bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core Decomposition in Multilayer Networks
Authors: Galimberti Edoardo , Bonchi Francesco , Gullo Francesco , Lanciano Tommaso
Published: February 2020

Multilayer networks are a powerful paradigm to model complex systems, where multiple relations occur between the same entities. Despite the keen interest in a variety of tasks, algorithms, and analyses in this type of network, the problem of extracting dense subgraphs has remained largely unexplored so far.

As a first step in this direction, in this work, we study the problem of
core decomposition of a multilayer network
. Unlike the single-layer counterpart in which cores are all nested into one another and can be computed in linear time, the multilayer context is much more challenging as no total order exists among multilayer cores; rather, they form a lattice whose size is exponential in the number of layers. In this setting, we devise three algorithms, which differ in the way they visit the core lattice and in their pruning techniques. We assess time and space efficiency of the three algorithms on a large variety of real-world multilayer networks.

We then move a step forward and study the problem of extracting the
inner-most
(also known as
maximal
) cores, i.e., the cores that are not dominated by any other core in terms of their core index in all the layers. inner-most cores are typically orders of magnitude less than all the cores. Motivated by this, we devise an algorithm that effectively exploits the maximality property and extracts inner-most cores directly, without first computing a complete decomposition. This allows for a consistent speed up over a naïve method that simply filters out non-inner-most ones from all the cores.

Finally, we showcase the multilayer core-decomposition tool in a variety of scenarios and problems. We start by considering the problem of
densest-subgraph extraction in multilayer networks
. We introduce a definition of multilayer densest subgraph that tradesoff between high density and number of layers in which the high density holds, and exploit multilayer core decomposition to approximate this problem with quality guarantees. As further applications, we show how to utilize multilayer core decomposition to speed-up the extraction of
frequent cross-graph quasi-cliques
and to generalize the
community-search
problem to the multilayer setting.
The Role of Control Measures and the Environment in the Transmission Dynamics of Cholera
Authors: Kwasi-Do Ohene Opoku Nicholas , Afriyie Cecilia
Published: February 2020

Cholera is an infectious intestinal disease which occurs as a result of poor sanitation and lack of basic education in its transmission. It is characterized by profuse vomiting and severe diarrhea when an individual eats food or drinks water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae. A dynamic mathematical model that explicitly simulates the transmission mechanism of cholera by taking into account the role of control measures and the environment in the transmission of the disease is developed. The model comprises two populations: the human population and bacteria population. The next-generation method is used to compute the basic reproduction number, R0. Both the disease-free and endemic equilibria are shown to be locally and globally stable for R0 values less than unity and unstable otherwise. Necessary conditions of the optimal control problem were analyzed using Pontryagin’s maximum principle with control measures such as educational campaign and treatment of water bodies used to optimize the objective function. Numerical values of model parameters were estimated using the nonlinear least square method. The model simulations confirm the significant role played by control measures (education and treatment of water bodies) and the bacteria in the environment in the transmission dynamics as well as reducing the spread of cholera.
Research on Mechanical, Physicochemical and Electrical Properties of XLPE-Insulated Cables under Electrical-Thermal Aging
Authors: He Dongxin , Zhang Tao , Ma Meng , Gong Wenjie , Wang Wei , Li Qingquan
Published: February 2020

The stabilization of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables is crucial to the safe working of power systems. In order to investigate the aging characteristics of cable insulation in the process of operation, 10 kV XLPE cables were electrically-thermally aged at an AC voltage of 26.1 kV and three temperatures: 103°C, 114°C, and 135°C. Cable samples at five aging stages were cut into slices and tested to determine their mechanical, physicochemical properties and dielectric strength. The changes in these properties were analyzed in terms of aging time. The mechanical strength and oxidation induction time have the same changing trend of decrease, because the chemical bonds of the cable insulation material are fractured when the XLPE cable is aged. The AC space charge presented a trend of gradual accumulation with aging time. The breakdown field strength after AC voltage application decreases monotonically with aging time, which could be a characteristic index to evaluate the degradation degree of the cable insulation. This research contributes to the comprehension of degradation mechanism and discovery of aging assessment criteria, which is of great significance in assessments of insulation properties and fault detection on power cables.
Rat Chondrocyte Inflammation and Osteoarthritis Are Ameliorated by Madecassoside
Authors: Moqbel Safwat Adel Abdo , He Yuzhe , Xu Langhai , Ma Chiyuan , Ran Jisheng , Xu Kai , Wu Lidong
Published: February 2020

