bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holocene dust dynamics: Introduction to the special issue
Authors: De Vleeschouwer François , Stuut Jan-Berend W , Lambert Fabrice
Published: April 2020

This article is a brief introduction to the Special Issue on Holocene Dust Dynamics, which brings together recent research on a key aspect of the Earth’s changing climate through its effects on radiative balance, cloud cover and biogeochemical cycles. The aim of the Special Issue is to contribute to a better understanding of the role of dust aerosols by analysing the evolution and climatic impact of atmospheric dust over long and short timescales within the Holocene. Here, we introduce the rationale behind the Special Issue and the eight research papers, which include long-term records of dust deposition from different types of natural archive (e.g. peatlands, ice, loess and lake sediments) as well as present-day multi-annual dust trap records and process studies from various climatic regimes that have global implications.
Foodways on the Han dynasty’s western frontier: Archeobotanical and isotopic investigations at Shichengzi, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Sheng Pengfei , Storozum Michael , Tian Xiaohong , Wu Yong
Published: April 2020

Recent archeobotanical work has shed light on prehistoric food globalization across the Eurasian landmass; however, much less research has focused on the foodways of the historical cities and settlements found throughout Central Asia on various portions of the ‘Silk Road’. Here, we present archeobotanical and isotopic results from recent excavations at Shichengzi, a Han dynasty (202 BC–AD 220) military garrison. Our archeobotanical results recovered from 11 samples reveal that four types of cereals, naked barley, wheat, common millet, and foxtail millet, were the most common crops at the site. Naked barley, a drought and cold resistant crop, comprised 79% of the crop assemblage recovered from Shichengzi, and the rest of the assemblage is composed of wheat and millet. The reliance on drought resistant crops indicates that people at Shichengzi oriented their agricultural strategy toward mitigating environmental risks. In addition, our isotopic analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of charred cereal grains ( n = 22), animal and human remains ( n = 12) recovered from excavations at Shichengzi suggests that the δ15N values of cereals were enriched by human or livestock dung. Moreover, the calculated Δ13C values from Shichengzi suggest that farmers preferentially planted their crops in wide areas that would have received a large amount of water available on the northern piedmont of the Tianshan mountains. Our research contributes to the growing understanding of the diversity of agricultural strategies used along the Silk Road.
Late-Holocene vegetation dynamics and disturbance regimes in north Patagonia Argentina (40°S)
Authors: Álvarez-Barra Valentina , Giesecke Thomas , Fontana Sonia L.
Published: April 2020

Natural disturbance processes such as volcanic eruptions, fire and human activities are important vegetation drivers in north Patagonia. Here, we tested the impact of volcanic ash fall and fire on vegetation composition analysing two sediment records, Lake Avutarda and Lake Bruja, located in the forest-steppe transition at 40°S. In addition, our analysis provides the first account on the history of Nothofagus alpina at its eastern distribution limits. Our results comprise the last 3000 years, indicating the persistence of the vegetation despite evident volcanic activity documented by numerous tephra layers in both records. Eleven fire episodes were identified, while redundancy analysis indicates a non-significant influence of fire activity on the vegetation. The population increase of Nothofagus alpina represents the most important change in vegetation composition in the last three millennia. We speculate that the presumed change in climate, which led to the expansion of Austrocedrus chilensis south of the study area, also caused the increase of Nothofagus alpina populations in the region.
Missing item responses in latent growth analysis: Item response theory versus classical test theory
Authors: Gorter R , Fox J-P , Eekhout I , Heymans MW , Twisk JWR
Published: April 2020

In medical research, repeated questionnaire data is often used to measure and model latent variables across time. Through a novel imputation method, a direct comparison is made between latent growth analysis under classical test theory and item response theory, while also including effects of missing item responses. For classical test theory and item response theory, by means of a simulation study the effects of item missingness on latent growth parameter estimates are examined given longitudinal item response data. Several missing data mechanisms and conditions are evaluated in the simulation study. The additional effects of missingness on differences in classical test theory- and item response theory-based latent growth analysis are directly assessed by rescaling the multiple imputations. The multiple imputation method is used to generate latent variable and item scores from the posterior predictive distributions to account for missing item responses in observed multilevel binary response data. It is shown that a multivariate probit model, as a novel imputation model, improves the latent growth analysis, when dealing with missing at random (MAR) in classical test theory. The study also shows that the parameter estimates for the latent growth model using item response theory show less bias and have smaller MSE’s compared to the estimates using classical test theory.
Comparison of dry needling and ischaemic compression techniques on pain and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Behrangrad Shabnam , Abbaszadeh-Amirdehi Maryam , Kordi Yoosefinejad Amin , Esmaeilnejadganji Seyed Mokhtar
Published: April 2020

Background:

