bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term epigenetic changes in offspring mice exposed to alcohol during gestation and lactation
Authors: Cantacorps Lídia , Alfonso-Loeches Silvia , Guerri Consuelo , Valverde Olga
Published: June 2019

Background:

Alcohol exposure impairs brain development and leads to a range of behavioural and cognitive dysfunctions, termed as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Although different mechanisms have been proposed to participate in foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, the molecular insights of such effects are still uncertain. Using a mouse model of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, we have previously shown that maternal binge-like alcohol drinking causes persistent effects on motor, cognitive and emotional-related behaviours associated with neuroimmune dysfunctions.

Aims:

In this study, we sought to evaluate whether the long-term behavioural alterations found in offspring with early exposure to alcohol are associated with epigenetic changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Methods:

Pregnant C57BL/6 female mice underwent a model procedure for binge alcohol drinking throughout both the gestation and lactation periods. Subsequently, adult offspring were assessed for their cognitive function in a reversal learning task and brain areas were extracted for epigenetic analyses.

Results:

The results demonstrated that early binge alcohol exposure induces long-term behavioural effects along with alterations in histone acetylation (histone H4 lysine 5 and histone H4 lysine 12) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The epigenetic effects were linked with an imbalance in histone acetyltransferase activity that was found to be increased in the prefrontal cortex of mice exposed to alcohol.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, our results reveal that maternal binge-like alcohol consumption induces persistent epigenetic modifications, effects that might be associated with the long-term cognitive and behavioural impairments observed in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder models.
Alternative splicing in serotonergic system: Implications in neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Latorre Eva , Mesonero Jose Emilio , Harries Lorna W
Published: June 2019

Background:

The serotonergic system is a key component of physiological brain function and is essential for proper neurological activity. Numerous neuropsychiatric disorders are associated with deregulation of the serotonergic system. Accordingly, many pharmacological treatments are focused on modulation of this system. While providing a promising line of therapeutic moderation, these approaches may be complicated due to the presence of alternative splicing events for key genes in this pathway. Alternative splicing is a co-transcriptional process by which different mRNA transcripts can be produced from the same gene. These different isoforms may have diverse activities and functions, and their relative balance is often critical for the maintenance of homeostasis. Alternative splicing greatly increases the production of proteins, augmenting cell plasticity, and provides an important control point for regulation of gene expression.

Aim:

The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the potential impact of alternative splicing of different components of the serotonergic system and speculate on their involvement in several neuropsychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

The specific role of each isoform in disease and their relative activities in the signalling pathways involved are yet to be determined. We need to gain a better understanding of the basis of alternative isoforms of the serotonergic system in order to fully understand their impact and be able to develop new effective pharmacological isoform-specific targets.
Cerebrovascular plasticity: Processes that lead to changes in the architecture of brain microvessels
Authors: Bogorad Max I , DeStefano Jackson G , Linville Raleigh M , Wong Andrew D , Searson Peter C
Published: June 2019

The metabolic demands of the brain are met by oxygen and glucose, supplied by a complex hierarchical network of microvessels (arterioles, capillaries, and venules). Transient changes in neural activity are accommodated by local dilation of arterioles or capillaries to increase cerebral blood flow and hence nutrient availability. Transport and communication between the circulation and the brain is regulated by the brain microvascular endothelial cells that form the blood–brain barrier. Under homeostatic conditions, there is very little turnover in brain microvascular endothelial cells, and the cerebrovascular architecture is largely static. However, changes in the brain microenvironment, due to environmental factors, disease, or trauma, can result in additive or subtractive changes in cerebrovascular architecture. Additions occur by angiogenesis or vasculogenesis, whereas subtractions occur by vascular pruning, injury, or endothelial cell death. Here we review the various processes that lead to changes in the cerebrovascular architecture, including sustained changes in the brain microenvironment, development and aging, and injury, disease, and repair.
The accuracy of ischemic core perfusion thresholds varies according to time to recanalization in stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy: A comprehensive whole-brain computed tomography perfusion study
Authors: Laredo Carlos , Renú Arturo , Tudela Raúl , Lopez-Rueda Antonio , Urra Xabier , Llull Laura , Macías Napoleón G , Rudilosso Salvatore , Obach Víctor , Amaro Sergio , Chamorro Ángel
Published: June 2019

