bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Possession of High Status Strengthens the Status Motive
Authors: Anderson Cameron , Hildreth John Angus D. , Sharps Daron L.
Published: July 2020

The current research tested whether the possession of high status, compared with the possession of low status, makes individuals desire having high status even more. Five studies (total N = 6,426), four of which were preregistered, supported this hypothesis. Individuals with higher status in their social groups or who were randomly assigned to a high-status condition were more motivated to have high status than were individuals with low status. Furthermore, upper-class individuals had a stronger status motive than working-class individuals, in part, due to their high status. High-status individuals had a stronger status motive, in part, because they were more confident in their ability to achieve (or retain) high status, but not because of other possible mechanisms (e.g., task self-efficacy). These findings provide a possible explanation for why status hierarchies are so stable and why inequality rises in social collectives over time.
Reconstruction After Salvage Total Laryngectomy: A Cost‐effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Acevedo Joseph R. , Yu Jeffrey C. , Cameron Brian , Nurimba Margaret , Hay Joel W. , Kokot Niels C.
Published: July 2020

Objective

To determine the most cost‐effective reconstruction method after salvage total laryngectomy.

Study Design

Cost‐effectiveness analysis

Setting

Tertiary care hospitals with head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgeons.

Subjects and Methods

We constructed a Markov‐based decision model to compare reconstruction by primary closure to pectoralis flap and free flap after salvage total laryngectomy. The model simulated disease with transition probabilities and health utilities found in primary literature and estimated the average overall cost of each reconstructive method using Medicare billing codes. Effectiveness was compared using quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs). One‐way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to scrutinize the conclusions of our model. Reconstruction methods were compared using incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs). In the United States, less than $150,000 per QALY gained is considered cost‐effective (2019 US dollars).

Results

Our base case analysis revealed that primary closure was less expensive ($44,370) and yielded more QALYs (0.91) than both pectoralis ($45,163, 0.81 QALYs) and free flap ($46,244, 0.85 QALYs), making it the most cost‐effective option. Between flaps, free flap was cost‐effective over pectoralis flap (ICER = $27,025/QALY gained). Sensitivity analyses showed primary closure as cost‐effective 69% of the time over either flap. These conclusions were sensitive to the health utilities (quality of life) of each method of reconstruction.

Conclusion

Tissue flaps to augment closure after salvage total laryngectomy are not always the most cost‐effective reconstructive option. The long‐term morbidity of flap surgery oftentimes outweighs the benefit of lowering fistula rates after surgery. Careful consideration must be taken when advising patients of their reconstructive options.
Acellular Collagen Scaffold With Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor for Repair of Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in a Rat Model
Authors: Yao Xu , Teh Bing Mei , Li Huan , Hu Yi , Huang Juntao , Lv Cuiting , Bu Shizhong , Zheng Minghao , Shen Yi
Published: July 2020

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of acellular collagen scaffold (ACS) in combination with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for the repair of traumatic tympanic membrane (TM) perforation in a rat model.

Study Design

A prospective controlled animal study in a rat model of traumatic TM perforation.

Setting

Tertiary medical center.

Subjects and Methods

Sprague‐Dawley rats (N = 84) with unilateral traumatic perforation of the right TMs were randomized to receive ACS, bFGF, ACS in combination with bFGF (ACS/bFGF), or nothing (spontaneous healing without any interventions as a control group). The healing outcomes were evaluated by otoscopy, optical coherence tomography, histology, and transmission electron microscopy at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postoperatively. The hearing outcomes were assessed with auditory brainstem response testing.

Results

ACS/bFGF resulted in higher perforation closure rates at an earlier stage than spontaneous healing, ACS, and bFGF. Based on histology, optical coherence tomography, and transmission electron microscopy, a trilaminar structure and uniform thickness with mature, densely packed collagen fibers were seen in the ACS/bFGF group. Auditory brainstem response evaluation also showed that ACS/bFGF treatment promoted faster functional hearing recovery as compared with the control group.

Conclusions

ACS is an effective TM scaffold and a carrier for bFGF. ACS/bFGF improves the TM closure rate, results in better‐reconstructed TMs, and improves hearing. ACS/bFGF serves as a potential substitute for TM perforations in clinical settings.
The Infratemporal Fossa Sign: Pilot Study of a Potential Clue to Eustachian Salpingitis
Authors: McCoul Edward D.
Published: July 2020

Aural discomfort may be the result of obstructive eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or other causes. The infratemporal fossa (ITF) sign, in which a patient points to a characteristic location below the auricle, is proposed as an indicator of nonobstructive eustachian salpingitis. A preliminary study included patients with a complaint of aural discomfort who were prompted to localize symptoms using a single finger. Group 1 localized by using the ITF sign; group 2 localized deep within the external ear canal (suggesting ET dysfunction); and group 3 localized to the preauricular region (suggesting temporomandibular joint dysfunction). Findings of ET inflammation recorded during nasal endoscopy were greater in groups 1 and 2. Tympanometry and otoscopy were uniformly abnormal for group 2 and uniformly normal for groups 1 and 3. The ITF sign may help to identify eustachian salpingitis as a phenotype of ET disease characterized by symptomatic inflammation without abnormal middle ear pressure.
High‐Efficiency Particulate Air Filters in the Era of COVID‐19: Function and Efficacy
Authors: Christopherson David A. , Yao William C. , Lu Mingming , Vijayakumar R. , Sedaghat Ahmad R.
Published: July 2020