To compare the effectiveness of ischaemic compression (IC) applied directly to the knee versus dry needling (DN) with respect to pain, functional status and sensitivity to mechanical stimulation of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Methods:

A total of 54 patients with unilateral PFPS aged 20–30 years were selected randomly from patients referred to physical therapy clinics of Babol University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Twenty-seven patients were allocated to either IC or DN groups. Three sessions of treatment were applied over 1 week with follow-up at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. Primary outcome measures comprised the Kujala questionnaire score for functional status, numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) for pain intensity and pressure pain threshold (PPT) for sensitivity to mechanical stimulation; these were measured and recorded before treatment and 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the last treatment session.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in the between-group comparisons of any variables at the various follow-up points. Both groups (n = 27 participants each) had significant improvements (p < 0.05) in pain, functional status and PPT values at follow-up.

Conclusions:

There were no differences in markers of pain, function or pressure sensitivity over a 3-month follow-up period between patients with PFPS treated with DN and IC. Temporal improvements in both groups suggested that the two techniques may be similarly effective for the treatment of PFPS.
Book review: Le Thi Hang Nga, India–United States Relations (1947–1991) [Quan hệ Ấn Độ– Hoa Kỳ (1947–1991)].
Authors: Thanh Ton Sinh
Published: April 2020

Le Thi Hang Nga, India–United States Relations (1947–1991) {Quan h– United States Relati–1991)} (Hanoi: Truth National Political Publishing House, 2017). 227 pp., Price 56.000 VND (Paperback). ISBN: 9786045738078.
Shaping Industry 4.0 – an experimental approach developed by German trade unions
Authors: Bosch Gerhard , Schmitz-Kießler Jutta
Published: April 2020

Despite declining union density, the existence of works councils in the core sectors of the economy gives German trade unions considerable institutional power. Besides collective bargaining, the training and activation of works councillors is the trade unions’ most important sphere of activity. Through their involvement in the ‘Arbeit 2020’ project analysed in this article, three industrial unions have been attempting to find answers to the question of how Industry 4.0 will be shaped on the shop floor. With the assistance of publicly funded external consultants and the involvement of the workforce, the change processes in selected plants were investigated. In a number of them, agreements on the future shaping of digital change were successfully concluded. The project was devised as an experiment, since the very diverse situations in the various plants meant it was impossible for outsiders to go in with fixed specifications for the shaping of change. The largest of the unions involved, IG Metall, intends to use these experiences in the next two years as the basis for training 1000 full-time and voluntary officials to act as ‘promoters of change’ in the workplace.
Coordinating Autism Care Across Schools and Medical Settings: Considerations for School Psychologists
Authors: Shahidullah Jeffrey D. , McClain Maryellen Brunson , Azad Gazi , Mezher Katherine R. , McIntyre Laura Lee
Published: April 2020

Optimal service delivery for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often involves interdisciplinary care coordination between primary care clinicians, community-based providers, and school personnel such as school psychologists. Interdisciplinary care coordination includes communication and collaboration from multiple providers to facilitate comprehensive services that are accessible and continuous while promoting effective partnerships across the home, school, and community systems. Unfortunately, school psychologists report barriers to collaborating with providers outside the school setting around service delivery, including a mismatch in eligibility criteria for educational classifications verses medical diagnoses, lack of delineated roles and responsibilities of other providers, and a limited infrastructure around information sharing. This article (a) delineates roles and functions of school psychologists in coordinating care for students with ASD, (b) highlights potential barriers to care coordination from the perspective of school psychologists, and (c) provides practice considerations, objectives, and direct application activities to overcome barriers to care coordination.
Locally Advanced Oral Cavity Cancers: What Is The Optimal Care?
Authors: Alzahrani Rajab , Obaid Arwa , Al-Hakami Hadi , Alshehri Ahmed , Al-Assaf Hossam , Adas Reem , Alduhaibi Eman , Alsafadi Nabil , Alghamdi Suliman , Alghamdi Majed
Published: April 2020

Patients with oral cavity cancers often present late to seek medical care. Surgery is usually the preferred upfront treatment. However, surgical resection cannot be achieved in many cases with advanced disease without major impact on patient’s quality of life. On the other hand, radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) have not been employed routinely to replace surgery as curative treatment or to facilitate surgery as neoadjuvant therapy. The optimal care of these patients is challenging when surgical treatment is not feasible. In this review, we aimed to summarize the best available evidence-based treatment approaches for patients with locally advanced oral cavity cancer. Surgery followed by RT with or without CT is the standard of care for locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. In the case of unresectable disease, induction CT prior to surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) can be attempted with curative intent. For inoperable patients or when surgery is expected to result in poor functional outcome, patients may be candidates for possibly curative CRT or palliative RT with a focus on quality of life.
On equilibrium equations and their perturbations using three different variational formulations of nonlinear electroelastostatics
Authors: Saxena Prashant , Lal Sharma Basant
Published: April 2020

