bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complete Response of Recurrent Small Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix to Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Bevacizumab Combination Therapy
Authors: Nakao Yuri , Tamauchi Satoshi , Yoshikawa Nobuhisa , Suzuki Shiro , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Kikkawa Fumitaka
Published: April 2020

We report a case of recurrent small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that showed a complete response to paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab (TC + Bev) combination therapy. Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is extremely rare, with an incidence of only 1.3% in Japan, and a poor outcome. The patient was a 62-year-old woman with a chief complaint of irregular vaginal bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 10-cm irregular mass from the uterine corpus’s posterior wall to the cervix. Abdominal total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymph node sampling were performed for suspected uterine sarcoma. Histopathological findings revealed small cell carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. Although 6 cycles of etoposide + cisplatin were performed, para-aortic lymph node recurrence was found 3 months after chemotherapy. Subsequently, the patient received 8 cycles of TC + Bev, which eliminated the metastases. The patient is currently alive at 24 months.
Epidemic Surveillance of Covid-19: Considering Uncertainty and Under-Ascertainment
Authors: Ricoca Peixoto Vasco , Nunes Carla , Abrantes Alexandre
Published: April 2020

Epidemic surveillance is a fundamental part of public health practice. Addressing under-ascertainment of cases is relevant in most surveillance systems, especially in pandemics of new diseases with a large spectrum of clinical presentations as it may influence timings of policy implementation and public risk perception. From this perspective, this article presents and discusses early evidence on under-ascertainment of COVID-19 and its motifs, options for surveillance, and reflections around their importance to tailor public health measures. In the case of COVID-19, systematically addressing and estimating under-ascertainment of cases is essential to tailor timely public health measures, and communicating these findings is of the utmost importance for policy making and public perception.
Measuring Arterial Stiffness in Animal Experimental Studies
Authors: Butlin Mark , Tan Isabella , Spronck Bart , Avolio Alberto P.
Published: April 2020

The arterial wall is a composite material of elastin, collagen, and extracellular matrix with acutely modifiable material properties through the action of smooth muscle cells. Therefore, arterial stiffness is a complex parameter that changes not only with long-term remodeling of the wall constituents but also with acute contraction or relaxation of smooth muscle or with changes in the acute distending pressure to which the artery is exposed. It is not possible to test all these aspects using noninvasive or even invasive techniques in humans. Full characterization of the mechanical properties of the artery and the specific arterial factors causing changes to stiffness with disease or modified lifestyle currently require animal studies. This article summarizes the major in vivo and ex vivo techniques to measure the different aspects of arterial stiffness in animal studies.
Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain Is Associated With Long-Term Outcomes in Moderate Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Zhu Dan , Ito Saki , Miranda William R. , Nkomo Vuyisile T. , Pislaru Sorin V. , Villarraga Hector R. , Pellikka Patricia A. , Crusan Daniel J. , Oh Jae K.
Published: April 2020

Background:

Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with long-term outcomes of patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, its prognostic value in patients with moderate aortic stenosis remains unknown.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with moderate aortic stenosis (1.0< aortic valve area ≤1.5 cm
2
) and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50% were identified. GLS was assessed by 2-dimensional strain imaging using speckle-tracking method. All-cause mortality was assessed according to the median GLS value.

Results:

Two hundred eighty-seven patients were included (median age 76 years; 47% male). Mean aortic valve area was 1.25 cm
2
, left ventricular ejection fraction 62%, and median GLS −15.2%. During a median follow-up of 3.9 years, there were 103 deaths (36%). Mortality was higher in patients with GLS>−15.2% (hazard ratio 2.62 [95% CI 1.69–4.06]) compared with patients with GLS ≤−15.2% even after adjusting for confounders. Mortality rates at 1, 3, 5 years were 21%, 35%, 48%, respectively, in patients with GLS >−15.2%, and 6%, 15%, 19% in those with GLS ≤−15.2%. Even among those with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥60%, GLS discriminated higher-risk patients (
P
=0.0003). During follow-up, 106 (37%) patients underwent aortic valve replacement with median waiting-time of 2.4 years, and their survival was better than patients without aortic valve replacement. Among those patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, prognosis was still worse in patients with GLS >−15.2% (
P
=0.04). Mortality rates at 1, 3, 5 years were 2%, 10%, 20%, respectively, in patients with GLS >-15.2% and 2%, 5%, 6% in those with GLS ≤−15.2%.

