bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer-Assisted Quantitative Analysis of Skeletal Muscles of Snowboarding Parallel Giant Slalom Athletes after Exercise Based on Artificial Intelligence and Complex Networks
Authors: Yu Haiqiang , Yang Fei , Wang Jin
Published: April 2022

The snowboarding project has the characteristics of high risk and high technical level. The current publicity level is not high, and the number of participants is also very limited. Another potential advantage medal breakthrough project that is expected to be achieved in the Winter Olympics has received a lot of attention, creating favorable opportunities for the promotion and development of this project in China. The event requires good special physical support, skeletal muscle contraction is the body to produce motor function, and special physical training and recovery are key factors for athletes to obtain excellent results in the competition. This article is aimed at performing ultrasonic quantitative analysis on the skeletal muscles of skiers after exercise based on artificial intelligence and complex networks and at studying the skeletal muscle conditions of snowboarders after exercise, so as to provide a certain theoretical basis for coaches in future scientific training. Based on a large amount of literature, this paper uses variational optical flow calculation and split Bregman method to solve the typical HS model, L1-L2 model, and L1-high-order model, respectively, and uses the motion estimation method to describe the movement of muscles. An experiment was designed to collect ultrasound images of the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles during contraction. In addition, a motion target positioning algorithm was used to obtain some motion parameters, which provided direct help for athletes in rationally arranging training load and scientific training. The experimental results in this paper show that the muscle motion features extracted from the ultrasound sequence images can quantitatively express a lot of important information about the skeletal muscle motion form and function and have potential practical application value. And the different invariants of each type of ski trajectory vary greatly, floating between 1.5429 and 7.6759.
Alpha-Fetoprotein+Alkaline Phosphatase (A-A) Score Can Predict the Prognosis of Patients with Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma Underwent Hepatectomy
Authors: Xia Feng , Ndhlovu Elijah , Liu Zhicheng , Chen Xiaoping , Zhang Bixiang , Zhu Peng
Published: April 2022

Background. This research is aimed at establishing a scoring system alpha-fetoprotein+alkaline phosphatase (A-A score) based on preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) after hepatectomy. Methods. 175 ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with hepatectomy were included. Survival analysis was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed in a multivariate model. Preoperative serum AFP and ALP values are assigned a score of 1 if they exceed the threshold value and 0 if they are below the threshold value, A-A score is obtained by summing the scores of two variables (AFP, ALP), and the predictive values of AFP, ALP, and A-A score were compared by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and subgroup analyses were performed to further evaluate the power of A-A scores. Results. Of the 175 patients, 67 (38.3%) had an A-A score of 0, 72 (41.1%) had an A-A score of 1, and 36 (20.6%) had an A-A score of 2. In multivariate analysis, the A-A score, the BCLC stage, and the extent of resection were independent predictors of OS in patients with rHCC. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and RFS in patients with an A-A score of 1 were better than those with an A-A score of 0 and worse than those with an A-A score of 1 (all

p
<
0.05

). Based on the results of ROC analysis, the A-A score is superior to AFP or ALP alone in predicting the prognosis of patients with ruptured HCC. In subgroup analysis, A-A score could accurately predict the prognosis of patients with or without microvascular invasion (MVI) and with different Child-Pugh grades or gender. Conclusions. The A-A score can effectively predict the prognosis of patients after hepatectomy of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. At the same time, it also has good evaluation ability in different subgroups.
Safety and Efficacy of Engineered Toxin Body MT-3724 in Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Hamlin Paul A. , Musteata Vasile , Park Steven I. , Burnett Christine , Dabovic Kristina , Strack Thomas , Williams Eric T. , Anand Banmeet S. , Higgins Jack P. , Persky Daniel O.
Published: April 2022

MT-3724, a novel engineered toxin body comprised of an anti-CD20 single-chain variable fragment genetically fused to Shiga-like Toxin A subunit, is capable of binding to and internalizing against CD20, inducing cell killing via permanent ribosomal inactivation. This study evaluated MT-3724 in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/rNHL). This open-label, multiple-dose phase Ia/b trial included a dose escalation in patients with r/rNHL according to a standard 3+3 design. Primary objectives were to determine the MTD and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics. In a dose expansion study at MTD in serum rituximab-negative patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics. Twenty-seven patients enrolled. MTD was 50 μg/kg/dose with 6,000 μg/dose cap. Thirteen patients experienced at least one grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events; the most common grade ≥3 event was myalgia (11.1%). Two patients (75 μg/kg/dose) experienced grade 2 treatment-related capillary leak syndrome. Overall objective response rate was 21.7%. In serum rituximab-negative patients with DLBCL or composite DLBCL (n = 12), overall response rate was 41.7% (complete response, n = 2; partial response, n = 3). In patients with detectable baseline peripheral B cells, treatment resulted in dose-dependent B-cell depletion. The proportion of patients with anti-drug antibodies (ADA) increased during treatment and the majority appeared to be neutralizing based on an in vitro assay; nevertheless, tumor regression and responses were observed. MT-3724 demonstrated efficacy at the MTD in this population of previously treated patients with r/rDLBCL, with mild-to-moderate immunogenic safety events.