Aerosol‐generating procedures in the office represent a major concern for health care–associated infection of patients and health care providers by SARS‐CoV‐2, the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet provided any recommendations for the use of portable air purifiers, air purifiers with high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have been discussed as an adjunctive means for decontamination of SARS‐CoV‐2 aerosols in health care settings. This commentary discusses HEPA filter mechanisms of action, decontamination time based on efficiency and flow rate, theoretical application to SARS‐CoV‐2, and limitations. HEPA filter functionality and prior guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for SARS‐CoV‐1 suggest theoretical efficacy for HEPA filters to decontaminate airborne SARS‐CoV‐2, although direct studies for SARS‐CoV‐2 have not been performed. Any portable HEPA purifier utilization for SARS‐CoV‐2 should be considered an adjunctive infection control measure and undertaken with knowledge of HEPA filter functionality and limitations in mind.
Informal mobile phone use by marginalised groups in a plural health system to bridge healthcare gaps in Sierra Leone
Authors: Sam Steven
Published: July 2020

The possibility to use mobile phones to provide affordable, effective and accessible healthcare solutions has continued to attract significant investments in the application of formal m-health schemes in Africa. However, while the formal m-health schemes in Africa are limited and benefited only a handful of people, a majority of individuals are using their own phones to create an informal m-health ecosystem in an attempt to bridge primary healthcare access gaps. This paper draws on qualitative data from a four-year (2012-2016) anthropological study involving marginalised groups in Sierra Leone to document these health-seeking practices along with the benefits and challenges they create in a complex plural health system. It argues that the informal integration of mobile phones into the plural health system offers opportunities for marginalised individuals to search and secure primary healthcare of their choices, but poor network connectivity, high out of pocket maintenance costs, low digital literacy skills, and the lack of policy to streamline and regulate the practices can promise the effectiveness of the informal m-health system. It concludes by offering suggestions for addressing these challenges in the Sierra Leone context.
Valve distribution of the popliteal vein: A structural basis for deep venous thrombosis?
Authors: Ouko Innocent , Obimbo Moses M , Kigera James , Ogeng’o Julius A
Published: July 2020

Objective

To describe the relationship between number and distribution of valves.

Methods

Sixty-six popliteal vein specimens were used for the study after routine dissection at the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. The extents of the popliteal vein were identified at the adductor hiatus and soleal arch, cut at these points and then longitudinally sliced open. The number and distribution of valves were then recorded. Data were presented using photomacrographs and tables.

Results

The median number of valves was 1 (mean 0.8; range 0–2), with the lower part of the popliteal vein as the most consistent valve position. Most striking was the valve absence noted in 27 (41%) of the veins.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that a significant proportion of popliteal veins do not have valves thus providing a credible structural link that may predispose the popliteal vein to deep venous thrombosis in the study population.
Modeling biomechanical interaction between soft tissue and soft robotic instruments: importance of constitutive anisotropic hyperelastic formulations
Authors: Vignali Emanuele , Gasparotti Emanuele , Capellini Katia , Fanni Benigno Marco , Landini Luigi , Positano Vincenzo , Celi Simona
Published: July 2020

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the western countries. Robotic surgery recently emerged as a confirmed strategy in the cardiovascular field, especially thanks to the improvement of soft robotics. These techniques have demonstrated their potential in terms of speed of execution and precision. In this context, a deeper knowledge of the material properties of the blood vessels is required, especially for computational soft robotics applications. A constitutive model including the contribution of the collagen fibers families is needed to take hyperelasticity and anisotropy into account. For this purpose, four different models are presented: two fiber families with dispersion (2FFD), two fiber families without dispersion (2FF), four fiber families with dispersion (4FFD), and four fiber families without dispersion (4FF). A set of experimental biaxial data obtained from ex-vivo specimens was used to assess the model performances. Two fitting procedures were imposed: a procedure with no weighting of scores and a procedure with a weight set to enhance the model performances in the contact range. A finite element simulation of a contact procedure was developed to evaluate the effect on the contact pressures and forces according to the different model implementations. In particular, a minimally invasive aortic valve positioning process through a previously designed soft robot was simulated. The results confirmed the overall fitting procedure. The adoption of the weighting process for the fitting was successful, as it permitted an accurate prediction in the region of interest through models with less parameters.
Correlation between sleep impairment and functional dyspepsia
Authors: Huang Zhen-Peng , Li Si-Meng , Shen Tong , Zhang Yuan-Yuan
Published: July 2020

Objective

Sleeping habits may greatly impact the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD). This study examined relationships between aspects of sleep impairment and FD.

