bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometric Positioning and Color Recognition of Greenhouse Electric Work Robot Based on Visual Processing
Authors: Xu Zhifu , Shi Xiaoyan , Ye Hongbao , Hua Shan
Published: September 2020

With the continuous development of science and technology, industrial production technology is also constantly developing, and production efficiency is also constantly improving. Greenhouse electric working robots are industrial production tools with automatic control technology as the core, which affects the quality of industrial products and thus affects the profitability of the factory. According to the set programming work, the greenhouse electric working robot can realize the reproduction production and reduce the workload of the workers. In today’s era, the industrial production steps are more complicated, the production process is more flexible, and the robot’s unchanging posture and movement cannot meet the needs of modern industry, which restricts the development of the factory. In order to better complete the work of industrial robots, it is necessary to study the geometric positioning and color recognition of industrial robots based on machine vision to improve the working efficiency of industrial robots. This paper established an active positioning machine vision system for precise positioning of robot parts greenhouse electric working stations. The matching method using image processing and feature recognition area based on the shape of the binding phase combines the threshold shape criterion to identify object features. The experiments prove that the method can quickly and accurately obtain the object boundaries and centroid calculations and identification data, the robot kinematics combined with real-time motion control of the robot in order to eliminate this error, meet the requirements of the industrial robot self-aligned.
Artinian local cohomology modules of cofinie modules
Authors: Bahmanpour Kamal
Published: September 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative Noetherian complete local ring and [Formula: see text] be a proper ideal of [Formula: see text]. Suppose that [Formula: see text] is a nonzero [Formula: see text]-cofinite [Formula: see text]-module of Krull dimension [Formula: see text]. In this paper, it shown that [Formula: see text] As an application of this result, it is shown that [Formula: see text], for each [Formula: see text] Also it shown that for each [Formula: see text] the submodule [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is [Formula: see text]-cofinite, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] whenever the category of all [Formula: see text]-cofinite [Formula: see text]-modules is an Abelian subcategory of the category of all [Formula: see text]-modules. Also some applications of these results will be included.
BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION AND BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN AN INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Authors: NUNES MOEMA PEREIRA , PEREIRA RAFAEL DO VAL
Published: September 2020

Business model innovation (BMI) is a subject that has been much investigated in recent decades. Despite this growing interest, and the general assumption that BMI contributes to business performance (BP), an absence of scale remains as a limitation, and more research is required regarding this correlation. We analysed the correlation of BMI, in terms of value creation, proposition and capture, and BP regarding consumer satisfaction, market effectiveness and current profitability. Our samples consist of 51 companies located in technological parks in Brazil and we used self-reported data to conduct the study. As a result, it was identified that there is a positive correlation regarding BMI and BP as main concepts. Value creation and proposition are also positively correlated, with BP as an aggregated variable and with customer satisfaction. Value capture, market effectiveness and current profitability do not present a positive correlation with the other variables.
Augmenting and Automating Corpus Enrichment
Authors: Kuhr Felix , Braun Tanya , Bender Magnus , Möller Ralf
Published: September 2020

An agent in pursuit of a task may work with a reference library containing documents associated with additional data that provide location-specific explanations about the content. Faced with a new document, an agent has to decide whether to include the new document in its reference library. Basing the decision on words, topics, or entities has shown not to lead to a balanced performance for varying documents. In this paper, we present an approach for automatically enriching new documents with data associated to documents in a reference library. Additionally, we analyze these data to classify new documents into categories to help an agent in deciding whether to include the new document in its reference library.
Improved Speech Command Classification System for Sinhala Language based on Automatic Speech Recognition
Authors: Kavmini Lakshika , Dinushika Thilini , Thayasivam Uthayasanker , Jayasena Sanath
Published: September 2020

The recent advancements in conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) are fastly getting integrated with every realm of human lives. Conversational agents who can learn, understand human languages and mimic the human thinking process have already created a revolution in human lifestyle. Understanding the intention of a speaker from his natural speech is a significant step in conversational AI. A major challenge that hinders the efficacy of this process is the lack of language resources. In this research, we address this issue and develop a domain-specific speech command classification system for the Sinhala language, one of the low-resourced languages. An effective speech command classification system can be utilized in several value added applications such as speech dialog systems. Our speech command classification system is developed by integrating Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU). The ASR engine is implemented using Gaussian Mixture Model-Hidden Markov Model (GMM-HMM) and it converts a Sinhala speech command into a corresponding text representation. The text classifier, which is implemented as an ensemble unit of several classifiers, predicts the intent of the speaker when provided with the above text output. In this paper, we discuss and evaluate various algorithms and techniques that can be utilized to optimize the performance of both the ASR and text classifier. As well, we present our novel Sinhala speech data corpus of 4.15[Formula: see text]h which is based on the banking domain. As the final outcome, our system reports its Sinhala speech command classification accuracy as 91.03%. It shows that our system outperforms the state-of-the-art speech-to-intent mapping systems developed for the Sinhala language. The individual evaluation on the ASR system reports a 9.91% Word Error Rate and a 19.95% Sentence Error Rate, suggesting the applicability of advanced speech recognition techniques despite the limited language resources. Finally, our findings deliver useful insights on further research in speech command classification in the low-resourced context.
The Pliocene deposits of the Black Sea Shelf east of the Danube River Delta
Authors: Gozhik Petro F. , Rokitsky Valery E.
Published: September 2020

