bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease: a report of 19 cases at an oncology institution
Authors: Volkow-Fernández P , Lome-Maldonado C , Quintero-Buenrostro H , Islas-Muñoz B , Cornejo-Juárez P
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) in HIV-infected patients at an oncological referral center in Mexico. Clinical records at the HIV-AIDS clinic of all patients diagnosed with MCD from 1994 to 2018 were reviewed. There were 19 patients, mean age was 31.3 ± 8.4 years, and 17 (89.5%) were males. Fifteen patients (79%) had also Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Main clinical characteristics were multiple lymphadenopathy (95%), systemic symptoms (63%), and hepatosplenomegaly (50%). Computed tomography scan and 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography showed multiple lymphadenopathy, inversion of the liver:spleen uptake ratio, with an increase in SUVmax (5.7). The histopathology report described plasma cells in 58%, mixed type in 26%, and hyaline vascular in 16%. Eleven patients (57.9%) received different chemotherapy regimens. Seven patients died (36.8%): four related to MCD progression or chemotherapy complications, median survival was eight months. For those patients who survived, median, follow-up was 28 months (p < 0.001). The incidence of MCD in people living with HIV is probably underestimated. In patients with lymphadenopathy, B symptoms, deranged inflammatory markers, and/or disseminated KS, a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node is warranted, and the histology should be reviewed by an experienced pathologist.
Late Glacial and Holocene records of tree-killing conifer bark beetles in Europe and North America: Implications for forest disturbance dynamics
Authors: Schafstall Nick , Kuosmanen Niina , Fettig Christopher J , Knižek Miloš , Clear Jennifer L
Published: February 2020

Outbreaks of conifer bark beetles in Europe and North America have increased in scale and severity in recent decades. In this study, we identify existing fossil records containing bark beetle remains from the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (~14,000 cal. yr BP) to present day using the online databases Neotoma and BugsCEP and literature searches, and compare these data with modern distribution data of selected tree-killing species. Modern-day observational data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database was used to map recorded distributions from AD 1750 to present day. A total of 53 fossil sites containing bark beetle remains, from both geological and archeological sites, were found during our searches. Fossil sites were fewer in Europe ( n = 21) than North America ( n = 32). In Europe, 29% of the samples in which remains were found were younger than 1000 cal. yr BP, while in North America, remains were mainly identified from late Glacial (~14,000–11,500 cal. yr BP) sites. In total, the fossil records contained only 8 of 20 species we consider important tree-killing bark beetles in Europe and North America based on their impacts during the last 100 years. In Europe, Ips sexdentatus was absent from the fossil record. In North America, Dendroctonus adjunctus, Dendroctonus frontalis, Dendroctonus jeffreyi, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, Dryocoetes confusus, Ips calligraphus, Ips confusus, Ips grandicollis, Ips lecontei, Ips paraconfusus, and Scolytus ventralis were absent. Overall, preserved remains of tree-killing bark beetles are rare in the fossil record. However, by retrieving bulk material from new and existing sites and combining data from identified bark beetle remains with pollen, charcoal, tree rings, and geochemistry, the occurrence and dominance of bark beetles, their outbreaks, and other disturbance events can be reconstructed.
Analysis of polymeric composite materials for frictional wear resistance purposes
Authors: Majeed Badeea , Basturk Suleyman
Published: February 2020

This research is about manufacturing brake pads from a polymeric composite material composed of domestic materials, which are cheaper and available in the market. An unsaturated polyester is used as the basic material. Styrene–butadiene rubber and montmorillonite clay materials available in the market are used as the fillers. The Kevlar fibers, the nylon, and the steel fibers are used as reinforcing materials to improve the mechanical properties. The Shore hardness, compressibility, thermal conductivity, impact, and wear resistance tests have been implemented. The results show that the hardness, compressive, and impact resistance of the samples increase with the increase of the reinforcement ratio by Kevlar fibers, nylon fibers, and steel fibers. The rate of wear decreases with the increase of reinforcement ratio. The thermal conductivity decreases with an increase in the reinforcement ratio by Kevlar fibers and nylon fibers while the thermal conductivity increases with an increase in the reinforcement ratio by Kevlar fibers and steel fibers. Compared to the commercial brake pads, high strength, high wear resistance, high impact resistance, high hardness, high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low-cost brake pads have been proposed.
Proactive Entrepreneurs: Who Are They and How Are They Different?
Authors: Van Ness Raymond K. , Seifert Charles F. , Marler Janet H. , Wales William J. , Hughes Mark E.
Published: February 2020

