bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pseudohypertriglyceridemia: A Novel Case with Important Clinical Implications
Authors: Rughani Ankur , Blick Kenneth , Pang Hui , Marin Monica , Meyer Jonathan , Tryggestad Jeanie B.
Published: August 2020

Pseudohypertriglyceridemia is an overestimation of serum triglyceride levels that may incorrectly lead to a diagnosis of hypertriglyceridemia. Glycerol kinase deficiency is a condition in which glycerol cannot be phosphorylated to glycerol-3-phosphate, resulting in elevated levels of serum glycerol. Laboratory assays that measure triglycerides indirectly may be affected by elevated glyerol levels and incorrectly report serum tryglyceride levels. We present a case of a novel missense mutation in the GK gene leading to isolated glycerol kinase deficiency and pseudohypertriglyceridemia in a male infant of a mother with gestational diabetes. This paper reviews glycerol kinase deficiency, describes the challenges in diagnosing pseudohypertriglyceridemia, and provides suggestions on improving diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, a potential maternal-fetal interaction between gestational diabetes and glycerol kinase deficiency is discussed.
Value of Liver Regeneration in Predicting Short‐Term Prognosis for Patients with Hepatitis B‐Related Acute‐on‐Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Sun Mengying , Yang Xianjun , Gao Liucun , Weng Min , Yang Dehui , Li Hongyong , Zhou Xiaolei , Li Jiani , Qin Sen , Zhou Dejiang , Wu Xiaoling , Tang Shanhong , Zeng Weizheng
Published: August 2020

Background and Aims. The value of hepatocyte regeneration in predicting the outcomes of hepatitis B‐related acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (HBV‐ACLF) is not fully assessed. The present study was aimed at establishing a novel scoring system to predict patients’ outcomes within 3 months by applying serological indicators of hepatic regeneration and liver injury. Methods. Patients with chronic hepatitis B who had a rapid deterioration were investigated. Patients were observed for 90 days, and the endpoint of follow‐up was death or liver transplantation. Serum parameters were estimated on the diagnosis of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF). Cox proportional hazard regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors and create a novel prognostic scoring system, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the performance of the model. Results. A total of 308 patients with HBV‐ACLF were incorporated and divided into the training cohort (n = 206) and testing cohort (n = 102) randomly. Creatine (Cre), age, total bilirubin (TBil), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), and international normalized ratio (INR) were found to be independent prognostic factors. According to the results of Cox regression analysis, a new prognostic model (we named it the TACIA score) was calculated. The areas under ROC (AUROC) for the new model were 0.861 and 0.763 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively, and patients with lower TACIA scores (<4.34) would survive longer (P < 0.001). Conclusions. A pertinent prognostic scoring system for patients with HBV‐ACLF was established in our study, and the novel model could predict patients’ short‐term survival effectively.
Activity of Combinations of Antioxidants and Anthelmintic Drugs against the Adult Stage of Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Gouveia Maria João , Brindley Paul J. , Gärtner Fátima , Vale Nuno
Published: August 2020

Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease. The treatment and control of schistosomiasis rely on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Despite its efficacy, treatment with PZQ presents some major drawbacks including an inability of the chemotherapy to reverse disease-induced fibrosis and the prospect of the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we investigated a novel therapeutic approach with antioxidant biomolecules in combination with PZQ against the adult developmental stage of Schistosoma mansoni and oviposition in vitro, given that this therapeutic approach achieved synergistic/additive activity against larval schistosomes. The antioxidants curcumin and oxadiazole per se exhibited antischistosomal activity against adult worms leading to severe morphological alterations and death. Additionally, the antioxidant flavone combined with vandetanib or imatinib improved antischistosomal activity against adult forms. By contrast, however, these antioxidant-anthelmintic combinations were not as effective against adults in comparison to larval schistosomes. Nevertheless, the antioxidants alone or combined with drugs inhibited oviposition.
Damage Boundary Study of Crystal Oscillators under Shock Environment
Authors: Zhao Changjian , Zhang Zijun , Xu Zijian , Li Bingwei , Yu Muchun , Niu Zhiling
Published: August 2020

The crystal oscillator is a widely used electronic component in a circuit, whose accuracy is strongly affected by the external mechanical environment. To depict the failure mechanism of the crystal oscillator, the damage boundary of this component under the shock environment is studied experimentally in this paper. Through subjecting “step-up” loads on different groups of crystal oscillators, two failure modes (frequency jumping and structural fracture) are monitored and validated. Experimental results prove that “frequency jumping” failure mode is governed by the value of the acceleration shock response spectrum (ASRS) in a certain frequency range, while the failure mode “structural fracture” is governed by the peak value of the ASRS. Through analyzing the shock response spectrum, damage boundaries are given for these two failure modes, which can provide a reference for component design and failure assessment.
Adherence to Active Surveillance and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules Not Referred for Thyroidectomy
Authors: Gorshtein Alexander , Slutzky-Shraga Ilana , Robenshtok Eyal , Benbassat Carlos , Hirsch Dania
Published: August 2020