Significance:

This work describes the safety and efficacy of a new pharmaceutical pathway that could provide a treatment option for a subset of patients with a critical unmet therapeutic need. The study drug, MT-3724, is capable of targeting B-cell lymphomas via a unique, potent cell-killing mechanism that appears to be promising.
Use of Cervical Cancer Screening among Patients of Primary Healthcare Services: Northeast Portugal
Authors: Teixeira Cristina , Antão Celeste , Anes Eugénia , Gomes Maria José , Versos Ana , Tomé Conceição
Published: April 2022

Background: Understanding the overuse and underuse of cervical cancer (CC) screening plays a role in preventing such behaviours, allowing to maximize the CC screening uptake. Aim: To assess the predictors of being over-screened and never/under-screened in CC screening in Northeast Portugal. Methods: This is a part of a larger cross-sectional survey carried out in two public health centres in Northeast Portugal (October 2017 to June 2018). Data collection was based on a face-to-face interview. This analysis included 764 women (aged 25–60 years) classified according to the use of CC screening into guideline-consistent screened, over-screened and unscreened/under-screened. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to assess predictors of being over-screened and never/under-screened. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were obtained. Results: One-fourth (n = 197) of participants were unscreened/under-screened and 50.0% (n = 382) of them were classified as over-screened. Regular visits with primary care physicians (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26–0.76) and higher age (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96–1.00) reduced the odds of being unscreened/under-screened. Women who received prescription/recommendation for CC screening from primary care physician (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.09–3.29) or both primary care physician and nurse (OR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.10–6.22) were more likely to be over-screened. Higher level of CC health literacy decreases the odds of being over-screened (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90–1.00) and unscreened/under-screened (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.82–0.92). The majority of over-screened (52.2%) and of under-screened (44.2%) women reported that their screening frequency was based on healthcare provider prescription. Among never-screened women, 60.2% reported that no one prescribed screening. Conclusion: The increase in CC health literacy can maximize CC screening uptake. Primary healthcare providers could play a role in preventing the overuse and underuse of CC screening.
Effect of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate on Serum Potassium and Bicarbonate in Patients with Hyperkalemia and Metabolic Acidosis Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease: Rationale and Design of the NEUTRALIZE Study
Authors: Ash Stephen R. , Batlle Daniel , Kendrick Jessica , Oluwatosin Yemisi , Pottorf William , Brahmbhatt Yasmin , Guerrieri Emily , Fried Linda
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a selective potassium (K+) binder for hyperkalemia management that provides rapid and sustained correction of hyperkalemia. The NEUTRALIZE study is investigating whether SZC, in addition to correcting hyperkalemia and maintaining normal serum K+, can provide sustained increases in serum bicarbonate (HCO3−) in patients with hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3b study of US adults with stage 3–5 CKD not on dialysis with hyperkalemia (K+ >5.0–≤5.9 mmol/L) and low-serum HCO3− (16–20 mmol/L). In the open-label correction phase, all eligible patients receive SZC 10 g three times daily for up to 48 h. Patients who achieve normokalemia (K+ ≥3.5–≤5.0 mmol/L) are then randomized 1:1 to once-daily SZC 10 g or placebo for a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled maintenance phase. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with normokalemia at the end of treatment (EOT) without rescue therapy for hyperkalemia. Key secondary endpoints include mean change in serum HCO3−, the proportion of patients with an increase in serum HCO3− of ≥2 or ≥3 mmol/L without rescue therapy for metabolic acidosis, and the proportion of patients with serum HCO3− ≥22 mmol/L at EOT. Conclusions: NEUTRALIZE will establish whether SZC can provide sustained increases in serum HCO3− while lowering serum K+ in patients with hyperkalemia and CKD-associated metabolic acidosis and may provide insights on the mechanism(s) underlying the increased serum HCO3− with SZC treatment.
Bedeutung des Darmmikrobioms für Hauterkrankungen: evidenzbasierte Medizin bestätigt die Erfahrungsmedizin
Authors: Sticherling Michael
Published: April 2022

