bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beam Strengthened by a Steel Plate with Different Strengthening Schemes
Authors: Tang Huang , Peng Jianxin , Xiao Linfa , Liu Xinhua , Zhang Jianren
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) models to predict the response of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beam strengthened using a steel plate. Five FE models are developed based on the tests carried out by the authors in a previous investigation, in which three models are used to simulate the corroded RC beams with different schemes. The FE models use the coupled damaged‐plasticity constitutive law for concrete in tension and compression and consider the bond‐slip between the corroded tensile steel bar and concrete. The cohesive element is also used to model the cohesive bond between the steel plate and concrete. The FE results of load‐deflection and the crack distribution are compared with the test data. The FE results are consistent with the test results. The influence of the thickness of the steel plate, the thickness, and location of the U‐shaped steel strip on the bearing capacity of the strengthened corroded beam is analyzed through FE models. The results show that the thickness of the steel plate on the bottom surface should not exceed 4 mm for the flexure‐strengthened and combined strengthened beams with a 10% corrosion rate. It is most reasonable to improve the bearing capacity using the 3 mm and 2 mm of thick U‐shaped steel strips for the shear‐strengthened and combined strengthened beams, respectively. The most reasonable location of the U‐shaped steel plate is at the end of the steel plate for beams with a 10% corrosion rate.
Vitamin B17 Ameliorates Methotrexate-Induced Reproductive Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Testicular Injury in Male Rats
Authors: Felemban Shatha G. , Aldubayan Maha A. , Alhowail Ahmad H. , Almami Ibtesam S.
Published: October 2020

Methotrexate (MTX; 4-amino-10-methylfolic acid) is a folic acid reductase inhibitor used to treat autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. Testicular toxicity resulting from MTX is a significant side effect that may cause subsequent infertility. The present study was conducted to examine the ameliorating effects of vitamin B17 (VitB17) against testicular toxicity induced by MTX in male rats. A total of 50 male albino rats were equally divided into five groups [control group; vitamin B17 group (VitB17) administered VitB17 only; methotrexate group administered MTX only; cotreated group, (VitB17+MTX) and posttreated group (MTX+VitB17)]. In methotrexate group (MTX), a significant decrease was observed in body weight and the testicular weight, as well as the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone compared with control. The sperm count, viability, morphology index, total motility, and progressive motility also decreased in MTX rats compared with control. Furthermore, the levels of reduced glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression, in the testicular tissue decreased in MTX compared with control. In addition, MTX caused a significant increase in DNA and tissue damage compared with control. However, VitB17 ameliorated these effects, indicating that it has a preventative and curative effect against MTX-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. The protective effect of VitB17 may be associated to its antioxidant properties as it possibly acts as a free-radical scavenger and lipid peroxidation inhibitor, as well as its protective effect on the levels of GSH, SOD, and CAT.
Finite-Time Lyapunov Functions and Impulsive Control Design
Authors: Li Huijuan , Ma Qingxia
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we introduce finite-time Lyapunov functions for impulsive systems. The relaxed sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability of an equilibrium of an impulsive system are given via finite-time Lyapunov functions. A converse finite-time Lyapunov theorem for controlling the impulsive system is proposed. Three examples are presented to show how to analyze the stability of an equilibrium of the considered impulsive system via finite-time Lyapunov functions. Furthermore, according to the results, we design an impulsive controller for a chaotic system modified from the Lorenz system.
Study on FSI Analysis Method of a Large Hydropower House and Its Vortex‐Induced Vibration Regularities
Authors: Zhang Liaojun , Yin Guojiang , Wang Shuo , Guan Chaonian
Published: October 2020

The working principle of a large hydropower station is to guide the high‐pressure water flow to impact the turbine to rotate and generate electricity. The high‐pressure water flow impacts the turbine blades, which forms complex high‐speed eddy currents in the spiral case and the draft tube and causes complicated vortex‐induced vibration problems. Traditionally used harmonic response methods and dynamic time‐history analysis methods are difficult to reflect this complex fluid‐solid dynamic coupling problem. In this paper, the bidirectional fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) simulation analysis theory for a large hydropower house is studied, and the analysis methods of geometric simulation, mechanical simulation, and vibration energy transmission path simulation are presented. A large‐scale 3D fluid‐hydraulic machinery‐concrete structure coupled model of a hydropower house is established to study the vortex‐induced vibration mechanism and coupled vibration law during transient unit operation. A comparison of the fluid results against the in‐site data shows good agreement. Structural responses of vibration displacement, velocity, and acceleration reveal coupled regularity of hydraulic machinery‐concrete structure‐fluid during blades rotating periods, and it comes to the conclusion that the turbine blade rotation is the main vibration source of the hydropower house. The research results can provide a scientific basis for the design and safe operation of the hydropower house.
Increased Levels of Soluble CD206 Associated with Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Dermatomyositis
Authors: Shen Ya-Wen , Zhang Ya-Mei , Huang Zhen-Guo , Wang Guo-Chun , Peng Qing-Lin
Published: October 2020

