bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Associations of Vascular Stiffness, Microvascular Dysfunction, and Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease in a Black Cohort: The Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Cooper Leroy L. , Musani Solomon K. , Moore Josiah A. , Clarke Victoria A. , Yano Yuichiro , Cobbs Keith , Tsao Connie W. , Butler Javed , Hall Michael E. , Hamburg Naomi M. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Mitchell Gary F. , Fox Ervin R.
Published: September 2020

Background

Measures of vascular dysfunction are related to adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in non‐Hispanic, White populations; however, data from Black individuals are limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between novel hemodynamic measures and prevalent CVD in a sample of Black individuals.

Methods and Results

Among older Black participants of the Jackson Heart Study, we assessed noninvasive vascular hemodynamic measures using arterial tonometry and Doppler ultrasound. We assessed 5 measures of aortic stiffness and wave reflection (carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, pulse wave velocity ratio, forward pressure wave amplitude, central pulse pressure, and augmentation index), and 2 measures of microvascular function (baseline and hyperemic brachial flow velocity). Using multivariable logistic regression models, we examined the relations between vascular hemodynamic measures and prevalent CVD. In models adjusted for traditional CVD risk factors, higher carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (odds ratio [OR],1.25; 95% CI, 1.01–1.55;
P
=0.04), lower augmentation index (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70–0.99;
P
=0.05), and lower hyperemic brachial flow velocity (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65–0.90;
P
=0.001) were associated with higher odds of CVD. After further adjustment for hypertension treatment, lower augmentation index (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.70–0.99;
P
=0.04) and hyperemic brachial flow velocity (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67–0.94;
P
=0.006), but not carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.99–1.051;
P
=0.06), were associated with higher odds of CVD.

Conclusions

In a sample of older Black individuals, more severe microvascular damage and aortic stiffness were associated with prevalent CVD. Further research on hemodynamic mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular risk among older Black individuals is merited.
The effect of social odour context on the amount of time male meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, self-groom
Authors: Scauzillo Ryan C. , Ferkin Michael H.
Published: September 2020

Communicational behaviours by individuals provide information for not only the intended target(s) of the signal but any non-target individual(s) that may be nearby. For terrestrial mammals a major form of communication and social information is through odours via scent marking and self-grooming. Self-grooming is a ubiquitous behaviour in mammals with the function thought to primarily be centred on personal care. But it has been found in rodents that self-grooming will occur in the presence of social odours thus potentially serving a communicative role. For example, male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) self-groom in the presence of a female conspecific odour but not a male conspecific odour. Most studies examining self-grooming as a form of olfactory communication have used single odour donors but in a natural environment individuals will come across complex social odour situations. Therefore, we examined how male meadow voles respond to complex social odours with regards to their self-grooming behaviour. We tested the hypothesis that self-grooming can act as a form of olfactory communication and that male meadow voles will control this behaviour measured by differences in self-grooming rates based on social contexts. Male meadow voles did not show differences in the amount of time spent self-grooming to social odours that contained a female and varying number of rival males (0, 1, 3, or 5) or if the social odour contained an acquainted or novel male. Male meadow voles did self-groom more to a social odour that contained a female and a younger male compared to when the social odour contained a female and older male. Male meadow voles appear to adjust their self-grooming behaviour based on the context of the social information. This may be a strategy that can maximize that individual’s fitness by adjusting how much information is provided to potential rivals and mates.
Disclosing a Transfer: Art and Religion in the Notebooks of Dominique de Menil
Authors: O’Connor Perks Samuel , Heynickx Rajesh , Symons Stéphane
Published: September 2020

The art collector and educator, Dominique de Menil (1908–1997) has mostly been remembered as a pragmatic orchestrator of high-profile commissions in the art world. However, little attention has been paid to her role as a thinker. This article seeks to address that lacuna in the literature by attending to an overlooked source in the Menil archives, de Menil’s notebooks, which were written between 1974 and 1994. By analysing de Menil’s use of metaphor in the notebooks, we place them within the trajectory of de Menil’s intellectual development stemming back to her 1936 article: ‘Pour l’unité du monde chrétien’. The first part situates the metaphors which de Menil employed in the notebooks from the 1970s in the intellectual context of her inception of these figures of speech in Montmartre, Paris in 1936. The second part unpacks a central metaphor which grounds de Menil’s conception of tradition. The third part compares de Menil’s art historiography vis-à-vis other models which sought to reinvigorate the avant-garde art scene via pre-modern sources. The Coda critically assesses de Menil’s art historiography against other prevalent views on the relation between pre-modern and modern works of art.
Epimecia tekes, a new species from south-eastern Kazakhstan (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Oncocnemidinae)
Authors: BENEDEK BALÁZS , BABICS JÁNOS , VOLYNKIN ANTON V. , SALDAITIS AIDAS
Published: September 2020

