bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Variations of Locomotor Activity Rhythms in Melatonin-Proficient and -Deficient Mice under Seminatural Outdoor Conditions
Authors: Metzger Joshua , Wicht Helmut , Korf Horst-Werner , Pfeffer Martina
Published: October 2019

Locomotor activity patterns of laboratory mice are widely used to analyze circadian mechanisms, but most investigations have been performed under standardized laboratory conditions. Outdoors, animals are exposed to daily changes in photoperiod and other abiotic cues that might influence their circadian system. To investigate how the locomotor activity patterns under outdoor conditions compare to controlled laboratory conditions, we placed 2 laboratory mouse strains (melatonin-deficient C57Bl and melatonin-proficient C3H) in the garden of the Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie in Frankfurt am Main. The mice were kept singly in cages equipped with an infrared locomotion detector, a hiding box, nesting material, and with food and water ad libitum. The locomotor activity of each mouse was recorded for 1 year, together with data on ambient temperature, light, and humidity. Chronotype, chronotype stability, total daily activity, duration of the activity period, and daily diurnality indices were determined from the actograms. C3H mice showed clear seasonal differences in the chronotype, its stability, the total daily activity, and the duration of the activity period. These pronounced seasonal differences were not observed in the C57Bl. In both strains, the onset of the main activity period was mainly determined by the evening dusk, whereas the offset was influenced by the ambient temperature. The actograms did not reveal infra-, ultradian, or lunar rhythms or a weekday/weekend pattern. Under outdoor conditions, the 2 strains retained their nocturnal locomotor identity as observed in the laboratory. Our results indicate that the chronotype displays a seasonal plasticity that may depend on the melatoninergic system. Photoperiod and ambient temperature are the most potent abiotic entraining cues. The timing of the evening dusk mainly affects the onset of the activity period; the ambient temperature during this period influences the latter’s duration. Humidity, overall light intensities, and human activities do not affect the locomotor behavior.
Trauma Exposure and Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Pregnant Women in Liberia
Authors: Sileo Katelyn M. , Kershaw Trace S. , Gilliam Shantesica , Taylor Erica , Kommajosula Apoorva , Callands Tamora A.
Published: October 2019

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global threat to women’s health and may be elevated among those exposed to traumatic events in post-conflict settings, such as Liberia. The purpose of this study was to examine potential mediators between lifetime exposure to traumatic events (i.e., war-related trauma, community violence) with recent experiences of IPV among 183 young, pregnant women in Monrovia, Liberia. Hypothesized mediators included mental health (depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms), insecure attachment style (anxious and avoidant attachment), and attitudes indicative of norms of violence (attitudes justifying wife beating). We tested a parallel multiple mediation model using the PROCESS method with bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapping to test confidence intervals (CI). Results show that 45% of the sample had experienced any physical, sexual, or emotional IPV in their lifetime, and 32% in the 2 months prior to the interview. Exposure to traumatic events was positively associated with recent IPV severity (β = .40, p < .01). Taken together, depression, anxious attachment style, and justification of wife beating significantly mediated the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and experience of IPV (β = .15, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.31]). Only anxious attachment style (β = .07, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.16]) and justification of wife beating (β = .05, 95% CI = [0.01, 0.16]) were identified as individual mediators. This study reinforces pregnancy as an important window for both violence and mental health screening and intervention for young Liberian women. Furthermore, it adds to our theoretical understanding of mechanisms in which long-term exposure to traumatic events may lead to elevated rates of IPV in Liberia, and points to the need for trauma-informed counseling and multilevel gender transformative public health approaches to address violence against women.
Research on the dynamic characteristic of semi-active hydraulic damping strut
Authors: Wang Daoyong , Zhang Wencan , Chai Mu , Zeng Xiaguang
Published: October 2019

To reduce the vibration and shock of powertrain in the process of engine key on/off and vehicle in situ shift, a novel semi-active hydraulic damping strut is developed. The purpose of this paper is to study and discuss the dynamic stiffness model of the semi-active hydraulic damping strut. In this study, the dynamic characteristics of semi-active hydraulic damping strut were analyzed based on MTS 831 test rig first. Then, the dynamic stiffness model of semi-active hydraulic damping strut was established based on 2 degrees of freedom vibration system. In this research, a linear, fractional derivative and friction model was used to represent the nonlinear rubber bushing characteristic; the Maxwell model was used to describe the semi-active hydraulic damping strut body model; and the parameters of rubber bushing and semi-active hydraulic damping strut body were identified. The dynamic stiffness values were calculated with solenoid valve energized and not energized at amplitudes of 1 mm and 4 mm, which were consistent with experimental results in low-frequency range. Furthermore, the simplified dynamic stiffness model of the semi-active hydraulic damping strut was discussed, which showed that bushing can be ignored in low-frequency range. Then, the influence of equivalent spring stiffness, damping constant, and rubber bushing stiffness on the stiffness and damping capacity of the semi-active hydraulic damping strut were analyzed. Finally, the prototype of the semi-active hydraulic damping strut was developed and designed based on the vehicle in situ shift and engine key on/off situations, and experiments of the vehicle with and without semi-active hydraulic damping strut were carried out to verify its function.
Effect of ankle-foot orthosis on level walking in healthy subjects
Authors: Kato Mizuki , Kamono Arinori , Ogihara Naomichi
Published: October 2019

