bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balint-style reflective practice groups in a year 4 undergraduate general practice attachment: experience of the first two years
Authors: Richards Helen , Polnay Adam , Wilkinson Peter , Read Elizabeth , Young Hilary
Published: April 2020

Background and aims

Many undergraduate medical curricula include reflective practice sessions based on traditional Balint-groups. Those sessions can help students to acknowledge that experiencing ‘negative’ feelings in relation to patients is normal and may contain important information about the clinical encounter. They may also help to protect students from some of the emotional challenges of studying medicine. The Edinburgh University scheme provides all students in their first clinical year with two dedicated reflective practice sessions. Here we report on experience of the first two years.

Methods

Students’ attitudes to the sessions were ascertained using a questionnaire, and views of the group leaders were assessed using a questionnaire and through informal verbal and email discussions. Practical difficulties were recorded as they arose.

Results

Students generally rated the sessions positively with regard to exploring relationships and self-reflection, and they found the sessions interesting and helpful. The sessions did not seem to affect career choice. The free-text comments suggested four positive themes and four areas for future modification.

Conclusion

We have succeeded in providing all undergraduate students with an opportunity to take part in a reflective practice. We have highlighted aspects which have been successful and suggested future improvements.
Q-SpAM: How to Efficiently Measure Similarity in Online Research
Authors: Koch Alex , Speckmann Felix , Unkelbach Christian
Published: April 2020

Measuring the similarity of stimuli is of great interest to a variety of social scientists. Spatial arrangement by dragging and dropping “more similar” targets closer together on the computer screen is a precise and efficient method to measure stimulus similarity. We present Qualtrics-spatial arrangement method (Q-SpAM), a feature-rich and user-friendly online version of spatial arrangement. Combined with crowdsourcing platforms, Q-SpAM provides fast and affordable access to similarity data even for large stimulus sets. Participants may spatially arrange up to 100 words or images, randomly selected targets, self-selected targets, self-generated targets, and targets self-marked in different colors. These and other Q-SpAM features can be combined. We exemplify how to collect, process, and visualize similarity data with Q-SpAM and provide R and Excel scripts to do so. We then illustrate Q-SpAM’s versatility for social science, concluding that Q-SpAM is a reliable and valid method to measure the similarity of lots of stimuli with little effort.
Concerning ecclesiology: Four barriers preventing insider movement contextualization from producing biblical churches
Authors: Bennett Matthew
Published: April 2020

Contextualization is a topic of utmost importance in the field of missiology. Over the past several years, the missiological world has debated the merits of one particular approach to contextualization known as the Insider Movement (IM). While much of the discussion has focused on issues of soteriology, hermeneutics, theology of religions, and evangelism, this article intends to assess the potential for IM strategies to produce biblically faithful churches. By leaning on the writings of IM advocates and the recent publication of Jan Prenger’s dissertation, Muslim Insider Christ Followers, one can compare IM strategies along with the testimony of insiders themselves with biblical teaching regarding the church. In order to avoid the accusation of historical, doctrinal, or extra-biblical imposition on the biblical teaching of the church, the common historical marks of the church have not been selected as the criteria for assessment. Instead, four biblical passages containing teaching about the church have been selected drive this exploration exegetically: (1) the church built upon the common recognition of Jesus as the awaited Messiah and Son of God; (2) the church as local, identifiable, gatherable, and responsible body of believers; (3) the church as a pillar and buttress of the truth; and (4) the church as an indiscriminate gathering of gospel-professing and communally covenanted believers. Upon considering the texts that drive these four elements of biblical churches, one confronts several barriers that often attend IM strategies. If such barriers are not removed by IM proponents, this article concludes that it is unlikely that they can produce healthy and biblically faithful churches.
The Israel Reserve Law: The Duality of Reservists and Transformed Military Autonomy
Authors: Rein-Sapir Yonat , Ben-Ari Eyal
Published: April 2020

Enacted in 2008, 60 years after Israel Defense Forces was established, the Israeli Reserves Law is a striking expression of the decline of military autonomy in a democratic country. While not aimed at reducing the military’s discretion in regard to the training, deployment, and compensation for reservists, the formal enactment of the Law in effect did so. The legislative process was preceded by a crisis between reservists and the military and was led by several reservists’ organizations who tried to improve the standing and resources allocated to the reserve forces. The article analyzes the impact of these organizations and the coalitions they created with politicians serving in the national parliament, the Knesset. By choosing the legislative option to improve the conditions of service for reservists, they de facto reduced military autonomy since the new Law mandated supervision and monitoring (by civilian institutions) of the service of reservists and extended into the core area of military action, the operational use of force. Thus, the actions of reservists’ organizations turned a bilateral tie between the military and its (reserve) soldiers into a trilateral one, comprising the military, reserve soldiers, and state institutions.
Which are the influential publications in the Web of Science subject categories over a long period of time? CRExplorer software used for big-data analyses in bibliometrics
Authors: Thor Andreas , Bornmann Lutz , Haunschild Robin , Leydesdorff Loet
Published: April 2020