Conclusions:

Impaired GLS in moderate aortic stenosis patients is associated with higher mortality rates even among those undergoing aortic valve replacement.
Cardiomyocyte Maturation
Authors: Guo Yuxuan , Pu William T.
Published: April 2020

Maturation is the last phase of heart development that prepares the organ for strong, efficient, and persistent pumping throughout the mammal’s lifespan. This process is characterized by structural, gene expression, metabolic, and functional specializations in cardiomyocytes as the heart transits from fetal to adult states. Cardiomyocyte maturation gained increased attention recently due to the maturation defects in pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte, its antagonistic effect on myocardial regeneration, and its potential contribution to cardiac disease. Here, we review the major hallmarks of ventricular cardiomyocyte maturation and summarize key regulatory mechanisms that promote and coordinate these cellular events. With advances in the technical platforms used for cardiomyocyte maturation research, we expect significant progress in the future that will deepen our understanding of this process and lead to better maturation of pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte and novel therapeutic strategies for heart disease.
Hematopoiesis and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Poller Wolfram C. , Nahrendorf Matthias , Swirski Filip K.
Published: April 2020

A central feature of atherosclerosis, the most prevalent chronic vascular disease and root cause of myocardial infarction and stroke, is leukocyte accumulation in the arterial wall. These crucial immune cells are produced in specialized niches in the bone marrow, where a complex cell network orchestrates their production and release. A growing body of clinical studies has documented a correlation between leukocyte numbers and cardiovascular disease risk. Understanding how leukocytes are produced and how they contribute to atherosclerosis and its complications is, therefore, critical to understanding and treating the disease. In this review, we focus on the key cells and products that regulate hematopoiesis under homeostatic conditions, during atherosclerosis and after myocardial infarction.
Change in Body Weight and Long-Term Risk of Stroke and Death in Healthy Men
Authors: Prestgaard Erik , Mariampillai Julian , Engeseth Kristian , Erikssen Jan , Bodegård Johan , Liestøl Knut , Kjeldsen Sverre , Grundvold Irene , Berge Eivind
Published: April 2020

Background and Purpose—

The importance of weight change for the risk of stroke is not well known. We examined the associations between early- and mid-life weight change and risks of stroke and death during long-term follow-up of healthy men.

Methods—

We recruited healthy men aged between 40 and 59 years and performed a cardiovascular examination at baseline and again at 7 years. We collected data on weight change since the age of 25 (early-life weight change) and measured weight change from baseline to the visit at 7 years (mid-life weight change). For both weight change periods, participants were divided into the following categories: weight loss, weight gain 0 to 4.9 kg, weight gain 5 to 9.9 kg, and weight gain ≥10 kg. Data on stroke and death were collected up to 35 years, from study visits, hospital records, and the National Cause of Death Registry. We used Cox regression to analyze the associations between weight change during early-life and mid-life and risks of stroke and death.

Results—

Of the 2014 participants, 2014 (100%) had data on early-life weight change and were followed for a median of 30.1 years, while 1403 had data on mid-life weight change and were followed for a median of 24.6 years. During early-life, compared with those who had weight gain 0 to 4.9 kg, hazard ratio for stroke was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.09–1.95) among those with weight gain 5 to 9.9 kg, 1.39 (95% CI, 1.03–1.87) for those with weight gain ≥10 kg, and 1.46 (95% CI, 0.99–2.11) among those with weight loss. For all-cause death, the hazard ratios were 1.08 (95% CI, 0.92–1.23), 1.14 (95% CI, 0.98–1.33), and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.06–1.56), respectively. During mid-life, there were no significant differences in risk of stroke or death between the groups.

Conclusions—

Weight increase during early-life, but not mid-life, seems to be associated with increased long-term risk of stroke in healthy men. If these findings can be confirmed, efforts to prevent weight increase should target the younger population.
Alteration of (Frequency-Dependent) Fitness in Time-Shift Experiments Reveals Cryptic Coevolution and Uncoordinated Stasis in a Virtual Jurassic Park
Authors: Luo Tian-tong , Zhu Jian-long , Reitan Trond , Yedid Gabriel
Published: April 2020

Among the major unresolved questions in ecosystem evolution are whether coevolving multispecies communities are dominated more by biotic or by abiotic factors, and whether evolutionary stasis affects performance as well as ecological profile; these issues remain difficult to address experimentally. Digital evolution, a computer-based instantiation of Darwinian evolution in which short self-replicating computer programs compete, mutate, and evolve, is an excellent platform for investigating such topics in a rigorous experimental manner. We evolved model communities with ecological interdependence among community members, which were subjected to two principal types of mass extinction: a pulse extinction that killed randomly, and a selective press extinction involving an alteration of the abiotic environment to which the communities had to adapt. These treatments were applied at two different strengths (Strong and Weak), along with unperturbed Control experiments. We performed several kinds of competition experiments using simplified versions of these communities to see whether long-term stability that was implied previously by ecological and phylogenetic metrics was also reflected in performance, namely, whether fitness was static over long periods of time. Results from Control and Weak treatment communities revealed almost completely transitive evolution, while Strong treatment communities showed higher incidences of temporal intransitivity, with pre-treatment ecotypes often able to displace some of their post-recovery successors. However, pre-treatment carryovers more often had lower fitness in mixed communities than in their own fully native conditions. Replacement and invasion experiments pitting single ecotypes against pre-treatment reference communities showed that many of the invading ecotypes could measurably alter the fitnesses of one or more residents, usually with depressive effects, and that the strength of these effects increased over time even in the most stable communities. However, invaders taken from Strong treatment communities often had little or no effect on resident performance. While we detected periods of time when the fitness of a particular evolving ecotype remained static, this stasis was not permanent and never affected an entire community at once. Our results lend support to the fitness-deterioration interpretation of the Red Queen hypothesis, and highlight community context dependence in determining fitness, the shaping of communities by both biotic factors and abiotic forcing, and the illusory nature of evolutionary stasis. Our results also demonstrate the potential of digital evolution studies to illuminate many aspects of evolution in interacting multispecies communities.
Decentralized Control for Swarm Robots That Can Effectively Execute Spatially Distributed Tasks
Authors: Kano Takeshi , Naito Eiichi , Aoshima Takenobu , Ishiguro Akio
Published: April 2020

