bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Debate: What if it’s not just a phase?
Authors: Theodosiou Louise
Published: January 2020

In order to support children and young people who are exploring their gender, we need to develop a shared understanding of gender identities and enhance the evidence base relating to long‐term outcomes. All professionals working with children and young people should be trained in gender diversity. Health‐care systems must be adapted to enable us to record gender identity; outcome measures should be developed that accommodate different gender identities. In doing so, we will develop clearer information about the number of children and young people who are exploring their gender and the way that gender identities develop throughout childhood. We will also start to demystify gender and work to enhance understanding and acceptance of diversity.
Debate: The pressing need for research and services for gender desisters/detransitioners
Authors: Butler Catherine , Hutchinson Anna
Published: January 2020

The number of people presenting at gender clinics is increasing worldwide. Many people undergo a gender transition with subsequent improved psychological well‐being (Paediatrics, 2014, 134, 696). However, some people choose to stop this journey, ‘desisters’, or to reverse their transition, ‘detransitioners’. It has been suggested that some professionals and activists are reluctant to acknowledge the existence of desisters and detransitioners, possibly fearing that they may delegitimize persisters’ experiences (International Journal of Transgenderism, 2018, 19, 231). Certainly, despite their presence in all follow‐up studies of young people who have experienced gender dysphoria (GD), little thought has been given to how we might support this cohort. Levine (Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 2017, 47, 1295) reports that the 8th edition of the WPATH Standards of Care will include a section on detransitioning – confirming that this is an increasingly witnessed phenomenon worldwide. It also highlights that compared to the extensive protocols for working with children, adolescents and adults who wish to transition, nothing exists for those working with desisters or detransitioners. With very little research and no clear guidance on how to work with this population, and with numbers of referrals to gender services increasing, this is a timely juncture to consider factors that should be taken into account within clinical settings and areas for future research.
Editorial: Improving health care for gender diverse youth through education and training
Authors: AhnAllen Christopher G.
Published: January 2020

As a global community, there is increasing understanding and acceptance that children and adolescents must not conform their gender identity and expression to that of their sex assigned at birth. Until recently, the cultural norm was an expectation that children and adolescents would be raised by their caregivers to express themselves in ways that matched their sex assigned at birth. While there has been a significant cultural shift to identify gender identity as an important concept that is related to human development, there is not yet consensus on how caregivers and healthcare systems ought to attend to this awareness.
The development of the clinical assessment tool “Health and Everyday Functioning in Young Children with Cancer”
Authors: Darcy Laura , Granlund Mats , Enskär Karin , Björk Maria
Published: January 2020

Background

Young children's experiences of everyday life with cancer are vital in guiding care. The universal and interdisciplinary language of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF‐CY) has wide reaching effects for the care of young children in need. The aim of this study was to select and validate the content of a clinical assessment tool (CAT) for health and everyday functioning in young children with cancer.

Methods

A comprehensive set of ICF‐CY codes (n = 70) mapping everyday function and health was previously identified from the transcripts of 12 interviews with young children with cancer and their parents at a paediatric oncology centre in the west of Sweden. Three transcripts were from data collected shortly after diagnosis, three transcripts from 6 months after diagnosis, three transcripts from 12 months after diagnosis, and three transcripts from 18 months after diagnosis. The present study involved the development of items based on the ICF‐CY codes.

Results

The CAT consists of 52 items grouped in four dimensions: “the child herself/himself,” “the child's everyday life,” “the child's need for support,” and “the child's contacts with health care.”

Conclusion

The questions correlate well with known research results and highlight areas that are important for health and everyday life for young children with cancer. This tool, based on children's experiences, can be used by both parents and health care personnel such as nurses to highlight aspects of health and function in everyday life for the young child with cancer that otherwise might be missed. This novel approach using the ICF‐CY could be used to guide the delivery of care towards living an everyday life with a long‐term illness.
Meningeal lymphatic network: The middleman of neuroinflammation
Authors: Pal Sarit , Rao Shilpa , Louveau Antoine
Published: January 2020

The central nervous system was long thought to be an immune‐privileged organ, notably because of its lack of conventional lymphatic drainage. Years of scientific observations and the recent (re)discovery of the meningeal lymphatic system has brought new insights into the relationship of the brain with the peripheral immune system. The extended meningeal lymphatic network has been shown to be a major route for the circulation of molecular and cellular cerebrospinal fluid constituents to the cervical lymph nodes, and participates in the maintenance of brain function and the development of neurological disorders. In this review, we discuss the functional anatomy of the meningeal lymphatic network, its role in neuro‐inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, and its therapeutic potential.
Inclusive foster care: How foster parents support cultural and relational connections for Indigenous children
Authors: Oliver Carolyn
Published: January 2020