We derive the equations of nonlinear electroelastostatics using three different variational formulations involving the deformation function and an independent field variable representing the electric character – considering either the electric field [Formula: see text], the electric displacement [Formula: see text] or the electric polarization [Formula: see text]. The first variation of the energy functional results in the set of Euler–Lagrange partial differential equations, which are the equilibrium equations, boundary conditions and certain constitutive equations for the electroelastic system. The partial differential equations for obtaining the bifurcation point have also been found using the bilinear functional based on the second variation. We show that the well-known Maxwell stress in a vacuum is a natural outcome of the derivation of equations from the variational principles and does not depend on the formulation used. As a result of careful analysis, it is found that there are certain terms in the bifurcation equation that appear to be difficult to obtain using ordinary perturbation-based analysis of the Euler–Lagrange equation. From a practical viewpoint, the formulations based on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] result in simpler equations and are expected to be more suitable for analysing problems of stability as well as post-buckling behaviour.
Broad internal limiting membrane peeling with adjunctive plasma–thrombin for repair of large macular holes
Authors: Bolo Kyle A , Chang Stanley
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To assess the potential efficacy of broad internal limiting membrane peeling with adjunctive plasma–thrombin instillation to treat large macular holes and to make qualitative comparisons to internal limiting membrane peeling without adjunctive treatment and internal limiting membrane peeling with inverted and free internal limiting membrane flaps.

Methods

A systematic literature review and a retrospective case series. Participants in the case series (N = 39) had idiopathic macular holes larger than 400 µm as measured on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and underwent pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling, placement of autologous plasma and bovine thrombin over the hole, and gas tamponade. Repeat imaging and clinical data were collected from 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results

Macular hole closure rate was 97%; 82% had U-type closures. At 12 months, 11% had defects in the external limiting membrane and 22% in the ellipsoid zone. This closure rate is similar to prior studies of internal limiting membrane flaps, while the U-type closure rate and retinal layer restoration compare favorably to those reported for internal limiting membrane peeling alone and internal limiting membrane flaps; 75% experienced a three-line improvement in visual acuity by 6 months, which exceeds results by either method.

Conclusion

Plasma–thrombin instillation over macular holes may be a less-complicated alternative adjunct to internal limiting membrane flaps that can achieve similar outcomes when combined with internal limiting membrane peeling.
Association of six-minute walk distance with subsequent lower extremity events in peripheral artery disease
Authors: Nayak Pooja , Guralnik Jack M , Polonsky Tamar S , Kibbe Melina R , Tian Lu , Zhao Lihui , Criqui Michael H , Ferrucci Luigi , Li Lingyu , Zhang Dongxue , McDermott Mary M
Published: April 2020

The prognostic significance of the six-minute walk distance for lower extremity events in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is unknown. This longitudinal study assessed whether a poorer six-minute walk distance at baseline was associated with higher rates of subsequent lower extremity atherosclerotic disease events in PAD. A total of 369 patients (mean age 69.4 ± 10.0 years; mean ankle–brachial index (ABI) 0.67 ± 0.17; 31% women; 30% black individuals) from Chicago-area medical centers with PAD were enrolled. Participants underwent baseline six-minute walk testing and returned for annual study visits. Lower extremity events consisted of one or more of the following: ABI decline greater than 15% or medical record adjudicated lower extremity revascularization, critical limb ischemia, or amputation. At a mean follow-up of 33.3 months, lower extremity events occurred in 66/123 (53.7%) people in the first (worst) tertile of six-minute walk performance, 55/124 (44.4%) in the second tertile, and 56/122 (45.9%) in the third (best) tertile. After adjusting for age, sex, race, ABI, comorbidities, and other confounders, participants in the first (worst) tertile of six-minute walk distance at baseline had higher rates of lower extremity events during follow-up, compared to those in the best tertile at baseline (HR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.17–2.60, p = 0.0067). Among people with PAD, a poorer six-minute walk distance was associated with higher rates of subsequent lower extremity PAD-related events after adjusting for confounders. Further study is needed to determine whether interventions that improve six-minute walk distance can reduce lower extremity adverse events in people with PAD.
Childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction in adulthood: The mediating effect of emotional intelligence, positive affect and negative affect
Authors: Xiang Yanhui , Yuan Rong , Zhao Jiaxu
Published: April 2020

This study explored the mediation role of emotional intelligence, positive affect, and negative affect in the influence of childhood maltreatment on life satisfaction. A total of 811 participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale validly. Results revealed that emotional intelligence, positive affect and negative affect are mediators between childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction. In addition, childhood maltreatment influenced life satisfaction through the sequential intermediary of “emotional intelligence-positive affect” and “emotional intelligence-negative affect”. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Public knowledge and stigma of autism spectrum disorder: Comparing China with the United States
Authors: Yu Luodi , Stronach Sheri , Harrison Ashley J
Published: April 2020