As a joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by the breakdown of subchondral bone and cartilage damage. Inflammatory factors, such as interleukin- (IL-) 1β, mediate the progression of OA. Madecassoside (MA), a triterpenoid component derived from the gotu kola herb (Centella asiatica), exhibits various pharmacological effects, including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, the protective effects and possible mechanism of MA on the treatment of OA were investigated. MA was demonstrated to significantly suppress the IL-1β-induced overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 3, MMP-13, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and to decrease the IL-1β-induced degradation of type II collagen and sox9. Additionally, MA was able to reduce the IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of p65 in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Furthermore, in a rat OA model, MA prevented cartilage degeneration and reduced the OARSI score in the MA-treated group compared with the OA group. The present study showed that MA suppresses the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, reducing IL-1β-induced chondrocyte inflammation, which indicates the therapeutic potential of MA in patients with OA.
Spatial Variations and Potential Risks of Heavy Metals in Seawater, Sediments, and Living Organisms in Jiuzhen Bay, China
Authors: Sun Xia , Li Bao-Shi , Liu Xuan-Li , Li Cheng-Xuan
Published: February 2020

Coastal waters are polluted by heavy metals to varying degrees, posing potential risks to marine ecology and human health. In May 2006, the pollution levels, sources, and ecological risks of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, and As) in seawater, surface sediments, and living organisms were studied in Jiuzhen Bay in Fujian, China. This study identified Hg (0.26–0.72 µg/L) and As (20.3–31.5 µg/L) pollution in the seawater of Jiuzhen Bay. In sediments, heavy Pb pollution (946 µg/g dw) was only detected at one station at a level posing very serious potential risk, while Hg pollution (0.052–0.087 µg/g dw) was observed at three stations at a level posing serious potential risk. No heavy metal pollution was detected in sediments at other stations. The concentrations of five heavy metals (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) exceeded the corresponding National Quality Standards for oysters, indicating heavy pollution, based on an ecological risk assessment. In clams, two heavy metals (Pb and As) exceeded the standards, indicating light pollution, based on an ecological risk assessment. No heavy metal pollution was found in fish or shrimps. The heavy metals in the seawater and sediments of Jiuzhen Bay are mainly derived from the river discharges of Luxi and Wujiang Rivers although sewage discharge along the coast of Jiuzhen Bay is another source of heavy metal pollution at some stations. Given the pollution of Pb, Hg, and As in seawater and sediments at some stations within the bay, the potential risks of Pb, Hg, and As in living organisms to both the marine ecology and human health deserve increased attention.
Update der EULAR-Empfehlungen zum Management der Großgefäßvaskulitis mit Fokus auf Riesenzellarteriitis
Authors: Adler Sabine
Published: February 2020

Die Riesenzellarteriitis als häufigste Manifestation einer Großgefäßvaskulitis im Alter über 50 Jahren wird nach wie vor mit einer großen Zeitverzögerung diagnostiziert. Klinische Zeichen und entsprechende Symptomatik werden hier noch einmal kurz dargestellt und sollen bei der möglichst raschen Diagnosefindung helfen. Selbst nach Diagnosestellung herrscht oft Unsicherheit darüber, wer eine spezialisierte Betreuung wann vornehmen sollte und wie eine optimale Therapiestrategie aussehen sollte. Die aktuellen Empfehlungen zum Management der Riesenzellarteriitis tragen dem Rechnung und stellen eine klar strukturierte Vorgehensweise dar. Hierzu gehört auch die möglichst rasche Zuweisung an ein spezialisiertes Zentrum.
Electrocardiogram Characteristics and Arrhythmic Events during Fever in Patients with Fever-Induced Brugada Syndrome
Authors: Chen Xinguang , Zhao Hongyan , Sun Ling , Zhu Wenwu , Zhang Fengxiang
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and the incidence of arrhythmic events in patients with fever-induced Brugada syndrome (BrS) remain unknown. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of hyperthermia on the ECG pattern and the occurrence of fever-triggered arrhythmic events (FTAEs) in patients with fever-induced BrS. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a series of fever-induced BrS cases from January 1966 to November 2018. Clinical characteristics and ECG parameters were evaluated in the presence or absence of fever. Results: Syncope and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation occurred more frequently in BrS patients with FTAEs than in patients without FTAEs. In BrS patients <16 years old, more arrhythmia events occurred in patients with FTAEs than in patients without FTAEs (p = 0.04). During follow-up, 2 patients in the FTAEs group suffered new malignant arrhythmic events. Compared to the afebrile state, the J point increased significantly in precordial leads V1, V2, and V3 during the febrile state (all p < 0.01). The corrected QTpeak intervals in V1 and V2 were significantly longer in the FTAEs group than in the non-FTAEs group (354.5 ± 37.0 vs. 334.3 ± 45.5 ms, p < 0.01 and 368.0 ± 43.4 vs. 330.9 ± 41.5 ms, p < 0.01, respectively). An increased corrected QT dispersion and a lengthened corrected Tpeak-Tend dispersion were also observed during fever. Conclusions: Fever may not only reveal BrS but also induce life-threatening arrhythmic events, especially in children and adolescents.
Reincidências do trágico na poesia de Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen
Authors: Menezes Carlos Roberto dos Santos
Published: February 2020

Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen possui afinidade com a Grécia e os temas da Cultura Clássica. Dentre as múltiplas faces que a sua poesia apresenta relacionada a este tema, a tragédia grega aparece como uma presença fantasmática que evidencia um drama na sua escrita, demonstrando a presença harmônica da reversibilidade dos contrários presente desde o seu primeiro poema de Poesias, passando pelas figuras de Apolo e Dionísio, até chegar nos versos sobre o salazarismo e a Revolução dos Cravos. Sendo assim, o presente artigo busca averiguar as reincidências do trágico na escrita andresiana.
Da rádio carioca para o mundo
Authors: Cardoso Lenize Villaça
Published: February 2020

Mônica Grayley começou como radialista no Rio de Janeiro em 1986, nas Rádios Relógio, Fluminense FM, Estácio FM e MEC AM. Entre 1992 e 1995, trabalhou em várias funções na Rádio Deustche Welle, na Alemanha enquanto fazia seu mestrado no país. De volta ao Brasil, entre 1996 e 1999, foi contratada com repórter especial da Revista Manchete e passou pela Rádio Tupi FM e Sistema Globo de Rádio. Ainda em 1999, Mônica foi aprovada num concurso da BBC em Londres para assumir o posto no Serviço Brasileiro da emissora onde ficou até 2005, quando foi para Nova York assumir novo posto como chefe da então Rádio ONU, hoje ONU News, onde ela mantém o cargo de editora-chefe do setor em Português. Em 04 de outubro de 2019, na hora do almoço, Mônica concedeu entrevista nas dependências da sede da ONU.
Os juristas e a crise
Authors: Almeida Frederico De
Published: February 2020

O artigo apresenta uma investigação sobre o papel dos juristas em contextos de crise política, com foco nas influências da Operação Lava Jato na conjuntura política entre 2014 e 2016. Para isso, serão analisados três momentos de intervenção política da Operação Lava Jato para além de seus efeitos propriamente judiciais: o agravamento da crise política e a construção do impeachment de Dilma Rousseff como seu desfecho; a mudança do entendimento jurisprudencial do Supremo Tribunal Federal sobre a execução da pena em relação às possibilidades de recurso a partir da segunda instância; e a mobilização política pela mudança na legislação anticorrupção, materializada na campanha pelas 10 Medidas de Combate à Corrupção, promovida pelo Ministério Público Federal. Do ponto de vista teórico-metodológico, o trabalho desenvolve uma análise interpretativa e predominantemente indutiva, buscando extrair das evidências empíricas e da sociologia política do campo jurídico brasileiro elementos que permitam a análise combinada de estabilidade, crise e mudança em diferentes tempos políticos.
Resenha de 'Starve and Immolate: Politics of Human Weapons', de Banu Bargu
Authors: Roca Andrea
Published: February 2020

Referência completa da obra: Bargu, Banu. Starve and Immolate: Politics of Human Weapons. Nova York: Columbia University Press, 2014.
Illegal commercial promotion of products competing with breastfeeding
Authors: Silva Karine Borges da , Oliveira Maria Inês Couto de , Boccolini Cristiano Siqueira , Sally Enilce De Oliveira Fonseca
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVE: To assess if the commercialization of infant formulas, baby bottles, bottle nipples, pacifiers and nipple protectors is performed in compliance with the Norma Brasileira de Comercialização de Alimentos para Lactentes e Crianças de Primeira Infância e de Produtos de Puericultura Correlatos (NBCAL – Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddlers Food and Childcare-related products). The commercial promotion of these products is prohibited by the Law 11,265. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 through a census of all pharmacies, supermarkets and department stores that sold products covered by NBCAL in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Health professionals trained at NBCAL used structured electronic form for direct observation of establishments and for interviews with their managers. We created indicators to evaluate commercial practices and performed descriptive analyses. RESULTS: A total of 352 commercial establishments were evaluated: 240 pharmacies, 88 supermarkets and 24 department stores, of which 88% sold products whose promotion is prohibited by NBCAL. Illegal commercial promotions were found in 20.3% of the establishments that sold the products we investigated: 52 pharmacies (21.9%), four supermarkets (7.5%) and seven department stores (33.3%). The most frequent commercial promotion strategies were discounts (13.2%) and special exposures (9.3%). The products with the highest prevalence of infractions of NBCAL were infant formulas (16.0%). We interviewed 309 managers of commercial establishments; 50.8% reported unfamiliarity with the law. More than three-quarters of the managers reported having been visited at the establishments by commercial representatives of companies that produce infant formulas. CONCLUSION: More than a fifth of commercial establishments promoted infant formulas, baby bottles and nipples, although this practice has been banned in Brazil for thirty years. We think it is necessary to train those managers. Government agencies must monitor commercial establishments in order to inhibit strategies of persuasion and induction to sales of these products, ensuring mothers’ autonomy in the decision on the feeding of their children.
Impact of Seniors Centers on oral health-related quality of life of older adults
Authors: Luz Fernanda W. Machado , Silva Alexandre Emídio Ribeiro , Perroni Ana Paula , Goettems Marília L. , Boscato Noéli
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of older adults participating or not in Seniors Centers (SC). METHODS: Two independent samples were compared: older adults who participate in SC (n = 124) and older adults who visited Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and do not participate in SC (n = 164). The data collected consisted of sociodemographic (sex, age, educational level, marital status, family income) and psychosocial characteristics—Sense of Coherence (SOC), anxiety and depression using HADS, happiness—, and oral clinical evaluation—use and need of dental prosthesis and decayed (D), missing (M), or filled (F) teeth. The resulting OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the associations between the independent variables and the OHIP-14. Poisson regression models were also used in the analyses (α=0.05). RESULTS: In the PHC, of the 270 individuals invited to participate in the study, 164 (60.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined; while in the SC, of the 166 individuals invited to participate in the study, 124 (74.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined. After adjustments for sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors, we found that the impact on OHRQoL was 2.8 times higher (95%CI 2.0–4.2) for older adults who did not participate in SC. CONCLUSION: Older adults who participated in SC showed better perception on OHRQoL, independently of sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors.
Circ-
calm4
Serves as an
miR-337-3p
Sponge to Regulate Myo10 (Myosin 10) and Promote Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Proliferation
Authors: Zhang Junting , Li Yiying , Qi Jing , Yu Xiufeng , Ren Huanhuan , Zhao Xijuan , Xin Wei , He Siyu , Zheng Xiaodong , Ma Cui , Zhang Lixin , Wu Bingxiang , Zhu Daling
Published: February 2020