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) allows the estimation of pretreatment ischemic core after acute ischemic stroke. However, CTP-derived ischemic core may overestimate final infarct volume. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of CTP-derived ischemic core for the prediction of final infarct volume according to time from stroke onset to recanalization in 104 patients achieving complete recanalization after mechanical thrombectomy who had a pretreatment CTP and a 24-h follow-up MRI-DWI. A range of CTP thresholds was explored in perfusion maps at constant increments for ischemic core calculation. Time to recanalization modified significantly the association between ischemic core and DWI lesion in a non-linear fashion ( p-interaction = 0.018). Patients with recanalization before 4.5 h had significantly lower intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values between CTP-predicted ischemic core and DWI lesion ( n = 54; best threshold relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) < 25%, ICC = 0.673, 95% CI = 0.495–0.797) than those with later recanalization ( n = 50; best threshold rCBF < 30%, ICC = 0.887, 95% CI = 0.811–0.935, p = 0.013), as well as poorer spatial lesion agreement. The significance of the associations between CTP-derived ischemic core and clinical outcome at 90 days was lost in patients recanalized before 4.5 h. CTP-derived ischemic core must be interpreted with caution given its dependency on time to recanalization, primarily in patients with higher chances of early recanalization.
Social Vulnerability and Procedural Equity: Exploring the Distribution of Disaster Aid Across Counties in the United States
Authors: Domingue Simone J. , Emrich Christopher T.
Published: June 2019

To date, there has been limited research conducted on disaster aid allocation across multiple regions and disasters within the United States. In addition, there is a paucity of research specifically connecting social indicators of vulnerability to public assistance grants aimed at restoring, rebuilding, and mitigating against future damages in disasters. Given these gaps, this article inquires as to whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) public assistance program is characterized by procedural inequities, or disparate outcomes for counties with more socially vulnerable populations. Specifically, this article analyzes county-level FEMA’s Public Assistance distribution following major disaster declarations, while controlling for damages sustained, population, household counts, and FEMA Region. Results indicate that FEMA’s Public Assistance program operates well when accounting only for disaster losses across the years, however, findings also show that county social conditions influence funding receipt. Although socioeconomic characteristics were significant drivers of assistance spending, additional vulnerability indicators related to county demographic and built environment characteristics were also important drivers of receipt. Cases of both procedural inequity and equity are highlighted, and implications for equitable disaster recovery are discussed along with recommendations.
Robust collaborative object transportation using multiple MAVs
Authors: Tagliabue Andrea , Kamel Mina , Siegwart Roland , Nieto Juan
Published: June 2019

Collaborative object transportation using multiple MAV with limited communication is a challenging problem. In this paper, we address the problem of multiple MAV mechanically coupled to a bulky object for transportation purposes without explicit communication between agents. The apparent physical properties of each agent are reshaped to achieve robustly stable transportation. Parametric uncertainties and unmodeled dynamics of each agent are quantified and techniques from robust control theory are employed to choose the physical parameters of each agent to guarantee stability. Extensive simulation analysis and experimental results show that the proposed method guarantees stability in worst-case scenarios.
Effects of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on dental plaque microbiota
Authors: Hu Xiaoli , Huang Zhuwei , Zhang Yuejiao , Hong Yubing , Zheng Yuan
Published: June 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on dental plaque microbiota.

Methods

Caries-free young adults were administered a probiotic drink containing L. casei Shirota (Yakult) three times on day 1, then once daily for 28 days. Dental plaque samples were collected and analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing before (day 1), during (day 2), and one day following intervention (day 30).

Results

Out of samples from 10 included participants, 256 814 sequences passed through quality control, clustered into 170–234 different ‘species-level’ phylotypes. Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla. Dental plaque microbiota composition significantly changed at different taxonomic levels following probiotic consumption. At genus level, the relative abundance of Veillonella and Kingella increased significantly following intervention, while that of Leptotrichia reduced significantly during intervention, but recovered to baseline level at day 30. Alpha diversity and overall structure of the dental plaque microbiota was not significantly impacted by the probiotic.

Conclusion

Yakult intake changed the abundance of some bacteria related to caries, suggesting that the change of composition may be beneficial to oral health, while the overall microbiota structure remained unaffected.
Prediction and Mitigation of Flow Breakdown Occurrence for Weather Affected Networks: Case Study of Chicago, Illinois
Authors: Filipovska Monika , Mahmassani Hani S. , Mittal Archak
Published: June 2019