Objective: Outcomes of patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules not referred for thyroidectomy have hardly been investigated. We previously reported outcomes of 322 patients with thyroid nodules classified according to the Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytology (BSRTC) as indeterminate (B3/B4), of whom 123 (38.2%) underwent thyroidectomy. In the present extension study, we investigated adherence and outcomes in the remaining unoperated 199 patients. Methods: We conducted a file review of 189/199 patients with thyroid nodules cytologically diagnosed as B3 (n = 174) or B4 (n = 15) in 2011–2012 who were conservatively followed at our institution until 2019. Results: Among 174 patients with B3 nodules, 140 (80.4%) underwent repeated ultrasound. Nodular growth was detected in 23 (16.4%), and findings remained stable in 105 (75%). Fine-needle aspiration was repeated in 88/174 patients (50.6%), with B2 results in 62 (70.4%) and B3/B4/B5 in 20 (22.7%). Thyroidectomy was performed in 14/174 patients (8%) in the B3 and 5/15 patients (33%) in the B4 group at a median of 5 years’ follow-up; thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 4/14 patients (28.5%) and 3/5 patients (60%), respectively. For B3 patients who remained unoperated, none had evidence of thyroid cancer at last follow-up. A reason for avoiding surgery was documented in 6/10 unoperated B4 patients (1 thyroid lymphoma, 3 died of unrelated causes, 2 were considered inoperable due to advanced age). Conclusions: Most patients with initially unoperated B3/B4 nodules adhere, at least partially, to active surveillance. For B3 nodules, subsequent thyroidectomy and thyroid cancer detection are rare events, and patients may be safely managed without using molecular markers. Thyroid cancer is diagnosed in most B4 patients who undergo thyroidectomy in our institution.
Impact of Anti-GPIIb/IIIa Antibody-Producing B Cells as a Predictor of the Response to Lusutrombopag in Thrombocytopenic Patients with Liver Disease
Authors: Wada Naohisa , Uojima Haruki , Satoh Takashi , Okina Sosei , Iwasaki Shuichiro , Shao Xue , Takiguchi Hayato , Arase Yoshitaka , Itokawa Norio , Atsukawa Masanori , Miyazaki Koji , Hidaka Hisashi , Kako Makoto , Kagawa Tatehiro , Iwakiri Katsuhiko , Horie Ryouichi , Suzuki Takahiro , Koizumi Wasaburo
Published: August 2020

Background: To make an accurate estimate of the response to thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonists for thrombocytopenia associated with chronic liver disease, we evaluated the influence of antiplatelet autoantibodies on the response to lusutrombopag in thrombocytopenic patients with liver disease. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at 2 hospitals. Thrombocytopenic patients with liver disease received oral lusutrombopag 3.0 mg once daily for up to 7 days. We analyzed changes in platelet counts from baseline to the maximum platelet count on days 9–14. The definition of clinical response was a platelet count of ≥5 × 104/μL with an increased platelet count of ≥2 × 104/μL from baseline. We assessed the correlation between the response to treatment drug and antiplatelet autoantibodies measured by anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells. Results: Thirty patients received the trial drug. There were 25 responders and 5 nonresponders. The median change in platelet counts was 3.9 × 104/μL (95% CI 2.8–4.6, p < 0.0001). The correlation between change in platelet counts and the frequency of the anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells was moderate (r = 0.414, 95% CI 0.064–0.674, p = 0.023). In multivariate analysis of factors affecting the change in platelet counts, the anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells were identified as an independent factor (regression coefficient [B] = 0.089; CI 0.021–0.157, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody-producing B cells may be a predictor for TPO receptor agonists in patients with chronic liver disease.
Differences in Transforming Growth Factor‐β1/BMP7 Signaling and Venous Fibrosis Contribute to Female Sex Differences in Arteriovenous Fistulas
Authors: Cai Chuanqi , Kilari Sreenivasulu , Singh Avishek K. , Zhao Chenglei , Simeon Michael L. , Misra Avanish , Li Yiqing , Misra Sanjay
Published: August 2020

Background

Women have decreased hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation and patency rates. We determined the mechanisms responsible for the sex‐specific differences in AVF maturation and stenosis formation by performing whole transcriptome RNA sequencing with differential gene expression and pathway analysis, histopathological changes, and in vitro cell culture experiments from male and female smooth muscle cells.

Methods and Results

Mice with chronic kidney disease and AVF were used. Outflow veins were evaluated for gene expression, histomorphometric analysis, Doppler ultrasound, immunohistologic analysis, and fibrosis. Primary vascular smooth muscle cells were collected from female and male aorta vessels. In female AVFs, RNA sequencing with real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in the average gene expression of
BMP7
(bone morphogenetic protein 7) and downstream
IL17Rb (interleukin 17 receptor b)
, with increased transforming growth factor‐β1 (
Tgf‐β1)
and transforming growth factor‐β receptor 1 (
Tgfβ‐r1)
. There was decreased peak velocity, negative vascular remodeling with higher venous fibrosis and an increase in synthetic vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype, decrease in proliferation, and increase in apoptosis in female outflow veins at day 28. In vitro primary vascular smooth muscle cell experiments performed under hypoxic conditions demonstrated, in female compared with male cells, that there was increased gene expression of
Tgf‐β1
,
Tgfβ‐r1
,
and
Col1
with increased migration.

