bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Characterization of Marijuana Use in US College Students by State Marijuana Legalization Status as Reported to an Online Survey
Authors: Wang George Sam , Haynes Colleen , Besharat Andrea , Lait Marie‐Claire Le , Green Jody L. , Dart Richard C. , Roosevelt Genie
Published: March 2019

Background and Objective

US college student marijuana use is the highest since 1980. The objective was to investigate use characteristics among college students.

Methods

The RADARS® System College Survey Program surveyed individuals in a university, technical or online school. This was a secondary analysis of existing data.

Results

Seven thousand one hundred five students were enrolled, <30% of students’ perceived marijuana use a health risk. Students in medical states were more likely to use marijuana compared to non‐legal states. (p < .001) Smoking and edibles were common methods of use.

Conclusions

Higher reports of college student use were observed in medical states without differences in risk perception.

Scientific Significance

This study further demonstrates the public health impact of marijuana legalization by comparing college study use of marijuana by state legalization status, and demonstrating high rates of use of concentrated products. These findings should be factored when determining regulations and preventative measures when legalizing marijuana. (Am J Addict 2019;28:266–269)
VESICO‐URETERIC REFLUX IN DOWN'S SYNDROME: POOR PROGNOSIS
Authors: AHMED SAEED
Published: March 2019

Four patients with Down's syndrome and vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) are reported. VUR was diagnosed in six renal units and three primary nephrectomies were necessary. Three ureters were reimplanted unsuccessfully in two patients. The 50% nephrectomy rate for reflux nephropathy and the 100% failure rate for ureteric reimplantation in Down's syndrome patients are compared with a nephrectomy rate and ureteric reimplantation failure rate of around 1% for primary VUR in other children.
Re‐scripting Place: Managing Social Class Stigma in a Former Steel‐Making Region
Authors: Nayak Anoop
Published: March 2019

Following the closure of the steelworks in Teesside, North‐East England, this paper focuses upon social class inequality and the re‐scripting of place. The study explores local responses to programmes such as Benefits Street and Location, Location, Location filmed in Middlesbrough. The study contributes to transnational debates on urban territorial stigmatisation in three ways. First, by extending the gaze from “spectacular” sites of multi‐ethnic urban unrest, to consider seemingly “mundane” post‐industrial peripheries. Second, by identifying how the recipients of spatial stigma might demonstrate agency through various acts of popular resistance including place re‐inscription. This includes developing alternative narratives of place, through commemorating Teesside's rich industrial heritage, supporting ex‐steelworkers, and challenging governmental stigma and media geographies declaring Middlesbrough to be a “benefits town” and the “worst place to live in the UK”. Third, by considering the unfolding of place as event, where contingency, complexity and unpredictable constellations and re‐inscriptions might emerge.
Welfare Convergence, Bureaucracy, and Moral Distancing at the Food Bank
Authors: May Jon , Williams Andrew , Cloke Paul , Cherry Liev
Published: March 2019

This paper seeks to extend geographic thinking on the changing constitution of the UK welfare state, suggesting the need to supplement ideas of the “shadow state” with an analysis of the blurring of the bureaucratic practices through which welfare is now delivered by public, private and third sector providers alike. Focusing on the growing convergence of the bureaucratic practices of benefits officials and food bank organisations, we interrogate the production of moral distance that characterise both. We reveal the ideological values embedded in voucher and referral systems used by many food banks, and the ways in which these systems further stigmatise and exclude people in need of support. Contrasting these practices with those of a variety of “ethical insurgents”, we suggest that food banks are sites of both the further cementing and of challenge to the injustices of Britain's new welfare apparatus.
The creation of digital artefacts as a mechanism to engage students in studying literature
Authors: Walton Geoff , Childs Mark , Jugo Gordana
Published: March 2019

The aim of the project was to motivate school students to learn about the national literature of their own and others’ countries. Engagement was fostered via the creation of digital artefacts (or “e‐artefacts”) such as online comic strips, live videos or animations. The pedagogical rationale was based on Papert’s constructionism and Bloom’s revised taxonomy. Participatory action research put school teachers at the centre of the research process. School teachers from five schools (Croatia, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the UK) chose their own pedagogical approaches for classroom activities. Data on how teachers viewed the use of e‐artefacts in their classroom practice were gathered using focus groups. Teachers in all five schools identified the same process for relating texts to activities: involving a close reading of the text, collaborative formatting for the e‐artefact, and points for reflection and discussion. Students and staff were not only more excited with studying the literature, learners also showed improvement in language learning. Teachers also reported that specific students showed noticeable increases in self‐efficacy and classroom participation. By providing alternative means for students to excel and show competencies beyond academic capabilities, more students feel included and valued. Furthermore, the process of creating e‐artefacts demanded greater reflection from students, which was a result of greater engagement with the materials. Finally, including the creation of e‐artefacts in the curriculum, while maintaining more traditional approaches, offers a more inclusive and rewarding provision of learning for both students and staff.
Is the news making us unhappy? The influence of daily news exposure on emotional states
Authors: de Hoog Natascha , Verboon Peter
Published: March 2019