How do foster parents support the relational and cultural connections of Indigenous children in care? The answer matters; the well‐being of Indigenous children depends on these connections. At one of Canada's largest Indigenous child welfare agencies, we implemented inclusive foster care, an approach requiring foster parents to engage with the family, community, and cultural life of the child for whom they care. Fifteen years later, we present findings from a thematic analysis of interviews with 13 foster parents who participated in a mixed methods study exploring inclusive foster care. We discuss foster parent strategies to support the child's family relationships: setting clear boundaries, rolling with inconsistency, and understanding the family's (hi)stories. Strategies to strengthen cultural connectedness include visiting traditional territory, using personal initiative and Indigenous knowledge, and engaging in school‐based and “multi‐purpose” cultural opportunities. Drawing on foster parent stories of success, we propose ways for social workers, foster parents, and policymakers to address the cultural and relational disruption that characterizes the experience of Indigenous children in care in colonial settler societies.
The Life of Constantine, the Life of Methodius and the history of the Slavs in the ninth century: a reassessment
Authors: Lienhard Thomas
Published: January 2020

The Slavonic Lives of Constantine/Cyril (d. 869) and Methodius (d. 885) are generally considered to have been written shortly after the death of these two saints, and in any case in the ninth century. However, the present article tries to show that this contention is not conclusive. Instead, it argues for a later writing, in the course of the tenth or eleventh centuries, taking into account in particular the authors' use of older Latin sources on the same theme. As a result, the specific information from these two Lives is subject to caution, which has important consequences for the biography of Constantine/Cyril, for the modalities of the papal mission to Moravia, and more generally for the history of the Slavic countries in the ninth century.
Predation of frog eggs by the water strider Gerris latiabdominis Miyamoto (Hemiptera: Gerridae)
Authors: Watanabe Reiya , Fujino Yuma , Yokoi Tomoyuki
Published: January 2020

Water striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) are predators found on the water surface that prey mainly on arthropods. The feeding on other organisms (dead vertebrates, fishes and tadpoles) is a rare event. To our knowledge, predation of frog eggs by water striders has not yet been reported. We observed that adult water striders, Gerris latiabdominis Miyamoto, 1958 (Hemiptera: Gerridae), preyed on the eggs of three frog species, Pelophylax nigromaculata Hallowell, 1861 (Anura: Ranidae), Rana japonica Boulenger, 1879 (Anura: Ranidae), and Rhacophorus schlegelii Günther, 1858 (Anura: Rhacophoridae). We found predation by the water striders affects the survival rate of frog eggs floating on the water surface. We suggest that this hunting event would occur in water bodies in which water striders and frogs coexist, especially the region where their phenology overlaps.
Efficacy and safety of adjunctive perampanel 4 mg/d for the treatment of focal seizures: A pooled post hoc analysis of four randomized, double‐blind, phase III studies
Authors: Steinhoff Bernhard J. , Patten Anna , Williams Betsy , Malhotra Manoj
Published: January 2020

Objective

This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive perampanel 4 mg/d received as modal dose, which may have differed from randomized dose, for treatment of focal seizures.

Methods

Data were pooled from four randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase III studies of adjunctive perampanel in patients (aged ≥12 years) with focal seizures, with/without focal to bilateral tonic‐clonic (FBTC) seizures: studies 304 (NCT00699972), 305 (NCT00699582), 306 (NCT00700310), and 335 (NCT01618695). Efficacy assessments included median percentage reductions in seizure frequency per 28 days and seizure‐freedom rates for patients receiving placebo and perampanel 4 mg/d (modal dose). Treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were assessed in patients receiving perampanel 4 mg/d at their TEAE onset. Outcomes were also assessed with/without enzyme‐inducing antiseizure medications (EIASMs).

Results

The full analysis set included 979 patients with focal seizures (placebo: n = 616 [235 with FBTC seizures]; perampanel 4 mg/d: n = 363 [134 with FBTC seizures]). Compared with placebo, perampanel 4 mg/d conferred significantly greater median percentage reductions in seizure frequency per 28 days for focal (12.6% vs 21.1%; P = .0004) and FBTC seizures (17.4% vs 49.8%; P < .0001), and seizure‐freedom rates for focal (0.8% vs 3.6%; P = .0018) and FBTC seizures (11.1% vs 18.7%; P = .0424). Seizure improvements with perampanel 4 mg/d were greater without EIASMs than with EIASMs. For assessment of TEAEs, overall 1376 patients with focal seizures received perampanel 4 mg/d at any time (FBTC seizures, n = 499). TEAEs with perampanel 4 mg/d occurred in 419 of 1376 (30.5%) and 148 of 499 (29.7%) patients with focal and FBTC seizures, respectively; most common was dizziness. The proportion of TEAEs was similar with or without EIASMs.