A swarm robotic system is a system in which multiple robots cooperate to fulfill a macroscopic function. Many swarm robots have been developed for various purposes. This study aims to design swarm robots capable of executing spatially distributed tasks effectively, which can be potentially used for tasks such as search-and-rescue operation and gathering scattered garbage in rooms. We propose a simple decentralized control scheme for swarm robots by extending our previously proposed non-reciprocal-interaction-based model. Each robot has an internal state, called its workload. Each robot first moves randomly to find a task, and when it does, its workload increases, and then it attracts its neighboring robots to ask for their help. We demonstrate, via simulations, that the proposed control scheme enables the robots to effectively execute multiple tasks in parallel under various environments. Fault tolerance of the proposed system is also demonstrated.
The oldest of the rare: A new species of the family Nymphomyiidae (Diptera) from Burmese amber
Authors: WAGNER RÜDIGER , MÜLLER PATRICK
Published: April 2020

Nymphomyia allissae sp. nov. from the approximately 100 million years old Burmese amber is described and figured. The species is distinguished from other known taxa by the scimitar shaped wing, and the well sclerotized female terminalia with large cerci.
Application of Femtosecond-Laser Induced Nanostructures in Optical Memory
Authors: Shimotsuma Yasuhiko , Sakakura Masaaki , Miura Kiyotaka , Qiu Jiarong , Kazansky Peter G. , Fujita Koji , Hirao Andkazuyuki
Published: April 2020

The femtosecond laser induced micro- and nanostructures for the application to the three-dimensional optical data storage are investigated. We have observed the increase of refractive index due to local densification and atomic defect generation, and demonstrated the real time observation
of photothermal effect after the femtosecond laser irradiation inside a glass by the transient lens (TrL) method. The TrL signal showed a damped oscillation with about an 800 ps period. The essential feature of the oscillation can be reproduced by the pressure wave creation and propagation
to the outward direction from the irradiated region. The simulation based on elastodynamics has shown that a large thermoelastic stress is relaxed by the generation of the pressure wave. In the case of soda-lime glass, the velocity of the pressure wave is almost same as the longitudinal sound
velocity at room temperature (5.8 μm/ns). We have also observed the localized photo-reduction of Sm3+ to Sm2+ inside a transparent and colorless Sm3+-doped borate glass. Photoluminescence spectra showed that some the Sm3+ ions in the focal
spot within the glass sample were reduced to Sm2+ ions after femtosecond laser irradiation. A photo-reduction bit of 200 nm in three-dimensions can be recorded with a femtosecond laser and readout clearly by detecting the fluorescence excited by Ar+ laser (λ
= 488 nm). A photo-reduction bit can be also erased by photo-oxidation with a cw Ar+ laser (λ = 514 5 nm). Since photo-reduction bits can be spaced 150 nm apart in a layer within glass, a memory capacity of as high as 1 Tbit can be achieved in a glass piece with dimensions
of 10 mm × 10 mm × 1 mm. We have also demonstrated the first observation of the polarization-dependent periodic nanostructure formation by the interference between femtosecond laser light and electron acoustic waves. The observed nanostructures are the smallest embedded structures
ever created by light. The period of self-organized nanostructures can be controlled from ∼140 to 320 nm by the pulse energy and the number of irradiated pulses. Furthermore, we have also observed the self-assembled sub-wavelength periodic structures created in silica glass by femtosecond
pulses on the plane of the propagation of light.
Fabrication of Magnetic Nanodot Arrays for Patterned Magnetic Recording Media
Authors: Sato Hirotaka , Homma Takayuki
Published: April 2020

Fabrication processes of arrayed magnetic nanodots for the use of patterned magnetic recording media were reviewed. One candidate for the patterned media is ordered assemble of magnetic nanoparticles, and the other is patterned magnetic thin films fabricated using various micro/nano
scale machining processes. For the formation of patterned masks and molds, lithography processes as well as self-organized pattern formation are utilized. For the deposition processes of magnetic dots, electrochemical deposition processes were widely used. These fabrication processes are reviewed
mainly from recent reports. The recording systems for the patterned media including probe-type-recording are also overviewed.
Toward Understanding the Mechanism of Nonlinear Optical Characteristics of PbTe Thin Film for Nano-Optical Memory
Authors: Lee Taek Sung , Lee Hyun Seok , Cheong Byung-Ki , Jeong Jeung-Hyun , Kang Dae-Hwan , Zhe Wu , Kim Won Mok , Kim Donghwan , Cho Kyuman
Published: April 2020