Autism spectrum disorder in China differs considerably from autism spectrum disorder in the West in terms of prevalence estimates, education opportunities, and life outcomes of autistic people. The lack of autism spectrum disorder awareness could be a key factor underlying the disparities. To date, there has been no evaluation of autism spectrum disorder knowledge among the general public of China. Using the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire developed for use in diverse cultural contexts, this study uncovered profoundly different public views about autism spectrum disorder in China compared with the United States. Determined by cognitive diagnosis modeling, 86%–91% of the surveyed U.S. citizens ( N = 1127) achieved adequate autism spectrum disorder knowledge in diagnosis/symptoms, etiology, and treatment, whereas for the Chinese citizens ( N = 1254) the percentages were only 57%–65%. Moreover, 14% of the participants from the United States were classified to endorse autism spectrum disorder stigma; in comparison, 38% of the Chinese participants endorsed autism spectrum disorder stigma. The Chinese citizens displayed knowledge deficits primarily in the areas of autism spectrum disorder core symptoms, comorbid intellectual impairment, and prognosis. Sociodemographic factors associated with the Chinese citizen’s misconceptions included gender, ethnicity, social economic factors, among others. These results have important implications for increasing public awareness and promoting community participation for autistic individuals in China.

Lay abstract

ASD in China differs considerably from ASD in the West in terms of prevalence estimates, education opportunities and life outcomes of autistic people. The lack of ASD awareness could be a key factor underlying these disparities. We asked 1127 U.S. citizens and 1254 Chinese citizens about their autism knowledge using the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q).The results indicated profoundly different public views about ASD in China compared to the U.S. Specifically, only 57%-65% of the Chinese citizens demonstrated adequate ASD knowledge compared to 86%-91% in the U.S. citizens. Fourteen percent of the U.S. citizens were shown to hold stigma beliefs towards ASD; in comparison, 38% of the Chinese citizens indicated ASD stigma. The Chinese citizens displayed misconceptions about ASD related to symptoms, causes, and possible long-term outcomes. In China but not in the U.S., male citizens and citizens with lower social economic status were more likely to have misconceptions about ASD than others were. The findings of this research can help increase public awareness about ASD and create a more inclusive environment for autistic people in China.
When the mask comes off: Mothers’ experiences of parenting a daughter with autism spectrum condition
Authors: Anderson James , Marley Charles , Gillespie-Smith Karri , Carter Leonie , MacMahon Ken
Published: April 2020

There is limited knowledge and research on the experiences of having a daughter with autism spectrum condition from a mother’s perspective. This study aims to explore the experiences of mothers who care for a daughter with autism spectrum condition, with a particular focus on female autism spectrum condition presentation. Ten mothers of daughters with autism spectrum condition took part in a semi-structured interview. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Five superordinate themes emerged: ‘Girls have autism too’, ‘She’s a chameleon’, ‘The impact of the diagnosis’, ‘Impact on mums’ and ‘Day-to-day life’. These findings add to our knowledge of how female autism spectrum condition presents and of the experiences directly related to being the mother of a daughter with autism spectrum condition. The findings have implications for clinicians that carry out autism spectrum condition assessments and provide insights into areas where additional support can be provided to mothers and daughters.

Lay abstract

Parents of children with autism spectrum condition report increased stress and difficulties compared with parents of typically developing children. Our knowledge and understanding of how autism spectrum condition presents in autistic females is currently limited and parents of this population may experience challenges when raising their daughter. Given that mothers are often the main caregiver of a child with autism spectrum condition, they may have useful insights into the experiences of parenting a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Therefore, a qualitative study was undertaken to explore what mothers’ experiences are of parenting a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of daughters with autism spectrum condition. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five main themes emerged from the qualitative study (‘Girls have autism too’, ‘She’s a chameleon’, ‘The impact of the diagnosis’, ‘Impact on mums’ and ‘Day-to-day life’). The findings of this study expand our current knowledge of the experiences and challenges faced by mothers raising a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Mothers hold a vast amount of knowledge on their daughters’ autism spectrum condition which could inform the diagnostic process and clinical practice. Considering these results, it is important that clinicians support mothers and the family system around children with an autism spectrum condition diagnosis.
Defining and assessing key behavioral indicators of the Shifting Cultural Lenses model of cultural competence
Authors: López Steven Regeser , Ribas Ana C , Sheinbaum Tamara , Santos María M , Benalcázar Aldo , Garro Linda , Kopelowicz Alex
Published: April 2020