Significance

This post hoc analysis showed adjunctive perampanel 4 mg/d was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with focal seizures, with or without FBTC seizures. This dose may be a valuable treatment option in patients unable to tolerate higher perampanel doses up to 12 mg/d.
The plasma pharmacokinetics of fosfomycin and metronidazole after intraperitoneal administration in patients undergoing appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis
Authors: Fonnes Siv , Weisser Johan Juhl , Holzknecht Barbara Juliane , Arpi Magnus , Rosenberg Jacob
Published: January 2020

We aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of fosfomycin and metronidazole after intraperitoneal administration of the combination of fosfomycin and metronidazole in patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis. We included eight otherwise healthy men undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. The trial treatment was administered at the end of the surgical procedure and left in the abdominal cavity. Trial drugs consisted of 4 g fosfomycin and 1 g metronidazole in a total volume of 500.2 mL. Blood samples were collected prior to and ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after administration. High‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used for the measurement of plasma concentrations, and pharmacokinetic calculations were undertaken. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was undertaken on isolates from intraoperatively collected specimens. The median maximal concentration for fosfomycin in plasma was 104.4 mg/L, median time point for the maximal concentration was 1.5 h, median half‐life 3.0 h, and median area under the curve 608 mg*h/L. The median maximal concentration for metronidazole in plasma was 13.6 mg/L, median time point for the maximal concentration was 2.0 h, median half‐life 7.3 h, and median area under the curve was 164 mg*h/L. All aerobic bacteria were susceptible to fosfomycin, and all anaerobes were susceptible to metronidazole. Plasma concentrations of fosfomycin and metronidazole were in line with concentrations reported from pharmacokinetic studies after intravenous administration and were within therapeutic ranges.
ACEP Guidelines on Acute Nontraumatic Headache Diagnosis and Management in the Emergency Department, Commentary on Behalf of the Refractory, Inpatient, Emergency Care Section of the American Headache Society
Authors: Peretz Addie , Dujari Shefali , Cowan Robert , Minen Mia
Published: January 2020

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) published guidelines in July 2019 on the diagnosis and management of acute nontraumatic headaches in the emergency department, focusing predominantly on the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage and the role of imaging and lumbar puncture in diagnosis. The ACEP Clinical Policies document is intended to aide Emergency Physicians in their approach to patients presenting with acute headache and to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, while promoting safe patient care practices. The Clinical Policies document also highlights the need for future research into best practices to distinguish primary from secondary headaches and the efficacy and safety of current treatment options for acute headaches. The following commentary on these guidelines is intended to support and expand on these guidelines from the Headache specialists’ perspective, written on behalf of the Refractory, Inpatient, Emergency Care section of the American Headache Society (AHS). The commentary have been reviewed and approved by Board of Directors of the AHS.
The experience of patients with cancer on narrative practice: A systematic review and meta‐synthesis
Authors: Yang Yan , Xu Jiehui , Hu Yihui , Hu Jiale , Jiang Anli
Published: January 2020

Background

In recent years, narrative practice has been applied in clinical settings to address the relational and psychological concerns that occur in tandem with physical illness. It is an emerging strategy to treat patients as individuals with their own stories, rather than purely based on symptoms.

Objective

To synthesize the experience of patients with cancer using narrative practice.

Methods

Following a systematic search strategy, a literature search was conducted to identify qualitative studies on the experience of patients with cancer using narrative practice. Nine databases were searched up to April 2018, which included six English databases and three Chinese databases. A meta‐synthesis was conducted to synthesize the findings of the included studies.

Main Results

Seven studies out of 2894 studies were included in this review. Patients with cancer had different preferences on narrative practices. In terms of the impacts of narrative practice on patients with cancer, six themes were identified, which included ‘(a) reducing the gap between patients and clinicians; (b) healing effect; (c) social connection; (d) facilitating self‐reflection, self‐recognition and self‐realization; (e) risk of negative impacts; and (f) Patients' preference on different approaches of narrative practice’.

Conclusions

Patients with cancer experienced positive effects regarding narrative practice. Although some patients may experience negative effects, narrative practice is a humanized way to provide care for patients with cancer in the clinical settings.
The role of relative deprivation in majority‐culture support for multiculturalism
Authors: Leviston Zoe , Dandy Justine , Jetten Jolanda , Walker Iain
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we investigate majority‐culture attitudes to multicultural policy in Australia. Drawing on relative deprivation (RD) theory, we explore whether resistance to multicultural policies and initiatives is related to individual and/or group‐based grievance claims of discrimination. To assess RD, we asked 517 Australian‐born people who identified as White Australians to rate (a) levels of discrimination toward their own group, toward themselves personally as a consequence of their group membership, and toward immigrants to Australia, and (b) feelings of injustice and anger associated with such discrimination. Our findings show that, while perceptions of discrimination toward majority‐culture Australians are commonplace, perceptions of discrimination toward immigrants are more so. We also found that higher ratings of group‐based RD of Australians relative to immigrants, but not individual deprivation relative to immigrants, predicted opposition to multicultural policies and initiatives. Moreover, perceived group‐based RD mediated the link between national identification and opposition to multicultural policies. The findings highlight, for the first time, the importance of group‐based grievance claims by majority‐culture members in opposing or supporting multicultural policy.
Do anti‐bribery laws reduce the cost of equity? Evidence from the UK Bribery Act 2010
Authors: Kim Suhee , Rees William , Sila Vathunyoo
Published: January 2020