Objectives: Psoriasis is a common chronic recurrent dermatitis. Accumulating observations show gut microbiota dysbiosis in psoriasis. We intend to further investigate the relationship between intestinal microbiota and psoriasis development. Design: We first performed an epidemiological investigation on differences of gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms between patients with psoriasis and general population. Then variation of gut microbiota in patients with psoriasis (un)treated with acitretin plus narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. We last compared recovery status and vital cytokines (lesion and intestine) of mouse psoriasiform models, which were transplanted with fecal microbiota from patients with psoriasis or healthy controls. Results: (1) About 85.5% of patients with psoriasis vs. 58.1% of healthy controls presented with at least one gastrointestinal symptom. The prevalence of investigated symptoms (e.g., abdominal distension and constipation) were significantly higher in patients, compared with controls (p < 0.05). Passing flatus and constipation were significantly correlated with psoriasis (p < 0.05 in both cases). (2) The abundance of Ruminococcaceae family, Coprococcus_1 genus, and Blautia genus were decreased with psoriasis improvement (p < 0.05, respectively), which had been demonstrated significantly increased in psoriasis. (3) Mice receiving psoriatic microbes transplantation showed delayed recovery of psoriasiform dermatitis and less reduction of interleukin (IL)-17A than those receiving healthy microbiota or blank control (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Multiple evidence we provided here preliminarily demonstrates the involvement of gut microbiota in the different degree of psoriasis activity. The strategy based on overall microbial communities is expected to be a promising supplementary for long-term management of psoriasis.
Spontaneous Tumor Lysis Syndrome in a Patient with Bulky Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Diagnosed after Resolution of Symptoms
Authors: Menakuru Sasmith R. , Priscu Adelina , Khan Ibrahim , Beirat Amir
Published: April 2022

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncologic emergency characterized by the destruction of tumor cells leading to an influx of large amounts of uric acid, potassium, and phosphorus into systemic circulation. It most often occurs after the initiation of cytotoxic therapy in high-grade lymphomas and leukemias; however, rarely it may occur spontaneously. The authors report a case of spontaneous tumor lysis causing electrolyte abnormalities and acute kidney injury in a patient with subsequently diagnosed large chronic lymphocytic leukemia tumor burden. Spontaneous TLS can be the first presentation of underlying malignancy; therefore, physicians should be aware of the associated findings.
Voluntary Flutter Presenting During Ophthalmoscopy: A Case Report
Authors: Thomas Nikita , Dunn Matt J. , Woodhouse J. Margaret
Published: April 2022

Voluntary flutter (sometimes known as “voluntary nystagmus”) is a conjugate saccadic oscillation of the eyes that occurs in some healthy individuals. It has no relation to pathological nystagmus, which can manifest in infancy or become acquired later in life. This report presents an unusual case of voluntary flutter that presented in a 20-year-old male with autism spectrum disorder during ocular examination via direct ophthalmoscopy. Refraction and ocular motor balance were normal, and visual acuity was good in each eye (−0.10 logMAR). During direct ophthalmoscopy, a fine intermittent tremor was initiated. The patient was referred for further assessment, and eye movements were recorded at 1,000 Hz with an EyeLink 1000 eye tracker. Upon request, the patient could manifest voluntary flutter again and sustain the eye movements with effort during convergence. The voluntary flutter consisted of back-to-back saccadic oscillations in a predominantly horizontal direction, with an average frequency of 13 Hz and an amplitude of ∼8°, both reducing over time. We speculate that the discomfort induced by the proximity of the clinician during direct ophthalmoscopy examination may have triggered the eye oscillations. Although the oscillations typically manifest during convergence, atypical forms of voluntary flutter can also occur during divergence. Voluntary flutter can be a useful differential diagnosis in patients with a recently onset apparent “nystagmus,” and no other neurological signs and symptoms.
Extracellular Vesicles That Herald the Scarcity of Oxygen
Authors: Oh Sekyung , Kwon Sang-Ho
Published: April 2022

The natural, membrane-bound nanoscale particles, called extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as an effective, versatile vehicle to transport desired drugs specifically to injury sites. Heralding the presence of the scarcity of oxygen, EVs produced from the cells upregulating the expression of the critical transcriptional regulator of hypoxia, HIF-1, can induce a response in ischemia-reperfusion-damaged cells to ameliorate renal tubular injury and inflammation.
The confirmation of scientific theories using Bayesian causal networks and citation sentiments
Authors: Small Henry
Published: April 2022

The confirmation of scientific theories is approached by combining Bayesian probabilistic methods, in particular Bayesian causal networks, and the analysis of citing sentences for highly cited papers. It is assumed that causes and their effects can be identified by linguistic methods from the citing sentences and that the cause-and-effect pairs can be equated with theories and their evidence. Further, it is proposed that citation context sentiments for “evidence” and “uncertainty” can be used to supply the required conditional probabilities for Bayesian analysis where data is drawn from citing sentences for highly cited papers from various fields. Hence, the approach combines citation and linguistic methods in a probabilistic framework and, given the small sample of papers, should be considered a feasibility study. Special attention is given to the case of nociception in medicine, and analogies are drawn with various episodes from the history of science, such as the Watson and Crick discovery of the structure of DNA and other discoveries where a striking and improbable fit between theory and evidence leads to a sense of confirmation.
Vegetation Greening, Extended Growing Seasons, and Temperature Feedbacks in Warming Temperate Grasslands of China
Authors: Shen Xiangjin , Liu Binhui , Henderson Mark , Wang Lei , Jiang Ming , Lu Xianguo
Published: April 2022

