bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Acamprosate on Chronic Tinnitus: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Farhadi Mohammad , Salem Mohammad Mahdi , Asghari Alimohamad , Daneshi Ahmad , Mirsalehi Marjan , Mahmoudian Saeid
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

Tinnitus is a common and distressing otologic symptom, with various probable pathophysiologic mechanisms, such as an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. Acamprosate, generally used to treat alcoholism, is a glutaminergic antagonist and GABA agonist suggested for treating tinnitus. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acamprosate in the treatment of tinnitus.

Methods:

The current randomized-controlled trial study included 20 subjects with chronic tinnitus. After performing psycho-acoustic, psychometric and electrophysiological evaluations, all studied tinnitus subjects were randomly divided into two groups of acamprosate and placebo. The first group received oral acamprosate (two tablets of 333 mg/d, three times a day), whereas the second group was given placebo treatment (two tablets, three times a day). After the first 30 days, all evaluations were repeated for the studied groups just in the same manner before the study. Subsequently, the final results of each evaluation were compared together with the baseline values.

Results:

Nine studied subjects randomly received acamprosate, whereas eleven others received a placebo. There was no significant improvement in the psycho-acoustic tests, except a decrease was observed in the pitch match of tinnitus ( P = .039). For those subjects who were receiving acamprosate, a significant reduction was observed in tinnitus handicap inventory ( P = .006), tinnitus questionnaire scores ( P = .007), and the visual analog scores ( P = .007) compared to the placebo group. There was a significant reduction in Action Potential latency ( P = .048) as well as an increase in the amplitude of distortion product otoacoustic emissions at 4 kHz ( P = .048).

Conclusions:

The study results indicated a subjective relief of tinnitus as well as some degree of the electrophysiological improvement at the level of the cochlear and the distal portion of the auditory nerve among the subjects who received the acamprosate.

Clinical trial registration code:

IRCT2013121115751N1
Critical Review of Processing and Classification Techniques for Images and Spectra in Microplastic Research
Authors: Cowger Win , Gray Andrew , Christiansen Silke H. , DeFrond Hannah , Deshpande Ashok D. , Hemabessiere Ludovic , Lee Eunah , Mill Leonid , Munno Keenan , Ossmann Barbara E. , Pittroff Marco , Rochman Chelsea , Sarau George , Tarby Shannon , Primpke Sebastian
Published: June 2020

Microplastic research is a rapidly developing field, with urgent needs for high throughput and automated analysis techniques. We conducted a review covering image analysis from optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and spectral analysis from Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis gas–chromatography mass–spectrometry, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. These techniques were commonly used to collect, process, and interpret data from microplastic samples. This review outlined and critiques current approaches for analysis steps in image processing (color, thresholding, particle quantification), spectral processing (background and baseline subtraction, smoothing and noise reduction, data transformation), image classification (reference libraries, morphology, color, and fluorescence intensity), and spectral classification (reference libraries, matching procedures, and best practices for developing in-house reference tools). We highlighted opportunities to advance microplastic data analysis and interpretation by (i) quantifying colors, shapes, sizes, and surface topologies with image analysis software, (ii) identifying threshold values of particle characteristics in images that distinguish plastic particles from other particles, (iii) advancing spectral processing and classification routines, (iv) creating and sharing robust spectral libraries, (v) conducting double blind and negative controls, (vi) sharing raw data and analysis code, and (vii) leveraging readily available data to develop machine learning classification models. We identified analytical needs that we could fill and developed supplementary information for a reference library of plastic images and spectra, a tutorial for basic image analysis, and a code to download images from peer reviewed literature. Our major findings were that research on microplastics was progressing toward the use of multiple analytical methods and increasingly incorporating chemical classification. We suggest that new and repurposed methods need to be developed for high throughput screening using a diversity of approaches and highlight machine learning as one potential avenue toward this capability.
Emergency Department Prescribing Patterns for Pharyngitis in Children
Authors: Flood Shannon M. , Desai Neil M. , Leonard Jan E. , Mistry Rakesh D.
Published: June 2020

Pharyngitis is commonly diagnosed in the emergency department (ED) and accounts for substantial antibiotic burden in pediatrics. This study describes ED patterns of group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis diagnosis and antibiotic prescribing patterns. This was a secondary data analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Diagnosis and antibiotic treatment for GAS and non-GAS (viral) pharyngitis were reported in all ages and specifically examined in children <3 years of age from 2010 to 2015. GAS pharyngitis was diagnosed in 29% of visits for children with pharyngitis; however, 60% of patients with any pharyngitis received antibiotics. Twenty percent of children <3 years were diagnosed with GAS pharyngitis, yet over half were given antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were commonly prescribed. Antibiotic treatment of pharyngitis, including broad-spectrum antibiotics, remains high when compared with the known prevalence of GAS pharyngitis. Diagnosis and treatment of GAS pharyngitis in patients <3 years persists despite recommendations against testing.
It Matters: Reference Indicator Selection in Measurement Invariance Tests
Authors: Thompson Yutian T. , Song Hairong , Shi Dexin , Liu Zhengkui
Published: June 2020

