bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Is the Work? and With Whom Are We Working? Relational Practices in the Intimate Partner Violence Field
Authors: Leonard Samantha
Published: August 2019

Feminist movements against domestic and intimate partner violence (DV and IPV) have long struggled with tensions around the professionalization of their work. This article uses qualitative interviews and content analysis to conceptualize the IPV movement’s field of action as an interstitial space. The movement against IPV draws together a multi-institutional audience that reflects the historical trajectory of the field. The IPV organizations in the Boston metropolitan area productively engage with and influence various institutional fields. The boundaries of this interstitial space are the multi-institutional bundles of relations drawn together by the DV movement. In the Boston metropolitan area, the institutional fields of action drawn most strongly into the liminal space of the intimate partner violence field are the wider feminist movement and the institutions of the medical/health sphere, carceral system, and education systems. The work of direct services, advocacy, and prevention defines itself in relation to neighboring institutions but remains grounded in its own interstitial space of the IPV movement through individual practices within organizations.
How Theology Stopped Being Regina Scientiarum—and How Its Story Continues
Authors: van den Brink Gijsbert
Published: August 2019

The view that theology represents the highest level of academic learning and the summit of human knowledge has a long history. In this article, starting from Aristotle, the genealogy of this view is excavated. Second, it is examined how and why theology lost this special status in modernity, as this appears in Immanuel Kant’s The Conflict of the Faculties (1798). Third, it is shown in which way and for what reasons theology continued to have a place of its own in the modern university since the founding of the University of Berlin (1810). In particular, the crucial role of Friedrich Schleiermacher’s proposal is highlighted. Fourth, it is suggested that, under certain conditions, theology can still be conceived as a proper university discipline in contemporary pluralistic societies.
Influence of pitch and exploitation on the frictional behaviour of the silent chains
Authors: Lates Mihai Tiberiu , Velicu Radu , Jurj Lenard
Published: August 2019

The silent chain transmissions are widely used in automotive industry as part of the distribution transmission for the combustion engines. The investigation of friction loses in chains is important in order to find out the influence of their constructive and exploitation parameters. The paper presents the results of the tests performed on a test rig used in the case of transmissions with parallel axes. The main contribution of the paper is represented by determining the influence of speed, tensioning force, temperature and pitch on the friction loses of silent chains. Two types of silent chains are tested: LD6 with the pitch equal with 6.35 mm and LD8 with the pitch equal with 8 mm. The tests have been achieved with the following test parameters: the driver sprocket rotations with the values of 500, 1000, 1800 and 5000 r/min; the tensioning force with the values of 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kN; the lubrication oil temperature equal with 40°C, 90°C and 115°C. Conclusions are drawn regarding the influence of the chains’ pitch and of the exploitation parameters on the frictional torque. The presence of boundary or mixed friction in the joints of the chain explains the frictional behaviour of the chain.
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopic analysis of barium sulfate as a reflection standard within 173–2500 nm: From pure to sintered form
Authors: Poh Abdul Halim , Jamaludin Mohd Fadzil , Fadzallah Iman Aris , Nik Ibrahim Nik Muhd Jazli , Yusof Farazila , Adikan FRM , Moghavvemi Mahmoud
Published: August 2019

The use of barium sulfate (BaSO4) as a low-cost reflectance standard has been documented for some time. In its pure salt form, the optical characteristics do have advantages compared to laboratory-grade sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). However, its practical use has little advantage against the stability of PTFE. In this paper, a process of producing pelletized BaSO4, and characterization of its optical reflectance properties is reported. In its sintered form, data-driven analysis shows that BaSO4 is a commendable low-cost, high-reflection and a high-consistency material. The current sintered forms, though crude, registers a relatively stable texture to withstand minor mechanical stress, while having up to an average 92% reflectivity across the UV-VIS-NIR range (173–2500 nm) compared to a PTFE reflection standard.
Comparison of methods for the quantification of cell-free DNA isolated from cell culture supernatant
Authors: Bronkhorst Abel Jacobus , Ungerer Vida , Holdenrieder Stefan
Published: August 2019