An experimental study is conducted toward understanding the mechanism of nonlinear optical properties of PbTe thin film that were demonstrated potentially usable for nano-optical memory based on super-resolution technology. By way of a real time optical-electrical characterization of
a PbTe thin film device, it is found that absorption coefficient decreases with increasing laser power, accompanied by increase in carrier concentration. From z-scan measurements, nonlinear optical coefficient due to a long pulse (1 μs) z-scan is found nearly 3 order of magnitude
higher than the one due to a short pulse (30 ps) z-scan when input energy density is relatively comparable. Conceivably, these experimental findings call for a physical model that is able to account for the prevailing role of a thermal contribution within the framework of absorption saturation
by band filling. We speculate that the absorption saturation might be enhanced dramatically by making various indirect interband transitions possible via participation of phonons in a photonic excitation process.
Ge Quantum Dot Memory Structure with Laterally Ordered Highly Dense Arrays of Ge Dots
Authors: Nassiopoulou A. G. , Olzierski A. , Tsoi E. , Berbezier I. , Karmous A.
Published: April 2020

This work was devoted to the development of a Ge quantum dot memory structure of a MOSFET type with laterally ordered Ge quantum dots within the gate dielectric stack. Lateral ordering of the Ge dots was achieved by the combination of the following technological steps: (a) use of a
focused ion beam (FIB) to create ordered two-dimensional arrays of regular holes on a field oxide on the silicon substrate, (b) chemical cleaning and restoring of the Si surface in the holes, (c) further oxidation to transfer the pattern from the field oxide to the silicon substrate, (d) removal
of the field oxide and thermal re-oxidation of the sample in order to create a tunneling oxide of homogeneous thickness on the patterned silicon surface, and (e) self-assembly of the two-dimensional arrays of Ge dots on the patterned tunneling oxide. The charging properties of the obtained
memory structure were characterized by electrical measurements. Charging of the Ge quantum dot layer by electrons injected from the substrate resulted in a large shift in the capacitance-voltage curves of the MOS structure. Charges were stored in deep traps in the charging layer, and consequently
the erasing process was difficult, resulting in a limited memory window. The advantages of controlled positioning of the quantum dots in the charging layer will be discussed.
Outer Rainbands–Driven Secondary Eyewall Formation of Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Wang Yi-Fan , Tan Zhe-Min
Published: April 2020

Secondary eyewall formation (SEF) could be considered as the aggregation of a convective-ring coupling with a tangential wind maximum outside the primary eyewall of a tropical cyclone (TC). The dynamics of SEF are investigated using idealized simulations based on a set of triplet experiments, whose differences are only in the initial outer-core wind speed. The triplet experiments indicate that the unbalanced boundary layer (BL) process driven by outer rainbands (ORBs) is essential for the canonical SEF. The developments of a secondary tangential wind maximum and a secondary convective ring are governed by two different pathways, which are well coupled in the canonical SEF. Compared with inner/suppressed rainbands, the downwind stratiform sectors of ORBs drive significant stronger BL convergence at its radially inward side, which fastens up the SEF region and links the two pathways. In the wind-maximum formation pathway, the positive feedback among the BL convergence, supergradient force, and relative vorticity within the BL dominates the spinup of a secondary tangential wind maximum. In the convective-ring formation pathway, the BL convergence contributes to the ascending motion through the frictional-forced updraft and accelerated outflow associated with the supergradient force above the BL. Driven only by inner rainbands, the simulated vortex develops a fake SEF with only the secondary convective ring since the rainband-driven BL convergence is less enhanced and thus fails to maintain the BL positive feedback in the wind-maximum pathway. Therefore, only ORBs can promote the canonical SEF. It also infers that any environmental/physical conditions favorable for the development of ORBs will ultimately contribute to SEF.
Observational Constraint on Greenhouse Gas and Aerosol Contributions to Global Ocean Heat Content Changes
Authors: Charles Elodie , Meyssignac Benoit , Ribes Aurélien
Published: April 2020

Observations and climate models are combined to identify an anthropogenic warming signature in the upper ocean heat content (OHC) changes since 1971. We apply a new detection and attribution analysis developed by Ribes et al. that uses a symmetric treatment of the magnitude and the pattern of the climate response to each radiative forcing. A first estimate of the OHC response to natural, anthropogenic, greenhouse gas, and other forcings is derived from a large ensemble of CMIP5 simulations. Observational datasets from historical reconstructions are then used to constrain this estimate. A spatiotemporal observational mask is applied to compare simulations with actual observations and to overcome reconstruction biases. Results on the 0–700-m layer from 1971 to 2005 show that the global OHC would have increased since 1971 by 2.12 ± 0.21 × 107J m−2yr−1in response to GHG emissions alone. But this has been compensated for by other anthropogenic influences (mainly aerosol), which induced an OHC decrease of 0.84 ± 0.18 × 107J m−2yr−1. The natural forcing has induced a slight global OHC decrease since 1971 of 0.13 ± 0.09 × 107J m−2yr−1. Compared to previous studies we have separated the effect of the GHG forcing from the effect of the other anthropogenic forcing on OHC changes. This has been possible by using a new detection and attribution (D&A) method and by analyzing simultaneously the global OHC trends over 1957–80 and over 1971–2005. This bivariate method takes advantage of the different time variation of the GHG forcing and the aerosol forcing since 1957 to separate both effects and reduce the uncertainty in their estimates.
Comparison of Single-Valued Forecasts in a User-Oriented Framework
Authors: Foley Michael , Loveday Nicholas
Published: April 2020