We examine the impact of the UK Bribery Act 2010 on the implied cost of equity. We find a significant reduction in the cost of equity amongst UK firms with high bribery exposure after the passage of the Bribery Act. We further show that the Bribery Act improves internal control systems and increases stock liquidity of firms with high bribery exposure. Our results suggest that more stringent anti‐bribery regulations are not always bad for the firm.
Commentary: Microbial panaceas: does development have the answer? – reflections on Cowan, Dinan, & Cryan (2020)
Authors: Callaghan Bridget
Published: January 2020

Is the microbiome a promising adjunct, a potential panacea, or a distraction from feasible treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders? Taking a developmental approach may get us closer to understanding the data and give us pause in trying to translate this nascent field to the clinic right now.
Anal cancer screening and Pap testing acceptability among HIV‐positive men who have sex with men populations
Authors: Kerr C. , Heskin J. , Moran B. , Sadlier C. , Bergin C.
Published: January 2020

Linked article: V. Schwierzeck, in screening programmes. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020; 34: e225–e226. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16196.
Neonatal Omphalitis After Lotus Birth
Authors: Steer‐Massaro Courtney
Published: January 2020

Lotus birth, or umbilical nonseverance, is the practice wherein the umbilical cord is not separated from the placenta after birth, but allowed instead to dry and fall off on its own. Lotus birth may result in neonatal omphalitis. This article describes the history and rationale for lotus birth as well as the etiology, incidence, clinical presentation, and management of neonatal omphalitis. Recommendations for educating families how to perform lotus birth safely are presented. Additionally, signs and symptoms that warrant newborn assessment and treatment are reviewed.
VGLUT‐VGAT expression delineates functionally specialised populations of vasopressin‐containing neurones including a glutamatergic perforant path‐projecting cell group to the hippocampus in rat and mouse brain
Authors: Zhang Limei , Hernández Vito S. , Zetter Mario A. , Eiden Lee E.
Published: January 2020

The origin and functional significance of vasopressin (AVP)‐containing fibres in limbic regions has been an ongoing subject of investigation for several years. We have previously identified AVP‐magnocellular neurones of rat hypothalamus that provide glutamatergic projections to the hippocampus, amygdala, lateral habenula and locus coeruleus. However, we also reported AVP‐immunopositive fibres in those regions that are thin and make Gray type II synapses, which are unlikely to be of magnocellular origin. Therefore, in the present study, we characterised AVP mRNA co‐expression with expression of mRNAs marking glutamatergic (vesicular glutamate transporter [VGLUT]) and GABAergic (vesicular GABA transporter [VGAT]) neuronal traits in rat and mouse brain, using high‐resolution in situ hybridisation methods, including a radio‐ribonucleotide and RNAscope 2.5 HD duplex assay, with Slc17a7, Slc17a6, Slc32a1 and Avp probes corresponding to mRNAs of VGLUT1, VGLUT2, VGAT and AVP, respectively. We located 18 cell groups expressing Avp and identified their molecular signatures for VGLUT and VGAT mRNA expression. Avp cell groups of hypothalamus and midbrain are mainly VGLUT mRNA‐expressing, whereas those in regions derived from cerebral nuclei are mainly VGAT mRNA‐expressing, suggesting a functional segregation of glutamate/GABA co‐transmission with AVP. A newly identified Slc17a7 and Slc17a6 (but not Slc32a1) expressing vasopressinergic cell group was found in layer II‐III neurones of the central entorhinal cortex, which projects to the hippocampus. These data support the notion of a complex role for AVP with respect to modulating multiple central circuits controlling behaviour in specific ways depending on co‐transmission with glutamate or GABA, potentially giving rise to a functional classification of AVPergic neurones in the central nervous system.
Oral care practices of long‐term care home residents and caregivers: Secondary analysis of observational video recordings
Authors: Yoon Minn N. , Ickert Carla , Wilson Rozanne , Mihailidis Alex , Rochon Elizabeth
Published: January 2020

Aims and Objectives

To describe the proportion of toothbrushing task steps, long‐term care residents had an opportunity to complete; the duration and quality of toothbrushing by both residents and caregivers; and the feedback caregivers provided.

Background

Poor oral health is widespread among older adults in long‐term care homes; however, little is known about their actual oral health practices.

Design

Secondary analysis of video recordings.

Methods

A total of 58 video‐recorded sessions were analysed from two long‐term care homes in Canada. Eligible residents had at least one natural tooth, required oral care assistance, had Alzheimer's disease and understood English. Eligible caregivers spoke English and had worked for at least 1 year with people with dementia. Toothbrushing success was identified by the resident's participation in, and completion of, nine toothbrushing steps. Total time spent brushing teeth was calculated by summing the duration of time spent brushing teeth. Quality was described by time spent brushing the facial versus the lingual or occlusal surfaces. Caregiver verbal feedback was pulled from transcripts and analysed using content analysis. STROBE guidelines were used in reporting this study.

Results

The two step residents most frequently completed or attempted were brushing their teeth (77% complete, 7% attempt) and rinsing their mouth (86% complete, 2% attempt). The average time spent brushing teeth was 60.33 s (SD = 35.15). In 66% of observed videos, toothbrushing occurred only on the facial tooth surfaces, with no time spent brushing the lingual or occlusal surfaces.

