bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-Guided Pudendal Nerve Block Combined with Propofol Deep Sedation versus Spinal Anesthesia for Hemorrhoidectomy: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: He Jian , Zhang Lei , Li Dong L. , He Wan Y. , Xiong Qing M. , Zheng Xue Q. , Liao Mei J. , Wang Han B.
Published: February 2021

Background and Objectives. Several anesthesia techniques were applied to hemorrhoidectomy, but postoperative pain and urinary retention were still two unsolved problems. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block (PNB) combined with deep sedation compared to spinal anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy. Methods. One hundred and twenty patients undergoing Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy were randomized to receive PNB combined with deep sedation using propofol (Group PNB, n = 60) or spinal anesthesia (Group SA, n = 60). Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (0: no pain to 10: worst possible pain). The primary outcome was pain scores recorded at rest at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h and on walking at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption, side effects, and patient satisfaction after surgery. Results. Ultrasound-guided bilateral PNB combined with deep sedation using propofol could successfully be applied to Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy. Postoperative pain intensity was significantly lower in Group PNB compared to Group SA at rest at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h (p<0.001) and during mobilization at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h (p<0.001) postoperatively. Sufentanil consumption in Group PNB was significantly lower than that in Group SA, during 0–24 h (p<0.001) and during 24–48 h (p<0.001) postoperatively. Urinary retention was significantly lower in Group PNB compared to Group SA (6.9% vs 20%,p=0.034). The patients in Group PNB had higher satisfaction compared to Group SA (p<0.001). Conclusions. Ultrasound-guided PNB combined with propofol sedation is an effective anesthesia technique for Milligan–Morgan hemorrhoidectomy.
Discrimination and Correlation Analysis of Multiview SAR Images with Application to Target Recognition
Authors: Chen Lin , Zhan Peng , Cao Luhui , Li Xueqing
Published: February 2021

A multiview synthetic aperture radar (SAR) target recognition with discrimination and correlation analysis is proposed in this study. The multiple views are first prescreened by a support vector machine (SVM) to select out those highly discriminative ones. These views are then clustered into several view sets, in which images share high correlations. The joint sparse representation (JSR) is adopted to classify SAR images in each view set, and all the decisions from different view sets are fused using a linear weighting strategy. The proposed method makes more sufficient analysis of the multiview SAR images so the recognition performance can be effectively enhanced. To test the proposed method, experiments are set up based on the moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition (MSTAR) dataset. The results show that the proposed method could achieve superior performance under different situations over some compared methods.
Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Canthaxanthin- and α-Tocopherol-Loaded Liposomes on Growth and Muscle Pigmentation of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Toan Tran Quoc , Dang Viet Anh , Pham Quoc Long , Nguyen Phi Hung , Trinh Thu Huong , Tran Thuy Ha , Do Van Thinh , Le Van Khoi , Ngo Xuan Luong , Pham Tri Nhut , Pham Thi Hai Ha , Do Van Manh , Nguyen Duy Chinh , Nguyen Thanh Duong
Published: February 2021

Dietary inclusion of canthaxanthin, a common carotenoid pigment, has been long practiced in aquaculture to give the favorable flesh color in farmed salmonids. However, carotenoids are associated with limited solubility and poor physicochemical stability, and their dose in fish feed is widely regulated. In this study, we included canthaxanthin- and α-tocopherol-loaded liposomes into fish diets and evaluated the effects of supplemented fish feed on fish growth, color, nutrition, and canthaxanthin deposition in fillets of cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The liposomes were fabricated using lecithin as phospholipids with the initial concentrations (IC = mcanthaxanthin/mlipids, % wt/wt) of canthaxanthin at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%. Particle size characterization showed that liposome mean sizes were 109.70 ± 6.36, 105.10 ± 8.41, and 109.20 ± 5.66 nm (mean ± SD; n = 3), respectively, corresponding with liposomes synthesized at canthaxanthin IC = 0.1%, IC = 0.5%, and IC = 1%. The polydispersity index (PDI) of all samples remained lower than 0.2. There were no significant differences in the mean size and PDI between blank lecithin liposome and canthaxanthin- and α-tocopherol-loaded liposomes. The encapsulation efficiency of canthaxanthin- and α-tocopherol-loaded liposomes decreased when increasing the concentration of canthaxanthin in lecithin liposomes, with EE% values of IC = 0.1%, IC = 0.5%, and IC = 1% being 85.3 ± 2.1, 72.9 ± 1.8, and 55.3 ± 2.6, respectively. For fish growth, at the end of the experiment, final weight was significantly higher in fish fed with diet supplemented with 1 g/kg canthaxanthin- and α-tocopherol-loaded liposomes (IC = 0.5%) in comparison to other experimental control groups. The difference in color of the salmon muscle was most apparent after two months of feeding. However, after three months, there was no noticeable change in the color score of the fish muscle, indicating saturation of color of the fish muscle. The above results suggest the potential of canthaxanthin- and a-tocopherol-loaded liposomes as the red pigment in fish aquaculture.
Treatment of Severe Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder with Comorbid Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Functional Neurological Disorder in an Inpatient Setting: A Case for Specialist Units without Restrictive Interventions
Authors: Henry Jessica , Collins Eddie , Griffin Amanda , Zimbron Jorge
Published: February 2021