The uniqueness of entrepreneurs is a common theme in academic literature and yet, scholars have expressed scepticism about the generalisability of any specific personal characteristic. We argue that the relationship between personal characteristics and entrepreneurial propensity is likely nuanced and will vary by type of entrepreneurial engagement. We compared a specific subset of entrepreneurs, those who willingly risk their personal finances, careers and reputations to pursue their business ventures on a full-time basis, to their non-entrepreneur counterparts. We found these entrepreneurs, termed proactive, differed significantly within four key psychological characteristics: openness to new experiences, work centrality, self-reliance and entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
Does Information Spillover and Leverage Effect Exist in World Gold Markets?
Authors: Immanuvel S. Maria , Lazar D.
Published: February 2020

Financial markets are highly sensitive to the flow of information. The nature and arrival of information impact the price of gold. Gold, an international commodity, is traded across the world. Hence, the size and sign of information in any one country may be expected to affect the international gold price fixation. The objective of the study is to analyse the information spillover and the leverage effect transmitted from major gold consuming countries to the fixation of London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) AM fix and PM fix prices and how significantly the information of Indian market contributes to the price fixation. The multivariate exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) model proposed by Koutmos and Booth ( 1995 , Journal of International Money and Finance, 14(6), 747–762) is used to analyse the daily spot gold price data of major gold consuming countries like India, the USA, Europe and Japan. The results concluded that price and volatility of major gold consuming countries spill over to the LBMA AM fix and PM fix prices. LBMA AM fix and PM fix prices are sensitive to the new information and their price movements are significantly influenced by the information from India and the USA. The leverage effect shows that positive information causes more volatility in the LBMA fix prices than negative information. The study suggests that the investors, bankers, wholesalers and retail customers who depend on LBMA fix prices as a benchmark price can predict them by utilizing the information received from the Indian and US markets. They can specifically look for positive news than the negative news, as they have more impact on the spillover effect.
Between Humour and Public Commentary: Digital Re-appropriation of the Soviet Propaganda Posters as Internet Memes
Authors: Kalkina Valeriya
Published: February 2020

Over the last two decades, Russian Internet accumulated a range of images originating from the Soviet epoch, including everything from official portraits of Soviet leaders to representations of Soviet greeting cards and postage stamps. While some of those digitised items remain intact, others become a part of different creative practices inherent to online environment, such as photo manipulating, remixing, recombining and merging with elements attributing to other historical or national contexts. The current article investigates one instance of creative re-appropriation of the Soviet visual legacy on the Internet: construction of digital memes from the former Soviet propaganda posters. Upon focusing on three iconic posters, namely Did you Volunteer? (1920), Do not Talk! (1941) and Motherland is Calling! (1941), this study examines how the propaganda images have been transformed by contemporary Russian users into ‘templates’ for meme-making. Furthermore, the article identifies two particular functions of memes based on the Soviet propaganda posters: first, as a form of a peculiar humour, known in Russian tradition as stiob and, second, as an instrument for voicing of public opinion, through which users comment on urgent political and social issues. The article concludes that the remakes of Soviet propaganda images do not fall within any hitherto discovered category of humorous, political or historical memes, and therefore, they should be considered as a separate case in contemporary production of memes.
Multilevel Factors Associated With Pregnancy-Related Health Behaviors in Indonesia: Evidence From the 2007, 2012, and 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Surveys
Authors: Hardhantyo Muhammad , Chuang Ying-Chih
Published: February 2020

This study attempted to examine individual- and community-level factors that contribute to pregnancy-related health behaviors among Indonesian women. This study used representative nationwide survey samples from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey in the years 2007 (N = 15 193), 2012 (N = 14 431), and 2017 (N = 14 797). Generalized linear mixed models were constructed in the multivariate analyses. We found that women’s educational level, household wealth index, insurance status, access to health facilities, geographic location, general health condition, and pregnancy intentions were significantly associated with different outcome behaviors. Regarding community-level influences, women who lived in communities with a high proportion of educated women and high household wealth were more likely to have skilled birth attendance during childbirth compared with their counterparts in 2007. The similar pattern of results was also found in 2012 and 2017. The findings of this study suggest that future policies should focus on both individual- and community-level factors to improve women’s pregnancy-related behaviors.
Moderating Effect of Meanings-Made on the Relationship Between Exposure to Potentially Traumatic Life Events and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Basu Natasha , Schuler Kaitlyn R. , Marie Laura , Taylor Sarah E. , Fadoir Nicholas A. , Smith Phillip N.
Published: February 2020

A majority of people experience potentially traumatic events but only a subsection develop negative psychological outcomes such as suicidal ideation. As these events may impact existing life-orienting systems, meaning-making processes are utilized to either assimilate new experiences into existing frameworks or revise existing schemas to accommodate novel incidents. The extent to which efficient meaning-making has occurred or the degree to which the events are integrated may be associated with the development of suicidal ideation. Therefore, this study investigated meanings-made as a moderator of the association between exposure to potentially traumatic life events and suicidal ideation. A total of 568 undergraduate students ( Mage = 19.85 years, 69.4% females) completed the online questionnaires. The analyses indicated a significant moderation supporting the hypothesis. The results highlight meaning-making processes as a potential target for interventions directed at the reduction of suicide risk, particularly in individuals exposed to traumatic events.
Patient-Reported Outcomes After Structural Autograft for Large or Cystic Talar Dome Osteochondral Lesions
Authors: Kim Todd , Haskell Andrew
Published: February 2020

Background:

While smaller talar dome osteochondral lesions (OCLs) are successfully treated with bone marrow stimulation techniques, the optimal treatment for large or cystic OCLs remains controversial. This study tested the hypothesis that transferring structural autograft bone from the distal tibia to the talus for large or cystic OCLs improves pain and function.

