bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowing Times: Temporalities of Evidence for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Authors: Sager Morten , Zuiderent-Jerak Teun
Published: July 2020

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been studied as a rich and diverse set of epistemic and infrastructural practices that relate imperfect medical knowledges to complex clinical practices. We examine instances of medical decision-making where medical professionals relate recommendations from clinical practice guidelines to individual patient characteristics when deciding to prescribe implantable cardioverter defibrillators to treat heart failure. When connecting evidence-based recommendations to decisions about individual patients, we find that clinical deliberations invoke different times, such as linear, chronological time, and biological aging, as well as different futures, such as individual future risks and the future sustainability of health systems. Such different “temporalities of evidence” are integral parts of clinicians’ considerations concerning economy, suffering, risks, and hopes in making decisions on individual patients. In line with calls to anchor science and technology studies scholarship studying EBM in the (clinical) concerns that matter most to patients and health care providers, we argue that the social study of EBM needs to attend to such temporalities to understand how evidence is weighed, which outcomes are considered important, and hence which clinical action is proposed. However, since different ways of “doing time” lead to different appreciations of the clinical outcomes, the notion of clinical “anchoring” becomes rather elusive.
Understanding Nurse-led Case Management in Patients with Chronic Illnesses: A Realist Review
Authors: Joo Jee Young , Liu Megan F.
Published: July 2020

This realist review aims, with evidence from recent studies, to understand both how nurse-led case management interventions are implemented in the management of chronic illnesses, and in what circumstances these interventions are successful. The review followed the realist review methodology. From four electronic databases, twenty empirical and primary nurse-led case management intervention studies published between January 2011 and February 2020 were included. For each study, causality was explored, and findings were integrated. Three contexts, five mechanisms, and three major outcomes were found, and several context–mechanism–outcome strings were identified. Further analysis and synthesis of the studies showed that when duration of intervention, service delivery mode, and types of services are appropriate, as well as number of services with patients considering care is provided, case managment interventions change outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses. Finally, an explanatory conceptual framework based on the review results was developed to guide nurse managers and researchers.
Lifestyle Intervention’s Effect and Predictive Value on Weight Loss for University Employees
Authors: Wang Elizabeth , Ahmed Azza H. , Liu Pi-Ju , Richards Elizabeth A.
Published: July 2020

Obesity is a costly and pervasive risk factor that requires attention to reduce chronic disease rates. This study evaluated the effect of a lifestyle medicine intervention, Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), on reducing weight, blood pressure, lipid levels, and hemoglobin A1c. A secondary aim was to build a preliminary predictive model for computing new participants’ potential weight change from CHIP. We evaluated pre- and post-intervention biometric data of 68 individuals who completed a 10-week CHIP intervention at a Midwestern university clinic. Significant reductions ( p < 0.05) were observed in weight, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and A1c. Regression analyses indicated that the best linear model for predicting change in weight was a one-predictor model with systolic blood pressure. The CHIP intervention effectively promoted weight loss and meaningful reductions in chronic disease risk factors. Larger samples are needed for future regression analyses to create a more robust linear model.
“Wait With Falling in Love”: Discursive Evaluation of Amicable Messages Conveyed by Opponents
Authors: Kampf Zohar , Chudy Dana , Danziger Roni , Schreiber Mia
Published: July 2020

Amicable messages delivered in a conflict may have a positive effect on recipients’ willingness to reconcile. Although studies have examined their effect, we still lack understanding on what grounds amicable messages are accepted or rejected. This study identifies the interpretative repertoires Israeli news commenters apply to make sense of amicable messages delivered unexpectedly by foreign opponent leaders, and demonstrates how they are employed for drawing epistemic boundaries between members of an interpretative community. Analysis of 2,037 comments to reported messages toward Israel in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict reveals 11 evaluative categories employed by Israeli commenters within two interpretative repertoires: suspicion and opportunity. Most commenters rejected the messages on grounds of the source’s lack of credibility. A minority of commenters accepted the messages, focusing on wishful outcomes and in-group policies. The conclusion discusses the importance of studying interpretative repertoires and their applicability to other communities involved in conflicts.
Fabrication and adsorption properties of magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites for removal of arsenic (V) from water
Authors: Thy Lu Thi Mong , Thuong Nguyen Hoai , Tu Tran Hoang , My Nguyen Huong Tra , Tuong Huynh Huy Phuong , Nam Hoang Minh , Phong Mai Thanh , Hieu Nguyen Huu
Published: July 2020