Models of cultural competence highlight the importance of the sociocultural world that is inhabited by patients, and the question of how best to integrate sociocultural factors into clinical assessment and intervention. However, one significant limitation of such approaches is that they leave unclear what type of in-session therapist behaviors actually reflect cultural competence. We draw on the Shifting Cultural Lenses model to operationalize culturally competent in-session behaviors. We argue that a key component of cultural competence is the collaborative relationship between therapists and patients, in which therapists shift between their own cultural lenses and those of their clients, as they co-construct shared narratives together. Accordingly, we propose that culturally competent therapist behaviors include accessing the client’s views, explicitly presenting their own views as mental health care professionals, and working towards a shared understanding. We further specify the latter set of behaviors as including the practitioner’s integration of the patient’s view, their encouragement of the patient to consider their professional view, and the negotiation of a shared view. We developed a coding system to identify these therapist behaviors and examined the reliability of raters across 11 couple and 4 individual therapy sessions. We assessed whether the behavioral codes varied in expected ways over the first 3 sessions of 2 therapists’ couple therapy as well. Operationalizing the behavioral indicators of the Shifting Cultural Lenses model opens the door to the integration of both process- and content-oriented approaches to cultural competence.
Diabetes stigma and its association with diabetes outcomes: a cross-sectional study of adults with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hansen Ulla Møller , Olesen Kasper , Willaing Ingrid
Published: April 2020

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diabetes stigma as experienced by adults with type 1 diabetes and diabetes outcomes using the novel, validated measure of the Type 1 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale. Methods: A total of 1594 adults with type 1 diabetes completed a questionnaire on socio-economic factors, psychosocial health, and diabetes stigma and these self-reported data were linked with data from electronic clinical records on glycaemic control, diabetes duration, age, and diabetes-related complications. Bivariate analyses and multivariate linear regressions were performed to assess the relationship between diabetes stigma as measured by three subscales, Identity concern, Blame and judgement, and Treated differently on the one hand, and patient characteristics and diabetes outcomes on the other. Results: Endorsement of the stigma statements ranged from 3.6–78.3% of respondents. Higher stigma scores in relation to Identity concern and Blame and judgement were significantly associated with being female, of lower age, lower diabetes duration, and having at least one complication. Those who reported higher levels of perceived stigma reported significantly higher levels of diabetes distress (β = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.33–0.40), 0.35 (95% CI: 0.30–0.39), 0.41 (95% CI: 0.35–0.46)), and HbA1c levels (β = 0.11 (95% CI: 0.02–0.21), 0.28 (95% CI: 0.16–0.40), 0.26 (95% CI: 0.14–0.42) for Identity concern, Blame and judgement, and Treated differently, respectively). Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that diabetes stigma is negatively associated with both diabetes distress and glycaemic control and should be considered part of the psychosocial burden of adults with type 1 diabetes.
Studying gender in the neoliberal, postfeminist university: Australian university students’ perspectives
Authors: La Paglia Heidi , Nash Meredith , Grant Ruby
Published: April 2020

In a neoliberal environment where university students are encouraged to study subjects and courses which will lead to specific job outcomes, this article explores which students undertake Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS), why they undertake the degree, and what it teaches them. Drawing on interviews with students at a regional Australian university, this qualitative study examines the extent to which the university’s Gender Studies cohort is postfeminist, and the impact that this has on retention and student outcomes. Findings suggest that WGS holds an ambivalent position within the contemporary university context. While students claim that studying WGS may not directly benefit them in the contemporary job market, they choose to study it because it gives them a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. The value students place on WGS is an insight rarely recognised previously.
Incidentality on a continuum: A comparative conceptualization of incidental news consumption
Authors: Mitchelstein Eugenia , Boczkowski Pablo J , Tenenboim-Weinblatt Keren , Hayashi Kaori , Villi Mikko , Kligler-Vilenchik Neta
Published: April 2020

This article seeks to contribute to theorizing the dynamics of incidental news consumption. Through an analysis of 200 semi-structured interviews with people in Argentina, Finland, Israel, Japan, and the United States, we show that intentionality in news consumption can be viewed on a continuum, which goes from deliberately setting apart time to access the news on specific outlets to skimming through unsought-for news on social and broadcast media, with intermediate practices such as respondents setting up an environment where they are more or less likely to encounter news. Drawing on structuration theory, this article conceptualizes incidental news in the context of the wider media environment and across multiple levels of analysis and explores how individual agency and social structure interact to shape information acquisition practices.
At loggerheads over state aid: Why the Commission rejects aid and governments comply
Authors: Finke Daniel
Published: April 2020

