bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semiótica como resistência no contexto da semiosfera latino-americana
Authors: Machado Irene de Araujo
Published: January 2020

O ensaio focaliza o projeto tradutório-editorial de Desiderio Navarro na introdução das teorias semióticas do Leste europeu no continente latino-americano. Com seu trabalho de tradutor-crítico-ensaísta e editor, o estudioso cubano enfrentou o desafio de justapor a teoria russa à hegemonia das teorias semióticas francesa e americana para semear ideias do pensamento semiótico cultural. Para isso, lutou contra as doxas geopolíticas, conferindo ao seu trabalho crítico o caráter de uma autêntica semiótica da resistência. Do convívio com os semioticistas da cultura, assimilou as bases formadoras do pensamento semiótico entre estudiosos latino-americanos.
A experiência de jogo como efeito da afinação do(a) jogador(a) na tonalidade afetiva (Stimmung) lúdica: uma abordagem fenomenológica do Ingress
Authors: Reis Breno Maciel Souza
Published: January 2020

Este artigo propõe abordar a experiência de jogo como efeito do que chamamos de tonalidade afetiva lúdica para caracterizar, especificamente, o modo como nos relacionamos com o fenômeno lúdico e a sua manifestação na forma de jogo como uma possiblidade de relação do ser-no-mundo com o mundo vivido. A abordagem teórica foi aplicada empiricamente no jogo Ingress, jogo voltado a dispositivos móveis e que se desenvolve no contexto urbano. Os resultados encontrados permitem identificar, como efeito da afinação na tonalidade afetiva lúdica no game em questão, uma forte presença de sua cosmologia em situações nas quais os(as) jogadores(as) não estão efetivamente jogando. Isso indica que a narrativa e o gameplay do Ingress transformam a experiência espacial e urbana desses sujeitos.
Cidadania digital: uma saída para a crise da política?
Authors: Borges Junior Eli
Published: January 2020

Na obra La cittadinanza digitale: La crisi dell’idea occidentale di democrazia e la partecipazione nelle reti digitali, Massimo Di Felice descreve duas transformações fundamentais que caracterizariam nossa época: o advento das redes digitais e a crise ambiental. Essa conjunção levaria as formas tradicionais do fazer político – eminentemente humanas – a uma certa aporia, já que agora, em um contexto de conectividade generalizada, elementos de outras naturezas – não humanas – passariam também a agir. Sua proposta à crise: reunir todos em um novo e diverso comum, a cidadania digital. Defende, para isso, uma revisão epistemológica e a formulação de um novo léxico, problematizando conceitos como sociedade, indivíduo e mesmo política.
Differential microRNA-21 and microRNA-221 Upregulation in the Biventricular Failing Heart Reveals Distinct Stress Responses of Right Versus Left Ventricular Fibroblasts
Authors: Powers Jeffery C. , Sabri Abdelkarim , Al-Bataineh Dalia , Chotalia Dhruv , Guo Xinji , Tsipenyuk Florence , Berretta Remus , Kavitha Pavithra , Gopi Heramba , Houser Steven R. , Khan Mohsin , Tsai Emily J. , Recchia Fabio A.
Published: January 2020

Background:

The failing right ventricle (RV) does not respond like the left ventricle (LV) to guideline-directed medical therapy of heart failure, perhaps due to interventricular differences in their molecular pathophysiology.

Methods:

Using the canine tachypacing–induced biventricular heart failure (HF) model, we tested the hypothesis that interventricular differences in microRNAs (miRs) expression distinguish failing RV from failing LV.

Results:

Severe RV dysfunction was indicated by elevated end-diastolic pressure (11.3±2.5 versus 5.7±2.0 mm Hg;
P
<0.0001) and diminished fractional area change (24.9±7.1 versus 48.0±3.6%;
P
<0.0001) relative to prepacing baselines. Microarray analysis of ventricular tissue revealed that miR-21 and miR-221, 2 activators of profibrotic and proliferative processes, increased the most, at 4- and 2-fold, respectively, in RV-HF versus RV-Control. Neither miR-21 or miR-221 was statistically significantly different in LV-HF versus LV-Control. These changes were accompanied by more extensive fibrosis in RV-HF than LV-HF. To test whether miR-21 and miR-221 upregulation is specific to RV cellular response to mechanical and hormonal stimuli associated with HF, we subjected fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes isolated from normal canine RV and LV to cyclic overstretch and aldosterone. These 2 stressors markedly upregulated miR-21 and miR-221 in RV fibroblasts but not in LV fibroblasts nor cardiomyocytes of either ventricle. Furthermore, miR-21/221 knockdown significantly attenuated RV but not LV fibroblast proliferation.