This paper provides analysis of the published materials on the occurrences of the Dacian and Cimmerian molluscs in the Danube River valley as well as the results of Pliocene sediments study based on core material of the boreholes drilled at the Black Sea Shelf east of the Danube River Delta.

In the early Pontian time, the Dacian Basin was a large sub-basin of Paratethys which, due to an abrupt drop in sea level, separated into the Euxinian, Dacian and Caspian basins. At the end of the Bosphorus time, the discharge of the Dacian Basin waters into the Euxinian Basin formed a wide valley from the Galati-Reni region to the east through the Galati gateway. During the Cimmerian transgression, a vast bay existed on the site of the modern Danube Delta, from which mutual migrations of the Dacian and Cimmerian molluscs took place along the runoff valley. The cessation of runoff occurred during the regressive phase of the Late Cimmerian. The rhythmically bedded thick strata originated during the existence of the runoff valley. These strata were identified as the Pridanubian Formation (Suite). The cryptogenic form of
Tulotoma Tulotoma
(
=Viviparus
)
ovidii nasonis
(Bogachev) is characteristic of the lower and middle parts of the suite. The presence of the Dacian and Cimmerian molluscs in this suite became the basis for the correlation of sediments of the Dacian and Cimmerian regional stages. The Duabian molluscs were registered in the Cimmerian deposits of the Transcaucasus (the Duabian layers), Priazovye and the Kerch–Taman region. The migration of these molluscs took place during the regressive phases due to the circular current in the Euxinian Basin similar to the one existing in the Black Sea today.

The Pliocene formation contains marine and continental deposits of the Lower and Upper Pliocene, which are represented by the Pridanubian Formation (Lower and Upper), Cimmerian deposits (non-subdivided Lower and Middle Cimmerian), Lower Kujalnician deposits, Upper Poration deposits, complex of red-coloured palaeosols (the Upper Miocene–Lower Pliocene non-subdivided).

The formation of the Pliocene sediments on the Black Sea Shelf, east of the Danube Delta, was controlled by the inter-basin connectivity of the Eastern Paratethys.
Density-based Algorithms for Big Data Clustering Using MapReduce Framework
Authors: Khader Mariam , Al-Naymat Ghazi
Published: September 2020

Clustering is used to extract hidden patterns and similar groups from data. Therefore, clustering as a method of unsupervised learning is a crucial technique for big data analysis owing to the massive number of unlabeled objects involved. Density-based algorithms have attracted research interest, because they help to better understand complex patterns in spatial datasets that contain information about data related to co-located objects. Big data clustering is a challenging task, because the volume of data increases exponentially. However, clustering using MapReduce can help answer this challenge. In this context, density-based algorithms in MapReduce have been largely investigated in the past decade to eliminate the problem of big data clustering. Despite the diversity of the algorithms proposed, the field lacks a structured review of the available algorithms and techniques for desirable partitioning, local clustering, and merging. This study formalizes the problem of density-based clustering using MapReduce, proposes a taxonomy to categorize the proposed algorithms, and provides a systematic and comprehensive comparison of these algorithms according to the partitioning technique, type of local clustering, merging technique, and exactness of their implementations. Finally, the study highlights outstanding challenges and opportunities to contribute to the field of density-based clustering using MapReduce.
NoiSense Print
Authors: Ahmed Chuadhry Mujeeb , Mathur Aditya P. , Ochoa Martín
Published: September 2020

Fingerprinting of various physical and logical devices has been proposed for uniquely identifying users or devices of mainstream IT systems such as PCs, laptops, and smart phones. However, the application of such techniques in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) is less explored for reasons such as a lack of direct access to such systems and the cost of faithfully reproducing realistic threat scenarios. This work addresses the feasibility of using fingerprinting techniques in the context of realistic ICS related to water treatment and distribution systems. A model-free sensor fingerprinting scheme (
NoiSense
) and a model-based sensor fingerprinting scheme (
NoisePrint
) are proposed. Using extensive experimentation with sensors, it is shown that noise patterns due to microscopic imperfections in hardware manufacturing can uniquely identify sensors with accuracy as high as 97%. The proposed technique can be used to detect physical attacks, such as the replacement of legitimate sensors by faulty or manipulated sensors. For
NoisePrint
, a combined fingerprint for sensor and process noise is created. The difference (called residual), between expected and observed values, i.e., noise, is used to derive a model of the system. It was found that in steady state the residual vector is a function of process and sensor noise. Data from experiments reveals that a multitude of sensors can be uniquely identified with a minimum accuracy of 90% based on
NoisePrint
. Also proposed is a novel challenge-response protocol that exposes more powerful cyber-attacks, including replay attacks.
Putting the guidelines to work: moving from undergraduate physiology curricular guidelines to program development and improvement
Authors: Johnson Kathryn M. S.
Published: September 2020