In this work, magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites were synthesized by co-precipitation method and used as an adsorbent for removal of arsenic (V) ions from water. The structure and morphology of magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy results of magnetic graphene oxide presented that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the size range of 10–25 nm were decorated on graphene oxide nanosheets. The adsorption properties of magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposites for arsenic (V) from water were investigated to study the effects of magnetic graphene oxide mass ratio, contact time, pH, and initial concentration. The suitable magnetic graphene oxide mass ratio of nanocomposites for arsenic (V) adsorption was determined to be 4:1 (FG2). The adsorption process on FG2 followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic and well fitted in to Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum adsorption capacity of 69.44 mg/g at pH 3. Accordingly, FG2 could be used as an effective adsorbent for removal of arsenic (V) from water.
Post-sentence supervision: A case study of the extension of community resettlement support for short sentence prisoners
Authors: Cracknell Matthew
Published: July 2020

Introduced under the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 created a period of post-sentence supervision (PSS) after licence for individuals serving short custodial sentences. This empirical study features on the ground views and perspectives of practitioners and service users of PSS in one case-study area. Findings from this research suggest a number of issues and ambiguities with the enactment of the sentence. These include ambiguities regarding the correct use of enforcement procedures; the antagonistic relationship between third sector and Community Rehabilitation Company staff, primarily centred around transferring cases and concerns over the use of ‘light touch’ supervision and uncertainties over what the rehabilitative aims of this sentence mean in practice. These issues led to practitioners questioning the legitimacy of the third sector organisation involved in the management of PSS, while service users experienced PSS as a frustrating ‘pass-the-parcel’ experience, where resettlement support was constantly stalled and restarted at each juncture of the sentence. Before briefly discussing the potential future of PSS under the next iteration of probation policy, this article concludes by arguing that there is emerging evidence of a commonality of failures occurring at every juncture of the short sentence, undermining resettlement prospects for the long-neglected short sentence population.
Effects of water-based exercise on functioning and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gomes Neto Mansueto , Pontes Sarah Souza , Almeida Lorena de Oliveira , da Silva Cássio Magalhães , da Conceição Sena Cristiano , Saquetto Micheli Bernardone
Published: July 2020

Aim:

To investigate the effects of the water-based exercise on balance, mobility, mobility and functional independence, functional performance, fear of falling and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods:

We searched pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro data base and SciELO to June 2020 for randomised controlled trials that investigated the effects of water-based exercise in people with Parkinson’s disease. Two comparisons were made: water-based exercise versus usual care and water-based exercise versus land-exercise. The main outcomes were Balance, Confidence, Mobility, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and quality of life. Mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test.

Results:

Fifteen randomised controlled trials were found (435 people). Compared to usual care, water-based exercise resulted in improvement in balance MD (9.1, 95% CI: 6.5, 11.8, N = 45). Water-based exercise resulted in improvement in balance MD (3.1, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.0, N = 179), mobility MD (−2.2, 95% CI: −3.3, −1.0, N = 197) and quality of life MD (−5.5, 95% CI: −11, −0.07, N = 98) compared to land-based exercise, but without significant difference in functional performance MD (0.01, 95% CI: −2.6 to 2.7, N = 69). Land-based exercise resulted in improvement in fear of falling MD (−3.5, 95% CI: −5.6, −1.3, N = 58) compared to water-based exercise.

Conclusion:

Water-based exercise was more efficient than land-based exercise and/or usual care in improving balance, mobility and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Efficient isolation of brain capillary from a single frozen mouse brain for protein expression analysis
Authors: Ogata Seiryo , Ito Shingo , Masuda Takeshi , Ohtsuki Sumio
Published: July 2020

Isolated brain capillaries are essential for analyzing the changes of protein expressions at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) under pathological conditions. The standard brain capillary isolation methods require the use of at least five mouse brains in order to obtain a sufficient amount and purity of brain capillaries. The purpose of this study was to establish a brain capillary isolation method from a single mouse brain for protein expression analysis. We successfully isolated brain capillaries from a single frozen mouse brain by using a bead homogenizer in the brain homogenization step and combination of cell strainers and glass beads in the purification step. Western blot and proteomic analysis showed that proteins expressed at the BBB in mouse brain capillaries isolated by the developed method were more enriched than those isolated from a pool of five mouse brains by the standard method. By using the developed method, we further verified the changes in expression of BBB proteins in Glut1-deficient mouse. The developed method is useful for the analysis of various mice models with low numbers and enables us to understand, in more detail, the physiology and pathology of BBB.
High-altitude rodents have abundant collaterals that protect against tissue injury after cerebral, coronary and peripheral artery occlusion
Authors: Faber James E , Storz Jay F , Cheviron Zachary A , Zhang Hua
Published: July 2020

