bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Checklist of Cycloposthiidae species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida), with a brief review on taxonomy, morphology and hosts
Authors: FREGULIA PRISCILA , CEDROLA FRANCIANE , DIAS ROBERTO JÚNIO PEDROSO , D’AGOSTO MARTA
Published: July 2020

The family Cycloposthiidae include 69 species, distributed in 17 genera, all of them described in symbiotic association with various mammalian host species. The taxonomic classification of the family is confused because of its broad diagnosis and absence of synapomorphies. To validate taxa and eliminate synonyms, the present work performed a brief taxonomic review of Cycloposthiidae, compiling morphological characterization, host records, and geographic location data. According to our review, the family should be instead, composed of 13 genera and 66 species; it was observed that the currently in use taxonomic characters do not reflect evolutionary divergence; and that the broad host range of Cycloposthiidae may be linked to cortex characteristics of these organisms or because of the fact that they do not constitute a monophyletic group. Thus, the performance of more molecular phylogenetic studies, including more cycloposthiid representatives and as well as the use of recent morphological techniques would be necessary to clarify the taxonomy of the group.
Additions to the knowledge of the genus Dolichurus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae) from India with the description of two new species
Authors: ANAGHA S. , KUMAR P. GIRISH , SURESHAN P.M.
Published: July 2020

The genus Dolichurus Latreille is studied from India and two new species are described: Dolichurus sahyadriensis Anagha and Girish Kumar sp. nov., and D. chareshi Anagha and Girish Kumar sp. nov.. D. aridulus Krombein 1979 is recorded from India for the first time. Records of four other Dolichurus species from various states of India are presented here. A key to the species of Dolichurus from the Indian subcontinent is provided.
Effects of Visuoauditory Stimuli on the Acoustic Features of Swallowing in the Elderly
Authors: Wu Yacen , Lin Feng , Li Huahua , Jiang Zhongli
Published: July 2020

Objective: To investigate the effect of audiovisual stimulation on swallowing sounds in the elderly. Method: Mirror therapy (MT) videos were prepared and divided into AMs, LMs, AFs, and LFs. Sixty videos were randomly selected from AMs, LMs, AFs, and LFs. The selected
videos were divided into two sections (10 min per section). The control videos were extracted from the film "Le Peuple Migrateur." Finally, the TD (ms), TE (dB), DHE (ms), DHE/TD (%), PI (dB), DPI (ms), FPI (Hz), and PF (Hz) were analyzed. Result: TD of AS was significantly shorter
than that of AS. Lower TE and PI were observed in AS compared to those observed in visual and auditory stimuli (VAS). DHE/TD and DPI were longer in AS relative to VAS. In addition, a lower FPI was observed in AS than in VAS. Conclusion: VAS can significantly improve swallowing frequencies,
speed up swallowing movements and increase swallowing functional reserve in the elderly. In addition, the decreased swallowing efficacy under auditory stimuli could be reversed by visual stimuli.
Analysis of Clinical Risk Factors for Refracture in Osteoporosis
Authors: Li Ming , Wan Faqing , Liu Jia , Hao Qiuyan , Chen Bo
Published: July 2020

Objective: To observe and explore the clinical risk factors for refracture in patients with osteoporosis. Methods: A total of 32 patients with fractures and refractures after osteoporosis diagnosis from our hospital were enrolled from June to December 2018. The clinical
situations of the two groups (fracture or refracture) were compared with particular regard for the main risk factors after fracture. Results: Through an analysis of the clinical data, we found that sex, age, time needed to stand from lying down, and low bone mineral density T-score
are clinical risk factors for refracture. People of an older age, a bone mineral density T-score lower than normal, and females who require more time to stand from a lying down position have a higher risk of refracture. Conclusion: There a number of complex risk factors for refracture
in elderly patients with osteoporosis. Early investigation and targeted preventive measures have great significance in reducing the incidence of refracture.
Influence of Boundary Deformation on Image Reconstruction in Electrical Impedance Tomography
Authors: Wang Lei , Deng Juan , Zhao Shu , Wang Hong , Sha Hong , Wang Yan
Published: July 2020

For electrical impedance tomography (EIT) lung imaging, chest expansion and contraction could change the electrode placement and deform the boundary of the image area, which changes the electric field distribution and distorts the reconstructed images. EIT images of lung function often
produce severe artifacts due to the expansion of the thoracic cage, so it is necessary to study the effect of thoracic boundary deformation on EIT images. In this paper, we established several elliptical image reconstruction models, which deform from 1% to 15% in the anterior–posterior
(AP) dimension from the circle field domain, to emulate chest expansion. The Quantitative evaluation of the influence of the deformation on the reconstruction images has been made. Images are estimated by parameter DORI and SSIM. The results show that these two parameters can evaluate image
quality effectively, and image error increases with the increasing of boundary deformation. Although the error is small when the deformation extent of the boundary shape is small, images are seriously distorted when the deformation increases. Image error increases significantly when the boundary
deformation increases, which may lead to image artifacts and maybe result in misdiagnosis.
A Novel Architecture for Internet of Things Based E-Health Systems
Authors: Safdar Zanab , Farid Shahid , Qadir Mubshra , Asghar Khurshid , Iqbal Javed , Hamdani Faisal Karim
Published: July 2020

