bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulating Age-Related Hearing Loss with Bisphenol A via the Long Non-Coding RNA X Inactive Specific Transcript and MicroRNA-34a-5p Pathways
Authors: Wang Shifei , Rao Cheng , Huang Xingyu , Xie Tianhong , Su Linling , Li Huan
Published: January 2021

Age-related hearing loss (AHL) is a common, high-incidence, perceptual disease in the elderly population worldwide. Since bisphenol A (BPA) has been reported to associate with cell apoptosis, we hypothesize that BPA can inhibit the neuronal apoptosis in AHL. Forty Wistar rats were recruited
to model AHL; they were then treated with different doses of BPA. We used auditory brainstem response testing to measure the BPA-induced improvement in the rats’ hearing. We examined the proliferation and apoptosis of the auditory cortical neurons in the rats with MTT assay and flow
cytometry. Also, to delineate the underlying mechanism of BPA’s effect on AHL, we quantitated the expression level of long non-coding RNA X inactive specific transcript (lncRNA XIST) and miR-34a-5p in the rats’ auditory cortex with a novel method called nanoparticle PCR. We found
that BPA intervention improved the hearing of AHL model rats, enhanced neuronal cell proliferation, restricted neuronal cell apoptosis, upregulated miR-34a-5p levels, and downregulated lncRNA XIST levels. The dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assay revealed that BPA inhibited the apoptosis of
auditory cortex neurons by targeting miR-34a-5p with lncRNA XIST and regulated the process of AHL. Therefore, we come to a conclusion that BPA contributes to the improvement of AHL, which may be achieved by upregulating miR-34a-5p and inhibiting the apoptosis of auditory cortex neurons via
lncRNA XIST.
The Response of the Near-Surface Tropical Cyclone Wind Field to Inland Surface Roughness Length and Soil Moisture Content during and after Landfall
Authors: Hlywiak James , Nolan David S.
Published: January 2021

The sensitivity of the inland wind decay to realistic inland surface roughness lengths and soil moisture contents is evaluated for strong, idealized tropical cyclones (TCs) of category 4 strength making landfall. Results show that the relative sensitivities to roughness and moisture differ throughout the decay process, and are dependent on the strength and size of the vortex. First, within 12 h of landfall, intense winds at the surface decay rapidly in reaction to the sudden change in surface roughness and decreasing enthalpy fluxes. Wind speeds above the boundary layer decay at a slower rate. Differences in soil moisture contents minimally affect intensity during the first 12 h, as the enhancement of latent heat fluxes from high moisture contents is countered by enhanced surface cooling. After TCs decay to tropical storm intensities, weakening slows and the sensitivity of the intensity decay to soil moisture increases. Increased latent heating becomes significant enough to combat surface temperature cooling, resulting in enhanced convection outside of the expanding radius of maximum winds. This supports a slower decay. Additionally, the decay of the radial wind profile by quadrant is highly asymmetric, as the rear and left-of-motion quadrants decay the fastest. Increasing surface roughness accelerates the decay of the strongest winds, while increasing soil moisture slows the decay of the larger TC wind field. Results have implications for inland forecasting of TC winds and understanding the potential for damage.
Tracheocutaneous Fistula After Pediatric Open Airway Reconstruction
Authors: Chorney Stephen R. , Stow Joanne , Javia Luv R. , Zur Karen B. , Jacobs Ian N. , Sobol Steven E.
Published: January 2021

Objectives:

Tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF) is a common occurrence after pediatric tracheostomy decannulation. However, the persistence of TCF after staged reconstruction of the pediatric airway is not well-described. The primary objective was to determine the rate of persistent TCF after successful decannulation in children with staged open airway reconstruction.

Methods:

A case series with chart review of children who underwent decannulation after double-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction between 2017 and 2019.

Results:

A total of 26 children were included. The most common open airway procedure was anterior and posterior costal cartilage grafting (84.6%, 22/26). Median age at decannulation was 3.4 years (IQR: 2.8-4.3) and occurred 7.0 months (IQR: 4.3-10.4) after airway reconstruction. TCF persisted in 84.6% (22/26) of children while 15.4% (4/26) of stomas closed spontaneously. All closures were identified by the one-month follow-up visit. There was no difference in age at tracheostomy ( P = .86), age at decannulation ( P = .97), duration of tracheostomy ( P = .43), or gestational age ( P = .23) between stomas that persisted or closed. Median diameter of stent used at reconstruction was larger in TCFs that persisted (7.0 mm vs 6.5 mm, P = .03). Tracheostomy tube diameter ( P = .02) and stent size ( P < .01) correlated with persistence of TCF on multivariable logistic regression analysis. There were 16 surgical closure procedures, which occurred at a median of 14.4 months (IQR: 11.4-15.4) after decannulation. Techniques included 56.3% (9/16) by primary closure, 18.8% (3/16) by secondary intention and 25% (4/16) by cartilage tracheoplasty. The overall success of closure was 93.8% (15/16) at latest follow-up.