Objective. Soluble CD206 (sCD206) is considered a macrophage activation marker, and a previous study proved it as a potential biomarker to predict the severity of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5- (anti-MDA-5-) positive dermatomyositis- (DM-) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD). To investigate the role of sCD206 in various subtypes of DM, we evaluated the serum level of sCD206 in patients with different myositis-specific autoantibodies besides anti-MDA-5 and clarified its clinical significance. Methods. Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to detect serum concentrations of sCD206 in 150 patients with DM and 52 healthy controls (HCs). Correlations between sCD206 levels and clinical features, laboratory examinations, and pulmonary function test parameters were analysed. Results. The median concentrations of serum sCD206 in DM patients were significantly higher than those in HCs (

p
<
0.0001

). Furthermore, median sCD206 levels were elevated in patients with ILD (

p
=
0.001

), especially in those with rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD) (

p
<
0.0001

). In addition, sCD206 levels were negatively correlated with the pulmonary function test results, including the percent predicted forced vital capacity (

r
=
−
0.234

,

p
=
0.023

), percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (

r
=
−
0.225

,

p
=
0.030

), and percent predicted carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (

r
=
−
0.261

,

p
=
0.014

). Age- and gender-adjusted multivariable analysis showed that sCD206 was an independent prognostic factor for RP-ILD in patients with DM. A longitudinal study showed that sCD206 levels were positively correlated with the physician global assessment visual analog scale scores (

β
=
54.201

,

p
=
0.001

). Conclusion. Serum sCD206 levels were significantly increased in patients with DM and significantly associated with RP-ILD, suggesting that sCD206 is an important biological predictor of RP-ILD in patients with DM.
Reduction to a Canonical Form of a Third-Order Polynomial Matrix with One Characteristic Root by means of Semiscalarly Equivalent Transformations
Authors: Shavarovskii B. Z.
Published: October 2020

For the selected class of polynomial matrices of order three with one characteristic root with respect to the transformation of semiscalar equivalence, special triangular forms are established. The theorems of their uniqueness are proved. This gives reason to consider such canonical forms.
Isoorientin Inhibits Inflammation in Macrophages and Endotoxemia Mice by Regulating Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β
Authors: Li Yingui , Zhao Yijing , Tan Xiaoqin , Liu Jiayan , Zhi Yingkun , Yi Lang , Bai Shasha , Du Qun , Li Qing X. , Dong Yan
Published: October 2020

Isoorientin has anti-inflammatory effects; however, the mechanism remains unclear. We previously found isoorientin is an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) in vitro. Overactivation of GSK3β is associated with inflammatory responses. GSK3β is inactivated by phosphorylation at Ser9 (i.e., p-GSK3β). Lithium chloride (LiCl) inhibits GSK3β and also increases p-GSK3β (Ser9). The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of isoorientin via GSK3β regulation in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced RAW264.7 murine macrophage-like cells and endotoxemia mice. LiCl was used as a control. While AKT phosphorylates GSK3β, MK-2206, a selective AKT inhibitor, was used to activate GSK3β via AKT inhibition (i.e., not phosphorylate GSK3β at Ser9). The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were detected by ELISA or quantitative real-time PCR, while COX-2 by Western blotting. The p-GSK3β and GSK3β downstream signal molecules, including NF-κB, ERK, Nrf2, and HO-1, as well as the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were measured by Western blotting. The results showed that isoorientin decreased the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and increased the expression of p-GSK3β in vitro and in vivo, similar to LiCl. Coadministration of isoorientin and LiCl showed antagonistic effects. Isoorientin decreased the expression of COX-2, inhibited the activation of ERK and NF-κB, and increased the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Isoorientin increased the expressions of occludin and ZO-1 in the brain of endotoxemia mice. In summary, isoorientin can inhibit GSK3β by increasing p-GSK3β and regulate the downstream signal molecules to inhibit inflammation and protect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and the homeostasis in the brain.
Robot-Assisted Arm Training versus Therapist-Mediated Training after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Zejian , Wang Chun , Fan Wei , Gu Minghui , Yasin Gvzalnur , Xiao Shaohua , Huang Jie , Huang Xiaolin
Published: October 2020