The emerging Internet of Things (IoT) technology has revolutionized existing medical devices to act smartly towards creating digital world related to health. IoT endeavors an enormous promise in the area of electronic health (e-health) where existing technologies have been deployed
to provide rapid access to patient care. IoT based e-health systems involve significant technologies and connected things to monitor, identify, track, manage and store patients' information for ongoing healthcare. A mechanism is required that assures interoperability between devices for processing
and use of resources in an efficient manner for the successful deployment of IoT within e-health. The study has coined a unique idea through an exclusive induction of e-governance layer in the concept and implementation of IoT based e-health systems. Therefore, the study targets to develop
a novel architecture for incorporation of IoT in the e-health systems by intensively focusing its different layers i.e., sensing, application, transmission, fog and e-governance for having emphasis to get quick response and secured transmission with improved healthcare services. An exploratory
study has been conducted to investigate existing literature regarding cutting-edge developments in the arena of e-health. The proposed IoT based e-health architecture is extremely impressive novelty with much comprehensiveness of the concept with the inclusion of very a crucial but previously
unnoticed component of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) having its integration through blockchain technology. Another novelty has been presented with the idea of explicitly defining the e-governance layer that encompasses all layers of the proposed architecture in order to achieve quality
healthcare services.
Burnt Human Skin Segmentation and Depth Classification Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN)
Authors: Khan Fakhri Alam , Butt Ateeq Ur Rehman , Asif Muhammad , Aljuaid Hanan , Adnan Awais , Shaheen Sadaf , Haq Inam ul
Published: July 2020

World Health Organization (WHO) manage health-related statistics all around the world by taking the necessary measures. What could be better for health and what may be the leading causes of deaths, all these statistics are well organized by WHO. Burn Injuries are mostly viewed in middle
and low-income countries due to lack of resources, the result may come in the form of deaths by serious injuries caused by burning. Due to the non-accessibility of specialists and burn surgeons, simple and basic health care units situated at tribble areas as well as in small cities are facing
the problem to diagnose the burn depths accurately. The primary goals and objectives of this research task are to segment the burnt region of skin from the normal skin and to diagnose the burn depths as per the level of burn. The dataset contains the 600 images of burnt patients and has been
taken in a real-time environment from the Allied Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Unit (ABRSU) Faisalabad, Pakistan. Burnt human skin segmentation was carried by the use of Otsu's method and the image feature vector was obtained by using statistical calculations such as mean and median. A classifier
Deep Convolutional Neural Network based on deep learning was used to classify the burnt human skin as per the level of burn into different depths. Almost 60 percent of images have been taken to train the classifier and the rest of the 40 percent burnt skin images were used to estimate the
average accuracy of the classifier. The average accuracy of the DCNN classifier was noted as 83.4 percent and these are the best results yet. By the obtained results of this research task, young physicians and practitioners may be able to diagnose the burn depths and start the proper medication.
Does Human Amnion Membrane Prevent Postoperative Abdominal Adhesions?
Authors: Nemec Hannah M. , Atalah Hany , Kling Melissa , Nichols Larry , Powers Bowen , Montgomery Anne , Ashley Dennis W.
Published: July 2020

Background

Adhesions are bands of tissue that form postoperatively after intra-abdominal surgery. Adhesions cause significant morbidity and despite ongoing research no agent or method has been shown to completely prevent adhesions. Human amnion-derived matrix is a complex tissue matrix derived from human placenta and has been used in other areas of surgery to promote healing and decrease scar tissue formation. Our hypothesis was that aerosolized human amnion-derived matrix particulate solution (HAMPS) applied during abdominal surgery would decrease adhesion formation in rats.

Methods

Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 different groups. Group 1 was the control group (CG) which had cecal abrasion 20× with a surgical rasp to generate the adhesion model. Groups 2-4 were the treatment groups (TGs) and had cecal abrasion plus application of the HAMPS at concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/cc, respectively. After 30 days, rats were euthanized and adhesion assessment performed.

Results

In all groups there were minimal adhesions noted at necropsy. Moderate inflammation was 33% in CG versus 11% in combined TGs. Average adhesion was 1.00 in CG versus 0.44 in combined TGs. This indicated an observational improvement in adhesions/inflammation in the TGs, although this did not reach statistical significance. There was a trend toward significance in the 12.5 mg/cc group alone ( P = .054).