The Noctuidae fauna of Kazakhstan is species-rich and still poorly studied. During a lepidopterological expedition to Almaty Region in the south-eastern part of Kazakhstan, a single female of an unknown Noctuidae species belonging to the subfamily Oncocnemidinae was collected by the senior author of the present paper. The species resembles externally members of the genus Lophoterges Hampson, 1906, especially Lophoterges fatua (Püngeler, 1904), but examination of its genitalia structure revealed that the species is not only undescribed and remarkably different from all known Lophoterges species, but belongs to another genus, Epimecia Guenée, 1839. Up to date, the genus Epimecia was considered as monotypic (Ronkay & Ronkay 1995; Kononenko 2016) and included only Epimecia ustula (Freyer, 1835), which is widely but disjunctively distributed from south-eastern France through the southern Alps, the Balkans, Turkey, Ukraine, southern European part of Russia and western Kazakhstan to southern Ural, north-eastern Kazakhstan and southern Siberia (Ronkay & Ronkay 1995; Kononenko 2016; Titov et al. 2017). The second, peculiar Kazakhstan species of the genus is described below as new.
(De)Constructing Bridges for Development and Innovation: Intercultural Concerns Regarding ICT4D
Authors: Norton Laura Soledad
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this paper is to offer some critical comments about the collected articles, by introducing a point of view inspired by cultural psychology concerning information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) research issues. This conception of ICTs highlights three fundamental aspects: the role of artifacts in mediating action that are culturally meaningful; the agency of people, and thus their responsibility as social actors; and the need for highly contextualized analysis. In the article, I will read these three points through the lenses of cultural psychology.
Evaluation of Acquired Thrombocytopenia According to the Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expandable Valves in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Kisacik Halil , Tok Derya , Balci Kevser Gülcihan , Demirkan Burcu , Karakurt Mustafa , Açar Burak , Karabulut Özlem , Erbay Ilke , Balci Mustafa Mücahit
Published: September 2020

In patients with severe aortic stenosis, the data about the incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia according to the use of balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves are limited. We investigated the relationship between the post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) thrombocytopenia and the balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves. A total of 127 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR were retrospectively analyzed. Among the study population, 61 (48%) patients underwent TAVR with the balloon-expandable valve and the 66 (52%) patients with the self-expandable valve. Procedural success did not differ between the groups ( P = .575). The access site complications and in-hospital mortality were the same across the groups ( P = .225 and P = .466). However, paravalvular (PV) leaks were significantly higher in the self-expandable valve group ( P = .007). Among all, 65 patients experienced thrombocytopenia, which was more frequent in the self-expandable valve group (63.6 vs 37.7%, P = .005). In multivariate analyses, admission platelet count, PV leak, and self-expandable valve deployment were the predictors of thrombocytopenia ( P = .001, P = .002, and P = .021, respectively). The present study showed a higher incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia in the self-expandable valve group. Although the procedural success was similar between the groups, postprocedural PV leaks were more common in the self-expandable valve group.
The Self-Efficacy for Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SESCAS): Development and Initial Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Bikos Lynette H. , Forman Rebekah , Patton Kaitlin M.
Published: September 2020

Adjustment to the interpersonal and environmental contexts of a host country is critical for sojourners. Founded in social cognitive career theory, the Self-Efficacy for Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SESCAS) is a multidimensional scale that assesses self-efficacy for three types of tasks (affective, behavioral, cognitive) in two cultural contexts (environmental, interpersonal). We conducted item-total correlations, confirmatory factor analyses, reliability analyses (test-retest, internal consistency), within-scale convergent and discriminant validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and predictive validity assessments across an initial sample of the general population ( n = 227), a cross-validation sample of undergraduate students enrolled in education abroad ( n = 546), and a predictive validity sample of re-entered education abroad undergraduates ( n = 74). Psychometric properties of the scale support its use as a total score and as various subfactor constellations. Researchers are encouraged to use the SESCAS to explore how self-efficacy for sociocultural adaptation may contribute to global learning outcomes and well-being.
Calculation model for the earth potential of HVDC ground electrode based on image recognition of surface-layer soil moisture
Authors: Peiyu He , Peng Li , Qingjun Peng , Min Cao , Hu Yi , Bo Li
Published: September 2020