We present the case of a young woman with an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) diagnosis suffering from high-risk self-injurious behaviour. She was also diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Functional Neurological Disorder, manifesting as nonepileptic seizures and immobility. Our patient, “A,” endured traumatic childhood abuse and became highly dependent on services in her late teens. Recurrent suicide attempts resulted in twenty to thirty acute psychiatric admissions, Intensive Care Unit stays, and multiple failed trials of psychological therapy. Nonepileptic seizures and wheelchair dependency made her “too complex” for many specialist services. She was eventually admitted to Springbank ward in Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge. The EUPD specialist unit prides itself on evidence-based treatments, shared values, and a least restrictive approach. At discharge, our patient was self-harm free and able to walk unaided and no longer met EUPD diagnostic criteria. We include “A’s” personal views on her illness and how Springbank ward facilitated her recovery, together with results from structured clinical outcome measures.
Validation of the Axial Thrust Estimation Method for Radial Turbomachines
Authors: Tiainen Jonna , Jaatinen-Värri Ahti , Grönman Aki , Sallinen Petri , Honkatukia Juha , Hartikainen Toni
Published: February 2021

The fast preliminary design and safe operation of turbomachines require a simple and accurate prediction of axial thrust. An underestimation of these forces may result in undersized bearings that can easily overload and suffer damage. While large safety margins are used in bearing design to avoid overloading, this leads to costly oversizing. In this study, the accuracy of currently available axial thrust estimation methods is analyzed by comparing them to each other and to theoretical pressure distribution, numerical simulations, and new experimental data. Available methods tend to underestimate the maximum axial thrust and require data that are unavailable during the preliminary design of turbomachines. This paper presents a new, simple axial thrust estimation method that requires only a few preliminary design parameters as the input data and combines the advantages of previously published methods, resulting in a more accurate axial thrust estimation. The method is validated against previously public data from a radial pump and new experimental data from a centrifugal compressor, the latter measured at Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Finland, and two gas turbines measured at Aurelia Turbines Oy, Finland. The maximum deviation between the estimated axial thrust using the hybrid method and the measured one is less than 13%, while the other methods deviate by tens of percent.
Analysis of the Current and Future Prediction of Land Use/Land Cover Change Using Remote Sensing and the CA-Markov Model in Majang Forest Biosphere Reserves of Gambella, Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Tadese Semegnew , Soromessa Teshome , Bekele Tesefaye
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to evaluate land use/land cover changes (1987–2017), prediction (2032–2047), and identify the drivers of Majang Forest Biosphere Reserves. Landsat image (TM, ETM+, and OLI-TIRS) and socioeconomy data were used for the LU/LC analysis and its drivers of change. The supervised classification was also employed to classify LU/LC. The CA-Markov model was used to predict future LU/LC change using IDRISI software. Data were collected from 240 households from eight kebeles in two districts to identify LU/LC change drivers. Five LU/LC classes were identified: forestland, farmland, grassland, settlement, and waterbody. Farmland and settlement increased by 17.4% and 3.4%, respectively; while, forestland and grassland were reduced by 77.8% and 1.4%, respectively, from 1987 to 2017. The predicted results indicated that farmland and settlement increased by 26.3% and 6.4%, respectively, while forestland and grassland decreased by 66.5% and 0.8%, respectively, from 2032 to 2047. Eventually, agricultural expansion, population growth, shifting cultivation, fuel wood extraction, and fire risk were identified as the main drivers of LU/LC change. Generally, substantial LU/LC changes were observed and will continue in the future. Hence, land use plan should be proposed to sustain resource of Majang Forest Biosphere Reserves, and local communities’ livelihood improvement strategies are required to halt land conversion.
Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis by Upregulating MicroRNA‐455‐3p through Suppression of p21‐Activated Kinase‐2
Authors: Zhou Qing , Gu Tengfei , Zhang Yong , Li Hongda , Zhuansun Xuemei , Xu Sanrong , Kuang Yuting
Published: February 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were shown to have potential therapeutic effects for treatment of liver fibrosis, and dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) played a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis by regulating their downstream target genes. However, the mechanism by which MSCs affect the progression of liver fibrosis by regulating miRNA expression remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether human umbilical cord MSCs (HUC‐MSCs) attenuated hepatic fibrosis by regulating miR‐455‐3p and its target gene. Significantly upregulated miRNA (miR‐455‐3p) was screened out by GEO datasets analysis and coculture HUC‐MSCs with hepatic stellate cell (HSC) LX‐2 cells. p21‐activated kinase‐2 (PAK2) was forecasted to be the target gene of miR‐455‐3p by bioinformatics analyses and confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. HUC‐MSCs were transplanted into mice with carbon tetrachloride‐ (CCl4‐) induced liver fibrosis, the result showed that HUC‐MSC transplantation significantly ameliorated the severity of CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis, attenuated collagen deposition, improved liver function by reducing the expression of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum, upregulated miR‐455‐3p, and suppressed PAK2 expression of liver tissue in mice. Taken together, our study suggests that HUC‐MSCs inhibit the activation of HSCs and mouse CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis by upregulation of miR‐455‐3p through targeting PAK2.
Extension of Drosophila Lifespan by Astragalus polysaccharide through a Mechanism Dependent on Antioxidant and Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling
Authors: Yang Fujia , Xiu Minghui , Yang Shipei , Li Xu , Tuo Wenjuan , Su Yun , He Jianzheng , Liu Yongqi
Published: February 2021