We compare single-valued forecasts from a consensus of numerical weather prediction models to forecasts from a single model across a range of user decision thresholds and sensitivities, using the relative economic value framework, and present this comparison in a new graphical format. With the help of a simple linear error model, we obtain theoretical results and perform synthetic calculations to gain insights into how the results relate to the characteristics of the different forecast systems. We find that multimodel consensus forecasts are more beneficial for users interested in decisions near the climatological mean, due to their reduced spread of errors compared to the constituent models. Single model forecasts may present greater benefit for users sensitive to extreme events if the forecasts have smaller conditional biases than the consensus forecasts and hence better resolution of such events. The results support use of consensus averaging approaches for single-valued forecast services in typical conditions. However, it is hard to cater for all user sensitivities in more extreme conditions. This underscores the importance of providing probability-based services for unusual conditions.
Breaking the Law: Strike Bans and Labor Revitalization in the Red State Revolt
Authors: Blanc Eric
Published: April 2020

A comparative analysis of the early 2018 statewide educators’ strikes in West Virginia, Arizona, and Oklahoma illustrates the viability of a relatively neglected prescription for revitalizing organized labor: illegal strike action. Whereas the West Virginia and Arizona walkouts successfully ignored legal prohibitions on striking and won major concessions from the state, Oklahoma’s action was less successful in part because it remained on the terrain of legality. The experience of these three actions indicates that rank-and-file workers, union officials, and labor scholars should reconsider the labor movement’s prevailing strategy of working within the law.
Home Patriots: Spanish Nation-Building at a Local Level in the Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923–1930)
Authors: Quiroga Alejandro
Published: April 2020

The local arena provides an excellent framework for the study of practices linked to the reproduction of national identities. This article analyzes the different manners in which Spanish national identities were transmitted and assimilated at the local level during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923–1930). The paper takes a micro-historical approach and examines the process of mass nationalization in the town of Alagón, an industrial locality 15 miles north of Saragossa. It focuses on the different manners in which the local population ‘experienced’ the nation in public, semi-public and private spheres of nationalization. The article shows the limits of government-controlled, top-down nationalizations and underlines the importance of material culture and daily consumption in the transmission and assimilation of national identity.
‘Seeds of Spain’: Scouting, Monarchy and National Construction, 1912–1931
Authors: Moreno-Luzón Javier
Published: April 2020

The official Spanish branch of the international Boy Scout movement, the Exploradores de España, offers an instructive example of a nationalist association in Spain in the first third of the twentieth century. This article adopts a comparative perspective and studies the Exploradores discourses and practices, the association’s founders and leaders, the scouts’ publications and activities, as well as the organization’s internal conflicts and evolution between 1912 and 1931. As in Britain and many other countries, the movement was endorsed by the royal family and led by military officers and middle-class men – representatives of monarchist civil society. It shared nationalist and regeneracionista (from regenerationism) values, as an agent of nationalization throughout Spanish territory. Like other Boy Scout movements in Europe and the Americas, it pursued the goal of making good patriots, with a knowledge of and ready to defend their fatherland: young hidalgos, the Spanish equivalent of the British gentlemen. Hence this study also explores the gender aspects of Boy Scout ideals. Initially, the Spanish scouts were troubled by an intense religious conflict, which was won by Catholic sectors, so their nationalism became deeply conservative. During the 1920s, the movement was instrumental in the nation-building projects of different governments, especially under the dictatorship of General Primo de Rivera (1923–1930). In short, it can be considered one of the main nationalizing agents during this key period in modern Spanish history, and belies the image of supposed passivity and a lack of interest in national construction among Spain’s ruling elites.
A Fight for Real Men: Gender and Nation-Building during the Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923–1930)
Authors: Aresti Nerea
Published: April 2020