Conclusions:

Persistent TCF occurs in 85% of children who are successfully decannulated after staged open airway reconstruction. Spontaneous closure could be identified by 1 month after decannulation and was more likely when smaller stents and tracheostomy tubes were utilized. Surgeons should counsel families on the frequency of TCF and the potential for additional procedures needed for closure.
Applying Restorative Environments in the Home Office While Sheltering-in-Place
Authors: Craig Curtis M. , Neilson Brittany N. , Altman George C. , Travis Alexandra T. , Vance Joseph A.
Published: January 2021

Objective

The objective of this review was to spotlight specific methods for people working from home to apply restorative environment research to improve productivity and mental health during shelter-in-place.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sheltering-in-place and telework. While necessary, these strategies may lead to negative consequences such as social isolation and worse performance. However, nature environments have been shown to have a variety of positive effects in several different settings, including improved attention, positive affect, and increased job satisfaction, and these may be translated to the home workspace setting.

Method

This provides a narrative review of the environmental psychology literature, describing articles involving nature in a task performance or stress context and how it has been applied. It then moves on to discuss how these findings could possibly be applied in the context of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Although beneficial results are mixed, the review found a variety of relatively simple and cost-effective methods that could assist workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including taking a break in nature and implementing nature in the workspace.

Application

The application of restorative environment research could be an efficient way of mitigating the negative psychological effects due to at-home sheltering and telework in order to combat COVID-19.
Zeb1 Promotes Odontoblast Differentiation in a Stage-Dependent Manner
Authors: Xiao Y. , Lin Y.X. , Cui Y. , Zhang Q. , Pei F. , Zuo H.Y. , Liu H. , Chen Z.
Published: January 2021

A comprehensive study of odontoblastic differentiation is essential to understand the process of tooth development and to achieve the ability of tooth regeneration in the future. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 ( Zeb1) is a transcription factor expressed in various neural crest–derived tissues, including the mesenchyme of the tooth germ. However, its role in odontoblastic differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we found the expression of Zeb1 gradually increased during odontoblast differentiation in vivo, as well as during induced differentiation of cultured primary murine dental papilla cells (mDPCs) in vitro. In addition, the differentiation of mDPCs was repressed in Zeb1-silenced cells. We used RNA sequencing (RNA -seq) to identify the transcriptome-wide targets of Zeb1 and used assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) to explore the direct targets of Zeb1 in both the early stage (embryonic day 16.5; E16.5) and the late stage (postnatal day 0; PN0) of tooth development. We identified the motifs of transcription factors enriched in Zeb1-dependent accessible chromatin regions and observed that only in the early stage of mDPCs could Zeb1 significantly change the accessibility of chromatin regions. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that silencing of Zeb1 at E16.5 inhibited dentinogenesis. Analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq resulted in the identification of Runx2, a gene directly regulated by Zeb1 during early odontoblast differentiation. Zeb1 enhances the expression of Runx2 by binding to its cis-elements, and ZEB1 interacts with RUNX2. In the late stage of tooth development, we found that ZEB1 could directly bind to and increase the enhancer activity of an element upstream of Dspp and promote dentinogenesis. In this study, for the first time, we revealed that ZEB1 promoted odontoblast differentiation in the early stage by altering chromatin accessibility of cis-elements near genes such as Runx2, while in the late stage, it directly enhanced Dspp transcription, thereby performing a dual role.
Natural hazards, internal migration and protests in Bangladesh
Authors: Petrova Kristina
Published: January 2021

Does internal migration following natural hazards increase the likelihood of protests in migrant-receiving areas? To address the question, this study first looks at the extent to which experiencing different forms of natural hazards contributes to a household’s decision to leave their district of residence. In a second step, the article explores whether that internal migration flow increases the number of protest events in migrant-hosting districts. In doing so, it contributes to the existing debate on the extent to which natural hazards impact the likelihood of social contention, and the role of migration as a linking pathway in that relationship. The impact of climate-related shocks may erode household assets and therefore adaptive capacity in ways that can eventually influence decisions to migrate to larger urban centres. Although migrants are agents of economical and technological change, urban environments may impose challenges to recently arrived migrants and their host communities, affecting the motivations and mobilization resources of urban social groups to protest. As a consequence, the probability of urban unrest in these locations is expected to increase. To test this, I use geo-referenced household-level data from Bangladesh for the period 2010–15, which records households’ experiences of different forms of natural hazard and internal migration flows, available from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey. It combines this with data on protests, derived from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Findings suggest that flood hazards in combination with loss of assets increase the likelihood of internal migration, but unlike other types of domestic mobility, hazard-related migration does not increase the frequency of protests in migrants’ districts of destination.
(Un)making illegality: Border control, racialized bodies and differential regimes of illegality in Morocco
Authors: Gazzotti Lorena
Published: January 2021

