, competitive workload and intensity. In turn, internal training load monitoring by heart rate seems to be worthless during technical-tactical soccer drills. These results provide coaches an easy, affordable and more informative tool to quantify the training workload. Whereas this information requires observational assessment tools to be obtained, these methods should be considered as a complement to wearables devices for training load control and monitoring in field sports.
Politeness in the interactions of selected Nigerian news-based virtual communities
Authors: Oyadiji Olushola
Published: November 2019

While the vital impacts of linguistic and discursive politeness on the sustenance of talk and the possibility of community-building have enjoyed a lot of attention in linguistic scholarship, attention is shifting to virtual communities with studies interrogating their language use and interactional patterns. This study seeks to further that line of inquiry by investigating politeness in Nigerian news-based virtual communities. Taking an etic interpretive analytical approach which relies on the facework and relational-work paradigms, it studies virtual communities generated by four Nigerian online newspapers purposively sampled to represent the Nigerian geo-political zones and political ideologies between 2015 and 2018. Given the relative newness of the virtual community in Africa as well as its significant impacts on socio-political activities and attitudes to democracy and governance, the research will contribute significantly to the exploration of online communicative behaviour in the African humanities.
Usefulness of Nasal Endoscopy for Diagnosing Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Do Hyun , Seo Youngjun , Kim Kyung Min , Lee Seoungmin , Hwang Se Hwan
Published: November 2019

Background

We evaluated the accuracy of nasal endoscopy in diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) compared with paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT).

Methods

Two authors independently searched the 5 databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database) up to March 2019. For all included studies, we calculated correlation coefficients between the endoscopic and CT scores. We extracted data on true-positive and false-positive and true-negative and false-negative results. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool (version 2).

Results

We included 16 observational or retrospective studies. A high correlation ( r = .8543; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.7685–0.9401], P < .0001, I2 = 76.58%) between endoscopy and CT in terms of the diagnostic accuracy for CRS was apparent. The odds ratio (Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score ≥1) was 7.915 (95% CI [4.435–14.124]; I2 = 28.361%). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.765. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.726 (95% CI [0.584–0.834]) and 0.767 (95% CI [0.685–0.849]), respectively. However, high interstudy heterogeneity was evident given the different endoscopic score thresholds used (Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score ≥1 vs 2). In a subgroup analysis of studies using a Lund–Kennedy endoscopic score threshold ≥2, the area under the summary curve was 0.881, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.874 (95% CI [0.783–0.930]) and 0.793 (95% CI [0.366–0.962]), respectively.

Conclusion

Nasal endoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool; the Lund–Kennedy score was comparable with that of CT.
Natriuretic peptide receptor C contributes to disproportionate right ventricular hypertrophy in a rodent model of obesity‐induced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Agrawal Vineet , Fortune Niki , Yu Sheeline , Fuentes Julio , Shi Fubiao , Nichols David , Gleaves Linda , Poovey Emily , Wang Thomas J. , Brittain Evan L. , Collins Sheila , West James D. , Hemnes Anna R.
Published: November 2019

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) currently has no therapies that improve mortality. Right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension are common in HFpEF, and thought to be driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome. Thus, we hypothesized that an animal model of obesity‐induced HFpEF with pulmonary hypertension would provide insight into the pathogenesis of right ventricular failure in HFpEF. Two strains of mice, one susceptible (AKR) and one resistant (C3H) to obesity‐induced HFpEF, were fed high fat (60% fat) or control diet for 0, 2, or 20 weeks and evaluated by cardiac catheterization and echocardiography for development of right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and HFpEF. AKR, but not C3H, mice developed right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and HFpEF. NPRC, which antagonizes beneficial natriuretic peptide signaling, was found in RNA sequencing to be the most differentially upregulated gene in the right ventricle, but not left ventricle or lung, of AKR mice that developed pulmonary hypertension and HFpEF. Overexpression of NPRC in H9C2 cells increased basal cell size and increased expression of hypertrophic genes, MYH7 and NPPA. In conclusion, we have shown that NPRC contributes to right ventricular modeling in obesity‐induced pulmonary hypertension‐HFpEF by increasing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. NPRC may represent a promising therapeutic target for right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension‐HFpEF.
Etiologies of diarrhea and drug susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates among under-five year children in refugee camps in Gambella Region, Ethiopia: a case control study
Authors: Mekonnen Getachew Kabew , Mengistie Bezatu , Sahilu Geremew , Kloos Helmut , Mulat Worku
Published: November 2019

