bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological distress, drug use, and internet use: the association with poor sleep quality in a sample of secondary school students
Authors: Olashore Anthony A. , Akanni Oluyemi O. , Ayilara Olaniyi O.
Published: May 2020

BackgroundSleep problems are common among children and adolescents. Sleep quality plays a significant role in adolescents’ mental health. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQ) among secondary school students, identify sociodemographic factors associated with PSQ in this group, and to examine the independent associations of psychological distress, stimulant use and internet use with PSQ.MethodsData were collected from 420 secondary school students from four different schools who were selected using a mixture of convenience and random sampling. A set of questionnaires was administered to collect data, and it consisted of 5 sections measuring: the sociodemographic, drug use, psychological distress, internet use, and sleep qualityResultsA total of 378 questionnaires were analyzed. The prevalence of those with PSQ was 12.2%. A logistic regression model showed that anxiety (AOR=1.20, 95%CI:1.10-1.32), depression (AOR=1.12, 95%CI:1.00-1.25), and internet use (AOR=1.02, 95%CI:1.00-1.03) were significantly associated with PSQ.ConclusionsPSQ commonly exists among students and has a relationship with their psychological state and potentially addictive behavior, such as internet use. A bi-directional evaluation of PSQ as a cause and, or effect of psychological and addictive problems, was further recommended.
Nationwide population-based cohort study of adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnancies with myoma or following myomectomy: Retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lee Se Jin , Ko Hyun Sun , Na Sunghun , Bae Jin Young , Seong Won Joon , Kim Jong Woon , Shin Jaeeun , Cho Hae Joong , Choi Gyu Yeon , Kim Jinsil Kim , Cho Geum Joon , Park In Yang
Published: May 2020

Background Our objective was to evaluate risks of adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnancies with myoma(s) or in pregnancies following myomectomy.Methods We analyzed the national health insurance database, which covers almost the entire Korean population, between 2004 and 2015. The risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies with myoma(s) or in pregnancies following myomectomy, compared to those in women without a diagnosed myoma, were analyzed in multivariate logistic regression analysisResults During the study period, 38,402 women with diagnosed myoma(s), 9,890 women with a history of myomectomy, and 740,675 women without a diagnosed myoma gave birth. Women with a history of diagnosed myoma(s) and women with a history of myomectomy had significantly higher risks of cesarean section (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.1-1.16, p = 0.042; and aOR 7.46, 95% CI 6.97-7.98, p < 0.001, respectively) and placenta previa (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.29-1.54, p = 0.042; and aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.35-1.83, p < 0.001, respectively), compared to women without a diagnosed myoma. And the risks of uterine rupture, preterm birth, and low birth weight were significantly higher in women with previous myomectomy but not in women with diagnosed myoma(s), compared to women without a diagnosed myoma (aOR 12.78, 95% CI 6.5-25.13, p < 0.001; aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.47-1.84, p < 0.001; and aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.39-1.68, p < 0.001, respectively). The incidence of uterine rupture was the highest at delivery within one year after myomectomy and decreased over time after myomectomy.Conclusions When a woman who might become pregnant later on is diagnosed with uterine myoma, she should be counseled about the risk of myoma(s) and myomectomy on obstetric complications, especially including the significant risk of uterine rupture in pregnancies following myomectomy.
Clinical Manifestation and Maternal Complications and Neonatal outcomes in Pregnant Women with COVID 19: An Update a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Soheili Marzieh , Moradi Ghobad , Baradaran Hamid Reza , Soheili Maryam , Moradi Yousef
Published: May 2020

Background Existing evidence indicates that the risk of obstetric and perinatal outcomes is higher in women with coronavirus infection. outbreaks suggest that pregnant women and their fetuses are particularly susceptible to poor outcomes. However, there is little known about pregnancy related complications and co-morbidity in this group of women. Therefore, this, systematic review and meta-analysis performed in order to find out whether COVID-19 may cause different manifestations and outcomes in antepartum and postpartum period or not.Methods We searched databases, including Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Web of sciences, Cochrane library, Ovid and CINHAL to retrieve all articles reporting the prevalence of maternal and neonatal complications, in addition clinical manifestations, in pregnant women with COVID 19 that published with English language from January to April 2020. Results 11 studies with total 177 pregnant women included in this systematic review.Results show that the pooled prevalence of neonatal mortality, lower birth weight, stillbirth, premature birth, and intrauterine fetal distress in women with COVID 19 were 4% (95% Cl: 1 - 9%), 21% (95% Cl: 11 – 31%), 2% (95% Cl: 1 - 6%), 28% (95% Cl: 12 - 44%), and 15% (95% Cl: 4 - 26%); respectively. Also the pooled prevalence of fever, cough, diarrhea and dyspnea were 56% (95% Cl: 30 - 83%), 30% (95% Cl: 21 - 39%), 9% (95% Cl: 2 - 16%), and 3% (95% Cl: 1 - 6%) in the pregnant women with COVID-19.Conclusion According to this systematic review and meta-analysis, the pregnant women with COVID-19 with or without pneumonia, are at a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, miscarriage and cesarean delivery. Furthermore, the risk of LBW and intrauterine fetal distress seems increased in neonates.
The Effect of Ethical Leadership on Subjective Wellbeing, Given the Moderator Job Satisfaction (A Case Study of Private Hospitals in Mashhad)
Authors: Kaffashpoor Azar , sadeghian samaneh
Published: May 2020