Conclusion

Caregivers are supporting residents to independently complete toothbrushing; however, the duration and quality of toothbrushing are not sufficient to ensure optimal oral health.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Clear, detailed guidelines are required to ensure adequate oral care for long‐term care residents. Staff need to be aware that all surfaces should be brushed to ensure proper oral health.
What do we learn from brain imaging?—A primer for the dentists who want to know more about the association between the brain and human stomatognathic functions
Authors: Lin Chia‐shu , Yeung Andy Wai Kan
Published: January 2020

The number of neuroimaging studies on the brain and oral sensorimotor functions has increased recently. Behind the dazzling “brain maps,” what does the neuroimaging evidence truly tell us? What can dentists learn from it to improve clinical practice? We summarise the pros and cons of applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based neuroimaging to study oral behaviours of the dental patients. This is a narrative review of previous neuroimaging research of oral functions, focusing on MRI‐related studies of human subjects. MRI has gained popularity in dental research due to its non‐invasive nature, its approachability and its versatility in quantifying a variety of brain signatures. We argue that MRI‐based neuroimaging is suitable for investigating the association between the between‐individual variations in brain structure (eg grey matter volume)/brain functions (eg brain activation) and oral behaviours of the patients. Two specific topics of the daily dental practice, mastication and dental fear and anxiety, are discussed to exemplify the potential of neuroimaging methods. The methodological and interpretive limitations of MRI techniques are highlighted, and most importantly, we emphasise that the neuroimaging findings should be carefully interpreted given these limitations. MRI‐based neuroimaging techniques can provide a better evaluation of the association between the brain and stomatognathic functions, which could be pivotal to the evidence‐based clinical management of dental patients.
The Roles of Working Memory and Oral Language Abilities in Elicited Imitation Performance
Authors: PARK HAE IN , SOLON MEGAN , HENDERSON CARLY , DEHGHAN–CHALESHTORI MARZIEH
Published: January 2020

While an elicited imitation test (EIT) has been widely used as a measure of oral proficiency in second language acquisition (SLA) research, it is still unclear the extent to which memory capacity impacts EIT performance. In light of this gap, the present study sought to clarify the nature of elicited imitation by examining the relative contributions of language ability and phonological short‐term memory (PSTM) to EIT performance. Seventy‐eight second language (L2) learners of Spanish, who were grouped into 3 Spanish experience levels, took a Spanish EIT, an L2 oral narrative task, and a nonword repetition (NWR) task in their first language. Results demonstrated that learners’ EIT performance was primarily predicted by complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) measures extracted from the oral narrative task rather than NWR scores, which served as an index for PSTM capacity. Furthermore, the present study provided suggestive evidence that PSTM capacity may differentially mediate EIT performance depending on the extent of learners’ proficiency in and experience with Spanish. While facilitative effects for PSTM capacity were observed for less experienced learners, no effects were found for more experienced learners.
Dynamic Bioreactor Culture for Infiltration of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells within Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Annulus Fibrosus Repair
Authors: Wang Shuang , He Yun‐Fei , Ma Jun , Yu Lei , Wen Jian‐Kun , Ye Xiao‐Jian
Published: January 2020

Objective

To compare the ability of three culture strategies of static culture, intermittent centrifugal culture and dynamic bioreactor culture in promoting the infiltration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) throughout electrospun nanoporous aligned nanoyarn scaffold (AYS).

Methods

AYS was constructed by the method of conjugated electrospinning, using the blended solution of poly (L‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (P (LLA‐CL)) and gelatin. Then the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transplanted on the scaffolds. Culture the scaffold‐cells using three methods of static culture, intermittent centrifugal culture and dynamic bioreactor culture. After 7 and 14 days in culture, the infiltration depth of the cells were observed and measured by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or 4′, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining.

Result

In the current study, on the 7th day, the BMSCs in the scaffolds of static culture group, intermittent centrifugal culture group, and dynamic bioreactor culture group infiltrated to an average depth of 11.88 ± 1.82 μm, 21.17 ± 13.17 μm, and 26.27 ± 7.42 μm, respectively. There were differences between the bioreactor culture group with the static culture group and the intermittent centrifugal culture group. On the time point of 14 days, the depth of infiltration of BMSCs in dynamic bioreactor culture was the most (115.13 ± 25.44 μm, P < 0.05), and the infiltration of the cells in the intermittent centrifugal culture group was 42.53 ± 13.07 μm, deeper than that of the static culture group (24.53 ± 6.06, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Dynamic bioreactor culture may be a preferred method for tissue engineering approaches involving scaffolds with a low porosity, such as those needed for repair of the annulus fibrosus (AF).
Association of SNPs in GnRH gene with sperm quality traits of Chinese water buffalo
Authors: Wang Siyao , Zhang Yining , Cheng Yunyun , Lu Guanhong , Yang Rui , Geng Hongwei , Wang Chunli , Li Haoyang , Feng Tianqi , Liu Songcai , Hao Linlin
Published: January 2020