Vegetation activity and phenology are significantly affected by climate change, and changes in vegetation activity and phenology can in turn affect regional or global climate patterns. As one of the world’s great biomes, temperate grasslands have undergone remarkable changes in recent decades, but the connections between vegetation activity and phenology changes and regional climate there have remained unclear. Using the observation minus reanalysis (OMR) method, this study investigated the possible effects of vegetation activity and vegetation growing season changes on air temperatures in temperate grasslands of China. The results showed that average NDVI of the temperate grassland significantly increased by 0.011 decade−1 for the growing season during 1982–2015. The growing season started earlier and ended later, resulting in an extension. Increased vegetation activity during spring and autumn significantly warmed spring and autumn air temperatures by reducing albedo. By contrast, summer greening had no significant effect on summer temperature, due to the opposing effects of decreased albedo and enhanced evapotranspiration on temperature. The earlier start and later end of the growing season contributed to warmer spring and autumn air temperatures. As phenological changes had no significant effect on summer temperature, the extended growing season warmed air temperature. Our results suggest that the climate change–induced increasing vegetation activity and extended growing seasons can further aggravate regional warming in temperate grasslands of China, implying that the effects of vegetation activity and phenology changes on regional climate should be considered in climate models for accurately simulating climate change in temperate grasslands.
“Familiar Artifice”: Ways of Telling in the Short Story, Psychoanalysis, and Alice Munro’s “The Moons of Jupiter”
Authors: Rizq Rosemary
Published: April 2022

Theoretical ideas about “narrative coherence” and “autobiographical competence” remain prevalent in contemporary therapeutic culture, and are frequently deployed in the service of the patient’s producing a narrative “I” that can tell its own story. A preference for novelistic accounts of the self is countered here by proposing the short story form as an alternative model for the telling of a self within psychoanalysis. Alice Munro’s “The Moons of Jupiter,” the roots of the short story form in fable, and a rereading of Freud’s Totem and Taboo are used to illuminate how the short story may be seen as an exemplary tale paralleling the origin of the self in its identification with the other.
Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by Bezoar Formation Around Intraluminal Hernia Mesh
Authors: Gallagher Kathleen C. , Pinzon-Guzman Carolina , Pierce Richard A. , Tan Marcus C. B.
Published: April 2022

We present a case report wherein a 55-year-old female presented to our clinic with chronic nausea, vomiting, and dehydration in the setting of a complex past surgical history, including laparoscopic incisional hernia repair in 2007 with intraperitoneal TiMeshTM. She then developed chronic nausea and vomiting and was hospitalized numerous times for dehydration. Due to her ongoing symptoms, she was taken to the operating room for exploration. A large, firm, mobile mass was identified within a loop of small bowel and was found to be a large bezoar firmly attached to a piece of intraluminal mesh. She progressed well postoperatively and, on outpatient follow-up, her pre-operative abdominal symptoms had completely resolved. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of gallstone-like bezoar formation around an intraluminal hernia mesh causing small bowel obstruction and chronic abdominal pain.
Serum Uric Acid to Albumin Ratio Can Predict Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Şaylık Faysal , Çınar Tufan , Akbulut Tayyar , Selçuk Murat
Published: April 2022

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the common complication of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Serum uric acid to albumin ratio (UAR) is a novel marker, which is associated with acute kidney injury in intensive care unit patients. We investigated the predictive value of UAR for the development of CIN in STEMI patients (n = 1379) after pPCI. The diagnosis of CIN was made based on an increase of basal creatinine levels >.5 mg/dL or 25% within 72 h after pPCI; 128 patients were in the CIN (+) group and 1251 patients were in the CIN (−) group. CIN (+) patients had higher serum uric acid (SUA), UAR, and lower albumin levels than CIN (−) patients. Age, diabetes, hypertension, hemoglobin, glucose at admission, basal creatinine, peak troponin I, total bilirubin, contrast volume/glomerular filtration rate, and UAR were independent predictors of CIN. A cutoff value of 1.62 for UAR detected CIN development with a sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 87.4%, and the discrimination ability of UAR was better than that of SUA or albumin. In conclusion, UAR was an independent predictor of the development of CIN.
Efficacy of Cochlear Implantation in Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Sobczak Gabriel , Marchant Wendy , Misurelli Sara , Pyle Garrold Mark , Gubbels Samuel , Roche Joseph
Published: April 2022

Objective:

To investigate the results of cochlear implantation in subjects with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS).

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Setting:

University-based tertiary referral center.

Subjects:

Five subjects with NF2 and severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Intervention:

Cochlear implantation.

Main Outcome Measure:

Surgical outcomes and audiometric performance after cochlear implantation.