Methods:

Thirty-two patients with large or cystic OCLs underwent structural bone grafting from the ipsilateral distal tibia to the talar dome. Patients were assessed with subjective patient-centered tools and objective clinical outcomes. Average age was 48.6 ± 14.9 years, and average follow-up was 19.5 ± 13.3 months. Average lesion area was 86.2 ± 23.5 mm2, and average depth was 8.4 ± 3.0mm.

Results:

At final follow-up, improvement compared to preoperative scores was seen in American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (65.4 ± 21.2 to 86.9 ± 15.0, P < .05), Foot Function Index (48.9 ± 20.8 to 21.1 ± 18.9, P < .05), visual analog scale for pain (4.7 ± 3.0 to 1.4 ± 1.5, P < .05), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function (40.4 ± 5.4 to 45.5 ± 7.4, P < .05) scores. There was no improvement in PROMIS pain interference (54.7 ± 18.1 to 52.4 ± 7.3, P > .05). Satisfaction with surgery was 8.4 ± 1.3/10, and 96% of patients would have the procedure again. Ninety-four percent of patients returned to work and/or play. One patient had a deep vein thrombosis 6 weeks postoperatively, and 1 patient underwent ankle fusion at 18 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that structural bone graft harvested from the distal tibia transferred to the talus was a safe and effective treatment for large and cystic OCLs. Outcomes compare favorably to other described techniques for treatment of these injuries.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in South Korea: Experiences in Seeking Help Based on Support Selection
Authors: Park Sihyun , Ko Yejung
Published: February 2020

For victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), seeking help is an important step in escaping their violent situations; nonetheless, their experiences in help-seeking are diverse and often influenced by sociocultural factors. The purpose of this study was to understand South Korean female IPV victims’ experiences in seeking help. Qualitative data were collected from interviews with 14 female victims and analyzed using content analysis. We presented the victims’ experiences according to their choice of support (e.g., friends, family, community, or police) and noted four factors that appear to influence their support selection.
Correlates of Incoming Male College Students’ Proclivity to Perpetrate Sexual Assault
Authors: Palmer Jane E. , McMahon Sarah , Fissel Erica
Published: February 2020

This study examined incoming male college students’ proclivity to perpetrate sexual assault at a large public university in the Northeast ( n = 1,619). Overall, self-reported proclivity to perpetrate was low (between 20–26%). Students’ perception that a peer would intervene as a bystander was negatively associated with proclivity, while acceptance of certain rape myths was positively associated with proclivity. Students who intended to join a fraternity and White students had increased proclivity to perpetrate using force or incapacitation. Based on these findings, recommendations for sexual assault prevention efforts are included.
Sweet’s syndrome under ipilimumab therapy and a brief comparison of the cases in literature
Authors: Yaşar Hatime A , Akkus Erman , Heper Aylin , Akay Bengu N , Urun Yuksel , Utkan Gungor
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Ipilimumab is an anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) antibody. Ipilimumab has shown improvement in overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. Because ipilimumab activates the immune system against the tumor, ipilimumab is associated with adverse events related to immune system activation. Immune-associated side effects are frequently seen in the gastrointestinal system and skin. Sweet’s syndrome (SS) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder. Some drugs or malignancy can cause SS. Only a few case reports have been reported of ipilimumab-associated SS.

Case

A 53-year-old female with metastatic melanoma was treated with ipilimumab. After the fourth cycle, she developed painful lesions on her legs and hands. The pathologic biopsy of the lesions revealed neutrophilic dermatosis consistent with SS. Management and outcome: The patient was treated with 60 mg/day of prednisone for four days, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and inhaler bronchodilator and steroid. She had symptomatic relief at the beginning of treatment. The prednisone doses were quickly tapered every three days. When the patient was treated with 10 mg/day of prednisone for three days, the skin nodules recurred. Prednisone 40 mg per day was re-started and then a slower taper by decreasing by 10 mg/day every week was instituted. After one-month treatment the prednisone dose was given as a 5 mg doses for one week and then stopped. No new lesions recurred after slower taper of prednisone.