There is evidence that exposure to negative news is making people feel bad, but not much is known about why this only affects some people or whether this also applies to everyday news exposure. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of daily news exposure on people's affective states. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), 63 respondents (24 men and 39 women) reported their news exposure and affective states five times a day for 10 days. In addition, personal relevance of the news and personality characteristics, neuroticism and extraversion, were assessed. Results showed that negative news perceptions were related to more negative affect and less positive affect, and these effects were moderated by personal relevance, but not personality characteristics. The implications of these outcomes are discussed.
Breaking face processing tasks apart to improve their predictive value in the real world: A comment on Ramon, Bobak, and White (2019)
Authors: Devue Christel
Published: March 2019

In this commentary, I will expand on three aspects suggested by Ramon et al. (2019, British Journal of Psychology, 110, 461) to improve the predictive value of laboratory‐based tasks in real‐world applications. There are potential benefits that may arise from three interrelated considerations, particularly in terms of predicting agents’ susceptibility to errors in operational settings. The first is a proposal to conduct a detailed examination of performance on face processing tests rather than only analysing overall accuracy scores. The second involves considering non‐face‐related cognitive and meta‐cognitive sub‐processes involved in face processing tasks. The third highlights the contribution of superior recognisers in creating challenging tests that simulate difficult real‐world situations.
Searching for analgesic drug candidates alleviating oxaliplatin‐induced cold hypersensitivity in mice
Authors: Sałat Kinga , Furgała Anna , Malikowska‐Racia Natalia
Published: March 2019

Oxaliplatin is a third‐generation, platinum‐based derivative used to treat advanced colorectal cancer. Within the patient population on oxaliplatin therapy, a lower incidence of hematological adverse effects and gastrointestinal toxicity is noted, but severe neuropathic pain episodes characterized by increased cold and tactile hypersensitivity are present in ~95% of patients. This drug is also used to induce a rodent model of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)‐related neuropathic pain which is widely used in the search for novel therapies for CIPN prevention and treatment. This paper provides a step‐by‐step, detailed description of the prevention and intervention protocols used in our laboratory for the assessment of oxaliplatin‐induced cold allodynia in mice. To establish cold sensitivity in mice, the cold plate test was used. Latencies to pain reaction in response to cold stimulus (2.5°C) for vehicle‐treated non‐neuropathic mice, vehicle‐treated mice injected with oxaliplatin (neuropathic control), and oxaliplatin‐treated mice treated additionally with duloxetine are compared. Duloxetine is a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor which was found to produce significant pain relief in patients with CIPN symptoms. In our present study, duloxetine administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 30 mg/kg served as a model antiallodynic drug which attenuated or partially prevented cold allodynia caused by oxaliplatin.
Non‐woven bilayered biodegradable chitosan‐gelatin‐polylactide scaffold for bioengineering of tracheal epithelium
Authors: Romanova Olga A. , Tenchurin Timur H. , Demina Tatiana S. , Sytina Elena V. , Shepelev Alexey D. , Rudyak Stanislav G. , Klein Olga I. , Krasheninnikov Sergey V. , Safronova Elizaveta I. , Kamyshinsky Roman A. , Mamagulashvili Vissarion G. , Akopova Tatiana A. , Chvalun Sergey N. , Panteleyev Andrey A.
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The conversion of tissue engineering into a routine clinical tool cannot be achieved without a deep understanding of the interaction between cells and scaffolds during the process of tissue formation in an artificial environment. Here, we have investigated the cultivation conditions and structural features of the biodegradable non‐woven material in order to obtain a well‐differentiated human airway epithelium.

Materials and methods

The bilayered scaffold was fabricated by electrospinning technology. The efficiency of the scaffold has been evaluated using MTT cell proliferation assay, histology, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy.

Results

With the use of a copolymer of chitosan‐gelatin‐poly‐l‐lactide, a bilayered non‐woven scaffold was generated and characterized. The optimal structural parameters of both layers for cell proliferation and differentiation were determined. The basal airway epithelial cells differentiated into ciliary and goblet cells and formed pseudostratified epithelial layer on the surface of the scaffold. In addition, keratinocytes formed a skin equivalent when seeded on the same scaffold. A comparative analysis of growth and differentiation for both types of epithelium was performed.

Conclusions

The structural parameters of nanofibres should be selected experimentally depending on polymer composition. The major challenges on the way to obtain the well‐differentiated equivalent of respiratory epithelium on non‐woven scaffold include the following: the balance between scaffold permeability and thickness, proper combination of synthetic and natural components, and culture conditions sufficient for co‐culturing of airway epithelial cells and fibroblasts. For generation of skin equivalent, the lack of diffusion is not so critical as for pseudostratified airway epithelium.
Salmon‐derived nutrient and organic matter fluxes from a coastal catchment in southeast Alaska
Authors: Hood Eran , Fellman Jason B. , Edwards Rick T. , D'Amore David V. , Scott Durelle
Published: March 2019

Salmon are important vectors for biogeochemical transport across ecosystem boundaries. Here we quantified salmon contributions to annual catchment fluxes of nutrients (N and P) and organic matter (C, N, and P) from a forested catchment in coastal southeast Alaska.