An ankle-foot orthosis is often prescribed in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological motor disorders such as hemiparesis. However, walking with a unilateral ankle-foot orthosis may not be effectively achieved just by trying to reproduce normal intact walking with a symmetrical gait pattern. Understanding skills to facilitate walking gait with a unilateral ankle-foot orthosis has implications for better rehabilitative interventions to help restore walking ability in patients with stroke. We, therefore, analyzed the kinematics and ground reaction forces of walking with and without an ankle-foot orthosis in healthy subjects to infer the possible skills to facilitate walking gait with a unilateral ankle-foot orthosis. Adult male participants were asked to walk with and without an ankle-foot orthosis across two force platforms set in a wooden walkway, and body kinematics and ground reaction force profiles in the sagittal plane were simultaneously recorded. We found that the forward tilting angle of the trunk at the time of toe-off of the leg with the ankle-foot orthosis was significantly larger than that of the leg without the ankle-foot orthosis, to adaptively compensate for the loss of ankle joint mobility due to the unilateral ankle-foot orthosis. Furthermore, the peak vertical ground reaction force at heel-contact was significantly larger in the leg without the ankle-foot orthosis than in the leg with the ankle-foot orthosis owing to the fact that the stance phase duration of the leg with the ankle-foot orthosis was relatively shorter. Such information may potentially be applied to facilitate walking training in stroke patients wearing a unilateral ankle-foot orthosis.
Mind the gap when implementing technologies intended to reduce or shift energy consumption in blocks-of-buildings
Authors: Breukers Sylvia , Crosbie Tracey , Summeren Luc van
Published: October 2019

If the designers of technologies intended to reduce or shift energy consumption are not sensitive to how people live and work in buildings, a gap occurs between the expected and actual performance of those technologies. This paper explores this problem using the concepts of ‘design logic’ (designers’ ideas, values, intentions and user representations) and the ‘user logic’ (related in this case to how building occupants currently live and work in a building). The research presented unpacks the ‘design logic’ embedded in DR approaches planned for implementation at four blocks of buildings in a Horizon 2020 funded project, called “Demand Response in Blocks of Buildings” (DR-BoB). It discusses how the ‘user logic’ may differ from the ‘design logic’ and the potential impact of this on the performance of the technologies being implemented to reduce or shift energy consumption. The data analysed includes technical working documents describing the implementation scenarios of DR at four pilot sites, interviews and workshops conducted with the project team and building occupants during the first phases of the project. The analysis presented identifies how expectations about building occupants and their behaviours are built into the DR scenarios (to be tested during the project demonstrations). Initial findings suggest that building occupants’ energy use practices and routines may be different from those expectations. The paper illustrates how the concepts of ‘design logic’ and ‘user logic’ can be used to identify mismatches before technologies are implemented. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving the design and implementation of DR.
The long-run environmental impacts of economic growth, financial development, and energy consumption: Evidence from emerging markets
Authors: Cetin Mumin Atalay , Bakirtas Ibrahim
Published: October 2019

In this study, the long-term interactions between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, real gross domestic product, fossil fuel consumption, and financial development are examined for 15 emerging markets during 1980–2014 by using heterogeneous dynamic panel data techniques. Long-run elasticity results show that the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis is not valid for emerging markets. Besides, long-run findings reveal that fossil fuel energy consumption has a powerful negative impact on the environmental quality of emerging markets. Moreover, long-run findings of emerging markets show that 1% increase in financial development raises CO2 emissions at 0.76% level. Considering empirical findings, emerging markets should tend to use environmentally friendly technologies to avoid the possible environmental problems caused by pollution. Therefore, green energy investors should be supported by possible incentive policies. In addition, emerging markets should turn towards financial regulations, which extend credit channels for clean industries whereby emerging countries could achieve their sustainable development goals.
Complementemia in pregnancies with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Tabacco S , Giannini A , Garufi C , Botta A , Salvi S , Del Sordo G , Benedetti Panici P , Lanzone A , De Carolis S
Published: October 2019

Prognosis of pregnancies in women with antiphospholipid syndrome has dramatically improved over the past two decades using conventional treatment with low molecular weight heparin and low-dose aspirin. However, despite this regimen, 10–15% of antiphospholipid syndrome patients experience pregnancy losses. Several studies have been performed in order to identify risk factors predictive of complications. Thrombosis has been generally accepted as the key pathogenetic mechanism underlying pregnancy morbidity. However, the thrombogenic state alone is not able to explain all the different mechanisms leading to pregnancy failure. In fact, emerging evidence shows that complement pathway could play an important role in mediating clinical events in antiphospholipid syndrome. However, the exact mechanism through which complement mediates antiphospholipid syndrome complications remains unknown.