Conclusion

Herein we report a case presented with SS under ipilimumab therapy. Melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab can develop SS. The clinicians should be aware of this condition.
Social Cognition in the Real World: Reconnecting the Study of Social Cognition With Social Reality
Authors: Osborne-Crowley Katherine
Published: February 2020

The scientific study of social cognition is a growing field which promises to deliver valuable insights into how the brain underpins human’s social success. However, the poor ecological validity of many popular paradigms constrains the progress of social cognitive scientists. Highly simplistic and contrived stimuli are commonplace, despite the complexity and unpredictability of real-world social experiences. A shift toward a cognitive ethology approach would allow us to determine if, when, and how specific cognitive processes contribute to real-world functioning. This shift would enable us to break new ground in our understanding of the cognitions which underpin so much of the human experience. To address these questions, we must innovate and test social cognitions in dynamic, multimodal, context-embedded, and interactive environments. Furthermore, measuring responses dynamically and in terms of accuracy (rather than based on arbitrary criteria defined by the experimenter), would improve ecological validity. Finally, researchers should take into account sample diversity and participants’ motivation to ensure the generalizability of findings to everyday interactions. This article considers these issues in turn and outlines recent research which demonstrates how they might be overcome.
Likes, comments, action! An examination of the Facebook audience engagement strategies used by strategic impact documentary
Authors: Balfour Virginia H
Published: February 2020

In the digital age, a new breed of strategic communications campaign has emerged which blurs boundaries between factual media, entertainment, marketing and advocacy. Strategic impact documentaries (SIDs) are social issue campaigns with a documentary text at their core. They invite the audience to join a cause as much as view a text, using both online and offline strategies to achieve their goals. The way audiences engage with media messages in this new ecosystem, and the implications for public deliberation of social issues, is not fully understood, however. In a mixed methods case study analysis, the Facebook audience engagement strategies used by SID were examined. The results highlight the temporal nature of social media audience engagement and the audience’s changing relationship with both the media text and its producers and provide insight into the way social issues are discussed and deliberated on by audiences in the online sphere.
Evaluation standard and improvement method for multi-column envelope profile in single screw compressors
Authors: Huang Rui , Chen Guoqing , Li Ting , Feng Quanke
Published: February 2020

Multi-column envelope profile is the newly proposed engagement pair’s profile for single screw compressors. Based on hydrodynamic lubrication theory, a calculation model of the oil film moments for star wheel teeth with multi-column envelope profile was established. In order to balance the total oil film moments of the teeth, a profile evaluation standard and improvement method for the multi-column envelope profile were proposed. Then, the profile for a single screw compressor was optimized. The meshing pair with optimized profile is loaded into a prototype to carry out the running test. Results show that the optimization method improves the wear resistance of the star wheel teeth, especially the teeth’s front side, and enhances the running stability of the compressor.
Numerical analysis on the start behavior of rough journal bearings during the gear pump meshing cycle
Authors: Zhu Jiaxing , Li Huacong , Fu Jiangfeng , Liu Xianwei , Wang Shang
Published: February 2020

In this paper, the transient lubrication characteristics of hydrodynamic journal bearings during the external gear pump meshing cycle are studied. In the bearings lubrication calculation part, a numerical model is developed to assess the transient lubrication during the initial start-up of an aero gear pump. The model takes into account the effects of surface topography, asperities contact, and pump start-up speed. In the pump simulation part, the flow inside pump and bearing load environment are analyzed by a computational fluid dynamics model. Then a simulation method is presented to solve the problem of pump-bearings system, considering the pump’s influence during bearings lubrication calculation. To gain insight, results of a series of simulations with illustrative examples are presented. The variation of the startup lubrication performance under load conditions corresponding to the pump internal flow field is acquired. The results show that bearings operate from mixed-lubrication to hydrodynamic-lubrication state with changed load-supporting effects during the startup. The load-supporting effects and film rupture boundary are directly related to the pump load fluctuation, but the center trace is slightly influenced except on the hydrodynamic-lubrication state.
Education and transfer of water competencies: An ecological dynamics approach
Authors: Guignard Brice , Button Chris , Davids Keith , Seifert Ludovic
Published: February 2020

To cope in various aquatic environments (i.e. swimming pools, lakes, rivers, oceans), learners require a wide repertoire of self-regulatory behaviours such as awareness of obstacles and water properties, floating and moving from point to point with different strokes, decision making, emotional control and breathing efficiently. By experiencing different learning situations in stable indoor pool environments, it is assumed that children strengthen aquatic competencies that should be transferable to functioning in open water environments, where prevalence of drowning is high. However, this fundamental assumption may be misleading. Here, we propose the application of a clear, related methodology and theoretical framework that could be useful to help physical education curriculum specialists (re)shape and (re)design appropriate aquatic learning situations to facilitate better transfer of learning. We discuss the need for more representativeness in a learning environment, proposing how the many different task and environmental constraints on aquatic actions may bound the emergence of functional, self-regulatory behaviours in learners. Ideas in ecological dynamics suggest that physical educators should design learning environments that offer a rich landscape of opportunities for action for learners. As illustration, three practice interventions are described for developing functional and transferrable skills in indoor aquatic environments. It is important that aquatic educators focus not just upon ‘learning to swim’, but particularly on relevant transferable skills and self-regulatory behaviours deemed necessary for functioning in dynamic, outdoor aquatic environments.
School Performance of Children of Cross-Border Marriages: Effects of Within-Family Social Capital and Community Contextual Factors
Authors: Li Chun-Hao
Published: February 2020