Conventional approaches for selecting a reference indicator (RI) could lead to misleading results in testing for measurement invariance (MI). Several newer quantitative methods have been available for more rigorous RI selection. However, it is still unknown how well these methods perform in terms of correctly identifying a truly invariant item to be an RI. Thus, Study 1 was designed to address this issue in various conditions using simulated data. As a follow-up, Study 2 further investigated the advantages/disadvantages of using RI-based approaches for MI testing in comparison with non-RI-based approaches. Altogether, the two studies provided a solid examination on how RI matters in MI tests. In addition, a large sample of real-world data was used to empirically compare the uses of the RI selection methods as well as the RI-based and non-RI-based approaches for MI testing. In the end, we offered a discussion on all these methods, followed by suggestions and recommendations for applied researchers.
Fluoxetine in the Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Reyad Ayman Antoun , Plaha Kiran , Girgis Eriny , Mishriky Raafat
Published: June 2020

Background

Fluoxetine is a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor antidepressant and is the only approved pharmacological treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescent.

Methods

We searched the published randomized controlled-trials to review fluoxetine efficacy and tolerability using the databases PubMed, EudraCT, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for fluoxetine role in managing MDD in children and adolescents. A meta-analysis was conducted using the identified 7 clinical trials to assess efficacy using the outcomes: Children's Depression Rating Scale–Revised (CDRS-R), Clinical Global Impressions–Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement (CGI-I) response rate. The risk of discontinuation due to adverse effects and common side effects were examined.

Results

The mean difference in change from baseline for CDRS-R was −2.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], −3.96, −1.48) favoring fluoxetine treatment ( P < .001). Similarly, mean difference for CGI-S was −0.21 (95% CI, −0.36, −0.06). The risk ratio (RR) of discontinuing due to adverse events was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.54, 1.83), with RR for headache side effects 1.34 (95% CI, 1.03, 1.74) and rash 2.6 (95% CI, 1.32, 5.14).

Conclusion

Fluoxetine demonstrates significant improvements in symptom intensity control in young patients suffering from MDD and is considered well tolerated with similar rates of trials discontinuation; however, fluoxetine was associated with a higher risk of headache and rash side effects. These findings will guide psychiatrists and pharmacists in their clinical role for supporting the care of young mental health patients.
Dialectic and Transposition: Lonergan, Scholasticism, and Grace, in Conversation with Robert Doran
Authors: Wilkins Jeremy D.
Published: June 2020

Lonergan’s well-known student Robert Doran has proposed to ‘transpose’ the concepts of Scholastic theology by identifying them with putatively corresponding elements within consciousness. This article suggests that Doran’s method rests on a dubious exegesis of Lonergan, is involved in philosophic confusion, and does not seem a viable way to achieve the desired results. Lonergan himself proposed and practised a different solution: his dialectical method.
Flow, Liminality, and Eudaimonia: Pagan Ritual Practice as a Gateway to a Life With Meaning
Authors: Sonnex Charmaine , Roe Chris A. , Roxburgh Elizabeth C.
Published: June 2020

Paganism is a term applied to a number of nature religions based on traditional indigenous practices. Paganism is practiced through rituals designed to facilitate a flow state that allows practitioners to use magic to achieve their aims. Since the introduction of Wicca to mainstream society in the 1950s, many other Pagan traditions have developed. Similarly, the number of people identifying as Pagan has also increased; in 2011, the number of people identifying as Pagan in the U.K. census reached 80,153. Despite this growth, Paganism is a topic that is underresearched in Psychology. This article uses Ryff’s theory of psychological well-being as a frame-work through which to explore the ways in which Paganism may be particularly conducive to eudemonic well-being as a result of the flow experiences inherent in its practice. This theory posits six key dimensions of eudaimonia: personal growth, self-acceptance, positive relation with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, and purpose in life. The ways in which each of these dimensions is elicited through Paganism is elucidated.
Resilience and Meaning-Making Amid the COVID-19 Epidemic in China
Authors: Yang Mark
Published: June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful border experience awakening us to our existential predicament. Such a predicament includes transience and impermanence, unpredictability, emptiness (existential vacuum), and the interdependence of life and death. The anxiety aroused by the pandemic can awaken us to an ontological mode of existence in which we are authentic, aware, responsible, and transcendent. The Chinese idiom reminds us that crises contain both danger and opportunity. Thus, this article explores how out of this awareness can emerge resilience, creativity, and meaning-making in the midst of confinement, isolation, and suffering.
Burns vs. toxic epidermal necrolysis: A medico-legal dilemma
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Sane Mandar Ramchandra , Singh Amandeep , Harish Dasari
Published: June 2020

