bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transplantation of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Decreases Cognitive Impairment from Chronic Cerebral Ischemia by Reducing Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats
Authors: Zhu Shu , Min Dongyu , Zeng Jianhong , Ju Yetao , Liu Yao , Chen Xu
Published: March 2020

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are a unique postnatal stem cell population with high self-renewal ability that originates from the cranial neural crest. Since SHED are homologous to the central nervous system, they possess superior capacity to differentiate into neural cells. However, whether and how SHED ameliorate degenerative central nervous disease are unclear. Chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is a kind of neurological disease caused by long-term cerebral circulation insufficiency and is characterized by progressive cognitive and behavioral deterioration. In this study, we showed that either systemic transplantation of SHED or SHED infusion into the hippocampus ameliorated cognitive impairment of CCI rats in four weeks after SHED treatment by rescuing the number of neurons in the hippocampus area. Mechanistically, SHED transplantation decreased the apoptosis of neuronal cells in the hippocampus area of CCI rats through downregulation of cleaved caspase-3. In summary, SHED transplantation protected the neuronal function and reduced neuronal apoptosis, resulting in amelioration of cognitive impairment from CCI. Our findings suggest that SHED are a promising stem cell source for cell therapy of neurological diseases in the clinic.
Gag Reflex-Mediated Restoration of Sinus Rhythm during TEE Probe Insertion for Atrial Fibrillation: A Word of Caution
Authors: Nesheiwat Zeid , Ghanim Marcel , Eid Joseph , Patel Neha , Burmeister Cameron , Eltahawy Ehab
Published: March 2020

It is recommended to attempt vagal maneuvers as initial therapy in various types of supraventricular tachycardia. While various forms of vagal techniques have been described, a gag reflex-mediated vagal technique, to the best of our knowledge, has not been. We present a case of gag reflex-mediated restoration of sinus rhythm in a patient with atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular response upon transesophageal probe insertion. This case is unique due to the mechanism of vagally mediated cardioversion. It emphasizes that operators must be cautious regarding the risk of embolization of a potential thrombus from vagal-mediated cardioversion with unknown thrombus burden.
Molecular Mechanisms by Which Imeglimin Improves Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Yaribeygi Habib , Maleki Mina , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: March 2020

Despite different classes of antidiabetic medications available for the management of patients with diabetes, efforts are underway to identify novel and safer antihyperglycemic agents with higher potency and increased tolerability. Imeglimin is a promising antidiabetic agent that has shown to have significant antihyperglycemic effects in studies, although it has not been approved yet. There is growing evidence that imeglimin improves glucose homeostasis in the diabetic milieu; however, the precise molecular mechanisms are still not elucidated. In this review, we discuss various molecular pathways by which imeglimin exerts its antihyperglycemic effects and improves glucose homeostasis in the diabetic milieu.
Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s Disease: A Metasynthesis of the Literature
Authors: Johansson Hanna , Hagströmer Maria , Grooten Wilhelmus J. A. , Franzén Erika
Published: March 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently only symptomatic treatment. During the last decade, there has been an increased interest in investigating physical exercise as a neuroprotective mechanism in PD. Animal studies have suggested that exercise may in fact induce neuroplastic changes, but evidence in humans is still scarce. A handful of reviews have previously reported on exercise-induced neuroplasticity in humans with PD, but few have been systematic, or have mixed studies on both animals and humans, or focused on one neuroplastic outcome only. Here, we provide a systematic review and metasynthesis of the published studies on humans in this research field where we have also included different methods of evaluating neuroplasticity. Our results indicate that various forms of physical exercise may lead to changes in various markers of neuroplasticity. A narrative synthesis suggests that brain function and structure can be altered in a positive direction after an exercise period, whereas a meta-analysis on neurochemical adaptations after exercise points in disparate directions. Finally, a GRADE analysis showed that the current overall level of evidence for exercise-induced neuroplasticity in people with PD is very low. Our results demonstrate that even though the results in this area point in a positive direction, researchers need to provide studies of higher quality using more rigorous methodology.
Health Conditions, Access to Care, Mental Health, and Wellness Behaviors in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adults
Authors: Henry Richard S. , Perrin Paul B. , Sawyer Ashlee , Pugh Mickeal
Published: March 2020

This study examined relationships among wellness behaviors, physical health conditions, mental health, health insurance, and access to care among a sample of 317 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults. Participants completed a web-administered survey from May 2013 to April 2014. Of the sample, 41.6% of the participants reported having one or more health conditions. Most participants (92.1%) reported access to a health care facility and current health insurance coverage (84.9%), though 24.9% of those with health insurance reported being incapable of paying the copayments. Physical health conditions, age, and self-esteem explained 24% of the variance in engagement in wellness behaviors; older age, a greater number of health conditions, higher self-esteem, possession of health insurance, and ability to access to care were associated with increased wellness behaviors. Providing affordable insurance coverage, improving access to care, and properly treating mental health in LGBT individuals could improve wellness behaviors.
Medicina personalizada para el asma y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica
Authors: Heaney Liam G. , McGarvey Lorcan P.A.
Published: March 2020