State aid is of significant importance to EU economies. The Commission is responsible for monitoring that all aid instruments comply with EU law. The present article analyses two questions: Why does the Commission reject aid instruments? How do national governments respond to such rejections? I argue that national governments are more willing to risk conflict with the Commission if perceived corruption and Euroscepticism are high. The Commission anticipates the likelihood of non-compliance when ruling on proposed aid instruments. If it expects non-compliance, the Commission is more likely to reject an aid instrument where its public trust ratings are high. If non-compliance is unlikely, the Commission can focus exclusively on the legal consistency of its ruling. On the empirical side, I test my arguments by analysing all state aid decisions between 2000 and 2018. Most importantly, the results show that state aid is more likely to be rejected, where public trust in the Commission is high.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy With Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Patients With Spinal Metastases
Authors: Pontoriero Antonio , Iatì Giuseppe , Cacciola Alberto , Conti Alfredo , Brogna Anna , Siragusa Carmelo , Ferini Gianluca , Davì Valerio , Tamburella Consuelo , Molino Laura , Cambareri Domenico , Severo Cesare , Parisi Silvana , Settineri Nicola , Ielo Isidora , Pergolizzi Stefano
Published: April 2020

Stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with spine metastases maximizes local tumor control and preserves neurologic function. A novel approach could be the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost delivering modality. The aim of the present study is to report our experience in the treatment of spine metastases using a frameless radiosurgery system delivering stereotactic body radiation therapy–simultaneous integrated boost technique. The primary endpoints were the pain control and the time to local progression; the secondary ones were the overall survival and toxicity. A total of 20 patients with spine metastases and 22 metastatic sites were treated in our center with stereotactic body radiation therapy–simultaneous integrated boost between December 2007 and July 2018. Stereotactic body radiation therapy–simultaneous integrated boost treatments were delivered doses of 8 to 10 Gy in 1 fraction to isodose line of 50%. The median follow-up was 35 months (range: 12-110). The median time to local progression for all patients was not reached and the actuarial 1-, 2-, and 3-years local free progression rate was 86.36%. In 17 of 20 patients, a complete pain remission was observed and 3 of 20 patients had a partial pain remission (complete pain remission + partial pain remission: 100%). The median overall survival was 38 months (range 12-83). None of the patients experienced neither radiation adverse events (grade 1-4) nor reported pain flair reaction. None of the patients included in our series experienced vertebral compression fracture. Spine radiosurgery with stereotactic body radiation therapy–simultaneous integrated boost is safe. The use of this modality in spine metastases patients provides an excellent local control.
Further Development of Near-Infrared Mediated Quantum Dots and Paclitaxel Co-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier System for Cancer Theragnostic
Authors: Olerile Livesey D.
Published: April 2020

Of colloidal systems, ceteris paribus, nanostructured lipid carriers are second to none in offering a single-unit platform for multifunctional benefits. Quantum dots are known to possess unique properties that make them ideal for imaging purpose and that they may be used for cancer detection. For several decades, paclitaxel has been the most effective drug against a wide range of solid tumours. Theragnostic nanomedicine provides a platform to monitor, evaluate, and individualize treatment in real time. Evaluation of cancer treatment outcome at an early stage therapy is key to increase survival prospects of a patient. Previously, a novel co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers’ theragnostic system for parenteral administration was developed. The aim of this study was to further investigate the co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers in order to provide interpretation necessary for preclinical elucidation of the formulation, in part. The co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers were prepared by oil/water emulsification-solvent evaporation technique. In this study, stability and co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers’ internalization by MCF 7 and HepG2 cells were investigated. The co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers was stable at 4°C for 1 month. The formulation was successfully internalized by MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. Nevertheless, the co-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier was more apt for MCF-7 cells. This finding affirms the formulation to be the most appropriate for breast cancer treatment. In addition, if taken correctly by a patient for a month, the formulation would give true reflection of the contents’ amounts, the factor paramount to appropriate changes in treatment protocol. It can therefore safely be concluded that the co-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier formulation may be potentially an effective theragnostic translational system.
The Efficiency/Community Duality in the Emergence of Planning: Cases in Rural Regional Development
Authors: Hibbard Michael , Frank Kathryn
Published: April 2020

The various approaches to planning manifest the intellectual currents of a society. Dualities such as efficiency/community have been central to shaping contemporary planning. The quest for efficiency, the rational utilization of natural, built, and human capital, along with concern for community, the human needs and rootedness of local populations, has been an ongoing theme. We explore that duality in the context of rural regional development and how it shifted from complementary to either/or in the United States from the turn of the twentieth century through the Great Depression and the onset of World War II.
A Case Series Describing Percutaneous Management of Aortic Isthmic Atresia
Authors: Menon Poornima Jayadev , Walsh Kevin
Published: April 2020