What role does race play in the construction of illegality in the face of pervasive border control? Sociologists and anthropologists of migration have apprehended illegality as a constructed category, produced by immigration policies and laws aimed at ‘illegalizing’ established mobility flows. ‘Illegality’ operates as an exclusionary category not only because it is constructed by law, but also because it is activated by racialized forms of prejudice which structure societies according to hierarchies of dangerousness, visibility and deservedness. Scholars, however, have tended to examine the entanglement between race and illegality by focusing mostly on the experience of black and brown people, especially those coming from poor countries in the Global South, thus overlooking how whiteness influences and alters the workings of border control. Drawing on qualitative data gathered between 2013 and 2019 in Morocco, this article questions the category of ‘illegality’ as it is policed at the street level and experienced by different groups of foreigners in Morocco. Building on Sara Ahmed’s understanding of whiteness as an ‘orientation’, in this article the author argues that illegality is a label which is racially altered and expanded by border bureaucrats, who use it to differentially police the presence of migrant bodies pre-emptively visualized as legal or illegal. Whereas black people undergo pervasive containment procedures, white privilege allows white migrants to be oblivious of the border, even when their administrative situation is not compliant with migration law.
Suburban (mis)fortunes: Outer suburban shrinkage in Tokyo Metropolis
Authors: Ohashi Hiroaki , Phelps Nicholas A
Published: January 2021

Tokyo’s suburban territory now forms part of an increasing multi-dimensional urban–suburban divide in socio-demographic, economic and political and administrative (fiscal) dimensions. Drawing on the Tokyo case we argue the need for theory to take more seriously shrinkage in suburban fortunes. Specifically, we highlight the double meaning of shrinkage as a complex, multifaceted and path-dependent process and as a municipal-level political and policy response. In this paper we offer a theoretical framework for understanding urban (sub)transformation attuned to Japanese conditions and, by extension, other developmental states. We go on to explore the multi-dimensioned isolation of Tokyo’s suburbs in terms of metropolitan-wide inter-governmental, inter-sectoral and inter-actor dynamics. In conclusion we observe the need for theory to be inclusive of the range of trajectories of suburbanisation and for politics and policy to adopt redistributive metropolitan spatial imaginaries.
Worlding and provincialising smart cities: From individual case studies to a global comparative research agenda
Authors: Miller Byron , Ward Kevin , Burns Ryan , Fast Victoria , Levenda Anthony
Published: January 2021

The diversity of smart city case studies presented in this special issue demonstrates the need for provincialised understandings of smart cities that account for cities’ worlding strategies. Case studies drawn from North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia show that ‘the smart city’ takes very diverse forms, serves very diverse objectives, and is embedded in complex power geometries that vary from city to city. Case studies are a critical strategy for understanding phenomena in context, yet they present their own epistemological and ontological limitations. We argue for a more-than-Global-North smart city research agenda focused on the comparative analysis of smart cities, an agenda that foregrounds the conjunctural geographies of relationships and processes shaping these cities.
Stability analysis of connected vehicles with V2V communication and time delays: CTCR method via Bézout’s resultant
Authors: Akkaya Sirin , Akbati Onur , Ergenc Ali Fuat
Published: January 2021

This paper is focused on the distributed control of connected vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. A mixed predecessor following topology with a virtual leader under constant time headway policy is analysed in case of communication and input delays. The longitudinal dynamics of each vehicle in the platoon is represented by a third-order linear model. Unavoidable communication and input delays are introduced into the platoon structure which converts the characteristic equation of the system into a transcendental type. The stability regions of the system in delay space are obtained by utilizing the cluster treatment of characteristic root (CTCR) method in the case of single and multiple time delays. A new Bézout resultant matrix-based approach is proposed to determine the kernel and offspring hypersurfaces of the CTCR method. The determination of these kernel and offspring hypersurfaces becomes computational costly as the number of vehicles increases in the platoon due to the increasing degree of characteristic equation. However, the proposed method reduces the dimensions of the coefficient matrix which is created by using the characteristic equation. It is concluded that the proposed method confirms the internal stability of the connected vehicles with both generic information flow topologies and formation between vehicles under single and multiple time delays. Thereafter, a local string stability definition is proposed in terms of spacing errors. Sufficient conditions to obtain string stability under mixed predecessor following topology for the existence and nonexistence of time delay are given. Finally, several simulation studies with different scenarios are conducted to display the effectiveness of the proposed model and method for internal and string stabilities.
Pore structure and adsorption hysteresis of the middle Jurassic Xishanyao shale formation in the Southern Junggar Basin, northwest China
Authors: Liu Bo , Gao Yifei , Liu Kouqi , Liu Jinzhong , Ostadhassan Mehdi , Wu Tong , Li Xianli
Published: January 2021