Conclusion

Overall, HAMPS showed an observational decrease in adhesions in TGs although not statistically significant. There was a trend toward significance in the 12.5 mg group. Additional studies will have to be performed to further evaluate this subgroup.
Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimation of Reliability Function for a Class of Generalizations of Lindley Distribution
Authors: Bhattacharya Rahul , Sudhansu S. Maiti , Mriganka Mouli Choudhury , Mukherjee Dipangsu
Published: July 2020

Uniformly minimum variance unbiased (UMVU) estimators of reliability function (both stress–strength and mission time) and the associated variance are derived for a class of generalization of Lindley distribution. The application of the results is further validated by a real data study.

AMS 2020 subject classification: 62N05 62F10
Design and implementation of a 22 kW full-bridge push–pull series partial power converter for stationary battery energy storage system with battery charger
Authors: Köse Hüseyin , Aydemir Mehmet Timur
Published: July 2020

A wide variety of AC/DC power converter topologies have been developed in order to improve the system efficiency, input power factor and system redundancy for stationary battery energy storage systems. Due to the nature of high-power batteries, there is a big voltage difference between battery terminals from the end of discharge to the high charge value. To prevent unregulated battery voltages from harming the system loads, several techniques are used in the industry. A well-known old technique named as diode dropper is simple but suffers from low efficiency. Using a DC-DC converter is more advantageous, although it increases the cost. In this paper, the use of partial power processing converters which attract interest these days has been proposed as an alternative. The proposed full bridge/push-pull series connected partial power converter has a slight modification compared to the classical one presented in the literature. A system with 22 kW power rating was designed and tested. In order to compare the results, a two-switch buck-boost converter was also designed and tested for the same conditions. The results show that the proposed converter is superior to both the two-switch buck-boost converter and other topologies in terms of efficiency and response speed. Efficiencies of 97%–99% have been attained with the proposed converter.
Dignity and rights of the dead and their families: A compromise in the time of coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Shrestha Rijen , Krishan Kewal , Kanchan Tanuj
Published: July 2020

The biological aspects and economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 have been extensively discussed in the literature. However the social, cultural and legal aspects of the pandemic, especially regarding the dignity and rights of the deceased and their families – have so far received little attention. This communication discusses restrictions and violations of the rights of the deceased and their families and their privileges to carry out funerary practices and rituals during the pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
The Highs in Communication Research: Research Topics With High Supply, High Popularity, and High Prestige in High-Impact Journals
Authors: Chan Chung-hong , Grill Christiane
Published: July 2020

More and more scholarly attention is paid to dissecting discipline of communication research under the microscope thereby aiming at revealing foci of scientific interest. The lion’s share of research has hereby focused either on the supply side of research examining what topics scholars write about or at the popularity side of research shedding light on what scientific publications receive the most citations. Building up on this, we argue that these research strands are inadequate to the task of exhaustively identifying foci of scientific interest. Tailoring for the fragmented topical landscape of communication research, we propose an integrative combination of three metrics: supply, popularity, and prestige of research topics. By means of topic modeling, citation counts and citation networks, our study showcases how our approach is able to reveal the intellectual architecture of our discipline in order to identify relevant paths for further scientific inquiry.
Iterative learning control for nonlinear heterogeneous multi-agent systems with multiple leaders
Authors: Fu Qin
Published: July 2020

This article investigates the iterative learning control problem for a class of nonlinear heterogeneous multi-agent systems. The main contribution of this article is to apply iterative learning control algorithm to the multi-agent systems with multiple leaders, and solve the containment control problem of multi-agent systems in the sense of iterative learning control stability. Based on the framework of communication topologies, distributed iterative learning controllers are designed. And when the iterative learning control laws are applied to the systems, the containment errors between the followers’ states and the convex hull spanned by the leaders’ states over a finite-time interval are bounded, and furthermore, the containment errors can converge to zero as the iteration index approaches to infinity in the absence of initial errors. A simulation example is finally constructed to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical method.
Using Data Collection Applications in Early Childhood Settings to Support Behavior Change
Authors: Riggleman Samantha
Published: July 2020

Social–emotional development in early childhood (EC) is an important factor to their later development and adjustment. While all young children display unwanted behaviors at some time during development, challenging behaviors that occur across settings and over a period of time should be identified and intervened; thus, data collection efforts need to be efficient and accurate as time can be a barrier. There are currently applications for children in a K–12 setting that can be used to collect data and share positive behavior support plans; however, they may not necessarily be tailored to the EC population. A variety of data collection apps will be discussed as they relate to identifying a behavior to data collection skills. Suggestions will be given on what apps should contain for data collection and how to make them applicable to EC settings as well as collaborating with multiple professionals.
Is it safe to move away from a full sternotomy for aortic valve replacement?
Authors: Kenawy Ayman , Abdelbar Abdelrahman , Tennyson Charlene , Taylor Rebecca , Zacharias Joseph
Published: July 2020

Background

Minimally invasive surgical approaches have gained popularity among patients and surgeons. The aim of this project was to assess the safety of initiating aortic valve replacement via an anterior right thoracotomy program.