Gaining a better understanding of the biological properties of cell-free DNA constitutes an important step in the development of clinically meaningful cell-free DNA–based tests. Since the in vivo characterization of cell-free DNA is complicated by the immense heterogeneity of blood samples, an increasing number of in vitro cell culture experiments, which offer a greater level of control, are being conducted. However, cell culture studies are currently faced with three notable caveats. First, the concentration of cell-free DNA in vitro is relatively low. Second, the median amount and size of cell-free DNA in culture medium varies greatly between cell types. Third, the amount and size of cell-free DNA in the culture medium of a single cell line fluctuates over time. Although these are interesting findings, it can also be a great source of experimental confusion and emphasizes the importance of method optimization and standardization. Therefore, in this study, we compared five commonly used cell-free DNA quantification methods, including quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Qubit Double-Stranded DNA High Sensitivity assay, Quant-iT PicoGreen Assay, Bioanalyzer High Sensitivity DNA assay, and NanoDrop Onec. Analysis of the resulting data, along with an interpretation of theoretical values (i.e. the theoretical detection and quantification limits of the respective methods), enables the calculation of optimal conditions for several important preanalytical steps pertaining to each quantification method and different cell types, including the (1) time-point at which culture medium should be collected for cell-free DNA extraction, (2) amount of cell culture supernatant from which to isolate cell-free DNA, (3) volume of elution buffer, and (4) volume of cell-free DNA sample to use for quantification.
GMO authorisations and the Aarhus Regulation: Paving the way for precautionary GMO governance?
Authors: Leonelli Giulia Claudia
Published: August 2019

This article endeavours to assess whether existing case law under the Aarhus Regulation has opened up any opportunities for civil society to challenge the decision that, in the face of scientific uncertainty, genetically modified organism risks meet the intended European Union levels of health and environmental protection. Against this backdrop, it seeks to establish whether the actions of non-governmental organizations under the Aarhus Regulation have resulted in any meaningful review of the Commission’s exercise of its discretion, in accordance with the overarching tenets of the precautionary principle and the aim of a high level of health and environmental protection. Upon an in-depth analysis of the recent TestBioTech cases, the article puts forward an argument for different evidentiary rules and a different standard of review in Aarhus Regulation case law, advocating a clearer distinction between ‘standard’ action for annulment and annulment of a decision to reject a request for internal review. This is argued to be the only way forward to breathe some life into the Aarhus Regulation’s provisions, ensuring some scrutiny of the level of protection achieved and nudging the Commission to take the precautionary principle seriously in the genetically modified organism field.
Two interpretations of the rational choice theory and the relevance of behavioral critique
Authors: Hudik Marek
Published: August 2019

I compare two interpretations of the rational choice theory: decision-theoretic and price-theoretic. The former takes the assumption of utility maximization as a literal description of a decision procedure. The latter considers it as a modeling device used to explain changes/variability of behavior on an aggregate level. According to the price-theoretic interpretation, these changes/variability are explained by constraints (“prices”) rather than differences in intrinsic characteristics between human populations (“tastes”). While the decision-theoretic interpretation of rationality represents a possible foundation of the price-theoretic interpretation of rationality, I argue that it is not its only possible foundation. I then show that critiques raised by behavioral economics apply to the decision-theoretic interpretation and much less so to the price-theoretic one. From the perspective of the price theory, behavioral and rational choice models are predominantly complementary. Price-theoretic interpretation helps to explain why the rational choice theory continues to play an important role in economics, even after the behavioral revolution.

JEL codes: D01, D03, B41, A10
“It’s Not Just Us . . . We Ain’t Doin’ It Alone”: Development of the Solution-Focused Wellness for HIV Intervention for Women
Authors: Yates Helen Taylor , Choi Y. Joon , Beauchemin James D.
Published: August 2019

To address health disparities in HIV care for women, we developed Solution-Focused Wellness for HIV (SFWH), an evidence-based intervention that capitalizes on strengths to improve overall wellness. SFWH utilizes solution-focused brief therapy, a salutogenic wellness approach and HIV research with women. We created an intervention manual and recruited ( N = 6) women living with HIV to provide expert client feedback through focus groups. The findings included themes of relationships with children and other family members, physical accommodations, antiretroviral therapy information, and improving the accessibility of the intervention. The SFWH intervention for women was feasible to deliver and positively received by the participants. We adapted the SFWH manual to incorporate our findings, and a quantitative study is planned to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
You “Cantu”: Multidisciplinary Collaboration Resulting in Successful Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Kurian Christopher , Pinamonti Gina , Starling Hughes Susan , Martin Julie , Lypka Michael
Published: August 2019

Cantú syndrome (CS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the ABCC9 or KCNJ8 gene. The disorder is characterized by congenital generalized hypertrichosis, coarse acromegaloid facial features (broad nasal bridge, epicanthal folds, wide mouth, macroglossia), skeletal abnormalities (calvarial thickening, metaphyseal flares, coxa valga, scoliosis), tortuous vasculature (meningeal arteriovenous malformations), and cardiac abnormalities (patent ductus arteriosus, pericardial effusion). Despite the constellation of craniofacial features, there are currently no documented cases of a patient with CS having orthognathic surgery. The purpose of this report is to highlight the multidisciplinary collaboration, including establishment of a genetic diagnosis, cardiac management, and orthodontic therapy, in performing successful orthognathic surgery in a patient with CS.
A generic approach to scheduling and checkpointing workflows
Authors: Han Li , Le Fèvre Valentin , Canon Louis-Claude , Robert Yves , Vivien Frédéric
Published: August 2019

