bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on the utility and interest in a point-of-care urine tenofovir test for adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy: an exploratory qualitative assessment among U.S. clients and providers
Authors: Bardon Ashley R. , Simoni Jane M. , Layman Leif M. , Stekler Joanne D. , Drain Paul K.
Published: August 2020

Background

Real-time, objective measures of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are needed to better assess adherence levels and to expedite clinical response for those with suboptimal adherence. Point-of-care tenofovir (POC-TFV) testing has been proposed as a solution to facilitate real-time antiretroviral adherence monitoring, but little is known about how health care providers, people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving ART, and people receiving PrEP will perceive POC-TFV testing.

Methods

We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to assess perspectives on the utility and interest in POC-TFV testing from potential end users. We conducted three focus group discussions (FGDs) among 17 PLWH receiving ART and four individuals receiving PrEP, as well as eight in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health care providers in the Seattle area and presented participants with a hypothetical urine-based POC-TFV test. FGDs and IDIs were audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed to describe emerging themes.

Results

Overall, study participants demonstrated divergent opinions about the POC-TFV test. Among study participants, PLWH were most ambivalent about POC-TFV testing, first demonstrating reluctance to TFV-level monitoring and shifting positions during the FGDs. However, all PLWH participants were receptive to POC-TFV testing if requested by their provider. PrEP participants were generally supportive of POC-TFV testing for routine adherence monitoring and emphasized potential value in self-administered testing. Providers’ perceptions were equally divided – half suggested POC-TFV testing would be valuable, particularly for people receiving PrEP, while half indicated the test would have little benefit for most individuals receiving ART or PrEP in the U.S. All providers agreed that POC-TFV test results could be beneficial for assessing discrepancies in viral load results and self-reported adherence among PLWH. The study also revealed that a low-cost, non-urine-based POC-TFV test with a long-term limit of detection would be preferred over the hypothetical urine-based test.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate POC-TFV testing may be beneficial for routine, clinic-based adherence monitoring, particularly for individuals receiving PrEP or for PLWH with persistent viremia or following recent ART initiation. These findings should also be used to formulate a target product profile for a POC-TFV test and to guide further developments in tools for objective antiretroviral adherence monitoring.
Knee OA cost comparison for hyaluronic acid and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Ong Kevin L. , Niazi Faizan , Lau Edmund , Mont Michael A. , Concoff Andrew , Shaw Peter , Kurtz Steven M.
Published: August 2020

Background

Limiting treatment to those recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon Clinical Practice Guidelines has been suggested to decrease costs by 45% in the year prior to total knee arthroplasty, but this only focuses on expenditures leading up to, but not including, the surgery and not the entire episode of care. We evaluated the treatment costs following knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis and determined whether these are different for patients who use intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) and/or knee arthroplasty.

Methods

Claims data from a large commercial database containing de-identified data of more than 100 million patients with continuous coverage from 2012 to 2016 was used to evaluate the cumulative cost of care for over 2 million de-identified members with knee OA over a 4.5-year period between 2011 and 2015. Median cumulative costs were then stratified for patients with or without HA and/or knee arthroplasty.

Results

Knee OA treatment costs for 1,567,024 patients over the 4.5-year period was $6.60 billion (mean $4210/patient) as calculated by the authors. HA and knee arthroplasty accounted for 3.0 and 61.5% of the overall costs, respectively. For patients who underwent knee arthroplasty, a spike in median costs occurred sooner for patients without HA use (around the 5- to 6-month time point) compared to patients treated with HA (around the 16- to 17-month time point).

Conclusions

Non-arthroplasty therapies, as calculated by the authors, accounted for about one third of the costs in treating knee OA in our cohort. Although some have theorized that limiting the use of HA may reduce the costs of OA treatment, HA only comprised a small fraction (3%) of the overall costs. Among patients who underwent knee arthroplasty, those treated with HA experienced elevated costs from the surgery later than those without HA, which reflects their longer time to undergoing knee arthroplasty. The ability to delay or avoid knee arthroplasty altogether can have a substantial impact on the cost to the healthcare system.
Evaluating the reliability and validity of secondary reporting to measure gender-based violence in conflict and disaster
Authors: Stark Lindsay , Roberts Les , Yu Gary , Tan Timothy M. , Nagar Aishwarya , Ager Alastair
Published: August 2020

Background

Accurately identifying the magnitude of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings is hindered by logistical and methodological complexities. The ‘Neighborhood Method’, an adapted household survey that uses primary and secondary reporting to assess the prevalence of GBV in humanitarian settings, reduces the length of time and cost associated with traditional surveys. Primary female adult respondents disclose incidents of physical violence, intimate and non-intimate partner rape for themselves, other females in their homes (standard reporting) and other women and children in their social networks (secondary reporting). This study examines the reliability and validity of this inclusion of secondary reporting to determine the comparability of the Neighborhood Method to a traditional survey approach.