The first curricular guidelines for undergraduate physiology programs, currently under development by the Physiology Majors Interest Group (P-MIG), outline learning outcomes applicable for a wide range of physiology and physiology-related programs with diverse student populations. These outcomes for knowledge of core physiological concepts, professional skills, and advising provide a standard for undergraduate physiology education and a benchmark for student learning. Evaluation of how programs meet the curricular guidelines and assessment of the impact of programmatic approaches on student learning are essential for programmatic improvement. The collection and dissemination of evaluation and assessment findings, facilitated by P-MIG, is a critical resource for established undergraduate physiology and physiology-related programs seeking to improve their learning outcomes and new programs developing their curriculum. Strategies for institutional evaluation and assessment are provided to outline possible approaches for programs to use the guidelines to improve or develop their curriculum. P-MIG member expertise and knowledge of curricular implementation provide the foundation for possible collaborations among organizations and institutions to develop a program consultation model, where external consultants provide evaluation and assessment guidance and feedback as an additional resource for physiology educators.
Advising physiology students: perceptions from the programs
Authors: Crecelius Anne R. , Crosswhite Patrick L.
Published: September 2020

Academic advising outcomes can be linked to both student success and retention. Yet relatively little is known specifically related to advising in physiology programs. Professional organizations dedicated to academic advising in general, and more specifically advising future health professional students exist, yet, whether current physiology programs utilize these resources remains unknown, as does a number of other demographic information about advising in physiology programs. Here we present data gathered from a sample of physiology educators to inform what current advising practices of physiology students are. Forty-five respondents from a variety of institutions and programs provided information on advising structures, resources utilized, student populations, and concerns. While programs may differ, many of the concerns regarding advising physiology students are the same.
Finite-Time Simultaneous Stabilization for Stochastic Port-Controlled Hamiltonian Systems over Delayed and Fading Channels
Authors: Tang Yaping , Sun Weiwei , Liu Dongqing , Li Xiaodi
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a finite-time simultaneous stabilization problem is investigated for a set of stochastic port-controlled Hamiltonian (PCH) systems over delayed and fading noisy channels. The feedback control signals transmitted via a communication network suffer from both constant transmission delay and fading channels which are modeled as a time-varying stochastic model. First, on the basis of dissipative Hamiltonian structural properties, two stochastic PCH systems are combined to form an augmented system by a single output feedback controller and then sufficient conditions are developed for the semiglobally finite-time simultaneous stability in probability (SGFSSP) of the resulting closed-loop systems. The case of multiple stochastic PCH systems is also considered and a new control scheme is proposed for the systems to save costs and achieve computational simplification. Finally, an example is provided to verify the feasibility of the proposed simultaneous stabilization method.
A Novel Selective Encryption Method Based on Skin Lesion Detection
Authors: An Dezhi , Lu Jun , Zhang Shengcai , Li Yan , Lopes António M.
Published: September 2020

Due to the semitrusted cloud, privacy protection of medical images in medical imaging clouds has become a precondition. For the privacy of patients and the security of medical images in the cloud, this paper proposes a selective encryption based on DNA sequence and chaotic maps for skin lesion image. Initially, we design a transition region-based level set evolution functional which is merged into a variational level set expression with two extra energy functionals, to segment skin lesion image. Once skin lesion detection has been performed, the detected skin lesion pixels are encrypted by employing chaotic systems and DNA sequences. We apply 2D-LASM and 1D-LSS to produce the pseudorandom sequences and use the hash function of the plaintext image to calculate the secret keys of the encryption system. Results demonstrate that the proposed segmentation method is particularly suitable for the detection of skin lesion images with strong noise and complex background. Meanwhile, security analysis also reveals that this selective encryption has a large security key space and high sensitivity to the plaintext image and the secret key.
Policy Effectiveness Analysis of China’s Circuit Breaker Mechanism
Authors: Zhou Wei , Rao Wanying , Luo Danxue , Garg Harish
Published: September 2020