This study investigates the prediction and mitigation of the phenomenon of traffic flow breakdown when affected by varying weather conditions. First, the probability of breakdown occurrence is examined using a survival analysis approach to obtain distributions of pre-breakdown flow rates under different weather conditions. Second, pre-breakdown flow rate distributions were applied in breakdown prediction for the implementation of breakdown mitigation strategies. In the first part, a set of data from the network of Kansas City was used to demonstrate the applicability of the Kaplan–Meier Product Limit method to estimating the breakdown probability under various weather conditions. Then, using simulated data on the network of Chicago, the K-M approach was used again to obtain survival likelihood distributions, which in turn yield breakdown probability, for 13 different weather cases as combinations of weather categories for different levels of visibility, rain, and snow precipitation. In the second part, continuing with the simulated data, dynamic speed limits (DSL) were applied to demonstrate the effectiveness of the prediction method presented. A sensitivity analysis of the threshold probability and upstream distance at which DSL should be implemented was performed for clear and inclement weather conditions. In clear weather the performance of the strategy is better at a lower probability threshold and farther upstream location, whereas in inclement weather the performance is better at a lower probability threshold and closer upstream location. The paper demonstrates the effect of changing weather conditions on the likelihood of breakdown occurrence and the implementation of breakdown mitigation strategies.
Macroscopic Relationship between Traffic Condition and Fuel Consumption for an Urban Road Network: Case Study of Beijing
Authors: Wang Jingyi , Song Guohua , Yu Lei , Lu Hongyu , Sun Jianping , Cheng Ying , He Weinan
Published: June 2019

The waste of fuel causing by traffic congestion is a challenge faced by urban traffic management authorities and travelers. At the same time, massive traffic data allows high-resolution understanding of on-road operating conditions. The development of an algorithm to estimate total fuel consumption from primary traffic condition indices, for example, network average speed, will simplify the evaluation of fuel consumption from the management perspective and guide strategy at the local area level. The objective of this study is to develop a macroscopic relationship between total fuel consumption and the network average speed for an urban road network. Floating car data (FCD) covering 13 weekdays was collected in the field in Beijing, China. FCD from 10 ordinary weekdays are used to develop a quantitative model to define the macroscopic relationship between total fuel consumption and network average speed. The model is then validated by the FCD of the other three weekdays when the traffic demand is low. The average of the resultant absolute relative errors from the validation is found to be 4.65%, which indicates a reasonably high reliability of the developed model under various traffic conditions. The facility- and speed-specific distributions of vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT) are analyzed to explain the macroscopic relationship. The result indicates that the link VKT distribution at different speeds varies greatly when the traffic became congested on expressways. The link VKT distributions are similar for different traffic conditions on arterials and collectors.
Perceptions of Gender, Mobility, and Personal Safety: South Africa Moving Forward
Authors: Vanderschuren Marianne J. W. A. , Phayane Sekadi R. , Gwynne-Evans Alison J.
Published: June 2019

Transport users make mode choices based on a variety of factors. These factors are economic or service driven, based on individual roles, habits, and interests, as well as age, life cycle stage, and gender. Analysis reflects different mobility patterns for males and females relating to care activities. Literature suggests that experiences of harassment have a significant effect on user choices. This study examines how South African data compares with international studies. Mode use and trip purposes, distances, and times differ depending on gender and are affected by the experience of harassment, which affects females more than males. Analyzing trip making in South Africa revealed that travel modes, distances, and times are not significantly different across gender. South African females make fewer trips than males, but significantly more care trips. Different modes of public transport score differently regarding potential experience of harassment, with trains performing the worst. The reason mode choice is not significantly different between females and males is assumed to be because of financial reasons. Investigating harassment perception in Cape Town reveals that females experience harassment more often and this influences their choices regarding care trips. These findings have significant implications for transport policy in South Africa and suggest that more nuanced policies are required.
Contribution of Additional Anterolateral Structure Augmentation to Controlling Pivot Shift in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Ueki Hiroko , Katagiri Hiroki , Otabe Koji , Nakagawa Yusuke , Ohara Toshiyuki , Shioda Mikio , Kohno Yuji , Hoshino Takashi , Sekiya Ichiro , Koga Hideyuki
Published: June 2019

Background:

Several types of anterolateral structure (ALS) augmentation procedures in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have been reported. However, information is limited regarding the effect of additional ALS augmentation on rotatory stability in a clinical setting.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

This study aimed to investigate the contribution of additional ALS augmentation in ACL reconstruction in cases with a high risk of residual pivot shift. The 2 hypotheses were as follows. First, additional ALS augmentation would improve rotatory stability as compared with solely reconstructing the ACL. Second, graft tension changes would be different between the ACL and ALS during knee range of motion and against anterior or rotatory loads.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Fifteen patients who met at least 1 of the following criteria were included: (1) revision ACL reconstruction, (2) preoperative high-grade pivot shift, or (3) hyperextended knee. The pivot-shift test was performed preoperatively and during surgery after ACL reconstruction and after additional ALS augmentation with acceleration measurements from a triaxial accelerometer. The tension changes of the ACL and ALS grafts were also measured during knee range of motion and against manual maximum anterior tibial translation, internal rotation, and external rotation.