Similar to some other countries in East Asia, Taiwan has been experiencing a dramatic increase in children born to cross-border mothers. This phenomenon has drawn national attention to the school performance gap between children of Taiwanese and immigrant mothers. The present study focuses on the factors associated with these academic performance differences, in particular differential access to social capital or resources, and the community context. Drawing on data from a stratified sample of 940 elementary students in a county in central Taiwan, the researcher first illustrates the educational disadvantage of children born to Southeast Asian mothers. Second, the shortage of within-family social capital is shown to contribute to the performance gap between schoolchildren within different maternal ethnic backgrounds. Third, students’ preschool experience, educational attitudes, and behaviors all have positive association with their academic performance. In addition, the effects of within-family social capital and of maternal ethnic background can be moderated by community characteristics that show a broad picture of human capital, and socioeconomic status and heterogeneity of residents within school districts.
Toddlers as ignorant citizens: An explorative study of conflicts and negotiations involving toys in kindergarten
Authors: Nome Dag Øystein
Published: February 2020

This article explores conflicts among toddlers in kindergarten and the impact of toys in these conflicts. The author describes these interactions as part of how children develop and express their citizenship, and argues that staff members should hesitate before interfering with rules in order to prevent such conflicts. This is based on Mouffe’s theory of democracy as agonistic pluralism and the way Biesta argues for the term ‘ignorant citizen’. The child is an ignorant citizen due to their lack of predefined ways to behave when obstructions and agonisms occur during play. Hence, children’s non-verbal negotiations about toys can be interpreted as political experiments.
The impact of mobile hotel reservation system on continuous intention to use in Jordan
Authors: Khwaldeh Sufian , Alkhawaldeh Rami S. , Masa’deh Ra’ed , AlHadid Issam , Alrowwad Ala’aldin
Published: February 2020

Although Technology-Organization-Environment framework has been commonly used by several researchers for organizational adoption of digital business technologies, there is a lack of academic research tackled the Technology-Organization-Environment in developing countries. This article attempts to fill this gap by investigating the relations among several Technology-Organization-Environment variables at Aqaba five star hotels located in Jordan namely relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, top management support, firm size, technology competence, competitive pressure, critical mass, information intensity, age, gender, educational level, personal income, and work position in enhancing perceived usefulness, and the latter on continuous intention to use mobile hotel reservation system of five star hotels in Aqaba, Jordan. An empirical study among 390 usable responses containing 36 items was analyzed using multiple regression analysis and machine learning techniques to test the research hypotheses. Results expose a positive effect of relative advantage, information intensity, gender, age, and personal income on perceived usefulness, and the latter on continuous intention to use mobile hotel reservation system. This research will enable decision makers to identify which variables should be emphasized in order to impact hotels’ perceived usefulness of adopting mobile hotel reservation system, and in turn on continuous intention to use mobile hotel reservation system in service companies, especially in the hotel sector.
Design of a high-efficiency system with combined reflectors for a light-emitting diode front fog lamp
Authors: Yang E , Ge A , Liu Y , Zhao B , Hao R
Published: February 2020

This paper provides a design method for a light-emitting diode front fog lamp system based on a freeform surface and an improved quadric surface. First, a light-receiving reflector is used to converge the light-emitting diode beam to form an equivalent lighting point. Then, the relationship between the point and the light pattern on the work surface is calculated, and the freeform surface is constructed based on Snell’s law and non-imaging optical theory. Finally, two compensated reflectors are added at both ends of the freeform surface to reflect the unutilized light to achieve the compensation effect. By application of combined reflectors, the light pattern at the work surface 25 m away can satisfy the requirement of ECE R19 Revision 7. Also, this system has the advantages of small size and high efficiency because lens or prism groups are avoided. And the utilization of a compensated surface also increases light efficiency. Finally, a prototype model is tested, which also meets the regulatory requirements.
Long-Term Favorable Effects of Physical Exercise on Burdensome Symptoms in the OptiTrain Breast Cancer Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wiggenraad Fleur , Bolam Kate A. , Mijwel Sara , van der Wall Elsken , Wengström Yvonne , Altena Renske
Published: February 2020