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rapidly progressive exfoliating dermatosis which simulates second degree burns. The authors describe a fatal case reported as due to burns. Around 95% of the deceased’s total body surface area was affected, with epidermolysis over face, chest, abdomen, limbs and associated with mucosal involvement. Histopathological findings revealed epidermal necrolysis and confirmed the autopsy suspicion. Because of its sudden onset and rapid progression, toxic epidermal necrolysis often arises suspicion of burns by investigators. We emphasise the differentiating features between toxic epidermal necrolysis and burns and its implications.
Sudden death due to ruptured oesophageal varices – autopsy-based case report
Authors: Sonwani Nagendra Singh , Ateriya Navneet , Kumar Arvind , Kohli Anil , Banerjee Kalyan Kumar
Published: June 2020

Acute haemorrhage from ruptured oesophageal varices is a serious consequence of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. It represents a medical emergency with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Studies over the years have shown a direct link with chronic alcoholism in the development of such complications. Although the gastrointestinal system accounts for a few numbers of sudden deaths, bleeding through ruptured varices represent a life-threatening condition. The role of forensic pathologist is vital in dealing with sudden deaths. Here, we report a case of a 46-year-old man who died suddenly following the rupture of oesophageal varices.
Dead body management amidst global pandemic of Covid-19
Authors: Vidua Raghvendra Kumar , Duskova Irena , Bhargava Daideepya C , Chouksey Vivek Kumar , Pramanik Parthasarathi
Published: June 2020

Covid-19 has reached almost all the nations in the world. More and more people are dying from it and in some countries, even the army has been called upon to help dispose of the dead as there is a shortage of coffins, and undertakers are overwhelmed. Therefore, it is essential to have measures in place to contain the spread of infection while handling dead bodies. In view of this, different guidelines and protocols have been proposed bearing in mind the limited information we have about the virus. This review article sets them out for better reference.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic violence: The dark side of home isolation during quarantine
Authors: Sacco Matteo Antonio , Caputo Fiorella , Ricci Pietrantonio , Sicilia Francesco , De Aloe Luigi , Bonetta Carlo Filippo , Cordasco Fabrizio , Scalise Carmen , Cacciatore Giulia , Zibetti Angelica , Gratteri Santo , Aquila Isabella
Published: June 2020

Domestic violence is a global public health problem. It takes many different forms and leads to significant physical and psychological consequences for the victim and the whole family. Situations that may prompt episodes of violence in the family include stress, emotional disappointment, economic factors, bad and cramped housing, and alcohol or drug abuse. How does the government’s forced home isolation to contain Covid-19 infections impact on this type of abuse? Numerous articles have reported a decrease in reports of domestic violence since quarantine began but how reliable is these data? Is it a potential wake-up call for public institutions? We discuss the risks associated with quarantine measures during the pandemic and suggest the measures to prevent and improve the reporting of abuse cases.
Fixing our global agricultural system to prevent the next COVID-19
Authors: Baudron Frédéric , Liégeois Florian
Published: June 2020

While the world’s attention is focused on controlling COVID-19, evidence points at the biodiversity crisis as a leading factor in its emergence, and the outbreak of many past emerging infectious diseases. Agriculture is a major driver of biodiversity loss globally. Feeding a growing human population in ways that minimize harm to biodiversity is thus imperative to prevent the next COVID-19. Solutions exist, but the burden of implementing them should not be left to farmers alone, who are mainly small-scale family farmers. Supportive policies and markets are needed, but unlikely to bring about the required changes alone. A global concerted effort similar to the Paris Agreement for climate is probably required.
The Promise of Building Equitable Ecosystems for Learning
Authors: Akiva Thomas , Delale-O’Connor Lori , Pittman Karen J.
Published: June 2020

Children and youth learn across settings; however, U.S. educational practice and policy frequently equates learning with formal schooling. This perspective overlooks the growth in structured out-of-school learning programs and the opportunities they provide for addressing educational inequities for marginalized students. In this article, we link the literatures on out-of-school time and educator expertise with historical and contemporary understandings of disparities in urban educational contexts to argue for a learning ecosystem approach that addresses racial and economic inequities embedded across settings. Drawing from these literatures, we propose ways to disentangle learning and education from formal schooling to center and promote equity.
Family-Centered Health Promotion: Perspectives for Engaging Families and Achieving Better Health Outcomes
Authors: Barnes Michael D. , Hanson Carl L , Novilla Len B. , Magnusson Brianna M. , Crandall AliceAnn C. , Bradford Gracie
Published: June 2020