Low complement levels (C3 and C4) are associated with poor pregnancy outcome in women with antiphospholipid syndrome in different studies. Hypocomplementemia could be indicated as an early predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome, available at the beginning of pregnancy for starting, if necessary, additional treatment to conventional therapy. However, future studies need to better understand the impact of low complement level on antiphospholipid syndrome pregnancy outcome.
A new class of regression model for a bounded response with application in the study of the incidence rate of colorectal cancer
Authors: Cancho Vicente G , Bazán Jorge L , Dey Dipak K
Published: October 2019

Response variables in medical sciences are often bounded, e.g. proportions, rates or fractions of incidence of some disease. In this work, we are interested to study if some characteristics of the population, e.g. sex and race which can explain the incidence rate of colorectal cancer cases. To accommodate such responses, we propose a new class of regression models for bounded response by considering a new distribution in the open unit interval which includes a new parameter to make a more flexible distribution. The proposal is to obtain compound power normal distribution as a base distribution with a quantile transformation of another family of distributions with the same support and then is to study some properties of the new family. In addition, the new family is extended to regression models as an alternative to the regression model with a unit interval response. We also present inferential procedures based on the Bayesian methodology, specifically a Metropolis–Hastings algorithm is used to obtain the Bayesian estimates of parameters. An application to real data to illustrate the use of the new family is considered.
Development of a Drug Information Service Collaborative in Academia
Authors: Kim Jeeseon , Hoover Rebecca , Perkins Scott , Advani Ashish
Published: October 2019

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been positively accepted by clinicians; however, there are barriers to practicing EBM that create gaps between EBM and current clinical practice. A pharmacist-led drug information (DI) service initiative was established to overcome common barriers to practicing EBM. The service utilizes technology and a collaborative model among otherwise independent academic DI centers to provide efficient high-quality service to health care professionals. It was piloted at a large health care system with positive user satisfaction. The unique technological collaborative has shown several benefits, including increased efficiency and peer learning among DI pharmacists.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Attitudes and Practices of Mass Communication Programs Regarding Unpaid Student Internships
Authors: Senat Joey , Ketterer Stan , McGuire John
Published: October 2019

This survey of mass communication programs’ attitudes and practices found unpaid student internships are more likely at unaccredited programs and where the highest degree offered is a bachelor’s. Advisers at bachelor’s programs also are more likely to agree academic credit appropriately substitutes for monetary payment. Although most advisers support unpaid internships, they agree universities are ethically obligated to protect students from illegal ones. The study recommends steps for journalism and mass communication (JOMC) educators to engage in informed discussions and decision-making to arrive at ethically justifiable policies and practices governing internships where their students work for free, especially for academic credit at for-profit companies.
Developing a Strategic Group Typology for Home Health Care Agencies
Authors: Evans Ronique , Weech-Maldonado Robert , Burke Darrell , Grammas Marianthe , Jablonski Rita , Mehta Tapan
Published: October 2019

Considering the growing interest in Home Health Care, an important area of examination relates to the strategic decisions made by home health agency leaders. The purpose of this study is to explore the existence of strategic groups in the home health industry using Porter’s generic strategies. A secondary analysis of data on agency resource deployment and scope characteristics were combined with secondary agency market and organizational characteristics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to examine the existence of strategic groups. The relationship between group membership and organizational and market characteristics was examined using chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data from 7,715 home health agencies were explored in this analysis. A four-cluster solution emerged yielding sizes of cluster 1 = 1,682, cluster 2 = 1,731, cluster 3 = 3,763, and cluster 4 = 539. Cluster 1 was classified as the cost leaders with the lowest resource deployment and lowest scope. Cluster 2 was classified as the differentiator group with the highest scope and second highest resource deployment. Cluster 3 was classified as the both cost leader and differentiator group with the second highest scope and second lowest resource deployment. Cluster 4 was classified as the stuck-in-the-middle group with the second lowest scope and highest resource deployment. Using Porter’s generic strategies, the results showed evidence that strategic groups exist in the home health industry. Furthermore, home health agency strategic groups are significantly different based on market characteristics.
The Effects of Physical Exercise on Stereotypic Behaviors in Autism: Small-n Meta-Analyses
Authors: Tarr Christopher W. , Rineer-Hershey Ashlea , Larwin Karen
Published: October 2019