This work deals with scheduling and checkpointing strategies to execute scientific workflows on failure-prone large-scale platforms. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to target fail-stop errors for arbitrary workflows. Most previous work addresses soft errors, which corrupt the task being executed by a processor but do not cause the entire memory of that processor to be lost, contrarily to fail-stop errors. We revisit classical mapping heuristics such as Heterogeneous Earliest Finish Time and MinMin and complement them with several checkpointing strategies. The objective is to derive an efficient trade-off between checkpointing every task (CkptAll), which is an overkill when failures are rare events, and checkpointing no task (CkptNone), which induces dramatic re-execution overhead even when only a few failures strike during execution. Contrarily to previous work, our approach applies to arbitrary workflows, not just special classes of dependence graphs such as minimal series-parallel graphs. Extensive experiments report significant gain over both CkptAll and CkptNone for a wide variety of workflows.
A scalable Euler–Lagrange approach for multiphase flow simulation on spectral elements
Authors: Zwick David , Balachandar S
Published: August 2019

Multiphase flow can be difficult to simulate with high accuracy due to the wide range of scales associated with various multiphase phenomena. These scales may range from the size of individual particles to the entire domain of interest. Traditionally, large scale systems can only be simulated using averaging approaches that filter out the locations of individual particles. In this work, the Euler–Lagrange method is used to simulate large-scale dense particle systems in which each individual particle is tracked. In order to accomplish this, the highly scalable spectral element code nek5000 has been extended to handle the multiple levels of multiphase coupling in these systems. These levels include what has been called one-, two-, and four-way coupling. Here, each level has been separated to detail the computational impact of each stage. A binned ghost particle algorithm has also been developed to efficiently handle the challenges of two- and four-way coupling in a parallel processing context. The algorithms and their implementations are then shown to scale to 65,536 Message Passing Interface (MPI) ranks in both the strong and weak limits. After this, validation is performed through simulation of a small-scale fluidized bed. Lastly, a large-scale fluidized bed is simulated with 65,536 MPI ranks and is able to capture the unique physics of the onset of fluidization.
A study of the loops control for reconfigurable computing with OpenCL in the LABS local search problem
Authors: Russek Paweł , Jamro Ernest , Dąbrowska-Boruch Agnieszka , Wiatr Kazimierz
Published: August 2019

In this article, we study the steepest descent local search (SDLS) algorithm that is used as the improvement step in the memetic algorithms for the search of low autocorrelation binary sequences (LABS). We address the method of reconfigurable computing, as the algorithm is of the field programmable gate array (FPGA) type as it features the integer operations, bit-wise data representation, regular execution flow, and huge computational complexity. It contains four levels of nested loops, but its direct parallel implementation as a custom processor leads to typical problems because the loops expose a dynamic range and too many iterations. This inhibits a simple parallel data path that is typically produced by the method of the loop unrolling. We have examined the four architectures that mitigate the found obstacles, and we provide the results of their implementation. The solutions take advantages of the loop pipelining, reordering of the loops, and dynamic reconfiguration. The recently available development tool was involved in our study as we have used the OpenCL (OCL) platform for FPGAs to draw practical conclusions. The given proposals are characterized by their performance and capacity for a problem size. Consequently, the speed/size trade-off is highlighted, as an FPGA size is a design constraint. The performance of the FPGA-based solutions is compared to the CPU speed, and the maximum reported speed-up is 750. Readers can further develop and/or use the presented OCL solutions for efficient LABS discovery as we provide the corresponding software repository.
The impact of economic and political crises on the survival of tourism-related firms: Evidence from Antalya
Authors: Türkcan Kemal , Erkuş-Öztürk Hilal
Published: August 2019

This article examines the effects of economic and political crises on the survival of 7115 tourism-related firms (hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and spas) in the Antalya region between 2000 and 2016. Using a discrete-time hazards model, we show that tourism-related firms exhibit lower survival rates during times of crisis. We have also found that age, size and legal form increase survival rates. In addition, firms in tourism locations specialized subregions and subregions with higher entry rates have lower chances of survival, whereas firms in tourism destinations with large markets have higher chances to survive. Our empirical analysis suggests that hotels and travel agencies are more sensitive to macroeconomic and political shocks than other tourism-related businesses like restaurants and spas.
Introduction: The Legacies and Limits of The Body in Pain
Authors: Dawney Leila , Huzar Timothy J
Published: August 2019

Since its publication in 1985, Elaine Scarry's The Body in Pain has become a seminal text in the study of embodiment. In its foregrounding of the body in war and torture, it critiques the minimising of the body in questions of politics, offering a compelling account of the structure and phenomenology of violent domination. However, at the same time the text can be seen to shore up a mind/body dualism that has been associated with oppressive forms of gendering, racialisation and disablement. Divisive, powerful and elegant, the text has been central in the shaping of approaches to embodiment over the past 30 years. This special issue revisits Scarry's text in the light of 30 years of scholarship on embodiment and the body. Its legacies and limits are exemplified through a series of articles that mobilise the arguments of The Body in Pain even as they push at the limits of the text.
The second victim phenomenon in health care: A literature review
Authors: Nydoo Puvashnee , Pillay Basil J. , Naicker Thajasvarie , Moodley Jagidesa
Published: August 2019