Communities and populations are comprised of individuals and families who together affect the health of the community. The family unit is an unparalleled player for maintaining health and preventing disease for public health because members may support and nurture one another through life stages. Preliminary research confirms that family-oriented health promotion and disease prevention are promising strategies because the family unit is both a resource and a priority group needing preventative and curative services across the life course. Although there are growing numbers of successful efforts, family health systems are generally underutilized in health promotion practice. This lack of utilization in policy and practice have hampered the collection of robust evidence for family health. This paper purports that families are important actors in public health. Yet, since no one pattern for healthy families is known, public health practitioners can consider six principle-based approaches to legitimately and respectfully advance the families’ innate potential for health promotion and disease prevention. Each perspective aims to foster higher capacity for family health systems to function appropriately in public health practice. Health promotion practitioners and researchers can explore family health perspectives with the potential for systems policy and practice adjustments in public health.
Improvements in Uninsurance Estimates for Fully Imputed Cases in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement
Authors: Jackson Heide , Berchick Edward R.
Published: June 2020

In 2019, the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement introduced updates to data processing, including to the imputation of health insurance for cases with no reported health insurance information. This article examines the impact on health insurance estimates of modernized imputation procedures that were part of a redesign of the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. We use descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression to examine whether imputation biases estimates of health insurance coverage using data from the 2017 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which used legacy methods, and the 2017 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement Research File, which debuted the processing redesign. We find that cases with all of their health insurance information imputed using legacy methods were more likely to be uninsured or to be covered by multiple insurance types after adjusting for factors associated with having missing data. With the processing updates, fully imputed cases do not differ from other cases in their likelihood of being uninsured, having private coverage, having public coverage, or in having private and public coverage. Processing updates in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement improved data quality by increasing the percent of people with any health insurance coverage and decreasing the percent of people with multiple types of coverage, especially among fully imputed cases.
A Qualitative Study of the Male Victims’ Experiences With the Criminal Justice Response to Intimate Partner Abuse in Four English-Speaking Countries
Authors: Lysova Alexandra , Hanson Kenzie , Hines Denise A. , Dixon Louise , Douglas Emily M. , Celi Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2020

The criminal justice system plays a pivotal role in addressing the safety of victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA). Over the past 40 years, most changes in the criminal justice response to IPA have been made with the intention of improving support to abused women and their children. However, a growing body of research shows there are many men who are victims of IPA. This qualitative study explored the help-seeking experiences of 38 abused men within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Twelve online focus groups (three in each country) were conducted and themes were identified inductively at a semantic level. Thematic analysis identified that most of their experiences were negative and reflected the gender paradigm embedded in the criminal justice response. This study offers insights into the relevance of a gender-inclusive criminal justice response in addressing IPA.
The effect of mastication time on the physical properties and structure of natural rubber
Authors: Hayeemasae Nabil , Waesateh Kamaruddin , Soontaranon Siriwat , Masa Abdulhakim
Published: June 2020

The effect of mastication time in an internal mixer on the physical properties and microstructure of natural rubber (NR) was studied. The Mooney viscosity, plasticity, and complex viscosity reduced with increases in the mastication time due to the molecular breakdown of the rubber. The microstructural changes in the NR were studied using small-angle X-ray scattering. The results revealed that a reduction in the physical properties correlated with the structural changes, which occurred due to mastication. Increases in mastication time affected the distribution and size of the nonrubber component aggregations and the uniformity of the molecular structure of the NR.
Community Healing and Resistance Through Storytelling: A Framework to Address Racial Trauma in Africana Communities
Authors: Chioneso Nkechinyelum A. , Hunter Carla D. , Gobin Robyn L. , McNeil Smith Shardé , Mendenhall Ruby , Neville Helen A.
Published: June 2020

Racial trauma, an ongoing consequence of historical trauma, has deleterious effects on the well-being of Africana communities. The psychological literature primarily reflects individual processes in the relationship between racial trauma and healing. Going beyond individualistic approaches, we present a community healing framework informed by multidisciplinary scholarship: Community Healing and Resistance Through Storytelling ( C-HeARTS). Three major components of the framework are delineated: (a) justice as both a condition of and an outcome of community healing; (b) culturally syntonic processes (i.e., storytelling and resistance) that direct the renarrating of trauma and act as conduits for transformation; and (c) psychological dimensions (i.e., connectedness, collective memory, and critical consciousness) that promote justice-informed outcomes. In the C-HeARTS framework, community is advanced as an agent of change while centering justice and the important role of cultural practices to facilitate community healing.
Roles of Vision Rehabilitation Therapists in the 21st Century
Authors: Connors Elyse , Lee Helen
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Vision rehabilitation therapists (VRTs) carry out many specific job tasks. This study seeks to better understand the VRT profession by organizing many tasks into a few specific roles in which VRT practitioners are involved.