Methods

Drawing on data from 1180 women reporting on 3744 females in respondent households and 15,086 in neighboring households across four humanitarian settings (Ethiopia/ Somalia, Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Uganda), reliability of secondary reporting was measured through intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Cohen’s kappas. Validity was assessed using two-sample z-tests for differences between standard versus secondary reporting.

Results

Prevalence estimates comparing a respondent’s household with a neighboring household show closer agreement (ICC: 0.999–0.986) than self-reports vs. secondary reporting on a female counterpoint in a neighboring home (ICC: 0.939–0.98). Kappa statistics analyzing the reliability of two separate neighbors reporting on a third neighbor showed moderate agreement beyond chance alone (κ = 0.45 for physical violence and 0.48 for rape). Prevalence rates corresponded between standard and secondary reports (i.e. showed no statistical difference) in 18 out of 24 compared populations.

Conclusions

For prevalence of GBV, secondary reporting about neighbors can serve as a useful adjunct to standard survey methodology. Findings offer important initial insights into the consistency and accuracy of secondary reporting as a tool for field epidemiologists in humanitarian settings.
Fire needle plus cupping for acute herpes zoster: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Ying , Liang Zuohui , Li Shihua , Yang Ling , Guo Taipin , Xu Yan , Yang Juanjuan , Xu Qiannan , Zhang Qing , Zhao Jian , Li Cailian , Liu Xiuhong
Published: August 2020

Background

Acute herpes zoster (AHZ) is a common skin disease caused by invasion of the varicella zoster virus into the ganglia and skin, and the severe pain is the most complaint, which can seriously disturb the normal life of patients. Fire needle plus cupping is a special acupuncture treatment, which is widely used to treat AHZ for its better analgesic effect in China although it has not been fully verified by rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods/design

To test the effect, a three-arm randomized parallel controlled trial protocol has been designed. A total of 105 AHZ patients suffering pain will be randomly divided into three groups in an equal proportion. The interventions are fire needle plus cupping (FC) in group A, famciclovir plus gabapentin (FG) in group B, and fire needle plus cupping plus famciclovir (FCF) in group C. The length for the trial is set for a week time frame. Precisely speaking, the A group (FC) is to carry out 1 treatment per day for the total of 7 treatment sessions within 1 week period. On the other hand, the B group (FG) will take drugs orally three times a day within the trial 1 week. Meanwhile, with its combination element, the C group (FCF) is due to undertake both treatments and drugs as prescribed for A and B groups within the trial week. As an intra-trial arrangement, analgesic medication will be carefully administered for temporary pain release if the sudden intolerable pain appeared. For the primary outcome, this study is due to apply visual analogue scale to identify pain intensity relief. As the secondary outcomes are concerned, this study is aiming to focus on the issues related to changes in substance P and beta-endorphin concentrations in peripheral plasma, as well as those issues of analgesic needs, side effects, symptoms, and physical signs including pain classification, local itching, burning sensation, fever, local lymphadenopathy, skin lesion area, blisters, herpes clusters, vesicular traits, ulcers, and pimples; all these are taken into account for evaluation. For the final stage, the participants are to be followed up for postherpetic neuralgia.

Discussion

The results of this trial aim to provide sufficient evidence on FC treatment over both FG and FCF treatments. It will then give a credible alternative treatment to cut down acute pain and to cure AHZ infection.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800015372. Registered on 28 March 2018.
An improved terracing algorithm for potential-field data
Authors: Cooper G. R. J.
Published: August 2020

Although the boundaries between geologic units with different physical properties are usually quite distinct, the potential-field anomalies associated with them are relatively smooth, particularly for deeper bodies. The terracing filter has been introduced to sharpen anomaly edges and to produce regions of constant amplitude between them, mimicking geologic units on a geologic map. The boundaries between the pseudogeologic units are defined by the zero contour of the Laplacian function. Unfortunately, this can result in the domains of terraced anomalies extending far from the original location of the causative body, producing an image that poorly represents the geology. I have determined that the use of the mathematical shape index of the anomalies, rather than their Laplacian, produces a much more geologically realistic result. The effect can be controlled as desired using a threshold parameter. I evaluate the benefits of the method on gravity and magnetic data from southern Africa.
Identification of intrusive lithologies in volcanic terrains in British Columbia by machine learning using random forests: The value of using a soft classifier
Authors: Kuhn Stephen , Cracknell Matthew J. , Reading Anya M. , Sykora Stephanie
Published: August 2020