From June to August 2015, China’s security market suffered a severe decline due to the impact of the stock market crash. For this reason, the Shanghai Stock Exchange issued a notice on December 4, 2015, deciding to implement the circuit breaker mechanism on January 1, 2016. However, the mechanism was abolished only four days after its implementation. Therefore, this paper provides an empirical effectiveness analysis of this circuit breaker mechanism based on the nine CSI 300 industries using the regression discontinuity design method. The empirical results show that the implementation of the circuit breaker mechanism has led to the breakpoints of volatilities in nine industries and has significantly increased its market fluctuation. Moreover, we also find that the implementation of the circuit breaker mechanism has different impacts on the different industries, such as the effectiveness of the public, and consumer industries are at the medium level and show more stable fluctuations. Therefore, we suggest that the further circuit breaker mechanism in China’s financial markets can be piloted from the public and consumer industries rather than directly implementing it on the whole CSI 300.
Inhibition of Nuclear Pore Complex Formation Selectively Induces Cancer Cell Death
Authors: Sakuma Stephen , Raices Marcela , Borlido Joana , Guglielmi Valeria , Zhu Ethan Y.S. , D'Angelo Maximiliano A.
Published: September 2020

Nuclear pore complexes (NPC) are the central mediators of nucleocytoplasmic transport. Increasing evidence shows that many cancer cells have increased numbers of NPCs and become addicted to the nuclear transport machinery. How reducing NPC numbers affects the physiology of normal and cancer cells and whether it could be exploited for cancer therapies has not been investigated. We report that inhibition of NPC formation, a process mostly restricted to proliferating cells, causes selective cancer cell death, prevents tumor growth, and induces tumor regression. Although cancer cells die in response to NPC assembly inhibition, normal cells undergo a reversible cell-cycle arrest that allows them to survive. Mechanistically, reducing NPC numbers results in multiple alterations contributing to cancer cell death, including abnormalities in nuclear transport, catastrophic alterations in gene expression, and the selective accumulation of DNA damage. Our findings uncover the NPC formation process as a novel targetable pathway in cancer cells.

Significance:

Reducing NPC numbers in cancer cells induces death, prevents tumor growth, and results in tumor regression. Conversely, normal cells undergo a reversible cell-cycle arrest in response to inhibition of NPC assembly. These findings expose the potential of targeting NPC formation in cancer.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1
Slow Recovery from Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia in an Immunosuppressed Renal Transplant Recipient with Early Acute Cardiorenal Syndrome
Authors: Zhu Lan , Shu Hongge , Li Huijun , Qiu Tao , Zhou Jiangqiao , Chen Gang
Published: September 2020

With the global spread of SARS-Cov-2 infections, increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases have been reported in transplant recipients. However, reports are lacking concerning the treatment and prognosis of COVID-19 pneumonia in renal transplant recipients with acute cardiorenal syndrome. We report here the complete clinical course of a renal transplant recipient with critical COVID-19 pneumonia. In the early phase of SARS-Cov-2 infection, the patient exhibited extensive lung lesions and significant acute kidney and heart injuries, which required treatment in the ICU. After correcting the arrhythmia and heart failure, the patient recovered quickly from the acute kidney injury with a treatment of intensive diuresis and strict control of fluid intake. Without cessation of oral immunosuppressive agents, the patient presented a delayed and low antibody response against SARS-Cov-2 and reappeared positive for the virus twice after being discharged. Nevertheless, the patient’s pneumonia continued to improve and he fully recovered in 69 days. This effectively treated case may be meaningful and referable for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia in other transplant recipients with acute cardiorenal syndrome.
COVID-19 Related Cerebrovascular Thromboembolic Complications in Three Young Patients
Authors: Haroon Khawaja Hassan , Muhammad Ahmad , Hussain Suhail , Patro Satya Narayana
Published: September 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral illness, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is currently affecting millions of people worldwide and is associated with coagulopathy, both in the venous and arterial systems. The proposed mechanism being excessive inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, and stasis. As an ongoing pandemic declared by WHO in March 2020, health systems worldwide are experiencing significant challenges with COVID-19-related complications. It has been noticed that patients with COVID-19 are at greater risk of thrombosis.
Feições tafonômicas em macrorrestos vegetais holocenos da zona costeira do município de Camocim, Ceará
Authors: Xavier Sérgio Augusto Santos , Viana Maria Somália Sales
Published: September 2020

O município de Camocim, localizado na costa cearense, caracteriza-se por planícies e tabuleiros pré-litorâneos com a presença de largas faixas de dunas móveis, além de trechos com eolianitos que podem conter restos vegetais preservados em seu conteúdo. Nesta pesquisa, objetivou-se caracterizar os processos tafonômicos que preservaram esses macrorrestos vegetais. O trabalho de campo consistiu em observação direta de um afloramento de sedimentos eólicos diagenizados e dos vegetais mineralizados neles contidos, verificando a disposição e os tipos dos restos orgânicos. Os sedimentitos foram observados e descritos no campo e posteriormente no laboratório, sob microscópio estereoscópico, para análise de sua granulometria, tipo de cimento e litificação. Os macrorrestos vegetais mineralizados constituem uma assembleia autóctone/parautóctone de tubos horizontais e/ou verticais in situ, dentro ou ao redor do afloramento, circunvalados por exemplares menores apresentando feições de deformação e fragmentação, preservados por meio de calcificação e incrustação. A presença desses restos vegetais antigos, preservados em posição de vida, contribui para a compreensão da dinâmica sedimentar que atuou na região, permitindo o cruzamento de dados com os processos atuais.
Evidence-Based Policy Making for Public Health Interventions in Cardiovascular Diseases: Formally Assessing the Feasibility of Clinical Trials
Authors: Foti Kathryn , Foraker Randi E. , Martyn-Nemeth Pamela , Anderson Cheryl A.M. , Cook Nancy R. , Lichtenstein Alice H. , de Ferranti Sarah D. , Young Deborah Rohm , Hivert Marie-France , Ross Robert , Deedwania Prakash , Whitsel Laurie P. , Appel Lawrence J.
Published: September 2020