What are the landmark papers in scientific disciplines? Which papers are indispensable for scientific progress? These are typical questions which are of interest not only for researchers (who frequently know the answers – or guess to know them) but also for the interested general public. Citation counts can be used to identify very useful papers since they reflect the wisdom of the crowd – in this case, the scientists using published results for their research. In this study, we identified with recently developed methods for the program CRExplorer landmark publications in nearly all Web of Science subject categories (WoS-SCs). These are publications which belong more frequently than other publications during the citing years to the top-1‰ in their subject area. As examples, we show the results of five subject categories: ‘Information Science & Library Science’, ‘Computer Science, Information Systems’, ‘Computer Science, Software Engineering’, ‘Psychology, Social’ and, ‘Chemistry, Physical’. The results of the other WoS-SCs can be found online at http://crexplorer.net . An analyst of the results should keep in mind that the identification of landmark papers depends on the used methods and data. Small differences in methods and/or data may lead to other results.
Contribution of street food to dietary intake of habitual urban consumers: A cross-sectional study in Kampala city, Uganda
Authors: Sseguya Wenceslaus , Matovu Nicholas , Swann Jessica , Draper Alizon
Published: April 2020

Background:

Street food has continued to be a popular food source in the urban settings of developing countries and is proving to be a vital urban dietary source. However, its dietary contribution among urban populations is yet to be comprehensively understood.

Aim:

To assess how street food contributes to the dietary intake of habitual street food consumers.

Methods:

We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among habitual street food consumers in Kampala city. We defined habitual intake as consumption of a serving of any street food for ≥2 days/week regardless of the food group and number of times it was consumed in a particular day. Questionnaires were used to capture quantitative data on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry, 24-hour diet intake and 2-month street food consumption frequency. The Nutritics® diet analysis software version 4.3 and STATA version 13.0 were used for nutrient and statistical analyses respectively.

Results:

Street food contributed considerably to the daily intake of fat (49.1%), sodium (38.4%) and calcium (36.5%) and least towards the daily intake of vitamin A (11.3%). The majority of consumers opted for street food at breakfast (50%) whereas lunch and snacks featured the least for overall street food inclusion (all 20%). Overall, men demonstrated more dietary intake and inclusion at meals from street food than women.

Conclusions:

This study indicates a significant contribution of street food for urban consumers but men derive more benefit than women in terms of nutrient intake and inclusion of street food in meals.
Fertility choices in China under the two-child policy
Authors: Wang Qingfeng , Sun Xu
Published: April 2020

Individuals who are economically well-off, or who possess a specific or mixed-gender preference for their children tend to have a much higher intention to have two children. The findings of this study strongly support the fact that ‘cultural factors’ play an important role in determining Chinese people’s intention to have two children. But for policymakers, the overall findings imply that the ‘two-child’ policy is likely ineffective in stimulating a higher fertility rate in the short term given that the economic wellbeing of a family exerts a far more significant impact on fertility intention than cultural and behavioral dimensions.
Staging liver fibrosis on multiparametric MRI in a rabbit model with elastography, susceptibility-weighted imaging and T1ρ imaging: a preliminary study
Authors: Zou Li-Qiu , Zhao Feng , Zhang Hao , Zhang Kai , Xing Wei
Published: April 2020

Background

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), and T1ρ are three techniques for staging of liver fibrosis (LF).

Purpose

To assess the value of MRE, SWI, and T1ρ imaging in staging LF.

Material and Methods

Sixty rabbits were injected with 50% CCl4oil solution, whereas 20 rabbits were given normal saline. All rabbits underwent pathological examination to determine LF stages. The liver stiffness (LS), liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (SIR), and T1ρ values were measured from MRE, SWI, and T1ρ imaging, respectively.

Results

The number of rabbits was 14, 11, 10, 9, and 11 for F0, F1, F2, F3, and F4, respectively. LS ( r = 0.91) and T1ρ ( r = 0.51) positively correlated with LF stages, while negative correlation was present for SIR ( r = –0.81). Among the three parameters, the LS values revealed the best diagnostic efficacy in staging LF, with an AUC value of 0.95 for ≥F1, 0.95 for ≥F2, 0.99 for ≥F3, and 0.98 for ≥F4. The combination of LS and SIR could best predict LF stages ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3 and ≥F4, with AUC values of 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, and 0.99, respectively, which were greater than those of the other two-paired parameters. A multiparametric analysis showed that the combination of all three parameters had AUC values of 0.97, 0.98, 1.00, and 1.00 for staging ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and ≥F4, respectively.