Methods

Between May 2015 and May 2019, data of all isolated primary aortic valve replacements were extracted retrospectively from our prospectively collected database and categorized into conventional median sternotomy, hemisternotomy, and anterior right thoracotomy cases. In total, 661 patients underwent isolated primary aortic valve replacement, of whom 429 (65%) had a median sternotomy, 126 (19%) had a hemisternotomy, and 106 (16%) had an anterior right thoracotomy. Preoperative characteristics were similar in each of the three groups. Statistical testing of the surgical groups was undertaken using the chi-square test for categorical variables and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey post-hoc pairwise tests (where appropriate) for continuous variables, to identify differences between pairs of data.

Results

Cardiopulmonary bypass and crossclamp times were significantly longer in the anterior right thoracotomy group compared to the hemisternotomy and median sternotomy groups ( p < 0.001). Blood loss was significantly less and hospital stay significantly shorter in the hemisternotomy group compared to median sternotomy group but not the anterior right thoracotomy group. Mortality, stroke, renal, gastrointestinal and respiratory complications showed no statistical differences.

Conclusion

Surgical aortic valve replacement had a very low mortality and morbidity in our experience, and it is safe to start a minimal access program for aortic valve replacement.
Identifying emotional Facial Expressions in Practice: A Study on Medical Students
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Alapan , Sarkar Sarbari , Mukherjee Abhijit , Bhattacherjee Sharmistha , Basu Soumya
Published: July 2020

Background:

Successful identification of emotional expression in patients is of considerable importance in the diagnosis of diseases and while developing rapport between physicians and patients. Despite the importance of such skills, this aspect remains grossly overlooked in conventional medical training in India. This study aims to explore the extent to which medical students can identify emotions by observing photographs of male and female subjects expressing different facial expressions.

Methods:

A total of 106 medical students aged 18–25, without any diagnosed mental illnesses, were shown images of the six universal facial expressions (anger, sadness, fear, happiness, disgust, and surprise) at 100% intensity with an exposure time of 2 seconds for each image. The participants marked their responses after each image was shown. Collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Results:

Participants could identify 76.54% of the emotions on average, with higher accuracy for positive emotions (95.6% for happiness) and lower for negative emotions (46% for fear). There were no significant variations in identification with respect to sex of the observers. However, it was seen that participants could identify emotions better from male faces than those from female faces, a finding that was statistically significant. Negative emotions were identified more accurately from male faces, while positive emotions were identified better from female ones.

Conclusions:

Male participants identified emotions better from male faces, while females identified positive emotions better from female faces and negative ones from male faces.
Popular education and music education: Lessons from a strings program in Erechim, Brazil
Authors: Machado Juliana , Ody Leandro Carlos , Ilari Beatriz
Published: July 2020

In this exploratory study, we describe the learning experiences of adolescents from a social project called Orquestrando Talentos, which offered violin and viola lessons in two high-needs schools for low-income students in Erechim, Southern Brazil. Grounded on the central tenets of popular education, on Paulo Freire’s work, and on earlier studies on the experiences of students from community-based strings programs, in this article we share the voices of six violin students (aged 12–14), their parents, and teachers, particularly as they relate to students’ socioemotional learning and the social impact of the program on families, schools, and communities.
Recognition of entrepreneurial opportunity using a socio-cognitive approach
Authors: Camelo-Ordaz Carmen , Diánez-González Juan Pablo , Franco-Leal Noelia , Ruiz-Navarro José
Published: July 2020

Drawing on social cognitive career theory and institutional theory, we develop a multilevel and integrative model to examine the influence of entrepreneurial cognition factors (entrepreneurial self-efficacy and outcome expectations) on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition (EOR). We also consider the moderating effect of contextual factors (normative and regulatory dimensions) on the relationship between entrepreneurial factors and EOR. We use the information provided by both the Adult Population Survey of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project (2006–2016) and the Economic Freedom of the World 2018 Annual Report of the Fraser Institute. After combining both sources, we applied a multilevel analysis to a sample of 293,126 entrepreneurs from 97 countries. We found that self-efficacy and outcome expectations positively influence EOR. The regulatory and normative dimension positively moderates the relationship between self-efficacy and EOR, but the effects of outcome expectations on EOR are not reinforced by any institutional factors.
Analysis of different image-registration algorithms for Fourier decomposition MRI in functional lung imaging
Authors: Ljimani Alexandra , Hojdis Malte , Stabinska Julia , Valentin Birte , Frenken Miriam , Appel Elisabeth , Antoch Gerald , Wittsack Hans-Jörg
Published: July 2020

Background

Motion correction is mandatory for the functional Fourier decomposition magnetic resonance imaging (FD-MRI) of the lungs. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the quality of various image-registration algorithms for pulmonary FD-MRI and to determine their impact on FD-MRI outcome.