El asma y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) son condiciones prevalentes, y a pesar de los recientes avances y las múltiples terapias e intervenciones disponibles, persiste una necesidad clínica no satisfecha. En años recientes ha quedado claro que hay tanto una heterogeneidad significativa en cada uno de estos padecimientos como un traslape importante en muchas de sus características clínicas e inflamatorias. En paralelo, han emergido biomarcadores clínicos e inmunológicos útiles que alertan sobre el pronóstico y la respuesta a la terapia para el asma y la EPOC. Estos biomarcadores nos permitirán tanto dirigir mejor los tratamientos existentes como identificar a los pacientes que responderán a las nuevas terapias disponibles. Los biomarcadores también facilitarán la identificación de nuevos blancos terapéuticos para desarrollos futuros. El uso de medicina de precisión en enfermedades de las vías respiratorias es ahora factible, y es un componente del cuidado a la salud personalizado en el asma y la EPOC.
Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica: Resultados del tratamiento inhalado regula en pacientes GOLD A
Authors: Acuña-Kaldman Moisés
Published: March 2020

Background: The 2017 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends regular bronchodilator therapy in all group A patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether regular inhaled treatment in group A patients with COPD improves their health outcomes, including exacerbations and symptoms. Methods: We recruited patients from 2 Korean prospective cohorts. Eligible COPD patients had a modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of <2, a St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-C) total score of <25, and had no more than 1 exacerbation and no hospitalizations during the previous year. Incidence rates of exacerbations and changes in symptom scores were analyzed. Results: After propensity score matching, there were 107 patient pairs, with and without regular inhaled treatment, who were followed up for mean times of 2.6 and 3.1 years, respectively. The incidence rates of exacerbations in those with and without regular treatment were not significantly different (incidence rate ratio 1.24 [95% CI 0.68 to 2.25]). Significant differences in favor of regular treatment were observed at 6 and 12 months for the SGRQ-C total scores (mean between-group difference -4.7 [95% CI -7.9 to -1.6] and -4.8 [95% CI -7.9 to -1.7], respectively). Regular treatment with a long-acting bronchodilator was also associated with significantly better scores on the SGRQ-C (mean between-group difference -5.0 [95% CI -8.6 to -1.4]) compared to no regular treatment at 12 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Regular inhaled treatment in group A patients with COPD was associated with a symptomatic benefit but not with a reduction of exacerbation rates.
Trastornos del sueño en adultos mayores: Aumentar la conciencia sobre los pacientes y sus familiares
Authors: Ochoa-Jiménez Luis Gerardo , Vázquez-Martínez Víctor Hugo
Published: March 2020

Background: Sleep disorders in an ageing society constitute a significant public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 50% of people aged 55 years and older have trouble sleeping, including initiating and maintaining sleep. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in a group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok, Poland. Methods: The study included a total of 182 people - residents of Bialystok - aged 60 or older; 146 women (80.22%) and 36 men (19.78%). The study used three standardized psychometric scales: The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: More than half of the respondents scored 6 or more points on the AIS, which is considered a value that indicates a high probability of insomnia symptom occurrence. A similar percentage of respondents obtained a point value on the ISI indicating the presence of insomnia. The vast majority of respondents scored below 11 points on the ESS, which means no symptoms of excessive sleepiness. There was a significant correlation between the results of the above scales in the examined group in total and also by sex. Conclusions: Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, constitute a significant social and health problem in the group of educationally active elderly people living in Bialystok. In light of the obtained study results, it is recommended to conduct and improve existing health education programs aimed at the elderly regarding sleep disorders to improve the quality of their sleep, and thus quality of life, and raise the awareness of the elderly about the importance of sleep in everyday life. There is a need for further research in the field of sleep disorders in the elderly to determine the prevalence of these disorders on a national scale.
Lacrimal Gland Amyloidosis in an Elderly Patient
Authors: Nagai Toshiya , Yunoki Tatsuya , Hayashi Atsushi
Published: March 2020

Localized amyloidosis of the lacrimal gland is a rare disease. We report a case of transthyretin-positive localized amyloidosis of the lacrimal gland in a 74-year-old man with left lacrimal gland swelling. Biopsy of the left lacrimal gland showed extensive deposition of nonstructural eosinophilic material in the secretory gland and ducts, which stained positive with direct fast scarlet. Immunostaining was negative for amyloid A and positive for both globulin light chain (kappa, lambda) and transthyretin. It is necessary to consider the possibility of senile systemic amyloidosis, even if localized amyloidosis of the lacrimal gland is suspected.
Reversible Hemifacial Spasm after Starting Escitalopram
Authors: Basheikh Mazen Abdulrahaman
Published: March 2020