Conclusion

Multiparametric MR imaging was superior to individual imaging for LF staging.
Alexithymia, traumatic stress symptoms and burnout in female healthcare professionals
Authors: Riethof Norbert , Bob Petr , Laker Matthew , Zmolikova Jana , Jiraskova Terezie , Raboch Jiri
Published: April 2020

Objective

The burnout syndrome represents a defence mechanism against stress and includes stages with decreased ability to experience feelings and emotional states. This finding suggests that burnout might be closely linked to emotional ‘blindness’ as a defence mechanism against negative and overwhelming emotions known as alexithymia. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between burnout syndrome, alexithymia, depression and traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare professionals.

Methods

This empirical study assessed female healthcare professionals who work with a population of patients with diabetes, utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSSMP), Burnout Measure (BM), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Traumatic Stress Checklist (TSC-40). Data were analysed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

Results

A total of 114 female participants were included (age range, 31–60 years; mean age, 46.62 ± 8.71 years). Statistically significant associations were found between burnout syndrome (BM scores) and alexithymia (TAS-20) ( r = 0.41), and between BM scores and traumatic stress (TSC-40; r = 0.63). The MBI-HSSMP emotional exhaustion subscale also correlated with alexithymia (TAS-20) ( r = 0.37).

Conclusion

Findings of this study suggest that alexithymia and traumatic stress are related to burnout symptoms. This dynamic may be potentially useful for detecting and preventing burnout syndrome.
Peripapillary choroidal thickness in eyes with high myopia
Authors: Song Aiping , Hou Xincen , Zhuo Jian , Yu Tao
Published: April 2020

Objective

To investigate characteristics of peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) in Chinese patients with myopia without myopic maculopathy.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed 95 Chinese patients (95 eyes) with myopia without myopic maculopathy, who had visited the myopia clinic of Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital. Thirteen patients were excluded; the remaining 82 patients were divided into Groups 1 (spherical equivalent [SE], −0.5 to −6.0 D; axial length, 24–26 mm; n = 26), 2 (SE, −6.0 to −10.0 D; axial length, 26 to 28 mm; n = 34), and 3 (SE, ≥−10.0 D; axial length, ≥28 mm; n = 22). Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography was used to measure PCT in inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants. Continuous variables were compared using one-way analysis of variance. Associations of PCT with SE and axial length were analyzed by Pearson correlation.

Results

PCT decreased with increasing SE and axial length in all quadrants. For each group, PCT was thickest in the temporal quadrant and thinnest in the inferior quadrant. PCT significantly differed between Groups 1 and 3 in superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants.

Conclusions

PCT decreased with increasing SE and axial length. PCT was thickest in the temporal quadrant and thinnest in the inferior quadrant in Chinese patients with myopia.
A case of coronary artery disease with rapid progress triggered by stent implantation
Authors: Feng Chao , Li Liang , Xia Shudong
Published: April 2020

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) have a low prevalence of in-stent restenosis. However, we describe a patient with coronary artery disease with rapid progress, which might have been triggered by implantation of a DES. The patient was a 72-year-old woman who was first admitted to hospital with non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction and had a DES implanted after coronary angiography showed severe stenosis of the left circumflex artery. However, although she kept taking dual antiplatelet therapy, her condition deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital three more times. Angiography showed that the coronary stenosis had become more severe and was more severe not just in the stent-implanted segments, but also in other coronary arteries. Another DES and drug-eluted balloon were used. However, the stent-implanted and balloon-dilated segments became severely stenosed within 1 month. Tests for auto-immune diseases and allergies were negative. We speculate that the first DES triggered an unknown response of the coronary arteries and led to severe stenosis from the stent-implanted segment to the distal segment and other arteries.
Primary retromolar malignant melanoma in a Latin American patient
Authors: Ardila Carlos-Martín , Arce-Jaramillo Joan-Michael , Álvarez-Martínez Efraín
Published: April 2020

Primary malignant melanoma of the oral mucosa is rare and has scarcely been reported in patients from Latin America. The most frequently affected sites include the palate and gingiva of the maxilla. In this report, we describe primary malignant melanoma in a Latin American patient. A 3 × 3.5-cm black tumor was observed on the upper left retromolar area. The lesion exhibited a sessile base, irregular edges, soft consistency, and pain on palpation. Immunohistochemistry staining results were positive for S100 and HMB-45; the Ki-67 index was 20%. Contrast tomography of the skull, face, abdomen, and thorax, as well as ultrasound of the liver, did not reveal metastatic lesions. The patient underwent wide surgical excision of the lesion, followed by radiotherapy; he was subsequently rehabilitated with a somato prosthesis.
Lymph node metastasis in the space between the right carotid artery and jugular vein in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Chen Jian , Zhang Deguang , Fang Liang , He Gaofei , Gao Li
Published: April 2020

Background

The oblique brachiocephalic trunk and right common carotid artery constitute the right carotid sheath space (RCSS). The aim of this study was to detect the clinicopathologic factors associated with RCSS lymph node metastasis.

Methods

In total, 232 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans were analyzed for associations between RCSS lymph node metastasis and clinicopathological factors.