Implementation of prevention policies has often been impeded or delayed due to the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with hard clinical outcomes (eg, incident disease, mortality). Despite the prominent role of RCTs in health care, it may not always be feasible to conduct RCTs of public health interventions with hard outcomes due to logistical and ethical considerations. RCTs may also lack external validity and have limited generalizability. Currently, there is insufficient guidance for policymakers charged with establishing evidence-based policy to determine whether an RCT with hard outcomes is needed before policy recommendations. In this context, the purpose of this article is to assess, in a case study, the feasibility of conducting an RCT of the oft-cited issue of sodium reduction on cardiovascular outcomes and then propose a framework for decision-making, which includes an assessment of the feasibility of conducting an RCT with hard clinical outcomes when such trials are unavailable. We designed and assessed the feasibility of potential individual- and cluster-randomized trials of sodium reduction on cardiovascular outcomes. Based on our assumptions, a trial using any of the designs considered would require tens of thousands of participants and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, which is prohibitively expensive. Our estimates may be conservative given several key challenges, such as the unknown costs of sustaining a long-term difference in sodium intake, the effect of differential cotreatment with antihypertensive medications, and long lag time to clinical outcomes. Thus, it would be extraordinarily difficult to conduct such a trial, and despite the high costs, would still be at substantial risk for a spuriously null result. A robust framework, such as the one we developed, should be used to guide policymakers when establishing evidence-based public health interventions in the absence of trials with hard clinical outcomes.
A Unique Population of Regulatory T Cells in Heart Potentiates Cardiac Protection From Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Xia Ni , Lu Yuzhi , Gu Muyang , Li Nana , Liu Meilin , Jiao Jiao , Zhu Zhengfeng , Li Jingyong , Li Dan , Tang Tingting , Lv Bingjie , Nie Shaofang , Zhang Min , Liao Mengyang , Liao Yuhua , Yang Xiangping , Cheng Xiang
Published: September 2020

Background:

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), traditionally recognized as potent suppressors of immune response, are increasingly attracting attention because of a second major function: residing in parenchymal tissues and maintaining local homeostasis. However, the existence, unique phenotype, and function of so-called tissue Tregs in the heart remain unclear.

Methods:

In mouse models of myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, or cardiac cryoinjury, the dynamic accumulation of Tregs in the injured myocardium was monitored. The bulk RNA sequencing was performed to analyze the transcriptomic characteristics of Tregs from the injured myocardium after MI or ischemia/reperfusion injury. Photoconversion, parabiosis, single-cell T-cell receptor sequencing, and adoptive transfer were applied to determine the source of heart Tregs. The involvement of the interleukin-33/suppression of tumorigenicity 2 axis and Sparc (secreted acidic cysteine-rich glycoprotein), a molecule upregulated in heart Tregs, was further evaluated in functional assays.

Results:

We showed that Tregs were highly enriched in the myocardium of MI, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and cryoinjury mice. Transcriptomic data revealed that Tregs isolated from the injured hearts had plenty of differentially expressed transcripts in comparison with their lymphoid counterparts, including heart-draining lymphoid nodes, with a phenotype of promoting infarct repair, indicating a unique characteristic. The heart Tregs were accumulated mainly because of recruitment from the circulating Treg pool, whereas local proliferation also contributed to their expansion. Moreover, a remarkable case of repeatedly detected T-cell receptor of heart Tregs, more than that of spleen Tregs, suggests a model of clonal expansion. Besides, Helios
high
Nrp-1
high
phenotype proved the mainly thymic origin of heart Tregs, with a small contribution of phenotypic conversion of conventional CD4
+
T cells, proved by the analysis of T-cell receptor repertoires and conventional CD4
+
T cells adoptive transfer experiments. The interleukin-33/suppression of tumorigenicity 2 axis was essential for sustaining heart Treg populations. Last, we demonstrated that Sparc, which was highly expressed by heart Tregs, acted as a critical factor to protect the heart against MI by increasing collagen content and boosting maturation in the infarct zone.