Methods

This prospective study included university student volunteers. Following enrolment, FD was diagnosed based on the Rome IV criteria, dividing participants into an FD group or controls. The FD group was further subdivided into long-term (disease course >6 months) and short-term (disease course 3–6 months) FD groups. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for Gastrointestinal Disorders in Adults, and a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

Out of 418 participants in total, sleep quality, latency, and duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication use, daytime dysfunction, and PSQI scores were higher in the FD groups versus controls. Components of PSQI scores emerged as risk factors, and were higher in the long-term versus short-term dyspepsia group. Moreover, these components were positively correlated with frequency/severity of postprandial distress syndrome and early satiation. Total PSQI scores were positively correlated with VAS scores.

Conclusion

Several PSQI components are associated with FD occurrence, symptom frequency, and symptom severity.
A case report of primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Zeng Xu , Lu Xiaofei , Li Xinlong , Peng Lilei , Chen Ligang
Published: July 2020

Most patients with primary central system lymphoma (PCNSL) have immune dysfunction. PCNSL without immune dysfunction is rare and extremely challenging to diagnose. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old woman without immune dysfunction who presented with PCNSL. The patient died a few months after diagnosis and during treatment. A review of this PCNSL patient’s case highlighted that poor interpretation of imaging features and the poor correlation of laboratory test results with clinical findings led to a difficulty in making a diagnosis and administering the best treatment. For an accurate diagnosis of early stage PCNSL, positron-emission tomography computed tomography and corticosteroids should be used cautiously before stereotactic biopsy.
Clinical and Pathological Findings in SARS-CoV-2 Disease Outbreaks in Farmed Mink (Neovison vison)
Authors: Molenaar Robert Jan , Vreman Sandra , Hakze-van der Honing Renate W , Zwart Rob , de Rond Jan , Weesendorp Eefke , Smit Lidwien A. M. , Koopmans Marion , Bouwstra Ruth , Stegeman Arjan , van der Poel Wim H. M.
Published: July 2020

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, caused respiratory disease outbreaks with increased mortality in 4 mink farms in the Netherlands. The most striking postmortem finding was an acute interstitial pneumonia, which was found in nearly all examined mink that died at the peak of the outbreaks. Acute alveolar damage was a consistent histopathological finding in mink that died with pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 infections were confirmed by detection of viral RNA in throat swabs and by immunohistochemical detection of viral antigen in nasal conchae, trachea, and lung. Clinically, the outbreaks lasted for about 4 weeks but some animals were still polymerase chain reaction–positive for SARS-CoV-2 in throat swabs after clinical signs had disappeared. This is the first report of the clinical and pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in mink farms.
Social impact bonds and fast policy: Analyzing the Australian experience
Authors: Broom Jacob
Published: July 2020

Social impact bonds (SIBs) are attracting an increasing amount of critical scholarly attention. As an outcomes-based mechanism for financing social services, SIBs financialize social policy through the logic of impact investing. Responding to calls for attention to the politics of SIBs’ development, and breaking with the literature’s focus on cases from the UK and USA, this article explores the emergence of SIBs in Australia. It employs the concept of “fast policy,” which theorizes why and how policies move across borders, and describes the contemporary conditions that enable them to do so. Using document analysis, the article explores the discursive devices and practices used to justify the “pulling in” of SIBs to states in Australia. It finds that key actors in the Australian social impact world justified SIBs’ adoption using their synergy with powerful, popular policy discourses and practices, rather than engaging in political debates about their desirability. The Australian experience illuminates the power of intermediaries and the investors they represent over the design and proliferation of SIBs, as well as the roles played by austerity politics, policy experimentalism, and fast policy infrastructures in producing a context in which SIBs could be made real.
Experimental investigation of a variable geometry vertical axis wind turbine
Authors: Prince Simon A , Badalamenti Carmine , Georgiev Dimitar
Published: July 2020

An experimental study is presented on the performance of a vertical axis wind turbine with variable blade geometry of the design developed by Austin Farrah. This is experimentally compared with the performance of a correspondingly sized Bach-type Savonius turbine using the same electrical generator and measurement instrumentation in a wind tunnel. Experiments were performed for Reynolds numbers, based on blade chord, in the range 5 × 103 to 1 × 105, and for blade settings between −40° and +40o. The study shows that for the tip speed ratios that have been investigated, the Farrah vertical axis wind turbine design can only marginally outperform a corresponding two-bladed Bach-type Savonius turbine and then only when its blades are set to 40° pitch angle. The presence of a small inner cylinder, which rotates with the turbine, does not enhance its performance due to the fact that it is immersed in an extensive column of relatively static air.
Crash Modification Functions for Passing Relief Lanes on Two-Lane Rural Roads
Authors: Persaud Bhagwant , Anarkooli Alireza Jafari , Almasi Shahram , Lyon Craig
Published: July 2020