This is a case of a patient who developed hemifacial spasm after he was started on escitalopram. His symptoms got worse after the dose was increased. The spasm resolved after the medication was stopped gradually. This is an unreported adverse effect of escitalopram or any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Novel Clinical and Radiological Findings in a Family with Autosomal Recessive Omodysplasia
Authors: Bayat Allan , Dunø Morton , Kirchhoff Maria , Jørgensen Finn S. , Nishimura Gen , Hove Hanne B.
Published: March 2020

Autosomal recessive omodysplasia (GPC6-related) is a rare short-limb skeletal dysplasia caused by biallelic mutations in the GPC6 gene. Affected individuals manifest with rhizomelic short stature, decreased mobility of elbow and knee joints as well as craniofacial anomalies. Both upper and lower limbs are severely affected. These manifestations contrast with normal height and limb shortening restricted to the arms in autosomal dominant omodysplasia (FZD2-related). Here, we report 2 affected brothers of Pakistani descent from Denmark with GPC6-related omodysplasia, aiming to highlight the clinical and radiological findings. A homozygous deletion of exon 6 in the GPC6 gene was detected. The pathognomonic radiological findings were distally tapered humeri and femora as well as severe proximal radioulnar diastasis. On close observations, we identified a recurrent and not previously described type of abnormal patterning in all long bones.
Peritoneal Dialysis as an Urgent-Start Option for Incident Patients on Chronic Renal Replacement Therapy: World Experience and Review of Literature
Authors: Bittencourt Dias Dayana , Mendes Marcela Lara , Alves Camila Albuquerque , Caramori Jacqueline Teixeira , Ponce Daniela
Published: March 2020

Chronic kidney disease is a significant problem of public health worldwide, and up to 60% of patients start dialysis in an unplanned manner without a definitive dialysis access. Recently, peritoneal dialysis (PD) has emerged as an alternative to unplanned chronic dialytic method, and the world collective experience shows that PD can be an efficient, safe, and cost-effective alternative with comparable outcomes to the planned PD and urgent-start hemodialysis (HD). More importantly, as compared to urgent-start HD using a central venous catheter, urgent-start PD has significantly fewer incidences of catheter-related bloodstream infections, dialysis-related mechanical complications, and need for dialysis catheter reinsertions during the initial time of the therapy. An integrative review was conducted on PD urgent start compared to HD urgent start and to planned PD, identifying its potential advantages and limitations. Literature search was performed within multiple databases, and observational studies on clinical experience with urgent PD were reviewed and appraised.
Feature selection for DDoS detection using classification machine learning techniques
Authors: Maslan Andi , Bin Mohamad Kamaruddin Malik , Binti Mohd Foozy Feresa
Published: March 2020

Computer system security is a factor that needs to be considered in the era of industrial revolution 4.0, namely by preventing various threats to the system, as well as being able to detect and repair any damage that occurs to the computer system. DDoS attacks are a threat to the company at this time because this attack is carried out by making very large requests for a site or website server so that the system becomes stuck and cannot function at all. DDoS attacks in Indonesia and developed countries always increase every year to 6% from only 3%. To minimize the attack, we conducted a study using Machine Learning techniques. The dataset is obtained from the results of DDoS attacks that have been collected by the researchers. From the datasets there is a training and testing of data using five techniques classification: Neural Network, Naïve Bayes and Random Forest, KNN, and Support Vector Machine (SVM), datasets processed have different percentages, with the aim of facilitating in classifying. From this study it can be concluded that from the five classification techniques used, the Forest random classification technique achieved the highest level of accuracy (98.70%) with a Weighted Avg 98.4%. This means that the technique can detect DDoS attacks accurately on the application that will be developed.
DeepOSN: Bringing deep learning as malicious detection scheme in online social network
Authors: Wanda Putra , Hiswati Marselina Endah , J. Jie Huang
Published: March 2020

Manual analysis for malicious prediction in Online Social Networks (OSN) is time-consuming and costly. With growing users within the environment, it becomes one of the main obstacles. Deep learning is growing algorithm that gains a big success in computer vision problem. Currently, many research communities have proposed deep learning techniques to automate security tasks, including anomalous detection, malicious link prediction, and intrusion detection in OSN. Notably, this article describes how deep learning makes the OSN security technique more intelligent for detecting malicious activity by establishing a classifier model.
Modeling of submerged membrane filtration processes using recurrent artificial neural networks
Authors: Yusof Zakariah , Abdul Wahab Norhaliza , Ibrahim Syahira , Sahlan Shafishuhaza , Che Razali Mashitah
Published: March 2020