Results:

After ACL reconstruction, the pivot-shift acceleration was still greater than that of the uninjured knee. However, additional ALS augmentation further reduced acceleration when compared with ACL reconstruction alone in both primary and revision cases ( P < .05 vs preoperative, P < .05 vs ACL). During knee flexion-extension, the tension of the ACL increased as the knee was extended, whereas that of the ALS did not change. Graft tension of the ACL and ALS became higher with internal rotation and lower with external rotation as compared with the neutral position. Tension of the ACL was significantly increased against anterior tibial translational loads, whereas that of the ALS was not.

Conclusion:

Additional ALS augmentation further improved the rotatory stability during ACL reconstruction in patients with a high risk of residual pivot shift at the time of surgery. Significant differences in graft tension changes were also observed between the ACL and ALS against different loads. Additional ALS augmentation may be considered to eliminate the pivot shift in patients with a high risk of residual pivot shift.
High Rate of Failure After Matrix-Assisted Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation in Osteoarthritic Knees at 15 Years of Follow-up
Authors: Andriolo Luca , Reale Davide , Di Martino Alessandro , Zaffagnini Stefano , Vannini Francesca , Ferruzzi Alberto , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: June 2019

Background:

Chondral and osteochondral lesions in osteoarthritic knees of young patients remain challenging for orthopaedic surgeons, due to a combination of high functional demands and limited indications for joint replacement in this population. The possibility of extending the indication of cartilage regenerative procedures to these patients may allow the delay of metal resurfacing.

Purpose:

To analyze the potential of a cartilage regenerative approach to provide clinical benefits in young patients with osteoarthritic knees, documenting outcomes in terms of clinical improvement as well as failures, in particular regarding knee replacement, at long-term follow-up.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 41 patients (mean ± SD age, 43 ± 9 years) who had cartilage lesions (4 ± 2 cm2) in osteoarthritic knees (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) underwent matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) as a salvage procedure. Patients were evaluated with International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), and Tegner scores before surgery; at 1, 2, 5, and 9 years after surgery; and at a final follow-up at a mean of 15 years after surgery (range, 14-18 years). Failures were also recorded.

Results:

An improvement was observed in all scores after surgery, but a progressive worsening over time was noted. The mean ± SD IKDC score improved from 38.6 ± 16.2 to a maximum of 66.0 ± 18.6 at 2 years ( P < .0005), with a subsequent deterioration until the final evaluation at 56.2 ± 21.7 ( P = .024). A similar trend was confirmed by EQ-VAS scores. Tegner scores improved at all follow-up points but did not reach the preinjury level. Patients who underwent combined surgery obtained significantly lower results. Only 13 patients (32%) had an IKDC score higher than 70. During the follow-up period, 21 patients underwent reoperation (18 with knee replacement) and 3 more patients experienced clinical failure, for a total surgical and clinical failure rate of 59% at 15 years.

Conclusion:

The use of cartilage regenerative surgical procedures, such as MACT, as salvage procedures for young, active patients affected by chondral and osteochondral lesions in osteoarthritic knees led to a limited improvement, with the majority of patients experiencing failure at long-term follow-up. Although a minor subpopulation experienced favorable and stable improvement, the use of MACT for such a challenging indication remains questionable until responding patients can be profiled.
US Military Spending: A Perspective on the Restructuring Dynamics of the Defense Sector
Authors: Gentilucci Eleonora
Published: June 2019

The political economy of defense spending is enormously important given its magnitude and its global implication. Since the late 1990s, world and US military spending has being rising. This trend appears to be in sharp contrast to the long-term forecast about the so-called “peace dividend” formulated after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In order to explain this trend of military expenditures in the United States, the restructuring of the defense sector (in terms of concentration and financialization), the shift from a focus on “defense” to “security,” and the role and influence of “vested interests” in this process leading to the creation of the military-security system, are taken into consideration. The relation between social spending and military expenditures is also discussed.