Passing relief lanes on two-lane rural roads provide passing opportunities that would otherwise be scarce where there are extensive no-passing zones, high opposing traffic volumes, or both. This paper addresses the safety effects of installing a passing lane or lengthening an existing one. It stands to reason that the effect of installing a passing lane will depend on the actual length of that lane. By extension, it is also reasonable to expect that the safety effects of lengthening an existing one will depend not only on the amount of the lengthening, but also on the original length. Yet, knowledge that can be applied to estimate these two sets of effects in a design process is lacking. The crash modification factors (CMFs) in the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) and in the CMF Clearinghouse for installing a passing lane are all single-valued, of the order of 0.75. And neither source provides CMFs for lengthening an existing passing lane. This paper seeks to address these voids by developing continuous crash modification functions (CMFunctions) for both sets of design decisions using Michigan, U.S., and Ontario, Canada, crash, geometric, and traffic data for passing lane and reference sections. Generalized linear modeling and full Bayes Markov Chain Monte Carlo (FB MCMC) simulation are used to develop cross-section regression models from which crash modification functions are derived and compared. The results are consistent with those from credible before-after studies, so are recommended for implementation in practice, in particular for HSM applications.
Traumatic Meniscal Tears Are Associated With Meniscal Degeneration
Authors: Wesdorp Marinus A. , Eijgenraam Susanne M. , Meuffels Duncan E. , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita M.A. , Kleinrensink Gert-Jan , Bastiaansen-Jenniskens Yvonne M. , Reijman Max
Published: July 2020

Background:

Meniscal tears are traditionally classified into traumatic versus degenerative tears. Although this classification plays a major role in clinical decision making, no consensus exists on the exact definition of a traumatic or degenerative tear, and the histopathological basis for this classification is unclear.

Purpose:

To assess the histological degree of meniscal degeneration in patients with a traumatic meniscal tear, as compared with intact meniscal tissue and osteoarthritic meniscal tissue.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Traumatically torn meniscal tissue was collected during arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. As a control group, intact meniscal tissue was used from transfemoral amputations or direct postmortem dissections. Meniscal tissue from osteoarthritic knees was obtained during total knee replacement surgery. Meniscal tissue was processed, stained, and histologically analyzed with the Pauli scoring system (range, 0-18), comprising the subdomains surface integrity, cellularity, collagen organization, and matrix staining. Scoring was performed by 2 independent observers, blinded to condition, region, and patient data of the meniscus.

Results:

The traumatic meniscal tear group contained 43 patients (34 men; median age, 29 years; median body mass index [BMI], 24 kg/m2); the intact meniscal tissue group, 8 patients (3 men; median age, 58 years; median BMI, 30 kg/m2); and the osteoarthritic group, 14 patients (4 men; median age, 66 years; median BMI, 28 kg/m2). After adjustment for sex, age, and BMI, patients with a traumatic meniscal tear had a significantly higher histological score than patients with intact meniscal tissue (2.7-point difference; P = .035). Histological score between the traumatic and osteoarthritic groups was not different.

Conclusion:

Traumatically torn menisci possess a higher degree of degeneration than intact menisci. Our results suggest that patients with a traumatic meniscal tear may already have had a certain degree of meniscal degeneration. These findings potentially challenge the classic view of traumatic versus degenerative meniscal tears.

Clinical Relevance:

Our findings provide a better understanding of the tissue condition of a torn meniscus. This knowledge may help clinicians decide on choice of treatment and may lead to new perspectives to prevent knee osteoarthritis in patients with a torn meniscus.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health, Substance Use, and Well-being: A Rapid Survey of Clinical and Community Samples: Répercussions de la COVID-19 sur la santé mentale, l’utilisation de substances et le bien-être des adolescents : un sondage rapide d’échantillons cliniques et communautaires
Authors: Hawke Lisa D. , Barbic Skye Pamela , Voineskos Aristotle , Szatmari Peter , Cleverley Kristin , Hayes Em , Relihan Jacqueline , Daley Mardi , Courtney Darren , Cheung Amy , Darnay Karleigh , Henderson Joanna L.
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

The current novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents a time-sensitive opportunity to rapidly enhance our knowledge about the impacts of public health crises on youth mental health, substance use, and well-being. This study examines youth mental health and substance use during the pandemic period.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 622 youth participants across existing clinical and community cohorts. Using the National Institute of Mental Health-developed CRISIS tool and other measures, participants reported on the impacts of COVID-19 on their mental health, substance use, and other constructs.

Results:

Reports of prepandemic mental health compared to intrapandemic mental health show a statistically significant deterioration of mental health across clinical and community samples ( P < 0.001), with greater deterioration in the community sample. A total of 68.4% of youth in the clinical sample and 39.9% in the community sample met screening criteria for an internalizing disorder. Substance use declined in both clinical and community samples ( P < 0.001), although 23.2% of youth in the clinical sample and 3.0% in the community sample met screening criteria for a substance use disorder. Participants across samples report substantial mental health service disruptions (48.7% and 10.8%) and unmet support needs (44.1% and 16.2%). Participants report some positive impacts, are using a variety of coping strategies to manage their wellness, and shared a variety of ideas of strategies to support youth during the pandemic.