Conclusions

In female AVFs, there is decreased gene expression of
BMP7
and
IL17Rb
with increased
Tgf‐β1
and
Tgfβ‐r1
, and the cellular and vascular differences result in venous fibrosis with negative vascular remodeling.
Neuropathologic and Cognitive Correlates of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in a Community-Based Cohort of Older Adults
Authors: Javierre-Petit Carles , Schneider Julie A. , Kapasi Alifiya , Makkinejad Nazanin , Tamhane Ashish A. , Leurgans Sue E. , Mehta Rupal I. , Barnes Lisa L. , Bennett David A. , Arfanakis Konstantinos
Published: August 2020

Background and Purpose:

Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) have been associated with aging, increased stroke risk, decreased cognitive function, and vascular dementia. However, the relationship of EPVS with age-related neuropathologies is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the neuropathologic correlates of EPVS in a large community-based cohort of older adults. The cognitive correlates of EPVS over and beyond those of other pathologies were also assessed.

Methods:

This study included 654 older deceased and autopsied participants of 3 longitudinal community-based studies of aging that had available data on cognition, ex vivo brain magnetic resonance imaging, and detailed neuropathologic examination. EPVS seen on ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging were histologically validated. Experienced observers rated EPVS burden in ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging using a semiquantitative 4-level scale. Elastic-net regularized ordinal logistic regression was used to investigate associations of EPVS burden with age-related neuropathologies. Mixed-effects models of cognition controlling for neuropathologies, demographics, and clinical factors, were used to determine whether EPVS burden has additional contributions to cognitive decline.

Results:

EPVS burden in the whole group was associated with gross infarcts (odds ratio=1.67,
P
=0.0017) and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio=1.73,
P
=0.004). When considering only nondemented participants (with mild or no cognitive impairment), EPVS burden was associated with gross infarcts (odds ratio=1.74,
P
=0.016) and microscopic infarcts (odds ratio=1.79,
P
=0.013). EPVS burden was associated with faster decline in visuospatial abilities (estimate=−0.009,
P
=0.028), in the whole group, as well as lower levels of semantic memory (estimate=−0.13,
P
=0.048) and visuospatial abilities (estimate=−0.11,
P
=0.016) at the time of death.

Conclusions:

EPVS and infarcts may share similar neurobiological pathways regardless of dementia status. EPVS burden is linked to diabetes mellitus independently of neuropathologies, extending recent findings in animal studies implicating diabetes mellitus in impairment of the glymphatic system. Finally, EPVS burden may reflect additional brain tissue injury that may contribute to cognitive decline, not captured with traditional neuropathologic measures.
A Medieval European Value for the Circumference of the Earth
Authors: Nothaft C. Philipp E.
Published: August 2020

Geographic and astronomical texts from late-medieval Central Europe frequently give 16 German miles, or miliaria teutonica, as the length of a degree of terrestrial latitude. The earliest identifiable author to endorse this equivalence is the Swabian astronomer Heinrich Selder, who wrote about the length of a degree and the circumference of the Earth on several occasions during the 1360s and 1370s. Of particular interest is his claim that he and certain unnamed experimentatores established their preferred value empirically. Based on an analysis of relevant statements in Selder’s extant works and other late-medieval sources, it is argued that this claim is plausible and that the convention 1° = 16 German miles was indeed the result of an independent measurement.
Taxonomic revision of the Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758) and M. littoralis (Holbrook, 1847) (Percomorphacea: Sciaenidae) species complexes from the western Atlantic
Authors: MARCENIUK ALEXANDRE PIRES , CAIRES RODRIGO ANTUNES , ROTUNDO MATHEUS MARCOS , CERQUEIRA NAJILA NOLIE CATARINE DANTAS , SICCHA-RAMIREZ RAQUEL , WOSIACKI WOLMAR BENJAMIN , OLIVEIRA CLAUDIO
Published: August 2020