Historical literature and pharmacological studies demonstrate that Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Studies into the longevity effects of APS are limited, and the molecular mechanism of lifespan extension by APS is not elucidated yet. Here, the longevity effect of APS was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster by feeding dose-dependent APS. APS significantly extended the lifespan and improved the reproduction. Meanwhile, APS increased locomotion, TAG level, and starvation resistance and reduced the mortality rate induced by hydrogen peroxide. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were increased in flies treated with APS diet. Moreover, APS significantly enhanced expressions of antioxidant genes (Sod1, Sod2, and Cat), dFoxO, and 4E − BP, decreased the expressions of insulin-like peptides (dilp2, dilp3, and dilp5), and longevity gene MTH. Together, these results indicate that APS can prolong the lifespan by regulating antioxidant ability and insulin/IGF-1 signaling and also enhance the reproduction ability in Drosophila. APS may be explored as a novel agent for slowing the aging process and improving reproduction.
The Herbal Cocktail GSYJ Attenuated Airway Inflammatory Cell Infiltration in a Chronic Asthmatic Mouse Model
Authors: Chiang Chung-Jen , Chang Shu-Lun , Lin Li-Jen
Published: February 2021

This study explored the potential therapeutic efficacy of GSYJ in attenuating asthma symptom severity and aimed to determine the immunomodulatory mechanism of GSYJ. A mouse model of chronic asthma induced by repeated Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) challenge was established. In addition, 30 minutes before Der p challenge, the mice were orally administered GSYJ (1 g/kg). The mice were sacrificed to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition in the lung, total IgE in serum, and expression profiles of various cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and various genes in lung tissue. Furthermore, 30 minutes after the addition of GSYJ to RAW264.7 cell cultures, 100 ng/ml LPS was added to evaluate the effect of the drug on the LPS-induced expression of genes, proteins, and transcription factors. GSYJ may regulate transcription factors (cJUN/IRF3/NF-κB) to decrease the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, RANTES, and iNOS in macrophages and affect the IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-5, and IL-6 levels in the BALF of mice to relieve asthma symptoms, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperresponsiveness, and increased serum total IgE levels. Therefore, GSYJ has the potential to be developed into a drug treatment for chronic asthma.
Analysis and Optimisation of Ride Vibration of a Heavy‐Duty Truck Based on a Vertical‐Pitch‐Roll Driver‐Vehicle Coupled Dynamic Model
Authors: Guo Peng , Lin Jiewei , Lin Zefeng , Li Jinlu , Liu Chi , Zhang Tao
Published: February 2021

The ride comfort and the cargo safety are of great importance in the vibration design of heavy‐duty vehicle. Traditional ride comfort design method based on the response of components of vehicles or interaction between human and seat overlooks the most direct criterion, the response of occupants, which makes the optimisation not targeted enough. It will be better to conduct the ride comfort design with the biodynamic response of driver. To this end, a 17‐degrees‐of‐freedom (DOFs) vertical‐pitch‐roll vehicle dynamic model of a three‐axle heavy‐duty truck coupled with a 7 DOFs human model is developed. The ride comfort of human body under the vertical, the pitch, and the roll vibrations can be evaluated with the weighted root‐mean‐square (r.m.s.) acceleration of the driver in multiple directions. The flexibilities of chassis and carriage are also considered to improve the accuracy of the prediction of the ride comfort and to constrain the mounting optimisation of cab and carriage. After validation, the sensitivity analysis of the mounting system, the suspensions, and arrangement of sprung masses is carried out and significant factors to ride vibration are identified. The optimal combination of design parameters is obtained with the objective of minimizing the vibration of the driver and carriage simultaneously. The optimisation result shows that the weighted driver vibration is reduced by 27.9% and the carriage vibration is reduced by 31.8% at various speeds.
Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for the Impact of Climate Change and Variation in the Water Management Sector of Sri Lanka
Authors: Khaniya Bhabishya , Gunathilake Miyuru B. , Rathnayake Upaka
Published: February 2021