Background. More than two-thirds of stroke patients have arm motor impairments and function deficits on hospital admission, leading to diminished quality of life and reduced social participation. Robot-assisted training (RAT) is a promising rehabilitation program for upper extremity while its effect is still controversial due to heterogeneity in clinical trials. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare robot-assisted training (RAT) versus therapist-mediated training (TMT) for arm rehabilitation after stroke. Methods. We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane EBM Reviews, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Studies of moderate or high methodological quality (PEDro score ≥4) were included and analyzed. We assessed the effects of RAT versus TMT for arm rehabilitation after stroke with testing the noninferiority of RAT. A small effect size of −2 score for mean difference in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and Cohen’s d = −0.2 for standardized mean difference (SMD) were set as noninferiority margin. Results. Thirty-five trials with 2241 participants met inclusion criteria. The effect size for arm motor impairment, capacity, activities of daily living, and social participation were 0.763 (WMD, 95% CI: 0.404 to 1.123), 0.109 (SMD, 95% CI: −0.066 to 0.284), 0.049 (SMD, 95% CI: −0.055 to 0.17), and −0.061 (SMD, 95% CI: −0.196 to 0.075), respectively. Conclusion. This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that robot-assisted training was slightly superior in motor impairment recovery and noninferior to therapist-mediated training in improving arm capacity, activities of daily living, and social participation, which supported the use of RAT in clinical practice.
Viscoelastic Analysis of the Damping Asphalt Mixtures (DAMs) Made with a High Content of Asphalt Rubber (AR)
Authors: Huang Jiandong , Sun Yuantian
Published: October 2020

Damping asphalt mixtures (DAMs) have been developed to resist vibration and noise caused by traffic loads, and the ultimate design goal in this process is to increase damping. However, while optimizing its damping characteristics, the viscoelastic properties are not yet clear. In the present study, two DAMs are designed based on the open‐graded (OG) aggregate structure, and the viscoelastic properties are evaluated subsequently by the dynamic mechanical testing. The results show that the proposed mix‐design method for DAMs can meet the mechanical requirements specified in the standards; DAMs are detected to have higher phase angle and lower stiffness modulus compared with traditional mixtures, and the antifatigue performance is excellent but resistance to rutting may face challenges.
Kinetic Gait Changes after Robotic Exoskeleton Training in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: Karunakaran Kiran K. , Ehrenberg Naphtaly , Cheng JenFu , Bentley Katherine , Nolan Karen J.
Published: October 2020

Background. Acquired brain injury (ABI) is one of the leading causes of motor deficits in children and adults and often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include abnormal loading and unloading, increased double support time, decreased walking speed, control, and coordination. These deficits lead to diminished functional ambulation and reduced quality of life. Robotic exoskeletons (RE) for motor rehabilitation can provide the user with consistent, symmetrical, goal-directed repetition of movement, as well as balance and stability. Purpose. The goal of this preliminary prospective before and after study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of RE training on the loading/unloading and spatial-temporal characteristics in adolescents and young adults with chronic ABI. Method. Seven participants diagnosed with ABI between the ages of 14 and 27 years participated in the study. All participants received twelve 45 minute sessions of RE gait training. The bilateral loading (linearity of loading and rate of loading), speed, step length, swing time, stance time, and total time were collected using Zeno™ walkway (ProtoKinetics, Havertown, PA, USA) before and after RE training. Results. Results from the study showed improved step length, speed, and an overall progression towards healthy bilateral loading, with linearity of loading showing a significant therapeutic effect (p<0.05). Conclusion. These preliminary results suggest that high dose, repetitive, consistent gait training using RE has the potential to induce recovery of function in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ABI.
Association between Bone Mineral Density and Severity of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Huang Jin-Feng , Zheng Xuan-Qi , Sun Xiao-Lei , Zhou Xiao , Liu Jian , Li Yan Michael , Wang Xiang-Yang , Zhang Xiao-Lei , Wu Ai-Min
Published: October 2020

Objective. We sought to evaluate the association between femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral densities (BMDs) with severity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis (OP) among the CKD group. Methods. Cross-sectional data from 11050 participants aged ≥20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Specifically, Pearson correlation was applied to analyze the relationship between BMD and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). General linear models (GLMs) were adjusted for potential confounders and used to analyze mean BMD, based on CKD and CKD stages. Results. FN BMD was positively correlated with the eGFR in the total and male CKD, but not in the female CKD population. LS BMD was not significantly associated with eGFR. After controlling for partial correlations, FN T-score was positively correlated with the eGFR in the total at-risk population. According to FN BMD, OP prevalence was positively associated with CKD stage. However, according to LS BMD, there was no significant association between OP and CKD stage. Conclusion. Our results may explain the higher prevalence of hip fracture, relative to that of the spine, among CKD patients and generate meaningful insights to guide care, prevention, and treatment regimens for CKD patients. However, the fact that this was a cross-sectional study may limit the possibility of drawing concrete conclusions. Nevertheless, these findings open up a new frontier for further studies to uncover the higher decrease of FN BMD compared to LS BMD among CKD cases.
Dominant Symmetry Plane Detection for Point-Based 3D Models
Authors: He Chen , Wang Lei , Zhang Yonghui , Wang Chunmeng
Published: October 2020