Conclusions:

We identified a novel, biological difference between RV and LV fibroblasts that might underlie distinctions in pathological remodeling of the RV in biventricular HF.
Three-Year Outcomes From the Harmony Native Outflow Tract Early Feasibility Study
Authors: Benson Lee N. , Gillespie Matthew J. , Bergersen Lisa , Cheatham Sharon L. , Hor Kan N. , Horlick Eric M. , Weng Shicheng , McHenry Brian T. , Osten Mark D. , Powell Andrew J. , Cheatham John P.
Published: January 2020

Background:

The Harmony transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) was designed for treatment of postoperative pulmonary valve regurgitation in patients with repaired right ventricular outflow tracts.

Methods:

The Native TPV EFS (Early Feasibility Study) is a prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized feasibility study. Three-year outcomes are reported.

Results:

Of 20 implanted patients, 17 completed 3-year follow-up (maximum: 4.1 years). There were no deaths and 2 early explants. One patient did not complete the 3-year visit. In patients with available 3-year echocardiographic data, 1 had a mild paravalvular leak and the rest had none/trace; 1 patient had mild pulmonary valve regurgitation and the remainder had none/trace. The 3-year mean right ventricular outflow tract echocardiographic gradient was 15.7±5.5 mm Hg. Radiographically, no late frame fractures or erosions were identified. At 2 years, 2 patients presented with an increased echocardiographic outflow gradient (1 mixed lesion with moderate/severe pulmonary valve regurgitation). Computed tomography scans identified neointimal tissue ingrowth within the stent frame in both patients, and they were treated successfully with a transcatheter valve-in-valve procedure (Melody TPV). Additional follow-up computed tomography scans performed at 3.2±0.5 years after implant were obtained in 16 patients and revealed luminal tissue thickening at the inflow and outflow portion of the frame with no significant alteration of the valve housing.

Conclusions:

Three-year results from the Native TPV EFS revealed stable Harmony TPV device position, good valve function in most, and the absence of moderate/severe paravalvular leak and significant late frame fractures. Two patients developed significant neointimal proliferation requiring valve-in-valve treatment, while all others had no clinically significant right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01762124.
Development of Predictive Equations for Nocturnal Hypertension and Nondipping Systolic Blood Pressure
Authors: Jaeger Byron C. , Booth John N. , Butler Mark , Edwards Lloyd J. , Lewis Cora E. , Lloyd‐Jones Donald M. , Sakhuja Swati , Schwartz Joseph E. , Shikany James M. , Shimbo Daichi , Yano Yuichiro , Muntner Paul
Published: January 2020

Background

Nocturnal hypertension, defined by a mean asleep systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (BP) ≥120/70 mm Hg, and nondipping
SBP
, defined by an awake‐to‐asleep decline in
SBP
<10%, are each associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods and Results

We developed predictive equations to identify adults with a high probability of having nocturnal hypertension or nondipping
SBP
using data from the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study (n=787), JHS (Jackson Heart Study) (n=1063), IDH (Improving the Detection of Hypertension) study (n=395), and MHT (Masked Hypertension) study (n=772) who underwent 24‐hour ambulatory BP monitoring. Participants were randomized to derivation (n=2511) or validation (n=506) data sets. The prevalence rates of nocturnal hypertension and nondipping
SBP
were 39.7% and 44.9% in the derivation data set, respectively, and 36.6% and 44.5% in the validation data set, respectively. The predictive equation for nocturnal hypertension included age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, neck circumference, height, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, albumin/creatinine ratio, and clinic
SBP
and diastolic BP. The predictive equation for nondipping
SBP
included age, sex, race/ethnicity, waist circumference, height, alcohol use, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and albumin/creatinine ratio. Concordance statistics (95% CI) for nocturnal hypertension and nondipping
SBP
predictive equations in the validation data set were 0.84 (0.80–0.87) and 0.73 (0.69–0.78), respectively. Compared with reference models including antihypertensive medication use and clinic
SBP
and diastolic BP as predictors, the continuous net reclassification improvement (95% CI) values for the nocturnal hypertension and nondipping
SBP
predictive equations were 0.52 (0.35–0.69) and 0.51 (0.34–0.69), respectively.

Conclusions

These predictive equations can direct ambulatory BP monitoring toward adults with high probability of having nocturnal hypertension and nondipping
SBP
.
First-Ever Ischemic Stroke and Incident Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in 93 627 Older Women and Men
Authors: Sposato Luciano A. , Lam Melody , Allen Britney , Shariff Salimah Z. , Saposnik Gustavo ,   on behalf of the PARADISE Study Group
Published: January 2020

Background and Purpose—

Stroke risk is sex-specific, but little is known about sex differences of poststroke major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Stroke-related brain damage causes autonomic dysfunction and inflammation, sometimes resulting in cardiac complications. Sex-specific cardiovascular susceptibility to stroke without the confounding effect of preexisting heart disease constitutes an unexplored field because previous studies focusing on sex differences in poststroke MACE have not excluded patients with known cardiovascular comorbidities. We therefore investigated sex-specific risks of incident MACE in a heart disease-free population-based cohort of patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and propensity-matched individuals without stroke.