Purpose

To evaluate different image-registration algorithms for FD-MRI in functional lung imaging.

Material and Methods

Fifteen healthy volunteers were examined in a 1.5-T whole-body MR scanner (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens AG) with a non-contrast enhanced 2D TrueFISP pulse sequence in coronal view and free-breathing (acquisition time 45 s, 250 images). Three image-registration algorithms were used to compensate the spatial variation of the lungs (fMRLung 3.0, ANTs, and Elastix). Quality control for image registration was performed by edge detection (ED), quotient image criterion (QI), and dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Ventilation, perfusion, and a ventilation/perfusion quotient (V/Q) were calculated using the three registered datasets.

Results

Average computing times for the three image-registration algorithms were 1.0 ± 1.6 min, 38.0 ± 13.5 min, and 354 ± 78 min for fMRLung, ANTs, and Elastix, respectively. No significant difference in the quality of motion correction provided by different image-registration algorithms occurred. Significant differences were observed between fMRLung- and Elastix-based perfusion values ​​of the left lung as well as fMRLung- and ANTs-based V/Q quotient of the right and the entire lung ( P < 0.05). Other ventilation and perfusion values were not significantly different.

Conclusion

The mandatory motion correction for functional FD-MRI of the lung can be achieved through different image-registration algorithms with consistent quality. However, a significantly difference in computing time between the image-registration algorithms still requires an optimization.
Features of breast tuberculosis determined by ultrasound imaging: report of 45 cases
Authors: Zhang Wenzhi , Zhang Ying , Yang Gaoyi , Yu Tianzhuo
Published: July 2020

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the ultrasound (US) imaging features of breast tuberculosis (BTB) to clarify the process of disease progression and provide valuable clinical information.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 45 patients with pathologically or GeneXpert-confirmed BTB from January 2010 to December 2017. We assessed the US features of target lesions including size, shape, orientation, margin, echogenicity, calcification, posterior acoustic features, and blood-flow signal.

Results

The patients were classified with nodular (55.5%, 25/45), abscess (15.6%, 7/45), or sinus (28.9%, 13/45) type according to their US features. Forty lesions (88.9%, 40/45) extended in a parallel orientation and five extended in a non-parallel orientation. Calcifications were found in eight cases, including six macrocalcifications and two microcalcifications. Enlarged axillary lymph nodes were observed in three cases (6.7%, 3/45). In addition, 44 of the 45 cases (97.8%, 44/45) exhibited hypovascularity or avascularity according to color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI).

Conclusion

BTB lesions can be classified as nodular, abscess, or sinus type according to their US imaging features. Poor blood supply detected by CDFI might be a common US feature of BTB. Characterization of its US features may facilitate the clinical diagnosis of BTB.
Severe emphysematous cystitis complicated with perforation, bilateral renal cortical atrophy and sepsis: a case report
Authors: Zhang Wen-Jun , Zhu Zheng-Ming , Luo Hong-Liang
Published: July 2020

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a rare bladder infection characterized by the presence of gas in the wall or cavity of the bladder. Most patients with EC will present with the typical symptoms of cystitis (e.g. frequent micturition, urgent micturition and dysuria), but other signs include distension and pain in the lower abdomen, drum sounds on percussion and a large amount of gas in the bladder. There can also be other complications such as sepsis. However, it is usually characterized by the typical symptoms of infection combined with pneumatinuria, the passage of gas mixed with urine. The early stage of EC is mostly limited to the submucosa and the symptoms of infection can be mild. Some patients may have no obvious clinical symptoms. If the infection becomes severe, it may result in difficulty urinating and kidney dysfunction. Therefore, timely treatment of these rare bladder infections is essential. This current case report describes an 80-year-old female patient with severe EC complicated by significant bilateral ureteral dilatation, bilateral renal cortical atrophy and sepsis. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and surgery. This report provides clinical data, test results and treatment experience that might be useful for clinicians that are involved in the treatment of EC.
The Association of Organizational Justice with Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment among Nigerian Correctional Staff
Authors: Lambert Eric G. , Tewksbury Richard , Otu Smart E. , Elechi O. Oko
Published: July 2020