Identifying the location of intrusions is a key component in exploration for porphyry Cu ± Mo ± Au deposits. In typical porphyry terrains, in the absence of outcrop, intrusions can be difficult to discriminate from the compositionally similar volcanic and volcanoclastic sedimentary rocks in which they are emplaced. The ability to produce lithological maps at an early exploration stage can significantly reduce costs by assisting in planning and prioritization of detailed mapping and sampling. Additionally, a data-driven strategy provides opportunity for the discovery of intrusions not identified during conventional mapping and interpretation. We used random forests (RF), a supervised machine-learning algorithm, to classify rock types throughout the Kliyul porphyry prospect in British Columbia, Canada. Rock types determined at geochemical sampling sites were used as training data. Airborne magnetic and radiometric data, geochemistry, and topographic data were used in classification. Results were validated using First Quantum Minerals’ geologic map, which includes additional detail from targeted location and transect mapping. The petrophysical and compositional similarity of rock types resulted in a noisy classification. Intrusions, particularly the more discrete, were inconsistently predicted, likely due to their limited extent relative to data sampling intervals. Closer examination of class membership probabilities (CMPs) identified locations where the probability of an intrusion being present was elevated significantly above the background. Indeed, a large proportion of mapped intrusions correspond to areas of elevated probability and, importantly, areas were highlighted as potential intrusions that were not identified in geologic mapping. The RF classification produced a reasonable lithological map, if lacking in resolution, but more significantly, great benefit comes from the insights drawn from the RF CMPs. Mapping the spatial distribution of elevated intrusion CMP, a soft classifier approach, produced a map product that can target intrusions and prioritize detailed mapping for mineral exploration.
Asinine Heroism and the Mediation of Empire in Chaucer, Marlowe, and Shakespeare
Authors: Cressler Loren
Published: August 2020

What are the consequences of reading Shakespeare’s allusions to classical heroes through vernacular adaptations rather than through classical texts? This essay reframes the debate about which classical sources Shakespeare consulted, arguing that he encountered Aeneas and Theseus primarily through vernacular authors. Vernacular literature’s depictions of the mythic founders of Rome and Athens foreground classical heroes’ treachery and duplicity and minimize their roles as progenitors of empire and culture. Shakespeare’s quotation strategies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream follow Marlowe and Nashe’s model in Dido, Queen of Carthage by looking to Chaucer as the poetic authority for classical myth. Like Chaucer, both playwrights foreground the destruction left in empire’s wake. A Midsummer Night’s Dream imagines a retelling of Dido’s story that privileges her authority over an interloping male hero. In the asinine Bottom, Shakespeare offers an antidote to the exploitative model of heroism embodied in Theseus and Aeneas through a mock-heroic retelling of Aeneas’s most renowned crime.
Ru/P-Containing Porous Biochar-Efficiently Catalyzed Cascade Conversion of Cellulose to Sorbitol in Water under Medium-Pressure H2 Atmosphere
Authors: Mao Feng , Chen Shuainan , Zhang Qiao , Yang Long , Wan Feifei , Jiang Dabo , Xiong Manman , Zhang Chao , Liu Yachun , Fu Zaihui
Published: August 2020

This paper discloses a simple and productive strategy for the preparation of biochar-based bifunctional catalysts. In this strategy, very cheap bamboo powder is thermally carbonized to yield P-containing porous biochars (PBCs) by the activation of concentrated phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and the latter can be transformed into the target catalysts via loading Ru nanometer particles (NPs) on them (marked as Ru/PBCs). A series of characterizations and measurements support that PBCs have stable and rich micro-meso pores and small strong acidic protons (0.10–0.28 mmol·g−1) attributable to the grafted and/or skeleton phosphorus groups, as well as a strong affinity to β-1,4-glycosidic bonds, thus exhibiting a good acid catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose. More importantly, they are excellent acidic supports for the loading of Ru NPs owing to high BET surface area, which can give the loaded Ru NPs uniform and narrow distribution (1–6 nm). The resulting bifunctional Ru/PBCs catalysts possess excellent hydrolytic hydrogenating activity for the one-pot cascade conversion of cellulose and the optimized conditions can achieve ca. 89% hexitol yield with 98% sorbitol selectivity under relatively mild conditions. This work provides a good example for the preparation of biomass-derived bifunctional catalysts and their applications in biorefinery.
Appendicitis with direct fistulation into the liver: a forgotten cause of pyogenic liver abscess
Authors: Armstrong Tom , Dluzewski Sam , Yu Dominic
Published: August 2020

Pyogenic liver abscess typically occurs secondary to biliary or haematogenous spread of organisms. In the context of acute appendicitis, abscesses generally occur due to haematogenous spread through the mesenteric vasculature. Historically, few cases of direct intra-abdominal spread have been reported but this has become vanishingly rare since the development of antibiotic therapy with no recorded cases in a search of over 900 cases in the literature.
Should zinc be used for COVID-19 prophylaxis or treatment? A rapid review
Authors: Gbinigie Oghenekome A. , Akyea Ralph K.
Published: August 2020

Background: There have been intensive efforts worldwide to establish effective treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with recent interest in the use of zinc as a potential therapeutic agent. The aim of this rapid review was therefore to critically appraise and evaluate the evidence for using zinc as prophylaxis and/or treatment for COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted electronic searches on 20th and 21st May 2020 of PubMed, TRIP, EPPI COVID Living Map, MedRxiv, Google Scholar and Google. All searches were updated on 11th July 2020 to check for new relevant studies. We included in vivo studies assessing the safety and effectiveness of zinc, alone or combined with other interventions, as treatment or prophylaxis for COVID-19. Studies assessing the activity of zinc against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro were also included.