Background: The emerging ethical leadership, a novel approach in leadership perspective, has provided the ground for building and promoting individual and organizational effectiveness through prioritizing ethics in organization. The purpose of the study is survey of effect of Ethical Leadership on Subjective Wellbeing, Given the Moderator Job Satisfaction in Private Hospitals in Mashhad Methods: This research, employing a descriptive-correlational survey design, was conducted in 2015-2016 to examine the probable effect of ethical leadership on subjective wellbeing and job satisfaction (both as the outcome variable and the mediator) among the nurses of private hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. The statistical population included all nurses of private hospitals in Mashhad city (730 nurses, in total) from among whom following a simple randomized method, 166 nurses were selected as a sample of respondents. The data were collected with the adapted version of the questionnaire designed by Yang (2014) the validity and reliability of which were tested and confirmed. For data analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. Results: The results indicated a positive significant relationship between ethical leadership and job satisfaction. Ethical leadership only indirectly and through job satisfaction positively and significantly affected the subjective wellbeing of nurses. Conclusions: This suggests that an emphasis on ethics and ethically-oriented leaders in hospitals, aided by job satisfaction, can provide a positive climate which can lead to the subjective wellbeing of nurses.
Treatment quality and outcome for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in four regions of China: a cohort study
Authors: Zheng Xubin , Diwan Vinod K. , Zhao Qi , Hu Yi , Bruchfeld Judith , Jiang Weili , Hoffner Sven , Xu Biao
Published: May 2020

The authors have removed this preprint from Research Square.
Effect of Inflammatory Status on the Association Between Cardiovascular Health and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee Ji Heon , Jeon Ye Jin , Kim Hyeon Chang , Jung Sun Jae
Published: May 2020

Background: Information related to the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) level and cognitive dysfunction in the Korean population is very limited. The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of inflammatory status on the association between CVH and cognition.Methods: Data were obtained from the baseline assessments of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center study. Participants who completed fasting serum analysis, questionnaires, and cognitive function tests were included in the analyses, whereas those with a history of autoimmune disease were excluded. Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team health index metrics, including smoking, physical activity, healthy diet, obesity, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes, were used to assess CVH. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Estimation for Dementia Screening. Inflammatory status was assessed based on a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test.Results: Among 2,622 total participants (mean age 57.2 years; 1,792 women [68.3%]), 342 (13%), 1,520 (58%), and 760 (29%) had poor, intermediate, or ideal CVH, respectively. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that CVH was not significantly associated with cognitive function. We further investigated the association between each component of CVH and low cognitive function by determining the hs-CRP level. Results showed that the only component affecting the association was hypertension history in men.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CVH is not significantly associated with cognitive function in the middle-aged Korean population. In addition, inflammatory status had no significant effect on the association, and the only CVH-related factor affecting the association was hypertension history.Trial registration: KCT0001038, Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS)
Variations In Trim5α and Cyclophilin A Genes Among HIV-1 Elite Controllers and Non Controllers in Uganda; A Laboratory-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Amanya Sharon Bright , Nyiro Brian , Waswa Francis , Obura Bonniface , Nakaziba Rebecca , Nabulime Eva , Katabazi Ashaba Fred , Nabatanzi Rose , Bayiyana Alice , Mbowa Gerald , Kayongo Alex , Wayengera Misaki , Sande Obondo J.
Published: May 2020

Background Tripartite Motif Containing 5 alpha (TRIM5α), a restriction factor produced ubiquitously in cells and tissues of the body plays an important role in the immune response against HIV. TRIM5α targets the HIV capsid for proteosomal destruction. Cyclophilin A, an intracellular protein has also been reported to influence HIV infectivity in a cell-specific manner. Accordingly, variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophilin A genes have been documented to influence HIV-1 disease progression. However, these variations have not been documented among Elite controllers in Uganda and whether they play a role in viral suppression remains largely undocumented. Our study focused on identifying the variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophilin A genes among HIV-1 Elite controllers and non-controllers in Uganda.Results From the sequence analysis, the rs10838525 G > A mutation in exon 2 of TRIM5α was found only among elite controllers (30%) while the rs3824949 in the 5’UTR was seen among 25% of the non-controllers. In the Cyclophilin A promoter, rs6850 was seen among 62.5% of the non-controllers and only among 10% elite controllers. Furthermore, rs17860048 in the Cyclophillin A promoter was predominantly seen among elite controllers (30%) and 12.5% non-controllers. From gene expression analysis, we noted that the respective genes were generally elevated among elite controllers, however, this difference was not statistically significant (TRIM5α p = 0.6095; Cyclophilin A p = 0.6389).Conclusion Variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophillin A promoter may influence HIV viral suppression. The rs10838525 SNP in TRIM5α may contribute to viral suppression among HIV-1 elite controllers. The rs6850 in the cyclophillin A gene may be responsible for HIV-1 rapid progression among HIV-1 non-controllers. These SNPs should be investigated mechanistically to determine their precise role in HIV-1 viral suppression.
Overexpression of Astroglial Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Impairs Visual Discrimination Learning in Mice
Authors: Wulaer Bolati , Hada Kazuhiro , Sobue Akira , Itoh Norimichi , Nabeshima Toshitaka , Nagai Taku , yamada kiyofumi
Published: May 2020