In order to understand the pore structures of the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the Junggar Basin, 11 shale samples from a single well were picked and were subjected to several analyses including mineralogy, (programmed) Rock-Eval pyrolysis for geochemical and N2 adsorption for pore structure analysis. The results showed that the mean value of total organic carbon (TOC) content of these samples is around 1.54% while Tmax varies between 429 to 443°C, indicating they are in the oil window. Mineral assemblages of the samples is mainly quartz and clay (illite, chlorite and kaolinite). Moreover, negative correlations between the K-feldspar/plagioclase and micro-mesopore volume was found, depicting that few of such pore sizes exist in these two abundant minerals. In contrast, micro, meso and macro pores all were detected in clay minerals. Particularly, the pores with radii of around 5.35 nm were abundant in clay minerals and there was not a robust relationship between the organic matter, surface area and pore volume. Finally, fractal analysis was performed to better delineate heterogenous characteristics of pore structures which showed that D2 (representing the larger pores) is greater than D1 (smaller pores). In addition, the differences between the fractal dimensions of the adsorption and desorption (D2d–D2a) branches to better interpret the hysteresis, was defined. The positive correlation between the (D2d–D2a) and the meso-macro pore volume, pointed out that the meso-macro condensation is the main reason for hysteresis that was observed in N2 adsorption experiments in the Xishanyao Shale samples.
Activist communication design on social media: The case of online solidarity against forced Islamic lifestyle
Authors: Arda Balca , Akdemir Ayşegül
Published: January 2021

This article explores the relationship between connective and collective group identity through the example of “You Won’t Walk Alone,” a social media platform of solidarity for women suffering from the pressures of Islamic dress code in Turkey. While Turkey has a long history of conservative women’s initiatives against secular institutional code and of secular women against Islamic and misogynist social reactions, the social media platform You Won’t Walk Alone (Yalnız Yürümeyeceksin) illustrates a striking self-reflexivity of women mobilizing against their very own conservative communities. The research is based on multimodal content analysis of the posts including both images and texts in order to grasp to what extent social media offers a genuine public space for anonymous participants of the online platform as opposed to digitally networked movements which primarily reflect personalized agency. We analyze how connective and collective group identity can be correlated in this case in which online participants build solidarity by sharing content anonymously. Hence, this article questions the ways in which activist design of communication affects and shapes activism through this case study.
The Intersection of Childhood Maltreatment and Marriage: Implications for Adult’s Health
Authors: Fitzgerald Michael , Spuhler Bryan , Hamstra Cailyn
Published: January 2021

Childhood maltreatment is associated with mental and physical health problems across the life course. Marriages may be a risk factor for continued mental and physical health problems or, alternatively, they could buffer the effects of maltreatment severity on adult health. Using data from the study of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), we evaluated marital support and strain as moderators of child maltreatment and adults’ subjective evaluations of physical and mental health in a sample of 760 married adults using the life course perspective. Results show that the interaction between childhood maltreatment severity and marital strain was associated with poorer physical health and was marginally associated with mental health. Marital support did not significantly interact with childhood maltreatment severity in predicting adult mental or physical health. Results suggest maltreatment and marital strain interact resulting in a greater accumulation of disadvantage leaving adults at risk for health problems.
Are perceptions of grandparenthood related to family and life satisfaction? A study with emerging adults
Authors: Miguel Isabel , Araújo Alexandra M. , Fernandes Sandra , Carneiro Luísa , Fernandes Paula
Published: January 2021

Given the crucial role that grandparents play in the upbringing and well-being of their grandchildren, research regarding the perceived importance of grandparents for their emerging adult grandchildren is of particular relevance. This study examined the relations between perceived grandparents’ roles and family and life satisfaction in Portuguese emerging adults. Participants (N = 387), aged 18–25, completed a structured self-report questionnaire. Findings of structural equation modeling showed that emerging adults’ perceptions of grandparental roles of counselor, enjoying the relationship, and indulgence are positively related to their family and life satisfaction. The mediation analysis showed that family satisfaction mediated the relation between perceptions of grandparents acting as counselors and the life satisfaction of emerging adult grandchildren. Implications of family relationships and grandparenting in the context of emerging adulthood are discussed.
Pharmacological uses of flumazenil in benzodiazepine use disorders: a systematic review of limited data
Authors: Gallo Alexander T , Hulse Gary
Published: January 2021

Background:

The estimated annual prevalence of drug use disorders is as high as 3%, underpinning the need to continually develop more effective treatments. Central nervous system dysregulation, contributing to acute and post-withdrawal syndromes, has traditionally been managed with benzodiazepines; however, a small but growing body of data indicate that the GABAA receptor antagonist, flumazenil, may offer some advantages over traditional management.

Aim:

To review the literature on the safety and efficacy of flumazenil in benzodiazepine use disorders and identify gaps in the literature.

Method:

A systematic method was used to identify randomised control trials. Where randomised control trials existed, non-randomised control trials were included to supplement findings.