Aortic isthmic atresia is a severe form of aortic coarctation where there is loss of luminal communication at the aortic isthmus. The primary approach for correcting aortic isthmic atresia has been surgical repair of the coarctation. A small number of case series have shown that percutaneous correction of aortic isthmic atresia is possible. We describe 3 cases of aortic isthmic atresia that was successfully treated using a percutaneous approach. Our cases ranged in age between 42 and 51 years, and they all had hypertension. In our case series, 2 patients were successfully treated with radiofrequency perforation and 1 patient had anterograde recanalization performed using a stiff wire. Our patients have been followed up for between 2 and 4 years post-procedure, and they continue to do well. The success of percutaneous management in this case series adds to the small but increasing amount of data available in support of endovascular management of aortic isthmic atresia in adult patients.
Parental Occupational Executive Training: Feasibility and Parental Perceptions
Authors: Frisch Carmit , Rosenblum Sara , Tirosh Emanuel
Published: April 2020

Young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cope with functional difficulties attributed to executive dysfunction. This study evaluates the feasibility of the Parental Occupational Executive Training (POET) intervention. Parents of 71 children (4–7 years) with ADHD attended 8 to 10 weekly, personally tailored intervention sessions with an occupational therapist. Quantitative and qualitative measures were used to examine feasibility in four indices: parental attendance, adherence, and acceptance, and therapist fidelity. Parental attendance and home-strategy use during daily activities rates were high. Parents identified the occupational performance coaching model’s principles as supporting their ability to implement the intervention. Therapists demonstrated high fidelity to the POET’s theoretical bases. The POET is a feasible intervention with high parental attendance (98.61%), parental adherence (80.56%–94.44%), and therapist fidelity (100.00%). It can be implemented within child development centers and occupational therapy clinics and leads to parents’ increased adherence.
Investigation of tensile strength and elongation properties of chenille upholstery fabrics including recycling polyester yarns
Authors: Esi Bestem , Baykal Pınar Duru
Published: April 2020

Every day, millions of plastic and polyethylene terephthalate bottles are being thrown away by people. This leads not only to the reduction of landfills and increase in environmental problems but also to pollution of marine and oceans that affect the lives of many living things. Therefore, recycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles with recycling technologies has great environmental importance. In this study, recycled polyester yarns obtained by recycling waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles and standard polyester yarns were used in staple forms, as well as binder and pile yarns of the chenille yarn structure. In this context, 16 different chenille yarns were produced and the production parameters such as rotor speed, spindle speed, and pile density are kept constant by selecting the appropriate values. Then, these chenille yarns were used as weft to produce upholstery fabrics. Tensile strength and elongation tests were applied to the upholstery fabrics, and the results were evaluated statistically. As a result of the tensile strength tests and statistical analyses, it is concluded that the weft breaking strength of all types of woven fabrics, which have 100% recycled polyester in the structures of chenille yarns as weft, is slightly decreased compared to other types, but this decrease is not statistically significant. The use of recycled polyester yarns in the structures of chenille yarns, which are widely used in the upholstery sector, will be beneficial in producing more sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics.
Upregulation of far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) promotes tumor proliferation and unfavorable prognosis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Yang , Liu Jiameng , Geng Ningbo , Feng Chongjin
Published: April 2020

Background:

A well-known transcriptional regulator of the proto-oncogene c-Myc, far-upstream element (FUSE) binding protein 1 (FUBP1) has been demonstrated by previous work to be aberrantly expressed in lots of cancers and plays a critical role in tumor progression; however, its expression and function in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) remains unclear.

Methods:

Evaluations with immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were performed to assess FUBP1 expression. The correlations of FUBP1 expression levels with various clinicopathological factors were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses. In addition, the role of FUBP1 in TSCC proliferation was studied in TSCC cells by silencing FUBP1. The role of FUBP1 on proliferation and apoptosis was confirmed by cell counting Kit-8, colony formation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis assays.

Results:

Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot results showed FUBP1 expression was higher in TSCC tissues in comparison with adjacent non-cancerous tissues ( P <0.05), as well as in patients with advanced-stage disease or cervical lymph node metastasis ( P<0.001). The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in the group with high FUBP1 expression than in that with low FUBP1 expression ( P=0.035). FUBP1 expression was also an independent predictor for overall survival in TSCC patients, and was closely related to poor prognosis. FUBP1 knockdown inhibited cancer cell proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Conclusion:

FUBP1 was overexpressed in TSCC, and correlated with TSCC cell proliferation and poor prognosis. FUBP1 appears to act as a potential oncogene in TSCC, and may be considered a novel biomarker for TSCC.
Word length negatively predicts recognition memory performance
Authors: Cortese Michael J , Von Nordheim David , Khanna Maya M
Published: April 2020