The modeling of membrane filtration processes is a challenging task because it involves many interactions from both biological and physical operational behavior. Membrane fouling behaviour in filtration processes is complex and hard to understand, and to derive a robust model is almost not possible. Therefore, it is the aim of this paper to study the potential of time series neural network based dynamic model for a submerged membrane filtration process. The developed model that represent the dynamic behavior of filtration process is later used in control design of the membrane filtration processes. In order to obtain the dynamic behaviour of permeate flux and transmembrane pressure (TMP), a random step was applied to the suction pump. A recurrent neural network (RNN) structure was employed to perform as the dynamic models of a filtration process, based on nonlinear auto-regressive with exogenous input (NARX) model structure. These models are compared with the linear auto-regressive with exogenous input (ARX) model. The performance of the models were evaluated in terms of %R2, mean square error (MSE,) and a mean absolute deviation (MAD). For filtration control performance, a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller was implemented. The results showed that the RNN-NARX structure able to model the dynamic behavior of the filtration process under normal conditions in short range of the filtration process. The developed model can also be a reliable assistant for two different control strategies development in filtration processes.
Development of option c measurement and verification model using hybrid artificial neural network-cross validation technique to quantify saving
Authors: Wan Md Adnan Wan Nazirah , Yenita Dahlan Nofri , Musirin Ismail
Published: March 2020

This paper aims to develop a hybrid artificial neural network for Option C Measurement and Verification model to predict monthly building energy consumption. In this work, baseline energy model development using artificial neural networks embedded with artificial bee colony optimization and cross validation technique for a small dataset were considered. Artificial bee colony optimization with coefficient of correlation fitness function was used in optimizing the neural network training process and selecting the optimal values of initial weights and biases. Working days, class days and cooling degree days were used as input meanwhile monthly electricity consumption as an output of artificial neural network. The results indicated that this hybrid artificial neural network model provided better prediction results compared to the other model. The best model with the highest value of coefficient of correlation was selected as the baseline model hence is used to determine the saving. 
Classification of multiclass imbalanced data using cost-sensitive decision tree C5.0
Authors: Febriantono M. Aldiki , Hadi Pramono Sholeh , Rahmadwati Rahmadwati , Naghdy Golshah
Published: March 2020

The multiclass imbalanced data problems in data mining were an interesting to study currently. The problems had an influence on the classification process in machine learning processes. Some cases showed that minority class in the dataset had an important information value compared to the majority class. When minority class was misclassification, it would affect the accuracy value and classifier performance. In this research, cost sensitive decision tree C5.0 was used to solve multiclass imbalanced data problems. The first stage, making the decision tree model uses the C5.0 algorithm then the cost sensitive learning uses the metacost method to obtain the minimum cost model. The results of testing the C5.0 algorithm had better performance than C4.5 and ID3 algorithms. The percentage of algorithm performance from C5.0, C4.5 and ID3 were 40.91%, 40, 24% and 19.23%.
Thirty-Day Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement for Degenerated Mitral Bioprostheses (Valve-in-Valve), Failed Surgical Rings (Valve-in-Ring), and Native Valve With Severe Mitral Annular Calcification (Valve-in-Mitral Annular Calcification) in the United States
Authors: Guerrero Mayra , Vemulapalli Sreekanth , Xiang Qun , Wang Dee Dee , Eleid Mackram , Cabalka Allison K. , Sandhu Gurpreet , Salinger Michael , Russell Hyde , Greenbaum Adam , Kodali Susheel , George Isaac , Dvir Danny , Whisenant Brian , Russo Mark J. , Pershad Ashish , Fang Kenith , Coylewright Megan , Shah Pinak , Babaliaros Vasilis , Khan Jaffar M. , Tommaso Carl , Saucedo Jorge , Kar Saibal , Makkar Rajj , Mack Michael , Holmes David , Leon Martin , Bapat Vinayak , Thourani Vinod H. , Rihal Charanjit , O’Neill William , Feldman Ted
Published: March 2020

Background:

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement using aortic transcatheter heart valves has recently become an alternative for patients with degenerated mitral bioprostheses, failed surgical repairs with annuloplasty rings or severe mitral annular calcification who are poor surgical candidates. Outcomes of these procedures are collected in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology/Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry. A comprehensive analysis of mitral valve-in-valve (MViV), mitral valve-in-ring (MViR), and valve-in-mitral annular calcification (ViMAC) outcomes has not been performed. We sought to evaluate short-term outcomes of early experience with MViV, MViR, and ViMAC in the United States.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry.

Results:

Nine hundred three high-risk patients (median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 10%) underwent MViV (n=680), MViR (n=123), or ViMAC (n=100) between March 2013 and June 2017 at 172 hospitals. Median age was 75 years, 59.2% female. Technical and procedural success were higher in MViV. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred more frequently with ViMAC (ViMAC=10%, MViR=4.9%, MViV=0.7%;
P
<0.001). In-hospital mortality (MViV=6.3%, MViR=9%, ViMAC=18%;
P
=0.004) and 30-day mortality (MViV=8.1%, MViR=11.5%, ViMAC=21.8%;
P
=0.003) were higher in ViMAC. At 30-day follow-up, median mean mitral valve gradient was 7 mm Hg, most patients (96.7%) had mitral regurgitation grade ≤1 (+) and were in New York Heart Association class I to II (81.7%).