The genus Menticirrhus is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, where its species are common and abundant in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. The diversity, biogeography, and evolutionary relationships of the Menticirrhus species are still poorly known, due primarily to the difficulty of differentiating the species, given the broad similarities in their external morphology. The present study is based on the analysis of morphological and molecular data, with the examination of type specimens and a comprehensive collection of non-type specimens from an ample geographic range. These analyses indicated that two widely distributed Western Atlantic species, Menticirrhus americanus and M. littoralis, represent species complexes. The M. littoralis species complex is characterized by the absence of dark bars on body side, and a smaller, light-colored pectoral fins, that barely reaching the tip of the depressed pelvic fins, with fewer pectoral-fin rays. This complex includes three species: M. littoralis, found in the Gulf of Mexico, M. gracilis, from the southeastern and southern coast of South America, and a new species, described here, from the northern to eastern Brazilian coast. The M. americanus species complex is characterized by the presence of dark bars on body side, and a large, dark pectoral fin, that surpass the tip of the depressed pelvic fin, with more pectoral-fin rays. This complex has two species, M. americanus, which occurs on the east coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico, and M. martinicensis, found from Caribbean to Argentina, that represents a cryptic allopatric species. An identification key to all species of the genus is presented.
Endothelial Function in Patients With Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Poredos Pavel , Jezovnik Mateja K. , Radovancevic Rajko , Gregoric Igor D.
Published: August 2020

The endothelium plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Shear stress generated by flowing blood regulates the release of substances that provide adequate tissue perfusion. The extent of damage to endothelial cells depends on locally disturbed shear stress caused by the deteriorated flow. Patients with heart failure have reduced cardiac output, which results in reduced blood flow and negative shear stress. Reduced shear stress also affects microcirculation and reduces tissue perfusion. Consequently, the production of free oxygen radicals is increased and bioavailability of nitric oxide is additionally decreased. Therefore, endothelial dysfunction is involved in the progression of heart failure and cardiovascular events. Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are used for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Older pulsatile flow LVADs were mostly substituted by continuous-flow LVADs (cf-LVADs). Despite the advantages of the cf-LVADs, the loss of pulsatility leads to different complications on the micro- and macrovascular levels. One of the pathogenetic mechanisms of cardiovascular complications with cf-LVADs may be endothelial dysfunction, which after the implantation of the device does not improve and may even deteriorate. In contrast, the pulsatile pattern of LVADs on blood flow could preserve endothelial function.
Modulatory Effect of Glycated Collagen on Oral Streptococcal Nanoadhesion
Authors: Schuh C.M.A.P. , Benso B. , Naulin P.A. , Barrera N.P. , Bozec L. , Aguayo S.
Published: August 2020

Biofilm-mediated oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease remain highly prevalent in populations worldwide. Biofilm formation initiates with the attachment of primary colonizers onto surfaces, and in the context of caries, the adhesion of oral streptococci to dentinal collagen is crucial for biofilm progression. It is known that dentinal collagen suffers from glucose-associated crosslinking as a function of aging or disease; however, the effect of collagen crosslinking on the early adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation of relevant oral streptococci remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the impact of collagen glycation on the initial adhesion of primary colonizers such as Streptococcus mutans UA159 and Streptococcus sanguinis SK 36, as well as its effect on the early stages of streptococcal biofilm formation in vitro. Type I collagen matrices were crosslinked with either glucose or methylglyoxal. Atomic force microscopy nanocharacterization revealed morphologic and mechanical changes within the collagen matrix as a function of crosslinking, such as a significantly increased elastic modulus in crosslinked fibrils. Increased nanoadhesion forces were observed for S. mutans on crosslinked collagen surfaces as compared with the control, and retraction curves obtained for both streptococcal strains demonstrated nanoscale unbinding behavior consistent with bacterial adhesin-substrate coupling. Overall, glucose-crosslinked substrates specifically promoted the initial adhesion, biofilm formation, and insoluble extracellular polysaccharide production of S. mutans, while methylglyoxal treatment reduced biofilm formation for both strains. Changes in the adhesion behavior and biofilm formation of oral streptococci as a function of collagen glycation could help explain the biofilm dysbiosis seen in older people and patients with diabetes. Further studies are necessary to determine the influence of collagen crosslinking on the balance between acidogenic and nonacidogenic streptococci to aid in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic treatment against dental caries in these patients.
Housing affordability sets us apart: The effect of rising housing prices on relocation behaviour
Authors: Winke Tim
Published: August 2020

Life course events such as new offspring or job loss affect a household’s demand for housing. At the same time, dynamics in the real estate market constrain where households find affordable housing. In a quasi-experimental design, this study examines the effect of increasing local housing prices on the relocation behaviour of low- and medium-income households. Difference-in-difference panel regressions using propensity score matching show that with rising local rental prices, low-income households are more likely to remain in their current housing and sustain higher levels of housing cost burden. If they move, they relocate further out of the city centre and to neighbourhoods with high unemployment rates. Rising housing markets facilitate socio-spatial segregation as middle-income households remain in economically better-off neighbourhoods. The findings highlight the additional costs of increasing housing prices in terms of the misallocation of housing and the spatial concentration of vulnerable households at the outskirts of cities.
The Rights of Woman and the Equal Rights of Men
Authors: Green Karen
Published: August 2020