Physical exercise has shown the potential to reduce stereotypic behaviors. The current investigation conducted three meta-analyses on the effects of physical exercise on stereotypic behaviors in individuals with autism. Study 1 produced four aggregate score studies ( n = 54) that included nine effect sizes ranging from d = –.85 to .31. Study 1 yielded an overall effect size of d = –.463. Study 2 produced six single subject design studies ( n = 13) that included 48 effect sizes ranging from d = −1 to .5156. Study 2 yielded an overall effect size of d = –.456. Study 3 combined all 10 studies ( n = 67) that included effect sizes ranging from d = −1 to .5156. The n = 10 articles combined produced an overall effect size of d = –.456. The effect sizes demonstrate that physical exercise does have the potential to decrease stereotypic behaviors in individuals with autism.
Clarifying the Concept of Well-Being: Psychological Need Satisfaction as the Common Core Connecting Eudaimonic and Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Martela Frank , Sheldon Kennon M.
Published: October 2019

Interest in the experience of well-being, as both a research topic and as a policy goal, has significantly increased in recent decades. Although subjective well-being (SWB)—composed of positive affect, low negative affect, and life satisfaction—is the most commonly used measure of well-being, many experts have argued that another important dimension of well-being, often referred to as eudaimonic well-being (EWB), should be measured alongside SWB. EWB, however, has been operationalized in at least 45 different ways, using measures of at least 63 different constructs. These diverse measurement strategies often have little overlap, leading to discrepant results and making the findings of different studies difficult to compare. Building on the Eudaimonic Activity Model, we propose a tripartite conception of well-being, distinguishing between eudaimonic motives/activities, psychological need satisfaction, and SWB, arguing that the needs category provides a parsimonious set of elements at the core of the well-being construct. Based on the self-determination theory claim that all human beings share evolved psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, we show that satisfaction of all three needs directly affect SWB and other health and wellness outcomes, can efficiently explain the effects of various behaviors and conditions upon well-being outcomes, and are universally impactful across cultures. We conclude that routinely measuring psychological needs alongside SWB within national and international surveys would give policymakers a parsimonious way to assess eudaimonic dimensions of wellness and provide powerful mediator variables for explaining how various cultural, economic, and social factors concretely affect citizens’ well-being and health.
The moral economy of the pharmaceutical industry: Legitimising prices
Authors: Busfield Joan
Published: October 2019

The practices of pharmaceutical companies have been widely criticised by researchers and investigative journalists, yet their conduct has mostly escaped significant moral opprobrium from the wider public, health professionals and governments. This article examines one reason for this by exploring the techniques companies use when seeking to justify and legitimise their conduct – legitimising techniques that help to render their failures to adhere to accepted standards less visible. It explores these techniques by examining four cases involving pricing where the companies’ conduct has, nonetheless, been questioned. It is divided into three parts. The first looks at various publicly-stated standards that provide the moral context for the industry’s activities. The second examines four cases, each involving pricing, where companies’ prices have been challenged as morally unacceptable, each leading to a US Government investigation. These provide a means of exploring how companies seek to justify their actions in order to maintain the appearance of conformity to accepted moral standards. The third considers some reasons why the industry’s efforts at legitimation have considerable force. The analysis shows not only the character of the claims made by pharmaceutical companies in defence of their practices – claims about the health benefits of the medicine, access to it, and research and development costs, which are all often exaggerated. It also shows why the companies’ legitimising tactics are typically effective.
Representation in Western Europe: Connecting party-voter congruence and party goals
Authors: Werner Annika
Published: October 2019

One of the most common critiques of political parties is that they no longer represent the interests of their voters. On one hand, representation literature tasks all parties equally to ensure high ideological congruence with their voters. On the other hand, party behaviour literature acknowledges that parties have legitimately different primary goals, in particular vote-maximisation or policy-seeking. Thus, this article analyses whether ideological congruence depends on the general goals that parties pursue. Furthermore, this article proposes a novel, distribution-based measure of party-voter ideological congruence that reduces the loss of voter information stemming from the many-to-one data relationship. This measure is applied to 470 data points from parties in 10 Western European countries from 1970 to 2009. The article finds that vote-maximising parties create higher levels of congruence than policy-seeking parties. On this basis, the article calls for evaluations of party behaviour considering party-type specificity.
Kinematic analysis of the double roller tripod joint
Authors: Qiu Yinyuan , Shangguan Wen-Bin , Luo Yong
Published: October 2019