Hypothalamic gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) controls the activity of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and plays a key role in the reproductive performance of animals. In this study, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely g.991T > C, g.1041T > C g.3424T > C, g.3462C > A and g.3463Inde A, were detected in the GnRH gene of 162 water buffaloes by Sanger sequencing. Each SNP was associated with more than two sperm quality traits of ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, post‐thaw sperm motility and sperm abnormality. g.3424T > C and g.3462C > A were related to these four traits and had a remarkable effect on ejaculate volume. The three other SNPs were related to sperm concentration, post‐thaw sperm motility and sperm abnormality. Moreover, six haplotypes (H1: TCCAI, H2: CTTC‐, H3: TCCCI, H4: CTTA‐, H5: CCTA‐ and H6: CTCC‐) composed of five SNPs comprising seven different combined genotypes were generated by linkage disequilibrium analysis. Statistics followed by one‐way ANOVA indicated that water buffaloes with the haplotype combination H1H1 had the highest genotypic frequency, and those with the H4H4 haplotype combination had the highest ejaculate volume. The sperm concentration of those with haplotype combination H1H5 was higher than that of the other genotypes. In summary, our study showed a remarkable association between the SNPs of GnRH and sperm quality traits of Chinese water buffalo.
Poverty and the shadow economy: The role of governmental institutions
Authors: Berdiev Aziz N. , Saunoris James W. , Schneider Friedrich
Published: January 2020

This paper examines the impact of poverty on the size of the shadow economy using cross‐country panel data for over 100 countries for the period 1991–2015. The results show that poverty has a positive and significant effect on the size of the shadow economy. Furthermore, we argue that the quality and size of governmental institutions matter in moderating the impact of poverty on the shadow economy. Considering the interactions between poverty and government quality and size, we find that poverty has the largest effect on the size of the shadow economy when government quality is the lowest and the size of the government is the largest. These results withstand a battery of robustness checks.
A survey of transfusion practitioners in international society of blood transfusion member countries
Authors: Dhesi Amanpreet Singh , Moss Rachel , Deelen Rozemarijn , O’Reilly Clare , Bielby Linley
Published: January 2020

Background

Transfusion Practitioner (TP) is a term that describes activities undertaken by a variety of healthcare professionals who play a key role in supporting safe and appropriate blood management/transfusion care for patients. There is significant variation in staff specialty filling the role. To understand which countries have the TP role, and the variations that exist, an international survey was undertaken in 2017.

Methods

A survey was developed by the TP Forum Steering Committee (TPFSC) with input from the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Clinical Transfusion Working Party. The survey was distributed by the ISBT Office to all ISBT members and promoted via newsletters and social media.

Results/discussion

Five hundred and eighty‐two responses received from 84 different countries. The TP role exists in 67 countries, 10 countries do not have the TP role, one was unaware of the role, and respondents from six other countries did not answer this question. The most prevalent TP activities reported were policy and procedure development, education, participation in Transfusion Committees and audit activities. Eighty‐eight respondents indicated they did not have a TP role, with the main barrier being financial, followed by lack of support for the role. Eight respondents indicated they previously had a TP, and this role was no longer in place due to lack of support for the role, cutbacks and other priorities.

Conclusion

This survey provides insights as to where and how the TP functions and provides the TPFSC with valuable information to develop tools to support further development of the role.
Uniaxial Ratcheting Assessment of 304 Stainless Steel Samples Undergoing Step-Loading Conditions at Room and Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Karvan P. , Varvani-Farahani A.
Published: January 2020

The present study evaluates ratcheting response of 304 stainless steel samples subjected to various step-loading conditions at room and elevated temperatures using the kinematic hardening rules of Ohno–Wang (O–W), AbdelKarim–Ohno (AK–O), and Ahmadzadeh–Varvani (A–V). The hardening rules were employed along with the visco-plastic flow rule to account for the time-dependent response of 304 stainless steel samples. Ratcheting over low–high–low loading sequences consistently showed a small drop in ratcheting strain over the third loading step. This is mainly due to plastic strain accumulation over the first two loading steps preventing ratcheting strain to drop significantly with a drop in the mean stress. Moreover, dynamic recovery terms in these models were further modified through the inclusion of an exponential function developed by Kang to address the dynamic strain aging phenomenon. Low ratcheting rate and shakedown shortly after a few stress cycles within loading steps as operating temperatures varied between 400 and 600 °C were attributed to dynamic strain aging phenomenon in SS304 steel alloy. Progressive ratcheting response and their stress–strain hysteresis loops were highly influenced at various operating temperatures, stress levels, and stress rates. Coefficients in the dynamic recovery term of the A–V model controlled ratcheting progress and hysteresis loops agreeable with those of experimental data over consecutive loading steps. Choices of material constants and the number of segments defined from stress–strain curve based on the O–W and AK–O models noticeably influenced the ratcheting response of steel samples. Predicted ratcheting values by means of the A–V, O–W, and AK–O models were discussed and compared with those of the experimental data.
New Supersonic Loss Model for the Preliminary Design of Transonic Turbine Blades and the Influence of Pitch
Authors: Teia Luis
Published: January 2020