Concentrations of ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus increased by several orders of magnitude during spawning and were significantly correlated with spawning salmon densities. Nitrate concentrations increased modestly during spawning and were not significantly correlated with salmon densities. Salmon had a modest legacy effect on inorganic N and P as evidenced by elevated streamwater concentrations past the end of the spawning period.

Dissolved organic carbon concentrations did not respond to the presence of salmon; however, concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus showed a significant positive relationship to salmon densities. Changes in spectroscopic properties of the bulk streamwater dissolved organic matter pool indicated that streamwater dissolved organic matter became less aromatic and biolabile during spawning.

On an annual basis, salmon were the dominant source of streamwater fluxes of inorganic nutrients, accounting for 92%, 65%, and 74% of annual streamwater fluxes of ammonium, nitrate, and soluble reactive phosphorus, respectively. In contrast, fluxes of organic matter were dominated by catchment sources with salmon accounting for <1% of the annual catchment flux of dissolved organic carbon and 12% and 15% of the annual fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorous respectively.

These findings indicate that, in small coastal catchments, salmon can be a quantitatively important source of dissolved streamwater nutrients with implications for productivity in downstream estuarine ecosystems.
Spatial resilience of the Great Barrier Reef under cumulative disturbance impacts
Authors: Mellin Camille , Matthews Samuel , Anthony Kenneth R.N. , Brown Stuart C. , Caley M. Julian , Johns Kerryn A. , Osborne Kate , Puotinen Marjetta , Thompson Angus , Wolff Nicholas H. , Fordham Damien A. , MacNeil M. Aaron
Published: March 2019

In the face of increasing cumulative effects from human and natural disturbances, sustaining coral reefs will require a deeper understanding of the drivers of coral resilience in space and time. Here we develop a high‐resolution, spatially explicit model of coral dynamics on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Our model accounts for biological, ecological and environmental processes, as well as spatial variation in water quality and the cumulative effects of coral diseases, bleaching, outbreaks of crown‐of‐thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris), and tropical cyclones. Our projections reconstruct coral cover trajectories between 1996 and 2017 over a total reef area of 14,780 km2, predicting a mean annual coral loss of −0.67%/year mostly due to the impact of cyclones, followed by starfish outbreaks and coral bleaching. Coral growth rate was the highest for outer shelf coral communities characterized by digitate and tabulate Acropora spp. and exposed to low seasonal variations in salinity and sea surface temperature, and the lowest for inner‐shelf communities exposed to reduced water quality. We show that coral resilience (defined as the net effect of resistance and recovery following disturbance) was negatively related to the frequency of river plume conditions, and to reef accessibility to a lesser extent. Surprisingly, reef resilience was substantially lower within no‐take marine protected areas, however this difference was mostly driven by the effect of water quality. Our model provides a new validated, spatially explicit platform for identifying the reefs that face the greatest risk of biodiversity loss, and those that have the highest chances to persist under increasing disturbance regimes.
Management of high cholesterol levels in older people
Authors: Bertolotti Marco , Lancellotti Giulia , Mussi Chiara
Published: March 2019

The management of hypercholesterolemia in older adults still represents a challenge in clinical medicine. The pathophysiological alterations of cholesterol metabolism associated with aging are still incompletely understood, even if epidemiological evidence suggests that serum cholesterol levels increase with ongoing age, possibly with a plateau after the age of 80 years. Age is also one of the main determinants of cardiovascular disease, according to all cardiovascular risk estimate tools. Cholesterol‐lowering treatment, therefore, would be expected to bring significant protection, even in these patients. Unfortunately, direct experimental evidence is extremely limited, particularly in the very old age strata of the population; a clinical benefit still seems to be present, but the risk for drug‐related adverse events is clearly higher. At any rate, at the present time, definite guidelines for the correct management of hypercholesterolemia in older patients are not available. Therefore, the decision whether or not a pharmacological treatment should be set up, and the choice of the drug, need to be tailored to the individual patient, and requires accurate clinical judgment. The specific aspects of frailty and disability, along with the actual age of the patients, have to be considered together, with a comprehensive assessment approach. The present review summarizes the evidence regarding the modifications of cholesterol metabolism in older patients, the impact of lipid‐lowering drugs on cardiovascular outcomes and focuses on the considerations that can help to define the most appropriate treatment strategy, in view of the individual functional profile. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 375–383.
Congenital Factor X deficiency in women: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Spiliopoulos Dimitrios , Kadir Rezan A.
Published: March 2019