JEL Classification: H56, H5, B5, F52, L16
Under Construction: Frames, Culture, and American Labor’s Postwar Embrace of “Free Enterprise”
Authors: Fuentes Kristina
Published: June 2019

The empirical literature on social movement framing has largely neglected the processes by which frames are made. This paper addresses this lacuna through a study of the Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (CIO) embrace of “free enterprise” in its postwar program in the 1940s. Conventional accounts present the CIO’s use of consensual language in this period as a reflection of the labor federation’s rightward ideological drift, but a close examination of the processes involved in the construction of the “free enterprise” frames reveals a more complicated story. Drawing from archival research, I show that free enterprise was viewed with suspicion and antipathy within the organization, which is reflected in early drafts of the program literature. I also demonstrate that the decision to ultimately embrace “free enterprise” was rooted in a defensive strategy, one that was shaped in part by the leadership’s perception of American political culture at the time.
How Do Ordinary Swiss People Represent and Engage with Environmental Issues? Grappling with Cultural Repertoires
Authors: Balsiger Philip , Lorenzini Jasmine , Sahakian Marlyne
Published: June 2019

This paper studies how ordinary people in Switzerland represent and engage with environmental issues in daily practices. Bringing together conceptual developments in cultural sociology and social practice theory, the paper argues that cultural repertoires strongly shape how representations and forms of engagement play out. It identifies two main repertoires of social and environmental change: adaptation and transformation. The adaptation repertoire is reformist and aligned with individualism and the capitalist growth-paradigm; the transformation repertoire consists of a critique of the market society and calls for systemic change. Using qualitative in-depth interviews and a random survey of residents of Western Switzerland, the analyses show that most people’s representations and engagements with environmental issues relate to the dominant repertoire of adaptation, which appears to be very compatible with existing social practices. Although people hint at limits to the adaptation repertoire, only very few of our study participants relate to the transformative repertoire.
Two Patients With KCNT1-Related Epilepsy Responding to Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide
Authors: Datta Anita N. , Michoulas Aspasia , Guella Ilaria ,   EPGEN Study, Demos Michelle
Published: June 2019

KCNT1 encodes a sodium-activated potassium channel highly expressed in the brain, regulating hyperpolarization following repetitive firing. Mutations in KCNT1 were originally implicated in autosomal-dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures. It is now known that there is variability in phenotypic expression and incomplete penetrance. We describe 2 patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy, one with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures and one with multifocal epilepsy. As most patients with KCNT1 variants have treatment-resistant epilepsy, drugs that specifically target the KCNT1 channel have been of great interest. Quinidine, a broad-spectrum potassium channel blocker, has shown promise; however, clinical trial results have been variable. Our patient with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures did not respond to a trial of quinidine at 6 weeks of age—one of the earliest reported quinidine trials in the literature for KCNT1-related epilepsy. This indicates that timing of treatment and response may not be related. Both patients responded to high-dose phenobarbital. The patient with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures also had a significant reduction in seizures with potassium bromide (KBr). Our data suggest that alternative therapies to quinidine should be considered as a therapeutic option for patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy. Although improved seizure control led to parent-reported improvements in neurodevelopment, it is unknown if phenobarbital and KBr impact the overall developmental trajectory of patients with KCNT1-related epilepsy. Further multicenter longitudinal studies are required.
Getting a Handle on Pay Equity
Authors: Flannery Thomas P. , McMullen Thomas D.
Published: June 2019

Pay equity is one of the most increasingly complex, sensitive and visible people issues facing organizations today. Understanding how to diagnose, quantify and address pay gaps, as defined by equal pay for equal work, has never been more important or more challenging. Today’s business, regulatory, political, and social climates are combining to place unprecedented levels of scrutiny on what organizations are doing—or not doing—to ensure they are fostering an inclusive environment in which all employees have equal opportunity to thrive and develop.
Concept Analysis of Rigor in Nursing Education
Authors: Gerdes Michele A.
Published: June 2019

The term rigor appears in nursing education literature, but the definitions are inconsistent. Likewise, there is variation in the implementation of rigor in nursing curricula and courses. Nurse educators need a clear and shared understanding of rigor to prepare graduates to use critical thinking. The purpose of this concept analysis is to gain understanding of the meaning of rigor in nursing education so that educators can establish a standardized definition, which will contribute to consistency of its application in learning environments with uniform criteria for curricula evaluation.
Employability traits for engineers: A competencies-based approach
Authors: Pais-Montes Carlos , Freire-Seoane Maria Jesus , López-Bermúdez Beatriz
Published: June 2019

Examination of the transition of successful students from university into the labour market reveals a significant gap between the competencies acquired during higher education and those needed in the workplace. In this article, the authors discuss a research study undertaken to analyse the employability traits of engineers who had recently graduated. In order to do this, an estimation was made of both acquired and applied competencies in each area of engineering examined (computer engineers, naval engineers and industrial engineers). This analysis enabled the calculation of a choice model to clarify which competencies act as a stimulus for employment and which discourage recruitment. The results provide clear policy directions both for management teams in each of the three areas of engineering and for universities.
A New Approach to the Apocryphal Ladder of Jacob
Authors: Böttrich Christfried
Published: June 2019