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation is the pathological basis of pulmonary vascular remodeling in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Recent studies suggest that circular RNA (circRNA) can regulate various biological processes, including cell proliferation. Therefore, it is possible that circRNA may have important roles in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. In the present study, we aimed to identify functional circRNAs and clarify their roles and mechanisms in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary hypertension. RNA sequencing identified 67 circRNAs that were differentially expressed in hypoxic lung tissues of mice. Screening by bioinformatics and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed significant elevation of a circRNA derived from alternative splicing of the
calmodulin 4
gene (designated circ-
calm4
). Notably, this circRNA absorbed
miR-337-3p
. We further identified Myo10 (myosin 10) as a target protein of
miR-337-3p
.
miR-337-3p
bound to the 3′-untranslated region of Myo10 mRNA, thereby attenuating the translation of Myo10. Using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, we found that circ-
calm4
regulated cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle. Additionally, we verified the functions of
miR-337-3p
and Myo10 in hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle. Our results suggested that the circ-
calm4
/
miR-337-3p
/Myo10 signal transduction axis modulated the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells at the molecular level, thus establishing potential targets for the early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor‐121 Administration Mitigates Halogen Inhalation‐Induced Pulmonary Injury and Fetal Growth Restriction in Pregnant Mice
Authors: Addis Dylan R. , Lambert James A. , Ren Changchun , Doran Stephen , Aggarwal Saurabh , Jilling Tamas , Matalon Sadis
Published: February 2020

Background

Circulating levels of sFLT‐1 (soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1), the extracellular domain of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 1, and its ratio to levels of placental growth factor are markers of the occurrence and severity of preeclampsia.

Methods and Results

C57BL/6 pregnant mice on embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5), male, and non‐pregnant female mice were exposed to air or to Br
2
at 600 ppm for 30 minutes and were treated with vehicle or with VEGF‐121 (100 μg/kg, subcutaneously) daily, starting 48 hours post‐exposure. Plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lungs, fetuses, and placentas were collected 120 hours post‐exposure. In Br
2
‐exposed pregnant mice, there was a time‐dependent and significant increase in plasma levels of sFLT‐1 which correlated with increases in mouse lung wet/dry weights and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein content. Supplementation of exogenous VEGF‐121 improved survival and weight gain, reduced lung wet/dry weights, decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein levels, enhanced placental development, and improved fetal growth in pregnant mice exposed to Br
2
. Exogenous VEGF‐121 administration had no effect in non‐pregnant mice.

Conclusions

These results implicate inhibition of VEGF signaling driven by sFLT‐1 overexpression as a mechanism of pregnancy‐specific injury leading to lung edema, maternal mortality, and fetal growth restriction after bromine gas exposure.
Moderate Hypothermia Modifies Coronary Hemodynamics and Endothelium‐Dependent Vasodilation in a Porcine Model of Temperature Management
Authors: Bobi Joaquim , Solanes Núria , Dantas Ana Paula , Ishida Kohki , Regueiro Ander , Castillo Nadia , Sabaté Manel , Rigol Montserrat , Freixa Xavier
Published: February 2020

Background

Hypothermia has been associated with therapeutic benefits including reduced mortality and better neurologic outcomes in survivors of cardiac arrest. However, undesirable side effects have been reported in patients undergoing coronary interventions. Using a large animal model of temperature management, we aimed to describe how temperature interferes with the coronary vasculature.