The climate of Sri Lanka has been fluctuating at an alarming rate during the recent past. These changes are reported to have pronounced impacts on the livelihoods of the people in the country. Water is central to the sustainable functioning of ecosystems and wellbeing of mankind. It is evident that pronounced variations in the climate will negatively impact the availability and the quality of water resources. The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approach has proved to be an effective strategy to address the impact of climate change on water resources in many parts of the world. The key aim of this paper is to elaborate the wide range of benefits received through implementation of EbAs in field level, watershed scale, and urban and coastal environments in the context of Sri Lanka. In addition, this paper discusses the benefits of utilizing EbA solutions over grey infrastructure-based solutions to address the issues related to water management. The wide range of benefits received through implementation of EbAs can be broadly classified into three categories: water supply regulation, water quality regulation, and moderation of extreme events. This paper recommends the utilization of EbAs over grey infrastructure-based solutions in adaptation to climate change in the water management sector for the developing region due its cost effectiveness, ecofriendliness, and multiple benefits received on long-term scales. The findings of this study will unequivocally contribute to filling existing knowledge and research gaps in the context of EbAs to future climate change in Sri Lanka. The suggestions and opinions of this study can be taken into account by decision makers and water resources planning agencies for future planning of actions related to climate change adaptation in Sri Lanka.
Effect of Deformation Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Internal Crack Healing in As‐Cast 30Cr2Ni4MoV Steel
Authors: Jiao Yongxing , Zhou Cunlong , Liu Jiansheng , Zhang Xuezhong
Published: February 2021

Crack defects seriously affected the quality of heavy forgings, which needed to be eliminated by forging process. In this study, the healing process of internal crack defects was studied under different deformation parameters. The internal crack was produced by drilling the sample of 30Cr2Ni4MoV steel and then compressing the sample with different deformation. The microstructure of the crack healing zone was observed using an optical microscope. Meanwhile, the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the crack healing zone were tested by room‐temperature tensile tests and impact tests, respectively. The results showed that dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and grain growth were the main factors for internal crack healing. When the forging ratio (FR) was 1.5, the cracks at the corner of the void began to heal, which was caused by DRX. At FR 2.0, the DRX was completed and the center crack was completely healed. The tensile properties of crack healing zones were restored to more than 95% of the base material. As the FR increased to 2.2, the elongation increased slightly and the yield strength decreased slightly, which indicated that the grain growth played an important role in the plastic recovery and DRX played an important role in strength recovery. The dynamic mechanical properties of the crack healing zone gradually increased with the increase of deformation. Furthermore, the maximum value of impact toughness reached FR 2.0, and the recovery rate of impact toughness was above 96%. When the deformation continues to increase, the grains grew up after DRX, which made the impact energy decrease.
Analysis on Effectiveness of Surrogate Data‐Based Laser Chaos Decision Maker
Authors: Okada Norihiro , Hasegawa Mikio , Chauvet Nicolas , Li Aohan , Naruse Makoto
Published: February 2021

The laser chaos decision maker has been demonstrated to enable ultra‐high‐speed solutions of multiarmed bandit problems or decision‐making in the GHz order. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this paper, we analyze the chaotic dynamics inherent in experimentally observed laser chaos time series via surrogate data and further accelerate the decision‐making performance via parameter optimization. We first evaluate the negative autocorrelation in a chaotic time series and its impact on decision‐making detail. Then, we analyze the decision‐making ability using three different surrogate chaos time series to examine the underlying mechanism. We clarify that the negative autocorrelation of laser chaos improves decision‐making and that the amplitude distribution of the original laser chaos time series is not optimal. Hence, we introduce a new parameter for adjusting the amplitude distribution of the laser chaos to enhance the decision‐making performance. This study provides a new insight into exploiting the supremacy of chaotic dynamics in artificially constructed intelligent systems.
3D Numerical Simulation of Landslides for the Full High Waste Dump Using SPH Method
Authors: Cao Chunhui , Feng Jili , Tao Zhigang
Published: February 2021

Waste dump that is generally composed of a large number of loose geotechnical materials is prone to landslides under external loads. In this work, the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method combined with the Mohr–Coulomb model is used to study the dynamic characteristics of the landslides that occurred in the waste dump during the failure process. A benchmark test is firstly conducted to verify the effectiveness of the SPH model. Then, taking the Nanfen full high waste dump with a vertical drop of 300 m in Benxi City, China, as an example, the most dangerous section is selected to establish the SPH numerical model for the waste dump landslides, and the overall dynamic process of the landslides is simulated. The simulation results show that the particles in the middle and upper of the slope have larger potential energy, and their sliding distance is larger. On the contrary, the sliding distance of particles in the lower of the slope is smaller. The particles′ sliding distance decreases as the depth increases in the vertical direction of both shoulder and middle of the slope. The particles undergo a process of first acceleration and then deceleration. The sliding distance is in good agreement with the field survey result, and the landslides profile is basically consistent with the actual one. The sensitivity analysis of different particle numbers shows that the number of particles has little effect on the numerical results. The SPH method can vividly reproduce the dynamic process of the landslides in the full high waste dump. The evaluation of the sliding characteristics and risk impact range can provide the key parameters and basis for the prevention and control of the landslides in the full high waste dump and ensure the safety of the mine life cycle.
Hepatobiliary Cancer Risk in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Scandinavian Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Erichsen Rune , Olén Ola , Sachs Michael C. , Pedersen Lars , Halfvarson Jonas , Askling Johan , Ekbom Anders , Ludvigsson Jonas F. , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: February 2021

Background:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with hepatobiliary cancer, but existing evidence is poor. We evaluated risk of death from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) among patients with IBD.

Methods:

This Swedish/Danish population-based cohort study (1969–2017) followed patients with IBD and 1:10 matched population comparators from their diagnosis/match date until death, emigration, or end of follow-up.