Results

Among the 232 cases, 18 (7.76%) had suspicious RCSS lymph nodes, which was correlated with the presence of >5 metastatic lymph nodes, a larger thoracic inlet, and primary tumor size >2.15 cm. All pathologically confirmed metastatic lymph nodes were >1 cm in diameter.

Conclusions

The concept of “RCSS lymph node metastasis” was first introduced by this study. For PTC patients, a larger thoracic inlet, increased number of metastatic lymph nodes, and larger primary tumor size were related to RCSS lymph nodes, and more attention should be paid to patients who have lymph nodes >1 cm. A future prospective study will be designed to identify the potential risk factors for RCSS lymph node metastasis.
Erector spine plane block as postoperative rescue analgesia in thoracic surgery
Authors: Rispoli Marco , Tamburri Roberta , Nespoli Moana Rossella , Esposito Marianna , Mattiacci Dario Maria , Santonastaso Domenico Pietro , Casazza Dino , Amore Dario , Corcione Antonio
Published: April 2020

Objective:

Erector spine plane block (ESPB) is a newly defined regional anesthesia technique performed by injection of local anesthetic beneath the erector spine muscle. We tested ESPB as a regional rescue analgesia bedside technique to be performed in the thoracic surgical ward, reporting a 7-patient case series.

Methods:

We report our experience in rescue analgesia after thoracic surgery. During the postoperative stay, numeric rating scale (NRS) score >3 and inability to perform physiotherapy or effective cough due to postoperative pain represented the criteria for proposing rescue analgesia with ESPB. NRS at rest and during movements was recorded; blood gas analysis and spirometry were performed to evaluate PaO2/FiO2 (P/F), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) before ESPB execution. After performing the ESPB, static and dynamic NRS, P/F, and FVC and FEV1 were recorded at 40 minutes and 80 minutes.

Results:

NRS had a reduction at rest and in dynamic assessment. The P/F did not improve but spirometric measures improved. FVC had a relevant improvement only after 80 minutes; FEV1 was increased after 40 minutes.

Conclusion:

The use of ESPB as postoperative rescue analgesia can offer several advantages due to effective rescue analgesia and safety that makes it easy to perform in the thoracic surgical ward or in an outpatient clinic setting.
The effect of systemic inflammation indexes and 18FDG PET metabolic parameters on survival in advanced lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yesil Cinkir Havva , Elboga Umut
Published: April 2020

Objective:

To determine the effect of systemic inflammation indexes and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) metabolic parameters on survival in advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods:

A total of 133 patients who underwent 18FDG PET for initial staging were investigated retrospectively. Baseline patient characteristics, routine blood test results, 18FDG PET metabolic parameters, and treatment history were examined. Overall survival (OS) was demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the curves were compared by the log-rank test. Systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) was defined as neutrophil x monocyte/lymphocyte count.

Results:

Lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR) and SIRI were found to be significant for OS. The cutoff point was 2.25 for LMR. Median OS was 8 months for ⩽2.25 and 14 months for >2.25 ( p = 0.005). For SIRI, the cutoff point was 2. SIRI ⩽2 was associated with a median OS of 16 months compared to 10 months for patients with SIRI >2 ( p = 0.043). Maximum of standardized uptake value, total lesion glycolysis, and metabolic tumor volume were not found to be significant for OS ( p = 0.225, p = 0.061, p = 0.355, respectively). No correlation was found between inflammatory indexes and PET metabolic parameters.

Conclusion:

Age and LMR parameters were prognostic for survival in Cox regression analysis. There was no correlation between 18FDG PET parameters and inflammatory indexes.
Low frequency activation of the sphenopalatine ganglion does not induce migraine-like attacks in migraine patients
Authors: Guo Song , Falkenberg Katrine , Schytz Henrik Winther , Caparso Anthony , Jensen Rigmor Højland , Ashina Messoud
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Cephalic autonomic symptoms occur in 27‒73% of migraine patients during attacks. The role of parasympathetic activation in migraine attack initiation remains elusive. Low frequency stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion increases parasympathetic outflow. In this study, we hypothesized that low frequency stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion would provoke migraine-like attacks in migraine patients.

Methods

In a double-blind randomized sham-controlled crossover study, 12 migraine patients with a sphenopalatine ganglion neurostimulator received low frequency or sham stimulation for 30 min on two separate days. We recorded headache characteristics, cephalic autonomic symptoms, ipsilateral mechanical perception and pain thresholds, mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (VMCA) and diameter of the superficial temporal artery during and after stimulation.

Results

Five patients (42%) reported a migraine-like attack after low frequency stimulation compared to six patients (50%) after sham ( p = 1.000). We found a significant increase in mechanical detection thresholds during low frequency stimulation compared to baseline ( p = 0.007). Occurrence of cephalic autonomic symptoms and changes in mechanical perception thresholds, VMCA and diameter of the superficial temporal artery showed no difference between low frequency stimulation compared to sham ( p = 0.533).