In this paper, a symmetry detection algorithm for three-dimensional point cloud model based on weighted principal component analysis (PCA) is proposed. The proposed algorithm works as follows: first, using the point element’s area as the initial weight, a weighted PCA is performed and a plane is selected as the initial symmetry plane; and then an iterative method is used to adjust the approximate symmetry plane step by step to make it tend to perfect symmetry plane (dominant symmetry plane). In each iteration, we first update the weight of each point based on a distance metric and then use the new weights to perform a weighted PCA to determine a new symmetry plane. If the current plane of symmetry is close enough to the plane of symmetry in the previous iteration or if the number of iterations exceeds a given threshold, the iteration terminates. After the iteration is terminated, the plane of symmetry in the last iteration is taken as the dominant symmetry plane of the model. As shown in experimental results, the proposed algorithm can find the dominant symmetry plane for symmetric models and it also works well for nonperfectly symmetric models.
Study of Damage Constitutive Model of Brittle Rocks considering Stress Dropping Characteristics
Authors: Li Fei , You Shuang , Ji Hongguang , Wang Hao
Published: October 2020

Deep brittle rock exhibits characteristics of rapid stress dropping rate and large stress dropping degree after peak failure. To simulate the whole process of deformation and failure of the deep brittle rock under load, the Lemaitre strain equivalent theory is modified to make the damaged part of the rock has residual stress. Based on the damage constitutive model considering residual strength characteristics, a correction factor reflecting stress dropping rate is added, the Weibull distribution is used to describe the inhomogeneity of rock materials, and Drucker–Prager criterion is used to quantitatively describe the influence of stress on damage; a damage constitutive model of deep brittle rock considering stress dropping characteristics is established. According to the geometric features of the rock stress‐strain curve, the theoretical expressions of model parameters are derived. To verify the rationality of the model, triaxial compression experiments of deep brittle rock under different confining pressures are conducted. And the influence of model parameters on rock mechanical behaviour is analysed. The results show that the model reflects the stress dropping characteristics of deep brittle rock and the theoretical curve is in good agreement with the experimental results, which indicates that the proposed constitutive model is scientific and feasible.
A Novel Approach to Identify the Categories of Attributes for the Three-Factor Structure in Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Ahmad Amir , Barukab Omar
Published: October 2020

Evaluation of customer satisfaction is an important area of marketing research in which products are defined by attributes that can be grouped into different categories depending on their contribution to customer satisfaction. It is important to identify the category of an attribute so that it can be prioritized by a manager. The Kano model is a well-known method to perform this task for an individual customer. However, it requires filling in a form, which is a difficult and time-consuming exercise. Many existing methods require less effort from the customer side to perform data collection and can be used for a group of customers; however, they are not applicable to individuals. In the present study, we develop a data-analytic method that also uses the dataset; however, it can identify the attribute category for an individual customer. The proposed method is based on the probabilistic approach to analyze changes in the customer satisfaction corresponding to variations in attribute values. We employ this information to reveal the relationship between an attribute and the level of customer satisfaction, which, in turn, allows identifying the attribute category. We considered the synthetic and real housing datasets to test the efficiency of the proposed approach. The method correctly categorizes the attributes for both datasets. We also compare the result with the existing method to show the superiority of the proposed method. The results also suggest that the proposed method can accurately capture the behavior of individual customers.
Histone Methyltransferase SETDB1: A Common Denominator of Tumorigenesis with Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Strepkos Dimitrios , Markouli Mariam , Klonou Alexia , Papavassiliou Athanasios G. , Piperi Christina
Published: October 2020

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has been ultimately linked to cancer development, with posttranslational histone modifications representing attractive targets for disease monitoring and therapy. Emerging data have demonstrated histone lysine (K) methylation by methyltransferase SETDB1 as a common denominator of gene regulation in several cancer types. SETDB1 reversibly catalyzes the di- and trimethylation of histone 3 (H3) K9 in euchromatic regions of chromosomes, inhibiting gene transcription within these regions and promoting a switch from euchromatic to heterochromatic states. Recent studies have implicated aberrant SETDB1 activity in the development of various types of cancers, including brain, head and neck, lung, breast, gastrointestinal, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancer, mesothelioma, melanoma, leukemias, and osteosarcoma. Although its role has not been fully elucidated in every case, most data point toward a pro-oncogenic potential of SETDB1 via the downregulation of critical tumor-suppressive genes. Less commonly, however, SETDB1 can also acquire a tumor-suppressive role, depending on cancer type and stage. Here we provide an updated overview of the cellular and molecular effects underlying SETDB1 activity in cancer development and progression along with current targeting strategies in different cancer types, with promising effects either as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with other therapeutic agents.
Targeting the Cholecystokinin Receptor: A Novel Approach for Treatment and Prevention of Hepatocellular Cancer
Authors: Gay Martha D. , Safronenka Anita , Cao Hong , Liu Felice H. , Malchiodi Zoe X. , Tucker Robin D. , Kroemer Alexander , Shivapurkar Narayan , Smith Jill P.
Published: October 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cancer worldwide in part due to the obesity epidemic and fatty liver disease, particularly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Chronic inflammation with the release of cytokines and chemokines with activation of hepatic stellate cells results in changes of the liver extracellular matrix (ECM) that predisposes to the development of HCC. Blood levels of the gastrointestinal peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) are increased in humans and mice consuming a high-fat diet. We found that the CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) expression increased in the livers of mice with NASH. Treatment of mice with a CCK-BR antagonist, proglumide, prevented NASH, lowered hepatic inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, reduced oxidative stress, decreased F4/80+ hepatic macrophages, and prevented HCC. CCK-AR and CCK-BR expression was increased in both murine and human HCC cell lines compared with that of normal liver, and CCK stimulated the growth of wild-type and CCK-A receptor knockout HCC cells in vitro, but not CCK-BR knockout cells suggesting that the CCK-BR mediates proliferation. Proglumide therapy significantly reduced growth by 70% and 73% in mice bearing Dt81Hepa1–6 or in RIL-75 HCC tumors, respectively. IHC of a human liver tissue array with a selective CCK-BR antibody revealed staining of human HCC and no staining in normal liver.