Aim: This study aimed to explore the knowledge on the second victim phenomenon (SVP) in health care, more specifically within the speciality of obstetrics. Methods: An extensive electronic search of multiple databases, with additional hand searching of the reference lists of pertinent articles regarding the SVP, was performed from May 2017 to December 2018. Results: A review of the literature suggests consistent evidence of the substantial impact of adverse medical events on health-care professionals across a range of specialities. The effects of an adverse medical event for the health-care professional are ominous, with many experiencing feelings of sadness, guilt and anxiety, as well as some displaying symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. Negative effects may be exacerbated for health-care professionals in the case of an adverse maternal event due to its highly sensitive and dramatic nature, involving both maternal and neonatal lives. The provision of timely and effective support at the individual and more specifically the organisational level has been positively correlated with a second victim’s recovery. Yet, limited organisations have formal support interventions designed specifically for the needs of the second victim. Conclusions: It is evident that the consequences of adverse medical events on health-care professionals can be intense and numerous. The unique nature and high sensitivities surrounding obstetric care have the potential to exacerbate the negative consequences for the health-care professional following an adverse event. Still, there remains a dearth of information of the extent of adverse medical events and the SVP in the speciality of obstetrics.
Unmet health-care needs and mortality: A prospective cohort study from southern Sweden
Authors: Lindström Christine , Rosvall Maria , Lindström Martin
Published: August 2019

Aims: Research on the effect of unmet health-care needs on mortality at follow-up is scarce. This study investigated whether unmet health-care needs in 2008 were associated with a higher risk of mortality during a five-year follow-up period in a population in southern Sweden, and whether the association was stronger for particular subgroups of cause of death. Methods: The 2008 public-health survey in Skåne was used as baseline. The survey included variables such as unmet health-care needs, risk behaviours and social and socio-economic variables, and had 28,198 respondents aged 18–80 years. The study was longitudinal. Mortality data for the period 27 August 2008 (start of the survey) to 31 December 2013 were provided by the National Board on Health and Welfare. Analyses were run using Cox proportional hazard models. Mortality was analysed as the total and in subgroups: cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and other causes. Results: In the time period studied, 946 (3.4%) people had died. Unmet health-care needs increased the hazard ratios (HRs) of total mortality after adjusting for age, particularly for people aged 65–80 years (HR=1.53; confidence interval 1.24–1.88). Unmet health-care needs were associated with death due to cancer and other causes but not with CVD. Adjusting for self-rated health attenuated the HRs. For the age group 18–64 years, there was no significant association between unmet health-care needs and mortality. Conclusions: Having unmet health-care needs at baseline was significantly associated with increased mortality for all causes, except CVD, in the following five year-period, particularly for people aged 65–80 years.
Improving quality and performance in substance use treatment programs: What is being done and why is it so hard?
Authors: Davis Margot T , Torres Maria , Nguyen AnMarie , Stewart Maureen , Reif Sharon
Published: August 2019

As states plan to implement system-wide change of any kind, it is important to understand program directors’ perspectives on challenges they face. This is especially true with quality improvement reforms. Much research has focused on quality improvement in medicine, but there is a gap in our knowledge about programs that treat individuals with drug or alcohol use. From 2007 to 2016, Maine contracted with selected substance use treatment programs using financial incentives to improve quality, with focus on treatment access, engagement, retention, and completion as measures of quality. Using surveys and in-depth interviews, this research documents strategies that programs used to improve performance and challenges faced in implementing reforms. Only programs that received federal block grant funding through the state to provide substance use treatment were eligible for an incentive contract, creating a natural experiment with non-block grant programs (non-incentive). Directors were interviewed in incentive ( n = 13) and non-incentive programs ( n = 12).

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that: (1) programs focused on quality improvement, incentive and non-incentive programs focused on different quality measures, (2) most of the reforms in both groups targeted improving treatment access and retention, and (3) programs faced substantial challenges in undertaking reforms. Despite efforts, many programs could not meet quality measures consistently over time and faced environmental and system barriers.