Factor X deficiency (FXD) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder with a variable phenotypic severity. In women, heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), recurrent ovulation bleeding with haemoperitoneum and bleeding complications in pregnancy such as retroplacental haematoma and postpartum haemorrhage have been reported. The aim of this review was to examine gynaecological problems and obstetric complications in women with congenital FXD. A total number of 49 relevant articles were identified, including 332 women, dating from 1960 to 2018. Heavy menstrual bleeding was reported in 72/284 (25%) women in total, 14/30 (47%) in case reports and 58/254 (23%) in 11 case series, 64% and 10% required blood products and blood transfusion, respectively. Haemoperitoneum from ovulation bleeding or ruptured haemorrhagic ovarian cyst requiring blood transfusion occurred in 8/322 (2.4%) women, six required surgical intervention, including oophorectomy in two. 31 pregnancies were reported in 19 women. There were four miscarriages (including a late miscarriage at 21 weeks). There was a high rate of preterm birth and neonatal death occurring in eight (30%) and three (11%) of pregnancies reaching viability stage. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) occurred in six (22%) of deliveries, one requiring hysterectomy. In conclusion, women with FXD are at an increased risk of heavy bleeding during menstruation and ovulation as well as adverse pregnancy outcome and postpartum haemorrhage. Collaboration in a multidisciplinary team including an obstetrician/gynaecologist, a perinatologist and a haematologist is necessary for the prevention and management of these complications.
Review of adjustable velcro wrap devices for venous ulceration
Authors: Stather Philip W. , Petty Carroll , Howard Adam Q.
Published: March 2019

Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for patients with venous leg ulcers. Current gold standard is 4 layer bandaging, which has a significant impact on patients comfort, ability to wear their own shoes, and quality of life, as well as taking significant time to apply, and losing compression over time. This systematic review aims to evaluate the use of Velcro wrap devices for the treatment of venous ulceration. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify articles reporting the use of Velcro wrap devices in patients with venous ulceration. Sixteen articles were identified (14 case series, 1 randomised trial, and 1 audit) reporting on 192 patients. There were reports of improved time to healing, reduced cost by >50%, reduced number and duration of nursing appointments, and improved quality of life in patients in Velcro wrap devices. Although the evidence remains poor, Velcro devices have potential to improve outcomes for patients with venous ulceration and further good quality studies should be undertaken to evaluate these further.
How Democracy Can Inform Consent: Cases of the Internet and Bioethics
Authors: Gould Carol C.
Published: March 2019

Traditional conceptions of informed consent seem difficult or even impossible to apply to new technologies like biobanks, big data, or GMOs, where vast numbers of people are potentially affected, and where consequences and risks are indeterminate or even unforeseeable. Likewise, the principle has come under strain with the appropriation and monetisation of personal information on digital platforms. Over time, it has largely been reduced to bare assent to formalistic legal agreements. To address the current ineffectiveness of the norm of informed consent, I suggest that we need a notion of structural injustice (on a distinctive interpretation, elaborated here, which takes account of unequal power and property relations). I then argue that in order to protect and enhance people's freedom, we have to go beyond traditional applied ethics and introduce perspectives from democratic theory and social philosophy. I attempt to show how applications of the ‘all‐affected principle’, together with new forms of democratic participation, deliberation, and representation can helpfully frame the narrower principle of informed consent. There is an important role for what we could call collective consent, and informed consent can only succeed in increasing individual agency if it is situated within enhanced forms of democratic decision‐making.
Should platforms be allowed to charge ad valorem fees?
Authors: Wang Zhu , Wright Julian
Published: March 2019

Many platforms that facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers charge ad valorem fees in which fees depend on the transaction price set by sellers. Given these platforms do not incur significant costs that vary with transaction prices, their use of ad valorem fees has been questioned. In this paper, using a model that connects ad valorem fees to third‐degree price discrimination, we evaluate the welfare consequences of banning such fees. We find the use of ad valorem fees generally increases welfare, including for calibrated versions of the model based on data from Amazon's marketplace and Visa's signature debit cards.
Adverse Selection or Moral Hazard, An Empirical Study
Authors: Hui Xiang , Saeedi Maryam , Sundaresan Neel
Published: March 2019

Markets prone to asymmetric information employ reputation mechanisms to address adverse selection and moral hazard. In this paper, we use a change in such a reputation mechanism to examine its effect on improving adverse selection and moral hazard. In May, 2008, eBay changed its reputation mechanism to prevent sellers from giving negative feedback to buyers. This change was intended to prevent sellers from retaliating against buyers who gave them negative feedback. We observe an improvement in the overall quality of the marketplace as a result of this change. We attribute 49%–77% of this improvement to reduced adverse selection as low‐quality sellers exit the market or their market share drops, and the rest to a reduction in moral hazard as sellers improve the quality of their service.
Association between methylation potential and nutrient metabolism throughout the reproductive cycle of sows
Authors: van Riet Miriam M. J. , Millet Sam , Langendries Karolien C. M. , van Zelst Bertrand D. , Janssens Geert P. J.
Published: March 2019