Conclusion

Low frequency stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion did not induce migraine-like attacks or autonomic symptoms in migraine patients. These data suggest that increased parasympathetic outflow by the sphenopalatine ganglion neurostimulator does not initiate migraine-like attacks. Study protocol: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number NCT02510742
Quantitative Modeling of Congestion in Metro Station Based on Passenger Time Perceptions
Authors: Teng Jing , Pan Weiwei , Zhang Cen
Published: April 2020

In the metro station, passengers’ psychological state can be affected by space congestion, slow walking speed, increasing queue length, and other factors, resulting in a time-lapse effect, which can be described as people feeling that they spend more time than the actual. To measure the effect, this paper develops congestion indexes for the walking and queuing areas in metro stations, and designs stated preference (SP) and revealed preference (RP) surveys and scene simulation experiments. Based on the survey and experiment data, we attempt to describe the psychological state and space–time perception of passengers in metro stations and propose quantitative models of congestion indexes at different service levels. Furthermore, on the basis of these models, thresholds of walking distance and waiting time can be calculated for different service levels. The results can provide a reference for real-time passenger flow monitoring and theoretical supports for metro operators to measure passenger flow status and adopt passenger flow management strategies under different conditions. Overall, this study offers promising insights into passenger flow monitoring and management, but some limitations need to be addressed in future work.
Developing Decision Boundaries for Left-Turn Treatments
Authors: Adamson Michael , Schultz Grant G. , Saito Mitsuru , Stevens Michael D.
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the interaction of left-turn and opposing through traffic volumes for permitted and protected left-turn phasing at intersections and develop boundaries that help identify when to switch from permitted to protected phasing at signalized intersections. Permitted phasing allows vehicles to turn left after yielding to opposing vehicles; protected phasing provides an exclusive phase for vehicles to turn left without opposition; and protected-permitted phasing combines these phasing alternatives, allowing both permitted and protected turning movements. Intersections with 1, 2, and 3 opposing-lane configurations with permitted and protected-permitted models (split into green times of 10, 15, and 20 s) were analyzed for a total of 12 simulation models. Each model was divided into 100–225 different volume scenarios, with incremental increases in left-turn and opposing volumes. By exporting trajectory files from VISSIM and importing these into the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model, crossing conflicts for each volume combination in each model were extracted. MATLAB was then used to create contour maps representing the number of crossing conflicts per hour associated with different combinations of left-turn and opposing volume. Basic decision boundaries were examined in each contour map. Statistical analysis software was used to perform a linear regression analysis on transformed data and to develop natural log-based equations that form the decision boundaries for each configuration and phase alternative. These equations were graphed and final decision boundaries developed for the 1-, 2-, and 3-lane configurations between permitted and protected-permitted phasing as well as between protected-permitted and protected phasing.
Protective effects of vitamin E on aluminium sulphate-induced testicular damage
Authors: Ulfanov Ozal , Cil Nazli , Adiguzel Esat
Published: April 2020

Male infertility can be caused by environmental factors, genetic defects, physiological and endocrine deficiencies and testicular pathologies. Aluminium (Al) can cause male infertility through a number of mechanisms. The aim of our study was thus to determine whether vitamin E (VitE) has protective effects on Al-induced testicular damage, which was determined according to sperm counts and morphology and using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Thirty-four male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were randomly assigned to control (no procedures performed; n = 6) or 0.2 mL intraperitoneal injection group ( n = 7 each; three times per week for 4 weeks): sham (distilled water), 10 mg/kg Al, 500 mg/kg VitE and 10 mg/kg Al plus 500 mg/kg VitE (Al + VitE). Sperm samples were evaluated for andrological parameters. The testes were examined by haematoxylin/eosin. The epithelial thickness and areas were calculated and Johnsen scores were determined for the germinal epithelium; the apoptotic indices were determined from TUNEL staining. For Al, the bonds between the germinal epithelial cells were broken in some tubules, and there were unidentified cells in the lumen of some tubules. For control, sham and VitE, normal morphology of the germinal epithelium was generally preserved. With Al + VitE, the full germinal epithelium cell series was maintained, with only mature sperm in the lumen. TUNEL-positive cells were significantly higher with Al compared to control and sham ( p < 0.05). For Al + VitE, the number of apoptotic cells was reduced compared to Al alone and was therefore similar to control, sham and VitE ( p > 0.05). Our findings show that Al caused testicular damage. VitE reduced the number of apoptotic cells during the damage caused by Al.
A Population-Based Analysis of Interpersonal Trauma, Psychosis, and Suicide: Evidence, Pathways, and Implications
Authors: Boyda David , McFeeters Danielle , Dhingra Katie , Kelleher Ian
Published: April 2020