Correctional staff are a necessary and valuable resource for correctional institutions, in both Western and Nonwestern nations; however, studies of correctional staff in Nonwestern nations, particularly those in Africa, are lacking. Improving the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of these staff are imperative, as both of these job attitudes have been linked to many salient beneficial outcomes. Most of the existing empirical research on correctional staff organizational justice explores only the effects of procedural and distributive justice and ignores interpersonal justice. Additionally, there has been little research on how procedural, distributive, and interpersonal justice affect correctional staff in Nonwestern correctional organizations. The current study explored the effects of all three forms of organizational justice on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of staff at a medium security prison in southeast Nigeria. Based on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, all three forms of justice had significant positive effects on commitment. Procedural and interpersonal justice had positive effects on job satisfaction, while distributive justice had nonsignificant effects. Correctional administrators need to be aware the importance of procedural, distributive, and interpersonal justice and attempt to improve perceptions of these organizational justice variables.
Equity, Opportunity, Community Engagement, and the Regional Planning Process: Data and Mapping in Five U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Finio Nicholas , Lung-Amam Willow , Knaap Gerrit-Jan , Dawkins Casey , Wong Brittany
Published: July 2020

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations have increasingly used spatial data to create equity and opportunity atlases or maps. This paper investigates how such maps have been integrated into planning processes, and if they have been useful in catalyzing engagement on equity issues. We employ a multiple case study approach to assess efforts in five U.S. regions: Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Portland, and Seattle. Our findings show that equity and opportunity mapping have stimulated new conversations, local actions, and regional plans, but many regions are still struggling to adopt policies that could meaningfully shift their landscapes of equity and opportunity.
Properties investigation of 3D printed continuous pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced PLA composite
Authors: Suteja Jaya , Firmanto Hudiyo , Soesanti Arum , Christian Christian
Published: July 2020

Previous researchers tried to improve the mechanical properties of 3D printed part by adding short or continuous, natural, or nonnatural fibers as the reinforcement for thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix. None of the research found in the literature incorporates continuous natural pineapple leaf fiber as the reinforcement for polylactic acid (PLA) matrix by using 3D printing. The objective of this research is to investigate the tensile strength, the elongation, and the dimensional error of the 3D printed parts made of continuous pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced PLA composite using different values of extrusion temperature and feed rate. The experiment involves 32 factorial design with two replications and, therefore, prints 18 tensile test specimens according to ASTM D638. Based on the result of the experiment, it can be concluded that the use of continuous pineapple leaf fiber as the reinforcement for the PLA matrix increases the tensile strength of the composite. The use of continuous pineapple leaf fiber does not increase the dimensional error value of the composite part beyond the maximum value of the common fused deposition modeling printed part. Moreover, the required time to print the composite part is the same as the required time to print the pure PLA part. However, the elongation of the composite part is lower than the pure PLA part.
Orthodontic force prediction model of T-loop closing spring based on dynamic resistance model
Authors: Jiang Jingang , Chen Houjun , Huang Zhiyuan , Ma Xuefeng , Zhang Yongde , Liu Yi
Published: July 2020

Malocclusion has been seriously endangering human oral function. The most effective and mature therapy is orthodontic treatment. But the relationship between the shape of the T-loop and the orthodontic force is unclear, and the precise mathematical model has not been established. In this article, the dynamic orthodontic force prediction model of the T-loop was established by analyzing the treatment process of the T-loop. The model was based on the dynamic resistance model of waxy dental jaw, the theory of beam deformation, and the deformation characteristics of the T-loop. In the experimental process, 11 kinds of orthodontic archwires were used as experimental samples, including 2 kinds of common archwire materials, 7 kinds of cross-sectional sizes, and 10 kinds of clearance distances. The T-loop was put into the extraction space and immersed in 75°C constant temperature water for 2 min. And the experimental data were measured and collected by the dynamic force measuring device. The experimental results show that the cross-sectional size and the clearance distance are positively correlated with the orthodontic force. The influence of the clearance distance on the orthodontic force is greater than that of the cross-section size. The deviation rates between the experimental values of orthodontic force and the theoretical values are between 1.10% and 9.09%, which verifies the accuracy of the dynamic orthodontic force prediction model. The model can predict the orthodontic force, improve the treatment effect, shorten the treatment cycle, and provide reference and guidance for orthodontists to carry out orthodontic treatment safely and effectively.
Offshore wind energy status, challenges, opportunities, environmental impacts, occupational health, and safety management in India
Authors: Charles Rajesh Kumar J , Vinod Kumar D , Baskar D , Mary Arunsi B , Jenova R , Majid MA
Published: July 2020