Methods and Results

Coronary hemodynamics and endothelial function were studied in 12 pigs at various core temperatures. Left circumflex coronary artery was challenged with intracoronary nitroglycerin, bradykinin, and adenosine at normothermia (38°C) and mild hypothermia (34°C), followed by either rewarming (38°C; n=6) or moderate hypothermia (Mo
HT
; 32°C, n=6). Invasive coronary hemodynamics by Doppler wire revealed a slower coronary blood velocity at 32°C in the Mo
HT
protocol (normothermia 20.2±11.2 cm/s versus mild hypothermia 18.7±4.3 cm/s versus Mo
HT
11.3±5.3 cm/s,
P
=0.007). Mo
HT
time point was also associated with high values of hyperemic microvascular resistance (>3 mm Hg/cm per second) (normothermia 2.0±0.6 mm Hg/cm per second versus mild hypothermia 2.0±0.8 mm Hg/cm per second versus Mo
HT
3.4±1.6 mm Hg/cm per second,
P
=0.273). Assessment of coronary vasodilation by quantitative coronary analysis showed increased endothelium‐dependent (bradykinin) vasodilation at 32°C when compared with normothermia (normothermia 6.96% change versus mild hypothermia 9.01% change versus Mo
HT
25.42% change,
P
=0.044). Results from coronary reactivity in vitro were in agreement with angiography data and established that endothelium‐dependent relaxation in Mo
HT
completely relies on NO production.

Conclusions

In this porcine model of temperature management, 34°C hypothermia and rewarming (38°C) did not affect coronary hemodynamics or endothelial function. However, 32°C hypothermia altered coronary vasculature physiology by slowing coronary blood flow, increasing microvascular resistance, and exacerbating endothelium‐dependent vasodilatory response.
Serum Albumin Is a Marker of Myocardial Fibrosis, Adverse Pulsatile Aortic Hemodynamics, and Prognosis in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Prenner Stuart B. , Pillutla Raj , Yenigalla Sowjanya , Gaddam Sowmya , Lee Jonathan , Obeid Mary Jo , Ans Armghan Haider , Jehangir Qasim , Kim Jessica , Zamani Payman , Mazurek Jeremy A. , Akers Scott R. , Chirinos Julio A.
Published: February 2020

Background

Data regarding the phenotypic correlates and prognostic value of albumin in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are scarce. The goal of the current study is to determine phenotypic correlates (myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, detailed pulsatile hemodynamics, and skeletal muscle mass) and prognostic implications of serum albumin in HFpEF.

Methods and Results

We studied 118 adults with HFpEF. All‐cause death or heart‐failure–related hospitalization was ascertained over a median follow‐up of 57.6 months. We measured left ventricular mass, myocardial extracellular volume, and axial muscle areas using magnetic resonance imaging. Pulsatile arterial hemodynamics were assessed with a combination of arterial tonometry and phase‐contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects with lower serum albumin exhibited a higher body mass index, and a greater proportion of black ethnicity and diabetes mellitus. A low serum albumin was associated with higher myocardial extracellular volume (52.3 versus 57.4 versus 39.3 mL in lowest to highest albumin tertile, respectively;
P
=0.0023) and greater N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide levels, but not with a higher myocardial cellular volume (123 versus 114 versus 102 mL;
P
=0.13). Lower serum albumin was also associated with an increased forward wave amplitude and markedly increased pulsatile power in the aorta. Serum albumin was a strong predictor of death or heart failure hospitalization even after adjustment for N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide levels and the Meta‐Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score (adjusted standardized hazard ratio=0.56; 95% CI=0.37–0.83;
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions

Serum albumin is associated with myocardial fibrosis, adverse pulsatile aortic hemodynamics, and prognosis in HFpEF. This readily available clinical biomarker can enhance risk stratification in HFpEF and identifies a subgroup with specific pathophysiological abnormalities.
Peer Disruption and Learning: Links between Suspensions and the Educational Achievement of Non-Suspended Students
Authors: Hwang NaYoung , Domina Thurston
Published: February 2020

To evaluate the net effects of classroom disciplinary practices, policy makers and educators must understand not only their effects on disciplined students but also their effects on non-disciplined peers. In this study, we estimate the link between peer suspensions and non-suspended students’ learning trajectories in a California school district where middle and high school students took up to twelve basic skills tests in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) over the course of the 2009–10, 2010–11, and 2011–12 school years. We find that Hispanic students, students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, English language learners, students enrolled in special education, and low-achieving students are disproportionately exposed to classmate suspensions. Analyses with student and classroom fixed effects show that student achievement in mathematics increases when their classmates receive suspensions, particularly suspensions attributed to disruptive behavior. We find no association between classmate suspension and ELA achievement. Because these results come from schools in which suspensions are relatively rare events, they may not generalize to settings with draconian disciplinary cultures. Nonetheless, our findings imply that suspensions, when used appropriately, can improve the academic achievement of non-suspended students, particularly for students from vulnerable populations.
Jiang, L., Wu, L.F., Huang, G.Y., He, B.S., Yu, J.R. & Xu, K.W. (2020) A new species of Ilex sect. Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) from Guangdong, China. Phytotaxa 428 (2): 153–158.