For a long time the apocryphal Ladder of Jacob was accessible only in arbitrarily selected translations. Without a critical edition and a comprehensive study of the whole textual segment, scholars were unable to evaluate its significance for Early Jewish and Christian literature. Since 2015/17, with the publication of a new critical edition and German translation (accompanied by a detailed introduction, footnote commentaries and appendices with related texts), a new approach to this important but hitherto widely unknown text has been made possible. This approach verifies the different layers or strata in the text, which are: a supposed Jewish apocalypse (mid-second century), a Christian expansion of the angels speech in light of the praeparatio evangelica tradition (fourth–seventh centuries), a Jewish mystical prayer (eleventh century) and the incorporation of this narrative block into the Tolkovaja Paleja together with a series of exegetical commentaries (end of the thirteenth century). In the light of the new approach, it can be said that the Ladder of Jacob is most of all an outstanding example of mutual relations between Jewish and Christian theology.
‘She Made Herself up Provocatively for the Charming of the Eyes of Men’ (Jdt. 10.4): Cosmetics and Body Adornment in the Stories of Judith and Susanna
Authors: Quick Laura
Published: June 2019

The use of cosmetics and body adornment in order to decorate and beautify oneself is an almost universal part of the human experience. This was also true of the ancient Palestinian culture that gave rise to the Hebrew Bible and early Jewish literature. Despite this, cosmetics and their function in the narratives in which they feature is an understudied subject within the academic scholarship of biblical literature. This article discusses the use of cosmetics in biblical and Jewish-Hellenistic texts, demonstrating that cosmetics were associated with immoral behavior and illicit sexual practices. Nevertheless, in the stories of Judith and Susanna, these characters apparently receive no such censure for applying cosmetic oil. By considering the use of cosmetics akin to a speech act, able to communicate something specific about one's social or sexual status, this article provides a new access to understanding these narratives and the characterisations of their female heroines.
Optimal integrated energy management and shift control in parallel hybrid electric vehicles with dual-clutch transmission
Authors: Li Guoqiang , Görges Daniel
Published: June 2019

This paper addresses the integration of the energy management and the shift control in parallel hybrid electric vehicles with dual-clutch transmission to reduce the fuel consumption, decrease the pollutant emissions, and improve the driving comfort simultaneously. Dynamic programming with a varying weighting factor in the cost function is proposed to balance the shift frequency and the fuel consumption for the power-split control and gear schedule design. Simulation results present that the drivability can be improved with a varying weighting factor due to fewer shift events while the fuel consumption is only slightly increased compared to dynamic programming with a constant weighting factor. A shift-energy-management strategy integrating the upshift and power-split control based on a multi-objective optimization is presented where model predictive control is employed to ensure engine load rate constraints. The strategy can smoothen the engine torque through torque compensation from the electric motor to prevent engine transient emissions resulting from a sudden load change. In a simulation study, the NOx and HC emissions could be reduced by 1.4% and 2.6% with 2% increase of the overall fuel consumption for the Federal Test Procedure 75 by smoothening the engine torque. For the New European Driving Cycle, 0.9% and 1.1% reduction of NOx and HC emissions could be achieved with only 0.3% more fuel consumption.
Mechanical and numerical characterization of ceramic femoral components for hip resurfacing arthroplasty
Authors: Vogel Danny , Liebelt Martin , Kalkowsky Florian , Oberbach Thomas , Delfosse Daniel , Bader Rainer
Published: June 2019

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty may have distinct advantages for young and active patients, but large metal-on-metal bearings can be associated with increased wear, adverse tissue reactions and higher rate of implant loosening. Ceramic wear couples are a commonly used alternative to metals and therefore might be an alternative for hip resurfacing arthroplastys. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical strength of femoral components made of an alumina-toughened zirconia composite by means of experimental testing and finite element analysis. For the mechanical characterization, ceramic femoral components (Ø: 48 mm) were tested under compression loading experimentally until fracture occurred or a maximum load of 85 kN was obtained. The femoral components were either loaded against a ceramic cup or a copper ring (outer diameter Ø: 7.0 mm). In addition, the complex geometry of the ceramic femoral component was simplified, and only the stem was loaded in a cantilever test until fracture. In addition, the fracture tests were numerically simulated to investigate the influence of additional loading conditions and geometric parameters, which were not experimentally tested. The experimental data were used for validation of the finite element analysis. None of the tested ceramic femoral components fractured at a compression load of 85 kN when they were loaded against a ceramic cup at an inclination angle of 45°. When the femoral components were loaded against a copper ring, the femoral components fractured at 29.9 kN at a testing angle of 45°. The fracture load was reduced when an angle of 30° and increased when an angle of 60° was simulated. Using an experimental cantilever test, the stem of the femoral component fractured at 1124.0 N. When the stem length was increased or the diameter was reduced by 10% in the finite element analysis, the fracture load was reduced. Decreasing the length or increasing the diameter led to an increase of the fracture load. The strongest influence was found for the reduction of the transition radius of the stem, with a decrease of the fracture load up to 27.2%. The analyzed femoral components made of alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) showed sufficient mechanical capability to withstand high loadings during unfavorable loading conditions. However, further biomechanical and tribological investigations are required before clinical application.
Political transparency matters: Citizens challenging officials via ‘have you planned X’-type questions
Authors: van Schepen Nynke
Published: June 2019