Offshore wind is at its infancy in terms of technology and capacities in India. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced medium and long term offshore targets of 5 GW and 30 GW by 2022 and 2030, respectively. The location of the first offshore wind park has recently been identified, and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has signed a contract with the Government of Gujarat to establish the 1000 MW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2019. To achieve the ambitious targets, India will require demand and resources planning, and policy support at an unprecedented scale. The MNRE notified the country’s offshore wind energy policy in 2015, and draft offshore wind energy lease rules in 2019. In this paper, several offshore wind energy challenges have been identified, and a clear policy road map and effective support schemes required to trigger offshore wind development activity for medium to long term are suggested. The environmental consequences of European offshore wind farms are assessed to optimize future monitoring of offshore wind programmes in India. Furthermore, the occupational health and safety management requirements are highlighted to ensure that the accidents, vulnerabilities, and hazards are avoided. The research and development (R&D) considerations are provided to assist policymakers, potential investors, stakeholders, designers and manufacturers, contractors, professional advisers, and wind farm developers in their decisions and planning.
Ephedrine causes liver toxicity in SD rats via oxidative stress and inflammatory responses
Authors: Wen S , Liao T
Published: July 2020

Ephedrine abuse has spread in many parts of the world and severely threatens human health. The mechanism of ephedrine-induced toxicity still remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate the effects of ephedrine treatment on the liver and explore the underlying mechanisms. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into saline and ephedrine groups. Rats were treated with ephedrine at 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg ( n = 10) by oral gavage daily for 7 days. Pathological changes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the liver functional markers, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokines. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure gene and protein expression, respectively. Our data showed that ephedrine treatment increased hepatocellular cell apoptosis and impaired liver function. Moreover, ephedrine treatment increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which may be due to the increase of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad3 expression. Our study demonstrated that short-term treatment of ephedrine caused liver toxicity in rats through regulating TGF-β/Smad pathway.
Circular RNA MTO1 Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells Through the miR-182-5p/KLF15 Axis
Authors: Wang Ning , Cao Qin-Xue , Tian Jun , Ren Lu , Cheng Hai-Ling , Yang Shao-Qin
Published: July 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNAs and have been shown to play important roles in a variety of physiological processes. Recently, dysregulation of circRNAs has been identified in many types of cancers. In this study, we analyzed the expression profile and biological functions of circMTO1 in ovarian cancer. We demonstrated that circMTO1 was downregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of circMTO1 inhibited proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells while downregulation of circMTO1 promoted these processes. Mechanistically, we showed that circMTO1 sponged miR-182-5p to support KLF15 expression, eventually leading to inhibition of ovarian cancer progression. In conclusion, our study suggested circMTO1 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer treatment.
Achieving the Transformational Vision for Universal Design for Learning: Guest Associate Editor Introduction
Authors: Edyburn Dave
Published: July 2020

The potential of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has captured the imagination of policy makers, educators, administrators, teacher educators, as well as educational researchers. Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing interest in how the vision of UDL could be translated into practice. And yet, there is little agreement about whether or not UDL is a design intervention and therefore the responsibility of publishers and instructional designers as they create curricula and instructional materials. I am pleased to introduce this guest column that profiles the work of Drs. Matthew Marino and Eleazar Vasquez as they describe the relationship between executive functioning and learner variability in inclusive classrooms.
Classroom Menus for Supporting the Academic Success of Diverse Learners
Authors: Edyburn Keith , Edyburn Dave L.
Published: July 2020

In the fairy tale “Goldilocks,” a young girl enters the home of three bears. As she explores the porridge, chairs, and beds, in each situation she is seeking what is “just right.” It seems that Goldilocks is the perfect metaphor for describing learners experiencing universal design for learning (UDL) because it highlights the importance of learner agency. However, who is in charge of designing the bear’s home to ensure that all that is needed is in place? The teacher’s role in implementing UDL is a topic that has been woefully understudied. This article describes critical practices needed to help teachers design the UDL buffet in ways that provide meaningful support for diverse learners to be successful in achieving high academic standards within the time constraints of the curriculum.
Simulation-Based Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshops: A Reproducible Model for Sustainable Education
Authors: Kantar Rami S. , Breugem Corstiaan C. , Keith Kristen , Kassam Serena , Vijayakumar Charanya , Bow Mikaela , Alfonso Allyson R. , Chahine Elsa M. , Ghotmi Lilian H. , Patel Krishna G. , Shetye Pradip R. , Santiago Pedro E. , Losee Joseph E. , Steinbacher Derek M. , Rossell-Perry Percy , Garib Daniela G. , Alonso Nivaldo , Mann Robert J. , Prada-Madrid Jose Rolando , Esenlik Elçin , Pamplona María del Carmen , Collares Marcus Vinícius Martins , Bennun Ricardo D. , Kummer Ann , Giugliano Carlos , Padwa Bonnie L. , Raposo-Amaral Cassio Eduardo , Tse Raymond , Sommerlad Brian , Flores Roberto L. , Hamdan Usama S.
Published: July 2020

Objective:

Evaluate simulation-based comprehensive cleft care workshops as a reproducible model for education with sustained impact.

Design:

Cross-sectional survey-based evaluation.

Setting:

Simulation-based comprehensive cleft care workshop.