Subthreshold psychotic experiences (PEs) are known to confer a risk for suicidality. Yet, despite evidence of a strong etiological trauma–psychosis pathway, the coalesced effect of such concurrences on suicide risk is largely discounted. Our aims were to examine the impact of different manifestations of life span trauma and PEs on the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, using an exploratory person-centered approach. Data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey ( N = 7,403) were analyzed. PEs were assessed using the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) alongside items probing childhood and adult trauma, in addition to 12-month suicide thoughts and attempt. A manual three-step latent class analysis elicited four distinct profiles, namely, a socially disconnected/high PE, a sexual victimization/moderate PE, a life span trauma/low PE, and a baseline class. The socially disconnected class, characterized by a moderate likelihood of social disconnection, a high probability of various PE endorsements, yet a low likelihood of other significant trauma, showed the greatest risk of 12-month suicide ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 13.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [8.539, 19.021) and attempt (OR = 24.2, 95% CI = [10.349, 56.860). Neither multiple nor recurrent traumatic experiences invariably result in the emergence of PEs. Instead, a sense of social disconnection may be either resultant of PEs or alone sufficient to cultivate such symptom presentations, even in the absence of prior traumas. Moreover, just as traumatic encounters increase the risk of suicidality, so too might seemingly more innocuous adversities, such as poor-quality social relationships, further elevate the risk, particularly when proximal and coupled with the simultaneity of PEs.
Perceptions of Dating Violence: Assessment and Antecedents
Authors: Toplu-Demirtaş Ezgi , Öztemür Gizem , Fincham Frank D.
Published: April 2020

Challenging perceptions of violence is crucial to prevent dating violence (DV), because such perceptions intervene in the organization and interpretation of violent events. However, these perceptions have received limited attention. This likely reflects the lack of a psychometric tool to do so. The current study had two purposes: to develop a measure of perceptions of psychological, sexual, and physical DV, and to explore how vertical collectivism, through hostile sexism and violence myth acceptance, shapes perceptions of DV. A total of 491 college students (55.3% women; M = 20.76 years, SD = 1.77 years) completed measures of the vertical collectivism, hostile sexism, domestic violence myth acceptance, and perceptions of DV. The results of exploratory factor analyses revealed a 15-item single-factor measure of perceptions of DV as initial construct validity, which had satisfactory internal consistency. A gender difference emerged in perceptions of DV; college women perceived psychological, sexual, and physical DV as more serious compared with college men. Moreover, the association between vertical collectivism and perceptions of DV was serially mediated via hostile sexism and violence myth acceptance. The findings are discussed in terms of previous research and the need to address the role of vertical collectivism in sexism, myth acceptance, and perceptions of violence in prevention/intervention efforts to reduce vulnerability to DV perpetration and victimization. Several recommendations are outlined to facilitate future research.
Process parameter optimisation in pinless friction stir spot welding of dissimilar aluminium alloys using Multi-start algorithm
Authors: Suryanarayanan R , Sridhar VG
Published: April 2020

Friction stir spot welding, a solid-state metal joining process has been utilised to join dissimilar aluminium alloys using pinless tools. The optimal welding conditions were predicted using the Multi-start algorithm with 25 starting points and were validated by confirmation tests. The Multi-start algorithm predicted the maximum tensile shear force of 6.28 kN at the tool rotational speed of 841.83 r/min, plunge depth of 0.618 mm, shoulder diameter of 24.99 mm, plunging speed of 0.04 mm/s and dwell time of 8 s. The scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the formation of flatter hooks in the weld zone. The electron backscatter diffraction scans revealed a decrease in grain size at the lower sheet (Al 5754) due to the action of 30 kN axial force during pinless friction stir spot welding. Two different modes of fracture were observed: (i) nugget pull-out with necking; (ii) shearing. The fracture modes were observed to be dependent on the process parameters like shoulder diameter and plunge depth.
Stability of synchronous regimes in unbalanced rotors on elastic base
Authors: Manevich Arkadiy I
Published: April 2020

The stationary dynamics of an unbalanced rotor (vibrator) on a movable base (linear oscillator) under excitation by a driving torque is studied with focusing on the stability of 1:1 stationary regimes of rotation and oscillation. This problem was well studied previously in the first approximation, dealing, in fact, with averaged regimes, mainly in the framework of asymptotic procedures. We use an efficient analytical procedure, proposed in our previous works for another problem, which sequentially separates the averaged regimes and deviations from them. Describing in the first approximation the known features of the synchronous stationary regimes under consideration, this approach in the second approximation results in the analytical solution for nonuniform rotation whose exactness is confirmed in the numerical simulation. The solution enables us to reveal possibility of parametric instability for oscillations of the rotor angular velocity and to describe two possible mechanisms of this instability. It is shown that the known condition of stability of stationary synchronous rotation-oscillation regimes is only necessary but not sufficient criterion, and two additional necessary conditions of stability are obtained and confirmed by the numerical simulation.
Damage quantification in foam core sandwich composites via finite element model updating and artificial neural networks
Authors: Mardanshahi Ali , Mardanshahi Masoud , Izadi Ahmad
Published: April 2020