Conclusions:

Among youth with histories of mental health concerns, the pandemic context poses a significant risk for exacerbation of need. In addition, youth may experience the onset of new difficulties. We call on service planners to attend to youth mental health during COVID-19 by bolstering the accessibility of services. Moreover, there is an urgent need to engage young people as coresearchers to understand and address the impacts of the pandemic and the short, medium, and long terms.
Study on the biogas potential of anaerobic digestion of coffee husks wastes in Ethiopia
Authors: Du Ning , Li Meng , Zhang Qian , Ulsido Mihret Dananto , Xu Ruyi , Huang Wansong
Published: July 2020

The poorly controlled discharge of coffee husks in Ethiopia causes severe environmental pollution and is a waste of resources. The volatile solid and carbon content in coffee husks waste indicates that it is rich in organic matter and has huge potential to produce biogas. This study investigated the feasibility of coffee husks to produce biomass through anaerobic digestion, based on temperature, initial pH, inoculum/substrate (I/S) ratio and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The study demonstrated that the maximum production of biogas and methane reached 3359.6 ml and 2127.30 ml, respectively, under the conditions of mesophilic temperature (35±1°C), an initial pH of 7, an I/S ratio of 0.75 and a C/N ratio of 30. Based on this result, the effects of trace elements (Fe2+, Ni2+, Co2+) on biogas production and methane content were also explored. Compared with the group with no addition of trace elements, the experiment adding trace elements had significant enhancement effects on the production of biogas and methane, in which Fe2+ played a leading role ( p<0.05). Fe2+ promoted the hydrolysis and acidification of coffee husks, resulting in the production of a series of intermediates such as volatile fatty acids and the other kinds of dissolved organic matter. Furthermore, the cooperation of Ni2+, Co2+ and Fe2+ enhanced the activity of the enzyme system in methanogens, promoting methane production. The results in this paper show that coffee husks have clear biogas potential through anaerobic digestion, and its effective utilization could fulfill the dual purpose of solid waste reclamation and local environmental protection in Ethiopia.
Evaluating treatment pathways for managing packaging materials from construction of a solar photovoltaic power station
Authors: Guerin Turlough F
Published: July 2020

The reuse of end-of-life packaging materials (EOLPM) on site represents, particularly for remote sites, an important contribution to sustainable business practice because it provides a higher value end use when used to develop on-site mulch to enable soil improvement, thereby reducing transport emissions (in relation to the least preferred option of off-site disposal to landfill), lowering costs and offering employment to local contractors. The objective of the study was to demonstrate a local application of the circular economy for EOLPM to a utility-scale solar electricity (USSE) construction site. Although the principles of the circular economy could not be applied fully at the site, it was possible to demonstrate that EOLPM can be reused on site for a higher value than off-site disposal would give. Given the common occurrence of these materials in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector, this represents an important step forward for the sector internationally. The study is the first of its type reported, and the methods used for characterization of the EOLPM included a range of organic and inorganic chemical analyses and phytotoxicity testing, which were followed by an environmental and financial cost-benefit analysis. The selected option of on-site reuse of the materials as a mulch had a global warming potential of 58 t CO2e compared with the business as usual option (transport to landfill) of 3145 t CO2e. The results also demonstrated the broader potential for using EOLPM from USSE sites for soil improvement at remote locations rather than transporting these materials off site for disposal or reuse.
Synthesis of multifunctional liquid crystalline epoxy resin embedded cyclic-siloxane chain with Tg-less behavior and enhanced toughness
Authors: Harada Miyuki , Yokoyama Yugo , Ochi Mitsukazu
Published: July 2020

A novel tetrafunctional mesogenic epoxy monomer with a cyclic-siloxane chain as a central part was successfully synthesized and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized optical microscopy. The transition temperature and liquid crystallinity of cyclic-siloxane type mesogenic epoxy were compared with those of linear-siloxane type mesogenic epoxy. Moreover, epoxy thermosets were prepared based on the cyclic- and linear-siloxane type mesogenic epoxy monomers and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylethane. The effects of epoxy backbone moiety on thermal and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. As a result, the cyclic-siloxane type mesogenic epoxy thermoset shows glass transition temperature-less behavior and low coefficient of linear thermal expansion without a decrease in toughness.
Remaining useful life prediction for auxiliary power unit based on particle filter
Authors: Guo Jiachen , Cai Jing , Jiang Heng , Li Xin
Published: July 2020