In 1923, the dictator General Primo de Rivera implemented an ambitious project to restore Spanish masculinity. I believe his efforts to be the response to both a growing instability in gender relations and what had become an enduring national crisis in masculinity. A call to action, as opposed to menacing passivity and a national lack of virile energy, permeated discourses and political practices during the course of his dictatorship. A significant number of men collaborated in this project and helped to nationalize Spanish society while defending social order. Organizations like the Somatén (national militia) created forums for the display of patriotic military masculinity. However, and ironically, the new political climate encouraged the participation of women in politics in a way that actually endangered Spain’s gender order. Political rituals like flag-blessing ceremonies throughout the country opened an unexpected window of opportunity for women to play an important role in that movement of ‘real men’, as Primo de Rivera called it. The process and tensions involved describe a mutual construction of gender and national identities, where there was also a troubled coexistence of different models of masculinity. This study is based on the analysis of a wide range of primary sources, including newspapers, political essays, literature and propaganda.
When Did Nationalism Become Banal? The Nationalization of the Domestic Sphere in Spain
Authors: Storm Eric
Published: April 2020

Inspired by Michael Billig’s Banal Nationalism, social scientists have begun to study the impact of nationalism on everyday life. However, Billig’s concept is far from clear. Actually, banal can refer to ‘mundane’ expressions of nationalism, to their ‘unconscious’ consumption or their ‘cold’ temperature. Moreover, on many occasions Billig referred to the state instead of the nation, thus in fact analysing ‘banal statism’. For historians it is often difficult to ascertain whether people consciously perceived certain expressions of nationalism or not. However, we can analyze when certain mundane forms of nationalism were invented, while looking for clues as to how they cooled down and slowly became taken for granted. In this article, I will analyze how the nationalization of the domestic sphere manifested itself in Spain. In fact, this transnational trend has been largely ignored by architectural historians and scholars dealing with gender, food, design and animal–human relations, because they primarily focused on processes of modernization. In this way, the intensification of the nation-building process, which now also actively implies housewives, has remained largely invisible. Using evidence from a broad array of books, lectures and magazines, I will show that during the belle époque – when Spanish nationalism was quite hot – all kinds of spaces, objects and practices associated with the private sphere and the home were consciously nationalized by writers, architects and cooks. The focus will be on the nationalization of domestic architecture, food and dishes, but I will also pay attention to the nationalization of furniture, pets, gardening and cleaning. There are clear indications that over time many new national forms, objects and spaces slowly became banal stereotypes, thus further naturalizing existing national identities.
Radiation-resistance increased by overexpression of microRNA-21 and inhibition of its target PTEN in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Peng Jun , Lv Yinxiang , Wu Chaochao
Published: April 2020

Objective

Overexpression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) increases the radiation resistance of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the molecular mechanism responsible for this action is still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in miR-21-enhanced radiation resistance in patients with ESCC.

Methods

We evaluated the association between miR-21 levels and radiation resistance in patients with ESCC. We also investigated the role of PTEN in the proliferation and apoptosis of ESCC cells transfected with miR-21 inhibitor during irradiation, using PTEN small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Results

MiR-21 levels were significantly higher in radiation-resistant patients. Downregulation of miR-21 during irradiation suppressed the radiation resistance of ESCC cells, demonstrated by decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis. PTEN siRNA attenuated miR-21-induced suppression of radiation resistance in ESCC cells.

Conclusions

These results suggest that miR-21 enhanced the radiation resistance of ESCC by inhibiting PTEN. MiR-21 and PTEN are potential therapeutic biotargets for ESCC.
Using Connected Vehicle Data to Reassess Dilemma Zone Performance of Heavy Vehicles
Authors: Li Howell , Platte Tom , Mathew Jijo , Smith W. Benjamin , Saldivar-Carranza Enrique , Bullock Darcy M.
Published: April 2020

The rate of fatalities at signalized intersections involving heavy vehicles is nearly five times higher than for passenger vehicles in the US. Previous studies in the US have found that heavy vehicles are twice as likely to violate a red light compared with passenger vehicles. Current technologies leverage setback detection to extend green time for a particular phase and are based upon typical deceleration rates for passenger cars. Furthermore, dilemma zone detectors are not effective when the max out time expires and forces the onset of yellow. This study proposes the use of connected vehicle (CV) technology to trigger force gap out (FGO) before a vehicle is expected to arrive within the dilemma zone limit at max out time. The method leverages position data from basic safety messages (BSMs) to map-match virtual waypoints located up to 1,050 ft in advance of the stop bar. For a 55 mph approach, field tests determined that using a 6 ft waypoint radius at 50 ft spacings would be sufficient to match 95% of BSM data within a 5% lag threshold of 0.59 s. The study estimates that FGOs reduce dilemma zone incursions by 34% for one approach and had no impact for the other. For both approaches, the total dilemma zone incursions decreased from 310 to 225. Although virtual waypoints were used for evaluating FGO, the study concludes by recommending that trajectory-based processing logic be incorporated into controllers for more robust support of dilemma zone and other emerging CV applications.
Tensile mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of multihole fiber metal laminates—Experimental characterization and numerical prediction
Authors: He Wentao , Wang Changzi , Wang Shuqing , Yao Lu , Wu Jun , Xie De
Published: April 2020