Applications

Policy makers and program administrators will benefit from knowing the challenges of undertaking quality improvement initiatives and provide support for the programs.
Exploring attitudes towards the archaeological past: Two case studies from majority Muslim communities in the Nile valley
Authors: Näser Claudia
Published: August 2019

There is a dearth of studies on intercultural dynamics in Southwest Asian and North African archaeology, not least since conventional narratives assert that present-day majority Muslim communities in these regions are not interested in the pre-Islamic past. In this paper I argue that, despite seemingly overcoming such positions, collaborative projects may actually exacerbate them through perceiving local communities as deficient, in need of being taught and re-united with “their” heritage. Using data from two current projects in Sudan, I explore actual motivations of local publics to engage with the archaeologically approachable past and the interests they voice vis-à-vis archaeological heritage. I suggest that emphasizing these dimensions effects a shift in how nonarchaeological partners in collaborative projects are conceptualized. This opens new ground for engagement, as changing perceptions impact on interactions and, in consequence, power relations between protagonists.
Educating the deliberate professional and enhancing professional agency through peer reflection of work-integrated learning
Authors: Trede Franziska , Jackson Denise
Published: August 2019

Educating reflexive, socially responsible and action-oriented future professionals who can contribute to a better future remains a core task of higher education. These graduate characteristics describe the deliberate professional. Within this article, we examine the value of a post-work-integrated learning peer reflection activity to foster professional agency and develop the deliberate professional in our students. Students participated in a post-work-integrated learning peer reflection activity, termed a huddle to signpost its informal yet respectful nature, and then completed a written reflection on the nature and value of this reflective experience. Findings demonstrate participants’ engagement with as well as limitations towards becoming deliberate professionals. Implications for future use and further research of this peer reflection activity are offered. This study contributes new evidence that suggests that purposefully structured, dialogic and written post-work-integrated learning peer reflections are an effective approach towards developing professional agency and educating the deliberate professional.
Postmodernism, ethnicity, and celebrity culture in women’s symbolic consumption
Authors: Gbadamosi Ayantunji
Published: August 2019

Although postmodernism and celebrity culture are closely linked, research attention on this has not been adequately synthesized with ethnic minority groups. Hence, this article, which is rooted in an interpretive research paradigm, explores the symbolic consumption of Black African women in the UK with specific reference to celebrity culture. Although the study shows some purchase decisions based on products’ functionality, generally, it shows the robust interplay of personal, cultural, social, and commercial factors in the symbolic consumption of these women. This is shown to be linked to the prevalent celebrity culture in the society. They consume to enhance their self-esteem and keep up with the societal trend in the host environment. Hence, the notion of acculturation features prominently in their consumption. The article extends the discourse on the extant ethnic minority studies and augments the current knowledge about symbolic consumption especially with reference to Black African women.
Training in improvisation techniques helps reduce caregiver burden and depression: Innovative Practice
Authors: Brunet Hannah E , Banks Sarah J , Libera Anne , Willingham-Jaggers Melanie , Almén Ruth A
Published: August 2019

This study measured outcomes of a novel pilot program designed to teach improvisation skills to caregivers of family members with dementia. Fifteen caregivers completed questionnaires measuring changes in their perception of burden (Zarit Burden Interview), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), their cared-for person’s neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire), and experiences related to caregiving. Caregivers’ depressive symptoms and sense of burden significantly decreased after completing the six-week program. Caregivers reported that their loved ones’ neuropsychiatric symptoms increased during the course of the intervention, though associated distress did not also increase. The Improv for Care program shows promise as an intervention for caregivers to improve stress, mood, and coping skills.
Literature Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs–Induced Liver Injury From an Oncological Perspective With RUCAM
Authors: Chow Hei Ching , So Tsz Him , Choi Horace Cheuk Wai , Lam Ka On
Published: August 2019

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs are commonly regarded to be safe with minimal toxicities in Chinese communities. Cancer patients who are receiving Western oncology therapy often concurrently take TCM herbs for anticancer and symptom relief purposes. We performed a literature review for current evidence on TCM herb–induced liver injury from an oncological perspective. A literature search on PubMed was performed to identify publications regarding TCM herbs and concoctions with hepatoprotective or hepatotoxic properties. Lists of commonly used herbs and their causality levels were compiled. In view of the wide range of evidence available, cases assessed by the well-established RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) algorithm were categorized as the highest level of evidence. More than one case of TCM herb–induced liver injury was confirmed by RUCAM in the following herbs and concoctions: Lu Cha ( Camellia sinensis), Bai Xian Pi ( Dictamnus dasycarpus), Tu San Qi ( Gynura segetum), Jin Bu Huan ( Lycopodium serratum), He Shou Wu ( Polygoni multiflora), Ge Gen ( Pueraria lobata), Dan Lu Tong Du tablet, Shou Wu Pian, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Xiao Yin pill, and Yang Xue Sheng Fa capsule. Finally, TCM with anticancer or symptom relief uses were discussed in detail with regard to their hepatotoxic or hepatoprotective properties.
A Literature Review of the Role of Mindfulness Practices in Nutrition for Mothers and Their Children
Authors: Keaulana Samantha , Antonio Mapuana , Schoch Hailey , Banna Jinan
Published: August 2019