Results:

Five subjects (3 female, 2 male) were included in the study. The mean age at the time of implantation was 54 years old (range 35-78 years). Follow-up after cochlear implantation averaged 38 months (range 21-106 months). In the 5 implanted ears, 2 had no prior treatment, 1 had undergone prior radiation therapy, 1 underwent prior microsurgical removal, and 1 underwent prior microsurgical removal with adjuvant radiation therapy. The mean ipsilateral VS dimensions at time of implantation were 14 mm × 7.2 mm × 6.1 mm (mediolateral × anteroposterior × craniocaudal). Following cochlear implant activation, all 5 subjects achieved sound awareness, open set speech recognition, and 4 continue to be daily users of the devices.

Conclusion:

Cochlear implantation is a viable hearing rehabilitation option for subjects with NF2 and severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. All subjects reported benefit with their cochlear implant, including open set speech recognition, enhanced lip-reading skills and environmental awareness of sound. Four subjects continued to demonstrate improved open-set speech recognition at the time of their last evaluations.
Effect of stacking sequence on the mechanical properties of non-interlaced multiaxial jute yarn/epoxy composites
Authors: Sahbaz Karaduman Nesrin , Karaduman Yekta
Published: April 2022

Polymer composites reinforced with natural bast fibers have attracted great attention in the past few decades due to increasing environmental awareness and various advantages of these materials in terms of mechanical properties, sustainability, renewability, and biodegradability. In this study, non-interlaced multiaxial jute fabric/epoxy composites were produced. First, unidirectional (UD) jute fabrics were produced using a semi-automatic dobby loom. Then these UD fabrics were stacked one on top of the other at different orientation angles to the material direction. Four different stacking sequences were used such as [0°/0°/0°/0°], [0°/90°/90°/0°], [0°/+45°/−45°/0°], and [0°/+30°/−30°/0°]. Basket 2/2 weave woven fabric composites were also produced for comparison purposes. Tensile and flexural properties of these composites were characterized. The results showed that all the non-interlaced structures showed higher tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus when compared to those of the basket weave structure and neat epoxy. Tensile strength and modulus increased as the angle that jute yarns make with the material direction decreases. However, a significant difference between the flexural strength and moduli of the non-interlaced structures, that is, [0°/0°/0°/0°], [0°/+30°/−30°/0°], [0°/+45°/−45°/0°], [0°/90°/90°/0°] was not detected. This was attributed to the fact that the flexural properties of the composite samples were determined by the yarn alignment in top and bottom layers without regard to the middle layers which contained oriented fibers in various angles.
UV protective bio-based epoxy/carbon quantum dots nanocomposite coatings: Synthesis and investigation of properties
Authors: Madhi Abbas , Shirkavand Hadavand Behzad
Published: April 2022

This research focuses on synthesis and study of the properties of castor oil-based epoxy/carbon quantum dots (COEp/CQDs) nanocomposite coatings possessing resistance against UV. First, CQDs were synthesized by pyrolysis of starch using microwave-assisted method and characterized via various spectroscopic and microscopic methods. Next, certain quantity of castor oil as a renewable resource, CQDs with different weight percentages and a curing agent were added to epoxy resin and consequently COEp/CQDs were prepared. Through findings of FTIR, photoluminescence and UV-visible spectroscopy analyses, existent functional groups and fluorescent feature of the nanocomposite coatings were confirmed. UV-vis spectroscopy approved UV resistance of the COEp/CQDs coatings. As concentration of CQDs increased in resin matrix, UV absorption was maximized. The morphology and uniform dispersion of CQDs in the coatings matrix were verified by FESEM analysis. Results of TGA, pull-off adhesion strength and tensile tests, and DMTA analysis proved adding CQDs to the resin matrix led to progress of thermal endurance, adhesion strength, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the synthesized coatings including an increase in storage modulus and Tg.
Effects of multi walled carbon nanotubes and multilayer graphene on the damping and quasi-static compressive mechanical properties of novel EP/ZA22 composites
Authors: Niu Haoyuan , Yin Fuxing , Ji Puguang , Jiao Zhixian , Zhang Jianjun , Liu Li , Liu Yafei , Wang Qingzhou
Published: April 2022

In order to develop novel high damping materials with excellent compressive mechanical properties and energy absorption capacity to meet the needs of buffering and vibration reduction in various fields, epoxy resin (EP) filled foam Zn-22Al (ZA22) composites were fabricated for the first time. EP can significantly improve the damping and compressive mechanical properties of the ZA22 foam due to the superposition of multiple damping sources and the support of EP to pores, respectively. However, the filling of EP will lead to brittleness in the compression process of the composites. It is found that the addition of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or multilayer graphene (MLG) to EP can efficiently improve the toughness of the composites because of the increased energy consumption in the fracture process of EP, and the damping can also be further improved due to the increased interface density and the amount of polymer chains involved in friction.
Experimental and numerical study on open-hole tension/compression properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic laminates
Authors: Shirasu Keiichi , Tsuyuki Junpei , Higuchi Ryo , Onodera Sota , Okabe Tomonaga
Published: April 2022