Results:

Eleven flumazenil trials were included with varying doses, frequencies and routes of administration. The evidence for flumazenil alone showed generally a reduction in withdrawal symptoms with the exception of one study where withdrawal symptoms initially increased. Flumazenil plus benzodiazepine tapering was assessed in one randomised control trial and a series of non-randomised control trials. Randomised control trial results showed that flumazenil plus benzodiazepine tapering was superior at reducing withdrawal symptoms compared to benzodiazepine tapering alone and placebo. Flumazenil was associated with no serious adverse events; however there remains a risk of seizures.

Conclusion:

Although flumazenil shows promising efficacy in the management of benzodiazepine use disorders and withdrawal, more randomized control trials are required before a definitive recommendation can be made around its use.
MRI features of responsible contacts in vascular compressive trigeminal neuralgia and prediction modeling
Authors: Zhao Yufei , Chen Jianhua , Jiang Rifeng , Xu Xue , Lin Lin , Xue Yunjing , Duan Qing
Published: January 2021

Background

Multiple neurovascular contacts in patients with vascular compressive trigeminal neuralgia often challenge the diagnosis of responsible contacts.

Purpose

To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of responsible contacts and establish a predictive model to accurately pinpoint the responsible contacts.

Material and Methods

Sixty-seven patients with unilateral trigeminal neuralgia were enrolled. A total of 153 definite contacts (45 responsible, 108 non-responsible) were analyzed for their MRI characteristics, including neurovascular compression (NVC) grading, distance from pons to contact (Dpons-contact), vascular origin of compressing vessels, diameter of vessel (Dvessel) and trigeminal nerve (Dtrigeminal nerve) at contact. The MRI characteristics of the responsible and non-responsible contacts were compared, and their diagnostic efficiencies were further evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The significant MRI features were incorporated into the logistics regression analysis to build a predictive model for responsible contacts.

Results

Compared with non-responsible contacts, NVC grading and arterial compression ratio (84.44%) were significantly higher, Dpons-contact was significantly lower at responsible contacts ( P < 0.001, 0.002, and 0.033, respectively). NVC grading had a highest diagnostic area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.742, with a sensitivity of 64.44% and specificity of 75.00%. The logistic regression model showed a higher diagnostic efficiency, with an AUC of 0.808, sensitivity of 88.89%, and specificity of 62.04%.

Conclusion

Contact degree and position are important MRI features in identifying the responsible contacts of the trigeminal neuralgia. The logistic predictive model based on Dpons-contact, NVC grading, and vascular origin can qualitatively improve the prediction of responsible contacts for radiologists.
Free vibration analysis of a spinning porous nanocomposite blade reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets
Authors: Zhao Tianyu , Yang Yifeng , Pan Honggang , Zhang Hongyuan , Yuan Huiqun
Published: January 2021

This paper investigated the modeling and free vibration characteristics of a spinning graphene nanoplatelet (GPL) reinforced porous nanocomposite blade. The blade is made of porous foam metal matrix reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs). Several different GPL distributions and porosity distributions in the blade are taken into account. The effective material properties of the blade, determined via the open-cell scheme, the Halpin-Tsai model, and the rule of mixture, are assumed to be varying continuously along the its thickness direction. According to the Kirchhoff’s plate theory, the governing equations of the spinning blade are derived by adopting the Hamilton principle. On the other hand, the non-uniform spinning blade is modeled by the finite element method which is compared with the theoretical method. The theoretical results match very well with the finite element ones obtained from ANSYS. Particular focus is given to the effects of the spinning speed, porosity coefficient, distribution pattern of GPLs and porosities, GPL weight fraction, length-to-thickness ratio and length-to-width ratio of GPLs, blade length, and spinning radius on the free vibration performance of the blade rotor.
Can stone migration be predicted preoperatively in ureteroscopic lithotripsy?
Authors: Arıman Ahmet , Merder Erkan , Sezgin Mehmet ali , Önol Suzan
Published: January 2021

Objective:

In our study, we aimed to evaluate the parameters that are effective in predicting the possibility of stone migration during ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

Patients and method:

We divided our patients two group whom we applied ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Patients who migrated stones during ureteroscopic manipulation to the 1st group, and the patients who did not migrate stones to the second group were included. We measured the proximal ureter diameters of the patients in both groups on their computed tomography. We compared these values statistically. In addition, we determined a cut-off value for the ureter diameter to predict the possibility of stone migration.

Result:

Especially, ureter diameters of patients with middle and lower ureter stones showed significant differences between groups. Also, stone sizes differed significantly between groups.