Results: We identified one observational study with a high risk of bias that was suitable for inclusion. The study authors found that treatment with a combination of zinc, azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 resulted in increased odds of being discharged home (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.53; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.09; p = 0.008) and reduced odds of death or being transferred to a hospice (adjusted OR 0.559; 95% CI 0.385 to 0.811; p = 0.002), compared with treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.

Conclusions: We identified extremely limited evidence from a study with methodological problems of an association between improvement in certain outcomes when COVID-19 patients are treated with a combination of zinc, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, compared with treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The results of randomised clinical trials in this area should provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of zinc as treatment/prophylaxis for COVID-19.
Surgical Outcomes of Bacterial Infection of the Finger Bone and Joint
Authors: Jung Hyung Seo , Kim Jae Kwang , Shin Young Ho
Published: August 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the surgical outcomes of bacterial infection of the finger bone and joint.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 31 cases of finger bone and joint bacterial infection from December 2016 to December 2019. Demographic information, finger infection details, treatment details, and range of motion (ROM) at the last follow-up were analyzed. Results: Twenty (64.5%) of the 31 cases showed normal values in preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level. Staphylococcus aureus (15 cases) was the most common pathogen. For the initial operative treatments, 21 cases were treated with incision and debridement with bone curettage or drilling, and seven with amputation. Seventeen patients underwent delayed wound closure after the initial surgery, of whom 16 did not have recurrent infections after wound closure. The mean number of operations was 2.1±1.3 in all cases. The median ROM of the involved finger was 57.7% (range, 26.9%–76.9%) and 88.8% (range, 34.6%–100%) of the contralateral side in the patients with and without initial septic arthritis, respectively (p=0.002). Twenty-nine cases (93.5% of 31 cases) showed no infection recurrence after completion of the treatments.Conclusion: Combined antibiotic and surgical treatments showed a high cure rate, but initial septic arthritis was a poor prognostic factor of ROM. The soft tissue condition of the involved finger is important for deciding the surgical treatment.
Six challenges facing clinical leadership
Authors: Edmonstone John
Published: August 2020

Facilitating effective leadership development is a challenge that the NHS has struggled with for decades. John Edmonstone outlines six key issues that must be resolved in order to establish strong and consistent clinical leadership.
Remember the law: managing patients who decline two-week rule appointments because of COVID-19
Authors: Hayes Thomas
Published: August 2020

Concerns about contracting COVID-19 have led to many patients with suspected cancers becoming reluctant to attend appointments and investigations, putting clinicians in a difficult position. Thomas Hayes explains the importance of a well-informed patient in securing both the best clinical outcomes and the clinician's legal position.
Virtual training for midwives during a pandemic
Authors: Abramson Paula
Published: August 2020

More midwives need access to online specialist bereavement training, says Paula Abramson
A step-by-step guide to placing a central venous jugular catheter
Authors: Chevallier Delphine Le
Published: August 2020

Placing a central venous jugular catheter is a valuable technique. The method used is the modified Seldinger technique (over the wire), which is also used to place chest drains. While intravenous catheterisation of a peripheral vein is common practice in veterinary medicine, critically ill patients may require central venous access if peripheral access is not possible. This is also useful when large volumes of fluid are required, for example for administration of irritant drugs or for parenteral nutrition, or for regular blood sampling.
Effect of quartz lens structure on the optical performances of near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes
Authors: Qiu Jinyang , Peng Yang , Min Xianhao , Wang Xinzhong , Chen Mingxiang
Published: August 2020

Near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (NUV-LEDs) have been a rising UV light source for identification, resin curing, ink-printing, and illumination. In pursuit of more extensive application in different fields, their optical performances are obliged to be better. In this paper, we investigated the effect of a quartz lens structure on the optical performances of NUV-LEDs. The feature size of the quartz lens was optimized by optical simulations. When the quartz lens has the optimized feature size with a height above 1.8 mm while adding a silicone layer between the chip and the lens, the NUV-LEDs achieve the highest light efficiency, and exhibit a smallest light spot and largest light energy at the center region. Furthermore, different lenses were prepared and applied in the packaging of NUV-LEDs. As a consequence, the light output power of NUV-LEDs with a silicone layer is enhanced by 20.19% at the current of 220 mA. The light output power of NUV-LEDs is enhanced by 38.66%, 43.98%, and 53.30%, respectively, by using the different quartz lenses at the current of 220 mA, and the NUV-LED achieves the highest luminous intensity by 0.098 cd and smallest output light angle by 106.0°. It is attributed to the significant refraction effect of the quartz lens, which improves the optical performances of NUV-LEDs.
High-performance fiber plasmonic sensor by engineering the dispersion of hyperbolic metamaterials composed of Ag/TiO2
Authors: Hu Shiqi , Chen Yaofei , Chen Yu , Chen Lei , Zheng Huadan , Azeman Nur Hidayah , Liu Ming Xian , Liu Gui-Shi , Luo Yunhan , Chen Zhe
Published: August 2020

Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) have attracted increasing attentions because of their unique dispersion properties and the flexibility to control the dispersion by changing the components and fractions of the composed materials. In this work, for the first time, we demonstrate a plasmonic sensor based on a side-polished few-mode-fiber coated with a layered of HMM, which is composed of alternating layers of Ag and TiO2. To optimize the sensor performance, the effects of the metal filling fraction (ρ) and the number of bilayers (Nbi) on the HMM dispersion are thoroughly engineered with the effective medium theory and the finite element method. It is found that the HMM with ρ=0.7 and Nbi = 3 can provide the average sensitivity of 5114.3 nm/RIU (RIU: refractive index unit), and the highest sensitivity 9000 nm/RIU in the surrounding refractive index (SRI) ranging from 1.33 to 1.40 RIU. The corresponding figure of merit (FOM) reaches a maximum of 230.8 RIU-1 which is much higher than that of the conventional silver film based SPR sensor. The influence of ρ and Nbi on the sensitivity are well explained from the aspects of the electrical field distribution and the dispersion relationship. This work opens a gate to significantly improve fiber plasmonic sensors performance by engineering the HMM dispersion, which is expected to meet the emergent demand in the biological, medical and clinical applications.
Effects of phase transformation on the ultraviolet optical properties of alumina clusters in aircraft plumes
Authors: Xu Yueyuan , Lu Bai , Li Jingying , Li Jinlu , Gao PengHui
Published: August 2020

Alumina particles experience phase transition as an undercooling process along the plume, during which the liquid alumina clusters transform into multiphase, and then into α phase. The phase transformation model was built by an improved diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) algorithm with monomers of stratified structure. The effects of phase transformation on the ultraviolet optical characteristics of alumina clusters were studied using the superposition T-matrix method (STMM). We found that the alumina clusters in phase transition had completely different optical properties compared with the fixed phase ones. Forward scattering, absorption efficiency and asymmetry parameter gradually decreased, whereas backward scattering, scattering efficiency, and single-scattering albedo gradually increased during the phase transformation process. Besides, multiphase alumina clusters were compared with the other two equivalent models, including the sphere model approximated by equivalent volume sphere (EVS) and the equivalent surface sphere (ESS) approaches and single-phase cluster model approximated by Maxwell-Garnett (MG) and Bruggeman (BR) approaches. Generally speaking, the optical properties of the single-phase cluster approximated by MG and BR approaches were relatively close to those of the real multiphase alumina cluster. Whereas the spheres approximated by EVS and ESS had great deviations, especially when the number of monomers in the cluster was 20, the relative error of scattering efficiency calculated by ESS was up to 52%. Therefore, approximate approaches for multiphase clusters should be chosen cautiously. Our results give further the understanding of the optical properties of alumina clusters. As the phase states are usually closely related to the plume radiation and burning process, these kinds of researches will be helpful to aircraft detection, identiﬁcation, and other related fields.
Greater than one billion Q factor for on-chip microresonators
Authors: Wu Lue , Wang Heming , Yang Qifan , Ji Qing-xin , Shen Boqiang , Bao Chengying , Gao Maodong , Vahala Kerry
Published: August 2020

High optical quality (Q) factors are critically important in optical microcavities, where performance in applications spanning nonlinear optics to cavity quantum electrodynamics is determined. Here, a record Q factor of over 1.1 billion is demonstrated for on-chip optical resonators. Using silica whispering-gallery resonators on silicon, Q-factor data is measured over wavelengths spanning the C/L bands (100 nm) and for a range of resonator sizes and mode families. A record low sub-milliwatt parametric oscillation threshold is also measured in 9 GHz free-spectral-range devices. The results show the potential for thermal silica on silicon as a resonator material.
Return to Kahiki: Native Hawaiians in Oceania, Kealani Cook (2019)
Authors: Smith Hinekura
Published: August 2020

Review of: Return to Kahiki: Native Hawaiians in Oceania, Kealani Cook (2019)

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 270 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 31664 699 1 (pbk), £22.99
Tulagi: Pacific Outpost of British Empire, Clive Moore (2019)
Authors: Quanchi Max
Published: August 2020

Review of: Tulagi: Pacific Outpost of British Empire, Clive Moore (2019)

Canberra: Australian National University Press, 472 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 76046 308 3 (pbk), AUS$60
First Fieldwork: Pacific Anthropology, 1960–1985, Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi (ed.) (2018)
Authors: Pilo Dario
Published: August 2020

Review of: First Fieldwork: Pacific Anthropology, 1960–1985, Laura Zimmer-Tamakoshi (ed.) (2018)

Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press, 262 pp.,

ISBN 978 0 82487 209 0 (hbk), $68
Social Investment: A New Zealand Policy Experiment, Jonathan Boston and Derek Gill (eds) (2018)
Authors: De Marco Alessandra
Published: August 2020

Review of: Social Investment: A New Zealand Policy Experiment, Jonathan Boston and Derek Gill (eds) (2018)

Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 448 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 98853 358 2 (pbk), NZ$69.99
Sloshing Simulation of Single-Phase and Two-Phase SPH using DualSPHysics
Authors: Trimulyono Andi , Samuel S , Iqbal Muhammad
Published: August 2020