The stress-strain responses and damage initiation/propagation mechanisms of T700G/LM-PAEK, an open-hole carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic were investigated experimentally and numerically. To obtain the mechanical properties necessary for numerical simulations, uniaxial tensile/compressive, double cantilever beam, and end notched flexure tests were conducted. T700G/LM-PAEK was found to have comparable or higher Young’s modulus, strength, and interlaminar fracture toughness relative to thermoset CFRPs with carbon fiber of a similar grade. These superior mechanical properties are mainly attributable to the higher toughness and ductility of the thermoplastic resin. The interfacial fracture toughnesses were evaluated by finite element analysis with the cohesive zone model to determine the interlaminar fracture toughnesses for crack initiation and propagation. Based on the above experimental and numerical results, the stress strain response and damage evolution of open-hole specimens were analyzed by a quasi-3D extended finite element method (XFEM) and compared with the experimental results. The computational model with the elastoplastic constitutive law provided an accurate prediction of the stress-strain response in both open-hole tension and compression (OHT and OHC, respectively), suggesting that the elastoplastic constitutive law should be considered in XFEM to guarantee the accuracy of strength prediction for both OHT and OHC. The OHT model showed that the Weibull criterion was satisfied without any delamination at the failure strain, corresponding to the brittle failure mode due to fiber breakage. For the OHC simulation, the damage initiation of 0°-ply kinking was observed at 88% of the peak stress. These predicted damage mechanisms agreed reasonably well with the experimental observations.
Microrobotics for Precision Biofilm Diagnostics and Treatment
Authors: Babeer A. , Oh M.J. , Ren Z. , Liu Y. , Marques F. , Poly A. , Karabucak B. , Steager E. , Koo H.
Published: April 2022

Advances in small-scale robotics and nanotechnology are providing previously unimagined opportunities for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches with high precision, control, and efficiency. We designed microrobots for tetherless biofilm treatment and retrieval using iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with dual catalytic-magnetic functionality as building blocks. We show 2 distinct microrobotic platforms. The first system is formed from NPs that assemble into aggregated microswarms under magnetic fields that can be controlled to disrupt and retrieve biofilm samples for microbial analysis. The second platform is composed of 3-dimensional (3D) micromolded opacifier-infused soft helicoids with embedded catalytic-magnetic NPs that can be visualized via existing radiographic imaging techniques and controlled magnetically inside the root canal, uninterrupted by the soft and hard tissues surrounding the teeth in an ex vivo model. These microrobots placed inside the root canal can remove biofilms and be efficiently guided with microscale precision. The proof-of-concept paradigm described here can be adapted to target difficult-to-reach anatomical spaces in other natural and implanted surfaces in an automated and tether-free manner.
“Crying in My Uniform, For Sure”: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Loss and Grief Among Soldiers After Losing a Comrade in Combat
Authors: Yehene Einat , Eitam Talya
Published: April 2022

Recent studies investigate grief among soldiers who experienced combat loss, but little research exists on the qualitative lived experience of such an event. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with soldiers (n = 19) who lost a comrade (3–21 years ago) to delve into their bereavement process. The reflexive thematic analysis of soldiers’ accounts identified six main themes: (1) an unexpected and shattering experience; (2) emotional dissociation; (3) detachment from the outside world; (4) group formation; (5) accommodating the bereaved family; and (6) life-long impact. These themes were positioned on four distinct circles relating to the self and the surrounding social systems, indicating how soldiers’ grief unfolds and remains encapsulated and disenfranchised. The findings emphasize the value of peer support groups that should be facilitated and encouraged by official bodies—even years after—as part of providing social recognition.
Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Guyana: The Role of Financial Sector Development
Authors: Deonanan Regan , Conrad Daren
Published: April 2022

This paper empirically examines how financial sector development affects the FDI-economic growth nexus in Guyana. The novelty is that we examine the relationship in a poor, Small Island Developing State (SIDS) with an underdeveloped financial sector, and where the bulk of FDI flows to the extractive sector. Using annual data from 1981 to 2014, and, both a VECM and ARDL framework that distinguishes among long-run and short-run causal impacts, we provide new insights on why FDI may have a smaller impact on economic growth in SIDS or resource-rich countries. Specifically, we find that FDI dampens long-run growth in Guyana, which is consistent with the extractive literature, but through interaction with the financial sector, FDI has a positive offsetting effect at all levels of financial development in the period under study. While our findings have several nuanced policy implications on how to maximize the developmental potential of FDI in Guyana, they may be relevant to other SIDS or resource-rich countries.
Why Measurement Invariance is Important in Comparative Research. A Response to Welzel et al. (2021)
Authors: Meuleman Bart , Żółtak Tomasz , Pokropek Artur , Davidov Eldad , Muthén Bengt , Oberski Daniel L. , Billiet Jaak , Schmidt Peter
Published: April 2022