Collateral number/density varies widely in brain and other tissues among strains of Mus musculus mice due to differences in genetic background. Recent studies have shown that prolonged exposure to reduced atmospheric oxygen induces additional collaterals to form, suggesting that natural selection may favor increased collaterals in populations native to high-altitude. High-altitude guinea pigs ( Cavia) and deer mice ( Peromyscus) were compared with lowland species of Peromyscus, Mus and Rattus (9 species/strains examined). Collateral density, diameter and other morphometrics were measured in brain where, importantly, collateral abundance reflects that in other tissues of the same individual. Guinea pigs and high-altitude deer mice had a greater density of pial collaterals than lowlanders. Consistent with this, guinea pigs and highlander mice evidenced complete and 80% protection against stroke, respectively. They also sustained significantly less ischemia in heart and lower extremities after arterial occlusion. Vessels of the circle of Willis, including the communicating collateral arteries, also exhibited unique features in the highland species. Our findings support the hypothesis that species native to high-altitude have undergone genetic selection for abundant collaterals, suggesting that besides providing protection in obstructive disease, collaterals serve a physiological function to optimize oxygen delivery to meet oxygen demand when oxygen is limiting.
Deletion of ubiquitin ligase Nedd4l exacerbates ischemic brain damage
Authors: Kim TaeHee , Chokkalla Anil K , Vemuganti Raghu
Published: July 2020

Ubiquitination by Nedd4 (neuronally expressed developmentally downregulated 4) family of HECT type E3 ligases plays a key role in degrading misfolded and damaged proteins, and its disruption leads to neurodegeneration. Parkinson's disease-causing protein α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is ubiquitinated by the Nedd4 family and degraded by endosomes. Nedd4l is the only Nedd4 homolog that showed upregulation in post-stroke surviving cortical neurons where it correlated with neuroprotection. We tested the role of Nedd4l after stroke by subjecting the Nedd4l−/− mice to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Focal ischemia significantly increased Nedd4l expression and poly-ubiquitinated α-Syn levels, and knockout of Nedd4l reduced post-ischemic poly-ubiquitinated α-Syn that is majorly located in the peri-infarct neurons. Co-immunoprecipitation further shows that focal ischemia enhances the α-Syn-Nedd4l interaction resulting in increased ubiquitination of α-Syn. Nedd4l knockout mice ( n = 7 mice/group) showed exacerbated post-ischemic motor dysfunction manifested by decreased time on the rotarod and increased number of foot faults, and significantly increased ischemic brain damage. This suggests that Nedd4l might be a potential therapeutic target to minimize α-Syn-mediated toxicity after cerebral ischemia.
How does PI-RADS v2.1 impact patient classification? A head-to-head comparison between PI-RADS v2.0 and v2.1
Authors: Linhares Moreira Ana Sofia , De Visschere Pieter , Van Praet Charles , Villeirs Geert
Published: July 2020

Background

PI-RADS classification has recently been updated, with the magnitude of changes implemented currently unknown.

Purpose

To quantify the categorization shifts between PI-RADS v2.0 and v2.1.

Material and Methods

Retrospective review of 535 consecutive diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed over 18 months, assigning to each case a PI-RADS category in the peripheral zone (PZ), the transition zone (TZ), and the whole gland using both PI-RADS v2.0 and v2.1. Significance of changes in category assignments and of differences in the number of positive or negative MRIs were evaluated using the McNemar test.

Results

Comparing v2.0 to v2.1 for the whole gland, 11.2% of PI-RADS 2 categories shifted to PI-RADS 1 (6.9% in the PZ, 56.8% in the TZ), 16.1% of PI-RADS 3 categories shifted to PI-RADS 2 (15.0% in the PZ, 20.0% in the TZ), and 2.1% of PI-RADS 2 categories shifted to PI-RADS 3 (0.3% in the PZ, 1.9% in the TZ). The proportion of PI-RADS 1 significantly increased from 0.6% to 7.3%, PI-RADS 2 significantly decreased from 60.0% to 53.8%, and PI-RADS 3 non-significantly decreased from 11.6% to 11.0%. The total number of positive exams (PI-RADS 3–5) did not change significantly (39.4% versus 38.8%).

Conclusion

The most prominent change between v2.0 and v2.1 was observed in the TZ with the downgrading of typical benign prostatic hyperplasia nodules from category 2 into category 1. Overall, there were no significant changes in the number of positive and negative MRI results, with an expected low influence in clinical management.
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulates autophagy to induce apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by PM2.5 particulate matter
Authors: Zhang Fang , Ma Hui , Wang Zhong Lan , Li Wei Hua , Liu Hua , Zhao Yan Xia
Published: July 2020

Objective

Many lung diseases are associated with changes in autophagic activity. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays a key regulatory role in autophagy. Our aim was to explore the function of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway on autophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5).