Prevention Relevance:

This investigation demonstrates the role of the gastrointestinal peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and how CCK-BR blockade reverses the premalignant state of the hepatic extracellular matrix hence, rendering it less susceptible to the development of HCC. Thereby, CCK-BR blockade is a novel approach for the prevention/treatment of HCC.
An Improved Murine Premalignant Squamous Cell Model: Tobacco Smoke Exposure Augments NTCU-Induced Murine Airway Dysplasia
Authors: Dwyer-Nield Lori D. , McArthur Debbie G. , Tennis Meredith A. , Merrick Daniel T. , Keith Robert L.
Published: October 2020

Tobacco smoke-induced squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) develops from endobronchial dysplastic lesions that progress to invasive disease. A reproducible murine model recapitulating histologic progression observed in current and former smokers will advance testing of new preventive and therapeutic strategies. Previous studies show that prolonged topical application of N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU) generates a range of airway lesions in sensitive mice similar to those induced by chronic tobacco smoke exposure in humans. To improve the current NTCU model and better align it with human disease, NTCU was applied to mice twice weekly for 4–5 weeks followed by a recovery period before cigarette smoke (CS) or ambient air (control) exposure for an additional 3–6 weeks. Despite the short time course, the addition of CS led to significantly more premalignant lesions (PML; 2.6 vs. 0.5; P < 0.02) and resulted in fewer alveolar macrophages (52,000 macrophages/mL BALF vs. 68,000; P < 0.05) compared with control mice. This improved NTCU + CS model is the first murine SCC model to incorporate tobacco smoke and is more amenable to preclinical studies because of the increased number of PML, decreased number of mice required, and reduced time needed for PML development.
Treating Choroidal Metastases and Improving Vision with Osimertinib in EGFR T790M-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Keshwani Karim , Roelofs Kelsey A. , Hay Gordon , Lewis Rachel , Plowman Nick
Published: October 2020

A 41-year-old never-smoking female was diagnosed with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated T2bN3M1b lung adenocarcinoma with axillary lymph nodes. She complained of blurred vision in the left eye (2/60) and was subsequently found to have a left choroidal metastasis. Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib was started, and after 1 year of disease stability, she developed unsteadiness and worsening visual disturbance (1/60). Brain imaging showed 24 new brain metastases, which were treated with Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. An enlarging axillary lymph node was biopsied, which identified the T790M mutation, and she commenced the novel TKI osimertinib. Three weeks later, her choroidal lesion had regressed from 3.1 mm to 2.2 mm, and after 2 months of osimertinib, her visual acuity had improved to 6/9. At the last follow-up 8 months after initiation of osimertinib, her choroidal metastasis remains stable, and visual acuity has improved to 6/6. Evidence suggests that osimertinib’s efficacy in treating cerebral metastases is superior to that of chemotherapy and other EGFR-TKIs (gefitinib and erlotinib); however, the literature is sparse with regards to the use of osimertinib for the treatment of intraocular disease. In this case, the need for intense daily radiation treatment with its associated toxicities was negated, and as such we propose that osimertinib may be a promising treatment for choroidal metastasis secondary to EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma.
Pellicle Modification with Casein and Mucin Does Not Affect Surface Loss from Erosion and Abrasion
Authors: Baumann Tommy , Schmidt Christoph , Carvalho Thiago Saads
Published: October 2020