Methods—

We included Ontario residents ≥66 years, without known cardiovascular comorbidities, with first-ever ischemic stroke between 2002 and 2012 and propensity-matched individuals without stroke. We investigated the 1-year risk of incident MACE (acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, incident coronary artery disease, coronary revascularization procedures, incident heart failure, or cardiovascular death) separately for females and males. For estimating cause-specific adjusted hazard ratios, we adjusted Cox models for variables with weighted standardized differences >0.10 or those known to influence MACE risk.

Results—

We included 93 627 subjects without known cardiovascular comorbidities; 21 931 with first-ever ischemic stroke and 71 696 propensity-matched subjects without stroke. Groups were well-balanced on propensity-matching variables. There were 53 476 women (12 421 with and 41 055 without ischemic stroke) and 40 151 men (9510 with and 30 641 without ischemic stroke). First-ever ischemic stroke was associated with increased risk of incident MACE in both sexes. The risk was time-dependent, highest within 30 days (women: adjusted hazard ratio, 25.1 [95% CI, 19.3–32.6]; men: aHR, 23.4 [95% CI, 17.2–31.9]) and decreasing but remaining significant between 31 and 90 days (women: aHR, 4.8 [95% CI, 3.8–6.0]; men: aHR, 4.2 [95% CI, 3.3–5.4]), and 91 to 365 days (aHR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.8–2.3]; men: aHR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.7–2.3]).

Conclusions—

In this large population-based study, ischemic stroke was independently associated with increased risk of incident MACE in both sexes.
Review of the New World genus Acrotaphus Townes, 1960 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae), with descriptions of fifteen new species
Authors: PÁDUA DIEGO G. , SÄÄKSJÄRVI ILARI E. , MONTEIRO RICARDO F. , OLIVEIRA MARCIO L.
Published: January 2020

Acrotaphus Townes, 1960 is a moderately large New World genus of spider attacking parasitoid wasps. Previously, it comprised 11 species. The present study aims to review the genus, and includes descriptions of 15 new species: A. amajari sp. n., A. amazonicus sp. n., A. bodoquenaensis sp. n., A. cuzconus sp. n., A. dolichopus sp. n., A. homeofranklini sp. n., A. jackiechani sp. n., A. kourou sp. n., A. micrus sp. n., A. monotaenius sp. n., A. nambilloensis sp. n., A. pseudoamazonicus sp. n., A. pseudomexicanus sp. n., A. venezuelanus sp. n. and A. zampieronae sp. n.. In addition, we present new characters for the study of the genus and describe the male genitalia for the first time. An illustrated key and maps to the species of the genus are provided. Acrotaphus franklini Gauld, 1991 and A. pseudoamazonicus sp. n. were recorded from the nests of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) lactitarse Saussure, 1867 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).
Role of Local Atmospheric Forcing and Land–Atmosphere Interaction in Recent Land Surface Warming in the Midlatitudes over East Asia
Authors: Chen Haishan , Yu Bo , Zhou Botao , Zhang Wanxin , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2020

Significant summer land surface warming has been observed in the middle latitudes over East Asia, especially after the mid-1990s, which has evidently affected the East Asian weather and climate. Using multisource observations and reanalysis data during 1979–2013, this study explores the possible reasons for recent land surface warming over this region by considering atmospheric forcing and regional land–atmosphere interaction related to extratropical cyclones (ECs). Results show that there is a close relationship between land surface warming and weakened ECs over East Asia. Recent land surface warming was attributed to local atmospheric forcing and feedback of land–atmosphere interaction associated with weakened ECs. The abnormal large-scale circulation associated with anomalous ECs produced evident dynamic forcing on the land surface. Weakened ECs are usually accompanied by an abnormal high pressure system and anticyclonic circulation around Lake Baikal, which benefit the intensification of anomalous southerly wind in the rear of the anomalous anticyclone, leading to positive temperature advection and temperature increase over East Asia. Meanwhile, the anomalous adiabatic warming caused by abnormal descending motion associated with the anticyclonic anomaly also contributes to local warming. The feedback of local land–atmosphere interaction plays an important role in land surface warming. Weakened ECs increase both incident solar radiation and precipitation. The increased precipitation reduces the soil moisture and in turn weakens the surface evaporation and local cooling effect, resulting in land surface warming. Our findings are helpful for better understanding the mechanisms responsible for recent summer land surface warming over East Asia as well as its climatic effects.
Temporal and Spatial Autocorrelations from Expendable Digital Dropsondes (XDDs) in Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Nelson T. Connor , Harrison Lee , Corbosiero Kristen L.
Published: January 2020