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic strategy for embryo development and survival. The one‐carbon metabolism can be disturbed by inadequate provision of dietary methyl donors. Because of the continuous selection for larger litters, it is relevant to explore if highly prolific sows might encounter periods of methyl donor deficiency throughout their reproductive cycles. This study, therefore, assesses the fluctuation(s) in methylation potential (MP) and aims to link possible methyl donor deficiencies to nutrient metabolism. In total, 15 hybrid sows were followed from weaning of the previous reproductive cycle (d‐5) to weaning of the present cycle. Blood samples were taken at d‐5, 0, 21, 42, 63, 84 and d108 of gestation, the day of parturition (d115), two weeks of lactation (d129) and at weaning (d143). Blood plasma samples were analysed for S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), free methionine, free glycine, acetylcarnitine and 3‐hydroxybutyrylcarnitine. Serum samples were analysed for urea and creatinine. Generally, MP (i.e. ratio SAM:SAH) increased throughout gestation (p = 0.009), but strongly fluctuated in the period around parturition and weaning. From d108 to parturition, absolute plasma levels of SAM (p < 0.001), SAH (p = 0.031) and methionine (p = 0.001) increased. The first two weeks of lactation were characterised by an increase in MP (p = 0.039) due to a remaining high value of SAM and a distinct decrease in SAH (p = 0.008). During the last two weeks of lactation, MP decreased (p = 0.038) due to a decrease in SAM (p < 0.001) and a stable value for SAH. The methylation reactions seem to continue after weaning, a period crucial for the follicular and embryonic development of the subsequent litter. This study thus demonstrates that the methylation status fluctuates substantially throughout a sow's reproductive cycle, and further research is needed to identify the factors affecting methylation status.
Exploring distraction and the impact of a child life specialist: Perceptions from nurses in a pediatric setting
Authors: Drayton Nicola A. , Waddups Shannan , Walker Tanya
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions held by nurses on the use of distraction and the role of a child life specialist in caring for children undergoing painful procedures.

Design and Methods

A qualitative focus‐group design was conducted with 18 nurses from a 24‐bed pediatric unit in New South Wales, Australia; this represented 51% of the staff from the unit. Three focus groups were conducted and transcribed verbatim followed by thematic analysis.

Results

Findings revealed five main themes that reflected the perceptions of the nurses’ use of distraction and the impact of the child life specialist. The theme “Distraction as part of everyday nursing practice” was viewed by nurses as an integral component of nursing practice. The theme “Influence of child life specialist” revealed that the child life specialist created a feeling of ease during procedures. Differences were acknowledged between the two roles, “Contrast of roles” the child life specialist was seen as positive for children and families, whereas nurses viewed themselves as mean and unkind due to the nature of their work. The theme “The value of collaboration for positive healthcare experiences” acknowledged distraction as a contributing factor in ensuring the child and their family had a positive healthcare experience. The types of “nurses perception of the child’s experience with distraction” shared in each of the focus groups identified nurses felt their techniques for distraction were much more simplified than the child life specialist; nurses felt disadvantaged at times in not having access to the same tools.

Practice Implications

The findings indicate the positive impact that a child life specialist has on a nurse’s role while caring for children undergoing painful procedures. Nurses felt they were able to focus on the procedure, therefore ensuring the physician received the right amount of assistance. This reassured the nurses in knowing the child and their families emotional needs were being taken care of. The child life specialist was viewed as being able to provide a positive healthcare experience for the child and families, nurses felt this added to the value of care provided in the pediatric unit. Recommendations include further exploration of the child life specialist role in the pediatric inpatient setting.
The Path of Reform: The Consequences of Institutional Volatility
Authors: Bolen J. Brandon , Williamson Claudia R.
Published: March 2019

The new institutional literature widely acknowledges the benefits of growth‐enhancing institutions but rarely discusses the path of institutional reform. While good institutions stabilize the structure of exchange and decrease uncertainty in market transactions, institutional reform may involve institutional volatility. If institutional volatility increases uncertainty, it can mitigate the benefits of reform. Using a sample of 89 countries from 2000‐2015, this paper empirically examines the effects of institutional volatility on economic growth. We find that institutional volatility decreases economic growth, particularly during liberalization for countries with low quality institutions and low income. In fact, a one standard deviation increase in volatility decreases growth by about 0.50 percentage points. This finding is robust to multiple estimation techniques and omitted variable bias. Evidence is provided suggesting that this effect is partially mediated through volatility's impact on private investment. These results support prior works that policy makers should pursue economic freedom, but our work indicates they should do so along a stable reform path to maximize economic growth.
Exploring stress urinary incontinence outcomes after sling excision for perforation or exposure
Authors: Syan Raveen , Peyronnet Benoit , Drain Alice , Enemchukwu Ekene , Malacarne Dominique R. , Rosenblum Nirit , Nitti Victor W. , Brucker Benjamin M.
Published: March 2019

Objective

This study assessed stress urinary incontinence (SUI) outcomes after sling excision for urinary tract perforation or vaginal exposure, and compared the outcomes of concomitant versus staged autologous fascia pubovaginal sling (AFPVS).