Conclusions:

MViV using aortic balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves is associated with a low complication rate, a 30-day mortality lower than predicted by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, and superior short-term outcomes than MViR and ViMAC. At 30 days, patients in all groups experienced improvement of symptoms, and valve performance remained stable.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02245763.
A mathematical model of ephaptic interactions in neuronal fiber pathways: Could there be more than transmission along the tracts?
Authors: Sheheitli Hiba , Jirsa Viktor K.
Published: March 2020

While numerous studies of ephaptic interactions have focused on either axons of peripheral nerves or on cortical structures, no attention has been given to the possibility of ephaptic interactions in white matter tracts. Inspired by the highly organized, tightly packed geometry of axons in fiber pathways, we aim to investigate the potential effects of ephaptic interactions along these structures that are resilient to experimental probing. We use axonal cable theory to derive a minimal model of a sheet of N ephaptically coupled axons. Numerical solutions of the proposed model are explored as ephaptic coupling is varied. We demonstrate that ephaptic interactions can lead to local phase locking between adjacent traveling impulses and that, as coupling is increased, traveling impulses trigger new impulses along adjacent axons, resulting in finite size traveling fronts. For strong enough coupling, impulses propagate laterally and backwards, resulting in complex spatiotemporal patterns. While common large-scale brain network models often model fiber pathways as simple relays of signals between different brain regions, our work calls for a closer reexamination of the validity of such a view. The results suggest that in the presence of significant ephaptic interactions, the brain fiber tracts can act as a dynamic active medium.
Outreach and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers: A Civil Society Practitioner’s Perspective
Authors: Smith Alison
Published: March 2020

The establishment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (ksc) was not without its controversies, including that there seems to be a grain of truth in the charge that the court will investigate, prosecute and convict only ethnic Albanians, given apparent jurisdictional limitations of the ksc. Since perceptions are shaped by information, this article examines the ksc’s Outreach Program based on the four pillars of successful outreach identified through examining experiences in other international courts and tribunals: 1) Early outreach; 2) Transparency; 3) Engagement with relevant actors in Kosovo and the region; and 4) Physical presence in Kosovo. The article then explores the interaction between its Outreach Program and its jurisdictional set-up. The article hypothesises that although the performance of the ksc Outreach Program has learnt lessons from past tribunals, the jurisdictional set-up of the ksc poses challenges for the Outreach Program to convey an effective narrative of neutrality.
Strategising International Prosecutions: How Might the Work of the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office Come to Be Judged?
Authors: Cross Matthew E.
Published: March 2020

Prosecutorial decision-making which is not only lawful and ethical but which fosters prosecutorial legitimacy—and which is adapted within that framework to best serve the prosecutor’s mandate, taking account of the relevant circumstances and the broader social interests—may form the basis for a successful prosecutorial strategy. At least five strategic processes may be very significant in this respect, including: situation selection (if applicable), case selection, leveraging of legitimacy to promote cooperation, expression of values, and exit management. A coherent vision of these processes may promote a coherent prosecutorial strategy for the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (spo). Prosecutorial strategy can only ever be analysed ‘from the outside’ with considerable modesty, yet six preliminary conclusions and observations can nonetheless be drawn as to the path which the spo may adopt.
A new species of Neocompsa (Neoibidionini), and a new species and new combinations in Tillomorphini (Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae)
Authors: HEFFERN DANIEL , BOTERO JUAN PABLO , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO
Published: March 2020

Neocompsa bravo sp. nov. (Neoibidionini, Compsina) is described from the United States of America (southern Texas). Tetranodus reticeps (Bates, 1880) (Tillomorphini, Tillomorphina) is redescribed and recorded from Honduras. A key to species of Tetranodus is provided and notes on the number of specimens in the original description of Tetranodus reticeps (Bates, 1880) are provided. A new species of Pentanodes (Tillomorphini, Tillomorphina) from Nicaragua is described and the following new combinations are proposed for species formerly in Tetranodus: Pentanodes xanthocollis (Chemsak, 1977), and P. tropipennis (Chemsak, 1977).
Practically Perfect Hindcasts of Severe Convective Storms
Authors: Gensini Vittorio A. , Haberlie Alex M. , Marsh Patrick T.
Published: March 2020