Auxiliary power unit is one of the indispensable systems for civil aviation aircraft but the traditional planned maintenance cannot meet the actual needs of airlines. In this work, the key performance parameters of the auxiliary power unit are selected by using recursive feature elimination method. With the selected parameters, the remaining useful flight cycle of the auxiliary power unit is predicted by applying particle filter techniques. Some improved algorithms such as Gaussian particle filter and auxiliary particle filter are also compared. The experimental results demonstrate that the particle filter-based method has high prediction accuracy and engineering application value.
Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness on False-Memory Susceptibility
Authors: Sherman Susan M. , Grange James A.
Published: July 2020

Wilson, Mickes, Stolarz-Fantino, Evrard, and Fantino (2015) presented data from three well-powered experiments suggesting that a brief mindfulness induction can increase false-memory susceptibility. However, we had concerns about some of the methodology, including whether mind wandering is the best control condition for brief mindfulness inductions. Here, we report the findings from a preregistered double-blind randomized controlled trial designed to replicate and extend Wilson et al.’s findings. Participants ( N = 287) underwent 15-min mindfulness or mind-wandering inductions or completed a join-the-dots task before being presented with lists of words related to nonpresented critical lures. This was followed by free-recall and recognition tasks. There was no evidence for an effect of state of mind on correct or false recall or recognition. Furthermore, manipulation checks revealed that mindfulness and mind-wandering inductions activated overlapping states of mind. Exploratory analyses provided some support for mindfulness increasing false memory, but it appears that mind wandering may not be the right control for brief mindfulness research.
Disturbance and resilience of a Sphagnum peatland in western Russia (Western Dvina Lakeland) during the last 300 years: A multiproxy, high-resolution study
Authors: Łuców Dominika , Lamentowicz Mariusz , Obremska Milena , Arkhipova Maria , Kittel Piotr , Łokas Edyta , Mazurkevich Andrey , Mróz Tomasz , Tjallingii Rik , Słowiński Michał
Published: July 2020

This paper presents the results of multiproxy research (pollen, charcoal, plant macrofossil and testate amoebae) on the biogenic deposits core from Gorodetsky Moch, an ombrotrophic peatland in western Russia (Western Dvina Lakeland). We reconstructed the impact of disturbance on peatland development in the last 300 years by using chronology of the records based on 14C and 210Pb data set. The multiproxy reconstruction was compared with changes in the land cover using historical maps and Corona images, which provides a unique spatial analysis of past ecological and land-use changes. We aimed to determine the effect of local disturbances (drainage) and land-use changes (landscape openness) on the development of the peatland during the last 300 years. Our study suggests that human activity had a crucial impact on the development of the peatland in the last centuries. The analysis of testate amoebae and plant macrofossils revealed a clear disturbed layer in the second half of the 20th century CE. Most probably, the drainage of the peatland triggered changes in the community of testate amoebae and plants, thereby causing a functional shift in Sphagnum peatland ecosystem. The hydrological stress and vegetation composition shift led to the collapse of mixotrophic testate amoebae. However, the peatland showed strong resilience and recovered toward the end of the 20th century CE and the beginning of the 21st century CE, despite the lower water table. Our study shows an example of the peatland ecosystem that experienced a considerable stress but finally sustained the former function.
Dramatic recent changes in small mammal assemblages from Northern Patagonia: A caution for paleoenvironmental reconstructions
Authors: Tammone Mauro N , Lacey Eileen A , Pardiñas Ulyses FJ
Published: July 2020

Temporal differences in fossil assemblages of small mammals can generate important insights into associated environmental conditions. Moreover, by including modern assemblages in such comparisons, it may also be possible to identify the effects of recent human colonization on mammal communities and their habitats. To explore potential signals of European colonization in northwestern Patagonia, we compared fossil and modern assemblages of small mammals from two newly characterized paleontological sites in the Limay Valley region of Río Negro Province, Argentina. The material analyzed consisted of 18 species of small-bodied terrestrial mammals identified from a sample of 27,992 specimens. Fossil assemblages dating from 6453 to 1002 calibrated years before present were relatively stable in taxonomic composition and displayed only minor differences in relative species abundances. In contrast, the modern assemblages examined were clearly distinct, containing a different suite of numerically dominant taxa and lacking three previously abundant grassland species that are presumed to have gone extinct in the vicinity of our study sites. We suggest that these changes reflect substantial post-colonization modifications of surrounding landscapes, including establishment of pine plantations, changes in fire regimes, and introductions of livestock and invasive species of plants. If correct, this supposition raises important concerns regarding the use of modern assemblages as a baseline for reconstructing paleoenvironmental conditions. To avoid potential misinterpretations associated with the use of modern faunal assemblages, we suggest two potential alternative strategies for inferring temporal changes in environmental conditions.
Misinterpreting proxy data for paleoclimate signals: A comment on Shukla et al. 2020
Authors: Srivastava Priyeshu , Jovane Luigi
Published: July 2020