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham, model, and PI3K inhibitor groups. Mice were exposed to PM2.5 for 4 weeks to establish an in vivo COPD model. Alveolar epithelial cells were stimulated with PM2.5 to establish an in vitro COPD model.

Results

In mice with COPD induced by PM2.5, the PI3K inhibitor PF-04979064 suppressed protein expression of PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR to increase apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells and reduce autophagy. Short interfering PI3K suppressed the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to induce apoptosis and reduce autophagy of alveolar epithelial cells in an in vitro model of COPD. Activation of PI3K induced the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to reduce apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in the in vitro model of COPD by promoting autophagy.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulates autophagy to induce apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in COPD.
Ethics in retrospect: Biomedical research, colonial violence, and Iñupiat sovereignty in the Alaskan Arctic
Authors: Lanzarotta Tess
Published: July 2020

Kaare Rodahl, a scientist with the US Air Force’s Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory, spent much of the 1950s traveling to villages in the Alaskan Arctic to conduct research on cold acclimatization. Four decades later, it was discovered that during one such study, he had administered radioactive isotopes of iodine-131 to over one hundred Alaska Native research subjects without their knowledge or consent. This news broke just as Alaska Native communities were attempting to recover from a series of revelations surrounding other instances of Cold War radiation exposure. In response, two major federal investigations attempted to determine whether Rodahl had adhered to ethical regulations and whether his actions could be expected to have a lasting health impact on former research subjects. The National Research Council, framing the study as a singular event in the Cold War past, found that research subjects had been ‘wronged, but not harmed’. The North Slope Borough, a powerful Alaska Native municipal government, countered this finding with their own investigation, which identified both the study and the subsequent federal inquiries as facets of the still-unfolding process of American settler colonialism in Alaska. In doing so, the North Slope Borough contested the authority of federal agencies to set the terms by which ethics could be retrospectively judged. This article argues that exploring how competing ethical regimes represent the relationship between violence and time can help us better understand how institutionalized bioethics reproduces settler colonial power relations.
Assessment of California’s Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Practice and Performance
Authors: Stempihar Jeffrey , Weitzel Nick , Van Dam Thomas , Schmalzer Pete , Pierce Linda
Published: July 2020

Around 2009, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) adopted continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) as the preferred pavement type for high-volume truck corridors across the state. Over the last decade, Caltrans has constructed more than a dozen CRCP projects in different climates and exposure to different truck volumes. Caltrans was interested in assessing early CRCP performance and identifying potential areas where design, materials, plans, and specifications, and/or construction practices warranted improvement. This project included a review of national CRCP practice, documentation of Caltrans’ statewide practice, and condition assessment of select CRCP projects statewide. For the most part, Caltrans’ CRCP practice is similar to national guidance and other state highway agency practice. A condition assessment of 14 CRCP projects revealed a wide range of performance with various degrees of distresses (i.e., transverse, cluster, and Y-cracking, and punchouts). However, pavements with average transverse crack spacing below Caltrans’ desired lower limit of 3 ft appeared to have acceptable performance. Excessive map cracking, a high percentage of cluster cracking, and initial development of punchouts was evident in sections that appeared to be performing poorly. General recommendations are provided to advance Caltrans’ CRCP practice.
Exploratory Analysis of the Relationships between Congestion, Travel Time Reliability, and Freight-Related Performance Management Measures and Their Associativity with the Roadway Attributes
Authors: Siddiqui Chowdhury , Ko Kwanpyo
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance management measures related to highway system reliability, freight, and traffic congestion in light of the federal rulemaking that establishes these performance measures. The study conducts an exploratory analysis to understand their inter-relationships and examines their (un)common underlying attributes to discover their associativity with each of the performance measures. In doing so several traffic and roadway related characteristics of each reporting segment of the National Highway System (NHS) of South Carolina were processed and modeled for the travel time reliability and peak hour excessive delay using generalized linear models with a log-link function. The results from the study indicate that the unreliable Interstate segments contributed to about 87% of the excessive delays on the entire Interstate. It was also found that more than half of the non-Interstate NHS segments that experienced excessive delay, were reliable and they contributed to approximately 52% of the entire peak hour excessive delay of the non-Interstate NHS. The results from the model indicate that the directional annual average daily traffic (AADT) and the urban areas are the two most important attributes positively associated with all three performance measures, while the number of through lanes was found to be negatively associated with all three performance measures. The length of the reporting segments was positively associated with the excessive delays but negatively associated with the travel time reliabilities. The percentage of single trucks was unique to the Interstate delays and positively associated.
Reliability and Validity of the Resident Satisfaction Index in Assisted Living
Authors: Holmes Sarah D. , Resnick Barbara , Galik Elizabeth , Gruber-Baldini Ann , Kusmaul Nancy
Published: July 2020