While standard histories of Western political thought represent women’s rights as an offshoot of the earlier movement for the equal rights of men, this essay argues that the eighteenth-century push for democracy and equal rights was grounded in arguments first used to defend women’s right to moral and religious self-determination, based on their rational and spiritual equality with men. In tandem with the rise of critiques of absolute monarchy, ideal marriage, which had previously involved lordship and subjection, was transformed into an equal companionate relationship based on inclination and affection. The essay argues that the transformation, by the time of the American and French revolutions, of neo-Roman republicanism—which had been aristocratic and oligarchic—into egalitarian, democratic republicanism had been mediated by the extension of arguments, widely distributed in the literature criticizing the slavery of marriage, into a general critique of slavery and support for the equal rights of men.
The Dynamic Role of Emotional Intelligence on the Relationship Between Emotional Labor and Job Satisfaction: A Comparison Study of Public Service in China and South Korea
Authors: Lu Xiaojun , Lee Hyun Jung , Yang Seung-Bum , Song Min Hye
Published: August 2020

Today, research on emotional labor in public service has been growing both in China and South Korea; however, few studies have explored the management–performance relationship between countries with similar cultures. This study provides a new case for the comparative public management domain by conducting empirical research on two countries with similar cultures and clarifying the existing literature on the relationship between the dimensions of emotional labor and job satisfaction with emotional intelligence as the mediating role. Samples from public service employees were collected. The findings reveal that, among the dimensions of emotional intelligence, emotional self-regulation emerges as the sole important mediating variable in the relationship between the two countries.
The Effect of Housing Circumstances on Recidivism: Evidence From a Sample of People on Probation in San Francisco
Authors: Jacobs Leah A. , Gottlieb Aaron
Published: August 2020

The relationships between housing circumstances and recidivism are well established among people released from prison. Despite probation being far more common than prison or parole, we know little about living situations, homelessness, and residential instability among people on probation, and we know even less regarding how these housing circumstances may affect their risk of recidivism. Using a unique dataset of 2,453 people on probation and longitudinal analyses, this study finds that housing insecurity is common and is associated with an increased risk of recidivism among people on probation, above and beyond an array of other recidivism risk factors. Furthermore, we find housing effects are particularly strong for relatively low risk people and for relatively low-severity offenses (i.e., property crimes, minor crimes, and revocations). Interventions that increase housing access for people on probation may reduce recidivism, especially for those who are relatively low risk and low-level reoffending.
The Myth of Islamic Heritage versus Authentic Tradition
Authors: Allahham Abeer
Published: August 2020

In the last few decades, Islamic urban heritage has emerged as a concept associated with notions of national and cultural identity. However, if we distinguish between heritage, in its contemporary sense, and the inherited, the question is, does all the inherited constitute heritage? Can we form heritage by selecting from history? As argued in this article, the contemporary notion of Islamic urban heritage was manufactured in a selective, politicized manner to serve, among its objectives, the process of instituting a national identity that embraces capitalist mechanisms and aims to maintain its power structure. It is a politicized process that empties history and tradition from their authenticity to create an image of the past, one that has never existed. It is simply a falsification of the past, or a simulacrum.
Observer-based robust control for flexible-joint robot manipulators: A state-dependent Riccati equation-based approach
Authors: Nasiri Neda , Fakharian Ahmad , Menhaj Mohammad Bagher
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the robust control problem is tackled by employing the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) for uncertain systems with unmeasurable states subject to mismatched time-varying disturbances. The proposed observer-based robust (OBR) controller is applied to two highly nonlinear, coupled and large robotic systems: namely a manipulator presenting joint flexibility due to deformation of the power transmission elements between the actuator and the robot known as flexible-joint robot (FJR) and also an FJR incorporating geared permanent magnet DC motor dynamics in its dynamic model called electrical flexible-joint robot (EFJR). A novel state-dependent coefficient (SDC) form is introduced for uncertain EFJRs. Rather than coping with the OBR control problem for such complex uncertain robotic systems, the main idea is to solve an equivalent nonlinear optimal control problem where the uncertainty and disturbance bounds are incorporated in the performance index. The stability proof is presented. Solving the complicated robust control problem for FJRs and EFJRs subject to uncertainty and disturbances via a simple and flexible nonlinear optimal approach and no need of state measurement are the main advantages of the proposed control method. Finally, simulation results are included to verify the efficiency and superiority of the control scheme.
Binding of the synaptic vesicle radiotracer [11C]UCB-J is unchanged during functional brain activation using a visual stimulation task
Authors: Smart Kelly , Liu Heather , Matuskey David , Chen Ming-Kai , Torres Kristen , Nabulsi Nabeel , Labaree David , Ropchan Jim , Hillmer Ansel T , Huang Yiyun , Carson Richard E
Published: August 2020