Background

Despite substantial global effort and updated clinical management guidelines, diarrhea continues to be among leading worldwide causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Infectious diarrhea, the most common form of diarrhea causes substantial morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries, and the muddled use of antibiotics needs caution due to potential problems of drug-resistance. The aim of this study is to identify etiologies of diarrhea and drug susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates in under-five children in refugee camps in Gambella Region, Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution- based matched case control study was conducted using a questionnaire-based interview from June to December 2017 in Pugnido and Teirkidi refugee camps. Stool samples were collected and parasites causing diarrhea were identified by wet mount microscopy. Conventional culture supplemented with API 20E identification kit was used to identify Salmonella and Shigella species. Antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates was investigated by using the disk diffusion method. The association between etiologies and diarrhea was analyzed using McNemar test or Fisher exact test with 95% confidence interval at a level of significance of P < 0.05.

Results

The overall prevalence of enteric pathogens were 55 (41.0%) in diarrhea cases and 18 (13.4%) in healthy controls. The detected etiologies include Giardia lambia (28), Shigella spp. (16), E. hystolyotica/dispar (13), Ascaris lumbricoides (10), Salmonella spp. (6), Cryptosporidium parvum (6), Hymenolepis nana (4) and Isospora belli (3). All isolates were sensitive to kanamycine and ceftazidime. The high resistance rate was observed against ampicillin (100%), amoxicillin (100%), erythromycin (52%), chloramphenicol (47.5%), tetracycline (40.5%), cotrimoxazole (34.8%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (33%). The majorities of the isolates had a low rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin (8.7%), naldxic acid (8.7%) and amikacin (13%).

Conclusions

Giardia lamblia, E. Hystolytica/dispar, and Shigella spp are the common etiologies of diarrhea in children in the studied refugee camps. The study also showed that significant numbers of bacterial isolates were resistant to the commonly used antimicrobial drugs. Therefore, improving clinical laboratory services and promoting evidence-based drug prescription may reinforce proper use of antibiotics and reduce the emergence of microbial resistance.
GLP-1 analog liraglutide-induced cardiac dysfunction due to energetic starvation in heart failure with non-diabetic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Shiraki Aya , Oyama Jun-ichi , Nishikido Toshiyuki , Node Koichi
Published: November 2019

Background

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reduces cardiovascular events in diabetic patients; however, its counter-protective effects have also been suggested in patients with heart failure and the clear explanation for its mechanisms have not yet been offered.

Methods

The effects of GLP-1 analog on cardiac function and energy metabolism, especially glycemic and lipid metabolisms were elucidated using non-diabetic J2N-k hamsters which showed spontaneous dilated cardiomyopathy. J2N-k hamsters were treated with PBS (HF group), low-dose (HF-L group) or high-dose liraglutide (HF-H group).

Results

In failing heart, GLP-1 analog exerted further deteriorated cardiac function (e.g. positive and negative dP/dt; p = 0.01 and p = 0.002, respectively) with overt fibrosis and cardiac enlargement (heart/body weight, 5.7 ± 0.2 in HF group versus 7.6 ± 0.2 in HF-H group; p = 0.02). The protein expression of cardiac muscles indicated the energy starvation status. Indirect calorimetry showed that failing hearts consumed higher energy and carbohydrate than normal hearts; moreover, this tendency was augmented by GLP-1 analog administration. Upon 10% glucose solution loading with GLP-1 analog administration (HF-H-G group) as complementary experiments, the cardiac function and fibrosis significantly ameliorated, whereas carbohydrate utilization augmented further and lipid utilization reduced more. The prognosis of HF-H-G group also significantly improved (p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Glucagon-like peptide-1 analog caused the relative but desperate shortage of glycemic energy source for the failing cardiac muscles and it may restrict ATP synthesis, resulting in cardiac function deterioration. Therefore, appropriate energy supply and amount of carbohydrate intake should be carefully considered when administrating incretin-related drugs to patients with heart failure.
Correction to: MicroRNA-9 regulates survival of chondroblasts and cartilage integrity by targeting protogenin
Authors: Song Jinsoo , Kim Dongkyun , Chun Churl-Hong , Jin Eun-Jung
Published: November 2019