This study presents and examines a modern climatology of U.S. severe convective storm frequency using a kernel density estimate to showcase various aspects of climatological risk. Results are presented in the context of specified event probability thresholds that correspond to definitions used at the NOAA/NWS’s Storm Prediction Center following a practically perfect hindcast approach. Spatial climatologies presented herein are closely related to previous research. Spatiotemporal changes were examined by splitting the study period (1979–2018) into two 20-yr epochs and calculating deltas. Portions of the southern Great Plains and High Plains have seen a decrease in counts of tornado event threshold probability, whereas increases have been documented in the middle Mississippi River valley region. Large hail, and especially damaging convective wind gusts, have shown increases between the two periods over a majority of the CONUS. To temporally showcase local climatologies, event threshold days are shown for 12 select U.S. cities. Finally, data created and used in this study are available as an open-source repository for future research applications.
Numerical Computation of Instabilities and Internal Waves from In Situ Measurements via the Viscous Taylor–Goldstein Problem
Authors: Lian Qiang , Smyth William D. , Liu Zhiyu
Published: March 2020

We explore numerical methods for the stability analysis of stratified, parallel shear flows considering the effects of small-scale turbulence represented by eddy viscosity and diffusivity. The result is an extension of the classical Taylor–Goldstein problem applicable to oceanic and atmospheric flows. Solutions with imaginary frequency describe shear and convective instabilities, whereas those with real frequency represent internal gravity waves. Application to large observational datasets can involve considerable computation and therefore requires a compromise between speed and accuracy. We compare several numerical methods to identify optimal approaches to various problems.
Migrant Domestic Workers: Disadvantaged Work, Social Support, and Collective Strategies in East Asia
Authors: Fong Eric , Yeoh Brenda S. A.
Published: March 2020

The movement of migrant domestic workers constitutes an important aspect of migration flows in Asia. We identify and outline three major research gaps in this area: (1) their unique working environment and the consequences of working under these conditions, (2) formal and informal sources of support, and (3) policies implemented by local government in response to the working environment of migrant domestic workers. We discuss how the articles in this special issue address these major gaps in migration research.
Mental health care in Italy: Basaglia’s ashes in the wind of the crisis of the last decade
Authors: Carta Mauro G , Angermeyer Matthias C , Holzinger Anita
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims:

The purpose is to highlight the legal and ethical principles that inspired the reform of mental health care in Italy, the only country to have closed its psychiatric hospitals. The article will also try to verify some macro-indicators of the quality of care and discuss the crisis that the mental health care system in Italy is experiencing.

Methods:

Narrative review.

Results:

The principal changes in the legislation on mental health care in Italy assumed an important role in the evolution of morals and common sense of the civil society of that country. We describe three critical points: first, the differences in implementation in the different Italian regions; second, the progressive lack of resources that cannot be totally attributed to the economic crisis and which has compromised application of the law; and finally, the scarce attention given to measurement of change with scientific methods.

Conclusion:

Italy created a revolutionary approach to mental health care in a historical framework in which it produced impressive cultural expressions in many fields. At that time, people were accustomed to ‘believing and doing’ rather than questioning results and producing research, and this led to underestimating the importance of a scientific approach. With its economic and cultural crisis, Italy has lost creativity as well as interest in mental health, which has been guiltily neglected. Any future humanitarian approach to mental health must take the Italian experience into account, but must not forget that verification is the basis for any transformation in health care culture.
Genre-specific Error Detection with Multimodal Feedback
Authors: Blake John
Published: March 2020

A purpose-built online error detection tool was developed to provide genre-specific corpus-based feedback on errors occurring in draft research articles and graduation theses. The primary envisaged users were computer science majors studying at a public university in Japan. This article discusses the development and evaluation of this interactive, multimodal tool. An in-house learner corpus of graduation theses was annotated for errors that affect the accuracy, brevity, clarity, objectivity and formality of scientific research writing. Software was developed to identify the errors discovered and provide learners with actionable advice and multimodal explanations in both English and Japanese. Qualitative evaluation received in usability studies and focus groups from both teachers and students was extremely positive. Preliminary quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of the error detector was conducted. Through this pedagogic tool, learners can receive immediate actionable feedback on potential errors, and their teachers no longer feel obliged to check for common genre-specific errors.
Academic Outcomes Among Diverse Community College Students: What Is the Role of Instructor Relationships?
Authors: Parnes McKenna F. , Suárez-Orozco Carola , Osei-Twumasi Olivia , Schwartz Sarah E. O.
Published: March 2020

Objective: Although much research on community colleges focuses on institutional challenges or student deficits, emerging evidence suggests that student–instructor relationships have the potential to impact student success. The current study examined factors that could influence community college students’ development of relationships with instructors and how these relationships are associated with academic engagement and achievement. Drawing on literature exploring student–instructor relationships at 4-year institutions, we hypothesized that students’ relationships with instructors may partially account for the association between student demographic and relational characteristics and academic outcomes (i.e., cognitive and behavioral engagement, grade point average [GPA]). Method: Survey data were collected from 646 ethnically and racially diverse participants, many of whom were first-, second-, or third-generation immigrants, or first-generation college students. Employing a between-subjects, cross-sectional design, we tested the main study hypotheses of mediation through a series of path analysis models using Mplus. Results: Students with higher support-seeking attitudes and students with a mentor reported closer relationships with instructors, whereas part-time students reported weaker relationships with instructors. In turn, student–instructor relationships were significantly associated with both cognitive and behavioral aspects of academic engagement and GPA. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the various factors that may influence community college students’ development of relationships with instructors and highlights the direct and indirect influence of these relationships on student success. Implications for future practice include finding strategies that can be implemented at community colleges to foster student–instructor relationships. Future research should further explore these associations using longitudinal data to gain a deeper understanding of current findings.
High Selection, Low Success: The Heterogeneous Effect of Migrants’ Access to Employment on Their Remigration
Authors: Caron Louise , Ichou Mathieu
Published: March 2020