Conclusions:

We identified and characterized a phenotypically and functionally unique population of heart Tregs that may lay the foundation to harness Tregs for cardioprotection in MI and other cardiac diseases.
Sympathetic Overactivation in Patients With Essential Hypertension and Hepatic Iron Overload
Authors: Seravalle Gino , Dell’Oro Raffaella , Quarti-Trevano Fosca , Spaziani Domenico , Bertoli Silvio , Airoldi Flavio , Mancia Giuseppe , Grassi Guido
Published: September 2020

Iron overload has been recently shown to be associated with a hyperadrenergic state in genetic hemochromatosis. Whether this is also the case in essential hypertension, characterized by sympathetic activation and frequently by body iron overload, is unknown. In 17 healthy normotensive controls (age 52.3±3.2 years, mean±SE), in 21 age-matched patients with hypertension with iron overload (HT+), defined by serum ferritin levels, and in 28 hypertensives without this condition, we measured efferent postganglionic muscle sympathetic nerve traffic (microneurography), heart rate and blood pressure variability (power spectral analysis), serum ferritin, and metabolic variables. Muscle sympathetic nerve traffic was significantly (
P
<0.02 at least) greater in HT+ than in patients with hypertension without iron overload and normotensive subjects both when expressed as bursts incidence over time (41.8±1.4 versus 31.5±1.4 and 23.6±0.9 bursts/min) and as bursts corrected for heart rate (55.3±1.8 versus 42.3±1.2 and 31.7±1.2 bursts/100 heartbeats). In HT+, low-frequency systolic blood pressure variability was significantly reduced. In HT+, but not in the other 2 groups, muscle sympathetic nerve traffic was significantly related to serum ferritin (
r
=0.51,
P
<0.03), transferrin saturation (
r
=0.47,
P
<0.03), and hepatic iron load (
r
=0.76,
P
<0.0001, magnetic resonance imaging), as well as to homeostatic model assessment index values (
r
=0.46,
P
<0.05). These data provide the first evidence that in HT+ elevated serum ferritin is associated with a hyperadrenergic state of greater magnitude than the one seen in patients with hypertension without iron overload. They also show that the potentiation of the sympathetic activation detected in HT+ is related to elevated serum ferritin and to the associated metabolic alterations, possibly participating in the increased cardiovascular risk characterizing iron overload.
A successful multiple litter adoption in a nursing southern black-eared opossum, Didelphis aurita (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae)
Authors: Toledo Gabriela , Astúa Diego
Published: September 2020

Adoption by an alloparent of an offspring or a litter occurs in at least eight mammal orders, but is rare in marsupials, and was never confirmed in opossums. Here we report the first unequivocal and documented successful event of alloparental adoption of two distinct litters by a single captive female Southern Black-eared Opossum Didelphis aurita (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae). The female, still nursing her biological litter, accepted and nursed the two offered litters. All three litters were raised simultaneously, and the female cared for and displayed protective behaviour indistinctively of the biological or adopted pups. She was kept captive until released along with her biological litter, which was weaned and fled independently, and the two adoptive litters clinging on her back. This event sheds additional light on the little known social and maternal behaviour of opossums, suggesting it is possibly more complex than originally thought.
Notes on the genus Macroteratura Gorochov, 1993 (Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae: Meconematini) with description of one new species from China
Authors: CHEN LIXUAN , CUI PENG , ZHUO ZHAO , CHANG YANLIN
Published: September 2020

The paper deals with 7 species of the genus Macroteratura from China and provides information on examined specimens, of which one new species Macroteratura (Macroteratura) inospina Chen, Cui & Chang sp. nov. is described and illustrated with characteristic photographs of four known species from China.
Description of the second instar larva of Thermothrips mohelensis Pelikán (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: ULITZKA MANFRED R. , EVDOKAROVA TAISIA G. , MORITZ GERALD
Published: September 2020

Thermothrips mohelensis Pelikán is an extremely rare thrips found in dry steppe grassland ecosystems (Pelikán 1949, 1995; Ulitzka 2019a). It has been reported from only a few locations and almost always in very low abundance: one female each has been collected in Germany (Ulitzka 2019a), Slovenia (Kucharczyk 2008) and Turkey (Tunç 1992), two females are known from Iran (Mirab-balou & Chen 2013), three from Poland (Zawirska 1988; Kucharczyk 2007) and six from Western Russia (Schliephake 1977). Larger series including males and larvae are known only from Czechoslovakia (Pelikán 1949, 1995) and from Yakutia, East Siberia where—besides other specimens—the larvae discussed below have been collected (see Evdokarova & Kucharczyk 2020). The fragmented and selective occurrence of this species in steppe habitats has been interpreted to represent scattered relict populations that may have remained from a more extensive distribution far back, possibly in the wide dry grasslands of the Late Pleistocene (Ulitzka 2019a). Similar to other specialist species of those barren habitats T. mohelensis is severely threatened by the general decline of these fragile ecosystems due to natural succession or anthropogenic impact (Kucharczyk 2008; Kucharczyk & Kucharcyk 2008; Ulitzka 2019a). T. mohelensis is a thermophilous (zur Strassen 2003) and highly xerophilous species. This thrips was erroneously considered an hydrophilous wetland thrips (Bhatti 1998) due to a mistranslation (see Ulitzka 2019a). T. mohelensis lives and breeds monophagously in flowers of Galium (Rubiaceae), particularly G. verum but also G. mollugo (Pelikán 1949, 1995; Schliephake 1972; Tunç 1992).
Analysis of the Characteristics of a Team Working in Conditions of Exposure (Hospice Environment)
Authors: Trylińska-Tekielska Elżbieta
Published: September 2020

Background

The aim of the study was to examine the functioning of the team, working in conditions of exposure and finding reasons for which a specific group takes actions in conditions of life threatening others or own. The population being studied is a hospice team (N = 229).