Understanding satisfaction with assisted living (AL) from the residents’ perspective is essential for creating supportive environments that are targeted toward the needs and desires of residents. Few measures have been tested to evaluate residents’ satisfaction with AL. This study tested the reliability and validity of the Resident Satisfaction Index (RSI) in a sample of 501 AL residents. Based on Rasch analysis, there was support for item reliability and construct validity. Differential item functional (DIF) analysis was done to examine differences in item responses by age, gender, and cognition. Significant and substantive differences were identified for five items by gender, one item by cognition, and no differences were found by age group. Findings suggest the RSI is a reliable and valid measure to assess residents’ satisfaction with AL and can be used to guide administrators and clinicians in making changes in these settings to increase residents’ satisfaction.
Local Initiatives to Fund Services for Older Americans: Community Recognition of the Importance of Social Care
Authors: Koumoutzis Athena , Stemen Sara E. , Maharjan Renusha , Heston-Mullins Jennifer , Mayberry Pamela S. , Applebaum Robert
Published: July 2020

Despite the growing proportion of older adults in the United States, federal and state funding for nonmedical supportive services remains limited. To meet increasing demand, some communities across the nation are exploring alternative funding sources for aging services. Although no systematic database exists to track such local programs, through an array of data sources including a national survey, telephone contacts, and a web review, we identified 15 states that are using local funding to support aging services. Communities are using a variety of local revenue streams, such as property tax levies, payroll, and sales taxes to provide services for older adults and/or their family or friend caregivers. There are considerable differences in community approaches including the following: amount of revenue generated, service eligibility criterion, type of services covered, and management infrastructure. Critical policy questions surrounding equity issues within and across states are raised as communities create these alternative funding mechanisms.
Characterisation and composition identification of waste-derived fuels obtained from municipal solid waste using thermogravimetry: A review
Authors: Gerassimidou Spyridoula , Velis Costas A , Williams Paul T , Komilis Dimitrios
Published: July 2020

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is the most widespread thermal analytical technique applied to waste materials. By way of critical review, we establish a theoretical framework for the use of TGA under non-isothermal conditions for compositional analysis of waste-derived fuels from municipal solid waste (MSW) (solid recovered fuel (SRF), or refuse-derived fuel (RDF)). Thermal behaviour of SRF/RDF is described as a complex mixture of several components at multiple levels (including an assembly of prevalent waste items, materials, and chemical compounds); and, operating conditions applied to TGA experiments of SRF/RDF are summarised. SRF/RDF mainly contains cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Polyvinyl chloride is also used in simulated samples, for its high chlorine content. We discuss the main limitations for TGA-based compositional analysis of SRF/RDF, due to inherently heterogeneous composition of MSW at multiple levels, overlapping degradation areas, and potential interaction effects among waste components and cross-contamination. Optimal generic TGA settings are highlighted (inert atmosphere and low heating rate (⩽10°C), sufficient temperature range for material degradation (⩾750°C), and representative amount of test portion). There is high potential to develop TGA-based composition identification and wider quality assurance and control methods using advanced thermo-analytical techniques (e.g. TGA with evolved gas analysis), coupled with statistical data analytics.
Effect of chemical treatment of jute fiber on thermo-mechanical properties of jute and sheep wool fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites
Authors: Tusnim Jarin , Jenifar Nawshin Sultana , Hasan Mahbub
Published: July 2020

Use of combination of natural fiber in hybrid composite ensures environment-friendly product and a balanced pursuit of required properties. Present research focuses on preparing a completely new hybrid composite reinforcing jute and sheep wool fiber into polypropylene (PP) matrix using a hot press machine. Jute fiber was chemically treated with 5% NaOH and diazonium salt at alkali, acidic, and neutral media to increase compatibility with sheep wool fiber and PP matrix. Total jute and sheep wool fiber loading was fixed at 15 wt%, with a ratio of 3:1. Both treated and untreated jute fibers were utilized during composite preparation. Mechanical, structural, thermal, and water absorption tests of prepared composites were subsequently conducted. Five percentage of NaOH treatment reduced the hydroxyl group in jute fiber, while diazonium salt treatment converted the hydroxyl group into the diazo group. Hybrid PP composite containing neutral media diazonium salt-treated jute fiber and untreated sheep wool fiber had the best of mechanical properties, thermal stability, and lowest water absorption among all prepared composites.
Market regulation between economic and ecological values: Regulatory authorities and dilemmas of responsiveness
Authors: Besselink Tobias , Yesilkagit Kutsal
Published: July 2020