This article examines how citizens, invited to ask questions in public plenary consultation meetings within a participatory democracy procedure in urban planning in France, point at something that has not been mentioned in the public debate, thereby challenging the recipient. More specifically, this article is interested in studying, deploying the analytical framework offered by Conversation Analysis and Interactional Linguistics, a particular French linguistic turn design adopted by the citizens: variations of ‘have you planned X?’. These interrogatives are concerned with an aspect of the procedure the citizens present as relevant, but which has not been mentioned by the professionals. By adopting a turn format that requests confirmation, citizens display caution to not attribute blame overtly to the recipient for this perceived lack. At the same time, these questions make visible how citizens orient to public and political transparency as a social and political standard the recipients are obliged to uphold.
Clinical features, outcomes and risk factors for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study
Authors: Cui H- W , Lei R- Y , Zhang S- G , Han L- S , Zhang B- A
Published: June 2019

Objective

The objective of this paper is to investigate the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

From 2011 to October 2017, SLE patients with PRES were identified from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China. Patients presenting with neuropsychiatric lupus hospitalized in the same period were included as controls. Additionally, survival status was acquired via telephone follow-up in March 2018.

Results

Thirty episodes of PRES were identified in 29 SLE patients from a total of 7059 SLE patients (prevalence 0.43%). Patients with PRES had a younger age at onset than controls, with seizures more commonly the initial clinical manifestation (80.00% vs 42.37%, p = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression yet again confirmed several known risk factors, including younger age (odds ratio (OR) 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.16)), nephritis (OR 20.74 (18.10–23.75)), history of hypertension (OR 1.17 (1.05–1.31)), SLE Disease Activity Index without neurologic symptoms (SLEDAI-N) score >12 (OR 1.14 (1.11–1.18)) and eclampsia (OR 9.38 (7.84–11.23)). Furthermore, we identified two novel independent risk factors for PRES in SLE: white blood cells >9 × 109/l (OR 2.33 (2.05–2.64)) and heart failure (OR 2.10 (1.18–2.42)). At follow-up, SLE patients with PRES had higher mortality than controls (30.77% vs 8.33%, respectively, p = 0.012).

Conclusions

PRES may be a reversible neurological deficit in patients with SLE other than neuropsychiatric lupus. Our results indicate two new risk factors for PRES and that PRES is associated with a higher mortality rate.
The Impact of Limbal Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Healing of Acute Ocular Surface Wounds Is Improved by Pre-cultivation and Implantation in the Presence of Limbal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nili Elham , Li Fiona J. , Dawson Rebecca A. , Lau Cora , McEwan Blair , Barnett Nigel L. , Weier Steven , Walshe Jennifer , Richardson Neil A. , Harkin Damien G.
Published: June 2019

While limbal epithelial cells are used for treating ocular surface wounds, the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal cells cultivated from the limbal stroma (LMSC) is less clear. We have therefore examined the effects of LMSC when applied to acute ocular surface wounds. LMSC derived from male rabbits (RLMSC) were applied to the ocular surface of female rabbits immediately following removal of the corneal and limbal epithelium. Human amniotic membrane (HAM) was used as the vehicle for implanting the RLMSC. The effects of RLMSC were examined when applied alone ( n = 3) and in conjunction with a stratified culture of human limbal epithelial cells (HLE) grown on the opposing surface of the HAM ( n = 3). Outcomes were monitored over 3 months in comparison with animals receiving no treatment ( n = 3) or treatment with HLE alone on HAM ( n = 3). Animals treated with RLMSC ( n = 6) displayed faster re-epithelialization (∼90% versus 70% healing after 12 weeks), with best results being observed when RLMSC were pre-cultivated and implanted in the presence of HLE ( p < 0.01; 90% healing by 7 weeks). While all animals displayed conjunctival cells on the corneal surface (by presence of goblet cells and/or keratin 13 expression) and corneal neovascularization, evidence of corneal epithelial regeneration was observed in animals that received RLMSC in the presence of HLE (by staining for keratin 3 and the absence of goblet cells). Conversely, corneal neovascularization was significantly greater when RLMSC were applied in the absence of HLE (<0.05; 90% of cornea compared with 20–30% in other cohorts). Nevertheless, neither human nuclear antigen nor rabbit Y chromosome were detected within the regenerated epithelium. Our results demonstrate that while cultured LMSC encourage corneal re-epithelialization, healing is improved by the pre-cultivation and implantation of these mesenchymal cells in the presence of limbal epithelial cells.
Gauging the Impact of Payment System Innovations on Financial Intermediation: Novel Empirical Evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Lubis Alexander , Alexiou Constantinos , Nellis Joseph G.
Published: June 2019