Changes in soil electrical parameters can affect the distribution of earth potential in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) ground electrodes when climatic conditions changes. This paper proposes a model to describe the relationship between surface-layer soil moisture and surface-layer soil resistivity under short-term climatic influence, by using image recognition technology. Based on the relatively stable resistivity of lower soil layers, a soil model more reflective of the actual operating conditions is established for soils near the ground electrode, and a finite element method is adopted to calculate the earth-surface potential (ESP). The experimental results indicate the following: (1) Compared with other measurement methods, image recognition of surface soil resistivity is a low-cost, real-time, online, and accurate method; and (2) changes in surface-layer soil moisture affect both ESP and step voltage. These effects are large in the case of high resistivity for the soil layer where the ground electrode is buried. This large fluctuation in step voltage particularly results in a potential safety hazards during ground electrode operation. Therefore, in order to ensure personal safety and obtain more accurate electrical parameters, it is necessary to consider the effect of natural climate on the soil surface resistivity. Finally, the value of the step voltage can be observed using image recognition, this also provides a new method for the safety monitoring of the DC ground electrode.
Illiberal and irrational? Trump and the challenge of liberal modernity in US foreign policy
Authors: Karkour Haro L.
Published: September 2020

Building on a growing body of literature on the application of Morgenthau’s ethics to post-Cold War US foreign policy, this article applies Morgenthau’s concept of irrationality to Trump’s foreign policy. Based on this application, the article highlights the limit of rationality in Morgenthau’s theoretical analysis. Specifically, the article argues, pace neo-realist critiques of ‘liberal hegemony’, that Trump reveals an empirical puzzle: US foreign policy can be both irrational and illiberal simultaneously in the pursuit of nationalistic universalism. This is the case, the article argues, because nationalistic universalism in Morgenthau’s analysis is not rooted in liberalism per se but the dynamics of liberal modernity. The Trump puzzle thus reveals an on-going tension between rationality and liberal modernity in Morgenthau’s theoretical analysis: rationality offers an insufficient tool to take upon the challenge of liberal modernity from which Trump’s nationalistic universalism stems. This, the article concludes, leaves Morgenthau’s concept of interest ‘defined in terms of power’ open to misappropriation to ends contrary to their original aim: furthering nationalistic universalism, rather than limiting power.
Bright Flight: Desegregating Boston’s Elite Public Schools, 1960-2000
Authors: Probolus-Cedroni Kimberly
Published: September 2020

This article uses Boston as a case study to examine how elite, public schools that admitted students on the basis of “merit” perpetuated segregation and inequity in urban school systems. Merit justified the unequal allocation of educational opportunities, and the group that benefited most from merit-based admissions were families who could afford to send their children to private primary schools before “testing into” public secondary schools. I argue that merit-based admissions facilitated bright flight: the loss of high-achieving students from neighborhood schools. This study complicates and offers a new perspective on Boston school desegregation and has timely implications for our current historical moment.
Current Status of the Long-term Care Security System for Older Adults in China
Authors: Du Peng , Dong Tingyue , Ji Jingyao
Published: September 2020

In response to the increasing care demand of older adults and their families, the construction of the long-term care (LTC) security system has been widely recognized by the government, society and families. This article discusses the socio-demographic background, current situation, achievements and issues of this system. The LTC security system in China has achieved considerable progress in enriched service provision and expanded social insurance system pilot programs. However, the issues of unbalanced service provision and the explorative design of the insurance system still need to be resolved. Our recommendations for the development of the LTC security system include comprehensively reviewing the integrated care service system in terms of placing “old adults at the center,” addressing the long-standing divisions between urban and rural areas in service provision and insurance design, advancing research and discussion concerning pilot experiences and improving the unified evaluation and financial planning systems.
Older married couples’ sexual expression: A dyadic latent class analysis
Authors: Warner David F. , Lyons Heidi A.
Published: September 2020

Many older adults continue to engage in sexual behavior, most often in the context of long-term marriages. Prior studies have tended to examine older adults’ sexual behavior, desires and motivations separately. Thus, there remain considerable gaps in our understanding of the multifaceted-nature of older couples’ sexual expression. Using dyadic latent class analysis and data on 953 heterosexual couples in long-term marriages from Wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), we describe configurations of couples’ sexual expression. Four latent classes were identified. Within each latent class, couples were largely in agreement about their sexual behaviors, but husbands consistently expressed greater desire and motivation than their wives. In the highest engagement class, couples reported more frequent and wide-ranging activities (vaginal sex, oral sex, intimate touching), more frequent thinking about sex, greater satisfaction with their amount of sexual activity, and placed more importance on sex as part of their lives. In the lowest engagement class, both spouses indicated no sexual activity in the past year, but neither spouse was content with this situation even as both agreed sex was not an important part of life. Demographic, relational, and health factors were associated with membership in different classes. Health factors—especially sexual difficulties—were most predictive, with husbands’ health more associated with latent class membership than wives’ health. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of sexual expression among older married couples, geriatricians and other health practitioners should provide care that recognizes a wider array of activities and the potential for unmet need. Sexual expression is an important component of older adults’ health and well-being.
A Review of Some Electronic Text-Document Handling, Storage and Retrieval Systems
Authors: Deutsch E. S.
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates some of the currently available optical disk storage and retrieval systems, image manipulation systems and OCR systems. Future developments are presented and an attempt at outlining a longer term trend is made.