The regulation of markets emerged as one of the core pillars of government policies during the 1990s. However, the ascendance of ecological values and issues, such as sustainability and security in the following decades challenge some of the basic tenets of the underlying neo-liberal ideas. We argue in this paper that market and competition regulators have come under pressures to uphold the market and economic values of the prevailing anti-trust policies while being responsive to societal pressures that cherish non-economic values. Competition authorities find themselves locked-in to economic theories of regulation and find little room for engaging with ecological issues. We illustrate this with the case of the Dutch competition authority's approach to managing the balance between economic and sustainability and animal welfare values.
From employment optional to “Employment First”: Explaining two cases of state-level disability policy change
Authors: Giordono Leanne S
Published: July 2020

Over the last three decades, the United States has increasingly devolved social policy decisions from the federal to the state level. These changes have resulted in substantial variation in policy decisions and related outcomes. Just as the changes allow states to act as policy laboratories, they also offer a window into the process by which organized interests take advantage of such opportunities to influence state-level policy. This study uses the Advocacy Coalition Framework to illuminate the black box of policy change with a comparative study of two states, Washington and Pennsylvania, which adopted “Employment First” policy aimed at prioritizing employment services for individuals with disability. The study reveals that policy change in both states was associated with organized stakeholder mobilization, strategic framing and narrative, and bureaucratic activism, all in an environment of heightened stakeholder attention to the issue. That said, the two states followed distinct paths, with early policy change in Washington stemming from service provider mobilization, suggesting the importance of policy feedback mechanisms.
Car-mounted (black box) camera–based prediction and avoidance of intersection collisions for advanced driver assistance systems
Authors: Han Inhwan
Published: July 2020

This study analyzed video and quantitative data of 471 four-way intersection vehicle collisions obtained from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute near-accidents data and used the analysis results to determine the threshold value for each of the nine types of intersection collisions. The collision cases obtained for this study were categorized into nine groups based on the direction of the car that recorded the video and location of the other car estimated through video analysis. In obscure cases, the aspect rate was additionally used to assign a group. After the group it belongs to is identified, the change rate of aspect ratio and area change rate were used to determine the possibility and specific type of intersection collision. When a collision was imminent, avoidance possibility was calculated to avoid the collision completely, and if the collision was inevitable, partial collision maneuver method that causes the least damage was deduced. The suggested algorithms were verified using the black box video from 16 actual accident cases. With the exception of special cases such as when most of the vehicle was out of view, most of them showed high correspondence.
Research on autonomous vehicle path tracking control considering roll stability
Authors: Lin Fen , Wang Shaobo , Zhao Youqun , Cai Yizhang
Published: July 2020

For autonomous vehicle path tracking control, the general path tracking controllers usually only consider vehicle dynamics’ constraints, without taking vehicle stability evaluation index into account. In this paper, a linear three-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model is used as a predictive model. A comprehensive control method combining Model Predictive Control and Fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative control is proposed. Model Predictive Control is used to control the vehicle yaw stability and track the target path by considering the front wheel angle, sideslip angle, tire slip angles, and yaw rate during the path tracking. Fuzzy proportional–integral–derivative algorithm is adopted to maintain the vehicle roll stability by controlling the braking force of each tire. Co-simulation with CarSim and MATLAB/Simulink shows the designed controller has good tracking performance. The controller is smooth and effective and ensures handling stability in tracking the target path.
Relative efficiencies of alternative preference-based designs for randomised trials
Authors: Walter SD , Bian M
Published: July 2020

Recent work has shown that outcomes in clinical trials can be affected by which treatment the trial participants would select if they were allowed to do so, and if they do or do not actually receive that treatment. These influences are known as selection and preference effects, respectively. Unfortunately, they cannot be evaluated in conventional, parallel group trials because patient preferences remain unknown. However, several alternative designs have been proposed, to measure and take account of patient preferences. In this paper, we discuss three preference-based designs (the two-stage, fully randomised, and partially randomised designs). In conventional trials, only the treatment effect is estimable, while the preference-based designs have the potential to estimate some or all of the selection and preference effects. The relative efficiency of these designs is affected by several factors, including the proportion of participants who are undecided about treatments, or who are unable or unwilling to state a preference; the relative preference rate between the treatments being compared, among patients who do have a preference; and the ratio of patients randomised to each treatment. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these designs under different scenarios.
Comparison of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and Allogenic Human Umbilical Cord Blood Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Implantation on Chondral Defect of Knee: Assessment of Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes at 2-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Ryu Dong Jin , Jeon Yoon Sang , Park Jun Sung , Bae Gi Cheol , Kim Jeong-seok , Kim Myung Ku
Published: July 2020