This work mainly investigates the effects of the hole number and layer direction on the tensile mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of multihole fiber metal laminates by experimental and numerical methods. With the aid of digital image correlation technique, tensile tests are implemented to obtain mechanical responses of different multihole fiber metal laminates. Subsequently, numerical simulation considering thermal residual stress is conducted to elucidate the failure modes and progressive damage evolution of multihole fiber metal laminates, which integrates the progressive damage model of composite laminates and a cohesive zone model between aluminum sheet/composite laminates. Finally, numerical predictions are found in a good agreement with experimental measurements, in terms of mechanical responses and fracture morphologies. Results demonstrate that the number of holes has negligible influence on the ultimate tensile strength, whereas affects the final failure strain of multihole fiber metal laminates evidently. With the increase of layer direction, the fracture morphology changes from evident brittle fracture to fiber pull-out and matrix damage, which indicates that the critical failure mechanism of multihole fiber metal laminates changes from tension dominated to tension–shear dominated. Additionally, the longer loading history from initial damage to final failure of composite laminates demonstrates the significance of considering progressive damage behavior in numerical simulation.
Development of beneficial residual stresses in glass fiber epoxy composites through fiber prestressing
Authors: Mohamed Mahmoud , Brahma Siddhartha , Ning Haibin , Pillay Selvum
Published: April 2020

The undesired residual stresses in fiber reinforced polymer composites are developed during their manufacturing processes due to the thermal and chemical shrinkage of the polymer matrix, which negatively affect the performance of the composites. Applying tensile stress to the reinforcement fibers during the curing of the matrix can reduce or eliminate the undesired residual stresses. Furthermore, the undesired tensile residual stress within the matrix can be replaced with beneficial compressive residual stress which can improve the mechanical properties of the composites. In this study, theoretical stress analysis was performed in order to determine the value of the optimum compressive residual stress that is associated with the highest tensile strength. This value was determined based on the tensile testing result of prestressed composites with a 40% fiber volume fraction. For the composites with different fiber volume fractions, a new approach was introduced to estimate the optimum fiber prestressing level which generates the optimum compressive residual stress within the matrix and consequently, the highest tensile strength can be achieved. In order to validate this approach experimentally, prestressed composites with 25 and 30% fiber volume fraction were prepared by applying the estimated optimum fiber prestressing levels during curing of matrix and tensile testing was performed. The result of the stress analysis showed that the value of the optimum compressive residual stress corresponding to the highest tensile strength is 2.5 MPa approximately. The tensile testing results confirmed the validity of the new approach in estimating the optimum fiber prestressing level for the composites with different fiber volume fractions. For both prestressed composites with 25 and 30% fiber volume fraction, the highest tensile strength was achieved when the theoretically estimated optimum fiber prestressing level was applied to the fibers during the curing of the matrix.
Numerical analysis of bubble condensation behavior under high-pressure flow conditions
Authors: Paramanantham SalaiSargunan S , Phan Thanh-Hoang , Park Warn-Gyu
Published: April 2020

Heat transfer during subcooled flow boiling has a pivotal role in pressurized water reactors; it also occurs in boiling water reactors prior to the onset of saturated nucleate boiling. We examined the condensation behavior of vapor bubbles in the subcooled liquid phase using the fully compressible two-phase homogeneous mixture method, solved by an implicit dual-time preconditioned method. The continuous surface force method was applied to determine the surface tension between the phases in the simulation. To predict the empirical coefficient, we conducted a sensitivity study using Lee’s mass transfer model. For nuclear applications, we simulated high-pressure vapor–water conditions under higher mass flow conditions. The comparison of the numerical simulation and experimental results showed that the proposed model accurately predicted the condensation behavior of the bubble. Additionally, we investigated single bubble condensation behavior at different operating pressures, subcooling temperatures, bubble diameters, and bulk velocities. We also investigated the effects of high-pressure condensation on bubble shape. At lower subcooling temperatures, the condensation rate increased as pressure increased; however, at higher subcooling temperatures, pressure had no significant impact on the condensation rate.
Reliability sensitivity analysis of tooth modification on dynamic transmission error of helical planetary gears
Authors: Jun Zhang , Wei-min Tang , Qin Chen , Tao Chen
Published: April 2020

As one of the most influential factors leading to gear vibrations, transmission errors of the engaging gears must be controlled to achieve a desirable dynamic performance for a power transmission system. It is well known that tooth modification is an effective way to reduce the fluctuations of the transmission error of a gear pair. The challenge is determining how to establish a quantitative relationship between the tooth modification parameters and the transmission error fluctuations of a gear pair. The present study aims to reveal the sensitivity of the tooth modification parameters on the transmission error fluctuations of a helical planetary gear train in a wind turbine gearbox. For this purpose, a sophisticated parametric three-dimensional contact model that included the micro-geometries of the tooth modification is developed in the ROMAX® environment. Based on this model, a loaded tooth contact analysis is carried out to compute the meshing characteristics, such as the contact pressure and transmission error of each gear pair in the planetary gear train. With the obtained meshing characteristics, the tooth modification amounts of the engaging gears were determined using empirical formulas. These modification amounts are designated as the mean values of the samples generated by the central composite method. After repeating the loaded tooth contact analysis process for each generated sample, a quadratic polynomial function is derived using the response surface method to describe the quantitative relationship between the tooth modification parameters and the dynamic transmission error fluctuations. A large number of random samples are generated using a Monte Carlo method, and the corresponding dynamic transmission error fluctuations are determined with the aforementioned quadratic polynomial function. Based on these samples, a reliability sensitivity analysis is carried out to demonstrate the effects of the tooth modification parameters on the dynamic transmission error fluctuations of the helical planetary gear train.
Identifying End-of-Life Preferences Among Chinese Patients With Cancer Using the Heart to Heart Card Game
Authors: Li Tong , Pei Xianbo , Chen Xiaoli , Zhang Shuqin
Published: April 2020