To solve the shortcomings and structural defects of the tripod joint, a novel structure named ‘double roller tripod joint’ is designed in this paper with the following features: (1) gothic arc-shaped tracks, (2) outer rollers with semi-toroid outer surfaces, (3) cylindrical inner rollers and (4) spherical trunnions. Based on spatial Cartesian kinematics and vector method, a novel method for kinematic analysis of the double roller tripod joint is proposed. The proposed method is validated by bench tests. By comparing the kinematics between the double roller tripod joint and tripod joint, it can be concluded that the double roller tripod joint has prominent advantages such as 0° relative pitch angles between the rollers and tracks and better constant velocity property. In addition, compared with other tripod-type joints, the proposed double roller tripod joint also has advantages in performances, manufacturability and assembling ability.
Oligopolies of the past? Habermas, Bourdieu, and conceptual approaches to news agencies
Authors: Tworek Heidi J. S.
Published: October 2019

This article uses the history of news agencies, particularly in Germany, to explore key theories about media transitions. First, many over-emphasize technology as an autonomous factor divorced from politics, economics, and culture. Historical methodologies remind us that technology is socially constructed, as I show using the example of wireless technology. Second, the economic dominance of platforms has become central to the debate about how to reform the Internet. This too draws on long-standing conceptual approaches to media, pioneered by Habermas. Like online platforms, news agencies were bottlenecks for news; their history reminds us that their dominance stemmed from politics as much as economics. Finally, I suggest that we need to include Bourdieu’s ideas of symbolic power and institutions to understand why certain media firms became so central. To understand news agencies, we can thus combine the work of Habermas and Bourdieu with theories about the social construction of technology to retrace the interaction between politics, economics, technology, and social norms that imbued news agencies with such power for so long.
Strategies for using valvetrain flexibility instead of exhaust manifold pressure modulation for diesel engine gas exchange and thermal management control
Authors: Vos Kalen R , Shaver Gregory M , Joshi Mrunal C , Ramesh Aswin K , McCarthy James
Published: October 2019

At low-to-moderate loads, modern diesel engines manipulate exhaust manifold pressure to drive exhaust gas recirculation and thermally manage the aftertreatment. In these engines, exhaust manifold pressure control is typically achieved via either a valve after the turbine, a variable geometry turbine, or wastegating. The study described here demonstrates how valvetrain flexibility enables engine operation without requiring exhaust manifold pressure control. Specifically, intake valve closure modulation and cylinder deactivation at elevated engine speeds, along with exhaust valve opening modulation at low engine speeds, can match, or improve, efficiency and thermal management compared to a stock thermal calibration that requires exhaust manifold pressure control. During low-speed, low-load operation, the stock engine uses elevated exhaust manifold pressures to increase the required fueling (for thermal management) and to drive exhaust gas recirculation. Exhaust valve opening modulation can instead be implemented to enable similar aftertreatment warm-up, while cylinder deactivation allows aftertreatment temperature maintenance with a 40% reduction in fuel consumption. During high-speed, low-to-moderate loads, the stock engine implements thermal management operation by decreasing exhaust manifold pressure. Intake valve closure modulation together with cylinder deactivation can instead be implemented to enable fuel-efficient thermal management improvements via charge flow control.
Landscape after genocide
Authors: Riding James
Published: October 2019

The March of Peace (Marš mira) is a 63-mile, 3-day walk through eastern Bosnia organised in memory of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide and traces in reverse a death march. Marchers take a trail from Nezuk, stopping at mass graves found along the way, arriving at the memorial cemetery in Potočari a day prior to the annual mass funeral for victims who have been recently exhumed. This article charts the journey from the death march to the peace march and asks the reader to assess the efficacy of embodied memory-work and the ethical responsibility to undertake – and responsibilities when undertaking – alternative memory-work in post-genocide landscapes and sites of mass murder, through a series of rhetorical shifts. A number of frames are enacted to challenge other more linear and conventional approaches, allowing the sociological and political productivity of engaging with post-genocide landscapes in a post-conflict state to emerge, referencing dissident forms of remembrance through the method of walking-with others while traversing this post-genocide landscape on foot. Travelling-with around 8,000 mourners, some of whom were survivors of the death march, the aim here is not to simply describe what is taking place; rather, the journey is undertaken in order to activate a space – a space within which I might engage with issues of landscape, conflict and memory in the context of their current discussion within cultural and political geography, genocide studies and memory studies, and more importantly to speak of genocide and a post-genocide landscape.
Contrast-Enhanced CT Texture Analysis for Distinguishing Fat-Poor Renal Angiomyolipoma From Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Guangjie , Gong Aidi , Nie Pei , Yan Lei , Miao Wenjie , Zhao Yujun , Wu Jie , Cui Jingjing , Jia Yan , Wang Zhenguang
Published: October 2019

Objective:

To evaluate the value of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) models in distinguishing fat-poor angiomyolipoma (fpAML) from chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC).

Methods:

We retrospectively enrolled 32 fpAMLs and 24 chRCCs. Texture features were extracted from 2D and 3D regions of interest in triphasic CT images. The 2D and 3D CTTA models were constructed with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm and texture scores were calculated. The diagnostic performance of the 2D and 3D CTTA models was evaluated with respect to calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness.