We examined how word length affects performance in three recognition memory experiments to resolve discrepant results in the literature for which there are theoretical implications. Shorter and longer words were equated on frequency, orthographic similarity, age of acquisition, and imageability. In Experiments 1 and 2, orthographic length (i.e., the number of letters in a word) was negatively related to hits minus false alarms. In Experiment 3, recognition performance did not differ between one- and two-syllable words that were equated on orthographic length. These results are compatible with single-process item-noise models that represent orthography in terms of features and in which memory representation strength is a product of the probabilities that the individual features have been stored. Longer words are associated with noisier representations than shorter words.
Tracing current explanations in memory: A process analysis based on eye-tracking
Authors: Klichowicz Anja , Strehlau Sascha , Baumann Martin RK , Krems Josef F , Rosner Agnes
Published: April 2020

Sequential abductive reasoning is the process of finding the best explanation for a set of observations. Explanations can be multicausal and require the retrieval of previously found ones from memory. The theory of abductive reasoning (TAR) allows detailed predictions on what information is stored and retrieved from memory during reasoning. In the research to date, however, these predictions have never been directly tested. In this study, we tested process assumptions such as the construction of a mental representation from TAR using memory indexing, an eye-tracking method that makes it possible to trace the retrieval of explanations currently held in working memory. Gaze analysis revealed that participants encode the presented evidence (i.e., observations) together with possible explanations into memory. When new observations are presented, the previously presented evidence and explanations are retrieved. Observations that are not explained immediately are encoded as abstractly explained. Abstract explanations enter a refinement process in which they become concrete before they enter the situation model. With the memory indexing method, we were able to assess the process of information retrieval in abductive reasoning, which was previously believed to be unobservable. We discuss the results in the light of TAR and other current theories on the diagnostic reasoning process.
Novel π-expanded chrysene-based axially chiral molecules: 1,1′-bichrysene-2,2′-diols and thiophene analogs
Authors: An Shujie , Tang Guofeng , Zhong Yaling , Ma Li , Liu Qiancai
Published: April 2020

1,1′-Bichrysene-2,2′-diol and its thiophene analogs, 6,6′-biphenanthro-[1,2- b]thiophene-7,7′-diols, as a series of novel π-expanded chrysene-/phenanthro[1,2- b]thiophene-based axially chiral molecules are synthesized from 1,1′-bi-2-naphthols with key steps including a Suzuki coupling, a Wittig reaction, and acid-mediated cyclization.
Functional outcomes of spasticity-reducing surgery and rehabilitation at 1-year follow-up in 30 patients
Authors: Bergfeldt Ulla , Strömberg Joakim , Ramström Therese , Kulbacka-Ortiz Katarzyna , Reinholdt Carina
Published: April 2020

The effects of spasticity-reducing surgery in the upper extremity were assessed in a prospective observational study of 30 consecutive patients with stroke ( n = 13), incomplete spinal cord injury ( n = 9), traumatic brain injury ( n = 5), cerebral palsy ( n = 2), and degenerative central nervous system disease ( n = 1). Surgery, which included lengthening of tendons and release of muscles, was followed by early rehabilitation at three intensity levels depending on the patients’ specific needs and conditions. At 12 months follow-up there were significant improvements in all outcome measures with the following mean values: spasticity decreased by 1.4 points (Modified Ashworth Scale, 0–5), visual analogue pain score by 1.3 points, and both Canadian Occupational Performance Measures increased (performance by 3.4 and satisfaction by 3.6), and most measures of joint position or mobility improved. Hand surgery combined with early and comprehensive rehabilitation improves function, activity and patients’ satisfaction in patients with disabling spasticity with improvement lasting for at least 1 year.

Level of evidence: II
Prescribing in pregnancy
Authors: Allan Katherine , Yongue Gabriella , Lafferty Kirsten D , Lock Gareth J , van Zuylen Zoe
Published: April 2020

GPs play a key role in caring for women during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Prescribing during these times can prove to be a challenging task. This article will discuss the principles of safe prescribing for common presentations in pregnancy, the evidence base behind the treatments we frequently prescribe, and the teratogenic effects of those that should be avoided.
A Conceptual Visibility Framework for Linking Spatial Metrics With Experience and Organizational Outcomes
Authors: Lim Lisa , Zimring Craig M.
Published: April 2020

Visibility enables or prohibits healthcare professionals’ ability to monitor, control, or manage situations in healthcare settings. Visibility has a significant impact on patient safety, including patient fall rates and mortality rates, and on the performance of healthcare professionals, including situational awareness and communication. This article provides a conceptual visibility framework synthesizing visibility analysis models, tools, and metrics. The framework uses four dimensions that capture the experiential phenomena of users, such as visual relationships between specific sets of users/targets, how the orientation of the seeing entity changes visibility patterns, and the unequal visibility levels of seeing and being seen. The framework particularly focuses on how the layout and the resulting patterns of visibility reflect and influence the user experience and organizational functions. By illustrating the similarities and differences of various models in the framework according to the dimensions, this article describes how various visibility analysis models, tools, and metrics can be applied to design and research.