The main idea of this paper is to propose a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system for two types of damages, core cracking and skin/core debonding, in fiberglass/foam core sandwich structures based on the inverse eigensensitivity-based finite element model updating using the modal test results, and the artificial neural networks. First, the modal testing was conducted on the fabricated fiberglass/foam core sandwich specimens, in the intact and damaged states, and the natural frequencies were extracted. Finite element modeling and inverse eigensensitivity-based model updating of the intact and damaged sandwich structures were conducted and the parameters of the models were identified. Afterward, the updated finite element models were employed to generate a large dataset of the first five harmonic frequencies of the damaged sandwich structures with different damage sizes and locations. This dataset was adopted to train the machine learning models for detection, localization, and size estimation of the core cracking and skin/core debonding damages. A multilayer perceptron neural network classification model was used for detection of types of damages and also a multilayer perceptron neural network regression model was fitted to the dataset for automatically estimation of the locations and dimensions of damages. This intelligent system of damage quantification was also used to make predictions on real damaged specimens not seen by the system. The results indicated that the extracted natural frequencies from the accurate finite element model, in coordination with the experimental data, and using the artificial neural networks can provide an effective system for nondestructive evaluation of foam core sandwich structures.
A review for design and dynamics control of unmanned ground vehicle
Authors: Ni Jun , Hu Jibin , Xiang Changle
Published: April 2020

The unmanned ground vehicle is supposed to replace humans for various applications in both civilian and military area, including transport, delivery, shuttle, clean, patrol, scout, and battle. It has been widely expected that the unmanned ground vehicle will greatly change the human life and the land combat form in the near future. The key techniques of the unmanned ground vehicle are environment perception, motion planning, chassis dynamics control, and cloud control. In this paper, the state of the art of the development of the military and civilian unmanned ground vehicle is introduced, and many classic ones are reviewed in detail in different application categories. The overall design and X-by-wire dynamics control technique of the civilian and military unmanned ground vehicle are reviewed. The X-by-wire technique plays an important role in improving the maneuverability, mobility, and handling performance of the unmanned ground vehicle. Therefore, the chassis dynamics control is considered as a core technique of the X-by-wire unmanned ground vehicle. In addition, as a research trend of the unmanned ground vehicle dynamics control, the cloud-based dynamics control approach of future unmanned ground vehicle based on big data and cloud control techniques is described according to the authors’ work.
Healthcare funding and its relationship to equity and outcomes: A QCA analysis of Commonwealth Fund and OECD data
Authors: Greener Ian
Published: April 2020

This article examines Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Commonwealth Funding data to explore the relationship between the level and means of funding of 11 different healthcare systems, on the one hand, and overall equity and health outcome measures, on the other. It utilises qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) and the idea of ‘fitness landscapes’ for the clusters of funding combinations and outcomes they present. It finds that health systems with relatively high levels of voluntary health insurance tend to be associated with poor outcomes almost across the board, but healthcare systems with higher overall expenditures combined with low voluntary insurance levels offer combinatory possibilities for achieving both high equity and high outcomes. The article also explores how ‘contradictory cases’ can be used to explore how systems falling short of the outcomes of others with the same funding patterns, might find improvements.
Tracing Holocene channels and landforms of the Nile Delta through integration of early elevation, geophysical, and sediment core data
Authors: El Bastawesy Mohamed , Gebremichael Esayas , Sultan Mohamed , Attwa Mohamed , Sahour Hossein
Published: April 2020

Intensification of anthropogenic activities and related processes have altered the morphology of modern deltaic systems. As a result, mapping of geomorphic features, such as paleochannels, using recently acquired digital elevation data has become increasingly difficult. Using the Nile River and delta as a test site, we developed and applied procedures to map the distribution of paleochannels that existed throughout the Holocene. A high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) derived from an early, detailed topographic sheet collection was used to minimize the impact of recent man-made topographic artifacts. The DEM-inferred paleochannel distribution was verified using direct and indirect subsurface data. Using our adopted methodology, we identified 76 main and subsidiary paleochannels with a total length exceeding (by >500 km) previously mapped paleochannels. The overwhelming majority (>80%) of the reported historical and archeological sites (29 sites) in the Nile Delta were found to be proximal (<2.5 km) to the identified paleochannels, an observation that is not obvious in any of the previous paleochannel delineations. These observations suggest that the delineated paleochannel distribution of the Nile Delta can be a useful guide for locating ancient cities currently obscured by man-made structures or buried under thick Holocene deposits. Moreover, it can potentially enhance our understanding of the geological and archeological history of the Nile Delta and has societal benefits as these channels could act as preferred pathways for groundwater flow. The advocated methods can be readily applied to river deltas worldwide where high-resolution elevation datasets acquired before the onset of heavy anthropogenic activities are available.
Quercetin protects human oral keratinocytes from lipopolysaccharide-induced injury by downregulating microRNA-22
Authors: Wang F , Ke Y , Yang L , Wang FJ
Published: April 2020