Shukla et al. explored paleoclimatic signals from a ~8 m thick profile of a moraine-dammed lake in the central Himalaya exposed due to lake burst from a flash flood in 2013. The main objective of their research work is to understand the complex glacial-climate system during late-Holocene. They attempted a novel multi proxy approach for paleoclimate reconstruction but their work suffers from misinterpretation of various proxies and erroneous/misleading discussion. We therefore report following major points in this comment article. (1) Misinterpretation of magnetic parameters: Magnetic susceptibility (χlf) has been used to interpret changes in magnetic mineralogy rather than concentration of magnetic minerals. Susceptibility of anhysteretic remanence (χARM) has been used at several places to indicate presence of superparamagnetic (SP) and multi domain (MD) ferrimagnetic particles rather than single domain (SD) ferrimagnetic (magnetite) particles. Interpreting erroneous negative values of percentage of frequency dependent susceptibility (χfd%) for climate change. (2) Poor chronology: Overlaps in ages of glacial-lake sediments. (3) References: Several statements in paper have not been referenced and some of them have out of place citations. (4) Carefree writing: Authors have shown typical example of carefree writing of a research article, for example, giving units to dimensionless parameter S-ratio, and χfd%, differences in units of χlf in text and figure, different depths for the same age in text and figure. (5) Over interpretation: Authors at places have interpreted climatic variations based on only one sample. (6) Poor justifications: Authors did not provide any detailed justification for proxy data while interpreting climatic variations. (7) No data (results) on mineralogy and trace elements were given. Overall it is not only a problem of presentation and misinterpretation of proxy data but the study also fails to deliver the final message of climate change and glacier dynamics in the central Himalaya.
The moral obligation for interlibrary lending
Authors: Bamkin Marianne
Published: July 2020

A philosophical dilemma has arisen for librarians in this interconnected age: whether a library has a moral obligation to lend resources to another library. This discussion article examines a range of literature about interlibrary lending (interlending) and gives an account of librarians’ perceptions of this quandary. The literature covers the guidelines on interlending set out by library professional bodies and a historical view of interlending, as well as more recent perceptions from librarians quoted in reports. In order to explore the concept in more detail, taking a qualitative approach, a small questionnaire was circulated online to a cross section of libraries in the Midlands region of the UK. The opinions of 11 self-selected participants were forthcoming, working in a range of academic, public and community-led libraries. The data gathered was thematically categorised to identify the range of perceptions. The views expressed in the questionnaire echoed those identified in the literature, forming three groups of moral attitude: no moral obligation; an obligation if it does not outweigh the costs; and a strong moral imperative to share resources. The participants identified the benefits of interlibrary lending and generally acknowledged that resource-sharing was important. The importance of good customer service was highlighted, as well as the imperative of supporting the ongoing operation of their library service. Taking these perceptions into consideration, it was concluded that the question ‘Is there a moral obligation for one library to lend to another?’ is not the right one to ask. The moral duty of a librarian is that access to information is maintained and resources are shared for the good of society as a whole.
Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Italian version of the Brief Index of Lupus Damage: the BILDit
Authors: Elefante Elena , Tani Chiara , Santoni Adele , Lorenzoni Valentina , Stagnaro Chiara , Parma Alice , Ferro Francesco , Carli Linda , Signorini Viola , Zucchi Dina , Doherty Wendy , McSorley Mary Rose , Marconcini Luisa , Turchetti Giuseppe , Mosca Marta
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The Brief Index of Lupus Damage (BILD) is an instrument of self-evaluation of organ damage for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The objectives of this study were the translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Italian version of the BILD (BILDit).

Methods

The process of translation and cultural adaptation followed published guidelines. The BILDit was pretested in a pilot study with 30 SLE patients in order to evaluate acceptability, reliability, comprehension and feasibility, and then validated in consecutive SLE patients attending our clinic.

Results

A total of 167 SLE patients were enrolled. In the pilot study, the BILDit demonstrated good acceptability, feasibility and comprehensibility and a very high degree of reliability (Cronbach’s α = 1). In the validation cohort, the BILDit showed a significant positive correlation with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI; ρ = 0.69; p < 0.001). Analysing the item-by-item correlation between the BILDit and the SDI, a good correlation ( p < 0.001) was found for 73.1% of the items. In the multivariate analysis, the BILDit showed a significant positive correlation with age and disease duration ( p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The BILDit seems to be an acceptable and reliable instrument for patient self-evaluation of disease damage, with a good correlation with the SDI. It can be considered as a screening tool for the evaluation of organ damage starting from the patient’s perceptive.
Enhanced UV Resistance Role of Death Domain–Associated Protein in Human MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells by Regulation of G2 DNA Damage Checkpoint
Authors: Shan Zhiyan , Liu Li , Shen Jingling , Hao Haiyue , Zhang Honghong , Lei Lei , Liu Feng , Wang Zhipeng
Published: July 2020

Purpose:

Death domain–associated protein (DAXX) is a multifunctional nuclear protein involved in apoptosis, transcription, deoxyribonucleic acid damage response, and tumorigenesis. However, the role of DAXX in breast cancer development and progression remains elusive. In this study, we examined the expression patterns and function of DAXX in human breast cancer samples and cell lines.