Results:

Among the 97,496 patients with ulcerative colitis/963,026 comparators, we found 66/390 HCC-deaths, 120/173 ICC-deaths, and 91/220 ECC-deaths (median follow-up 10 years); the 10-year-mortality was 0.5‰ (per mille) for HCC, 0.6‰ for ICC, and 0.4‰ for ECC, which decreased to 0.3‰, 0.4‰, and 0.2‰, respectively, in 2003–2017. Overall hazard ratios (HR) were 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41–2.38] for HCC-, 7.33 (95% CI, 5.81–9.25) for ICC-, and 4.46 (95% CI, 3.49–5.70) for ECC-deaths. A total of 22/66 HCC-deaths, 87/120 ICC-deaths, and 55/91 ECC-deaths occurred among patients with ulcerative colitis with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), corresponding to 10-year-mortality of 6.7‰, 26.2‰, and 17.2‰, respectively. Among 47,399 patients with Crohn's disease (median follow-up 11 years), 10-year-mortality from HCC (n = 28), ICC (n = 28), and ECC (n = 24) were 0.3‰, 0.1‰, and 0.3‰, respectively, and corresponding HRs were 1.96 (95% CI, 1.31–2.93), 3.33 (95% CI, 2.19–5.09), and 3.10 (95% CI, 1.97–4.87). One of 28 HCC-deaths, 14/28 ICC-deaths (10-year-mortality 19‰), and 12/24 ECC-deaths (10-year-mortality 14‰) occurred after PSC.

Conclusions:

Risk of HCC-, ICC-, and ECC-deaths was low in patients with IBD and decreased over time. However, a large proportion of deaths occurred after PSC.

Impact:

Guidelines on specific surveillance strategies for patients with IBD with PSC, but not those without PSC, are needed.
Presença: casa, cidade, pandemia
Authors: Barbosa Paulo Eduardo
Published: February 2021

No presente artigo proponho pensar os efeitos da pandemia sobre a casa e a cidade buscando conceitos não hermenêuticos associados à presença como referência, relacionando arquitetura e cura.
Experiência Sintoma Fresta no documentário “Le Glaneurs et la Glaneuse”, de Agnès Varda
Authors: Lara Regina
Published: February 2021

Neste filme a cineasta belga Agnès Varda percorre regiões de produção agrícola da França mostrando pessoas que colhem manualmente as batatas que sobram no campo após a colheita por máquinas da agroindústria e retorna a Paris, onde catadores colhem os restos das feiras livres da cidade. Trata-se de um documentário premiado, 2000, que exala o frescor da descoberta dos fatos pela sensação de espontaneidade no processo de criação, gerando, no entanto, profundas reflexões ao fruidor.
A psicologia analítica e a habitação: interfaces entre a psique e a moradia
Authors: Daré Paula Serafim
Published: February 2021

A obra de Jung dialoga com várias áreas do conhecimento: religião, alquimia, arte e história cultural. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estabelecer uma relação entre a habitação física e as características psicológicas dos pontos de vista individual, social e cultural e suas relações com a neurociência.
Basophil Blood Cell Count Is Associated With Enhanced Factor II Plasma Coagulant Activity and Increased Risk of Mortality in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: Not Only Neutrophils as Prognostic Marker in Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Pizzolo Francesca , Castagna Annalisa , Olivieri Oliviero , Girelli Domenico , Friso Simonetta , Stefanoni Filippo , Udali Silvia , Munerotto Veronica , Baroni Marcello , Cetera Vera , Luciani Giovanni Battista , Faggian Giuseppe , Bernardi Francesco , Martinelli Nicola
Published: February 2021

Background

White blood cell count, which is inexpensive and widely available in clinical practice, has been proposed to provide prognostic information in coronary artery disease (CAD). Elevated levels of white blood cell subtypes may play different roles in atherothrombosis and predict cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods and Results

The association between white blood cell counts and mortality was evaluated in 823 subjects with angiographically demonstrated and clinically stable CAD in an observational–longitudinal study. The correlation among white blood cell counts and factor II plasma coagulant activity was analyzed in 750 subjects (554 CAD and 196 CAD‐free) not taking anticoagulant drugs. Subjects with overt leukocytosis or leukopenia were excluded. In the longitudinal study after a median follow‐up of 61 months, 160 (19.4%) subjects died, 107 (13.0%) of whom from cardiovascular causes. High levels of neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were associated with an increased mortality rate. In multiadjusted Cox regression models, only neutrophils and basophils remained predictors of total and cardiovascular mortality. The associations remained significant after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and by including D‐dimer and the chemokine CXCL12 in the regression models. Neutrophils and basophils were also significant predictors of factor II plasma coagulant activity variability after adjustment for blood cell counts, age, sex, inflammatory markers, CAD diagnosis, and prothrombin G20210A polymorphism. Factor II plasma coagulant activity was similarly increased in subjects with high neutrophil and basophil counts and in carriers of the prothrombin 20210A allele.