Methods

Logistic regression analysis and multidimensional correspondence analysis were used in the research.

Results

The level of personal religiosity was regulated in a different way in the respective surveyed professional groups. In the group of hospice volunteers we managed to build 2 models, in the hospice employees – 4 models, in the group of volunteers - 5 models.

Conclusion

There are different types of motivation and a sense of identity. The highest level of guilt is declared by a group of hospice volunteers. In the group of volunteers of the hospice: the thanatological anxiety and mood stimulate the growth of personal religiousness.
Strengthening the National Health Insurance Bill for mental health needs: response from the Psychological Society of South Africa
Authors: Kleintjes Sharon , den Hollander Daniel Hilbrand , Pillay Suntosh R , Kramers-Olen Anne
Published: September 2020

This article summarizes the findings of a consultation process initiated at the 25th congress of the Psychological Society of South Africa in September 2019 to submit a response to the national public participation process on the National Health Insurance Bill, 2019. While the Psychological Society of South Africa supports the overall purpose of the Bill, to provide universal health coverage in South Africa, this article critically discusses eight core concerns related to the Bill, including the need to: (1) integrate mental health more effectively into the National Health Insurance Bill; (2) ensure equitable access to health services for all people; (3) improve human resources for mental health; (4) clarify accreditation standards and contractual conditions for service providers; (5) improve utilization of private practitioners within an integrated health system; (6) include mental health expertise in the advisory structures of the National Health Insurance Bill; (7) set out a robust accountability framework within the National Health Insurance Bill; and (8) include mental health indicators in the National Health Insurance information system. Taken together, this article contributes to the ongoing deliberations about strengthening the National Health Insurance system to ensure that it is responsive to mental health care needs.
Psychological Misconceptions and Their Relation to Students’ Lay Beliefs of Mind
Authors: Sibicky Mark , Klein Christopher L. , Embrescia Emily
Published: September 2020

Psychological misconceptions are common among students taking psychology courses. In this study, we show an association between student endorsement of misconceptions and two prevalent and well-researched lay beliefs about the human mind, specifically the belief in free will and dualism. This study also revisits and builds upon past research investigating the relationship between believing in psychological misconceptions and other student beliefs such as opinions about psychology as science and beliefs in extrasensory perception, and student characteristics such as critical thinking ability, number of psychology courses taken, and grade point average. The findings are discussed in the context that differences among students in beliefs in free will and dualism may lead some students to endorse a greater number of common psychological misconceptions. We discuss the implications of these findings for instruction and for research on techniques to correct student misconceptions.
Prevalence of and Associations With Distress and Professional Burnout Among Otolaryngologists: Part II, Attending Physicians
Authors: Carlson Matthew L. , Larson David P. , O’Brien Erin K. , Lohse Christine M. , Kircher Matthew L. , Gurgel Richard K. , Hunter Jacob B. , Micco Alan G. , Nogan Stephen J. , O’Connell Brendan P. , Rangarajan Sanjeet V. , Rivas Alejandro , Sweeney Alex D. , Wanna George B. , Weisskopf Peter A. , Choby Garret
Published: September 2020

Objective

To ascertain the prevalence of and associations with distress and professional burnout among academic otolaryngology attending physicians.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Setting

Twelve US academic otolaryngology programs.

Methods

A questionnaire was administered that encompassed sociodemographic and professional features, the Expanded Physician Well‐being Index for distress, the 2‐item Maslach Burnout Inventory for professional burnout, the Patient Health Questionnaire–2 screen for major depressive disorder, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–2 screen for generalized anxiety disorder.

Results

The survey response rate was 56% and included 186 attending physicians. The average respondent age was 47 years; 72% were men; 93% were married or partnered; and 86% had children. Distress was present in 40%, professional burnout in 26%, positive depression screening in 8%, and positive anxiety screening in 11%. In a univariable setting, age, hours worked in a typical week, nights on call in a typical week, and years of practice were significantly associated with distress, although in a multivariable setting, only hours worked in a typical week remained significantly associated with a positive Expanded Physician Well‐being Index screen (odds ratio for each 10‐hour increase, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.73‐3.93; P <. 001). In a univariable setting, hours worked in a typical week was significantly associated with a positive Maslach Burnout Inventory screen.