Background Immune molecules, such as cytokines, complement, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, in the central nervous system are often associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuronal MHC class I (MHCI), such as H-2D, regulate neurite outgrowth, the establishment and function of cortical connections, and activity-dependent refinement in mice. We previously established mice expressing MHCI specifically in astrocytes of the media prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector under the control of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. Mice expressing the soluble form of H-2D (sH-2D) in the mPFC (sH-2D-expressing mice) showed abnormal behaviors, including social interaction deficits and cognitive dysfunctions. However, the pathophysiological significance of astroglial MHCI on higher brain functions remains unclear. Therefore, cognitive function in mice expressing sH-2D in astrocytes of the mPFC was tested using the visual discrimination (VD) task to assess the impact of the astrocyte pathology and resulting behavioral changes.Methods Three separate batches of mice were used in the present study. sH-2D-expressing mice were subjected to the VD and reversal learning tasks, morphological analyses, and pharmacological intervention using clozapine in the social interaction and novel object recognition tasks.Results In pretraining, the performance of sH-2D-expressing mice was normal in response phase sessions (stages 1–4), but impaired in the punish phase session (stage 5). The total numbers of sessions, trials, normal trials, and correction trials to reach the VD criterion were significantly higher in sH-2D-expressing mice than in control mice. A morphological study showed that dendritic complexity was significantly reduced in the dorsal striatum of sH-2D-expressing mice. A treatment with clozapine ameliorated decreased social behavior as well as impaired object recognition memory in sH-2D-expressing mice.Conclusion Collectively, the present results suggest that the overexpression of astroglial MHCI in the mPFC results in impaired VD learning, which may be accompanied by decreased dendritic complexity in the dorsal striatum and mPFC.
The Samuel F. B. Morse Statue in Central Park: Toward a Sustainable Regime of Science-Based Monuments Conservation
Authors: Basso Elena , Pozzi Federica , Reiley Matthew C.
Published: May 2020

Many of Central Park’s bronze statues were coated with lacquer as a protective measure between the late 1970s and early 1990s. In several cases, these coatings outlasted their performance life and were no longer adequately protecting the sculptures. In 2010, a cyclical campaign to remove and refurbish the coatings provided an opportunity to closely assess the condition of de-coated surfaces and to develop suitable, sustainable treatment approaches. The Samuel F. B. Morse statue, created in 1870 by Byron Pickett, commemorates the 19th -century painter and inventor known for the telegraphic code that bears his name. Initially, samples from this statue were collected on the field and analyzed with various techniques to characterize the degradation products that were heavily affecting its surface and the organic coatings used to protect the bronze. Various corrosion species, mainly sulfates and chlorides, were identified by X-ray powder diffraction, while pyrolysis – gas chromatography / mass spectrometry revealed that the organic coatings were based on mineral wax and acrylics. These results informed a decision to relocate the statue to a controlled workshop space to aid in the manipulation of the large figure and optimize cleaning by laser ablation. Treatment was monitored through three campaigns of analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy, performed on select locations, to characterize the extent of corrosion across the sculpture’s surface and monitor changes on the target areas throughout the cleaning. Following the initial phase of treatment, pXRF showed the substantial removal of iron- and lead-rich compounds from the brownish-toned coating and atmospheric pollution deposition. In the subsequent treatment phases, variations in the relative amounts of sulfates and chlorides were noted and further investigated through the examination of a cross section by means of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Based on the findings of iron-containing pigments in the organic coating, a decision to apply a new, similar, light brown-toned coating containing such coloring materials was made to achieve the desired visual nuance for the finish and provide sacrificial anodic protection for the bronze. Scientific analysis on the Morse statue has helped characterize its materials, methods of fabrication, and current conditions on a microscopic scale; in addition, it has guided the means and methodologies of treatment and relays essential information useful for future preservation.
Non-Invasive Measurement of Choroid Plexus Blood Flow with Arterial Spin Labeling
Authors: Zhao Li , Taso Manuel , Dai Weiying , Press Daniel Z. , Alsop David C.
Published: May 2020