The main conclusions of the paper are as follows:

1. Optical disk systems which are currently available are costly and are accompanied by excessive software and hardware capabilities which might be beyond the needs of the straightforward document storage and retrieval application. A tailor-made system to suit a specific application might be the route to follow provided read-only and multiple access operations are required and the optical system has a definite overall performance advantage over-microform.

2. In general, the document handling times of both the scanners and the printers of optical systems present a constraint on their continued rapid operation.

3. For general applications it might be advisable to wait for at least a year or two by which time erasable disk media should be available and some degree of disk standardization will have evolved. Costs however could still be a factor at that time.

4. The office-supplies industry is not expecting optical systems to have an appreciable effect on the ‘paperless office’ before 1990.

5. Image manipulation systems currently available are too generalized, slow and require excessive computer storage. Their range of performance is somewhat limited. Should such a system be required, it would be best to develop application-specific software taking advantage of computer configuration.
Implementation of Voice Input to Computer Applications
Authors: Clark P.E.J.
Published: September 2020

A brief outline of voice input facilities leads to a working glossary and a summary of indications and contra indications for voice input solutions. A representative survey of equipment and applications is followed by an examination of what is needed to hasten widespread implementation of voice input systems. Criticism of the communication between the voice input industry and the effective decision makers precedes some suggestions as to how the situation could be improved. Emphasis is placed on the importance of getting experience with existing facilities so that future developments in hardware capabilities will have a successful reception. The report is intended to be useful to IT practitioners interested in voice input applications and developments, as well as the industry. Comments, improvements and criticisms are invited, expected and eagerly anticipated.
Expert Decision-support Systems for Decision-making
Authors: Lee Daniel T.
Published: September 2020

Computers have made tremendous contributions towards transactional processing. However, the highest pay-off the computer can make is not in transactional processing but in decision-making. Recently, expert systems have just begun to be used in the decision-making process. Individual technologies alone are inadequate for an effective decision support. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the related issues in decision support and to develop an expert decision support system (EDSS) for combining decision support systems and expert systems into a unified whole for decision support. The emphasis will be on developing a DSS/ES model which can be used to integrate the traditional DSS database and ES knowledge-base for building a user-friendly EDSS.
Information Management: A New Dimension
Authors: Jackson Ivan F.
Published: September 2020

The DP/MIS function has traditionally been concerned with the acquisition, manipulation and delivery of internally generated data. Typical reporting systems are unable to cope with a mixture of short term control information and broad strategic information, as well as information generated from external sources.

The move to a distributed environment has led to a need for the management of information flows, and specifically with the management of integrated data, often directed at the very top levels of management. There has been a recognition of the need for a formal information management programme and in response to this a new type of information professional is emerging - one trained specifically in the management of information as a corporate resource. This person may well have different skills from a systems analyst, possibly more oriented towards improving the efficiency of operational procedures. The information management profession must understand the technology, especially in the communications area, must be able to sell to and educate at various management levels and be able to formulate and implement a plan for increasing the effectiveness of the use of the information resource.
CASE Requirements for Data-Centred Business Applications
Authors: Tate Graham , Verner June , Hayward Richard
Published: September 2020

From a CASE point of view business applications can be divided into three broad classes depending on their generality: those requiring general workbenches, those requiring specifically tailored workbenches, and those that could use blueprints. A CASE environment for all seasons is not what many business users really need. They would prefer an environment tailored to the specific class of application under development, one that will bring that application into being most efficiently and effectively, and keep it in vigorous operation over its lifetime. We have therefore concentrated on one particular application class of interest to the business community, namely interactive, data-centred systems. A model for the application class of interest is presented. The main CASE environment requirements identified, which should be integrated through a common project database and tailored to the characteristics of the application class, include business profile, semantic data model, state transition control model, system dictionary active during development, inheritable and tailorable objects such as reports, transactions and other user interactions, procedural facilities, configuration control, project control including costing and scheduling, and interfaces to decision support systems. It is noted that development and production have quite different characteristics and require separate environments. The need for flexibility and adaptability in some CASE environment areas, such as effort estimation and project control, is recognized and it is suggested that existing rule-based techniques should be used. Limitation of a CASE tool set to a rather narrow but common application class should result in substantial productivity gains.
Information Systems Planning and Alignment: A Progress Assessment
Authors: Jackson Ivan F.
Published: September 2020