The newly developed Expendable Digital Dropsondes (XDDs) allow for high spatial and temporal resolution observations of the kinematic and thermodynamic structures in tropical cyclones (TCs). It is important to evaluate both the temporal and spatial autocorrelations within the recorded data to address concerns about spatial interpolation, statistical significance of individual data points, and launch-rate spatial requirements for future dropsonde studies in TCs. Data from 437 XDDs launched into Hurricanes Marty (27–28 September), Joaquin (2–5 October), and Patricia (20–23 October) during the 2015 Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) experiment are used to compute temporal and spatial autocorrelations for vertical velocity, temperature, horizontal wind speed, and equivalent potential temperature. All of the examined variables had temporal autocorrelation scales between approximately 10 and 40 s, with most between 20 and 30 s. Most of the spatial autocorrelation scales were estimated to be 3–10 km. The temporal autocorrelation scales for vertical velocity, horizontal wind speed, and equivalent potential temperature were correlated with updraft depth. Vertical velocity usually had the smallest mean, and median, temporal and estimated spatial autocorrelation scales of approximately 20 s and 3–6 km, respectively. The estimated horizontal scales are below the median sounding spacing and suggest that an increase in the launch rate of the XDDs by a factor of 3–4 from the TCI sampling rate is needed to adequately depict TC kinematics and structure in transects of soundings. The results also indicate that current temporal sampling rates are adequate to depict TC kinematics and structure in a single sounding.
Reframing childhood obesity: The role of local communities in change implementation failure
Authors: Vardaman James M , Amis John M , Wright Paul M , Dyson Ben P
Published: January 2020

Childhood obesity remains one of the defining challenges of our time, with government response around the world being largely ineffective. This has been particularly the case in the USA, which continues to suffer high rates of childhood obesity despite numerous legislative interventions to combat it. In order to develop insight into this ongoing catastrophic change failure, we engaged in a three-year qualitative study of the implementation of policies in the USA designed to reduce childhood obesity through school-based interventions. We found that leaders in schools, as in many organizations, were faced with numerous, often conflicting, pressures from federal, state, and local community stakeholders. The resultant ambivalence led to change failure being reframed as success to in order to fit with locally expressed priorities. In bringing light to an understudied aspect of change implementation, local community pressure, we further theoretical understanding of why large change interventions often fail. We also offer insights more generally into the (re)framing of change and the influence of local communities on organizations. Policy and managerial implications are also discussed.
Gender equality and work–family conflict from a cross-national perspective
Authors: Kaufman Gayle , Taniguchi Hiromi
Published: January 2020

This study examines the relationship between gender ideology at the individual level, gender equality at the country level, and women and men’s experiences of work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). We use data from the 2012 International Social Survey Programme as well as the 2011 to 2015 Human Development Reports. Our sample consists of 24,547 respondents from 37 countries. Based on multilevel mixed-effects logistic models, we find that women are more likely than men to experience WIF and FIW. At the individual level, traditional gender ideology positively predicts WIF and FIW. Women and men who reside in more gender-unequal countries have a higher likelihood of FIW while men in these contexts also are more likely to experience WIF. Societal gender inequality is more consequential for those who hold less traditional gender ideology. In conclusion, gender egalitarianism at the individual level and gender equality at the country level are both associated with less WIF and FIW. Policies that seek to address work–family balance should incorporate measures to promote gender equality.
An accurate zigzag theory for bending and buckling analysis of thick laminated sandwich plates with soft core
Authors: Jin Qilin , Yao Weian
Published: January 2020

An accurate and computationally attractive zigzag theory is developed for bending and buckling analysis of thick laminated soft core sandwich plates. The kinematic assumptions of the proposed zigzag theory are obtained by superimposing a nonlinear zigzag function on the first-order shear deformation theory. In order to obtain the accurate transverse shear stresses, a preprocessing approach based on the three-dimensional equilibrium equations and the Reissner mixed variational theorem is used. It is significant that the second-order derivatives of in-plane displacement variables have been removed from the transverse shear stresses, such that the finite element implementation is greatly simplified. Thus, based on the proposed zigzag model, a computationally efficient four-node C0 quadrilateral plate element with linear interpolation function is proposed for bending and buckling analysis of soft core sandwich plates. The advantage of the present formulation is that no post-processing approach is needed to calculate the transverse shear stresses while maintaining the computational accuracy of a linear plate element. Moreover, the accurate transverse shear stresses can be involved in the strain energy which can actively improve the accuracy of critical loads. Performance of the proposed model is assessed by comparing with several benchmark solutions. Agreement between the present results and the reference solutions is very good, and the proposed model only includes the seven displacement variables which can demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed model.
Performance of polylactide against UV irradiation: Synergism of an organic UV absorber with micron and nano-sized TiO2
Authors: Can Ulas , Kaynak Cevdet
Published: January 2020