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that Figs. 3 and 6 are incorrect.
Power in global governance: an expanded typology from global health
Authors: Moon Suerie
Published: November 2019

The exercise of power permeates global governance processes, making power a critical concept for understanding, explaining, and influencing the intersection of global governance and health. This article briefly presents and discusses three well-established conceptualizations of power—Dahl’s, Bourdieu’s, and Barnett and Duvall’s—from different disciplines, finding that each is important for understanding global governance but none is sufficient. The conceptualization of power itself needs to be expanded to include the multiple ways in which one actor can influence the thinking or actions of others. I further argue that global governance processes exhibit features of complex adaptive systems, the analysis of which requires taking into account multiple types of power. Building on established frameworks, the article then offers an expanded typology of eight kinds of power: physical, economic, structural, institutional, moral, discursive, expert, and network. The typology is derived from and illustrated by examples from global health, but may be applicable to global governance more broadly. Finally, one seemingly contradictory – and cautiously optimistic – conclusion emerges from this typology: multiple types of power can mutually reinforce tremendous power disparities in global health; but at the same time, such disparities are not necessarily absolute or immutable. Further research on the complex interaction of multiple types of power is needed for a better understanding of global governance and health.
Crowdfunding and global health disparities: an exploratory conceptual and empirical analysis
Authors: Kenworthy Nora J.
Published: November 2019

Background

The use of crowdfunding platforms to cover the costs of healthcare is growing rapidly within low-, middle-, and high-income countries as a new funding modality in global health. The popularity of such “medical crowdfunding” is fueled by health disparities and gaps in health coverage and social safety-net systems. Crowdfunding in its current manifestations can be seen as an antithesis to universal health coverage. But research on medical crowdfunding, particularly in global health contexts, has been sparse, and accessing robust data is difficult. To map and document how medical crowdfunding is shaped by, and shapes, health disparities, this article offers an exploratory conceptual and empirical analysis of medical crowdfunding platforms and practices around the world. Data are drawn from a mixed-methods analysis of medical crowdfunding campaigns, as well as an ongoing ethnographic study of crowdfunding platforms and the people who use them.

Results

Drawing on empirical data and case examples, this article describes three main ways that crowdfunding is impacting health equity and health politics around the world: 1) as a technological determinant of health, wherein data ownership, algorithms and platform politics influence health inequities; 2) as a commercial determinant of health, wherein corporate influence reshapes healthcare markets and health data; 3) and as a determinant of health politics, affecting how citizens view health rights and the future of health coverage.

Conclusions

Rather than viewing crowdfunding as a social media fad or a purely beneficial technology, researchers and publics must recognize it as a complex innovation that is reshaping health systems, influencing health disparities, and shifting political norms, even as it introduces new ways of connecting and caring for those in the midst of health crises. More analysis, and better access to data, is needed to inform policy and address crowdfunding as a source of health disparities.
What matters in health (care) universes: delusions, dilutions, and ways towards universal health justice
Authors: Birn Anne-Emanuelle , Nervi Laura
Published: November 2019

The presumed global consensus on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) masks crucial issues regarding the principles and politics of what constitutes “universality” and what matters, past and present, in the struggle for health (care) justice. This article focuses on three dimensions of the problematic: 1) we unpack the rhetoric of UHC in terms of each of its three components: universal, health, and coverage; 2) paying special attention to Latin America, we revisit the neoliberal coup d’état against past and contemporary struggles for health justice, and we consider how the current neoliberal phase of capitalism has sought to arrest these struggles, co-opt their language, and narrow their vision; and 3) we re-imagine the contemporary challenges/dilemmas concerning health justice, transcending the false technocratic consensus around UHC and re-infusing the profoundly political nature of this struggle. In sum, as with the universe writ large, a range of matters matter: socio-political contexts at national and international levels, agenda-setting power, the battle over language, real policy effects, conceptual narratives, and people’s struggles for justice.