Background The choroid plexus is a major contributor to the generation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the maintenance of its electrolyte and metabolite balance. Here, we sought to characterize the blood flow dynamics of the choroid plexus using arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI to establish ASL as a non-invasive tool for choroid plexus function and disease studies.Methods Seven healthy volunteers were imaged on a 3T MR scanner. ASL images were acquired with 12 labeling durations and post labeling delays. Regions of the choroid plexus were manually segmented on high-resolution T1 weighted images. Choroid plexus perfusion was characterized with a dynamic ASL perfusion model. Cerebral gray matter perfusion was also quantified for comparison.Results Kinetics of the ASL signal were clearly different in the choroid plexus than in gray matter. The choroid plexus has a significantly longer T1 (2.33 ± 0.30 s vs. 1.85 ± 0.10 s, p < 0.02) and a trend of lower arterial transit time (1.24±0.20 s vs.1.31 ± 0.12 s) than the gray matter. Blood flow to the choroid plexus was measured to be 39.5 ± 10.1 ml/100 g/min and 0.80 ± 0.31 ml/min integrated over the posterior lateral ventricles in both hemispheres.Conclusions Our findings suggest that ASL can provide a clinically feasible option to quantify the dynamic characteristics of choroid plexus blood flow. It also provides useful reference values of the choroid plexus perfusion. The long T1 of the choroid plexus may suggest the transport of water from arterial blood to the CSF, potentially providing a method to quantify CSF generation.
Performance of the Parasympathetic Tone activity (PTA) index to predict mean arterial pressure variations in anaesthetized horses with different health conditions
Authors: Mansour Christelle , Mocci Rita , Santangelo Bruna , Chaaya Rana , Allaouchiche Bernard , Bonnet-Garin Jeanne-Marie , Boselli Emmanuel , Junot Stéphane A
Published: May 2020

Background
The parasympathetic tone activity (PTA) is an index based on heart rate variability recently developed in animals to assess their relative parasympathetic tone and their analgesia nociception balance. The present study aimed to evaluate the variation of PTA in anaesthetized horses according to haemodynamic status and health conditions and to determine the performance of dynamic variations of PTA (∆PTA) to predict mean arterial pressure (MAP) variations.
Results
Thirty-nine client-horses admitted to the Veterinary Campus of Lyon were anaesthetized for elective or emergency surgery and divided into “Colic” and “Elective” groups. During anaesthesia, dobutamine was administered as treatment of hypotension (MAP < 60 mmHg). No significant variation of PTA and MAP were detected at steady-state and following cutaneous incision. PTA increased before each hypotension (+ 15% in Elective and + 11.4% in Colic group), conversely, the administration of dobutamine was accompanied by a significant decrease in PTA (-12.7% in Elective and − 9% in Colic group). Horses of the Colic group had lower PTA values than those in Elective group, whereas MAP didn’t differ between groups. Globally, to predict a 10% increase in MAP, ΔPTA performance was associated with: AUC ROC [95% CI] = 0.77 [0.70 to 0.83] (p < 0.0001), with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 57.7% for a threshold value of − 1%. Besides, to predict a 10% decrease in MAP, ΔPTA performance was associated with: AUC ROC [95% CI] = 0.80 [0.73 to 0.85] (p < 0.0001), with a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 94.6% for a threshold value of 25%.
Conclusions
The PTA index in anaesthetized horses appears to be influenced by the haemodynamic status and the health condition. The shift toward lower PTA values in colic horses may potentially reflect a sympathetic tone predominance. Of clinical significance, a PTA increase of > 25% in 1 min showed fair performance to predict a MAP decrease of > 10% within 5 min but a decrease in PTA was poorly specific to predict an increase in MAP. Even though these results require further evaluation, this index may thus help to predict potential autonomic dysfunctions in sick animals.
Identification of Protective Peptides of Fasciola Hepatica-Derived Cathepsin L1 (FhCL1) in Vaccinated Sheep by a Linear B-cell Epitope Mapping Approach
Authors: Perazzo Leandro Buffoni , Garza-Cuartero Laura , Pérez-Caballero Raúl , Zafra Rafael , Martínez-Moreno F. Javier , Molina-Hernández Verónica , Pérez José , Martínez-Moreno Álvaro , Mulcahy Grace
Published: May 2020