This article reconciles contrasting findings on the effect of access to employment on remigration by showing that this effect is actually heterogeneous and depends on migrants’ initial educational selection from the origin country. Combining longitudinal data from England and Wales (1971–2011) with data on educational attainment distributions in migrants’ origin countries, we find that the impact of being out of a job (unemployed or inactive) on the probability to remigrate is larger among migrants who were initially more positively selected in terms of educational attainment. This interaction effect appears stronger for male and recent migrants. Thus, in addition to migrants’ access to employment in the host country, the mismatch between migrants’ initial selection — that partly captures their premigration expectations — and their employment status at destination helps explain remigration behaviors.
The complementary effects of galvanic current electrical stimulation associated with conservative treatment to increase vasodilation in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon: a randomized trial
Authors: Tapia-Haro Rosa María , García-Ríos Mª Carmen , Toledano-Moreno Sonia , Casas-Barragán Antonio , Castro-Sánchez Adelaida Mª , Aguilar-Ferrándiz María Encarnación
Published: March 2020

Objective:

To analyze the effectiveness of an electrotherapy intervention with galvanic current on symptoms associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Design:

Single-blind randomized controlled trial, parallel design (1:1 ratio) and intention-to-treat analysis.

Setting:

Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Granada, Spain.

Subjects:

Thirty-four participants with Raynaud’s phenomenon, with a mean (SD) age of 43.43 (17.62) years.

Interventions:

The patients were randomly assigned to a control group with conservative treatment (anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and analgesic drugs) or an intervention group that received conservative treatment and vasodilatory electrical stimulation during seven weeks, three times/week for a total of 20 sessions.

Main measures:

The primary outcome was the number of attacks. Secondary outcomes were pain, peripheral blow flow, oxygen saturation, upper limb disability, central sensitization, pain catastrophizing and temperature recovery. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, posttreatment and at two months of follow-up.

Results:

The galvanic current electrotherapy group showed significantly greater improvements in the number of attacks (mean difference = 26.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 14.4 to 38.3), pre-cold stress pain (95% CI = 0.6 to 2.4), radial artery blood flow (95% CI = −7.8 ⩾  x ⩽ 1.3), ulnar artery blood flow (95% CI = −8.63 to 0.60), oxygen saturation (95% CI = −1.7 ⩾  x ⩽ −0.29), upper limb disability (95% CI = 1.1 to 22.3), central sensitization (95% CI = 6.7 to 18.2) and temperature recovery (95% CI = −5.7 ⩾  x ⩽ −0.32) than the conservative treatment group.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that a complementary treatment with galvanic current in combination to conservative approach is superior to conservative applied as isolate, in reducing the clinical manifestations and disability in Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Lessons from the fight against Golden Dawn
Authors: Fekete Liz
Published: March 2020

The ongoing trial of sixty-eight members of Golden Dawn, a violent neo-Nazi political party in Greece, has been called ‘one of the most important trials in contemporary Greek history’. Based on direct observation and insights from a trip to Athens in September 2019 to observe the trial, which coincided with the sixth anniversary of the murder of the anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, this article documents the role that activists, lawyers and the families of victims of racist violence have played in bringing members of Golden Dawn to justice. The author examines the trajectory of authoritarian violence inherent in recent Greece history and the culture of police impunity and collusion in racial violence that continues today.
“It Will Ruin His Career”: Does Violence Against Women Really Damage the Careers of NBA Players?
Authors: Sailofsky Daniel , Shor Eran
Published: March 2020

Arrests for acts of violence against women are a common occurrence for professional athletes, including National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Many sports fans, players, and those involved in professional sport believe that arrests for acts of violence against women, whether they result in a conviction or not, are highly detrimental to an athlete’s career. We matched all 30 NBA players arrested for acts of violence against women between 2000 and 2016 with similar players who were not arrested and examined the effects of the arrest on postarrest average annual salary and career longevity. We found no significant difference between arrested players’ careers and the careers of nonarrested counterparts. From a social learning perspective, this lack of punishment or loss of reward could be an important factor in continued acts of violence against women among NBA athletes.
Phase, microstructure and tensile strength of Al–Al2O3–C hybrid metal matrix composites
Authors: Ahamad Naseem , Mohammad Aas , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar , Gupta Pallav
Published: March 2020