Purpose: We evaluate longitudinal changes in symptom clusters and core burdensome symptoms in breast cancer patients who participated in the OptiTrain trial. Methods: 240 women were randomized to 16 weeks of supervised exercise (RT-HIIT or AT-HIIT) or usual care (UC) during adjuvant chemotherapy. Symptom clusters were composed using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), assessed at baseline, 16 weeks and 12 months later. Three symptom clusters were formed. Results: Three symptom clusters were identified: “emotional,” “treatment-related toxicity,” and “physical,” with core burdensome symptoms present over time. At 16 weeks, the reported burdens of “feeling sad” (RT-HIIT vs UC: effect size [ES] = −0.69; AT-HIIT vs UC: ES = −0.56) and “feeling irritable” (ES = −0.41 RT-HIIT; ES = −0.31 AT-HIIT) were significantly lower in both intervention groups compared with UC. At 12 months, the AT-HIIT group continued to have significantly lower scores for the core burdensome symptoms “feeling sad” (ES = −0.44), “feeling irritable” (ES = −0.44), and “changes in the way food tastes” (ES = −0.53) compared with UC. No between-group differences were found for physical symptoms. Conclusion: We identified 3 symptom clusters in breast cancer patients during and after adjuvant chemotherapy, composed of “emotional,” “treatment-related toxicity,” and “physical” symptoms. After treatment completion up to 12 months post-baseline, patients in the physical exercise groups reported lower symptom burden scores for emotional symptoms, compared with UC. Our findings indicate a preserved and long-term beneficial effect of physical exercise on self-reported emotional well-being in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients.
Remarkably High Efficacy of Cenobamate in Adults With Focal-Onset Seizures: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Vossler David G.
Published: February 2020

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Development and Peace Through Traditional, Cultural, Islamic Mediation
Authors: Zartman Jonathan K.
Published: February 2020

In a world filled with conflict, competition, and war, those who work for peace shape the character of human existence at the local level. The lives and petitions of individuals who work to reduce the ravages of conflict create profound effects and deserve attention and study. In the last two decades of international politics, violence in Islamic societies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and elsewhere has gained global public attention. However, the international media frequently does see the local-level initiatives to promote peace in traditional Islamic societies. Many people, whether in humanitarian nongovernmental organisation operations, or as part of a military-led reconstruction team, have worked and poured treasure into promoting stability in traditional societies suffering from insecurity. Understanding the resources for peace offered in Islam and the way in which Muslims work for peace in their communities can empower those who seek to help and protect them from strategic errors.
Oxygen Cost During Walking in Individuals With Stroke: Hemiparesis Versus Cerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Compagnat Maxence , Daviet Jean-Christophe , Batcho Charles , Vuillerme Nicolas , Salle Jean-Yves , David Romain , Mandigout Stephane
Published: February 2020

Background. Understanding the factors that limit mobility in stroke patients is fundamental for proposing appropriate rehabilitation strategies. A high oxygen cost during walking (Cw) has a strong impact on the community ambulation of hemiparetic patients. The Cw in poststroke cerebellar ataxia is poorly evaluated, unlike hemiparetic gait. Objective. To compare the oxygen cost/self-selected walking speed (S) relationship in stroke individuals with cerebellar ataxia or hemiparetic gait. Methods. Thirty-three subjects were included (14 cerebellar stroke, 19 hemispheric stroke), with stroke confirmed by brain imaging and able to walk without human assistance. We measured Cw using the Metamax3B. The relationship between Cw and self-selected walking speed was modelled by logistic regression and then compared between the cerebellar and hemispheric groups. Results. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups for all characteristics of the population, except motor impairments, spasticity, and ataxia ( P < .01). We identified 2 separate Cw/S relationships with different logistic regression equations for the 2 groups. Faster than 0.4 m s−1, Cw was 30.6% to 39.9% higher in patients with cerebellar stroke in comparison with hemispheric stroke individuals. The Cw was correlated with ataxia ( r = 0.88; P < .001) in the cerebellar group, whereas there was a correlation with motor impairments ( r = −0.61; P < .01), spasticity ( r = 0.59; P < .01), and ataxia ( r = 0.81; P < .01) in hemispheric stroke individuals. Conclusion. The Cw in poststroke cerebellar ataxia is significantly higher compared with hemiparetic patients at an equivalent walking speed. The impact on community walking needs to be explored in stroke survivors with cerebellar stroke.
A high-sensitivity multilayer soil moisture monitoring sensor based on a double high-frequency tuning detection circuit
Authors: Qinglan Shi , Yujiao Shi , Xiaochen Liu , Shuli Mei , Lei Feng
Published: February 2020