Methods

A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent midurethral sling (MUS) excision for urinary tract perforation or vaginal exposure at a tertiary referral center between 2010 and 2015 was performed. Therapeutic strategies were categorized as concomitant AFPVS, staged AFPVS, and no anti‐incontinence procedure.

Results

In all, 32 patients were included for analysis: 13 with vaginal tape exposure (40.6%) and 19 with urinary tract tape exposure (59.4%). In patients who had SUI prior to sling excision (43.8%), the rate of resolved or improved SUI postoperatively was higher in the concomitant AFPVS group than in those who underwent sling excision alone (83.3% vs 12.5%, respectively; P = 0.03). Of 18 patients with no SUI prior to sling excision, 12 experienced recurrent SUI after sling removal (66.7%). The rate of recurrent SUI was lower in patients with vaginal MUS exposure than urinary tract MUS perforation, but this did not reach statistical significance (57.1% vs 72.7%, respectively; P = 0.63). The rates of resolved SUI after AFPVS were comparable in patients with concomitant and staged AFPVS (66.7% vs 71.4%, respectively; P = 0.99).

Conclusions

Many patients with MUS perforations or exposures will have SUI at initial presentation or develop SUI after removal of the synthetic sling. The decision to perform a concomitant AFPVS or to stage the surgical management of SUI can be individualized.
An insight into the Italian economy from an analysis based on the industrial production index in both frequency and time domains
Authors: Zoia Maria Grazia , Barbieri Laura , Bagnato Luca
Published: March 2019

This paper aims to gain new insights into the Italian economic tendency toward recovery by investigating the Industrial Production Index series (IPI). The trend and cyclical components of the series are determined using a novel technique which hinges on optimal truncated ideal low‐pass filters. The contributions of the latent components to the IPI series are brought to the fore by a spectrum analyzer that evaluates the spectra of the said components in the bands of interest. The analysis results corroborate that the Italian economy is still subject to cyclical effects that can compromise its recovery.
CyaC, a redox‐regulated adenylate cyclase of Sinorhizobium meliloti with a quinone responsive diheme‐B membrane anchor domain
Authors: Wissig Juliane , Grischin Julia , Bassler Jens , Schubert Christopher , Friedrich Thorsten , Bähre Heike , Schultz Joachim E. , Unden Gottfried
Published: March 2019

The nucleotide cyclase CyaC of Sinorhizobium meliloti is a member of class III adenylate cyclases (AC), a diverse group present in all forms of life. CyaC is membrane‐integral by a hexahelical membrane domain (6TM) with the basic topology of mammalian ACs. The 6TM domain of CyaC contains a tetra‐histidine signature that is universally present in the membrane anchors of bacterial diheme‐B succinate‐quinone oxidoreductases. Heterologous expression of cyaC imparted activity for cAMP formation from ATP to Escherichia coli, whereas guanylate cyclase activity was not detectable. Detergent solubilized and purified CyaC was a diheme‐B protein and carried a binuclear iron‐sulfur cluster. Single point mutations in the signature histidine residues caused loss of heme‐B in the membrane and loss of AC activity. Heme‐B of purified CyaC could be oxidized or reduced by ubiquinone analogs (Q0 or Q0H2). The activity of CyaC in bacterial membranes responded to oxidation or reduction by Q0 and O2, or NADH and Q0H2 respectively. We conclude that CyaC‐like membrane anchors of bacterial ACs can serve as the input site for chemical stimuli which are translated by the AC into an intracellular second messenger response.
Millettia weizhii(Fabaceae: Millettieae), a new species with four‐winged pods from a limestone area in Yunnan, China
Authors: Song Zhu‐Qiu , Xia Qian , Zhang Kai , Pan Bo , Li Jian‐Wu , Xu Dong‐Xian , Liao Shuai , Li Shi‐Jin
Published: March 2019

Millettia weizhiisp. nov. (Fabaceae), a tree species bearing pods with 4 wings is described and illustrated from a limestone area in Yunnan, China. Fruiting specimens of the new species were previously identified asMillettia tetrapteraKurz, a species recorded from Myanmar and India (West Bengal), but examination of specimens and data from our field survey show that the new species is easily distinguished by having longer and stipitate pods, much shorter pseudoracemes with 2 flowers at each node, white and longer corolla, triangular calyx lobes and more and narrower leaflets. The new species should be placed in theMerrillii/Xylocarpa‐group ofMillettiasect.FragilifloraeDunn based on morphological characters.
Knockdown of endothelin receptor B inhibits the progression of triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Gu Xi , Han Shuai , Cui Meizi , Xue Jinqi , Ai Liping , Sun Lisha , Zhu Xudong , Wang Yulun , Liu Caigang
Published: March 2019