Aim: A combination of the proteins casein and mucin is known to modify the salivary pellicle and improve its protection of the underlying enamel from erosion. It is so far not known if this protection is confined solely to erosion, or if it also extends to abrasion, and this in vitro study aimed at investigating this question. Methods: A total of 72 human enamel specimens were prepared and randomly assigned to four groups: pellicle (P), casein/mucin (CM), pellicle + casein/mucin (PCM), and control (Ctrl). Each specimen underwent five cycles, each cycle consisting of a pellicle/treatment part, an erosion part (3 min in 1% citric acid, pH 3.6, 25°C, 70 rpm), and an abrasion part (50 toothbrush strokes within 25 s in toothpaste slurry with a 200-g load). The pellicle/treatment part consisted of 2 h of incubation in whole human saliva for group P, 2 h of incubation (25°C, 70 rpm) in a protein mixture of 1% casein and 0.27% mucin for group CM, and 2 h of incubation in saliva followed by 2 h of incubation in the protein mixture for group PCM. The fourth group (Ctrl) served as the control and was kept in a humid chamber without saliva or protein treatment. The enamel surfaces were scanned with an optical profilometer initially and after the final cycle, and surface loss was analyzed. Furthermore, the surface microhardness (SMH) was measured initially, after each pellicle/treatment part and each erosion cycle, and after the final abrasion cycle. The results were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni corrections. Results: The different treatments did not show differences in surface loss and therefore did not protect enamel from surface loss by abrasion. Nonetheless, we observed differences in the SMH values, namely the Ctrl group being significantly softer than the experimental groups. Conclusion: The observed differences in SMH suggest that a different abrasion protocol could lead to differences in surface loss, and further investigation of whether and under which conditions pellicle modification leads to increased resistance to abrasion remains worthwhile.
Rosa de Hiroshima na voz e no corpo de Ney Matogrosso
Authors: Barbosa João Victor Medeiros , Barbosa Kamilla Maria Medeiros
Published: October 2020

O presente trabalho analisa duas realizações de montagens performáticas de Ney Matogrosso distintas entre si da mesma canção, A Rosa de Hiroshima, composta a partir do poema de Vinícius de Moraes. Aborda-se a trajetória artística de Ney Matogrosso a partir da construção de sua autonomia enquanto artista em dois momentos: no grupo Secos e Molhados e após, em sua carreira solo, no show Olhos de Farol, no período de 1973 e 1999, momentos em que realiza sua composição em performance do poema A Rosa de Hiroshima. Observam-se traços peculiares de sua identidade artística em um diálogo entre alguns prismas teóricos sobre a performance e o contexto das suas duas composições, buscando analisar as nuances do movimento do corpo, e sua influência na ressignificação do poema, em cada uma das versões compostas pelo artista.
Floninha e sua turma
Authors: Souza Tamiris Regina Ribeiro Souza de , Lameu Thallyta Shigeko Kobayashi , Vargas Karine Bueno
Published: October 2020

A representação da arte através de fantoches é uma forma de expressão cultural e artística, que muito pode contribuir com a Educação Ambiental, sendo a ponte de interlocução entre o educador e o educando. A história de Floninha e sua turma (2019) teve seus personagens inspirados pela fauna e flora presentes na Unidade de Conservação Flona Mário Xavier/ICMBio, situada no município de Seropédica/RJ, e os problemas ambientais presentes na unidade foram transformados em personagens vilãs, sendo possível apresentar o contexto da paisagem e os impactos ambientais ali presentes.
A Taxonomic revision of Pseudodissochaeta (Melastomataceae, Dissochaeteae)

Authors: KARTONEGORO ABDULROKHMAN , LIU YING , MOTA DE OLIVEIRA SYLVIA , VAN WELZEN PETER
Published: October 2020

The mainly Southeast Asian genus Pseudodissochaeta (Melastomataceae, Dissochaeteae) is revised based on a study of herbarium collections. The relationships of Pseudodissochaeta to Dissochaeta and Medinilla are discussed and some important characters distinguishing it from its relatives, including habit, leaf base and margin and floral characters, are provided. Five species are recognized without any infraspecific taxa. A key to the species, descriptions of each species, distribution (maps), ecology, habitat, images and a list of the specimens examined are given.
Wing Interference Patterns in patterned wings of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)—exploring potential identification tool
Authors: PIELOWSKA-CERANOWSKA AGATA , SZWEDO JACEK
Published: October 2020

Biting midges, nematoceran flies family Ceratopogonidae, is represented by more than 6200 valid species. This group is still poorly known and not easy in identification. Structural coloration of insect wings (WIP, or Wing Interference Pattern) is an example of an optical phenomenon called iridescence, which is based on the formation of pigment-free, rainbow colours caused by the interference of white light reflected from transparent or semi-transparent structures. Preliminary results indicate that the structural colouring of the wings of these insects may be helpful in the delimitation of closely related and cryptic species.
Review of the Pulvinaria (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) species of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Authors: TANAKA HIROTAKA , KAMITANI SATOSHI
Published: October 2020

All four species of the soft scale insect genus Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) known from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, are reviewed. For each species, the detailed morphology of the adult female is redescribed from specimens recently collected in the Ryukyu Islands and is compared with previous descriptions. A key to the species of Pulvinaria in the Ryukyu Islands is provided. A table of diagnostic morphological character states of the reviewed species and the type species of the genus, P. vitis (Linnaeus, 1758), is provided for use in future taxonomic revision of the genus; this comparison indicates that all four species of Pulvinaria in this region and the type species of the genus, P. vitis can be distinguished clearly from each other by several diagnostic morphological character states.
Cancelation of Deglacial Thermosteric Sea Level Rise by a Barosteric Effect
Authors: Gebbie Geoffrey
Published: October 2020