Biological repair of cartilage lesions remains a significant clinical challenge. A wide variety of methods involving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been introduced. Because of the limitation of the results, most of the treatment methods have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) implantation were approved by Korea FDA. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes after two different types of MSCs implantation in knee osteoarthritis. Fifty-two patients (52 knees) who underwent cartilage repair surgery using the BMAC (25 knees) and hUCB-MSCs (27 knees) were retrospectively evaluated for 2 years after surgery. Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to the score of visual analogue scale (VAS), the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Cartilage repair was assessed according to the modified Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (M-MOCART) score and the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) cartilage repair scoring system. At 2-year follow-up, clinical outcomes including VAS, IKDC, and KOOS significantly improved ( P < 0.05) in both groups; however, there were no differences between two groups. There was no significant difference in M-MOCART [1-year ( P = 0.261), 2-year ( P = 0.351)] and ICRS repair score ( P = 0.655) between two groups. Both groups showed satisfactory clinical and MRI outcomes. Implantation of MSCs from BMAC or hUCB-MSCs is safe and effective for repairing cartilage lesion. However, large cases and a well-controlled prospective design with long-term follow-up studies are needed.
Influence of fibre pretreatments on characteristics of green fabric materials
Authors: Vinayagamoorthy R
Published: July 2020

The use of natural fibres as composite reinforcements is inevitable in view of developing a sustainable environment. When a natural fibre is extracted from a plant or ground or animal, they are prone to contain impurities and other unwanted substances. By removing these unwanted substances and by enhancing the strengths of the fibres, the reinforcements become predominant to carry the loads in a composite material and thus help the composite to acquire major mechanical properties. Hence, pretreatment methods are adopted for green fibres and it includes a series of chemical treatment, drying, heating in a furnace, and so on. These treatments help to enhance the surface roughness of the fibre, and thus, it increases the bonding strength with the surrounding matrix. The present study gives a clear picture of various pretreatment methods made in different research and their effect on the properties of the composite materials.
Effectiveness of Bath Wipes After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Kjellin Margie , Qudeimat Amr , Browne Emily , Keerthi Dinesh , Sunkara Anusha , Kang Guolian , Winfield Alicia , Giannini Mary Anne , Maron Gabriela , Hayden Randall , Leung Wing , Triplett Brandon , Srinivasan Ashok
Published: July 2020

Objective: Bacteremia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Infections of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative rods (GNRs) are common in this population. Our objective was to assess whether experimental bath wipes containing silver were more effective than standard bath wipes containing soap at reducing skin colonization by VRE and MDR GNRs, and nonmucosal barrier injury bacteremia. Study Design: Patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic HCT in a tertiary referral center were randomized to receive experimental or standard bath wipes for 60 days post-HCT. Skin swabs were collected at baseline, discharge, and day +60 post-HCT. The rate of VRE colonization was chosen as the marker for efficacy. Results: Experimental bath wipes were well tolerated. Before the study, the rate of colonization with VRE in HCT recipients was 25%. In an interim analysis of 127 children, one (2%) patient in the experimental arm and two (3%) in the standard arm were colonized with VRE. Two (3%) patients had nonmucosal barrier injury bacteremia in the standard arm, with none in the experimental arm. MDR GNRs were not isolated. The trial was halted because the interim analyses indicated equivalent efficacy of the two methods. Conclusions: Skin cleansing with silver-containing or standard bath wipes resulted in very low and equivalent rates of bacteremia and colonization with VRE and MDR GNRs in children post-HCT. Future studies in other high-risk populations are needed to confirm these results.
The Marrakesh Treaty
Authors: Vleugels Cynthia
Published: July 2020

According to the World Blind Union, only 7% of the world’s published books are ever made into an accessible format. This article examines the development of a treaty led by the World Intellectual Property Organization with hopes of removing some of the barriers to access across the globe. Through explaining the development and history of what became known simply as the Marrakesh Treaty, this article highlights the initial publicity, human rights issues, and lawmaking battles that lead to the United States ultimately agreeing to participate.
Internal magnetic field tests and magnetic field coupling model of a three-coil magnetorheological damper
Authors: Yang Yang , Xu Zhao-Dong , Guo Ying-Qing , Xu Yan-Wei , Zhang Jie
Published: July 2020