Background:

Understanding the preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care is imperative in providing quality care to patients with life-threatening illness. However, it is difficult for patients, families, and health-care providers to initiate EOL conversations in China. An easy-to-use tool that could help health-care providers initiate EOL discussions is the Heart to Heart Card Game (HHCG), originally designed for Chinese Americans.

Objective:

To evaluate the EOL preferences among Chinese patients with cancer using the HHCG.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive study to assess EOL preferences using HHCG among patients at the oncology chemoradiotherapy department of a Chinese tertiary hospital.

Results:

We recruited 58 patients in total of which 40 (69%) patients completed HHCG. The most frequently selected card was “I want my family to get along,” followed by “I don’t want to be a burden to my family,” and “I want to maintain my dignity.” Among the 3 cards selected, social needs were rated as the most important (36.7%), followed by spiritual needs (35.8%), physical needs (20.0%), and financial needs (7.5%). The evaluation of the HHCG revealed that more than 70% of the participants highly valued HHCG.

Conclusion:

The HHCG can be used as a communication tool to encourage EOL discussions between cancer patients and health-care providers in China. Moreover, Chinese patients with cancer attach significant importance to their family and maintaining dignity at the EOL.
#Cleftlip/Palate: What Is the World Talking About?
Authors: Hudson Alexandra S. , Morzycki Alexander D. , Guilfoyle Regan
Published: April 2020

Objective:

Studies have begun analyzing how the world converses on social media platforms about medical/surgical topics. This study’s objective was to examine how cleft lip and palate, two of the most common birth defects in the world, are discussed on the social media platform Twitter. No study to date has analyzed this topic.

Methods:

Tweets were identified using any of the following: cleft, cleft lip, cleft palate, #cleft, #cleftlip, #cleftpalate. Eight months between 2017 and 2018 were analyzed.

Main Outcome Measures:

The primary outcome was the tweet subject matter. Secondary outcomes were author characteristics, tweet engagement, multimedia, and tweet accuracy

Results:

A total of 1222 tweets were included. #Cleft was the most common hashtag (71%), and it was significantly associated with more retweets ( P = .03). Twenty-seven countries tweeted, with the United States (34%) and India (27%) producing the most. Charities (36%), hospitals (14%), and physicians (13%) were the most common authors. Over three-quarters of tweets were self-promotional. The top content included charity information (22%) and patients’ cleft stories (14%). Tweets about patient safety/care and surgical service trips generated the most engagement. The accuracy of educational tweets was 38% low accuracy and 1% inaccurate. One hundred forty-nine tweets (12%) discussed a published research article, but 41 tweets did not share a link.

Conclusions:

Charities dominate the cleft lip/palate “Twitterverse.” Most tweets were self-promotional, and over a third of educational tweets were low accuracy. As the cleft social media community continues to grow, we recommend using the hashtag #cleft to reach a wider audience.
Resected Pancreatic Cancer With N2 Node Involvement Is Refractory to Gemcitabine-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Liu Chen , Cheng He , Jin Kaizhou , Fan Zhiyao , Gong Yitao , Qian Yunzhen , Deng Shengming , Huang Qiuyi , Ni Quanxing , Yu Xianjun , Luo Guopei
Published: April 2020

Lymphatic metastasis is a major determinant of the outcome of resected pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy can improve the outcome of resected pancreatic cancer. However, the efficacy of gemcitabine against pancreatic cancer stratified by nodal involvement is unclear. In this study, patients who had undergone curative resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (612 cases) were included. The efficacy of adjuvant gemcitabine-based regimen, stratified by nodal status (negative, positive) or N substage (N0, no nodal involvement; N1, 1-3-node involvement; N2, ≥4-node involvement), was examined. Both the node-negative (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.87, P = .006) and node-positive subgroups (HR = 0.45, 95% CI, 0.33-0.62, P < .001) benefited from gemcitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with N0 (ie, the node-negative subgroup) or N1 (HR = 0.36, 95% CI, 0.25-0.52, P < .001) disease benefited from gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. However, patients with N2 tumors (HR = 0.95, 95% CI, 0.50-1.78, P = .867) had poor response to gemcitabine-based treatment. Therefore, we postulate that resected pancreatic cancer with N2 node involvement is refractory to gemcitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. A more intensive adjuvant regimen may be required for N2 subgroup patients.