The positron emission tomography radioligand [11C]UCB-J binds to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 A (SV2A), a regulator of vesicle release. Increased neuronal firing could potentially affect tracer concentrations if binding site availability is altered during vesicle exocytosis. This study assessed whether physiological brain activation induces changes in [11C]UCB-J tissue influx ( K1), volume of distribution ( VT), or binding potential ( BPND). Healthy volunteers ( n = 7) underwent 60-min [11C]UCB-J PET scans at baseline and during intermittent presentation of 8-Hz checkerboard visual stimulation. Sensitivity to intermittent changes in kinetic parameters was assessed in simulations, and visual stimulation was repeated using functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize neural responses. VT  and K1 were determined using the one-tissue compartment model and BPND using the simplified reference tissue model. In primary visual cortex, K1 increased 34.3 ± 15.5% ( p = 0.001) during stimulation, with no change in other regions ( ps  >  0.12). K1 change was correlated with fMRI BOLD response (r = 0.77, p = 0.043). There was no change in VT (−3.9 ± 8.8%, p =  0.33) or BPND (−0.2 ± 9.6%, p =  0.94) in visual cortex nor other regions ( ps  >  0.19). Therefore, despite robust increases in regional tracer influx due to blood flow increases, binding measures were unchanged during stimulation. [11C]UCB-J VT and BPND are likely to be stable in vivo measures of synaptic density.
Medical disposals and problem solving: About high blood pressure in Morocco
Authors: Tantchou Josiane Carine
Published: August 2020

In this article, I analyze how in basic health-care facilities in Morocco, general practitioners transform patients’ problems into solvable problems, taking into account constraints related to medical standards, financial issues, the organization of the health system, and care. My focus is on hypertension, or high blood pressure. I argue that standards allow the solving of patients’ problems through the production of an entity called high blood pressure. However, the ‘high blood pressure’ enacted is different from the entity defined by standards. Fragments of the latter, borrowed from other contexts, are put to work in Morocco, while the material arrangements needed to enforce and have them work without discontinuities do not exist. This contributes to the production of an entity configured at a moment in time between standards and patients’ lives.
Operative Treatment of Acute Patellar Tendon Ruptures
Authors: O’Dowd James A. , Lehoang David M. , Butler Rebecca R. , Dewitt David O. , Mirzayan Raffy
Published: August 2020

Background:

The gold standard for patellar tendon repair is a transosseous technique. Suture anchor repair has gained popularity, with recent biomechanical studies demonstrating significantly less gap formation during cyclic loading and significantly higher ultimate failure loads as compared with transosseous repair. These findings have not been substantiated in a large clinical cohort.

Purpose:

To report demographic and epidemiologic data, clinical and surgical findings, and outcomes and complications of anchor and transosseous suture repairs of acute patellar tendon ruptures.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

All patients who underwent a primary repair of a traumatic patellar tendon rupture within 45 days of injury between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgery was performed at a multisurgeon (120 surgeons) multicenter (14 centers) community-based integrated health care system. Patient demographic information, repair type, complications, and time from surgery to release from medical care were recorded.

Results:

A total of 361 patients (374 knees) met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 39.8 years (range, 9-86 years), and 91.7% were male. There were 321 transosseous and 53 anchor repairs. There was no significant difference in the mean age ( P = .27), sex ( P = .79), tourniquet time ( P = .93), or body mass index ( P = .78) between the groups. There was a significant difference in rerupture rate between transosseous and anchor repairs (7.5% vs 0%, respectively; P = .034). Based on logistic regression, transosseous repair had 3.24 times the odds of reoperation verseus anchor repair (95% CI, 0.757-13.895; P = .1129). The infection rate was 1.6% for transosseous repair and 7.5% for anchor repair ( P = .160). There was no difference in time to release from medical care: 18.4 weeks for anchor and 17.1 weeks for transosseous repairs ( P = .92).

Conclusion:

Anchor repair demonstrated a significant decrease in rerupture rate when compared with transosseous repair. There was no difference in reoperation rate, infection rate, or time to release from medical care.
At the crossroads of Marxism and structuralism in modern Polish literary theory (1918–1939): The case of Warsaw and Vilnius student circles
Authors: Ulicka Danuta
Published: August 2020

In this paper, I aim to determine the place of Marxism in Polish literary studies of the 20th century. The starting point is (1) Czesław Miłosz’s comment on the identity of Marxism and structuralism; (2) the absence of the term ‘Marxism’ in the names of Polish workers’ parties and pro-Marxist academic discourse (except an insignificant short period directly after the Second World War when Marxist rhetoric prevailed). Referring to political history, I suggest an explanation of this state of affairs, revealing the function of Marxism under different names in philosophical texts from the beginning of the 20th century. To support my argument, I draw on documents from the newly discovered archive of Dawid Hopensztand. I use this archive to reconstruct his social biography and justify the main thesis about the permanent presence of Marxism in the works of such thinkers as Leszek Kołakowski, Zygmunt Bauman, and even Czesław Miłosz.
Parents, Products, and the Development of Preferences: Child Palate and Food Choice in an Obesogenic Environment
Authors: Cornwell T. Bettina , Setten Eric , Paik Sung-Hee W. , Pappu Ravi
Published: August 2020