Methods:

Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression and localization patterns of DAXX. Additionally, we investigated whether DAXX played an intrinsic role in the cellular response to damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (isolated at M D Anderson from a pleural effusion of a patient with invasive ductal carcinoma).

Results:

Our results showed that nucleus size, chromatin organization, and DAXX localization were altered in breast cancer tissues compared with those in control tissues. Compared with cytoplasmic and nuclear expression in benign breast tissues, DAXX was colocalized with promyelocytic leukemia in nuclei with a granular distribution. Endogenous DAXX messenger ribonucleic acid levels were upregulated upon UV radiation in MDA-MB-231 cells. DAXX-deficient cells tended to be more sensitive to irradiation than control cells. Conversely, DAXX-overexpressing cells exhibited reduced phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) accumulation, increased cell survival, and resistance to UV-induced damage. The protective effects of DAXX may be related to the activation of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-checkpoint kinase 2 (ATM-CHK2)-cell division cycle 25c (CDC25c) signaling pathways in Gap2/Mitosis (G2/M) checkpoint and ultimately cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase.

Conclusions:

Taken together, these results suggested that DAXX may be an essential component in breast cancer initiation, malignant progression, and radioresistance.
How Rewarding Are Your Rewards? A Value-Based View of Crowdfunding Rewards and Crowdfunding Performance
Authors: Jiang Han , Wang Zhiyi , Yang Lusi , Shen Jia , Hahn Jungpil
Published: July 2020

In this study, we integrate the insights of consumption value theory and the crowdfunding literature to develop a value-based view of crowdfunding rewards to systematically theorize and synthesize the underlying mechanisms through which the various rewards offered by crowdfunding projects can incentivize crowdfunders’ backing decisions. Identifying three basic value dimensions carried by different crowdfunding rewards, utilitarian value, socioemotional value, and participatory value, our value-based view posits that these three values satisfy crowdfunders’ different needs and thus motivate them to back a project on distinct grounds and considerations. Through this view, the performance of a crowdfunding project can thus be shaped by the joint effects of the three values delivered by all of its offered rewards. Given their distinct incentivizing mechanisms, we further posit that socioemotional value and participatory value will potentially substitute the effects of utilitarian value, thus leading to an inverted U-shaped effect of the combination of the three values on crowdfunding performance. Evidence from a novel multimethod design that integrates field data, topic modeling, and a survey with crowdfunding professionals largely supports our theoretical predictions. Our theoretical framework and empirical findings have important implications for both theory and practice.
Testing-the-Waters Policy With Hypothetical Investment: Evidence From Equity Crowdfunding
Authors: Cumming Douglas , Hervé Fabrice , Manthé Elodie , Schwienbacher Armin
Published: July 2020

Digitization has enabled “testing-the-waters” in entrepreneurial finance whereby investors can make nonbinding commitments in equity crowdfunding prior to an actual campaign to ascertain interest in the project. We consider whether these nonbinding equity investment commitments are informative about actual investments during the campaign and, thus, ultimate startup funding success. The data indicate that only 18% of nonbinding commitments are, in fact, invested. The evidence is consistent with hypothetical bias. Hypothetical bias is significantly less pronounced among women and among investors living in higher income areas or in areas with higher levels of education. While investment intentions are only partially reliable at the individual level, the aggregate amount of collected investment intentions is a strong predictor of campaign success. We investigate alternative reasons for withdrawals, such as lying and informational motives, both of which we find implausible alternatives to hypothetical bias.
The Global Waste Trafficking and Its Correlates
Authors: Favarin Serena , Aziani Alberto
Published: July 2020

Our understanding of illicit waste trafficking (IWT) is in its embryonic stages; most notably, the transnational nature of this phenomenon has hitherto been neglected in extant empirical research. This study provides the first analysis of the possible coorrelates of transnational IWT at a global level. Through recourse to information extracted from the official Basel Convention National Reports, we constructed a network of the most relevant IWT connections between 148 countries. Next, we quantitatively investigated the role of specific potential factors that influence the structure of this transnational network. Our results indicate that illicit waste is trafficked toward poorer and more insecure countries, primarily via former colonial connections. As such, IWT poses a direct threat to the sustainable development of these countries. Mere adherence to international treaties and promulgation of environmental laws does not in and of themselves explain whether a country is part of the global IWT network, although the establishment of dedicated courts and tribunals does reduce the risk of being a recipient of trafficked waste. Solid anticorruption measures and a strong rule of law increased the likelihood of being a source country in the IWT network, which, in turn, calls for a more global approach to the management of environmental issues.
Discussing Goals of Care in a Pandemic: Precedent for an Unprecedented Situation
Authors: Lewis Ariane
Published: July 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the need for frequent end-of-life discussions. The circumstances surrounding these conversations are quite atypical. Here, I describe one such goals-of-care discussion during the pandemic and how I relied on the precedent of prior goals-of-care discussions to guide me through an unprecedented situation.