Magnetorheological damper is a typical semi-active control device. Its output damping force varies with the internal magnetic field, which is a key factor affecting the dynamic performance of the magnetorheological dampers. Existing studies about the magnetic field of magnetorheological dampers are limited to theoretical analysis; thus, this study aims to experimentally explore the complicated magnetic field distribution inside the magnetorheological dampers with multiple coils. First, the magnetic circuit of a three-coil magnetorheological damper was theoretically analyzed and designed, and the finite element model of the three-coil magnetorheological damper was set up to calculate the magnetic induction intensities of the damping gaps in different currents and numbers of coil turns. A three-coil magnetorheological damper embedded with a Hall sensor was then manufactured based on the theoretical and finite element analysis, and internal magnetic field tests under different conditions were carried out to obtain the actual magnetic induction intensities. At last, the magnetic field coupling model of the three-coil magnetorheological damper was proposed by introducing a coupling coefficient to describe the complex magnetic field distribution due to the strong coupling effect of the three coils, and the results calculated by the proposed model agreed well with the finite element analysis and magnetic field test data. The proposed model lays a foundation for the optimal design of the magnetic circuit and the mathematical model of multi-coil magnetorheological dampers.
Gender Equality in International Business Education
Authors: Wagstaff M. Fernanda , Hadjimarcou John , Chanoi Chiara
Published: July 2020

The United Nations established gender equality as a top priority in its international agenda, and many stakeholders around the world have joined the effort to build a fair playing field for all. Business educators can contribute to this effort by delineating problem areas in gender equality in international business education, uncovering ways to address such problems, and inquiring into the most basic premises we entertain in this quest. Our contribution to this international agenda involves a review of the literature in international business education by focusing on the paradigms that might guide our work on gender equality in the classroom while assessing the content domains addressed and considering the conceptualizations we could use for this task. We map extant knowledge in gender equality in international business education and propose strategies for contributing to the United Nations’ goal of increasing gender equality by 2030. Finally, we discuss our vision for research in teaching and learning on gender equality in business education.
Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP): Examining the Internal Structure and Generalizability of CAPP Self-Ratings Across Gender and Ethnicity
Authors: Hanniball Katherine B. , Hohn Richard E. , Fuller Erin K. , Douglas Kevin S.
Published: July 2020

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a recently developed conceptual model of psychopathy designed to index the disorder across 33 personality traits. Although recent research has evidenced support for the CAPP model with respect to the convergent, criterion, and predictive validity of CAPP instruments, little work has examined the optimal internal structure and generalizability of the model and associated measures. The present study sought to elaborate on the construct validity and psychometric properties of the CAPP Lexical Self Rating Scale and determine the utility of the instrument across men and women, and individuals of Caucasian and East Asian descent. Within a large sample of self-identified offenders ( N = 1,414), we found strong support for a three-factor model comprising domains reflecting interpersonal dominance, behavioral disinhibition, and deficient emotional attachment. Analyses examining the generalizability of the model provide further insight into its applicability for diverse populations.
The Development of the MedEx IMPACT Intervention: A Patient-Centered, Evidenced-Based and Theoretically-Informed Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention for Individuals Living With and Beyond Cancer
Authors: Cantwell Mairéad , Walsh Deirdre M. J. , Furlong Bróna , Moyna Niall , McCaffrey Noel , Woods Catherine
Published: July 2020

Regular physical activity (PA) can address many of the negative side effects experienced by individuals following cancer treatment and support the optimization of physical and psychosocial well-being. However, many survivors of cancer are not sufficiently active to achieve these health benefits. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a physical activity behavior change (PABC) intervention, MedEx IMPACT (IMprove Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment), which aims to increase cancer survivors’ PA levels. A review of the literature and focus groups with survivors of cancer were conducted in order to generate recommendations to inform the intervention development process. This process was guided and informed by: (1) the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) framework for the development, evaluation, and implementation of complex interventions, (2) the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), and (3) the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Recommendations for strategies to support habitual PA and adherence to community-based exercise programs, generated by survivors of cancer who participated in 7 focus groups (n = 41), were synthesized with 13 statements of findings that were generated from 10 studies included within the review of the literature. Detailed mapping exercises are presented which outline the link between these sources, the MRC framework, the BCW and TDF, and the intervention content. MedEx IMPACT is the first PABC intervention for survivors of cancer to be developed through the application of the MRC framework, BCW, and TDF. The next phase in this research is to test the acceptability and effectiveness of MedEx IMPACT.
Agreeing to Surveillance: Digital News Privacy Policies
Authors: Adams Paul C.
Published: July 2020

The shift toward digital distribution has led newspapers to adopt data collection and sharing practices with unexplored ethical consequences. Analysis of the privacy policies of the 15 largest U.S. newspapers reveals what is permitted with regard to the capture of newsreader data and the sharing of such data with advertisers, affiliated companies, and social media. These practices and the related news metrics and analytics are critiqued in light of journalism’s democratic role and traditional support of citizenship. The conclusion offers six recommendations to begin to address these ethical dilemmas through greater transparency and more reader control over data handling.