The sloshing phenomenon is one of the free surface flow that can endanger liquid cargo carriers such as ships. Sloshing is defined as the resonance of fluid inside a tank caused by external oscillation. When sloshing is close to the natural frequency of the tank it could endanger ships. Particle method has the advantages to be applied because sloshing is dealing with free surface. One of the particle methods is Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). In this study, compressible SPH was used as a result of the pressure oscillation, which exists because of the effect of density fluctuation as nature of weakly compressible SPH. To reduce pressure noise, a filtering method, Low Pass Filter,  was used to overcome pressure oscillation. Three pressure sensors were used in the sloshing experiment with a combination of motions and filling ratios. Only one pressure sensor located in the bottom was used to validate the numerical results. A set of SPH parameters were derived that fit for the sloshing problem. The SPH results show a good agreement with the experiment’s. The difference between SPH and experiment is under 1 % for sway, but a larger difference shows in roll. Low pass filter technique could reduce pressure noise, but comprehensive method needs to develop for general implementation.
Strategy for Improving the Competitiveness of Shipyards in the Eastern Part of Indonesia
Authors: Baso Suandar , Musrina M , Anggriani Andi Dian Eka
Published: August 2020

In recent years, the number of shipyards in Indonesia has increased significantly to anticipate the increasing demand and the government policy regarding the Cabotage Principles and Masterplan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MAEIED), and three Archipelagic Sea-Lanes (ASL’s) in Indonesia. However, shipbuilding and ship repair works have been centered in the western part of Indonesia. Therefore, this study aims to develop a potential strategy of shipyards in the eastern part of Indonesia to compete in the current market situation. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to model the strategy hierarchy and analyze the weight of sub-criteria as the internal and external factors of the shipyard competitiveness. Then, the Blue Ocean Strategy method was used to analyze the competitiveness strategy. To improve competitiveness, the shipbuilding industries in the eastern part of Indonesia have to focus intensively on reforming and upgrading several internal environment factors such as coordination and response, business network, high skill manpower, and complex ship types building ability. Besides, the shipyards also have to focus on external environmental factors, particularly on five factors that have a high influence on improving competitiveness, namely shipping company partners, networks and partnership with suppliers, government policies, human resource development, and cluster formation of shipyards.
Computational and Experimental Study on Pressure Drop in a Fluidised Bed with Different Air Distributor Designs
Authors: M. Yudin A. S. , Oumer A. N. , Roslan N. F. M. , Zulkarnain M. A.
Published: August 2020

Fluidised bed combustion (FBC) has been recognised as a suitable technology for converting a wide variety of fuels into energy. In a fluidised bed, the air is passed through a bed of granular solids resting on a distributor plate. Distributor plate plays an essential role as it determines the gas-solid movement and mixing pattern in a fluidised bed. It is believed that the effect of distributor configurations such as variation of free area ratio and air inclination angle through the distributor will affect the operational pressure drop of the fluidised bed. This paper presents an investigation on pressure drop in fluidised bed without the presence of inert materials using different air distributor designs; conventional perforated plate, multi-nozzles, and two newly proposed slotted distributors (45° and 90° inclined slotted distributors). A 3-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is developed and compared with the experimental results. The flow model is based on the incompressible isothermal RNG k-epsilon turbulent model. In the present study, systematic grid-refinement is conducted to make sure that the simulation results are independent of the computational grid size. The non-dimensional wall distance,  is examined as a key factor to verify the grid independence by comparing results obtained at different grid resolutions. The multi-nozzles distributor yields higher distributor pressure drop with the averaged maximum value of 749 Pa followed by perforated, 45° and 90° inclined distributors where the maximum pressure drop recorded to be about one-fourth of the value of the multi-nozzles pressure drop. The maximum pressure drop was associated with the higher kinetic head of the inlet air due to the restricted and minimum number of distributor openings and low free area ratio. The results suggested that low-pressure drop operation in a fluidised bed can be achieved with the increase of open area ratio of the distributor.
Human endometrial stromal cells inhibit the pro-angiogenic stimulus of hCG in vitro
Authors: Riboldi Marcia , Nazir Ivonne , Jara Belén , Argandoña Felipe , Valencia Cecilia , Serafini Paulo C , Motta Eduardo Leme Alves , Mena-Silva Denisse , González-Ramos Reinaldo , Johnson M Cecilia , Fuentes Ariel , Sequeira Karina , Tapia-Pizarro Alejandro
Published: August 2020