Nutrition-related problems have been increasingly prevalent among children and adults nationally and globally. Pregnant women and children are particularly susceptible to nutrition-related concerns. Mindfulness-based programs have demonstrated favorable outcomes for lifestyles and behaviors and may, therefore, assist in nutrition-related concerns. This column focuses on existing literature that focuses on the way mindfulness practices improve eating and nutrition outcomes for mothers. The synthesized findings of this review provide support for the effectiveness of mindfulness practices of mothers affecting improved nutrition for their children.
Anomalous origin of the middle meningeal artery from the inferolateral trunk with an arterial circle around a hypoplastic internal carotid artery in an infant with a dural arteriovenous fistula
Authors: AlMatter M , Aguilar Pérez M , Hellstern V , Quäschling U , Ganslandt O , Henkes H
Published: August 2019

Deviations from normal embryologic development can manifest in different anatomical variants of the ophthalmic artery. We present a case of an infant treated for a high-flow dural arteriovenous fistula of the superior sagittal sinus, in whom an arterial circle involving the ophthalmic artery, the middle meningeal artery, the inferolateral trunk and a hypoplastic segment of the internal carotid artery was found. The embryologic development is briefly reviewed with emphasis on the possible genesis of this interesting constellation.
Differential olfactory bulb methylation and hydroxymethylation are linked to odor location memory bias in injured mice
Authors: Tajerian Maral , Alvarado Sebastian G , Clark J David
Published: August 2019

Chronic pain is often linked to comorbidities such as anxiety and cognitive dysfunction, alterations that are reflected in brain plasticity in regions such as the prefrontal cortex and the limbic area. Despite the growing interest in pain-related cognitive deficits, little is known about the relationship between the emotional valence of the stimulus and the salience of its memory following painful injuries. We used the tibia fracture model of chronic pain in mice to determine whether pleasant and unpleasant odor location memories differ in their salience seven weeks following the onset of the painful injury. Our results indicate that injured mice show a bias toward recalling unpleasant memories, thereby propagating the vicious cycle of chronic pain and negative affect. Next, we linked these behavioral differences to mechanisms of molecular plasticity by measuring the levels of global methylation and hydroxymethylation in the olfactory bulb. Compared to controls, global methylation levels were shown to be increased, while hydroxymethylation levels were decreased in the olfactory bulb of injured mice, indicative of overall changes in DNA regulation machinery and the subsequent alterations in sensory systems.
Microaggression Research and Application: Clarifications, Corrections, and Common Ground
Authors: Lilienfeld Scott O.
Published: August 2019

In this issue, Williams (pp. 3–26) responds to my 2017 critique in this journal of the scientific status of the microaggression research program (MRP). In some cases, she presents helpful data that partially address several of my recommendations for enhancing the MRP’s rigor. Nevertheless, because she appears to misconstrue many of my arguments regarding the MRP, many of her rebuttals are not relevant to my criticisms. Furthermore, her assertions notwithstanding, Williams does not effectively address my concerns regarding the (a) excessively fuzzy boundaries of the microaggression construct, (b) psychometric hazards of relying exclusively on subjective reports when detecting microaggressions, and (c) hypothesized causal impact of microaggressions on mental health. In other cases, Williams appears to draw causal inferences from correlational data and conflate within-group with between-group differences. Although several of Williams’s recommendations for MRP research are worth considering, I contend that some others are unlikely to be conducive to a scientific approach to microaggressions. The MRP remains a promising but provisional research program that would benefit from greater openness to outside criticism. I conclude with a discussion of areas of potential common ground in microaggression research and application.
Targeting of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract for MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment of essential tremor
Authors: Miller Timothy R , Zhuo Jiachen , Eisenberg Howard M , Fishman Paul S , Melhem Elias R , Gullapalli Rao , Gandhi Dheeraj
Published: August 2019

Background

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation of the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus is a safe and effective treatment for medically refractory essential tremor. However, indirect targeting of the ventral intermediate nucleus using stereotactic coordinates from normal neuroanatomy can be inefficient. We therefore evaluated the feasibility of supplementing this method with direct targeting of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract.

Methods

We retrospectively identified four patients undergoing magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation for essential tremor in which preoperative diffusion tractography imaging of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract was fused with T2 weighted-imaging and utilized for intra-procedural targeting. The size and location of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract and 24-hour lesion, as well as the center of the stereotactic coordinates, was evaluated. Finally, the amount of overlap between the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract and the lesion was calculated.

Results

The 24-hour lesion size was homogeneous in the cohort (mean 31.3 mm2, range 30–32 mm2), while there was substantial variation in the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract area (mean 14.3 mm2, range 3–24 mm2). The center of the stereotactic coordinates and dentato-rubro-thalamic tract diverged by more than 1 mm in mediolateral and anterposterior directions in all patients, while the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract and lesion centers were in close proximity (mean mediolateral separation 1 mm, range 0.1–2.2 mm; mean anteroposterior separation 0.75 mm, range 0.4–1.2 mm). There was greater than 50% coverage of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract by the lesion in all patients (mean 82.9%, range 66.7–100%). All patients experienced durable tremor relief.