The multilayer soil moisture Internet of things sensor is designed to monitor the moisture of multiple soil profiles in real time. Its sensitivity and accuracy are of great concern to improve the performance of sensors. This article introduces the system composition of the end-cloud integrated multilayer soil moisture Internet of things sensor and then focuses on the design of key technologies, such as the moisture detection circuit, the time division multiplexing detection technology, and the deredundancy circuit in the analog–digital integrated design. The performance of the soil moisture detection circuit is directly related to the measurement accuracy of the sensor. A detection method is proposed using a high-frequency double-resonance circuit, which can detect small changes in moisture by changing the circuit detuning voltage. The maximum root mean square error of the calibration is less than 1.35% for five typical soils from different places. Compared with that of an independent detection method, the output consistency of the time division multiplexing detection is significantly improved by using the time division multiplexing detection method, which has a root mean square error of only 0.12%. In order to reduce errors caused by inconsistency in each burial, the gravimetric analysis is used in the sensitivity monitoring test, which shows that small changes in soil moisture can be detected by the circuit.
Median and Digital Nerve In Situ Tension in the Hand
Authors: Didesch Jacob T. , Schimoler Patrick J. , Miller Mark Carl , Tang Peter
Published: February 2020

Background: Digital nerves will experience tension under normal daily activities, and understanding the amount of tension experienced in these nerves relates directly to the necessary strength in nerve repairs. To begin quantification of tension, the tension borne by the median and digital nerves in cadaveric hands was quantified under conditions of finger hyperextension, nerve distraction, and finger flexion. Methods: Five cadaveric hands were mounted in a special fixture that allowed finger hyperextension and flexion and could apply known distractions while the tension borne by each digital nerve was measured. Sequential dissection exposed the digital nerves so that measurements of tension in the median, common, and proper digital nerves were conducted with finger hyperextension, nerve distraction, and finger flexion. Results: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) hyperextension of 30° created mean nerve tensions up to 0.64 N, 5 mm of nerve distraction created mean nerve tensions up to 1.23 N, and 90° of MCP flexion relieved up to a mean of 1.18 N of nerve tension. Conclusions: In situ tension is present in the median and digital nerves with digital motion. Finger hyperextension and nerve distraction produce tension, whereas finger flexion reduces tension. Existing nerve repairs are strong enough to withstand in situ nerve tensions produced by reasonable digital motion if the original nerve length is present.
Estrogen inhibits vascular calcification in rats via hypoxia-induced factor-1α signaling
Authors: Wu Xinhua , Zhao Qiuyan , Chen Zhangrong , Geng Yong-Jian , Zhang Wanting , Zhou Qingqing , Yang Wei , Liu Quanyi , Liu Hong
Published: February 2020

Objective

Calcification serves as a surrogate for atherosclerosis-associated vascular diseases, and coronary artery calcification is mediated by multiple pathogenic factors. Estrogen is a known factor that protects the arterial wall against atherosclerosis, but its role in the coronary artery calcification development remains largely unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that estrogen inhibits coronary artery calcification via the hypoxia-induced factor-1α pathway.

Methods

Eight-week-old healthy female Sprague–Dawley rats were castrated, and vitamin D3 was administered orally to establish. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 inhibitor was administered to test its effect on vascular calcification and expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and runt-related transcription factor-2. Vascular smooth muscle cell calcification was induced with CaCl2 in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in the presence or absence of E2(17β-estradiol) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 siRNA intervention.

Results

The estrogen levels in ovariectomized rats were significantly decreased, as determined by ELISA. Expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α mRNA and protein was significantly increased in vascular cells with calcification as compared to those without calcification ( p < 0.01). E2 treatment decreased the calcium concentration in vascular cell calcification and cell calcium nodules in vitro ( p <  0.05). E2 also lowered the levels of hypoxia-induced factor-1α mRNA and protein ( p <  0.01). Oral administration of the hypoxia-induced factor-1α inhibitor dimethyloxetane in castrated rats alleviated vascular calcification and expression of osteogenesis-related transcription factors, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and RUNX2 ( p <  0.01). Finally, bone morphogenetic protein 2 siRNA treatment decreased the levels of p-Smad1/5/8 in A7r5 calcification cells ( p <  0.01).

Conclusion

Estrogen deficiency enhances vascular calcification. Treatment with estrogen reduces the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α as well as vascular calcification in rats. The estrogen effects occur in a fashion dependent on hypoxia-induced factor-1α regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and downstream Smad1/5/8.
Mind the gap: A novel endovascular technique to repair a transected vessel
Authors: Kee-Sampson Joanna , Eadie Erik , Matteo Jerry , Shabandi Naudare , Meyer Travis , Bashir Saeed
Published: February 2020

Level one trauma centers experience horrific injuries on a regular basis. Blunt or penetrating trauma causing vascular injuries are treated by surgeons and interventional radiologists. When a blood vessel is completely transected, the ends of the vessel retract and vasospasm occurs as a normal survival response. When this phenomenon occurs, it is sometimes impossible to reattach the two ends of the injured vessel by surgical means and a bypass graft is often required. However, from an endovascular perspective, covered stents can serve as a vascular bypass as well. The limiting factor with an endovascular approach is the ability to successfully gain wire access across the injured vessel. The technique described in this manuscript describes a “rendezvous” method of repairing a transected axillosubclavian artery from a high-speed motorcycle accident using a steerable microcatheter. Initially, multiple failed attempts to cross the injured vessel were encountered despite using a wide variety of conventional guidewires and catheters. A steerable microcatheter was then used to safely and effectively navigate more than 15 cm through soft tissue to the opposite end of the vessel. In this critically ill patient, this technique significantly reduced the procedural time when compared to our previous experiences repairing arterial transections using traditional catheters.
Finite-time attitude stabilization of an output-constrained rigid spacecraft
Authors: Ma Jianjun , Li Peng
Published: February 2020