During embryo implantation, endometrial angiogenesis is regulated by signals originating from the endometrium itself and the developing embryo. It has been suggested that hCG may play a pro-angiogenic role; therefore, we sought to understand its regulatory role in blood vessel formation in human endometrium using in vivo and in vitro models. In the in vivo model, we screened 16 angiogenesis-related transcripts in the endometrium upon intrauterine administration of hCG. Oocyte donors were recruited and during their controlled ovarian stimulation cycle received a single dose of hCG or vehicle on the day of oocyte pick up during a cycle of ovarian stimulation. One hour before obtaining an endometrial sample, women received an intrauterine administration of vehicle or hCG (500, 1500 and 5000 IU). Transcript and protein analysis showed that MMP3 and VEGFA increased, whereas TIMP1 decreased. The in vitro analysis studied the angiogenic potential of conditioned medium (CM) from primary cultures of human endometrial stromal cells (ESC) stimulated with hCG. Using a 2D and 3D in vitro angiogenesis assays, our results indicate that CM from ESC almost completely inhibits the capillary-like structure formation in endothelial cells, overriding the pro-angiogenic effect of hCG; and this inhibition due to secreted factors present in CM specifically reduced the migration potential of endothelial cells. In conclusion, the endometrial stromal milieu seems to modulate the direct pro-angiogenic effects of hCG on endothelial cells during embryo implantation.
Equine pregnancy-specific glycoprotein CEACAM49 secreted by endometrial cup cells activates TGFB
Authors: Kammerer Robert , Ballesteros Angela , Bonsor Daniel , Warren James , Williams John M , Moore Tom , Dveksler Gabriela
Published: August 2020

In early equine pregnancy, a highly invasive trophoblast cell subpopulation, the chorionic girdle cells, invade the endometrium and form endometrial cups (EC). These cells express classical MHC molecules, thereby stimulating a humoral and cellular immune response, resulting in a massive accumulation of maternal CD4+ and CD8+ T cells around the EC. Nevertheless, no immediate destruction of endometrial cups by maternal lymphoid cells occurs, presumably due to immune tolerance. Although the environment of EC is rich in TGFB and in FOXP3+, CD4+ T cells, the mechanisms leading to tolerance have not been elucidated. Recently, we discovered that equine trophoblast cells secrete pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs). Since human and murine PSGs activate latent TGFB, we hypothesized that equine PSGs may have a similar activity. We performed plasmon surface resonance experiments to show that equine PSG CEACAM49 can directly bind to the latency-associated peptide (LAP) of both TGFB1 and TGFB2. We then found that the binding of CEACAM49 leads to the activation of TGFB1 as determined by both ELISA and cell-based assays. Furthermore, the activation of TGFB is a unique function of PSGs within the human CEA family, because CEACAM1, 3, 5, 6, 8 do not activate this cytokine. This finding further strengthens the classification of CEACAM49 as an equine PSG. Based on our results, we hypothesize that activation of latent TGFB in the EC environment by equine PSGs secreted by invasive trophoblast cells, could contribute to the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to maintain immune tolerance.
Effect of aflatoxin B1 on bovine spermatozoa’s proteome and embryo’s transcriptome
Authors: Komsky-Elbaz Alisa , Kalo Dorit , Roth Zvi
Published: August 2020

This study aims to evaluate the deleterious effect of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on bull spermatozoa and the carryver effect on the developing embryo. Proteomic analysis of AFB1-treated spermatozoa revealed differential expression of proteins associated with biological processes and cellular pathways that involved in spermatozoon function, fertilization competence and embryonic development. Therefore, we assume that factors delivered by the spermatozoa, regardless of DNA fragmentation, are also involved. To confirm this hypothesis, we have used the annexin V (AV) kit to separate the spermatozoa into apoptotic (AV+) and non-apoptotic (AV−) subpopulations which were found to correlate with high- and low DNA fragmentation, respectively. Fertilization with AV+ AFB1-treated spermatozoa, resulted in no blastocyst formation, whereas fertilization with AV− spermatozoa resulted in reduced cleavage rate and formation of genetically altered blastocysts (POU5F1 and SOX2). Microarray analysis of blastocysts derived from 10 µM AFB1-treated spermatozoa revealed differential expression of 345 genes that involved in cellular pathways such as embryo and placenta development, cell cycle, DNA repair and histone modification, and in signaling pathways, especially calcium signaling pathway. This is the first report on deleterious carrying over effects of AFB1 from the bovine spermatozoa to the formed embryo. Our findings suggest that aside from the damage caused by AFB1 to spermatozoa’s DNA integrity, additional damage mechanisms are involved.
Efeitos de um programa de telerreabilitação sobre a qualidade de vida de pessoas com Doença de Parkinson, durante o isolamento social na pandemia da COVID-19
Authors: Silva Ane Kelly dos Santos da , Missias Aliny de Alcântara , Rocha Poliany Silva , Carmo Aline Araujo do , Mendes Felipe Augusto dos Santos
Published: August 2020