Sea level rise over the last deglaciation is dominated by the mass of freshwater added to the oceans by the melting of the great ice sheets. While the steric effect of changing seawater density is secondary over the last 20 000 years, processes connected to deglacial warming, the redistribution of salt, and the pressure load of meltwater all influence sea level rise by more than a meter. Here we develop a diagnostic for steric effects that is valid when oceanic mass is changing. This diagnostic accounts for seawater compression due to the added overlying pressure of glacial meltwater, which is here defined to be a barosteric effect. Analysis of three-dimensional global seawater reconstructions of the last deglaciation indicates that thermosteric height change (1.0–1.5 m) is counteracted by barosteric (−1.9 m) and halosteric (from −0.4 to 0.0 m) effects. The total deglacial steric effect from −0.7 to −1.1 m has the opposite sign of analyses that assume that thermosteric expansion is dominant. Despite the vertical oceanic structure not being well constrained during the Last Glacial Maximum, net seawater contraction appears robust as it occurs in four reconstructions that were produced using different paleoceanographic datasets. Calculations that do not account for changes in ocean pressure give the misleading impression that steric effects enhanced deglacial sea level rise.
The Final Illness of Herbert Hoover
Authors: Pappas Theodore Nick
Published: October 2020

Herbert Hoover, the archetypal self-made man, was the 31st president of the United States. His term in office was overwhelmed by the Great Depression and he was defeated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1932 November presidential election. His post-presidential years were spent writing and serving 4 subsequent presidents. Near the end of his life, he underwent a cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones and a colectomy for colon cancer. His health care was complicated by the development of cirrhosis and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. After his 90th birthday, he died in October 1964 from massive bleeding due to a Dieulafoy lesion of the gastric cardia. This manuscript will review the details of his health and the physicians who cared for Hoover during his final years.
Personal Health Budget as a new rehabilitation model for severe mental illness within a caring community: An Italian evaluation study of beneficial effects
Authors: Pelizza Lorenzo , Leuci Emanuela , Landi Giulia , Maestri Davide , Paulillo Giuseppina , Ceroni Patrizia , Soncini Caterina , Daolio Maria Cristina , Quattrone Emanuela , Pellegrini Pietro
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Personal Health Budget has been provided to consumers with severe mental illness within a policy shift toward a person-tailored mental healthcare treatment based on individual unmet needs. Evidence of beneficial effects of Personal Health Budget is still scarce. The aim of this study was to provide preliminary data on clinical and social benefits of adding Personal Health Budget to a standard pharmacotherapy in patients with severe mental illness across a 24-month follow-up period.

Methods:

Participants ( n = 137) were individuals with severe mental illness, aged 18–50 years, recruited in one of the adult mental health services of the Parma Department of Mental Health. They completed the Global Assessment of Functioning scale, the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. This age range was chosen to limit Personal Health Budget interventions to adults with a non-prolonged illness duration. Friedman’s test for repeated measure was used to assess the longitudinal stability of functioning and clinical parameters. A linear regression analysis was also performed.

Results:

A significant decrease in all Global Assessment of Functioning scale, Health of the Nation Outcome Scale and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores along the 24 months of follow-up was observed. Regression analysis results specifically showed a relevant association between a Personal Health Budget multiaxial intervention and the longitudinal reduction in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ‘Negative Symptoms’ and Health of the Nation Outcome Scale ‘Social Problems’ subscores.

Conclusion:

Our findings support the useful implementation of a Health of the Nation Outcome Scale approach for severe mental illness patients within the Italian mental health service network.
For-Profit Hospitals Have Thrived Because of Generous Public Reimbursement Schemes, Not Greater Efficiency: A Multi-Country Case Study
Authors: Jeurissen Patrick P. T. , Kruse Florien M. , Busse Reinhard , Himmelstein David U. , Mossialos Elias , Woolhandler Steffie
Published: October 2020

For-profit hospitals’ market share has increased in many nations over recent decades. Previous studies suggest that their growth is not attributable to superior performance on access, quality of care, or efficiency. We analyzed other factors that we hypothesized may contribute to the increasing role of for-profit hospitals. We studied the historical development of the for-profit hospital sector across 4 nations with contrasting trends in for-profit hospital market share: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. We focused on 3 factors that we believed might help explain why the role of for-profits grew in some nations but not in others: (1) the treatment of for-profits by public reimbursement plans, (2) physicians’ financial interests, and (3) the effect of the political environment. We conclude that access to subsidies and reimbursement under favorable terms from public health care payors is an important factor in the rise of for-profit hospitals. Arrangements that aligned financial incentives of physicians with the interests of for-profit hospitals were important in stimulating for-profit growth in an earlier era, but they play little role at present. Remarkably, the environment for for-profit ownership seems to have been largely immune to political shifts.
Reducing social worker burnout during COVID-19
Authors: Peinado Micaela , Anderson Kelly N
Published: October 2020