Endothelin receptor B (EDNRB) is one of the receptors in the endothelin axis and its upregulated expression is associated with tumorigenesis and metastasis of several types of solid tumors. However, the expression profile of EDNRB in breast cancer and its role in the progression of breast cancer are unclear. Here, we show that EDNRB expression is higher in metastatic tumors than in primary breast cancer, and is associated significantly with lymph node metastasis and poor survival in Chinese patients with breast cancer. EDNRB expression was particularly upregulated in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Moreover, EDNRB silencing by a specific shRNA significantly attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of MDA‐MB‐231 and BT549 cells and increased their apoptosis, as well as retarded the growth of implanted tumors in mice. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis indicated that 248 proteins were differentially expressed in EDNRB‐silenced cells and their cellular organelles, and these proteins participate in many processes. EDNRB silencing decreased protein kinase B and extracellular regulated protein kinase phosphorylation and promoted the mesenchymal‐to‐epithelial transition process in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Therefore, our findings provide strong evidence for the first time that knockdown of EDNRB expression inhibits the progression of TNBC and that EDNRB can serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of TNBC.
A general central limit theorem and a subsampling variance estimator for α‐mixing point processes
Authors: Biscio Christophe Ange Napoléon , Waagepetersen Rasmus
Published: March 2019

We establish a central limit theorem for multivariate summary statistics of nonstationary α‐mixing spatial point processes and a subsampling estimator of the covariance matrix of such statistics. The central limit theorem is crucial for establishing asymptotic properties of estimators in statistics for spatial point processes. The covariance matrix subsampling estimator is flexible and model free. It is needed, for example, to construct confidence intervals and ellipsoids based on asymptotic normality of estimators. We also provide a simulation study investigating an application of our results to estimating functions.
Black, Blue, and Blow: The Effect of Race and Criminal History on Perceptions of Police Violence
Authors: Smith Jason P. , Merolla David M.
Published: March 2019

This research aims to determine the situational and individual factors that shape perceptions of whether police violence against citizens is justified. Drawing on research on the racialization of crime, modern racism, and the stigma associated with a criminal history, we hypothesize that individuals will view police violence as more justified when targeted at black citizens and those with criminal histories. We further hypothesize that individuals who have higher levels of racial prejudice will view police violence as more justified. Results from a survey experiment using a sample of 595 white respondents show a consistent effect of criminal history, with individuals viewing violence as more justified against a citizen with a previous criminal background. Further, interaction effects indicate that only white respondents who score highly on racial prejudice view violence against a black citizen as more justified compared to violence against a white citizen. These results underscore the importance of how a criminal record serves as an enduring stigma that shapes how individuals are perceived. Additionally, our results are consistent with theories of contemporary racism and show that negative evaluations of black Americans are limited to whites with high levels of racial prejudice.
Political Protesting, Race, and College Athletics: Why Diversity Among Coaches Matters*
Authors: Druckman James N. , Howat Adam J. , Rothschild Jacob E.
Published: March 2019

Objective

Athletes have long used their platform to stage political protests on issues ranging from racial oppression to athlete compensation. For college student athletes, protesting is complicated by their amateur status and dependence on their schools. As a result, college coaches hold particular power over student athletes’ decisions in this realm. We seek to better understand the determinants of coaches’ attitudes toward student athlete protests.

Methods

We use a novel survey to study what college coaches think when student athletes participate in various forms of political protests.

Results

We find that African‐American coaches exhibit greater support for protests and are more likely to believe protests reflect concern about the issues, rather than attention‐seeking behavior.

Conclusion

Our results isolate a major driver of opinions about athletic protests and reveal why the relatively low number of minority college coaches matters: greater diversity in the coaching ranks would lead to more varied opinions about the politicization of student athletes.
Portfolio selection based on semivariance and distance correlation under minimum variance framework
Authors: Sun Ruili , Ma Tiefeng , Liu Shuangzhe
Published: March 2019

In the minimum variance model, the covariance matrix plays an important role because it measures the risk and relationship of asset returns simultaneously under the normality assumption. However, in practice, the distribution of asset returns is nonnormal and has an obvious fat‐tail nature. In addition, the risk is one‐sided. In this paper, the main objective is to propose a better tool to replace the covariance matrix. The covariance matrix can be decomposed into two parts: a diagonal variance matrix and a square matrix with its elements being the Pearson correlation coefficient. A substitution of the covariance matrix is presented by replacing the variance and Pearson correlation coefficient in the decomposition of the covariance matrix with a semivariance and distance correlation coefficient, respectively. The proposed portfolio optimization strategy is applied to empirical data, and the numerical studies show the strategy performs well.
A comparison of haematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood for platelet production in a microfluidic device
Authors: Six Katrijn R. , Sicot Géraldine , Devloo Rosalie , Feys Hendrik B. , Baruch Dominique , Compernolle Veerle
Published: March 2019

Background and objectives

Several sources of haematopoietic stem cells have been used for static culture of megakaryocytes to produce platelets in vitro. This study compares and characterizes platelets produced in shear flow using precursor cells from either umbilical (UCB) or adult peripheral blood (PB).