Authors: JIANG LEI , WU LIN-FANG , HUANG GUAN-YUN , YU JIA-RONG , HE BI-SHENG , XU KE-WANG
Published: February 2020

N/A
The Presenting Concerns of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients at University Counseling Centers
Authors: Platt Lisa F.
Published: February 2020

There is a paucity of research on transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) students who present to university counseling centers (UCCs). Using national-level data from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (2012 to 2015), the current findings indicate that TGNC students seeking services at UCCs are presenting with high acuity and more severe concerns than their cisgender peers. This severity is in nearly every clinical domain including suicidality, history of hospitalization, trauma history, mood disorders, and family distress. Comparing the transgender and gender nonconforming (GNC) collegiate clients, GNC clients have the highest levels of distress and clinical symptoms on nearly every indicator. Overall, these findings for both transgender and GNC clients provide important information for UCCs about treatment and outreach to these high-risk populations. Our findings also mirror the mental health disparities seen in noncollegiate community TGNC samples. We discuss treatment implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research.
District-Level Achievement Gaps Explain Black and Hispanic Overrepresentation in Special Education
Authors: Farkas George , Morgan Paul L. , Hillemeier Marianne M. , Mitchell Cynthia , Woods Adrienne D.
Published: February 2020

To examine whether special education racial risk ratios reported by U.S. school districts are explained by district-level confounds, particularly, racial achievement gaps, we analyzed merged data ( N = 1,952 districts for Black–White comparisons; N = 2,571 districts for Hispanic–White comparisons) from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, Stanford Educational Data Archive, and Common Core data sets. Regression analysis results indicated that Black– and Hispanic–White district risk ratios were strongly related to Black– and Hispanic–White district achievement gaps. These results reconcile findings from district-level data with those from student-level data and support the finding that, when compared to otherwise similar White students by controlling for group differences in achievement, non-White students are on average underrepresented in special education. That is, non-White overrepresentation in special education in most districts is explained by racial achievement gaps in these districts. Residuals from the regressions provide a more accurate way to monitor for outlier districts than the current practice required in federal regulations of using unadjusted risk ratios.
“Little man you’ve had a busy day”: Music in the onstage and offstage lives of “Master Harold”
Authors: Fourie Paula
Published: February 2020

Frequently referred to by its characters, and often approximated or imagined by them, music plays an important — if largely unacknowledged — role in Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys. This play is widely considered one of Fugard’s most obviously autobiographical works, the setting and characters based on the places and people that defined his Port Elizabeth youth. This article explores a further congruence between the playwright’s (auto)biography and this play, namely the role of music in each. As we learn from his autobiographical texts, Cousins: A Memoir (1997) and Notebooks: 1960–1977 (1983), listening to and trying to make music have constituted important activities in Fugard’s lived experience, most notably during his childhood and youth. Consequently, music holds a particular currency for Fugard. This article argues that Fugard entertains a perception of music as a privileged form of creative expression rooted in his own unfulfilled desire to make music. It also argues that these attitudes are reflected in the symbolic power afforded to music in “Master Harold” … and the Boys, informing a tension in the play between the presence of music and, conversely, the absence thereof. Through exploring music in the onstage and offstage lives of Master Harold, this article offers a reading that reconciles the autobiographical dimensions of the play with its political significance. Doing so has particular consequences for reading the absence of Hally — Fugard’s fictional avatar — from the play’s final, tantalizing, image of a non-racial South Africa.
“Une Nègre de drame”: Jane Vialle and the Politics of Representation in Colonial Reform, 1945–1953
Authors: Dunstan Sarah Claire
Published: February 2020

The French-Congolese Senator, Jane Vialle, was appointed as a French delegate to the United Nations in 1949. During her term she served on the Ad-Hoc Anti-Slavery committee as an expert on African colonial conditions and the status of African Women. Vialle's work on the international stage was an extension of her efforts towards reforming the political, social and economic rights of women at national and local levels, within the French Fourth Republic and the Oubangui-Chari region she represented in French West Africa. Despite her efforts, Vialle was frustrated with the glacial pace of reform in all three arenas, declaring to her friend and colleague, the African American historian and Pan-Africanist Rayford W. Logan, that she often felt she was being used as ‘une nègre de drame’. Logan believed the expression was the French equivalent of the American phrase ‘a showpiece or token negro’. Through the framework of Jane Vialle’s political career, this articles explores how the notion of representation and what it meant to be ‘une nègre de drame’ or, indeed, to be an authentic representative of one’s nation, race or gender intersected with Vialle’s reformist efforts in Oubangui-Chari, the French Fourth Republic and on the international stage.
Why doesn’t anyone talk about non-union collective agreements?
Authors: Bray Mark , McCrystal Shae , Spiess Leslee
Published: February 2020

Non-union collective agreements have become a common and widely accepted phenomenon in Australian industrial relations since the 1990s. This article asks why they are so rarely discussed in research, the media and public policy debates. On the way to exploring a range of factors that answer this question, we first summarise the relevant legislative provisions and reflect on their international exceptionalism. We review both data on the incidence and coverage of non-union collective agreements and the modest research on the practice of non-union collective agreement-making, almost all of which preceded the Fair Work Act. The penultimate main section analyses the few accounts of non-union collective agreements in the media and policy debates. The last main section presents our speculative and multi-causal answer to the why question.
The Roles of Teacher Expectations and School Composition on Teacher–Child Relationship Quality
Authors: Trang Kim T. , Hansen David M.
Published: February 2020