This article concentrates on the study of finite-time attitude stabilization for a rigid spacecraft with output constraints. The dynamics of the spacecraft are expressed by modified Rodrigues parameters, so that the singularity of covariance matrix owing to quaternion’s redundancy is eliminated. Based on the backstepping technique in combination with adding a power integrator technique, the attitude stabilization control law is constructed. Rigorous mathematical proof shows that the closed-loop system is finite time stable and all the outputs remain bounded by using a barrier Lyapunov function technique. The effectiveness of the proposed finite-time stabilization scheme is verified by a simulation example.
A novel design of shape-memory alloy-based soft robotic gripper with variable stiffness
Authors: Liu Mingfang , Hao Lina , Zhang Wei , Zhao Zhirui
Published: February 2020

Soft robotic grippers with compliance have great superiority in grabbing objects with irregular shape or fragility compared with traditional rigid grippers. The main limitations of such systems are small grasping force resulted from properties of soft actuators and lacking variable stiffness of soft robotic grippers, which prevent them from a larger wide range of applications. This article proposes a shape-memory alloy (SMA)-based soft gripper with variable stiffness composed of three robotic fingers for grasping compliantly at low stiffness and holding robustly at high stiffness. Each robotic finger mainly consisted of stiff parts and two variable stiffness joints is installed on the base with a specific angle. The paraffin as a variable stiffness material in the joint can be heated or cooled to change the stiffness of the robotic fingers. Results of experiments have shown that a single robotic finger can approximately achieve 18-fold stiffness enhancement. Each finger with two joints can actively achieve multiple postures by both changing the corresponding stiffness of joints and actuating the SMA wire. Based on these principles, the gripper can be applied to grasp objects with different shapes and a large range of weights, and the maximum grasping force of the gripper is increased to about 10 times using the variable stiffness joints. The final experiment is conducted to validate variable stiffness of the proposed soft grippers grasping an object.
Overexpression of microRNA-185 alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration through inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and downregulation of Galectin-3
Authors: Yun Zhennan , Wang Yuhang , Feng Wei , Zang Junting , Zhang Daguang , Gao Yuhang
Published: February 2020

Background

Recent studies have found that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in development and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration. In the present study, we examined the role of miR-185 in nucleus pulposus cell behavior in vitro and the histological changes of intervertebral disc tissue in intervertebral disc degeneration rat models in vivo.

Methods

Intervertebral disc degeneration models were developed in Sprague-Dawley rats. Intervertebral disc tissue was collected for histological evaluation after miR-185 agomir/agomir transduction. Next, nucleus pulposus tissues were collected from lumbar intervertebral discs to isolate nucleus pulposus cells, which were treated with miR-185 mimic/inhibitor and an inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway to assess cell viability and apoptosis.

Results

We observed a high expression of Galectin-3 in nucleus pulposus cells of rats with intervertebral disc degeneration. Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-185 specifically binds to and negatively regulates Galectin-3. Furthermore, we found that miR-185 inhibition resulted in increased expression of Galectin-3, pro-autophagy factors (LC3 and Beclin-1), and pro-apoptosis factors (caspase-3 and Bax), along with the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, the gain- and loss-of-function studies suggested that miR-185 overexpression promoted cell viability and inhibited nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and autophagy via inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, miR-185 agomir alleviated the histological changes observed in intervertebral disc tissues in intervertebral disc degeneration rats, which helped us validate the results observed in vitro.

Conclusions

Overexpression of miR-185 promotes nucleus pulposus cell viability and reduces the histological changes observed in intervertebral disc tissues in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration via inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and Galectin-3 inhibition. Our findings also highlight the potential of miR-185 as a promising novel therapeutic target to prevent and control intervertebral disc degeneration.
Synthesis of benzofurans from the cyclodehydration of α-phenoxy ketones mediated by Eaton’s reagent
Authors: Ma Zhanwei , Zhou Min , Ma Lin , Zhang Min
Published: February 2020

Cyclodehydration of α-phenoxy ketones promoted by Eaton’s reagent (phosphorus pentoxide–methanesulfonic acid) is used to prepare 3-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans with moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. The method provides a facile access to benzofurans from readily available starting materials such as phenols and α-bromo ketones. The reaction is highly efficient, which is attributed to the good reactivity and fluidity of Eaton’s reagent. The reaction can be applied to prepare naphthofurans, furanocoumarins, benzothiophenes, and benzopyrans.