Conclusions

Both high neutrophil and basophil blood counts may predict mortality in patients with clinically stable CAD and are associated with enhanced factor II plasma coagulant activity, thereby suggesting underlying prothrombotic mechanisms.
Blood Biomarker Panels for the Early Prediction of Stroke‐Associated Complications
Authors: Faura Júlia , Bustamante Alejandro , Reverté Silvia , García‐Berrocoso Teresa , Millán Mónica , Castellanos Mar , Lara‐Rodríguez Blanca , Zaragoza Josep , Ventura Oriol , Hernández‐Pérez María , van Eendenburg Cecile , Cardona Pere , López‐Cancio Elena , Cánovas David , Serena Joaquín , Rubiera Marta , Dávalos Antoni , Montaner Joan
Published: February 2021

Background

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are potentially life‐threatening complications in patients experiencing stroke during hospitalization. We aimed to test whether blood biomarker panels might predict these complications early after admission.

Methods and Results

Nine hundred thirty‐eight patients experiencing ischemic stroke were prospectively recruited in the Stroke‐Chip study. Post‐stroke complications during hospitalization were retrospectively evaluated. Blood samples were drawn within 6 hours after stroke onset, and 14 biomarkers were analyzed by immunoassays. Biomarker values were normalized using log‐transformation and
Z
score. PanelomiX algorithm was used to select panels with the best accuracy for predicting ADHF and RTI. Logistic regression models were constructed with the clinical variables and the biomarker panels. The additional predictive value of the panels compared with the clinical model alone was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. An internal validation through a 10‐fold cross‐validation with 3 repeats was performed. ADHF and RTI occurred in 19 (2%) and 86 (9.1%) cases, respectively. Three‐biomarker panels were developed as predictors: vascular adhesion protein‐1 >5.67, NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide) >4.98 and
d
‐dimer >5.38 (sensitivity, 89.5%; specificity, 71.7%) for ADHF; and interleukin‐6 >3.97, von Willebrand factor >3.67, and
d
‐dimer >4.58 (sensitivity, 82.6%; specificity, 59.8%) for RTI. Both panels independently predicted stroke complications (panel for ADHF: odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 10.1 [3–52.2]; panel for RTI: OR, 3.73 [1.95–7.14]) after adjustment by clinical confounders. The addition of the panel to clinical predictors significantly improved areas under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curves in both cases.

Conclusions

Blood biomarkers could be useful for the early prediction of ADHF and RTI. Future studies should assess the usefulness of these panels in front of patients experiencing stroke with respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea.
Nematicidal activity of the tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita
Authors: Babaali Djaafar , Roeb Johannes , Zaidat Sabri , Reguige Bouchra , Hammache Miloud , Hallmann Johannes
Published: February 2021

Alkaloids and alkaloid-producing plants have the potential to reduce crop damage by plant-parasitic nematodes. In a series of in vitro experiments, the nematicidal activity of the tropane alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, and a mixture of both on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, was tested. Solutions of 16 mg of compound per ml of solvent were used in concentrations of 80-1280 μg ml−1 of water. Inactivity of second-stage juveniles of M. incognita increased with increasing concentration and exposure time. Lethal concentrations (LC50) after 120 min of exposure ranged from 182.4 μg ml−1 for scopolamine to 318.4 μg ml−1 for hyoscyamine and 332.8 μg ml−1 for the combination of both alkaloids. Similarly, the same concentrations of scopolamine inhibited hatching of M. incognita to a greater extent than hyoscyamine. In a glasshouse experiment, M. incognita was not able to penetrate the roots, induce galls and reproduce on Datura stramonium, D. innoxia and D. tatula. Results indicate that the tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine contained in Datura plants express a strong nematicidal activity against M. incognita and could possibly be used for an alternative and sustainable nematode management.
British Material Diplomacy in Precolonial Uganda: The Gift Exchanges of John Hanning Speke, 1860-1863
Authors: Bennett Alison
Published: February 2021

In recent decades the interdisciplinary study of elite gift exchange in various geographical and temporal contexts has transformed historians’ understanding of colonial diplomacy. By combining analysis of textual, visual and material sources with theoretical approaches to material culture and gift exchange from anthropology, scholars have increasingly come to examine colonial diplomacy not only through the high-politics and text-based operations of bureaucrats in imperial metropoles, but also as a material and cultural project operating through the local and personal. This essay uses the published account of John Hanning Speke (1863) and his descriptions of ‘gift exchanges’ in present-day Uganda to understand the materiality of early British diplomacy there. As Speke was the first Briton to reach Uganda, it examines how gift exchanges impacted the logistics and outcomes of his visit. Re-examining his text this way reveals the importance of material knowledge, performance and exchange in early cross-cultural encounters in the region.
Claiming a Boissierian species of Asperula (Rubiaceae), but under a new name: Galium pierredmondii
Authors: BLANCA GABRIEL , CUETO MIGUEL , FUENTES JULIÁN , ORTEGA-OLIVENCIA ANA
Published: February 2021