Teachers provide emotional and behavioral supports essential for success in the classroom. This study examined the roles of child interpersonal skills, teacher expectations, and school racial and poverty compositions on the quality of relationships formed between teachers and children. A subsample from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort 2010–2011 data set was used to fit two-level, multivariate regression models. Findings showed children with higher interpersonal skills had lower conflict and higher closeness with teachers. High teacher expectations were associated with less conflicting relationships. At the school level, the association between teacher expectations and teacher–child conflict was moderated by the Asian and Hispanic student population, and teacher–child closeness was moderated by the Asian student population. In addition, a higher proportion of school poverty and high teacher expectations was associated with lower teacher–child conflict. Overall, findings suggest the importance of investigating teacher–child interpersonal processes within a school context.
Manipulating the Valence of Future Thought: The Effect on Affect
Authors: Busby Grant Janie , Wilson Neil
Published: February 2020

Imagining personal future events is associated with well-being, but the nature and direction of this relationship are unclear. This study investigated whether imagining episodic future scenarios, experimentally manipulated for valence, have an immediate impact on affect. University students ( N =  197) completed a 2 × 3 between-subject online study in which they imagined four personal events likely to occur in the future. Participants were directed to imagine positive or negative events or were undirected as to valence to additionally assess the valence and effect of self-directed imagined scenarios. Participants in all three conditions reported a change in positive affect immediately after the task, with both positive and nondirected thinking improving positive affect and negative future thoughts reducing it. However, negative affect only shifted in response to negative future thinking but not the other conditions. These findings demonstrate that there is an immediate causal effect of episodic future thinking on affect but only in specific directions and that this differs from the patterns shown in longer term measurements. The findings also suggest when self-directed that imagined future thoughts tend to mirror the valence and causal effect of positively induced thoughts. This study has implications for the ongoing debate around future thinking and well-being.
A Totally Implantable Drug Delivery System for Local Therapy of the Middle and Inner Ear
Authors: Lehner Rolf , Brugger Heribert , Maassen Marcus M. , Zenner Hans-Peter
Published: February 2020

Local therapy of middle and inner ear diseases is being used, but is restricted to cases of ear drum perforation or to repeated invasive intratympanic drug application by the physician.

In accordance with the Medical Device Directive (class III), a bone-anchored, totally implantable drug delivery system (TI-DDS) has been developed. It includes a micropump for subcutaneous, patient-controlled activation, a drug reservoir and a septum port. A thin guide-wired catheter leads from the pump outlet to the point of application in the mastoid or middle ear cavities. Local inner ear therapy with suitable drugs is possible by positioning the catheter's end near the round window membrane. The system requires no battery and will offer a wide range of patient-controlled bolus applications (25 μl per activation). We first analyzed the three-dimensional implantation geometry of the mastoid cavity. Basic micromechanical problems have been solved in order to create several prototypes. The TI-DDS has already undergone extensive in vitro testing. Recent results of pump rate precision and digital pressure force testing are promising.

Local drug treatment for conditions such as lidocaine-sensitive tinnitus, secretory otitis media, Meniere's disease, localized pain and intralesional cancer is under discussion. Furthermore, local application of future biotechnological trophic factors for inner ear treatment is anticipated. The basic engineering is completed and initial animal tests are in preparation.
Retrolabyrinthine Vestibular Nerve Section: A Current Appraisal
Authors: Aristegui Miguel , Cokkeser Yasar , Canalis Rinaldo F. , Mancini Fernando , Sanna Mario , Naguib Maged , Saleh Essam
Published: February 2020

We report our experience (1987-1993) with Meniere's disease patients treated with a retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy. The current literature was reviewed and our results have been compared with those of previous reports. The overall success rate for vertigo relief was 96.7%, with no serious or permanent complications resulting from the procedure. The technical elements of the operation, as they apply to our approach and those of others, have been analyzed, with special attention given to the anatomical features of the region and their influence on success or failure. We conclude that the retrolabyrinthine approach for vestibular nerve section remains a safe and highly successful technique which merits continued use.
Conducting Management Research in Latin America: Why and What’s in It for You?
Authors: Aguinis Herman , Villamor Isabel , Lazzarini Sergio G. , Vassolo Roberto S. , Amorós José Ernesto , Allen David G.
Published: February 2020