Results:

Of the 177 and 183 texture features extracted from 2D and 3D regions of interest, respectively, 5 2D features and 8 3D features were selected to build 2D and 3D CTTA models. The 2D CTTA model (area under the curve [AUC], 0.811; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.695-0.927) and the 3D CTTA model (AUC, 0.915; 95% CI, 0.838-0.993) showed good discrimination and calibration ( P > .05). There was no significant difference in AUC between the 2 models ( P = .093). Decision curve analysis showed the 3D model outperformed the 2D model in terms of clinical usefulness.

Conclusions:

The CTTA models based on contrast-enhanced CT images had a high value in differentiating fpAML from chRCC.
Peacebuilding and Development Training: What’s Not Working and What We Should Be Doing Instead
Authors: McClintock Elizabeth , Brachet Aline
Published: October 2019

Peacebuilding and development are two sides of the same coin yet integrating the two processes remains an ongoing challenge. One tool for achieving such integration is capacity building, which often translates as “training.” However, if we intend to use training to contribute to the goal of integration, it would behoove development and peacebuilding practitioners alike to embrace a more holistic approach to training design. Building on lessons learned by the authors during the design and implementation of diverse development and peacebuilding programming in Central Africa and the Sahel, we analyse three specific “mispractices” encountered in the field. We ask, “Why, as trainers, do we continue to engage approaches that don’t work?” “What practices should we end?” and “What should we be doing instead?” The article concludes with recommendations on how trainers can improve the integration of peacebuilding and development training.
Mesh size sensitivity analysis for interlaminar fracture of the fiber-reinforced laminated composites
Authors: Daricik Fatih
Published: October 2019

The virtual crack closure technique is a well-known finite element–based numerical method used to simulate fractures and it suits well to both of two-dimensional and three-dimensional interlaminar fracture analysis. In particular, strain energy release rate during a three-dimensional interlaminar fracture of laminated composite materials can successfully be computed using the virtual crack closure technique. However, the element size of a numerical model is an important concern for the success of the computation. The virtual crack closure technique analysis with a finer mesh converges the numerical results to experimental ones although such a model may need excessive modeling and computing times. Since, the finer element size through a crack path causes oscillation of the stresses at the free ends of the model, the plies in the delaminated zone may overlap. To eliminate this problem, the element size for the virtual crack closure technique should be adjusted to ascertain converged yet not oscillating results with an admissible processing time. In this study, mesh size sensitivity of the virtual crack closure technique is widely investigated for mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture analyses of laminated composite material models by considering experimental force and displacement responses of the specimens. Optimum sizes of the finite elements are determined in terms of the force, the displacement, and the strain energy release rate distribution along the width of the model.
Coronal Shear Fractures of the Distal Humerus: A Review of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes
Authors: Fram Brianna R. , Seigerman Daniel A. , Ilyas Asif M.
Published: October 2019

Fractures of the capitellum and trochlea are uncommon fractures of the elbow and can be challenging to treat due to their size, location, and articular nature. Because of their intra-articular nature and predilection toward displacement, these fractures are typically treated operatively. Furthermore, capitellum fractures have high rates of associated injuries, including radial head fractures or lateral collateral ligament injury in ~30% to 60% of patients. In addition to open reduction internal fixation, operative options include fragment excision, arthroscopic assisted reduction and fixation, and elbow arthroplasty. In this article, we undertake a comprehensive literature review of capitellum fractures of the distal humerus, in an attempt to summarize the existing body of evidence and propose areas of future study.
The Minimal Clinically Important Difference for PROMIS Physical Function in Patients With Thumb Carpometacarpal Arthritis
Authors: Lee Daniel J. , Calfee Ryan P.
Published: October 2019

Background: This study was performed to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) computer adaptive test (CAT) for patients with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data from 152 adults receiving surgical and nonsurgical care for unilateral thumb CMC arthritis at a single institution between January 2016 and January 2018. Patients completed PROMIS PF v1.2/2.0 CAT at each visit. At follow-up, patients also completed two 6-item anchor questions assessing the degree of perceived improvement. Statistical testing analyzed the ability of the clinical anchor to discriminate levels of improvement. An anchor-based MCID estimate was calculated as the mean PROMIS PF change score in the mild improvement group. The anchor-based MCID value was examined for the influence of patient age, initial and final PROMIS scores, and follow-up interval. A distribution-based MCID value was calculated incorporating the standard error of measurement and effect size. Results: The change in PROMIS PF scores was significantly different between encounters where patients reported no change, mild improvement, and much improvement. The anchor-based MCID estimate for PROMIS PF was 3.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.3-4.7). Individual MCID values were weakly correlated with the final absolute PROMIS PF score but did not correlate with patient age, time between visits, or the initial absolute PROMIS PF score. The distribution-based MCID value was 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.1-3.9). Conclusions: The estimated range of MCID values for PROMIS PF is 3.5 to 3.9 points in patients treated for thumb CMC arthritis.
Path tracking of autonomous vehicle based on adaptive model predictive control
Authors: Lin Fen , Chen Yuke , Zhao Youqun , Wang Shaobo
Published: October 2019