Conclusion:

We concluded that the possibility of stone migration is high in patients with a ureter diameter higher than 7.45 mm in the middle and lower ureteric stones. Also, we believe that stone diameter and the surgeon’s experience are effective factors in stone migration.
Adolescent Experience With Parental Cancer and Involvement With Medical Professionals: A Heuristic Phenomenological Inquiry
Authors: Kazlauskaite Vaida , Fife Stephen T.
Published: January 2021

Experiencing the death of a loved one can be a difficult occurrence. Adolescents, in particular, experience death in a unique way. Yet there is relatively little research on adolescents’ experience with parental death and their involvement in the medical setting during a parent’s terminal illness. This qualitative study utilized heuristic inquiry, a type of phenomenological research, to investigate adolescents’ involvement in the hospital setting during parental terminal illness. Qualitative analysis of participants’ experiences resulted in two primary categories associated with adolescents’ involvement with medical professionals during parental illness: factors influencing hospital involvement and experience with health care professionals. The findings have implications for medical and mental health professionals who work with adolescent family members of terminally ill patients.
Intimate Partner Violence Help-Seeking for Latina Undocumented Immigrant Survivors: Feminist Intersectional Experiences Narrated Through Testimonio
Authors: Valdovinos Miriam G. , Nightingale Sarah D. , Vasquez Reyes Maritza
Published: January 2021

In addressing the grand challenge to build healthy relationships to end violence, social workers continue to engage in helping individuals affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV often results in negative mental health and physical health outcomes. This qualitative study explored Latina immigrant women’s experiences of IPV by using an intersectional Chicana feminist approach. Twenty Latina undocumented immigrants who experienced IPV shared their testimonio interviews to denounce the injustices they experienced when seeking help. A narrative analysis is presented to illustrate some of the ineffective responses the participants experienced when seeking help as well as effective responses that provided them support. The analysis of the survivors’ testimonios also offered detailed stories to help us understand the intersectional experiences related to the survivors’ gender, ethnicity, social class, and undocumented immigration status when seeking help. Providing support to Latina immigrant survivors requires a better understanding of the unique help-seeking barriers they encounter in the United States. Implications from this study suggest that in order to effectively support the health of undocumented survivors of IPV, social workers need to consider trust building and be prepared to respond to the current political climate and institutional barriers when providing services for undocumented immigrant survivors.
Elder Abuse and Neglect in China: Prevalence, Co-occurrence, and Intergenerational Risk Factors
Authors: Chen Mengtong , Chan Ko Ling
Published: January 2021

The prevalence and patterns of elder abuse and neglect in China have been understudied. The objectives of this study were to examine the chronicity and prevalence of different patterns of elder abuse, and the influence of individual and contextual risk factors. We used data from a sample of 7,466 adults randomly recruited from six regions in China. The participants responded to a questionnaire about their demographic characteristics, childhood abuse experiences, and instances of abuse and neglect against their elderly parents. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of elder abuse and neglect with individual and contextual factors. The results showed that one in 10 participants reported that their elderly parents had experienced abuse or neglect in the past year. The elder victims were reported to have suffered different types of abuse and neglect on multiple occasions, ranging from 3.6 to 11.82 times on average. More than 5% of participants reported that their elderly parents had suffered two or more types of abuse and neglect in the past year, accounting for 40% of the elderly victims. The co-occurrence of elder abuse within elderly couples was also high. Reports of abuse and neglect of elderly parents were related to low socioeconomic status, living in rural areas, and the experience of childhood abuse of the participants. This study supports the model of intergenerational transmission of violence in the Chinese population. The high prevalence, chronicity, and co-occurrence of elder abuse and neglect underline the importance of screening for risk factors, and have implications for preventive practice and policy.
Determination of convective heat transfer coefficient for hot gas torch (HGT)-assisted automated fiber placement (AFP) for thermoplastic composites
Authors: Zacherl Lorenz , Shadmehri Farjad , Rother Klemens
Published: January 2021

In-situ manufacturing of thermoplastic composites using the automated fiber placement (AFP) process consists of heating, consolidation and solidification steps. During the heating step using hot gas torch (HGT) as a moving heat source, the incoming tape and the substrate are heated up to a temperature above the melting point of the thermoplastic matrix. The convective heat transfer occurs between the hot gas flow and the composites in which the convective heat transfer coefficient h plays an important role in the heat transfer mechanism which in turn significantly affects temperature distribution along the length, width and through the thickness of the deposited layers. Temperature is the most important process parameter in AFP in-situ consolidation that affects bonding quality, crystallization and consolidation. Although it is well known the convective heat transfer coefficient h is not constant and has a distribution, most studies have assumed a constant value for h for heat transfer analysis which leads to discrepancy between numerical and experimental results. In this study a new function is proposed to approximate the distribution of the convective heat transfer coefficient h in the vicinity of the nip point. Using the proposed convective heat transfer coefficient distribution, a three-dimensional finite element transient heat transfer analysis is performed to predict temperature distribution in the composite parts. An optimization loop is employed to find the free parameters of the distribution function so that the predicted temperature match experimental data. It is shown that, unlike other studies assuming constant h value, not only maximum temperature can be well predicted, but also predicted heating and cooling curves agree well with experimental results. The cooling rate is of significant importance in crystallization behavior and residual stress calculation.
A mechanobiological approach to find the optimal thickness for the locking compression plate: Finite element investigations
Authors: Mohandes Yousof , Tahani Masoud , Rouhi Gholamreza , Tahami Mohammad
Published: January 2021