The main purpose of this study was to investigate mechanical and thermal performance of polylactide specimens against UV irradiation; first when only adding benzotriazole benzotriazole-based organic UV absorber (UVA), micro (200 nm) and nano (50 nm) sized titania (TiO2) particles alone, and then to reveal possible synergism when they are added together. Compounds were prepared by twin-screw extruder melt mixing, while the 2 mm thick specimens were shaped by compression molding. Specimens were exposed to UV irradiation under fluorescent lamps (UVB-313) with 0.50 W/m2 for the periods of 12 and 24 days. Changes in the performance of UV irradiated specimens were evaluated in terms of % weight loss, changes in color and chemical structure, including the decreases in the mechanical and thermal properties. Various tests and analysis revealed that synergistic benefits of using micro and nano TiO2 particles together with benzotriazole-type UVA were not only due to the effective stiffening, strengthening and toughening actions of titania particles, but also due to their very significant “UV screening” actions absorbing the photons of the UV irradiation, thus decreasing the degree of the detrimental photodegradation reactions leading to chain scissions in their PLA matrix.
Finance and growth nexus: An international analysis across cities
Authors: Ioannou Stefanos , Wójcik Dariusz
Published: January 2020

We examine the relationship between finance and economic growth in the metropolitan areas of 75 countries at various stages of economic development in the period 2001–2015. Our analysis demonstrates an inverted-U shaped relationship between finance and growth. This relationship becomes even more significant in the areas of a country outside its largest financial centre, indicating that while these areas can benefit from financial development, they are also the most vulnerable. We show that large financial centres can have an impact on growth across their national economies, but in doing so they complement rather than replace local financial centres. Overall, our results highlight the risks associated with the excesses of financial development and lend evidence to support calls for more decentralised financial systems.
Transforming the relational dynamics of urban governance: How social innovation research can create a trajectory for learning and change
Authors: Bartels Koen
Published: January 2020

This article examines how social innovation (SI) research can co-produce transformative change in cities. A key challenge is to diffuse and sustain SIs in ways that transform the relational webs that constitute local spaces and their governance. The relational approach to SI is conceptually promising in this respect, but its foundations and practices need to be further developed. Therefore, I develop a relational ‘theory–methods package’ of practice theory and action research. By co-producing immediately usable insights, experiences and artefacts in the daily practice of SI, this approach enables researchers to gradually create conditions for a transformative trajectory of learning and change in urban governance. I critically appraise four research practices in the context of SI in Dutch urban governance and reflect on the transformative potential of this relational theory–methods package.
Assessing the Mediating Role of Residents’ Perceptions toward Tourism Development
Authors: Gannon Martin , Rasoolimanesh S. Mostafa , Taheri Babak
Published: January 2020

Framed by social exchange theory and Weber’s theory of substantive and formal rationality, this study investigates the mediating role of residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts. It examines whether community attachment, environmental and cultural attitudes, economic gain, and community involvement directly impact upon residents’ support for tourism development, or if their influences are mediated by perceptions of tourism impacts. Data were collected from residents within two historical cities in Iran: Kashan and Tabriz. The findings reveal that residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts play a significant mediating role in shaping the relationships between community attachment, environmental attitudes, and economic gain on support for tourism development. However, the results do not support the indirect effects of cultural attitudes and involvement on support for tourism development. This study thus extends extant knowledge by highlighting the mediating role played by residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts, comparing direct and indirect effects on support for tourism development.
Competitor Perceptions in Tourism Coopetition
Authors: Czakon Wojciech , Czernek-Marszałek Katarzyna
Published: January 2020

Our study aims at understanding how coopeting tourism managers perceive their competitors. Competitor perceptions are consequential because they have implications for interfirm relationships. Collaboration with competitors offers benefits otherwise unattainable, such as improved destination marketing, more successful attracting of tourists, increased tourism product complexity, and better service, but is used to various degrees by tourism firms. We use a purposeful sampling procedure for maximum heterogeneity to select interviewees from Polish tourism DMO member firms. We inductively code and thematically group their perceptions to find that tourism managers develop a detailed understanding of collaboration with competitors and precisely identify their competitors, but interpret this so as to either facilitate collaboration or to remain in rivalrous mode, depending on their behavioral disposition. We propose a framework for developing perceptions with mindsets in a pivotal role.
Expectant management of retained abnormally adherent placenta complicated by uterine prolapse after vaginal delivery
Authors: Ngene Nnabuike C , Siveregi Amon
Published: January 2020

The placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) describes invasion and adherence of the placenta onto or beyond the myometrium. Prenatal imaging improves management outcomes. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), however, the unavailability of ultrasonography in some health facilities delays the diagnosis, particularly if the prenatal period is asymptomatic. Following vaginal delivery, it often manifests as failure to remove a retained placenta manually. In the absence of haemorrhage, expectant management involving leaving the placenta in situ, is an option. In the presence of haemorrhage and/or sepsis, hysterectomy is usually recommended. We present a case of an expectantly managed PAS following a spontaneous preterm vaginal birth. The patient developed puerperal uterine prolapse with the placenta in situ, a previously unreported complication, but this was successfully reduced manually.
New simple low-cost surgical approach to complex jejuno-ileal atresia
Authors: Pan Pradyumna
Published: January 2020

We report our experience of staged operations in the surgical treatment of complex jejuno-ileal atresia. Our study examined transgastric deflation of the proximal segment and feeding jejunostomy through the distal segment as a first stage followed by a definitive restoration of continuity secondarily at a tertiary centre over a period of three years.

A cohort of 21 cases were studied. None suffered with intestinal perforation or volvulus. Tube plugging was seen in three patients who were relieved by flushing. Tube replacement was not required. One patient developed necrotising enterocolitis and died. Sepsis was seen in three. The age at the second operation was 56.2 ± 6.6 days. There was no complication after this second procedure. We therefore recommend this staged management for complex jejuno-ileal atresia, but suggest further studies.
Position control for permanent magnet synchronous motor based on neural network and terminal sliding mode control
Authors: Zhu Wenwu , Chen Dongbo , Du Haibo , Wang Xiangyu
Published: January 2020

A finite-time control strategy is proposed to solve the problem of position tracking control for a permanent magnet synchronous motor servo system. It can guarantee that the motor’s desired position can be tracked in a finite time. Firstly, for the d-axis voltage, a first-order finite-time controller is designed based on the vector control principle. Then, for the q-axis voltage, based on a radial basis function (RBF) neural network, an integral high-order terminal sliding mode controller is designed. Theoretical analysis shows that under the proposed controller, the desired position can be tracked by the motor position in a finite time. Simulation results are given to show that the proposed control method has a strong anti-disturbance ability and a fast convergence performance.
Proposing an Endotracheal Tube Selection Tool Based on Multivariate Analysis of Airway Imaging
Authors: Aljathlany Yousef , Aljasser Abdullah , Alhelali Abdullah , Bukhari Manal , Almohizea Mohammed , Khan Adeena , Alammar Ahmed
Published: January 2020

Objectives:

We aimed to comprehensively investigate different upper airway segments in adults, determine the predictors of the size of each segment, and identify an appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) size chart.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Setting:

Tertiary care center.

Materials and Methods:

The data for patients aged >18 years who underwent neck computed tomography were screened. Patients with existing tumors, trauma, or any pathology that can alter the normal airway anatomy and those with intubation, tracheostomy, or nasogastric tubes were excluded. Computed tomography software was used to measure the anteroposterior diameter (APD), transverse diameter (TD), and cross-sectional area (CSA) at the glottic, proximal subglottic, distal subglottic, and tracheal levels. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of the airway size.

Results:

One hundred patients were reviewed. The TD was consistently smaller than or equal to the APD at each level in all but 3 patients. The mean CSA and TD (170 mm2 and 11.3 mm, respectively) of the glottis indicated that the glottis was most often the narrowest level, followed by the proximal subglottis where the mean CSA and TD were 192.1 mm2 and 12.7 mm, respectively. Moreover, the mean APD was the smallest at the level of the trachea (20.1 mm). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that height and sex were the predominant predictors of measurements for the 4 airway segments. In addition, age was associated with the TD and CSA of the distal subglottic and tracheal segments, respectively.

Conclusion:

One-third of our participants exhibited a proximal subglottic diameter that was equal to or smaller than the glottic diameter. Our findings also suggested that the height and sex of the patients are important variables for the selection of an appropriate ETT size.
A pilot study of the Austin Playing Card Assessment: A tool to detect and find the degree of visual perceptual difficulties related to clutter
Authors: McDowell Nicola
Published: January 2020