In most cases, a vehicle works in a complex environment, with working conditions changing frequently. For most model predictive tracking controllers, however, the impacts of some important working conditions, such as speed and road conditions, are not concerned. In this regard, an adaptive model predictive controller is proposed, which improves tracking accuracy and stability compared with general model predictive controllers. First, the proposed controller utilizes the recursive least square algorithm to estimate tire cornering stiffness and road friction coefficient online. Then, the estimated tire cornering stiffness is used to update vehicle dynamics model and the estimated road friction coefficient is used to update the road adhesion constraint. Moreover, the control parameters consist of prediction horizon, control horizon, and sampling time, all of which are set according to vehicle speed. A co-simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink and CarSim is conducted. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed controller has a great adaptive ability to changing working conditions, especially to speed and road conditions.
Long non-coding RNA PVT1, a molecular sponge of miR-26b, is involved in the progression of hyperglycemia-induced collagen degradation in human chondrocytes by targeting CTGF/TGF-β signal ways
Authors: Ding Luo-Bin , Li Yao , Liu Guang-Yuan , Li Tai-Hang , Li Feng , Guan Jian , Wang Hua-Jun
Published: October 2019

The current study was conducted to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA PVT1 in hyperglycemia-triggered human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. Cartilage from knee OA patients with and without diabetes, as well as normal cartilage, was obtained. Isolated human chondrocytes were treated with 30 nM of Glc with or without pioglitazone. The expression levels of PVT1, miR-26b, and type II collagen were determined by RT-PCR. Type II collagen was detected by immunocytochemistry and chondrocytes were stained with Alcian blue. Moreover, the interaction among PVT1, miR-26b, and CTGF was examined using bioinformatics, FISH, RIP, RNA-pull down, and luciferase reporter assays. Over-expression of PVT1 and miR-26b were performed and expressions of CTGF, TGF-β1, SMAD3, MMP-13, and type II collagen proteins were examined. Significantly higher expression of PVT1 was observed in diabetic OA. High Glc induced the elevated expression of PVT1, CTGF, TGF-β1, IL-6, and MMP-13, as well as decreased expression of type II collagen and miR-26b. These alterations could be reversed by pioglitazone. PVT1 acted as a sponge for miR-26b to facilitate CTGF expression. Over-expression of PVT1 increased the expressions of CTGF, TGF-β1, SMAD3, and MMP-13 and decreased expression of type II collagen. Our findings confirmed that PVT1 is involved in the hyperglycemia-induced collagen degradation, via the miR-26b-CTGF-TGF-β1-axis.
Human umbilical-cord mesenchymal stem cells inhibit bacterial growth and alleviate antibiotic resistance in neonatal imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
Authors: Ren Zhuxiao , Zheng Xuaner , Yang Haoming , Zhang Qi , Liu Xiaohong , Zhang Xiaoling , Yang Shumei , Xu Fang , Yang Jie
Published: October 2019

Human umbilical-cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) are a safe and convenient source of MSCs and have shown beneficial effects in neonatal infection and sepsis animal models. However, the factors leading to improved outcomes are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect and regulation of antimicrobial resistance of hUCMSCs. We separated imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) from neonates and incubated it with hUCMSCs as well as their culture medium. Assessment of direct inhibition of bacterial growth was done by counting CFUs. The concentration of antibacterial peptides in the culture medium of hUCMSCs was measured. Standard PA was inoculated with a sub-inhibitory concentration of imipenem with and without hUCMSC conditioned medium and antimicrobial peptides. The sensitivity to imipenem was detected until PA showed resistance to imipenem. Outer membrane protein (OprD2) mRNA expression in PA before and after the induction of imipenem resistance was analysed. We found that HUCMSCs possessed direct antimicrobial properties against bacteria and could alleviate antibiotic resistance via reserving OprD2 expression in PA.
From Competition to Collaboration: How a Multi-Firm Research Coalition Is Realizing Rigorous Facility Evaluation at Parkland Hospital
Authors: Brittin Jeri , Okland Kathy , Rogers Juliet L. , Rich Renae K. , Bazuin Doug , Harper Kathy , Roy Lonnie
Published: October 2019