Background Fasciolosis is one of the most important parasitic diseases of livestock. The need for better control strategies gave rise to the identification of various vaccine candidates. The recombinant form of a member of the cysteine protease family, cathepsin L1 of Fasciola hepatica (FhCL1) has been a vaccine target for the past few decades since it has been shown to behave as an immunodominant antigen. However, when FhCL1 was used as vaccine, it has been observed to elicit significant protection in some trials, whereas no protection was provided in others.Methods In order to improve vaccine development strategy, we conducted a linear B-cell epitope mapping of FhCL1 in vaccinated-protected, vaccinated but not protected, and unvaccinated-infected sheep.Results Our study showed that the pattern and dynamic of peptide recognition varied noticeably between protected and non-protected animals, and that the regions 55–63 and 77–84, which are within the propeptide, and regions 102–114 and 265–273 of FhCL1 were specifically recognised only by vaccinated-protected animals with significant decrease in fluke burden. In addition, these animals also showed significant production of specific IgG2, whereas none was observed in non-protected and infected animals.Conclusions We have identified forty-two residues of FhCL1 that contributed to protective immunity against infection with F. hepatica in sheep. Our results provide indications in relation to key aspects of the immune response. Given the variable outcomes of vaccination trials conducted in ruminants to date, this study adds new insights to improve strategies of vaccine development.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Incentives to Improve HIV Prevention Outcomes for Young Females in Eswatini: Sitakhela Likusasa Impact Evaluation Protocol and Baseline Results
Authors: Gorgens Marelize , Longosz Andrew , Ketende Sosthenes , Nkambule Muziwethu , Dlamini Tengetile , Mabuza Mbuso , Sikwibele Kelvin , Tsododo Vimbai , Dlamini Mthokozisi , Dennis-Langa Futhie , Heard Wendy , Low Andrea , Harimurti Pandu , Wilson David , Mabuza Khanya , de Walque Damien
Published: May 2020

Background: Eswatini continues to have the highest prevalence of HIV in the world, and one of the highest HIV incidences among adult populations (aged 15-49). This analysis reports on both key elements of study design/protocol and baseline results from an impact evaluation of an intervention incentivizing (i) initiation or enrolment into some form of education, attendance at or completion of this form of education, and (ii) lower risk sexual behaviour. Methods: The impact evaluation employs a two by two factorial design in which participants are enrolled in either the incentive for education arm (‘education treatment arm’) or the control arm (‘education control arm’). In each of these arms, 50% of participants were randomized to also be eligible for selection – three times a year – to participate in a conditional raffle. Results: Baseline recruitment and screening occurred in 2016 when a total of 6,055 individuals were screened of which 4,863 participated in the baseline survey, and 4,819 individuals were randomized into one of the study arms. The baseline prevalence of HIV, Trichomonas vaginalis, and syphilis among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) 8.20% (397/4,840), 3.31% (150/4,533) and 0.17% (8/4,830) respectively. Conclusions: An educational cash incentive and raffle incentive impact evaluation that addresses adolescent girls and young women who are in-education and out-of-education has the potential to reduce HIV risk in adolescent girls and young women in Eswatini.
Stay Home Save Lives: A Machine Learning Approach to Causal Inference to Evaluate Impact of Social Distancing in the US
Authors: Osman Syed Muhammad Ishraque , Sakib Nazmus
Published: May 2020

Although there are few studies done to provide estimations of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, however, there is a need for an actual policy evaluation of the already implemented social distancing measures. In the US context in specific, this is especially instrumental because nearly a dozen US states are considering the reopening of the economy following anti social distancing protests. Using a machine learning based Generalized Synthetic Control Method, considering the US states that adopted early social distancing approaches as the treatment group and the states that adopted social distancing much later as the control group and controlling for state and time fixed effects (to cancel out the selection bias and endogeneity), this paper finds that social distancing is associated with lower COVID-19 infection growth rate (by 192%) when compared to the no policy intervention counterfactual.
Increasing Stock Production of Two Herbaceous Perennials with the Application of Plant Growth Regulators
Authors: Markovic Sean J. , Klett James E.
Published: May 2020

The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the reaction of ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea) and Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum ssp. garrettii ‘PWWG01S’) to repeated foliar applications of three plant growth regulators at two application rates. The plant growth regulators applied during a stock plant study and followed by a propagation study were 200 and 400 ppm ethephon, 250 and 500 ppm benzyladenine, and 50 and 100 ppm gibberellic acid 4 and 7 (GA4+7) + benzyladenine. The stock plant study was conducted to assess the efficacy of plant growth regulators, vegetative growth (height and width growth index), the number of vegetative cuttings, as well as the fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of the harvested vegetative cuttings. The propagation study was conducted to determine the effects of the plant growth regulator treatments on the rooting of the vegetative cuttings. The stock plant study showed that GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 and 100 ppm) significantly increased production of ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells cuttings compared with all other treatments. However, no significant differences in FW or DW were observed with ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells between treatments. In the propagation study, no significant difference in rooting percentage was observed after 4 weeks. The Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet stock plant study resulted in a greater number of vegetative cuttings with GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 and 100 ppm) and benzyladenine (250 ppm) treatments. Fresh weight of vegetative cuttings harvested from plants treated with GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 or 100 ppm) were the lowest. The only treatment that showed increased vegetative cutting production with no effect on FW was benzyladenine (250 ppm) on Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet.
If Parsons had Pajek: The Relevance of Midcentury Structural-Functionalism to Dynamic Network Analysis*
Authors: Cornwell Benjamin , Laumann Edward O
Published: May 2020