This paper examines the ways in which to conduct planning for information services (IS) so that both computing and business problems may be addressed in an integrated fashion. It traces the evolution of IS planning from a more reactive mode, with a steering committee deciding on future directions, to a value-added approach where incremental components of a total IS product are offered to user managers for consideration. This helps overcome problems with the strategic planning process itself which is both incremental and cyclical. The organisation often focuses on a direction, only to change as the economic environment or market conditions change. The IS function consequently must move away from plans set in concrete in spite of implementation difficulties associated with that approach. The problem is one of aligning the IS plan with an often mobile corporate plan. In order to respond to this situation, there has been a move towards a marketing of IS services, so organisations can avail themselves of IS opportunities that are within the capabilities of the IS function to deliver.
Augmenting the signal processing–based mitigation techniques for removing wind turbine and radar interference
Authors: Sharma Ashish , Chintala V
Published: September 2020

The interference between wind turbine generators and radar is now being considered as one of the major deterrents towards seeking clearance for new wind energy project. The windfarm developers have to seek clearance from Civil Air Traffic Control and Defence Department certifying that the windfarms will not create interference with radars. The tower of wind turbine generator along with blades presents a large radar cross section to radars, thus creating static clutter; moreover, rotation of wind turbine generator blades creates Doppler ambiguities which confuse radar operators. Many radar designers have proposed mitigation techniques to overcome this issue; however, each technique has its own limitation. The study takes a two-pronged approach to address the issue of wind turbine generator static clutter due to tower and blades and the resolution of Doppler ambiguities through signal processing–based mitigation techniques. In addition, the study also suggests the use of micro-Doppler techniques for signature identification of wind turbine generator blades for eliminating their effect during the radar signal processing. The article presents a step-by-step mitigation technique to resolve the wind turbine generator and radar interference issue.
Compromised Vitamin B12 Status of Indian Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Kalyan G Bentu , Mittal Medha , Jain Rahul
Published: September 2020

Background:

Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent worldwide especially in vegetarian communities. Its deficiency in early childhood may result in serious neurological and cognitive deficits. It is important to know the prevalence among our infants and toddlers so that nutritional policy changes could be suggested in this regard.

Objective:

To evaluate the vitamin B12 status of apparently healthy Indian children between 6 and 23 months of age.

Methods:

Apparently healthy Indian children (n = 210), of age 6 to 23 months, attending pediatric outpatient department were recruited and samples obtained to evaluate their hemogram and levels of vitamin B12, folate, and ferritin. Data were analyzed to obtain the mean levels and the proportion of participants deficient in vitamin B12. The dietary habits of the children were also analyzed and correlated with their vitamin B12 status.

Results:

Vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in 37.6% of the participants.

Conclusions:

There is a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in our infants and toddlers, and there is need to initiate supplement to prevent any possible neurological consequences. Early initiation of animal milk had a positive effect on the vitamin B12 status of the child, though it was not significant.
Energy and Nutrient Intake and Associated Factors Among Pastoral Children in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Megersa Bekele , Haile Abebe , Kitron Uriel
Published: September 2020

Background:

A better understanding of nutrient intakes and predicting factors will help in designing more effective programs that address the nutrition requirements of pastoral children.

Methods:

Dietary diversity score (DDS) and amounts of food items consumed were recorded for 538 children aged 6 to 59 months from August to October 2015. The nutrient contents per 100 grams of foods consumed by children were calculated. Median energy and nutrient intakes of children were calculated and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended nutrient intakes (RNI). The effects of various factors on the median energy adequacy ratio (EAR) and on nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results:

Children had low DDS (2.7) with diets dominated by dairy and cereal preparations. Thus, only a few children received the minimum DDS (11.7%) and minimum acceptable diet (5%). Most of the children had low intakes of energy, vitamins (C, B, A, folic acid), iron, and zinc. Autonomy of mothers in decision-making, nonpastoral incomes, crop cultivation, and keeping diverse livestock species had positive effects on nutrient intakes. Children living in villages closer to markets and those aged 6 to 23 months had better NAR than others. The median EAR was higher for children aged 6 to 23 months, when households possessing more animal species and engaged in crop cultivation compared to others.