This case study presents the process of developing a multi-entity Research Coalition to evaluate the new Parkland Hospital. The field of evidence-based design has made progress in systematically investigating relationships between healthcare facility design and a range of human outcomes. Yet healthcare facility evaluation is not typically included in the scope of building contracts. Lack of clear responsibility for evaluation and limited funding have been long-term barriers that the industry has yet to overcome. Firms engaged in design research at Parkland Hospital agreed with hospital representatives to collaborate on an integrated facility evaluation. Each participating entity contributed resources toward the effort. To formalize shared goals and priorities, the group developed a Research Coalition Charter. Goals included streamlining evaluation efforts to minimize burden on the hospital, leveraging multiple expertise areas to vet research aims and approaches, contributing knowledge to inform healthcare design, and innovating a model for multi-firm collaboration. The Coalition also developed guidelines for sharing data and disseminating research findings. To date, the Research Coalition has achieved key milestones including institutional review board exemption, data use and research collaboration agreements, and data collection. The research aims encompass patient and staff outcomes hypothesized to improve in the new facility. Both primary and secondary data are being analyzed to test the hypotheses. Publications of findings are forthcoming. Collaborative research among competitors may be a viable approach to realizing evaluation that is critical to learning for healthcare facility decision makers and design practitioners.
Covering Protests on Twitter: The Influences on Journalists’ Social Media Portrayals of Left- and Right-Leaning Demonstrations in Brazil
Authors: Mourão Rachel R. , Chen Weiyue
Published: October 2019

This study uses a media sociology approach to untangle how multiple influences shape the way journalists cover left- and right-leaning protests on social media. Several studies have investigated how reporters portray social movements, finding that news marginalizes protestors by focusing on spectacle and violent tactics to the detriment of their ideas. In this study, we turn to journalists’ Twitter accounts to analyze if these patterns are transferred to social media, as predicted by the literature on normalization of new affordances. Through a mixed methodology matching survey and social media data from 466 Brazilian journalists who tweeted about protests in 2013 and 2015, results revealed individual attitudes predicted coverage, indicating that social media was a space for personal, not professional, expression. Contrary to the literature, findings show that social media portrayals were more legitimizing during the left-leaning demonstrations than during the right-leaning elite-driven one. As a result, marginalizing patterns of protest coverage were challenged, not replicated, on Twitter. These findings suggest a limitation of the theory of normalization to explain how global journalists use social media.
Anatomic Sphenoid Cell Variants: Introduction of the Retrosphenoid Cell and Relevance in the Presentation and Management of Sinus Disease
Authors: Dadgostar Anali , Hashmi Aneela , Fan Judy , Javer Amin R.
Published: October 2019

Background

Despite the well-appreciated variability in sphenoid sinus anatomy, there are no documented cases of retrosphenoid cells in the literature to date.

Objective

This study defines and determines the prevalence of retrosphenoid cells as identified on computed tomography (CT) imaging and intraoperative endoscopy and reviews the prevalence of other related anatomical variants of the sphenoid sinus.

Methods

Retrospective study of 300 random noncontrast sinus CT scans of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis presenting to a tertiary rhinology center. All identifiable anatomic variations and any presence of retrosphenoid cells and their pneumatization patterns were recorded. The prevalence of various anatomic variations of the sphenoid sinus was also calculated.

Results

A total of 300 sinus CT scans were included in the study. Protrusion of both the internal carotid artery (42.6%) and optic nerve (19.7%) into the sinus was more prevalent than the dehiscence of either one. A retrosphenoid cell was identified in 2% of CT scans. Other anatomic variants were less prevalent.

Conclusion

Meticulous review of preoperative imaging is key in identifying rare and complex sphenoid cell variations in planning surgical approaches and potential treatment strategies for the unusually pneumatized sphenoid air cells. Various manifestations of sinus disease can be localized to this area, and suspicion of a retrosphenoid cell should be raised in patients presenting with recalcitrant headache.
The role of anti-tumour necrosis factor in wound healing: A case report of refractory ulcerated necrobiosis lipoidica treated with adalimumab and review of the literature
Authors: Sandhu Vijay Kumari , Alavi Afsaneh
Published: October 2019

Necrobiosis lipoidica is a chronic granulomatous disease historically associated with diabetes. Necrobiosis lipoidica commonly presents with erythematous papules or plaques on the anterior lower extremities, which can be ulcerated in up to 30% of patients. The pathophysiology of necrobiosis lipoidica is unknown but proposed to be predominantly linked to microangiopathy. No treatment option for necrobiosis lipoidica has shown consistent efficacy. Previous case reports have shown immune-modulating agents to be reasonable treatment options for ulcerative necrobiosis lipoidica. However, evidence for the tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, adalimumab, is limited and contradictory. We report a case of a 74-year-old type 2 diabetic female with a 2-year history of multiple ulcerated necrobiosis lipoidica plaques resistant to topical and systemic therapy. Treatment with adalimumab showed complete re-epithelization of all ulcers by week 28. Adalimumab may be an effective treatment option for ulcerated necrobiosis lipoidica that has failed traditional therapies. Further reports of adalimumab treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica and other chronic inflammatory wounds are needed.