Conclusion

Direct targeting of the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract using diffusion tractography imaging fused to T2 weighted-imaging may be a useful strategy for focused ultrasound treatment of essential tremor. Further investigation of the technique is warranted.
The Recognition of Solid Object Shape: The Importance of Inhomogeneity
Authors: Norman J. Farley , Wheeler Sydney P. , Pedersen Lauren E. , Shain Lindsey M. , Kinnard Jonathan D. , Lenoir Joel
Published: August 2019

A single experiment evaluated the haptic-visual cross-modal matching of solid object shape. One set of randomly shaped artificial objects was used (sinusoidally modulated spheres, SMS) as well as two sets of naturally shaped objects (bell peppers, Capsicum annuum and sweet potatoes, Ipomoea batatas). A total of 66 adults participated in the study. The participants’ task was to haptically explore a single object on any particular trial and subsequently indicate which of 12 simultaneously visible objects possessed the same shape. The participants’ performance for the natural objects was 60.9 and 78.7 percent correct for the bell peppers and sweet potatoes, respectively. The analogous performance for the SMS objects, while better than chance, was far worse (18.6 percent correct). All of these types of stimulus objects possess a rich geometrical structure (e.g., they all possess multiple elliptic, hyperbolic, and parabolic surface regions). Nevertheless, these three types of stimulus objects are perceived differently: Individual members of sweet potatoes and bell peppers are largely identifiable to human participants, while the individual SMS objects are not. Analyses of differential geometry indicate that these natural objects (e.g., bell peppers and sweet potatoes) possess heterogeneous spatial configurations of distinctly curved surface regions, and this heterogeneity is lacking in SMS objects. The current results therefore suggest that increases in surface structure heterogeneity facilitate human object recognition.
Clostridioides difficile therapeutics: guidelines and beyond
Authors: Orenstein Robert , Patron Roberto L.
Published: August 2019

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has become an increasingly common infection both within and outside of the hospital setting. The management of this infection has been evolving as we learn more about the role of the human microbiota in protecting us from this gastrointestinal opportunist. For many years the focus of treatment had been on eradication of the vegetative, toxin-producing form of the organism, with little regard for its collateral impact on the host’s microbiota or risk of recurrence. With the marked increase in C. difficile disease, and, particularly, recurrent disease in the last decade, new guidelines are more focused on targeting and reducing collateral damage to the colonic microbiota. Immune-based strategies that manipulate the microbiota and provide a humoral response to toxins have now become mainstream. Newer strategies are needed to look beyond simply resolving the primary episode but are focused on delayed outcomes such as cure at 90 days, reduced morbidity and mortality, and patient quality of life. The purpose of this review is to familiarize readers with the most recent evidence-based guidelines for C. difficile management, and to describe the role of newer antimicrobials, immunological-, and microbiota-based therapeutics to prevent recurrence and improve the outcomes of people with CDI.
Exploring the Relationship Between Kindergarteners’ Buddy Reading and Individual Comprehension of Interactive App Books
Authors: Wang X. Christine , Christ Tanya , Chiu Ming Ming , Strekalova-Hughes Ekaterina
Published: August 2019

Interactive app books are increasingly part of young children’s literacy ecosystem. However, most previous studies examined buddy reading with traditional print books or CD-ROM books. Little is known about whether and how buddy reading with app books might be related to subsequent individual reading. To address this, informed by multimodal literacy and sociocultural theories, we investigated how 53 kindergarteners’ (ages 5–6 years) buddy reading behaviors were related to their subsequent individual reading behaviors and comprehension outcomes while reading app books. Multivariate mixed response analysis yielded these findings: (1) buddy reading monitoring behaviors (asked questions, drew attention to book content, debated, or negotiated) were associated with higher inference/critical thinking and vocabulary meaning generation scores; (2) buddies who read in triads had lower individual-prompted retelling scores than buddies who read in dyads. The findings highlight the importance of promoting monitoring during buddy reading and paying attention to group size.
Clinical course of biliary-type sphincter of Oddi dysfunction: endoscopic sphincterotomy and functional dyspepsia as affecting factors
Authors: Miyatani Hiroyuki , Mashima Hirosato , Sekine Masanari , Matsumoto Satohiro
Published: August 2019

Background and study aims:

The objective of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of treatment selection for biliary-type sphincter of Oddi dysfunction by severe pain frequency and the risk factors for recurrence including the history of functional gastrointestinal disorder.

Patients and methods:

Thirty-six sphincter of Oddi dysfunction patients who were confirmed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography enrolled in this study. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed for type I and manometry-confirmed type II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction patients with severe pain (⩾2 times/year; endoscopic sphincterotomy group). Others were treated medically (non-endoscopic sphincterotomy group).