Materials and methods

The efficiency of platelet production of the cultured cells was studied after perfusion in custom‐built von Willebrand factor‐coated microfluidic flow chambers. Platelet receptor expression and morphology were investigated by flow cytometry and microscopy, respectively.

Results

Proliferation of stem cells isolated out of UCB was significantly higher (P < 0·0001) compared to PB. Differentiation of these cells towards megakaryocytes was significantly lower from PB compared to UCB where the fraction of CD42b/CD41 double positive events was 44 ± 9% versus 76 ± 11%, respectively (P < 0·0001). However, in vitro platelet production under hydrodynamic conditions was more efficient with 7·4 platelet‐like particles per input cell from PB compared to 4·2 from UCB (P = 0·02). The percentage of events positive for CD42b, CD41 and CD61 was comparable between both stem cell sources. The mean number of receptors per platelet from UCB and PB was similar to that on blood bank platelets with on average 28 000 CD42b, 57 000 CD61 and 5500 CD49b receptors. Microscopy revealed platelets appearing similar to blood bank platelets in morphology, size and actin cytoskeleton, alongside smaller fragments and source megakaryocytes.

Conclusion

This characterization study suggests that platelets produced in vitro under flow either from UCB or from PB share receptor expression and morphology with donor platelets stored in the blood bank.
Analytical and Computational Methods for Solidification Problems of Liquid That Expands During Freezing
Authors: Liu Deqi , Maigre Hubert , Morestin Fabrice , Géoris Philippe
Published: March 2019

Both analytical and computational methods for solidification problems are introduced. First, the inward solidification process in a spherical vessel is studied. Expressions of the stress, displacement in the solid phase, and the liquid pressure are deduced based on the solidification interface position. A phase-change expansion orientation factor is introduced to characterize the nonisotropic expansion behavior at the freezing interface. Then, an efficient coupled thermomechanical finite-element method is proposed to evaluate the thermal stress, strain, displacement, and pressure in solidification problems with highly nonlinear constitutive relations. Two particular methods for treating the liquid phase with fixed-grid approaches are introduced. The thermal stress is computed at each integration point by integrating the elastoviscoplastic constitutive equations. Then, the boundary value problem described by the global finite-element equations is solved using the full Newton–Raphson method. This procedure is implemented into the finite-element package abaqus via a FORTRAN subroutine UMAT. Detailed implementation steps and the solution procedures are presented. The numerical model is validated first by the analytical solutions and then by a series of benchmark tests. Finally, an example of solidification in an open reservoir with a free liquid surface is introduced. Potential industrial applications of the numerical model are presented.
Vibration-Based Healing Assessment of an Internally Fixated Femur
Authors: Chiu Wong Kong , Vien Benjamin Steven , Russ Matthias , Fitzgerald Mark
Published: March 2019

The current techniques in assessing the healing of a fixated fractured long bone, which include X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and manual manipulation, are qualitative and its accuracy depends on the surgeon's experience. A lack of a robust and quantitative monitoring method of fractured bone healing limits the survival of orthopedic implants and the ability to accurately predict and prevent fixation failure and complications. This paper experimentally and computationally investigates the efficacy and the potential application of a vibration-based quantitative monitoring methodology. This nonintrusive technique incorporates the cross-spectra response of externally placed sensors located remotely from the fractured region. In this study, the test specimens are composite femurs fixated with an intramedullary nail fixation system and the epoxy adhesive applied in the osteotomized region is used to simulate the healing process. Epoxies with a 30-min and 2 h gel time are used separately to investigate the sensitivity of this healing assessment technique. The findings highlight the key vibrational modes to establish the state of healing and the quantification evaluation of healing of fixated femurs based on a formulated healing index is also presented. This efficacy study seeks to verify the viability of this external measurement technique for human health monitoring and the future development of healing devices.
Spinning Muons and a Path to Discovery
Authors: Lincoln Don
Published: March 2019

All physics is fascinating, but some stories are more exciting than others. A story that involves some of the most precise measurements ever made and a tantalizing discrepancy might be one of the most interesting. Throw in a 3200-mile journey, a heavily laden truck covered by a tarpaulin, closed-down highways with police escorts, and hushed whispers of a crashed UFO and a government cover-up, and you have the makings of a real page turner.
A Scientific Mystery
Authors: Greenslade Thomas B.
Published: March 2019

The Phantom Bouquet is a venerable lecture demonstration that does a fine job of showing how a concave spherical mirror can form a real, inverted image. In the original demonstration, a brightly illuminated artificial rose is hung by its stem in front of a concave spherical mirror. The distance from the reflecting surface to the rose is somewhat more than the focal length of the mirror (which is twice the radius of curvature). The re-inverted real image of the rose seems to be suspended in space, but to complete the illusion, a vase filled with water is placed at the same plane as the image, and the rose appears to be placed in the vase. I set this up at the end of the lecture bench for the students to see as they came into the classroom.