Food systems and the ways food products are formulated, packaged, and marketed contribute to obesogenic environments. The current research focuses on products informally referred to as junk food (foods high in sugar, fat, and salt) and how they function as a mechanism in developing taste preferences in children three to five years old. Across two studies, the authors examine how parents’ taste preferences, their lay theories of self-control, and their resulting decisions about foods to provide to their children are associated with their children’s taste preferences and consumption of healthy food. Using a parent survey, Study 1 examines how parent preferences and exposure to junk food contribute to the development of child food preferences. Study 2, which is based on a parent survey and observation of child meals out of home, confirms Study 1 findings. Furthermore, Study 2 shows how parental lay theories and parental decisions regarding junk food provided to a child are related to the child’s consumption of vegetables. Implications for food brands, policy, and parents are discussed.
Exploring Social Media Rumination: Associations With Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Distress
Authors: Parris Leandra , Lannin Daniel G. , Hynes Keeley , Yazedjian Ani
Published: August 2020

In this study, we examined students’ perceptions of peer aggression occurring within their school environment and how these perceptions are interconnected with both social media rumination and distress. Social media usage is associated with a range of negative mental health and interpersonal outcomes for adolescents. Social media use can increase youth’s vulnerability to peer victimization and psychosocial difficulties. In addition, ruminating when sad or stressed has been linked to elevated distress for youth experiencing peer aggression. Yet rumination specifically regarding social media activities has not been investigated in relation to peer aggression and distress, nor has the degree to which students perceive peer aggression occurring at school been included in these investigations. Participants were 169 high school students (age, M = 15.89, SD = .87), largely identifying as Black/African American and female, who completed surveys as part of a larger program working with at-risk youth in a Midwestern, urban city. We found that social media rumination mediated the relationship between perceptions of bullying at school and feelings of distress, but mediation was not supported when examining student perceptions of cyberbullying frequency and youth distress. In the case of bullying, rumination may disrupt other forms of coping—such as positive cognitive distractions—that would ameliorate symptoms of distress. Furthermore, we present evidence that social media rumination is experienced by, and has different influences on, youth. We highlight the need for differentiated intervention and prevention efforts regarding these two forms of peer aggression. Future research may be justified to examine these possibilities.
Postprocessing method-induced mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites
Authors: Hoang Van-Tho , Kwon Bo-Seong , Sung Jung-Won , Choe Hyeon-Seok , Oh Se-Woon , Lee Sang-Min , Kweon Jin-Hwe , Nam Young-Woo
Published: August 2020

Promising carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CF/polyetherketoneketone (PEKK)) composites were fabricated by the state-of-the-art technology known as “Automated Fiber Placement.” The mechanical properties of CF/PEKK were evaluated for four different postprocessing methods: in situ consolidation, annealing, vacuum bag only (VBO), and hot press (HP). The evaluation was performed by narrowing down the relevant processing parameters (temperature and layup speed). Furthermore, the void content and crystallinity of CF/PEKK were measured to determine the effect of these postprocessing processes. The HP process resulted in the best quality with the highest interlaminar shear strength, highest crystallinity degree, and lowest void content. The second most effective method was VBO, and annealing also realized an improvement compared with in situ consolidation. The correlation between the postprocessing method and the void content and crystallinity degree was also discussed.
A method to improve the productivity of legged manipulators performing on-site manufacturing tasks on large-scale structures
Authors: Hu Yuan , Guo Weizhong , Chen Hao , Jing Xiaolong
Published: August 2020

Legged manipulators that combine legged robots with manipulators have emerged as a new solution to large-scale structure on-site manufacturing tasks. However, the productivity of legged manipulators is strongly affected by the positioning and repositioning process. This paper aims to improve the productivity of legged manipulators by reducing the required positioning and repositioning times. By treating a legged manipulator that attaches all feet to the ground as a virtual parallel robot, the workspace of the on-board manipulator can be enlarged while the end-effector maintains the motion precision. By choosing working positions that enable a legged manipulator to cover more processing regions with the enlarged workspace at a time, the required positioning and repositioning times can be reduced. The proposed method is implemented through a variant of a genetic algorithm to find the minimum set of working positions that enable a hexapod manipulator to accomplish welding tasks on a large-scale structure. Simulation results show that the required working positions of the hexapod manipulator are reduced significantly and thus higher productivity can be obtained. The flowchart to implement the proposed method is expected to improve the productivity of other kinds of legged manipulators that perform on-site manufacturing tasks.
Harnaś-3, new generation of aerobatic airplane, comprehensive structure strength analysis
Authors: Grendysa Wojciech , Jonas Marek
Published: August 2020

The object of the static strength analysis presented in the following paper is an aerobatic airplane Harnaś-3. It is a new generation of an aerobatic airplane and its unusual arrangement makes it possible to make aerobatic maneuvers that are not possible to do by other airplanes. The untypical arrangement of the aerobatic plane Harnaś-3 causes that the strength analysis of its structure is particularly complex. A spatially developed structure requires a comprehensive approach, taking into account both the specific properties of composite materials and the need to analyze the strength ratio for various cases of external loads, appropriate for aviation regulations. The methodology presented in this article allowed to improve the structure of the Harnaś-3 aircraft to reach the weight of a complete structure of only 235 kg, which allows building an aircraft lighter than the competitors.
What is storytime good for and what makes storytime good? A survey of public library directors
Authors: Cahill Maria , Joo Soohyung , Howard Mary , Ingraham Dwyer Janet , King-Oaks Krista , Yates Beth
Published: August 2020