We make the case that conditions and timing are right and, despite some challenges, there are many benefits to conducting management research in Latin America. Some of these conditions include an upward trend in the productivity of Latin American researchers, increased collaboration between researchers in Latin America and those in other regions, and societal, cultural, and economic characteristics that make the region an ideal “natural laboratory” to build and test management theories. Demonstrating that our arguments are not just about potential but are founded in reality, we offer a selective summary of recent research conducted in Latin America that made important contributions to micro and macro management domains and theories. These include (a) leadership; (b) small and family businesses; (c) entrepreneurship; (d) social inclusiveness, inequity, and vulnerable populations; (e) strategy and competitive dynamics in natural resource industries; (f) strategy in unstable macroeconomic contexts; (g) public (industrial) policies and business development; (h) hybrid public-private collaborations; and (i) social enterprises and blended social and economic value creation. We also describe opportunities for future research in these domains. Finally, we offer practical and actionable advice on how to address typical challenges encountered when conducting management research in Latin America. Solutions apply to those residing inside and outside of Latin America and include, among others, identifying universities with a research-oriented career path, recognizing credible university rankings and their impact, and capitalizing on local contexts to generate high-quality research. We hope our article will serve as a catalyst for future management research in Latin America.
The Otolaryngology Match 2019: Why Was This Year Different from Every Other Year?
Authors: Eisenman David J. , Guardiani Elizabeth
Published: February 2020

After 2 years with record high numbers of unfilled spots in the otolaryngology National Residency Matching Program–sponsored match, the current match cycle had no open positions available in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program. This article analyzes the historical and present data to try to understand what happened so that we can better avoid repeating the problems of the past.
Retrograde autologous priming to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion requirements: a systematic review
Authors: Vranken Nousjka PA , Babar Zaheer UD , Montoya Jesse A , Weerwind Patrick W
Published: February 2020

Background:

Efforts have been made to minimize transfusion of packed red blood cells in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. One method concerns retrograde autologous priming. Although the technique has been used for decades, results remain contradictory in terms of transfusion requirements.

Objective:

This systematic literature review aimed to summarize the evidence for the efficacy of retrograde autologous priming in terms of decreasing perioperative packed red blood cell requirements in adults.

Methods:

Two researchers independently searched PubMed for articles published in the past 10 years. The modified Cochrane collaboration Risk of Bias Tool and the Research Triangle Institute Item Bank were used to assess bias.

Results:

Eight studies were included, of which two randomized and six observational studies. Five studies, including one randomized study, report a significant decrease in packed red blood cell use in the retrograde autologous priming group compared to no retrograde autologous priming used. All studies are flawed by at least a high risk bias of bias score on one item of the bias assessment.

Conclusion:

Although most studies reported significantly fewer packed red blood cell transfusions in the retrograde autologous priming group, it is important to note that relatively few articles are available which are flawed by several types of bias. Prospective, randomized multi-center trials are warranted to conclude decisively on the benefits of retrograde autologous priming.
Association study of candidate genes with obesity and metabolic traits in antipsychotic-treated patients with first-episode psychosis over a 2-year period
Authors: Gassó Patricia , Arnaiz Joan Albert , Mas Sergi , Lafuente Amalia , Bioque Miquel , Cuesta Manuel J , Díaz-Caneja Covadonga M , García Clemente , Lobo Antonio , González-Pinto Ana , Parellada Mara , Corripio Iluminada , Vieta Eduard , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , Mané Anna , Rodríguez Natalia , Boloc Daniel , Saiz-Ruiz Jerónimo , Bernardo Miguel ,   PEPs Group
Published: February 2020

Aims:

Patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) often display different metabolic disturbances even independently of drug therapy. However, antipsychotic (AP) treatment, especially with second-generation APs, is strongly linked to weight gain, which increases patients’ risk of developing obesity and other metabolic diseases. There is an important genetic risk component that can contribute to the appearance of these disturbances. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of polymorphisms in selected candidate genes on obesity and other anthropometric and metabolic traits in 320 AP-treated FEP patients over the course of a 2-year follow-up.

Methods:

These patients were recruited in the multicentre PEPs study (Phenotype−genotype and environmental interaction; Application of a predictive model in first psychotic episodes). A total of 127 validated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 18 candidate genes were included in the genetic analysis.

Results:

After Bonferroni correction, SNPs in ADRA2A, FTO, CNR1, DRD2, DRD3, LEPR and BDNF were associated with obesity, abdominal circumference, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and/or percentage of glycated haemoglobin.

Conclusions:

Although our results should be interpreted as exploratory, they support previous evidence of the impact of these candidate genes on obesity and metabolic status. Further research is required to gain a better knowledge of the genetic variants that can be considered relevant metabolic risk factors. The ability to identify FEP patients at higher risk for these metabolic disturbances would enable clinicians to better select and control their AP treatment.
Perceived Interpersonal Influences and College-Major Nontraditionality as Predictors of Women’s Leadership Aspirations
Authors: Yeoward Jennifer L. , Nauta Margaret M.
Published: February 2020

In this study, we examined the degree to which two forms of perceived interpersonal influence relate to college women’s plans to become leaders in their career fields. We also tested whether those associations vary as a function of the nontraditionality of the women’s majors (as indexed by the percentage of male students in their majors). The responses of 673 female undergraduate students to an online survey revealed that perceived support/guidance for career decision-making and perceived inspiration from career role models both had unique and positive associations with leadership aspirations, but those associations did not differ based on major nontraditionality. We discuss implications for career interventions designed to facilitate college women’s leadership aspirations and identify future research directions.