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of alumina (Al2O3)–carbon (C) reinforcement on the properties of aluminium matrix. Aluminium matrix reinforced with Al2O3–carbon (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 wt.%) in equal proportion was prepared by stir casting. Phase, microstructure, EDS, density, hardness, impact strength and tensile strength of prepared samples have been investigated. X-ray diffraction reports the intermediate phase formation between the matrix and reinforcement phase due to interfacial bonding between them. Scanning electron microscopy shows that Al matrix has uniform distribution of reinforcement particles, i.e. Al2O3 and carbon. Density decreases due to variation of reinforcement because ceramic reinforcement has low density. Hardness decreases due to variation of carbon since it has soft nature. Impact strength was found to increase with addition of reinforcement. Hybrid composite of Al and 5% Al2O3 + 5% carbon reinforcement has maximum engineering and true ultimate tensile strength. It is expected that the present hybrid metal matrix composites will be useful for fabricating stock screws.
Fault diagnosis of journal bearing in a hydropower plant using wear debris, vibration and temperature analysis: A case study
Authors: Ranjan Rakesh , Ghosh Subrata Kumar , Kumar Manoj
Published: March 2020

Analysis of wear debris, vibration and temperature of journal bearing has been integrated to increase the accuracy in fault diagnosis of a hydropower plant. Samples of used lubricating oil, vibration data and bearing temperature at different intervals were collected. Wear particles and acceleration caused by vibration were analysed for the fault detections. An abnormal increase in the temperature and vibrational energy was observed after 200 days of continuous operations. In the last sample, an abnormal increase in aspect ratio of the wear particles was also observed. Scratches and wiping mark were found over the surface of bearing block and side thrust pad. This confirmed the fault of machine by the analysis of condition monitoring data. Further rectification was done by the replacement of bearing block.
How do girls’ magazines talk about breasts?
Authors: Brown Nicola , Campbell Christine , Owen Craig , Omrani Atefeh
Published: March 2020

Girls’ magazines play an important role in female adolescents’ identity and their constructions of femininity. Despite breast development being common to all female adolescents, and breasts being a key signifier of femininity, the representation of breasts in girls’ magazines has not been investigated. A Foucauldian discourse analysis was conducted to understand the ways in which breasts are represented in two popular girls’ magazines ( Teen Vogue and Seventeen). Articles in Seventeen promoted a contradictory and potentially confusing postfeminist discourse, supporting calls for Body Positivity, whilst at the same time framing breasts as problematic and encouraging girls to aspire to an ideal breast. The reader was positioned as a consumer with the purchase and wearing of bras offered as a neoliberal solution to these problems. In contrast, Teen Vogue articles conveyed a feminist informed Body Positivity discourse. Readers were positioned as active feminist advocates, incited to adopt radical, collective, political responses in order to challenge the potentially damaging messages surrounding breast ideals and sexualisation. We argue that consistent feminist messages are needed across and within media to support teenage girls in negotiating their bodies and identities.
Can Family and Neighborhood Cohesiveness Buffer the Association Between Family Economic Hardship and Children’s Peer Victimization?
Authors: Hong Jun Sung , Song Eun-Jee , Peguero Anthony A. , Wu Chi-Fang , Cameron Schmaeman Alexandra
Published: March 2020

The aim of the current study is to identify factors that buffer the link between family economic hardship and peer victimization. We examined whether family and neighborhood cohesiveness moderated the association between family economic hardship and children’s peer victimization. Data were derived from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, and the total sample was 14,155 caregivers who responded to questions about children, aged 6 through 11 years old. Analyses included bivariate correlations and hierarchical multivariate regressions. Family economic hardship was positively associated with victimization while family cohesion and neighborhood cohesion were negatively correlated with victimization. The interaction between family economic hardship and neighborhood cohesion was significant. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Core Values, Challenges, and Cultural Change: 50+ Years of Outward Bound New Zealand Courses
Authors: Martin Andrew , Mott Melanie , Watson Geoff
Published: March 2020

Background: Outward Bound New Zealand (OBNZ) was established in 1962, as part of an international network of outdoor education schools founded in the United Kingdom by Kurt Hahn, with the central values of empowering people to fulfill their potential, fostering compassion, and developing courage. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide an empirical case study of an organization evolving according to an industry life cycle, by examining OBNZ’s changing values and how they have maintained their Classic 21-day courses. Methodology/Approach: The research involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews with past School and Executive Directors ( n = 14). Findings/Conclusions: During the 1990s, OBNZ encountered major challenges, which required significant organizational change, but their core business is still the classic course. OBNZ’s values have been repeatedly reviewed but remain aligned to its fundamental vision: better people, better communities, better world. Implications: Hahn’s value of compassion has remained central to OBNZ; however, the Māori [indigenous people of New Zealand] concept of kaitiakitanga [guardianship] has also been integrated into its philosophy. Maintaining its core values has sustained this progressive value-based organization over the past 50+ years.