This study aimed at finding the acceptable range, and the optimal value for the locking compression plate (LCP) thickness (THK), through simulating the osteogenic pathway of bone healing, and by checking bone-plate construct’s strength and stability. To attain the goals of this research, a multi-objective approach was adopted, which should trade-off between some conflicting objectives. A finite element model of the long bone-plate construct was made first, and validated against an experimental study. The validated model was then employed to determine the initial strength and stability of the bone-plate construct, for the time right after surgery, for various thicknesses of the LCP. Afterward, coupling with a mechano-regulatory algorithm, the iterative process of bone healing was simulated, and follow up was made for each LCP thickness, over the first 16 post-operative weeks. Results of this study regarding the sequence of tissue evolution inside the fracture gap, showed a similar trend with the existing in-vivo data. For the material and structural properties assigned to the bone-plate construct, in this study, an optimal thickness for the LCP was found to be 4.7 mm, which provides an enduring fixation through secondary healing, whereas for an LCP with a smaller or greater thickness, either bone-implant failure, unstable fixation, impaired fracture consolidation, or primary healing may occur. This result is in agreement with a recent study, that has employed a comprehensive optimization approach to find the optimal thickness.
Three-dimensional asymmetric maximum weight lifting prediction considering dynamic joint strength
Authors: Zaman Rahid , Xiang Yujiang , Cruz Jazmin , Yang James
Published: January 2021

In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) asymmetric maximum weight lifting is predicted using an inverse-dynamics-based optimization method considering dynamic joint torque limits. The dynamic joint torque limits are functions of joint angles and angular velocities, and imposed on the hip, knee, ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and lumbar spine joints. The 3D model has 40 degrees of freedom (DOFs) including 34 physical revolute joints and 6 global joints. A multi-objective optimization (MOO) problem is solved by simultaneously maximizing box weight and minimizing the sum of joint torque squares. A total of 12 male subjects were recruited to conduct maximum weight box lifting using squat-lifting strategy. Finally, the predicted lifting motion, ground reaction forces, and maximum lifting weight are validated with the experimental data. The prediction results agree well with the experimental data and the model’s predictive capability is demonstrated. This is the first study that uses MOO to predict maximum lifting weight and 3D asymmetric lifting motion while considering dynamic joint torque limits. The proposed method has the potential to prevent individuals’ risk of injury for lifting.
Effect of fuel injection pressure and EGR techniques on various engine performance and emission characteristics on a CRDI diesel engine when run with linseed oil methyl ester
Authors: Kumar Manish , Singh Varun Kumar , Sharma Abhishek , Ansari Naushad Ahmad , Gautam Raghvendra , Singh Yashvir
Published: January 2021

Nowadays, owing to the reduction in petroleum supplies due to the growing oil demand, the search for alternate fuels has intensified. However, as alternate fuel choice grows, checking whether alternative fuels are suitable for use in engines has become time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the usage of Linseed oil methyl ester (linseed biodiesel) in the common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine was optimized for a smaller number of trials in this research. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for optimization. Input variables were chosen for LOME content in the blend, fuel injection pressure (FIP), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rates, and engine load while output parameters were selected for like indicated power (IP), indicated thermal efficiency (η(I)), indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), hydrocarbon (HC), and NOx (Oxide of Nitrogen).The model layout employed in the analysis is focused on the matrix of the CCRD (central composite rotating design). The optimal input variables configuration is estimated at 5.45% LOME blend, 57.77 MPa FIP, 6.50% EGR, and 6.909 kg engine load leading to better efficiency together with reduced emissions. The optimized output of the engine at this input configurations are as IP 4.878 kW, IMEP 0.5886 MPa, indicated thermal efficiency 48.36%, HC 23.43 ppm vol., and NOx 533.15 ppm vol. Testing and optimum output response results are measured at acceptable input parameters and are considered to be within an acceptable error range. The findings of this analysis have shown that RSM is an appropriate technique for optimizing CRDI diesel engines.
A Systematic Review of Sociodemographic, Macroeconomic, and Health Resources Factors on Life Expectancy
Authors: Wirayuda Anak Agung Bagus , Chan Moon Fai
Published: January 2021