In this article, the relationship between innovations in the payment systems and financial intermediation is explored. By focusing on excess reserves and currency demand we provide evidence on the extant transmission mechanism. In this direction, a generalised method of moments (GMM) and vector error correction model (VECM) techniques are applied to a data set collated for Indonesia. We find that financial intermediation is affected by currency demand while we observe a limited role of excess reserves affecting financial intermediation. Credit card payments are found to have a statistically significant effect on currency demand, whereas debit card payments only influence financial intermediation in the long run. In addition, the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) exerts an upward pressure on excess reserves. The findings are of great importance as they provide support to policies that favour payment migration to an electronic platform, particularly that of card-based payment systems.

JEL Classification: E42, E58, N25, G21
Competition and choice as a guiding principal for housing service reforms: The views of Australian housing professionals
Authors: Jacobs Keith , Lawson Julie
Published: June 2019

Amongst the claims often made to justify contemporary housing reforms in Australia is that extending choice and opening services to competition will lead to improved outcomes for tenants and encourage service agencies to become more efficient. This paper considers the veracity of ‘choice’ and ‘competition’ based reforms by drawing on international examples and the views of practitioners working in the Australian housing sector. Situating Australian reforms in an international context it explores why some practitioners have misgivings about policies that seek to advance ‘choice’ as the guiding principal for housing reform. The key arguments are first: that interventions to extend individual choice are likely to have only limited traction when organizations are struggling to operate with limited resources and second: households on low incomes often struggle to take up the choices that are made available through these service reforms. In the conclusion, it is suggested that the current Australian housing agenda to extend competition and choice is best situated within the wider setting of neoliberal policymaking. Though both concepts might appeal to those advocating consumer rights, their deployment serves to conceal a broader political agenda – to restructure welfare provision in ways that advantage the commercial sector.
Post-Traumatic Sarcomas: Do They Exist?
Authors: Montgomery Corey , Park Kwan J. , Gardner Jerad M. , Majors Issac , Nicholas Richard
Published: June 2019

Patients often cite a history of trauma prior to the diagnosis of a sarcoma. Sparse literature suggests that there may be a link between sarcoma development and trauma. A 10-year review of academic tertiary-referral sarcoma center database was examined to identify patients who developed a sarcoma after having a history of a significant musculoskeletal trauma. A total of 501 patients were treated for a sarcoma during this time period. Six patients were identified as previously having a significant musculoskeletal trauma at the site of sarcoma development. Half of the sarcomas arose in bone and the other half in soft tissue. Five (83%) patients had multiple operations for the injury with 3 (50%) patients having a postoperative wound infection. The average time from injury to development of the sarcoma was 19.8 years. Survival after diagnosis was poor, and 4 (67%) of the patients died due to their metastatic disease within 3 years of diagnosis. Our findings suggest the possibility of post-traumatic sarcomas.
Dual Business Relationships, Opportunity Knowledge, and New Product Development: A Study on Returnee Young Ventures
Authors: Bai Wensong , Johanson Martin , Martín Martín Oscar
Published: June 2019

The effects on innovation of the dual embeddedness of returnee young ventures (RYVs) in both domestic and international networks of relationships and knowledge contexts are important for value creation, growth, and success of these firms and embody a unique research opportunity. Drawing on a framework combining a business relationship perspective and the knowledge-based view, the authors propose that RYVs take advantage of business relationships and opportunity knowledge from both international and domestic markets to nurture their innovation. They test their model on a sample of 200 RYVs in China. The findings reveal that business relationships are essential for acquiring knowledge about technological and business opportunities, though only international opportunity knowledge and domestic business relationships positively influence new product development. In addition, the interaction between international and domestic business relationships constrains firms’ capacity for obtaining international opportunity knowledge. This study offers insights into how the trade-offs between dual relationships and subsequently sourced knowledge contribute to new product development in emerging markets, and it extends the discussion on the paradox view of business relationships with geographically dispersed actors.