Conclusion:

Study children had lower DDS than WHO standards and intakes of several micronutrients were inadequate. Variables associated with median EAR and NAR point to those in need of improvement.
Prevalence, Radiographic, and Demographic Features of Buccal Bone Expansion in Cats: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Referral Institution
Authors: Peralta Santiago , Fiani Nadine , Scrivani Peter V.
Published: September 2020

Buccal bone expansion (BBE) refers to bulbous enlargement of the periodontium in domestic cats. The origin of BBE is unknown, and some of its epidemiological, clinical, and radiographic features have not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific demographic characteristics are associated with BBE in cats; and whether BBE is associated with other relevant radiographic findings. Pertinent data were collected from archived dental radiographs and electronic medical records of 97 client-owned cats. Results showed that BBE is common in cats presented for evaluation and treatment of dental disease; that breed, sex, and age are not associated with BBE; that BBE is not associated with a pattern of horizontal alveolar bone loss/extrusion or tooth resorption; that a pattern of vertical alveolar bone loss is a typical feature of BBE; and that BBE represents a common cause of canine tooth loss in cats.
Steady-state performance investigation of closed-circuit hydrostatic drive using variable displacement pump and variable displacement motor
Authors: Singh Vinay Partap , Pandey Ajit Kumar , Dasgupta Kabir
Published: September 2020

This article investigates the steady-state performance of a closed-circuit hydrostatic (HST) drive using a variable displacement pump and a variable displacement motor where the speed of the drive is varied by controlling pump or motor. The drive is operated over a wide range of load torque and speed in two modes of operation: the pump controlled mode and the motor controlled mode. The efficiencies of the pump, motor, and the prime mover driving the pump are taken into account to analyze the overall performance of the drive. In this respect, considering various flow and torque losses of the HST drive components, the equations representing efficiencies of the drive are identified by comparing with the experimental data. The simulation is carried out using MATLAB. The results of the study may be useful to identify the control parameters of the drive to operate it at a reasonable efficiency zone.
Human Development, Gender and Capability Approach
Authors: Jain Shraddha
Published: September 2020

This article critically reviews Human Development Report (HDR) 2019 that calls for addressing inequalities that are beyond income, beyond averages and beyond today. Inequalities result from differential exposure to opportunities and constraints during a life cycle. One way in which power relations are exhibited is through gender norms. The article discusses the advancements made in the capability approach using the gender lens and the policy framework intended to address gender inequality. It stresses the need to acknowledge and understand varied forms of data collection that enhance our understanding of underlying social processes. Finally, it discusses the case of Kerala state to understand the complex nature of human development. The state made strides in education and health, but rising inequalities, gender violence and ecological changes remain major concerns.
The Extent of Participation in Skill Development Trainings and Its Impact on Employment
Authors: Melo Yami , Das Anup Kumar
Published: September 2020

The extent of participation in skill development training and its impact on employment are examined, based on primary data collected from 200 households in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. It is found that participation in skill development training helps with employment in the non-farm sector. However, in terms of employment and income generation, one-year-long skill development training was found to be more effective than less-than-a-year-long training.
Book review: Commodification and Content Development in Economics: Ajit Sinha and Alex M. Thomas (Eds.), Pluralistic Economics and Its History
Authors: Scaria Suma
Published: September 2020

Ajit Sinha and Alex M. Thomas (Eds.), Pluralistic Economics and Its History. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2019, 298 pp. ISBN: 978-0-367-23235-1.
Dropout Behaviour of Children: The Case of West Bengal
Authors: Majumder Amita , Mitra Chayanika
Published: September 2020

This article examines the dropout behaviour of students below class 10 level (maximum age of 16 years) from two different perspectives. First, from the parents’ perspective, we identify the major characteristics of a household that forces the child to dropout from school, using a Probit analysis. Second, from the child’s perspective, we try to relate the reasons for dropping out (as specified by the child) with the background of the household the child belongs to and the school infrastructure provided to him/her, through a multinomial logit model. The data set used is the 71st round (January 2014 to June 2014) data on education expenditure and is provided by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). The analysis is done for the state of West Bengal, India, separately for boys and girls. It shows the significance of parental education and economic factors in children’s dropout behaviour, which is in line with the observations in existing literature. Additionally, this article offers children’s perspectives on such behaviour from across genders and economic classes.
Evaluation of the Criteria Adopted to Identify Suspected Cases of COVID-19 in the Emergency Department Service of a Referral Palliative Oncology Care Unit
Authors: Sampaio Simone Garruth dos Santos Machado , Dias Andréa Marins , de Freitas Renata , Borsatto Alessandra Zanei , Esteves Elisa Maffioletti Furtunato Leocádio , de Oliveira Lívia Costa
Published: September 2020

Context:

Due to the need for isolation of inpatients with suspected COVID-19, accuracy in identifying these cases in Emergency Department (ED) has great relevance, especially in Palliative Oncology Care Unit (PCU).