This review was aimed at systematically synthesizing and appraising the existing literature of sociodemographic, macroeconomic, and health resources factors on life expectancy. A systematic literature search of English databases, that is, PubMed/MEDLINE were scrutinized for exploring sociodemographic, macroeconomic, and health resources factors on life expectancy. The literature search was conducted in January 2020, covering a total of 46 articles from 2004 to 2019 met the review criteria, which were fully discussed subsequently. Among sociodemographic factors, infant mortality rate, literacy rate, education level, socioeconomic status, population growth, and gender inequality have a significant impact on life expectancy. Gross domestic product, Gini, income level, unemployment rate, and inflation rate are the main macroeconomic factors that significantly correlated with life expectancy. Among various health care resources, health care facilities, the number of the health care profession, public health expenditure, death rates, smoking rate, pollution, and vaccinations had a significant correlation with life expectancy. The systematic review showed general conformity of different studies, with a significant association between life expectancy and factors comprising several sociodemographic, macroeconomic, and various health care variables. This review found that only one study examined factors affecting life expectancy in Arabic countries. More studies on this region to fill this research gap were highly recommended.
Hospice Palliative Care Volunteers’ Attitudes, Opinions, Experiences, and Perceived Needs for Training Around Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
Authors: Claxton-Oldfield Stephen , Beaudette Sophie
Published: January 2021

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) has been legal in Canada for over 4 years, but little is known about hospice palliative care (HPC) volunteers’ attitudes toward MAiD. To address this issue, 48 volunteers from 2 HPC volunteer programs in Atlantic Canada completed an anonymous mail survey examining their attitudes, opinions, experiences, and perceived needs for training around MAiD. The volunteers’ responses were generally supportive of MAiD as an end-of-life option and approving of some of the proposed changes to the current MAiD legislation (e.g., 85% of the volunteers either strongly agreed or agreed that advance requests for MAiD should be permitted). In terms of volunteers’ experiences, 15% of the volunteers reported that a patient of theirs had tried to initiate a conversation with them about MAiD. Nearly all (96%) of the volunteers indicated that it was not appropriate for them to bring up the topic of MAiD with their patients or patients’ family members/caregivers. Seventy percent of the volunteers reported that if a patient of theirs chose to pursue MAiD that they would be comfortable with being present (if asked) when it was being administered. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the volunteers were interested in learning more about MAiD. The implications of this study for volunteer policies, specifically, those policies relating to the role of volunteers when it comes to conversations about MAiD with patients and patients’ family members/caregivers (should they arise) are discussed, as is the need for training on the topic of MAiD.
Amisulpride: A New Drug for Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Haber Stacy L. , Graybill April , Minasian Ani
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of amisulpride and determine its role in the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Data Sources:

A PubMed search (1946 to November 2020) using the terms amisulpride and APD421 was conducted.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Relevant reports on intravenous amisulpride were included.

Data Synthesis:

Six clinical trials were evaluated. In 4 trials on the prevention of PONV, a greater percentage of patients who received amisulpride 5 mg compared with placebo experienced a complete response (44%-60% vs 31%-33%, respectively, when used as monotherapy; 58% vs 47%, respectively, when used in combination with another antiemetic). In 2 trials on the treatment of PONV, a significantly greater percentage of patients who received amisulpride 10 mg compared with placebo experienced a complete response (31.4% vs 21.5%, respectively, in patients who had not received prophylaxis; 41.7% vs 28.5%, respectively, in patients who had received prophylaxis). Adverse effects included infusion site pain, chills, hypokalemia, procedural hypotension, and abdominal distension.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

Amisulpride is effective for the management of PONV and may be less likely to cause QT prolongation and extrapyramidal symptoms than other dopamine antagonists. Additional information is needed on its use for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and in children.

Conclusions:

Amisulpride is an important new option for the multimodal management of PONV in adults, and it may be the preferred dopamine antagonist because of the more favorable safety profile that results from its unique pharmacological properties.
Mixed Intraepithelial Neoplasia—Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Gallbladder: A Hitherto Unreported Combination
Authors: Kővári Bence , Turkevi-Nagy Sándor , Lauwers Gregory Y. , Jiang Kun
Published: January 2021

Adenocarcinomas and noninvasive intraepithelial neoplasms (either polypoid or flat) are the most common gallbladder tumors; however, neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) can also occur. The majority of NENs are represented by neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), while neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are extremely rare in this location. Occasionally, NEN may present as a part of a mixed neoplasm, with a coexisting non-neuroendocrine component. The latest World Health Organization classification denotes these lesions as mixed neuroendocrine–non-NENs (MiNENs). A novel type of MiNEN, the mixed adenoma well-differentiated NET (MANET), has been increasingly recognized and reported. In such lesions, a dysplastic noninvasive neoplasm and a NET represent the exocrine and endocrine component, respectively. MANETs have mostly been identified in the colon, small intestines, and stomach. In this article, we report, we believe, the first case of mixed gallbladder neoplasm with both biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN) and NET components, which may be regarded as a variant of MANET. Given the expectably favorable prognoses of MANETs, it is imperative not to misdiagnose the infiltrative yet indolent neuroendocrine component as an invasive adenocarcinoma or a NEC.