In order to produce a more efficient design of a compact turbine driving a cryogenic engine turbo-pump for a satellite delivering rocket, a new supersonic loss model is proposed. The new model was constructed based on high-quality published data, composed of Schlieren photographs and experimental measurements, that combined provided a unique insight into the mechanisms driving supersonic losses. Using this as a cornerstone, model equations were formulated that predict the critical Mach number and shock loss and shock-induced mixing loss as functions of geometrical (i.e., blade outlet and uncovered turning angle and trailing edge thickness) and operational parameters (i.e., exit Mach number). A series of highly resolved CFD numerical simulations were conducted on an in-house designed state-of-the-art transonic turbine rotor row (around unity aspect ratio (AR)) to better understand changes in the shock system for varying parameters. The main outcome showed that pitch to chord ratio has a powerful impact on the shock system, and thus on the manner by which shock loss and shock-induced mixing loss is distributed to compose the overall supersonic losses. The numerical loss estimates for two pitch to chord ratios—t⁄c = 0.70 and t⁄c = 0.98—were compared with absolute loss data of a previously published similar blade with satisfactory agreement. Calibrated equations are provided to allow hands-on integration into existing overall turbine loss models, where supersonic losses play a key role, for further enhancement of preliminary turbine design.
Computational Analysis of Transverse Sonic Injection in Supersonic Crossflow Using RANS Models
Authors: Sharma Vatsalya , Eswaran Vinayak , Chakraborty Debasis
Published: January 2020

Transverse injection at sonic speed from a rectangular slot into a supersonic crossflow is numerically explored with an indigenously developed parallel three-dimensional (3D) Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solver for unstructured grids. The RANS models used for turbulence closure are the one-equation Spalart–Allmaras (SA) model and the two-equation shear stress transport (SST) model. For each model, the influence of compressibility corrections is assessed. Due to the presence of shock-turbulent boundary layer interaction (STBLI) in the flow, various STBLI corrections are assessed for both the models. Most of the simulations are two-dimensional (2D), but three-dimensional simulations are also performed to investigate the mismatch between the experimental dataset and the numerical results. The SA model is less sensitive to STBLI corrections, but some improvement in its prediction of the separation distance is found with the compressibility corrections. The SST model results are insensitive to the compressibility corrections, but the STBLI correction improves its results. Improved agreement with the experimental dataset is found when simulations are done in 3D, suggesting that the experiments were not so close to 2D as previously believed.
Optimization of Non-axisymmetric Endwall Contours for the Rotor of a Low Speed, 112-Stage Research Turbine With Unshrouded Blades—Optimization and Experimental Validation
Authors: Bergh Jonathan , Snedden Glen , Dunn Dwain
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the predicted, as well as final experimental results for the design of an automatically optimized non-axisymmetric endwall and as such, attempts to close the loop between design and practice, providing additional information to other groups involved in the design of endwall contours. The contours designed in this investigation were manufactured using the direct laser sintering rapid prototyping method and installed and tested in the low-speed, 112-stage turbine at the CSIR’s test turbine facility (TTF) in Pretoria, South Africa. Steady-state 5-hole pressure probe traverses were used to characterize the performance and flow profiles upstream, immediately downstream and in a quasi-“mixed-out” sense downstream of the rotor. In addition to the datum (annular) case, both the computed as well as experimental results were compared to the corresponding results generated for a “generically” contoured rotor which was originally designed for a linear cascade test case, but one which used the same blade profile to the current case. The results show that in general both sets of contours performed well, although the added emphasis on flow correction for the contours produced in this investigation resulted in slightly worse performance in terms of loss at the rotor exit (X3) but greatly improved performance in terms of the efficiency and flow angles at the “mixed-out” (X4) measurement plane.
Porosity-Driven Approaches to Model Fouling Effects on Flow Field
Authors: Casari Nicola , Suman Alessio , Pinelli Michele
Published: January 2020

Air contamination by solid particles represents a real hazard for compressors for both heavy-duty and aeropropulsion gas turbines. Particles impacting the inner surfaces of the machine can stick to such surfaces or erode them. The presence of deposits entails a reduction in performance, in a phenomenon commonly referred to as fouling. As the severity of the problem increases, the performance reduction can become so big to demand engine shut down and offline washing. Numerical modeling is one of the techniques employed for tackling the fouling problem. In this work, an innovative procedure is proposed to evaluate the losses and the variation in the fluid flow due to the deposits. Specifically, as the deposit grows, it is assumed that it forms a porous medium attached to the wall. The porosity of this zone (related to the packing of the particles and to the number of particles that sticks to that portion of the wall) is responsible for the deposition-induced losses. Different approaches to compute such losses are proposed and discussed. By using this methodology, the two main effects of fouling (variation in roughness and in shape of the airfoil) can be easily included in a comprehensive analysis of the variation of the performance of the compressor over time. Furthermore, this approach overcomes the difficulties that may arise by using a mesh morphing technique. The computational grid is not modified, and thus, its quality is retained, without remeshing requirements, even for large deposits.
Comparison of Thin Film Heat Flux Gauge Technologies Emphasizing Continuous-Duration Operation
Authors: Siroka Shawn , Berdanier Reid A. , Thole Karen A. , Chana Kam , Haldeman Charles W. , Anthony Richard J.
Published: January 2020