The Austin Playing Card Assessment was developed to help identify visual perceptual difficulties related to clutter and to determine the nature of each child’s difficulties. The aim of this pilot study was to find out whether a task of progressively increasing difficulty, for pairing playing cards, is effective in identifying these kinds of visual difficulties. Parents of 11 research and 11 control subjects completed an inventory to ascertain whether their child’s visual behaviours were suggestive of visual perceptual difficulties. All participants completed the Austin Playing Card Assessment in two separate locations, with an ABA experimental design. The time taken to complete each level of the test was recorded. Structured observations were made of the participants’ visual behaviours when completing the assessment. Inventory scores from the research subjects indicated a higher likelihood of visual perceptual difficulties, whereas the control subjects’ scores did not. Research subjects were also slower at completing the Austin Playing Card Assessment. Independent T-tests comparing the time taken across all levels of difficulty ranged between p = .011 to p < .001. Cohen’s d calculations demonstrated a large effect size. Overall, research subjects demonstrated more indicators of visual perceptual difficulties. The Austin Playing Card Assessment has the potential to be effective for detecting and identifying visual perceptual difficulties in children. Information gathered through the assessment process could also be used to inform intervention. As this was a pilot study, further research is needed to support these findings.
Multipartite attitudes to enterprise: A comparative study of young people and place
Authors: Parkinson Caroline , Nowak Vicky , Howorth Carole , Southern Alan
Published: January 2020

The article examines young people’s attitudes towards enterprise, comparing prosperous and deprived neighbourhoods and two UK cities. Corpus linguistics analysis identified multi-layered attitudes and variations in how place prosperity and city affect attitudes. High interest in enterprise was associated with weaker place attachment and reduced social embeddedness. Young adults from prosperous neighbourhoods delegitimised other’s enterprises; the ‘deprived’ sub-corpus included more fluid notions of enterprise legitimacy. Liverpool accounts contained stronger discursive threads around self-determination; Bradford accounts included greater problematising of entrepreneurship versus employment. An original Multipartite Model of Attitudes to Enterprise is presented consisting of four layers: attitudes to enterprise generally, attitudes legitimising particular forms of enterprise, attitudes to enterprise related to place and attitudes to enterprise related to self. The conclusion explains why policies and research need to be fine-grained and avoid uni-dimensional conceptualisations of attitudes to enterprise, or deterministic arguments relating entrepreneurship to specific types of places or backgrounds.
Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer
Authors: Agin-Liebes Gabrielle I , Malone Tara , Yalch Matthew M , Mennenga Sarah E , Ponté K Linnae , Guss Jeffrey , Bossis Anthony P , Grigsby Jim , Fischer Stacy , Ross Stephen
Published: January 2020

Background:

A recently published randomized controlled trial compared single-dose psilocybin with single-dose niacin in conjunction with psychotherapy in participants with cancer-related psychiatric distress. Results suggested that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy facilitated improvements in psychiatric and existential distress, quality of life, and spiritual well-being up to seven weeks prior to the crossover. At the 6.5-month follow-up, after the crossover, 60–80% of participants continued to meet criteria for clinically significant antidepressant or anxiolytic responses.

Methods:

The present study is a long-term within-subjects follow-up analysis of self-reported symptomatology involving a subset of participants that completed the parent trial. All 16 participants who were still alive were contacted, and 15 participants agreed to participate at an average of 3.2 and 4.5 years following psilocybin administration.

Results:

Reductions in anxiety, depression, hopelessness, demoralization, and death anxiety were sustained at the first and second follow-ups. Within-group effect sizes were large. At the second (4.5 year) follow-up approximately 60–80% of participants met criteria for clinically significant antidepressant or anxiolytic responses. Participants overwhelmingly (71–100%) attributed positive life changes to the psilocybin-assisted therapy experience and rated it among the most personally meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy holds promise in promoting long-term relief from cancer-related psychiatric distress. Limited conclusions, however, can be drawn regarding the efficacy of this therapy due to the crossover design of the parent study. Nonetheless, the present study adds to the emerging literature base suggesting that psilocybin-facilitated therapy may enhance the psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of patients with life-threatening cancer.
Creating Value through the Performing Arts Festival: The Multi-Stakeholder Approach
Authors: Chang Yu-Chien
Published: January 2020

‘Value’ is an important and developing research topic in the field of marketing; however, the research on how value is co-created through stakeholders’ interaction remains limited. This study argues that an arts festival as a collective art production acts as a platform through which the stakeholders co-create value. By employing the publically-funded Huashan Living Arts Festival in Taiwan, which focuses on performing arts, as a case for collecting longitudinal data, this study explores how the stakeholders interact to co-create and obtain value. The findings reveal that value is co-created through the interactions between the stakeholders, rather than by a single stakeholder, in an arts festival. A proposed framework of value co-creation identifies the process and stakeholders’ interaction with regard to a performing arts festival, from a macro-level context.
Controlling the deformation space of soft membranes using fiber reinforcement
Authors: Sholl Nick , Moss Austin , Krieg Mike , Mohseni Kamran
Published: January 2020