Restrições impostas pela pandemia de COVID-19 limitaram o acesso de pessoas com Doença de Parkinson(DP) à realização de exercícios. A telerreabilitação é uma estratégia que pode restaurar esse acesso. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um programa de exercícios, baseado em telerreabilitação, sobre a qualidade de vida de pessoas com DP e sua aderência e motivação ao programa, durante um período do isolamento social. Dezessete pessoas com DP participaram do programa por três semanas. Foram avaliados a qualidade de vida (PDQ-8) e aderência e motivação (MPAM-R) à participação, antes e ao final do programa. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas no PDQ-8, ao final de cada semana (p=0,02). Não foram verificadas diferenças nos níveis de motivação quanto aos exercícios durante todo o período de intervenção. A taxa de aderência aos exercícios permaneceu acima de 70%, durante todo o programa. Concluiu-se que pessoas com DP podem aderir e se manter motivadas a participar de um programa de telerreabilitação obtendo melhora da qualidade de vida, mesmo em um período de isolamento social.
Performing Islamic Rituals in Non-Muslim Countries: Wedding Ceremony among Indonesian Muslims in The Netherlands
Authors: Riyani Irma
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses how the Indonesian Sunni Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid and the Iranian Shiite Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini responded to the debate about the relationship between Islam and the state. Their responses impacted on the struggle of Indonesian and Iranian Muslims in considering the ideological basis of Indonesian and Iranian states. On the one hand, Wahid with his educational and social background and Indonesian political context rejected the concept of an Islamic state. He did not agree with the formalization of Islamic sharia. To implement his idea, he promoted the idea of Pribumisasi Islam. For Wahid, islamization was not arabization. Khomeini, on the other hand, believed that Islam is a religion that has complete laws and way of life including social rules. According to Khomeini, to effectively implement these rules, Muslims need to have executive power. In Khomeini’s view, when the Quran calls for Muslims to obey Allah, the messenger, and ulil amri, this means that Allah instructs Muslims to create an Islamic state. To realise his views, Khomeini proposed the doctrine of Velayat-e al Faqeeh. Thus, different religious-political contexts of these two leaders contributed to their different responses to the relationship between Islam and the state.
Effect of Ti on crystal transition and solid solution characteristics of white Portland cement clinker
Authors: Li Jinzhen , Cheng Geling , Huang Shaowen , Huang Lei
Published: August 2020

Titanium (Ti) is a common trace element in white Portland cement clinker. Ti4+ generally replaces Si4+ to form a solid solution in silicate minerals, which has an important influence on the mineral crystal form of white cement clinker. In this paper, the effects of Ti on the mineral composition and solid solution characteristics of white Portland cement clinker were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Rietveld quantitative analysis. The results showed that the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) stabilised the highly active α′H-belite (C2S), but over 1% will form calcium titanate (CaTiO3) The crystal form of alite (C3S) was T3→M1→M3→R with the increase of titanium dioxide content. Ti elements tended first to be solid soluble in the intermediate phase, then C2S, and finally C3S. The content of Ti in α′H-C2S was higher than that in β-C2S. With the increase of titanium dioxide content, the calcium–silicon ratio of C2S decreased first and then increased. In silicate minerals, Ti4+ replaced Si4+ to form titanate [TiO4]. The Ca2+ ion in α′H-C2S was placed in a more electronegative environment, resulting in a larger binding energy of electrons in the 2p orbit.
Investigation on fatigue damage calibration factors in offshore structures
Authors: Shabakhty Naser , Haselibozchaloee Danial , Correia José A.F.O.
Published: August 2020

Fatigue damage in marine structures is generally assessed by means of stress−number of cycles (S−N) curves. These curves are obtained from many experimental tests on structural components. Fracture mechanics (FM), using the crack propagation method is also a practical technique. In this approach, fatigue damage is estimated based on crack propagation from an initial crack size through the surface and depth of structural members. In this paper, S−N curves based on FM were compared with S−N curves obtained following two standards: DNVGL-RP-C203 and API-RP2A-WSD. The results showed that the curves did not agree well. Therefore, to obtain better fitting, calibration factors are needed. From S−N curves established for two stages, two calibration factors – α1 (for the first stage) and α2 (for the second stage) – are proposed for fitting S−N curves based on the FM approach with the DNV GL and the API S−N curves. The wall thickness, the initial crack depth and the critical crack depth were found to have a significant effect on determination of the calibration factors.
Effect of prostaglandin J_2 nanoparticles on repairing exercise-induced bone defect
Authors: Wang Tiexin , Qu Jing
Published: August 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of prostaglandin J_2 (PGJ_2) nanoparticles loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) for 15 days on repairing exercise-induced bone defects. Protein imprinting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the effects of 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ_2 (15d-PGJ_2) nanoparticles on inflammatory factors in exercise-induced bone defects in rats. The osteogenic differentiation of rhBMP-2–PGJ_2 nanoparticles was detected by alkaline phosphatase staining and alkaline phosphatase content and osteocalcin content determination. The results show that 15d-PGJ_2 could inhibit the protein and gene expression of interleukin 6, interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the tissues surrounding exercise-induced bone defects and upregulate the gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 and platelet-derived growth factor subunit B, and that rhBMP-2–PGJ_2 nanoparticles could promote alkaline phosphatase staining, alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin content. The following are the conclusions: 15d-PGJ_2 nanoparticles can inhibit the inflammatory reaction and increase the osteogenic activity in the exercise-induced bone defect area, rhBMP-2–PGJ_2 nanoparticles have a good effect on promoting the osteogenic differentiation of cells and both of them have a certain repair effect on the exercise-induced bone defect.