Thin-film heat flux gauges (HFGs) have been used for decades to measure surface temperatures and heat flux in test turbines with the majority being used in facilities that are short-duration. These gauges are typically composed of two resistive temperature devices deposited on opposing sides of a dielectric. However, because these sensors have been traditionally applied for measurements in transient-type facilities, the challenges facing adaptation of this technology for a steady facility warrant investigation. These challenges are highlighted, and the solutions are presented throughout the paper. This paper describes the nanofabrication process for heat flux gauges and a new calibration method to address the potential deterioration of gauges over long runtimes in continuous-duration facilities. Because the primary uncertainty of these sensors arises from the ambiguity of the thermal properties, the emphasis is placed on the property determination. Also, this paper presents a discussion on the use of impulse response theory to process the data showing the feasibility of the method for steady-duration facilities after an initial settling time. The latter portion of the paper focuses on comparing well-established heat flux gauges developed for short-duration turbine test facilities to recently developed gauges fabricated using modern nanofabrication techniques for a continuous turbine test facility. The gauges were compared using the test case of an impinging jet over a range of Reynolds numbers. The comparison between the PSU gauge and the reference device indicated agreement within 14%, and similar results were achieved through comparison with established sensors from partner institutions.
Atomic layer etching of SiO2 for surface cleaning using ammonium fluorosilicate with CF4/NH3 plasma
Authors: Cho Yegeun , Kim Yongjae , Kim Sunjung , Chae Heeyeop
Published: January 2020

In this study, an atomic layer etching (ALE) process was developed and investigated for the removal of SiO2 with CF4/NH3. An ammonium fluorosilicate [AFS, (NH4)2SiF6] layer was successfully formed on SiO2 with CF4/NH3 plasma and removed by subsequent thermal treatment above 100 °C using a lamp. An oxide removal rate of 2.7 nm/cycle was achieved with CF4/NH3 chemistry, and the self-limiting characteristic of the ALE process was demonstrated by the removal rates. After the ALE process of SiO2 with CF4/NH3 plasma, no carbon residue was observed on the SiO2 surface. The reaction characteristics of the CF4/NH3 plasma were compared with those of the NF3/NH3 plasma. The removal rate with NF3/NH3 was 9.1 nm/cycle, which is three times higher than that with CF4/NH3 without saturation at 600 s. The lower removal rate with the CF4/NH3 plasma is attributed to the stronger C–F bonding in CF4 compared to the N–F bonding in NF3. Moreover, the stronger bonding generates fewer fluorine radicals required to form HF and NH4F reactants. This work demonstrates that CF4 is suitable for the ALE process for the removal of oxide layers at the nanometer-scale; in addition, it provides an effective process for the nanoscale removal of oxides in three-dimensional devices.
Approximate impedance models for point-to-point sound propagation over acoustically-hard ground containing rectangular grooves
Authors: Mellish Steve , Taherzadeh Shahram , Attenborough Keith
Published: January 2020

A modal model for diffraction by a contiguous array of rectangular grooves in an acoustically-hard plane is extended to predict the free space acoustic field from a point source above such a structure. Subsequently, an approximate effective impedance model for grooved surfaces is presented. Measurements have shown that these ground surfaces can be used for outdoor noise reduction but accurate modelling has required the use of computationally expensive numerical methods. The extended modal model and approximate impedance model inspired by it yield equivalent results in a fraction of the time taken by the boundary element method, for example, and could be used when designing grooved surfaces to reduce noise from road traffic.
A low-mass planet candidate orbiting Proxima Centauri at a distance of 1.5 AU
Authors: Damasso Mario , Del Sordo Fabio , Anglada-Escudé Guillem , Giacobbe Paolo , Sozzetti Alessandro , Morbidelli Alessandro , Pojmanski Grzegorz , Barbato Domenico , Butler R. Paul , Jones Hugh R. A. , Hambsch Franz-Josef , Jenkins James S. , López-González María José , Morales Nicolás , Peña Rojas Pablo A. , Rodríguez-López Cristina , Rodríguez Eloy , Amado Pedro J. , Anglada Guillem , Feng Fabo , Gómez Jose F.
Published: January 2020

Proxima could host a planet on a ∼5-year orbit, which Gaia can confirm in the near future providing its exact mass.
Atmospheric fungal nanoparticle bursts
Authors: Lawler Michael J. , Draper Danielle C. , Smith James N.
Published: January 2020

Bursts of fungal nanoparticle fragments were detected in ambient air.
Shallow slow slip events along the Nankai Trough detected by GNSS-A
Authors: Yokota Yusuke , Ishikawa Tadashi
Published: January 2020

Slow slip events discovered around the shallow side of coupling regions have a spatiotemporal relationship with other slow earthquakes.