Recent efforts in soft-body control have been hindered by the infinite dimensionality of soft bodies. Without restricting the deformation space of soft bodies to desired degrees of freedom, it is difficult, if not impossible, to guarantee that the soft body will remain constrained within a desired operating range. In this article, we present novel modeling and fabrication techniques for leveraging the reorientation of fiber arrays in soft bodies to restrict their deformation space to a critical case. Implementing this fiber reinforcement introduces unique challenges, especially in complex configurations. To address these challenges, we present a geometric technique for modeling fiber reinforcement on smooth elastomeric surfaces and a two-stage molding process to embed the fiber patterns dictated by that technique into elastomer membranes. The variable material properties afforded by fiber reinforcement are demonstrated with the canonical case of a soft, circular membrane reinforced with an embedded, intersecting fiber pattern such that it deforms into a prescribed hemispherical geometry when inflated. It remains constrained to that configuration, even with an additional increase in internal pressure. Furthermore, we show that the fiber-reinforced membrane is capable of maintaining its hemispherical shape under a load, and we present a practical application for the membrane by using it to control the buoyancy of a bioinspired autonomous underwater robot developed in our lab. An additional experiment on a circular membrane that inflates to a conical frustum is presented to provide additional validation of the versatility of the proposed model and fabrication techniques.
Bacterial Biogeography of the Colon in Dogs With Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy
Authors: Giaretta Paula R. , Suchodolski Jan S. , Jergens Albert E. , Steiner Jörg M. , Lidbury Jonathan A. , Cook Audrey K. , Hanifeh Mohsen , Spillmann Thomas , Kilpinen Susanne , Syrjä Pernilla , Rech Raquel R.
Published: January 2020

The intestinal microbiota is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease in humans and chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) in dogs. While most previous studies have described the gut microbiota using sequencing methods, it is fundamental to assess the spatial distribution of the bacteria for a better understanding of their relationship with the host. The microbiota in the colonic mucosa of 22 dogs with CIE and 11 control dogs was investigated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a universal eubacterial probe (EUB338) and specific probes for select bacterial groups. The number of total bacteria labeled with EUB338 probe was lower within the colonic crypts of dogs with CIE compared to controls. Helicobacter spp. and Akkermansia spp. were decreased on the colonic surface and in the crypts of dogs with CIE. Dogs with CIE had increased number of Escherichia coli/Shigella spp. on the colonic surface and within the crypts compared to control dogs. In conclusion, the bacterial microbiota in the colonic mucosa differed between dogs with and without CIE, with depletion of the crypt bacteria in dogs with CIE. The crypt bacterial species that was intimately associated with the host mucosa in control dogs was composed mainly of Helicobacter spp.
The folds of social finance: Making markets, remaking the social
Authors: Langley Paul
Published: January 2020

The global financial crisis acted as a spur to ‘social finance’, a loose grouping of markets demarcated on the grounds of their ostensible social purpose. This article’s critical analysis of social finance contributes to cultural economy research into marketization processes in economic geography and allied fields. First, responding to calls for greater attention to be given to heterogeneous and variegated market-making processes ‘on the ground’, social finance is analysed as a relatively discrete and hybrid modality of marketization that makes possible the valuation and capitalization of the social economy to address collective social problems. Second, moving beyond topographical accounts that understand geographies of marketization as ‘taking place’ through the outward expansion of the market’s imagined boundaries, Gilles Deleuze’s concept of ‘the fold’ is elaborated upon to develop a topological analysis of the spatial constitution of social finance markets. The folds of social finance are seams of inflection, entanglements where the social utility typically lacking from mainstream finance is variously spliced and stitched into marketization processes. In social finance markets-in-the-making, ‘the social’ is also shown to be remade as an array of thoroughly liberal associations and subjectivities that are, at once, pluralist, ethical and entrepreneurial.
Review of anaesthetic management for cataract surgery in transplant recipients
Authors: Chua Alfred WY , Chua Matthew J , Harrisberg Brian P , Kumar Chandra M
Published: January 2020

The prevalence of transplantation is on the increase worldwide. Corneal transplantation is the most common form of human donor transplantation. Transplantation of other organs and bone marrow is established treatment for various end-organ failure and many haematological conditions, respectively. Success and survival of these patients have increased with advances in immunosuppression. Unfortunately, these patients are susceptible to cataract formation as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy and accelerated progression of several diseases. Topical anaesthesia and regional ophthalmic blocks are ideal for cataract surgery in cooperative adults. General anaesthesia may be required in children, for extremely anxious or claustrophobic adults and for complex surgery such as simultaneous cataract and corneal transplantation. The perioperative anaesthetic management of cataract surgery in a transplant recipient is no different to a standard technique in a healthy adult, but additional challenges are posed by the underlying pathology necessitating transplantation, function of the transplanted organ, physiological and pharmacological problems of allograft denervation, side-effects of immunosuppression, risk of infection and potential for rejection. This narrative review summarises optimal anaesthetic management in transplant recipients undergoing cataract surgery.