This article reports on the findings from a nationwide survey designed to investigate the perceptions of public library directors with regard to storytime programs. The results indicate that public library directors identify a number of reasons why storytime is important; prime among those are for encouraging children’s enjoyment of books, promoting children’s early literacy skills, and attracting patrons who might otherwise not participate in library services. The findings suggest that public library directors do not fully recognize how storytime programs might contribute to school readiness. Further, differences in library inputs to support storytime point to disparities based on library size. The implications for practice, education, and research are discussed.
Immunosuppressive therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus associated peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review
Authors: Constantin Alexandru , Năstase Daniela , Tulbă Delia , Bălănescu Paul , Băicuș Cristian
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Peripheral neurologic manifestations may be associated with most of the collagen vascular diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet most of the times it is not clear what therapy should be prescribed. EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus with neuropsychiatric manifestations suggest the use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of SLE associated peripheral neuropathy (PN) (strength of statement A, category of evidence 1), however these recommendations are based on studies that did not focus specifically on PN but rather on neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE out of which only one was a randomized controlled clinical trial that included 7 patients with peripheral neuropathy. The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether the pathogenic treatments (corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, intravenous immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis) are effective for SLE associated PN.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE for all the studies that included the pathogenic treatment of SLE associated PN. The purpose was to identify randomized clinical trials, and in the absence of these, we included observational studies and case reports or case series.

Results

The search returned only retrospective case reports or case series. Only one prospective study, a randomized controlled study, was focused on neuropsychiatric SLE and included few patients with PN (7). Some studies reported cases of PN responsive to glucocorticoids (GC), cyclophosphamide (CYC), rituximab (RTX), azathioprine (AZA), plasmapheresis (PPH), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or different combinations of these immunosuppressive agents, whereas others noticed effectiveness of sequential treatments (i.e. administration of a therapeutic agent after another single agent or a combination of agents had previously failed). Many studies did not mention how the outcomes were objectively measured.

Conclusions

There are no interventional studies dedicated to the SLE associated PN, only retrospective case reports or case series which not only did they show contradictory results, but they also represent the lowest level of evidence. There is a strong need for new analytical studies dedicated to SLE associated PN. Protocol registered with PROSPERO (number CRD42019121748).
Development and validation of SYBR Green- and probe-based reverse-transcription real-time PCR assays for detection of the S and M segments of Schmallenberg virus
Authors: Azkur Ahmet Kursat , van der Poel Wim H. M. , Aksoy Emel , Hakze-van der Honing Renate , Yildirim Murat , Yıldız Kader
Published: August 2020

Schmallenberg virus (SBV), discovered in Germany in 2011, causes congenital malformations in ruminants. Reverse-transcription real-time PCR (RT-rtPCR) assays based on various segments of SBV have been developed for molecular detection. We developed alternative RT-rtPCR assays for SBV detection to avoid earlier reported mutations and hypervariable regions of the S and M segments of the viral genome. For SYBR Green-based detection of the S segment, the R2 value and efficiency of the developed assay were 0.99 and 99%, respectively. For probe-based S segment detection, 2 assays were developed; the first had an R2 value of 0.99 and 102% efficiency, and the second had a R2 value of 0.98 and 86% efficiency. The probe-based M segment assay had an R2 value of 1.00 and 103% efficiency. Detection limits of the RT-rtPCR assays with new primer sets were 102 and 101 copies/µL for the S and M segments, respectively. Field samples from cattle and sheep were also used for primary validation of the developed assays. Our assays should be suitable for SBV detection in ruminants and for in vitro studies of various SBV strains.
Toward a Practice-Informed Agenda for Hospice Intervention Research: What Are Staff Members’ Biggest Challenges?
Authors: Washington Karla T. , Alaniz Staner Leticia M. , Collie Benjamin E. , Craig Kevin W. , Demiris George , Oliver Debra Parker
Published: August 2020

The translation of evidence-based interventions into routine hospice care is impeded by numerous barriers, including a disconnect between research priorities and clinical care. To inform the development of a more practice-informed agenda for hospice intervention research, our team conducted a qualitative descriptive study, posing the following research questions: 1) How do hospice staff members describe their most significant work-related challenges? and 2) What regulatory changes do hospice staff members report would most improve hospice care? To answer these research questions, we interviewed 22 hospice staff members and then conducted a template analysis of the interview content. In doing so, we identified themes that described challenges in 5 key areas: time, documentation, professional roles, recruitment and retention, and burn-out. In addition, we identified a perceived need among hospice staff members for more regulatory flexibility and clarity. Based on our findings, we conclude that a practice-informed agenda for hospice intervention research includes the development and testing of interventions that increase efficiency, explicitly speak to the humanity of hospice care, and elevate the roles of all members of the interdisciplinary team.