Conclusion

Distress or professional burnout occurs in more than a quarter of academic otolaryngology attending physicians, whereas the prevalence of depression or anxiety is approximately 10%. The number of hours worked per week had the strongest association with distress and burnout. These findings may be used to develop and implement programs to promote physician well‐being and mitigate professional burnout.
Why Do Ethnically Harassed Immigrant Adolescents Engage in Violent Behaviors? The Role of Affiliation With Violent Peers
Authors: Korol Liliia , Stattin Håkan
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to analyze affiliations with violent peers as an underlying mechanism that associates ethnic harassment with violent behaviors among immigrant youth ( N = 365; Mage = 13.93, SD = 0.80), and also identify the risk factors in this relation. The results revealed that identification with an immigrant peer crowd at school made ethnically harassed immigrant adolescents more inclined to associate with violent peers and, in turn, engage in violent behaviors over time. Immigrant youth’s orientation toward the mainstream culture was not found to either elevate or buffer the effect of ethnic harassment on youth’s affiliation with violent peers. Yet, ethnically harassed immigrant adolescents were shown to be more prone to violent behaviors over time when they were less orientated toward Swedish culture. The findings suggest that preventing ethnicity-based harassment and diversifying adolescents’ peer groups at schools may be a way to prevent immigrant adolescents’ involvement in violent behaviors.
Changes in Tendon Elongation and Muscle Atrophy Over Time After Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair: A Prospective Cohort Study on the Effects of Early Functional Mobilization
Authors: Aufwerber Susanna , Edman Gunnar , Grävare Silbernagel Karin , Ackermann Paul W.
Published: September 2020

Background:

Early functional mobilization (EFM) may improve patient outcome after Achilles tendon rupture (ATR). However, whether EFM affects patient outcome via changes in tendon elongation, thickening, or calf muscle atrophy is unknown.

Purpose:

To analyze differences in tendon and muscle morphology recovery over time between groups treated with EFM or standard treatment after ATR repair.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study included 86 patients (20 women) with ATR repair who had a mean (SD) age of 39.3 (8.2) years and were part of a larger prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients were postoperatively randomized to immediate postoperative weightbearing and ankle motion (EFM group) or to immobilization in a below-knee plaster cast for 2 weeks (control group). Patient-reported and functional outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months with the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score and the heel-rise test for endurance. At 2 and 6 weeks and 6 and 12 months postoperatively, B-mode ultrasound imaging was performed to assess the length and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the Achilles tendon, the gastrocnemius CSA, as well as the thickness of soleus.

Results:

The Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score for the EFM and control groups were 65.8 (18.7) and 56.8 (20.1; P = .045), respectively, at 6 months and 79.6 (15.8) and 78.9 (17.2; P = .87), respectively, at 12 months. At 2 weeks, tendon elongation was significantly more pronounced in the EFM group as compared with the control group (mean side-to-side difference, 1.88 cm vs 0.71 cm; P = .005). Subsequently, tendon elongation increased in the control group while it decreased in the EFM group so that at 6 and 12 months no significant differences between groups were found. Mean Achilles tendon elongation at 1 year was 1.73 (1.07) cm for the EFM group (n = 55) and 1.67 (0.92) cm for the control group (n = 27), with a mean difference of 0.06 cm (95% CI, 0.54 to –0.42; P = .80). Achilles tendon CSA and calf muscle atrophy displayed no significant differences between the groups; however, significant changes were demonstrated over time ( P ≤ .001) in both groups.

Conclusion:

EFM results in more Achilles tendon elongation at early healing, but this difference subsides over time. EFM does not seem to affect patient outcome via changes in tendon elongation, thickening, or calf muscle atrophy.

Registration:

NCT02318472 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
“Doing the Right Thing”: Family Caregivers Managing Medical and Nursing Tasks in the Postacute Home Health Care Setting
Authors: Chase Jo-Ana D. , Russell David , Kaplan Daniel B. , Bueno Michael V. , Khiewchaum Rungnapha , Feldman Penny H.
Published: September 2020

Family caregivers often manage complex medical and nursing tasks (MNTs) for older adults transitioning from hospital to home. To explore caregivers’ experiences managing MNTs in the postacute home health care (HHC) setting, we interviewed by phone 20 caregivers of older adults who received HHC following a hospitalization. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using directed content analysis. Caregivers highlighted the technical complexity and emotional impact of performing MNTs, as well as social (e.g., family, friends) and environmental (e.g., neighborhood, housing) resources they leveraged to meet the older adults’ care needs. Caregivers also identified challenges coordinating care and services within HHC and the larger health care system. Caregiver engagement in the postacute HHC setting should incorporate tailored training and support, assessments of socioenvironmental context and resources, and facilitated navigation of the health care system. Future research should elucidate factors associated with successful collaborative relationships among HHC providers, older adults, and their caregivers in the postacute HHC setting.