Objective:

To evaluate the efficiency of clinical criteria adopted to identify suspected cases of COVID-19 by the ED in PCU.

Methods:

All patients admitted to PCU between April and June 2020 from ED were included. The clinical criteria adopted to identify suspected COVID-19 cases were: being in contact with a suspected or confirmed case less than 14 days ago and / or presenting fever with no defined focus and / or respiratory symptoms not explained by oncological disease and / or suggestive image in radiological examination (if necessary). All suspected cases were submitted to deep nasal and throat swab for SARS COV-2 investigation by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Test, adopted as gold standard. Inpatients hospitalized by ED, without suspicion, and then diagnosed with COVID-19 within 10 days of hospitalization were considered as false-negative cases.

Results:

During the period, 327 patients were admitted from ED. Of these, 69 (21%) were considered suspects, of whom 34 (49%) tested positive for COVID-19. The sensitivity of the clinical criterion to identify suspected cases was 87%, specificity was 88%, positive predictive value was 49%, negative was 98% and accuracy was 88%.

Conclusion:

The clinical criteria adopted to identify suspected cases of COVID-19 at ED proved to be efficient, with low risk of spreading in-hospital infection, avoiding unnecessary isolation of patients.
Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Risk Factors, Molecular Mechanisms, Future Management
Authors: Hamza Marwa S. , Mousa Shaker A.
Published: September 2020

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health problem in patients with cancer. Cancer augments thrombosis and causes cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) and vice versa thrombosis amplifies cancer progression, termed thrombosis-associated cancer (TAC). Risk factors that lead to CAT and TAC include cancer type, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, anti-angiogenesis therapy, surgery, or supportive therapy with hematopoietic growth factors. There are some other factors that have an effect on CAT and TAC such as tissue factor, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released in response to cancer, cancer procoagulant, and cytokines. Oncogenes, estrogen hormone, and thyroid hormone with its integrin αvβ3 receptor promote angiogenesis. Lastly, patient-related factors can play a role in development of thrombosis in cancer. Low-molecular-weight heparin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used in VTE prophylaxis and treatment rather than vitamin K antagonist. Now, there are new directions for potential management of VTE in patients with cancer such as euthyroid, blockade of thyroid hormone receptor on integrin αvβ3, sulfated non-anticoagulant heparin, inhibition of NETs and stratifying low and high-risk patients with significant bleeding problems with DOACs.
Challenges in the Management of Sickle Cell Disease During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Alsayegh Faisal , Mousa Shaker A.
Published: September 2020

The management of sickle cell disease (SCD) and its complications in the COVID-19 era is very challenging. The recurrent sickling process in SCD causes tissue hypoxemia and micro-infarcts, resulting in end organ damage. Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, little data has been published about SCD concerning clinical presentation with COVID-19 and management. Hydroxyurea has been the cornerstone of management in children and adults with SCD, with evidence of its effect on controlling end organ damage. There are several anti-sickling drugs that have been approved recently that might have an additive value toward the management of SCD and its complications. The role of simple and exchange transfusions is well established and should always be considered in the management of various complications. The value of convalescent plasma has been demonstrated in small case series, but large randomized controlled studies are still awaited. Immunomodulatory agents may play a role in reducing the damaging effects of cytokines storm that contributes to the morbidity and mortality in advanced cases. Prophylactic anticoagulation should be considered in every management protocol because SCD and COVID-19 are thrombogenic conditions. Management proposals of different presentations of patients with SCD and COVID-19 are outlined.
Chief Tui Makes Way: Moana, Misogyny, and the Possibility of a Profeminist Ethic
Authors: Hollowell Adam
Published: September 2020

Much has been made of Moana as a different kind of Disney princess. This essay suggests that Chief Tui is a different kind of Disney father. While Chief Tui exhibits misogynist behavior through the majority of Disney’s Moana, he learns at the film’s conclusion to “make way” for Moana’s skillful sea voyaging leadership. Philosopher Kate Manne’s account of the “logic of misogyny” supplies criteria for moral judgment of Chief Tui’s early misogynist behavior and later conversion to a profeminist masculinity. The essay proposes aspects of a profeminist ethic of making way and explores connections between gender and other social forces of oppression in Moana. It highlights the profeminist ethical imperative and political opportunity that Chief Tui represents where powerful men learn to make way for feminist women.
Internal Formative Meta-Evaluation: Assuring Quality in Evaluation Practice
Authors: Harnar Michael A. , Hillman Jeffrey A. , Endres Cheryl L. , Snow Juna Z.
Published: September 2020