Social network analysis has been one of the most influential scientific revolutions of the past century. Its success has been due, in part, to its methodological sophistication and the emphasis it places on identifying and clearly depicting features of social structure. As such, social network analysis is often viewed in stark contrast to the structuralist paradigm that dominated the social sciences prior to its rise – structural–functionalism - in the mid-20th century. In this paper, we highlight important connections that exist between the key assumptions of social network analysis and the key tenets of some of the most influential structural-functional theories – especially those of Robert K. Merton and Talcott Parsons and their collaborators and followers. We reveal a substantial affinity between some of their most influential ideas and contemporary analysis of social network dynamics, in particular, and several ways in which their work could inform promising advances in this line of research. Our ultimate goal is to highlight the prospect of using these theories to guide future analyses of the dynamics of large social systems and the sequences of real-time action that compose them.
Castells’ network concept and its connections to social, economic and political network analyses
Authors: Anttiroiko Ari-Veikko
Published: May 2020

This article discusses the conceptualization of network in Manuel Castells’ theory of network society and its relation to network analysis. Networks assumed a significant role in Castells’ opus magnum, The Information Age trilogy, in the latter half of the 1990s. He became possibly the most prominent figure globally in adopting network terminology in social theory, but at the same time he made hardly any empirical or methodological contribution to network analysis. This article sheds light on this issue by analyzing how the network logic embraced by Castells defines the social, economic, and political relations in his theory of network society, and how such aspects of his theory relate to social network analysis. It is shown that Castells’ institutional network concept is derived from the increased relevance of networks as the emerging form of social organization, epitomized by the idea of global networks of instrumental exchanges. He did not shed light on the internal dynamics of networks, but was nevertheless able to use network as a powerful metaphor that aptly portrayed his idea of the new social morphology of informational capitalism.
Choosing a Clustering: An A Posteriori Method for Social Networks
Authors: Pimentel Samuel D.
Published: May 2020

Selecting an appropriate method of clustering for network data a priori can be a frustrating and confusing process. To address the problem we build on an a posteriori approach developed by Grimmer and King (2011) that compares hundreds of possible clustering methods at once through concise and intuitive visualization. We adapt this general method to the context of social networks, extend it with additional visualization features designed to enhance interpretability, and describe its principled use, outlining steps for selecting a class of methods to compare, interpreting visual output, and making a final selection. The interactive method, implemented in R, is demonstrated using Zachary’s karate club, a canonical dataset from the network literature.
Hierarchy in Mixed Relation Networks: Warfare Advantage and Resource Distribution in Simulated World-Systems*
Authors: Apkarian Jacob , Fletcher Jesse B. , Chase-Dunn Christopher , Hanneman Robert A.
Published: May 2020

Building on world-systems theory, simulation models of 5-line intersocietal networks were generated in an effort to understand systemic power hierarchies. The societal nodes were exclusively connected by three types of interaction: migration, warfare, and unequal trade. These networks can be considered “mixed relation” networks due to the ways in which these types of ties combine positive and negative sanction flows. Insights from elementary theory were employed to understand how exclusion from these different types of ties might influence the resulting power distributions. Additionally, the resource carrying capacity of the nodes was varied by structural position in an effort to differentiate the influence of structural position and individual attributes on location in the hierarchy. It was determined that exclusion from interaction is likely a structural, scale invariant mechanism that helps to determine power distributions above and beyond the inherent attributes of network actors.
Interorganizational Collaboration in the Hurricane Katrina Response*
Authors: Butts Carter T. , Acton Ryan M. , Marcum Christopher Steven
Published: May 2020

In this paper, we employ archival materials from multiple institutional sources to reconstruct the dynamic network of interorganizational collaboration that emerged in response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster of late 2005. Over the period from initial storm formation through the first week following landfall in Louisiana, we record active participation by over 1,500 organizations in response activities. We here conduct an exploratory analysis of the growth and evolution of the network of collaboration among responding organizations, an identification of organizations that emerged as central actors in the response process, and the cohesive subgroups that crystallized within the larger network. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of several issues related to the use of archival methods in research on interorganizational networks in disaster settings, and to the use of automated methods for network extraction.
Exploring Patterns of Social Relationships among Food Bloggers on Twitter Using a Social Network Analysis Approach
Authors: Hepworth Allison D. , Kropczynski Jess , Walden Justin , Smith Rachel A.
Published: May 2020