Welzel et al. (2021) claim that non-invariance of instruments is inconclusive and inconsequential in the field for cross-cultural value measurement. In this response, we contend that several key arguments on which Welzel et al. (2021) base their critique of invariance testing are conceptually and statistically incorrect. First, Welzel et al. (2021) claim that value measurement follows a formative rather than reflective logic. Yet they do not provide sufficient theoretical arguments for this conceptualization, nor do they discuss the disadvantages of this approach for validation of instruments. Second, their claim that strong inter-item correlations cannot be retrieved when means are close to the endpoint of scales ignores the existence of factor-analytic approaches for ordered-categorical indicators. Third, Welzel et al. (2021) propose that rather than of relying on invariance tests, comparability can be assessed by studying the connection with theoretically related constructs. However, their proposal ignores that external validation through nomological linkages hinges on the assumption of comparability. By means of two examples, we illustrate that violating the assumptions of measurement invariance can distort conclusions substantially. Following the advice of Welzel et al. (2021) implies discarding a tool that has proven to be very useful for comparativists.
Promoting Empathy and Reducing Hopelessness Using Contemplative Practices
Authors: Ross Courtney B. , Rocha Beardall Theresa
Published: April 2022

Contemplative practices are becoming more common in educational environments for attending to whole-student learning, fostering empathy, and promoting social justice and socially just pedagogues. This conversation explores how holistic approaches facilitate and expand the parameters of sociological pedagogy to integrate humanist pedagogies and initiate emancipatory citizenship. By building a pedagogical bridge between sociology and contemplative practices educators can help inspire empathy and hopefulness among students as they navigate the challenging topics of injustice and collective trauma. We trace the rise of contemplative practices in the United States with a focus on the emergence of “contemplative sociology” from a variety of perspectives, including Buddhist sociology and sociological mindfulness. We then explore the utility of contemplative practices in the sociological classroom combining contemplation, embodied agency, and antioppression education for student learning. We offer two exercises to consider for developing the sociological imagination and increasing students’ capacity for critical thinking, stress management, and self-reflection.
Do You Know How People Who Are Blind Cross Streets? Mentally Stepping into Another’s Shoes Through Imitation
Authors: Arsal Güler , Suss Joel , Ward Paul , Eccles David W.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the extent to which sighted persons understand thought processes of persons who are visually impaired (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision). The investigation focused on a street-crossing task. Method: Participants were 15 visually impaired persons and 21 sighted persons. The sighted group included 6 orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists and 15 individuals who represent the sighted public and have infrequent interactions with people with visual impairments. Participants provided verbal reports of their thought processes associated with a street-crossing scenario twice, once as a “non-pretender” and once as a “pretender.” In the non-pretender role, participants verbalized their thinking in line with their actual state of sightedness. In the pretender role, participants with visual impairments pretended that they did not have any visual impairments, whereas sighted participants pretended that they were blind. Transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in three themes with 14 subthemes. The genuine responses of visually impaired participants and the imitated responses of the sighted participants were compared using proportions of the subthemes. Results: Fisher’s exact z tests demonstrated that out of the 14 subthemes, the visually impaired participants’ proportions were (a) similar to those of sighted O&M specialists in 10 subthemes and (b) different from those of the other sighted participants in seven subthemes. Participants verbalized fewer thoughts when describing sighted navigation than when describing navigation as a person with visual impairment. Discussion: Sighted persons with infrequent social interaction with people who are visually impaired seem to be less successful at “pretending to be blind,” indicating that they may have difficulties in adopting the perspective of people with visual impairments. Implications for Practitioners: Sighted O&M specialists develop an understanding of the cognitive processes of people who are visually impaired through training and contact. Other professionals that support these individuals (e.g., technology designers) could benefit from developing such an understanding and immersing themselves in the social life of people with visual impairments.
Dharma, Dialogue and Dissent: Is an Inclusive Civilization Possible? Listening to Vidura
Authors: Roy Kumkum
Published: April 2022

Dharma is one of the significant multivalent civilizational concepts that emerged in early India. I explore one strand of the meanings of this term as exemplified by the figure of Vidura in the Mahābhārata. Admittedly a man of low status, he is also regarded as the embodiment of dharma, elucidating it at several points through the text. The definition of dharma that is expounded proves to be relatively expansive, relying on an inclusive understanding of kinship ties as central to the social order. Vidura is also a figure who dissents peacefully and is proved to be sadly accurate in his predictions about the final cataclysm. Apart from his speeches, Vidura’s actions also represent the praxis of his understanding of dharma. Finally, we consider two instances where the figure of Vidura is retrieved to express other ideas of righteous behaviour.
Camps and counterterrorism: Security and the remaking of refuge in Kenya
Authors: Brankamp Hanno , Glück Zoltán
Published: April 2022