The identity of Asperula asperrima Boiss., a species usually misidentified, is discussed, and when transferred to the genus Galium it requires a new name, here proposed as G. pierredmondii. This species is described, illustrated and compared with its closest relatives in the genus Galium, namely G. boissierianum and G. moralesianum. While G. boissierianum lives exclusively on peridotites and G. moralesianum on limestones and dolomites, the ecological behaviour of G. pierredmondii is much broader, inhabiting peridotites, schists, limestones and dolomites; furthermore, G. pierredmondii is partially sympatric with the former, from which it may derive the confusion involving both species. Synonymy is revised for the concerned names, and an updated identification key is reported for the Iberian taxa of G. sect. Galium.
The Discovery of African Dust Transport to the Western Hemisphere and the Saharan Air Layer: A History
Authors: Prospero Joseph M. , Delany Anthony C. , Delany Audrey C. , Carlson Toby N.
Published: February 2021

There is great interest in wind-borne mineral dust because of the role that dust plays in climate by modulating solar radiation and cloud properties. Today, much research focuses on North Africa because it is Earth’s largest and most persistently active dust source. Moreover, this region is expected to be greatly impacted by climate change, which would affect dust emission rates. Interest in dust was stimulated over 50 years ago when it was discovered that African dust was frequently transported across the Atlantic in great quantities. Here we report on the initial discovery of African dust in the Caribbean Basin. We show that there were three independent “first” discoveries of African dust in the 1950s through the 1960s. In each case, the discoverers were not seeking dust but, rather, they had other research objectives. The meteorological context of African dust transport was first elucidated in 1969 with the characterization of the Saharan air layer (SAL) and its role in effecting the efficient transport of African dust over great distances to the Western Hemisphere. The link between dust transport and African climate was established in the 1970s and 1980s when dust transport to the Caribbean increased greatly following the onset of severe drought in the Sahel. Here we chronicle these events and show how they contributed to our current state of knowledge.
In Situ Measurements of Wind and Turbulence by a Motor Glider in the Andes
Authors: Wildmann Norman , Eckert Ramona , Dörnbrack Andreas , Gisinger Sonja , Rapp Markus , Ohlmann Klaus , van Niekerk Annelize
Published: February 2021

A Stemme S10-VT motor glider was equipped with a newly developed sensor suite consisting of a five-hole probe, an inertial navigation and global navigation satellite system, two temperature sensors, and a humidity sensor. By design, the system provides three-dimensional wind vector data that enable the analysis of atmospheric motion scales up to a temporal resolution of 10 Hz. We give a description of components and installation of the system, its calibration, and its performance. The accuracy for the measurement of the wind vector is estimated to be on the order of 0.5 m s−1. As part of the Southern Hemisphere Transport, Dynamics, and Chemistry (SouthTRAC) field campaign, 30 research flights were performed from September 2019 to January 2020. We present statistical analysis of the observations, discriminating pure motor flights from soaring flights in the lee waves of the Andes. We present histograms of flight altitude, airspeed, wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity to document the atmospheric conditions. Probability density functions of vertical air velocity, turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), and dissipation rate complete the statistical analysis. Altogether, 41% of the flights are in weak, 14% in moderate, and 0.4% in strong mountain wave conditions according to thresholds for the measured vertical air velocity. As an exemplary case study, we compare measurements on 11 September 2019 to a high-resolution numerical weather prediction model. The case study provides a meaningful example of how data from soaring flights might be utilized for model validation on the mesoscale and within the troposphere.
Nominal Factor Analysis of Situational Judgment Tests: Evaluation of Latent Dimensionality and Factorial Invariance
Authors: Revuelta Javier , Franco-Martínez Alicia , Ximénez Carmen
Published: February 2021

Situational judgment tests have gained popularity in educational and psychological measurement and are widely used in personnel assessment. A situational judgment item presents a hypothetical scenario and a list of actions, and the individuals are asked to select their most likely action for that scenario. Because actions have no explicit order, the item generates nominal responses consisting of the actions selected by the individuals. This article shows how to factor-analyze the nominal responses originated from such a test, including the estimation of the number of latent factors and a factor invariance analysis in a multiple group design. The method consists of applying the MNCM, a multidimensional extension of the nominal categories model by Bock. The article includes the results of two studies: (1) a simulation study about Type-I error rate, statistical power, and recovery of the parameters in a multigroup factorial invariance design and (2) a real data example using responses to a situational judgment test measuring gender stereotypes to illustrate the approach. Results suggest the use of the Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, and corrected Bayesian information criterion indices to guide the selection of the number of factors with nominal responses. All the analyses are conducted using the computer program Mplus. The code is included as Supplemental Material (available online) for the readers so that they can adapt it to their own purposes.
Knowledge, contact and stigma of mental illness: Comparing three stakeholder groups in Hong Kong
Authors: Ran Mao-Sheng , Peng Man-Man , Yau Yuen Yum , Zhang Tian-Ming , Li Xu-Hong , Wong Irene Yin Ling , Ng Siuman , Thornicroft Graham , Chan Cecilia Lai-Wan , Lu Lin
Published: February 2021

Background:

It remains unknown what the impacts of multiple dimensions of contact (e.g. level, quantity and quality) are on the stigma of mental illness.