Methods:

Using the results of the 2017 online survey, a principle component analysis was carried out to extract clusters of specific job tasks. The reliability of the resulting job role constructs was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results from this analysis are compared to a similar analysis of VRT job roles conducted 28 years ago.

Results:

Four job roles are extracted from the survey’s frequency data: (1) teaching activities, (2) case management, (3) technology, and (4) low vision and assessment. Seventy specific job tasks are retained under the four roles.

Discussion:

Extracted job roles of teaching and case management are similar to Leja’s (1990) findings, indicating that these roles remain important aspects of the VRT job. Two new roles have emerged since Leja’s examination, and they are related to technology and low vision and assessment. The advancement, availability, and affordability of technologies and low vision interventions has increased the need for teaching the use of access technologies across the daily living spectrum. The availability of low vision devices has expanded the role of the VRT in the provision of functional low vision assessments, strategies for reading and daily tasks, appropriate use of optical and nonoptical aids, and environmental assessment for safety and optimal visual performance.

Implications for practitioners:

VRT survey participants are performing additional job roles in technology and low vision and assessment. This presents challenges related to resources and training for practitioners who already provide instruction across a broad set of skill domains. Issues include access to new technologies, adequate time to learn new devices and software, and standardized assessment tools.
Discriminable Height Differences of Raised Lines
Authors: Toyoda Wataru , Miyamoto Ryo , Oouchi Susumu , Inoue Takenobu
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to determine the discriminable height differences of raised lines printed on paper, as assessed by people who are blind, with or without years of tactile experience.

Methods:

Ten younger and 10 older tactile readers with blindness and with rich tactile experience; and 10 blindfolded, older, sighted participants with little tactile experience discriminated paired raised-line stimuli of different heights using the fingers of their preferred hand by active touch in a psychophysical experiment.

Results:

There was a significant main effect of the height of the stimulus, F(2, 54) = 56.446, MS = .060, p < .001, [Formula: see text] = .676, [Formula: see text] = .341, and participant group, F(2, 27) = 13.717, MS = .064, p < .001, [Formula: see text] = .504, [Formula: see text] = .357; however, there was no significant main effect of the width of the lines, or any interactions. The younger and older tactile readers had virtually similar thresholds and Weber fractions, and they could discriminate paired stimuli more accurately and efficiently than the older, sighted participants. We provided the discriminable height data of the raised lines based on the mean and 95th percentile values of the Weber fractions.

Discussion:

The results indicate the importance of tactile experiences for height discrimination in active touch. For older persons with recently developed blindness, raised lines with larger height differences should be used.

Information for practitioners:

These data will be helpful for developing new braille embossers that can print raised-line graphics for people with visual impairments, with or without years of tactile experience.
Laboratory work in Science for the Blind
Authors: Burke Emily A.
Published: June 2020

Many schools, for various reasons, find it necessary to go to considerable expense to accumulate and maintain nature and museum exhibits for the use of their pupils in science and art classes. The Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, being located only two blacks from the Carnegie Library and Museum in Pittsburgh, is availing itself of the many opportunities offered by this proximity, rather than attempting the accumulation of a collection of its own.

The teachers are urged to co-ordinate and supplement their work by actual and consistent use of the Museum exhibits. This has been facilitated by the whole-hearted cooperation of Miss Jane White, Assistant Curator of Education, and Mrs. Emily A. Burke, Docent in the Department of Education at the Museum.

We feel that the establishment of library and museum habits in our pupils is also important, and so encourage them to seek these sources of information on their own initiative as well as in assigned classes.

The use of Carnegie Museum exhibits by the science classes, under the direction of Mr. Fred A. Hunt, has inspired Mrs. Burke to set forth in the following article the ways and means by which she is rendering to us this valuable but gratuitous service.