Results:

The short-term effectiveness rate of endoscopic sphincterotomy was 91%. The final remission rates of the endoscopic sphincterotomy and non-endoscopic sphincterotomy groups were 86% and 100%, respectively. Symptoms relapsed after endoscopic sphincterotomy in 32% of patients. Patients in the endoscopic sphincterotomy and non-endoscopic sphincterotomy groups had or developed functional dyspepsia in 41% and 14%, irritable bowel syndrome in 5% and 14%, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder in 14% and 0%, respectively. History or new onset of functional dyspepsia was related to recurrence on multivariate analysis. The frequency of occurrence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography cholangitis was high in both groups. Two new occurrences of bile duct stone cases were observed in each group.

Conclusion:

According to the treatment criteria, endoscopic and medical treatment for biliary-type sphincter of Oddi dysfunction has high effectiveness, but recurrences are common. Recurrences may be related to new onset or a history of functional dyspepsia.
Marine controlled-source electromagnetic of the Scarborough gas field — Part 3: Multicomponent 2D magnetotelluric/controlled-source electromagnetic inversions
Authors: Constable Steven , Orange Arnold , Myer David
Published: August 2019

We carried out a multicomponent electromagnetic (EM) survey of the Scarborough gas field in 950 m water on the northwest Australian shelf. Magnetotelluric (MT) data, along with transmitter inline horizontal electric (Ey), vertical electric (Ez), and horizontal magnetic (Bx) field controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) data were collected. The Scarborough reservoir is a challenging EM target because it lies between a resistive overlying siltstone and a resistive basement. We carried out 2D inversions of various data combinations to determine how well they recover the expected geology. In particular, we examined the value of the vertical electric CSEM fields. Individual inversions of the Ey and Bx components generate almost identical models, suggesting that these two data sets do not carry independent data, although model studies suggest that this may not be the case in shallower water. Both models smear the siltstone, reservoir, and basement resistors together. The Ez-only inversion includes a resistor with a clear lateral extent at reservoir depths that is separated from basement, but when combined with other CSEM components, Ez provides only marginal improvements in resolution. Not surprisingly, an MT-only inversion is blind to the thin reservoir resistor but combined with CSEM data produces a clear separation of the reservoir from the basement. The combination of Ey, MT, and Ez also separates the siltstone horizon from the reservoir. The sensitivity of MT to horizontal conductivity makes it a powerful complement to the standard Ey CSEM data. The Ez CSEM component adds some value, but perhaps not commensurate with the logistical costs of data collection. The horizontal magnetic CSEM field appears to add little value at these water depths, but if simultaneous MT data are being collected, this component will be available at little cost.
T-Cell Receptor Gene Therapy for Human Papillomavirus–Associated Epithelial Cancers: A First-in-Human, Phase I/II Study
Authors: Doran Stacey L. , Stevanović Sanja , Adhikary Sabina , Gartner Jared J. , Jia Li , Kwong Mei Li M. , Faquin William C. , Hewitt Stephen M. , Sherry Richard M. , Yang James C. , Rosenberg Steven A. , Hinrichs Christian S.
Published: August 2019

PURPOSE

Genetically engineered T-cell therapy is an emerging treatment of hematologic cancers with potential utility in epithelial cancers. We investigated T-cell therapy for the treatment of metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)–associated epithelial cancers.

METHODS

This phase I/II, single-center trial enrolled patients with metastatic HPV16-positive cancer from any primary tumor site who had received prior platinum-based therapy. Treatment consisted of autologous genetically engineered T cells expressing a T-cell receptor directed against HPV16 E6 (E6 T-cell receptor T cells), a conditioning regimen, and systemic aldesleukin.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were treated in the study. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the phase I portion. Two patients, both in the highest-dose cohort, experienced objective tumor responses. A patient with three lung metastases experienced complete regression of one tumor and partial regression of two tumors, which were subsequently resected; she has no evidence of disease 3 years after treatment. All patients demonstrated high levels of peripheral blood engraftment with E6 T-cell receptor T cells 1 month after treatment (median, 30%; range, 4% to 53%). One patient’s resistant tumor demonstrated a frameshift deletion in interferon gamma receptor 1, which mediates response to interferon gamma, an essential molecule for T-cell–mediated antitumor activity. Another patient’s resistant tumor demonstrated loss of HLA-A*02:01, the antigen presentation molecule required for this therapy. A tumor from a patient who responded to treatment did not demonstrate genetic defects in interferon gamma response or antigen presentation.

CONCLUSION

Engineered T cells can induce regression of epithelial cancer. Tumor resistance was observed in the context of T-cell programmed death-1 expression and defects in interferon gamma and antigen presentation pathway components. These findings have important implications for development of cellular therapy in epithelial cancers.