Background:

Quercetin exerts anti-inflammatory effects, but whether it can benefit patients with the chronic inflammatory disease of oral lichen planus (OLP), which is a common chronic mucocutaneous disorder with an immune-mediated pathogenesis, is unclear. The present research examined the impacts of quercetin in a cell-based OLP model in which human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods:

Effects of quercetin on viability, proliferation, and apoptosis of HOKs were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, Western blotting, and flow cytometry, respectively. Effects of treatment on levels of microRNA-22 (miR-22) were measured using stem-loop reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, while levels of proteins and phosphorylation in the PI3K/AKT and JAK1/STAT3 cascades were analyzed by Western blot.

Results:

Quercetin mitigated LPS-induced reduction in HOK viability and elevation of apoptosis. It also weakened LPS-induced upregulation of miR-22. Quercetin treatment led to significantly higher levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-JAK1, and p-STAT3. These effects of quercetin were enhanced when miR-22 was knocked down and partly reversed when miR-22 was overexpressed.

Conclusion:

Quercetin can mitigate LPS-induced injury in HOKs by downregulating miR-22, thereby activating PI3K/AKT and JAK1/STAT3 cascades.
Long Noncoding RNA PCED1B-AS1 Promotes the Warburg Effect and Tumorigenesis by Upregulating HIF-1α in Glioblastoma
Authors: Yao Zhiqiang , Zhang Qiansheng , Guo Fuyou , Guo Shewei , Yang Bo , Liu Binghui , Li Panxing , Li Jinyi , Guan Sheng , Liu Xianzhi
Published: April 2020

Accumulating evidence suggests that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) functions as a critical regulator in cancer biology. Here, we characterized the role of lncRNA PCED1B antisense RNA 1 (PCED1B-AS1) in glioblastoma (GBM). PCED1B-AS1 was notably upregulated in GBM tissues and cell lines and closely associated with larger tumor size and higher grade. Patients with high PCED1B-AS1 had shorter survival time than those with low PCED1B-AS1. Functional experiments showed that depletion of PCED1B-AS1 significantly inhibited, while overexpression of PCED1B-AS1 promoted cell proliferation, glucose uptake, and lactate release. Mechanistically, PCED1B-AS1 was able to directly bind to the 5′-UTR of HIF-1α mRNA and potentiate HIF-1α translation, leading to increased HIF-1α protein level, thereby promoting the Warburg effect and tumorigenesis. Importantly, PCED1B-AS1 lost the carcinogenic properties in the absence of HIF-1α. In addition, we also confirmed the existence of the PCED1B-AS1/HIF-1α regulatory axis in vivo. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PCED1B-AS1 is a novel oncogenic lncRNA in GBM and functions in a HIF-1α-dependent manner, which provides a promising prognostic biomarker and druggable target for GBM.
Trends in use of primary prophylactic colony stimulating factors and neutropenia-related hospitalization in commercially insured patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy in the United States: 2005–2017
Authors: Schenfeld Jennifer R , Bennett Corina W , Li Shuling , DeCosta Lucy J , Jaramillo Renee R , Gawade Prasad L
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Describe temporal changes in use of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, primary prophylactic colony-stimulating factor, and neutropenia-related hospitalization, in commercially insured patients.

Methods

Using a large commercial administrative database, we identified annual cohorts of adult patients diagnosed with breast or lung cancer, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma and initiating myelosuppressive chemotherapy during 2005–2017. We described yearly changes in proportions of myelosuppressive chemotherapy by febrile neutropenia risk category (high, intermediate, unclassified) and proportion of prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use and unadjusted incidence of neutropenia-related hospitalization in the first cycle of myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Results

Annual cohorts included 4383–5888 eligible patients during 2005–2017. The proportion of eligible patients aged ≥ 65 years increased from 26.0% in 2005 to 58.2% in 2017. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy use with regimens with high risk for febrile neutropenia increased from 15.1% in 2005 to 31.0% in 2017; and regimens with intermediate risk for febrile neutropenia decreased from 63.7% to 48.1% in 2017. Prophylactic colony-stimulating factor use increased from 41.6% in 2005 to 54.3% in 2017. Crude incidence of neutropenia-related hospitalization for all cancers increased from 2.0% to 3.1%, with a substantial increase in neutropenia-related hospitalization observed among non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients (2.8% to 8.5%) during 2005–2017.

Conclusion

Among adult patients with breast and lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy, use of regimens with high risk for febrile neutropenia increased, as did the use of prophylactic colony-stimulating factors after 2005. Incidence of neutropenia-related hospitalization increased slightly, particularly among non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Further studies are required to understand this increasing trend of neutropenia-related hospitalization, changing patient-level risk factors, and febrile neutropenia management.