B. S. Joice, Superintendent, Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind.
A survey on automatically constructed universal knowledge bases
Authors: Hossain Bayzid Ashik , Salam Abdus , Schwitter Rolf
Published: June 2020

A universal knowledge base can be defined as a domain-independent ontology containing instances. Ontologies define the concepts and relations among these concepts and are used to represent a domain of interest. These universal knowledge bases are the elementary units for automated reasoning on the Semantic Web. The Semantic Web is an extension of the World Wide Web which facilitates software agents to share content beyond the limitations of applications and websites. This survey focuses on the most prominent automatically constructed universal knowledge bases including KnowItAll, DBpedia, YAGO, NELL, Probase, BabelNet and Knowledge Vault. We take a closer look at how these knowledge bases are built, in particular at the information extraction and taxonomy generation process and investigate how they are used in practical applications. Due to quality concerns, the most successful and widely employed knowledge bases are manually constructed to maintain high quality, but they suffer from low coverage, high assembly and quality assurance cost. On the contrary, automatic approaches for building knowledge bases try to overcome these drawbacks. Although it is strenuous to achieve the same level of quality as for manual knowledge bases, we found that the surveyed automatically constructed knowledge bases have shown promising results and are useful for many real-world applications.
Cell structure and mechanical properties of microcellular PLA foams prepared via autoclave constrained foaming
Authors: Chen Jinwei , Yang Ling , Chen Dahua , Mai Qunshan , Wang Meigui , Wu Lixuan , Kong Ping
Published: June 2020

Microcellular polylactic acid (PLA) foams with various cell size and cell morphologies were prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) solid-state foaming to investigate the relationship between the cell structure and mechanical properties. Constrained foaming was used and a wide range of cell structures with a constant porosity of ∼75% by tuning saturation pressure (8–24 MPa) was developed. Experiments varying the saturation pressure while holding other variables’ constant show that the mean cell size and the mean cell wall thickness decreased, while the cell density and the open porosity increased with increase of pressure. Tensile modulus of PLA foams decreased with increasing the saturation pressure, but the specific tensile modulus of PLA foams was still 15–80% higher than that of solid PLA. Tensile strength and elongation at break first increased with increasing saturation pressure up to 16 MPa and then decreased with further increasing saturation pressure (20 MPa and 24 MPa) at which opened-cell structure produced. Compressive modulus, compressive strength, and compressive yield stress also followed the same variation trend. The results indicated that not only cell size plays an important role in properties of PLA foams but also cell morphology can influence these properties significantly.
The logistics of police power: Armored vehicles, colonial boomerangs, and strategies of circulation
Authors: Denman Derek S
Published: June 2020

Images of police armored vehicles in Ferguson and Baltimore have been influential in a public conversation about the militarization of the police. However, recent critical and abolitionist work on policing rejects the concept of “militarization” for obscuring the longstanding histories and institutional connections between military and police apparatuses. By following the transfers of armored vehicles to police, this article illuminates the logistical pathways that connect colonial warfare and domestic policing, adding an account of the material composition of police power to the historical work of critical and abolitionist thinkers. The article proceeds through a critical reading of records of the Defense Logistics Agency, tracking the transfer of surplus armored vehicles to the police. Designated as “high-visibility property” by the Defense Logistics Agency, these vehicles testify to the materiality of police power. The article then tracks the visibility and materiality of these vehicles as they are deployed in urban and suburban spaces and considers their unique capacity to suppress the democratic energies of crowds. Tracking the armored vehicle provides a way to ask how the rigid lines of fortified urban space are organized into mobile vectors and where ongoing processes of colonization enter these spatial processes.
A ‘conversation’ between Frank Land (FL) and Antony Bryant (AB): PART I
Authors: Bryant Antony , Land Frank
Published: June 2020

The ‘conversation’ offers an important contribution to the archaeology of information systems, both in practice as an academic domain or discipline, and a focus on the genealogy of the field, including some of the accidents and deviations that marked later developments. It is derived from a series of conversations and later exchanges that I arranged with Frank Land. The substantive aspects date from the late 2017 and were then developed in a series of exchanges in 2018; although in effect he and I have been developing this conversation over many years, during which he has been continually challenging, expansive and forthcoming. Comments forthcoming from readers of earlier drafts indicated some perplexity regarding the genre and the objectives of our contribution, so it is important to note that the term ‘conversation’ is something of a conceit. It is not an interview per se, nor is it a biographical account. The core of what follows developed from our verbatim exchanges both face-to-face, and later via email. Some sections, however, have been reworked and enhanced to clarify and augment the issues raised. In addition, we have sought to provide a good deal of background and narrative to guide readers through the text, offering pointers to further resources. The overall contribution is intended to provide an informed and, we hope, informative contribution to people’s understanding of key social and technical issues of our time.
Integrating regional perfusion CT information to improve prediction of infarction after stroke
Authors: Klug Julian , Dirren Elisabeth , Preti Maria G , Machi Paolo , Kleinschmidt Andreas , Vargas Maria I , Van De Ville Dimitri , Carrera Emmanuel
Published: June 2020