Background and objective
. Nutrition information conveyed by popular entities through online social networking sites (i.e., social media influencers) has the potential to impact consumer eating behavior through mechanisms of social influence. Little is known about how online communities of food-related social media influencers are structured, which could reveal influencers’ opportunities to observe and spread nutrition-related content and information design practices. This study explored patterns of social relationships (social capital, conservation of resources, and homophily) within a network of prominent food bloggers on Twitter (N = 44).
Methods
. Data on Twitter following/follower relationships and Twitter use (number of tweets, favorited tweets) were collected from bloggers’ Twitter profiles. Bloggers represented eight topical subcategories of food blogs (e.g., family cooking, cocktails) and comprised a one-mode social network with directed ties indicating Twitter following/follower relationships. Structural evidence of patterns of social relationships was investigated through social network visualization, centrality measures (in-degree/out-degree centrality, density, reciprocity), and inferential tests.
Results
. The overall network density of directed ties was 21%, with wide variability in individual blogger centrality across multiple measures. Cocktails, cooking, special diets, and culinary travel bloggers had more dense ties to bloggers in their own subcategories. Within the network, favorited tweets and outreach (Twitter following relationships) were positively associated with popularity (Twitter follower relationships).
Conclusions
. Food bloggers in this study formed a partially connected network, supporting the conservation of resources framework. Homophily was evident in some, but not all, topical subcategories. Associations among Twitter use, outreach, and popularity generally supported the social capital framework. Future studies should explore influencers’ motivations for connecting on social networking sites, and how content and information design practices spread among influencers.
Coherent Speech Development in Primary School Children with Hearing Impairments
Authors: Simkin Mikhail , Maltseva Irina
Published: May 2020

The research featured various theoretical approaches to understanding coherent speech as a complex process in psychological and pedagogical aspects. The article focuses on characteristics of coherent speech in primary school children with normal speech development vs. those with hearing impairment. The subject of the research was the technology of coherent speech development in hearing-impaired primary schoolers. The research objective was to identify, prove, and verify the possibility of developing coherent speech in primary school children with hearing problems. A set of experiments measured and described the qualitative and qualitative parameters of coherent speech in primary school children according to specific auditory analyzer deficits. Coherent speech in hearing-impaired primary school children revealed a variety of speech disorders, which manifested themselves in a different ratio of semantic and lexical and grammatical errors at the sentence and text level. The authors propose several technologies of coherent speech development, including picture-aided storytelling, making riddles, fairy tales, and stories based on personal experience. The research proved that the coherent speech development methods should take into account the specifics of hearing impairments.
Anthropoidentity: from Gaining to Losing
Authors: Kazakov Eugeniy , Kutovaia Darya
Published: May 2020

The article presents the entire human history in its phylogeny and ontogenesis as a desire for personification, i.e. to find one’s generic and individual Self. If one gains one’s Self, it means that one truly exists. But that is impossible without gaining one’s freedom. The reflection over the process of self-identification is as old as the human history. However, the moment one gains one’s face, one loses it. The problem of self-identification is particularly relevant nowadays. There is every reason to talk about the growing crisis of identity in modern man. Globalization deprives people of some markers that previously identified them. People seldom identify themselves with the place of birth. Man plunges into the global impersonal flow of information, thus losing both connection with a certain historical past and a sense of belonging to the family or kin. The loss of cultural and national identity is a marker of the growing social infantilism where freedom is more important than responsibility: "I want" means more than "I must", the present presides over the past and the future, and "mine" is more important than everything else.
Do direct and inverse uncertainty assessment methods present the same results?
Authors: Ahmadi Arman , Nasseri Mohsen
Published: May 2020

Hydrological models are simplified imitations of natural and man-made water systems, and because of this simplification, always deal with inherent uncertainty. To develop more rigorous modeling procedures and to provide more reliable results, it is inevitable to consider and estimate this uncertainty. Although there are different approaches in the literature to assess the parametric uncertainty of hydrological models, their structures and results have rarely been compared systematically. In this research, two different approaches to analyze parametric uncertainty, namely direct and inverse methods are compared and contrasted. While the direct method employs a sampling simulation procedure to generate posterior distributions of parameters, the inverse method utilizes an optimization-based approach to optimize parameter sets of an interval-based hydrological model. Two different hydrological models and case studies are employed, and the models are set by two distinct mathematical operations of interval mathematics. Findings of this research show that while the choice of the interval mathematic method can affect the final results, generally, the inverse method cannot be counted on as a reliable tool to analyze the parametric uncertainty of hydrological models, and the direct method provides more accurate results.
Identification of regional water security issues in China, using a novel water security comprehensive evaluation model
Authors: Yao Jiping , Wang Guoqiang , Xue Baolin , Xie Gang , Peng Yanbo
Published: May 2020

In order to solve regional water security issues, such as shortage of water resources, the aggravation of water pollution, the destruction of the ecological environment, etc., this study proposed the flood control security index, resource security index and ecological security index, respectively, according to the construction principle of human development index. Based on the above security indexes, a novel water security comprehensive evaluation model is established by combining the coupling coordination degree model and the state space model. The proposed model has the advantage of simple operation and fast data speed, which is convenient for water security evaluation in different periods and regions. Taking China as an example, the water security conditions were evaluated from 2007 to 2016 for 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China, including flood control security index, resource security index, ecological security index and water security level of each region, and the specific problems of water security in each region were obtained. The evaluation results are consistent with the actual situation in each region, which provides the scientific basis for the local government authorities to formulate the corresponding regional water security policy.
Suspended sediment concentration forecast based on CEEMDAN-GRU model
Authors: Zhang Xianqi , Yang Yang
Published: May 2020