This article examines the enduring entanglements of counterterror governance and refugee encampment in Kenya. The spectre of “terrorism” and its supposed remedy—“counterterrorism”—have loomed large in Kenyan politics since the 1990s and gained further traction since the country’s military invasion and occupation of southern Somalia in 2011. Few other spaces have been associated as persistently with threats to Kenya’s national security and sovereignty as the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in the country’s Northern belt, which are popularly depicted as “wombs” of terror. In this article, we analyze the transformation of refugee governance in Kenya under the auspices of the War on Terror and consider how counterterrorism has become a way of governing both refugees and precarious ethnoracialized citizens. We provide a multi-scalar analysis that moves between the scales of global militarization, Kenyan state governance, as well as securitized spaces of camps, checkpoints, and policing. The article concludes that refugee camps are not only gateways for imported global counterterror initiatives, but key sites of locally defined state-making processes in which Kenya’s counterterror state is (re)assembled as part of a planetary architecture of humanitarian containment and militarized apartheid.
Epitheliosis is a histopathological finding associated with malignancy and poor prognosis in dogs with mammary tumors
Authors: Valdivia Guillermo , Alonso-Diez Ángela , Alonso-Miguel Daniel , Suárez María , García Paloma , Ortiz-Díez Gustavo , Pérez-Alenza Maria Dolores , Peña Laura
Published: April 2022

Canine mammary epitheliosis (ME) is a poorly studied dysplasia that may have premalignant potential. In this study, the clinicopathological relevance of ME was prospectively studied in 90 female dogs with mammary tumors (MTs) that underwent radical mastectomy. ME distribution, extent, and coexistence with benign and malignant MTs were evaluated for each case (505 mammary glands). ME was macroscopically undetectable and was present in 47/90 (52%) cases, frequently bilateral. In dogs with malignant MTs and ME, diffuse ME throughout the mammary chain was present in 10/39 (26%) cases. A histological ME-carcinoma transition was evident in certain histotypes. By immunohistochemistry (AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 14 [CK-14], CK-8/18, vimentin, calponin, p63, Ki-67, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), ME was a slow-growing, triple-negative process with a strong predominance of basal-like nonmyoepithelial cells. ME was associated with older dogs ( P = .016), malignant tumors ( P = .044), worse clinical stages ( P = .013), lymph node metastasis (LNM, P = .021), higher histological grade tumors ( P = .035), and shorter overall survival (OS) in univariate analysis ( P = .012). Interestingly, ME was distantly located to the malignant tumor in most cases ( P = .007). In multivariate analyses, LNM ( P = .005), histological grade ( P = .006), and tumor size ( P = .006) were independent predictors of OS. For the pathologist, the observation of ME should be clearly stated in the MT biopsy report to alert the surgeon/oncologist. Given the differences between canine ME and its human histopathological counterpart (atypical ductal hyperplasia), “epitheliosis” should remain the preferred term for the dog.
When the Partner’s Reality Bites: Associations Between Self- and Partner Ratings of Psychopathic Traits, Relationship Quality and Conflict Tactics
Authors: Uzieblo Kasia , Decuyper Mieke , Bijttebier Patricia , Verhofstadt Lesley
Published: April 2022

The present study examined associations of self- and partner-reported psychopathic traits, as well as the level of agreement between these reports (perceptual accuracy), with relationship quality, and the moderating role of violent and non-violent conflict tactics. Participants were 259 heterosexual couples from the community. Results indicated that, despite moderate convergence between self- and partner-reports, the female partners tended to underreport the levels of psychopathic traits in their male partner. Relationship quality was negatively associated with partner-reported and, albeit to a lesser extent, self-reported psychopathic traits. Contrary to expectations, perceptual accuracy was barely associated with relationship quality. Whereas no evidence was found for the moderating role of aggressive conflict tactics, non-violent negotiation seemed to buffer the effect of psychopathic traits on relationship quality. The study highlights the importance of considering the partner’s perceptions as well as constructive conflict tactics when examining psychopathic traits in intimate relationships.
Trajectory Planning for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles at Freeway Work Zones under Mixed Traffic Environment
Authors: Ma Wanjing , Chen Benwei , Yu Chunhui , Qi Xinzhou
Published: April 2022

Mixed traffic control with connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and human driving vehicles (HVs) is becoming a hot topic. CAV trajectory planning at work zones under the mixed traffic environment is a big challenge. Existing studies only focus on longitudinal trajectories (e.g., acceleration profiles), ignoring lateral trajectories (lane changing). This study proposes a trajectory planning model for CAVs at work zones under mixed traffic environment. Both longitudinal and lateral trajectories are considered. On the basis of the states of CAVs and of HVs observed by CAVs, the number and initial states of unobservable HVs in the planning horizon are estimated considering the interactions between vehicle driving behaviors. A trajectory planning model is then formulated to optimize acceleration profiles and lane choices of CAVs in the planning horizon in a centralized way. The minimization of total vehicle delay and fuel consumption is adopted as the objective function. A car-following model and a lane-changing model are adopted to capture the driving behaviors of HVs. The proposed model is a mixed-integer linear program. Numerical studies validate the advantages of the proposed trajectory planning model over late merge control for vehicle delay and fuel consumption.