Physiological evidence suggests that neighboring brain regions have similar perfusion characteristics (vascular supply, collateral blood flow). It is largely unknown whether integrating perfusion CT (pCT) information from the area surrounding a given voxel (i.e. the receptive field (RF)) improves the prediction of infarction of this voxel. Based on general linear regression models (GLMs) and using acute pCT-derived maps, we compared the added value of cuboid RF to predict the final infarct. To this aim, we included 144 stroke patients with acute pCT and follow-up MRI, used to delineate the final infarct. Overall, the performance of GLMs to predict the final infarct improved when using RF for all pCT maps (cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transit time and time-to-maximum of the tissue residual function (Tmax)). The highest performance was obtained with Tmax (glm(Tmax); AUC = 0.89 ± 0.03 with RF vs. 0.78 ± 0.02 without RF; p < 0.001) and with a model combining all perfusion parameters (glm(multi); AUC 0.89 ± 0.02 with RF vs. 0.79 ± 0.02 without RF; p < 0.001). These results suggest that prediction of infarction improves by integrating perfusion information from adjacent tissue. This approach may be applied in future studies to better identify ischemic core and penumbra thresholds and improve patient selection for acute stroke treatment.
Mitochondrial transfer from mesenchymal stem cells improves neuronal metabolism after oxidant injury in vitro: The role of Miro1
Authors: Tseng Nancy , Lambie Scott C , Huynh Christopher Q , Sanford Bridget , Patel Manisha , Herson Paco S , Ormond D Ryan
Published: June 2020

Stroke-induced cerebral ischemia is a major cause of death and disability. The disruption of blood flow results in neuronal and glial cell death leading to brain injury. Reperfusion restores oxygen to the affected tissue, but can also cause damage through an enhanced oxidative stress and inflammatory response. This study examines mitochondrial transfer from MSC to neurons and the role it plays in neuronal preservation after oxidant injury. We observed the transfer of mitochondria from MSC to mouse neurons in vitro following hydrogen peroxide exposure. The observed transfer was dependent on cell-to-cell contact and led to increased neuronal survival and improved metabolism. A number of pro-inflammatory and mitochondrial motility genes were upregulated in neurons after hydrogen peroxide exposure. This included Miro1 and TNFAIP2, linking inflammation and mitochondrial transfer to oxidant injury. Increasing Miro1 expression in MSC improved the metabolic benefit of mitochondrial transfer after neuronal oxidant injury. Decreasing Miro1 expression had the opposite effect, decreasing the metabolic benefit of MSC co-culture. MSC transfer of mitochondria to oxidant-damaged neurons may help improve neuronal preservation and functional recovery after stroke.
Lessons in Scholarship
Authors: Wilkie William L.
Published: June 2020

This article pays tribute to Professor Robert Lusch and his fine career as a scholar of Marketing. One prime element of Bob’s career is that he took on some very fundamental issues in the field of Marketing. On several occasions I got involved in these issues as well, leading to wonderful intellectual explorations. I’ve organized this piece to share details of three such explorations:

I. Bob as Editor

II. Bob as Theorist

III. Bob as Overseer of the Field

IV. Bob as a Fine Individual

I reflect on some lessons learned in scholarly pursuit, and close with some personal ruminations about him.
Multimodal estimation and communication of latent semantic knowledge for robust execution of robot instructions
Authors: Arkin Jacob , Park Daehyung , Roy Subhro , Walter Matthew R , Roy Nicholas , Howard Thomas M , Paul Rohan
Published: June 2020

The goal of this article is to enable robots to perform robust task execution following human instructions in partially observable environments. A robot’s ability to interpret and execute commands is fundamentally tied to its semantic world knowledge. Commonly, robots use exteroceptive sensors, such as cameras or LiDAR, to detect entities in the workspace and infer their visual properties and spatial relationships. However, semantic world properties are often visually imperceptible. We posit the use of non-exteroceptive modalities including physical proprioception, factual descriptions, and domain knowledge as mechanisms for inferring semantic properties of objects. We introduce a probabilistic model that fuses linguistic knowledge with visual and haptic observations into a cumulative belief over latent world attributes to infer the meaning of instructions and execute the instructed tasks in a manner robust to erroneous, noisy, or contradictory evidence. In addition, we provide a method that allows the robot to communicate knowledge dissonance back to the human as a means of correcting errors in the operator’s world model. Finally, we propose an efficient framework that anticipates possible linguistic interactions and infers the associated groundings for the current world state, thereby bootstrapping both language understanding and generation. We present experiments on manipulators for tasks that require inference over partially observed semantic properties, and evaluate our framework’s ability to exploit expressed information and knowledge bases to facilitate convergence, and generate statements to correct declared facts that were observed to be inconsistent with the robot’s estimate of object properties.
Giant primitive neuroectodermal pelvic tumour: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Yuan-Wei , Xia Wen-Han , Gao Wen-Cheng , Yan Ling , Xiao Xin , Xiao Yan , Zhang Su-Li , Ni Wen-Yan , Gong Fei-Peng
Published: June 2020

Primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) are rare malignant small round cell tumours. Notably, despite widespread reports of PNET in multiple parts of the body, it is extremely rare in the pelvis. Here, a rare case of giant PNET of the pelvis, that was treated with surgical intervention comprising hemipelvectomy and amputation, is reported. A 42-year-old female patient presented with an enlarged mass on the left hip and severe pain in the left lower extremity for the previous 6 months. Preoperative imaging examinations indicated an irregular soft tissue-like signal shadow sized 19 × 15 × 12 cm at the left ilium and sacrum. After surgical intervention involving left hemipelvectomy and amputation, the tumour was diagnosed by pathology as PNET. During the courses of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, local recurrence and distant metastasis occurred, and the patient died 9 months following surgical treatment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current case is the largest pelvic PNET resection reported to date. Pelvic PNET is extremely malignant and has a high mortality rate regardless of surgical treatment, however, surgical resection of the lesion may relieve the symptoms, extend life, and improve quality of life to a certain extent.
Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR findings in chemotherapy-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Ding Ying , Rao Sheng-xiang , Wang Wen-tao , Chen Cai-zhong , Li Ren-chen , Zeng Mengsu
Published: June 2020

Background

We assessed the clinical presentations, biomarkers, and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI features that were associated with oxaliplatin-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) to detect chemotherapy-associated SOS in a timely manner.

Methods

Fifty-seven patients who underwent oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were included. Post-oxaliplatin heterogeneity in liver parenchyma was scored on a grading scale of 0 to 3. Abnormal clinical findings, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, gall bladder wall thickening, and hepatic vein narrowing, were also assessed. Additionally, alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and platelet counts were measured.

Results

For SOS, 21 patients were scored grade 0, 24 were grade 1, seven were grade 2, and five were grade 3. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, gall bladder wall thickening, and hepatic vein narrowing were significantly correlated with the grade for non-tumorous hepatic parenchymal heterogeneity. For laboratory findings, ALT and AST levels, the AST-to-platelet ratio index score, and platelet counts were significantly associated with a high grade (≥2) of non-tumorous hepatic parenchymal heterogeneity.

Conclusions

We assessed the clinical presentations, biomarkers, and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI features that were associated with oxaliplatin-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) to detect chemotherapy-associated SOS in a timely manner. Additionally, specific laboratory findings were significantly associated with a high grade (≥2).
Lustration in Iraq: Regime change as exclusion and control
Authors: Shirlow Peter
Published: June 2020

The invasion of Iraq and the subsequent laws of regime change were directed at the ‘purification’ of public sector employment. Such policies based upon removing transgressors from within the previous regime are commonly known as lustration. In Iraq, these were normatively presented as a required process for democracy building and victim recognition. However, in reality, lustration emerged problematically and essentially as a form of counter-insurgency aimed at removing those guilty of war crimes but also those opposed to neo-liberalism, federalism and the erosion of secularism. The misuse of laws of lustration was allied to external design and the relish of the new elite to use public resources to attempt state hegemony. Lustration, thus emerging as one of the few sites in which the new state could control and assert influence even if that led to new grievances and ethno-sectarian resentment.
Control Design, Stability Analysis, and Traffic Flow Implications for Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Systems with Compensation of Communication Delay
Authors: Zhang Yu , Bai Yu , Hu Jia , Wang Meng
Published: June 2020

Communication delay is detrimental to the performance of cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) systems. In this paper, we incorporate communication delay explicitly into control design and propose a delay-compensating CACC. In this new CACC system, the semi-constant time gap (Semi-CTG) policy, which is modified on the basis of the widely-used CTG policy, is employed by a linear feedback control law to regulate the spacing error. The semi-CTG policy uses historical information of the predecessor instead of its current information. By doing so, communication delay is fully compensated, which leads to better stability performance. Three stability properties—local stability, string stability, and traffic flow stability—are analyzed. The local stability and string stability of the proposed CACC system are guaranteed with the desired time gap as small as the communication delay. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the delay-compensating CACC has better string stability and traffic flow stability than the widely-used CACC system. Furthermore, the proposed CACC system also shows the potential for improving traffic throughput and fuel efficiency. Robustness of the proposed system against uncertainties of sensor delay and vehicle dynamics is also verified with simulation.