Burnout has become part of everyday vocabulary. During the time of COVID-19, burnout is no longer exclusively associated with job-related stress. Our current climate is entrenched with unprecedented levels of varying societal stressors. Particularly during this time, social workers should prioritize their own mental health. This is necessary in order to have continued success when working with others. This article proposes interventions for social workers to implement in order to combat burnout during the time of COVID-19.
Da decolonizing real: Liberating humour in Joe Balaz’s Pidgin Eye
Authors: Ellis Juniper
Published: October 2020

Joe Balaz’s Pidgin Eye (2019), which collects 35 years of poetry written in Creole English, referred to in Hawai’i as Pidgin, uses liberating humour to claim decolonizing realities, unsettling colonial myths that indigenous sovereignty has been subsumed or destroyed. The collection vaunts ways of knowing and being embodied by a language that has often been dismissed, like other creoles, as “corrupt and bastardized”. “History of Pigeon”, the opening poem, unveils contemporary English as itself a long-time mixture of languages in its vocabulary and syntax. Challenging the very premise of monolingualism and colonial sovereignty, the poem suggests there is no such thing as a pure language unmixed with other languages, or free from violence and trauma. The Pidgin eye reveals that the colonial homogenous is an impossibility; throughout the collection Balaz establishes Pidgin as an epistemic, aesthetic, and activist decolonizing resource.
Enhancing the interyarn friction properties of kevlar and glass fabrics through ZnO nanowire coating
Authors: Gowthaman S , Sekhar Dileep R
Published: October 2020

The interyarn friction properties of fabrics can be enhanced by appropriate surface treatment of fibers. This study focuses on evaluating the interyarn friction properties of Kevlar and Glass fabrics that were coated with ZnO nanowires through different growth cycles. ZnO nanowires were coated onto woven Kevlar and Glass fabrics through a low temperature hydrothermal solution method. Longer growth time coupled with periodic refreshing of growth solution and washing of fabrics was found to be a favorable condition for uniform and precipitate free growth of ZnO nanowires. The effects of ZnO nanowire coating on the tensile and interyarn friction properties of fabrics were measured. In general, after ZnO nanowire coatings, Kevlar fabrics remained equally flexible as that of bare fabric while Glass fabrics became relatively stiff and brittle. The interyarn friction properties of Kevlar fabrics were found to be high under 100 N transverse tension while the transverse tension was found to have negligible or insignificant effect on the interyarn friction properties of Glass fabrics that were used in this research. Compared to bare fabric, Kevlar fabric coated with ZnO nanowires for extended duration showed 266% and 293% increase in yarn pull out load and energy, respectively under 100 N tension. Compared to bare fabric, Glass fabric coated with ZnO nanowires for extended duration showed 517% and 376% increase in yarn pull out load and energy, respectively under 5 N tension. These significant improvements in interyarn friction properties were attributed to mechanical interlocking and accumulation of ZnO nanowires at the intersection of yarns.
Silver nanoparticle modified carbon fiber-reinforced polymer material for resistance against thermal damage induced by irradiation
Authors: Schuster Thomas J , Weller Lars , Wolfrum Johannes , Eibl Sebastian
Published: October 2020

We investigated the resistance of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) to thermal radiation when silver nanoparticles are added to the resin. An epoxy based CFRP material filled with up to 10 wt.% silver nanoparticles, with respect to the polymer matrix, shows an increase in time to ignition of up to ∼ 30% when irradiated from one side with an electrical heater with heat fluxes of 35 and 80 kW/m2. Scattering and specular reflectance of infrared light was analyzed before thermal irradiation, showing enhanced scattering of samples with increasing silver particle content, which correlates linearly to the time to ignition. The reaction to fire properties of the CFRP, analyzed by cone calorimetry, are also influenced positively by the silver nanoparticles.

The thermal conductivity, as measured by laser-flash-analysis, shows no influence by the nanoparticles. Therefore, the increase in time to ignition, as well as the more homogeneous combustion, are not due to changes in conductivity, but to scattering and reflection effects caused by the nanoparticles.

The modified material shows no decline in interlaminar shear strength, representing structural properties.

Health and environmental risks by nanoparticle release during production, combustion, and machining of the modified CFRP are also investigated. The preliminary results show no additional hazards.
The Political Costs of Abusing Human Rights: International Cooperation in Extraordinary Rendition
Authors: Cordell Rebecca
Published: October 2020

From 2001 to 2005, over a quarter of all countries in the world cooperated in a secret rendition network that enabled the transfer of CIA terrorist suspects to secret detention sites. While governments in some states have not been punished for participating, others have incurred political costs, including electoral defeats. What explains variation in the political costs of participation in the post-9/11 extraordinary rendition program? I argue that left of center governments, particularly those in democracies, suffered greater political costs from being caught because of the perception that they are better at protecting civil liberties in the name of national security. I test the effect of party orientation on electoral defeat at the election following the revelation of participation in extraordinary rendition using a matched sample where the party in office at the time of participation remained the same. The analysis provides empirical support for my theoretical argument.