Aims:

To explore the relationship between the multiple dimensions of contact and stigma of mental illness among family members (FM), mental health workers (MHW) and community residents (CR) in Hong Kong.

Methods:

The stigma, contact and knowledge were measured in FM, MHW and CR in Hong Kong. Multiple regression analyses were used.

Results:

MHW ( n = 141) had higher knowledge, more contact and lower stigma of mental illness than CR ( n = 95) or FM ( n = 62). Knowledge and contact quality were significantly associated with lower stigma of mental illness in the three groups. However, contact level and contact quantity were not significantly associated with most stigma components. The contact level was positively associated with stigma of mental illness among FM and CR.

Conclusions:

The results of this study highlight the differences in knowledge, contact and stigma of mental illness among different stakeholder groups. This study suggests that positive contact (e.g. equal, supportive, voluntary and pleasant contact) reduces stigma of mental illness, while negative contact (e.g. unfriendly, unsupportive, unpleasant contact) may increase stigma. The Enhancing Contact Model (ECM) should be tested in future anti-stigma interventions.
Nursing Home Resident, Family, and Staff Perspectives on Hospital Transfers for End-of-Life Care
Authors: Sopcheck Janet , Tappen Ruth M.
Published: February 2021

Residents who are terminally ill often experience transfers to the emergency department resulting in hospitalizations, which may be potentially avoidable with treatment in the nursing home. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 15 residents, 10 family members, and 20 nursing home staff regarding end-of-life care and the circumstances prompting resident transfers. Data analysis of participant interviews conducted January to May 2019 in a South Florida nursing home identified four themes related to transfer to the hospital: time left to live, when aggressive treatments would be unavailing, not knowing what the nursing home can do, and transfer decisions are situation-dependent. Study findings underscore the importance of increasing resident and family awareness of treatments available in the nursing home and person-centered advance care planning discussions. Further research should explore the reasons for residents’ and family members’ choice of aggressive therapies and their goals for care at the end of life.
Family Members of Adults with Intellectual Disability Living in Residential Settings: Roles and Collaboration with Professionals. A Review of the Literature
Authors: Zambrino Natalie , Hedderich Ingeborg
Published: February 2021

The aim of this article is to review the literature concerning the role of family members of adults with an intellectual disability living in diverse residential settings and their collaboration with residential staff. Whenever the scarce literature on the subject allowed, the focus was laid on family members of persons with additional challenging behavior. Electronic databases, reference screening, and hand search of selected journals was employed to collate literature using key terms such as family members, intellectual disability, and residential setting. By extracting relevant data of the eighteen articles that fulfilled all inclusion criteria, the following 3 main themes with each subthemes were identified inductively: roles of family members after the transition, the effects of the transition on family members, and the collaboration between the family members and professional care staff. This review presents the different roles family members partake and highlights the importance of regular open two-sided communication for collaboration with professional staff to be successful. Practical implementations are discussed and the need for further research in the field is indicated.
Becoming Hindu: The cultural politics of writing religion in colonial Assam
Authors: Sengupta Madhumita
Published: February 2021

The use of labels such as ‘isolation’ or ‘assimilation’ to characterise tribal communities dwelling in the plains region of British Assam had a discursive history that took no notice of the region’s prolonged tradition of vibrant interfaith transmissions and cultural exchanges. This essay flags a disjuncture between early ethnographic literature on the ‘tribes’ of the plains region of Assam, and their later enumeration in census data from the middle of the 19th century. While census makers in Assam attributed an ‘unusual’ surge in the number of Hindus to proselytisation by Vaishnavite and Brahman priests, and to the erosion of tribal modes of worship, this article argues that colonial enumerative practices were directly imbricated in producing the ‘Hindu’ in a way that was transformative of quotidian relations and processes of exchange characterising the region. The political pressure to possess fixed and singular identities and the growing rhetoric of a muscular Hinduism symbolised by renewed interest in Indological studies, combined to enhance Hinduism’s prestige and symbolic value. Becoming a Hindu was easier now that the definition of Hinduism as a loosely bound corpus of ritually coded behaviour enabled a wide array of practices to be labelled as ‘Hindu’.
Book review: Jules Naudet (translated from French by Renuka George). 2018. Stepping into the Elite: Trajectories of Social Achievement in India, France, and the United States
Authors: Vaid Divya
Published: February 2021

Jules Naudet (translated from French by Renuka George). 2018. Stepping into the Elite: Trajectories of Social Achievement in India, France, and the United States. New Delhi: Oxford University Press (with Institut français). xxii + 354 pp. Tables, appendix, references, index. Rs 995 (hardback).
Robust preview control for polytopic nonlinear control systems
Authors: Li Li , Yu Xiao
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the preview tracking control problem for Lipschitz nonlinear system, where future reference signals over a finite horizon can be previewed. First, an augmented error system including previewed information is constructed, which transforms a preview tracking control problem into a regulation problem. Furthermore, sufficient conditions on polytopic nonlinear systems, which guarantee the corresponding closed-loop system to be asymptotically stable, are derived by employing parameter-dependent Lyapunov function. A linear matrix inequality approach for designing preview controllers in state feedback and output feedback settings is presented. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.