The term meta-evaluation—referring to the “evaluation of evaluations”—has been in the evaluation lexicon for a half-century. Despite this longevity, research on meta-evaluation is sparse and even more so for internal formative types of meta-evaluation. This exploratory study builds on our understanding of meta-evaluative methods by exploring evaluators’ approaches to ensuring quality practice. A sample of practitioners was drawn from the American Evaluation Association membership and invited to share their quality assurance practices through an online survey. Respondents reported using a variety of tools to ensure quality in their practice, including published and unpublished standards, principles and guidelines, and processes involving stakeholder engagement at various stages of evaluation. A distinction was identified between an intrinsic, merit-focused perspective on quality that is more or less controlled by the evaluator and an extrinsic, worth-focused perspective on quality primarily informed by key stakeholders of the evaluation.
Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the lateral geniculate body of monocular form deprivation amblyopic kittens
Authors: Li Bo , Zou Yunchun , Yin Ximin , Tang Xiuping , Fan Haobo
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

The present study compared the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the lateral geniculate body between form deprivation amblyopia kittens and normal kittens to examine the significance of BDNF in the lateral geniculate body in the pathogenesis of amblyopia.

Methods:

Twenty kittens were divided into control group ( n = 10) and deprivation group ( n = 10). A black opaque eye mask was placed to cover the right eye of the deprivation group. Pattern visual-evoked potentials (PVEPs) were detected weekly in all kittens .After the kittens in the deprivation group developed monocular amblyopia, the lateral geniculate bodies of all kittens were removed. The expression of BDNF in the lateral geniculate body of the two groups was compared by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

Results:

The latency of the P100 wave in the right eye of the deprivation group was longer than that of the left eye and that of the right eye of the control group ( p < 0.05), and the amplitude decreased ( p < 0.05). The number and average optical density of BDNF-positive cells in the deprivation group were lower than those in the control group ( p < 0.05), and the expression of BDNF in the deprivation group was lower than that in the control group ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The expression of BDNF in the lateral geniculate body of the amblyopic kittens decreased, and the decrease in BDNF promoted the development of amblyopia. These results demonstrate that BDNF in the lateral geniculate body plays an important role in visual development.
Teleconsultation in orthopaedic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of patient and physician experiences
Authors: Melian Christina , Kieser David , Frampton Christopher , C Wyatt Michael
Published: September 2020

Introduction

The primary purpose of this review was to evaluate patient and physician preference and satisfaction for teleconsultation in orthopaedic surgery compared to traditional face-to-face consultation. In addition, we evaluated the effects of teleconsultation on patient length of visit, healthcare costs, range of motion (ROM), pain, quality of life (QOL), and ongoing management plans.

Methods

A systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Randomised control trials and case control studies comparing teleconsultation with traditional, face-to-face consultation in the management of orthopaedic conditions were included. The primary outcome measures were patient and physician preference and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included patient length of visit, healthcare costs, ROM, pain, QOL, and ongoing management plans.

Results

A total of 13 articles meeting the eligibility criteria were included for systematic review and 8 for meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction, length of visit, or time spent with the physician between the telemedicine and in-office control group. The mean difference of patient preference for telemedicine was significantly higher in the telemedicine group compared to the in-office visit group (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12–1.87, p = 0.005).

Discussion

Telemedicine was not inferior to face-to-face office visits in regard to patient and physician preference and satisfaction. Therefore, it would be an effective adjunct to face-to-face office visits, serving as a mechanism of triage and long-term continuity of care.
Stereotypes in the face of reality: Intergroup contact inconsistent with group stereotypes changes attitudes more than stereotype-consistent contact
Authors: Zingora Tibor , Vezzali Loris , Graf Sylvie
Published: September 2020

In a longitudinal two-wave study we examined the effects of positive and negative intergroup contact on outgroup attitudes in participants who perceived positive, negative, or ambivalent group stereotypes. We focused on stereotype-consistent contact, occurring when the valence of participants’ contact matches the valence of the perceived group stereotype (e.g., negative–negative), and on stereotype-inconsistent contact, occurring when the valence of contact contradicts the valence of the group stereotype (e.g., positive–negative). In relations of the Czech majority ( N = 890) with two distinctly stereotyped minorities, the Roma and the Vietnamese, stereotype-inconsistent contact predicted changes in attitudes better than stereotype-consistent contact. In the case of negatively stereotyped groups, positive intergroup contact is a viable way to improve attitudes. For positively stereotyped groups, negative contact can worsen attitudes, while positive contact does not have any attitude-improving effect. Interventions aimed at improving outgroup attitudes need to be applied with caution, considering the valence of group stereotypes.