Participants:

Total of 180 participants.

Interventions:

Three-day simulation-based comprehensive cleft care workshop.

Main Outcome Measures:

Number of workshop participants stratified by specialty, satisfaction with the workshop, satisfaction with simulation-based workshops as educational tools, impact on cleft surgery procedural confidence, short-term impact on clinical practice, medium-term impact on clinical practice.

Results:

The workshop included 180 participants from 5 continents. The response rate was 54.5%, with participants reporting high satisfaction with all aspects of the workshop and with simulation-based workshops as educational tools. Participants reported a significant improvement in cleft lip (33.3 ± 5.7 vs 25.7 ± 7.6; P < .001) and palate (32.4 ± 7.1 vs 23.7 ± 6.6; P < .001) surgery procedural confidence following the simulation sessions. Participants also reported a positive short-term and medium-term impact on their clinical practices.

Conclusion:

Simulation-based comprehensive cleft care workshops are well received by participants, lead to improved cleft surgery procedural confidence, and have a sustained positive impact on participants’ clinical practices. Future efforts should focus on evaluating and quantifying this perceived positive impact, as well reproducing these efforts in other areas of need.
Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9) Gene C/T (rs352140) Polymorphisms in Adult Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Hassan Alaa Efat , Shoeib Sabry , Abdelmohsen Esaam , Nazir Aida , Dawood Ashraf , Gamal Heba , Abdelhafez Mohamed
Published: July 2020

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by low platelet count and increased bleeding risk. The initial event(s) leading to antiplatelet autoimmunity remains unclear. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most well-characterized pattern recognition receptors and are a transmembrane protein coded by the Toll genes family. In addition to their protective role in immunity, it is also becoming clear that TLRs exhibit homeostatic roles. Toll-like receptors play potential roles in the development of disease and its maintenance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the distribution of TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms and its possible association with clinicopathological finding in Egyptian adult primary ITP. This study was carried out at Internal Medicine Department, Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt, from August 2018 to January 2020. Eighty adults (≥ 18 years) were enrolled in the study; 40 patients with primary ITP and 40 healthy individuals as controls. Identification of the TLR9 C/T (rs352140) polymorphic variant was performed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. In our study, we excluded any other causes of secondary ITP. Distribution of the TLR9 C/T genotypes did not exhibit significant deviation between patients and controls. There was no significant difference between studied groups as regards allele (C and T) frequency. There was no significant difference regarding TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms between Egyptian adult with primary ITP and controls. TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms have no relation to any of the clinicohematological variables in primary ITP in Egyptians.
Safety of Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa Inhibitors Used in Stroke-Related Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhu Xiaolin , Cao Genmao
Published: July 2020

Background:

Endovascular therapy and intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator are the 2 most recommended treatments for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa inhibitors are short-acting selective reversible antiplatelet agents that emerged as promising therapeutic agents for AIS about 10 years ago. Given the unclear safety profile and application coverage of GP inhibitors, we conducted this meta-analysis to explore the same.

Methods:

We used GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality as the key words on Medline, Web of Science, and the Embase databases. Randomized controlled trials, prospective literatures, and retrospective studies in English published between 1990 and 2020 were screened. The outcomes were relative risk (RR) of death and 90-day intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We pooled the results in 2 categories and conducted a subgroup analysis stratified by different drugs. The choice of the effects model depended on the value of I 2.

Results:

In all, 3700 patients from 20 studies were included. No GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors were found to have a remarkable influence on the ICH rate. The RR values of symptomatic ICH for abciximab and eptifibatide were 4.26 (1.89, 9.59) and 0.17 (0.04, 0.69), respectively. Both tirofiban and abciximab could decrease the mortality rate within 90 days. Age > 70 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale > 15, and overall dose > 10 mg are risk factors for ICH events with tirofiban usage. Thrombectomy combined with tirofiban was safe for arterial reocclusion prevention.

Conclusions:

In stroke-related treatment, administration of GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors could be safe, but care should be taken regarding drug species and doses. Abciximab can increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Tirofiban and eptifibatide can be considered safe in low doses. Suitable patients should be selected using strict criteria.
Scales for Assessing News Literacy Education in the Digital Era
Authors: Johnson Naomi R. , Paal Kris , Waggoner Erin , Bleier Karen
Published: July 2020

Concerns about “fake news,” misinformation, and disinformation have led to increasingly urgent calls for News Literacy (NL) education interventions and assessments of their effectiveness. New technologies create ongoing changes in the ways people consume news, which means that NL education assessments must be continuously updated and adapted to address current trends. The purpose of this study was to augment existing NL assessments to incorporate recent aspects of hard news consumption in digital news environments by testing two new scales: the Headline Literacy Scale and the Hard News Standards Knowledge Scale. The results demonstrated both scales were reliable and valid.