Reasonable prediction of suspended sediment concentration is of great significance for river regulation and water conservancy project scheduling in upper and middle reaches. In order to solve the influence of nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics of sediment sequences on the prediction results and improve the prediction accuracy, a prediction model of sediment based on CEEMDAN-GRU was constructed. The monthly suspended sediment concentration data of Huayuankou hydrological station from 1960 to 2014 were ‘decomposed-predicted-reconstructed’ and compared with single gated recurrent unit (GRU), support vector machine (SVM) and long short-term memory (LSTM) model. The results reveal that the CEEMDAN-GRU coupling model has provided a superior alternative to the single model and its determination coefficients (DC) of the training set and testing set are greater than 0.71, qualified rate (QR) reaches up to 81%, average absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean square error (MSE) are 1.2841, 0.9675 and 4.3560 respectively. It is proved that the CEEMDAN-GRU model has a better performance and can be used in the mid- and long-term prediction of non-linear and non-stationary suspended sediment concentration series.
Effects of interchange ratio on sludge reduction and microbial community structures in an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic process with combined anaerobic side-stream reactor
Authors: Sun L. P. , Lin Y. J. , Shi C. Y. , Wang S. Q. , Luo W. X. , Wang M.
Published: May 2020

Oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) process is effective in minimizing sludge production, by inserting an anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) in the recycling bypass. Interchange ratio (IR), the quantity ratio of sludge entering the ASSR to the sludge in the main stream reactors, is one of the most important parameters for OSA process. In the present study, a laboratory-scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2/O) process combined with an ASSR (A2/O-ASSR) was operated for 366 days in parallel with a conventional A2/O process to investigate the effects of IR on sludge reduction. IR was assigned values of 5%, 8%, 10%, and 15%, and the A2/O-ASSR process achieved 14.0%, 16.0%, 24.1%, and 13.7% of sludge reduction, respectively. At the optimum IR of 10%, high through-put sequencing analysis showed that the microbes responsible for pollutant removal and ubiquitous in wastewater treatment remained predominant in the two systems, and slow-growing microbes related to hydrolysis, nitrogen and phosphorus removal increased in the A2/O-ASSR process, which probably played a key role in sludge reduction. 40.6–58.6% of sludge reduction was caused by sludge decay in the ASSR. The tiny amount of extracellular polymeric substance released in the A2/O-ASSR process was subthreshold to cause remarkable sludge reduction.
Evaluation of the Effects of Maytenus ilicifolia on the Activities of Cytochrome P450 3A and P-glycoprotein
Authors: do Nascimento Sara Batista , de Lima Nascimento Mariana , de Araújo Laís Lobato , de Oliveira Flávio Martins , do Carmo Vieira Maria , Duarte-Almeida Joaquim Maurício , Siqueira João Máximo , da Costa César Isabela , Derendorf Hartmut , de Castro Whocely Victor
Published: May 2020

Background:

Maytenus ilicifolia is a Brazilian popular medicine commonly used to treat ulcer and
gastritis. Despite the absence of toxicity regarding its consumption, possible interactions when co-administrated with
conventional drugs, are unknown.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of M. ilicifolia extracts on Cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) and
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activities.

Method:

The extracts were obtained by infusion (MI) or turbo-extraction using hydro-acetonic solvent (MT70). The
content of polyphenols in each extract was determined. To assess the modulation of M. ilicifolia on P-gp activity, the
uptake of fexofenadine (FEX) by Caco-2 cells was investigated in the absence or presence of MI or MT70. The effect
on CYP3A activity was evaluated by the co-administration of midazolam (MDZ) with each extract in male Wistar
rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug were determined and compared with those from the control group.
The content of total phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids on MT70 extract was about double of that found in
MI.

Results:

In the presence of the extracts, the uptake of the P-gp marker (FEX) by Caco-2 cells increased from
1.7 ± 0.4 ng.mg-1 protein (control) to 3.5 ± 0.2 ng.mg-1 protein (MI) and 4.4 ± 0.5 ng.mg-1 protein (MT70),
respectively. When orally co-administrated with MDZ (substrate of CYP3A), the extracts augmented the AUC(0-∞)
(Control: 911.7 ± 215.7 ng.h.mL-1; MI: 1947 ± 554.3 ng.h.mL-1; MT70: 2219.0 ± 506.3 ng.h.mL-1) and the
Cmax (Control: 407.7 ± 90.4 ng.mL-1; MI: 1770.5 ± 764.5 ng.mL-1; MT70: 1987.2 ± 544.9 ng.mL-1) of the drug in rats
indicating a 50% reduction of the oral Cl. No effect was observed when midazolam was given intravenously.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that M. ilicifolia can inhibit the intestinal metabolism and transport of drugs
mediated by CYP3A and P-gp, respectively, however, the involvement of other transporters and the clinical
relevance of such interaction still need to be clarified.