bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PtNix/C Catalysts for Improved Performance in Ethanol Fuel Cells
Authors: Alqdeimat Diala , Pickup Peter G
Published: July 2020

PtNix/C catalysts were synthesized in various solvents by using a polyol method and were then treated with acetic acid. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Electro-chemical analysis was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry to study the activity of these catalysts toward the oxidation of ethanol. Moreover, a commercial PtNi0.26/C catalyst was evaluated using the same methods for comparison. A PtNi0.62/C(PG) catalyst prepared in propylene glycol was more active toward the oxidation of ethanol than a catalyst prepared in the same way in ethylene glycol and the commercial PtNi0.26/C, exhibiting less poisoning by adsorbed CO. Treatment with acetic acid to remove surface Ni further enhanced the activity toward ethanol oxidation. For example, the activity of treated PtNi0.62/C(PG) was 11.6 mA mg−1 at 0.27 V while it was 6.7 mA mg−1 for the untreated catalyst.
Polymer-Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Neurochemical Detection of Dopamine and Metabolites
Authors: Wonnenberg Pauline M , Zestos Alexander George
Published: July 2020

Carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) are considered to be the standard electrodes for neurotransmitter detection. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), an electroanalytical method, has the ability to follow neurochemical dynamics in real time using CFMEs. Improvements in neurochemical detection with CFMEs were previously made through the coating of polymers onto the surface of the carbon-fiber. Polymers such as PEI, PEDOT, and Nafion were electrodeposited onto the surface of the electrodes to enhance neurochemical detection. This work demonstrates applications for enhancements in co-detection of similarly structured neurochemicals such as dopamine, DOPAL, 3-methoxytyramine, DOPAC, and other neurotransmitters. Manipulating the charge and surface structure of the carbon electrode allows for the improvement of sensitivity and selectivity of neurotransmitter detection. The analytes are detected and differentiated by the shape and the peak positions of their respective cyclic voltammograms.
Oxidation of Formic Acid, Methanol, and Ethanol at Surface-Modified Pt/C Catalysts
Authors: Akther Jasmeen , Pickup Peter G
Published: July 2020

Pt-Bi/C and Pt-Pb/C catalysts were prepared by surface decoration of a commercial Pt/C catalyst, and their catalytic activities for electrochemical oxidation of formic acid, methanol and ethanol were compared. The electrocatalytic activity of these catalysts towards formic acid oxidation has been studied by both cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. It was found that after addition of Bi or Pb, the catalytic activity of the Pt/C catalyst for formic acid oxidation increased greatly at low potentials. Bi in particular was found to greatly enhance oxidation of formic acid through the direct pathway in which absorbed CO is not formed, while it strongly inhibited methanol oxidation. It was found that the currents at 0 V vs SCE for formic acid oxidation at the Pt-Bi/C and Pt-Pb/C catalysts were ~ 6 and ~ 2 times higher, respectively compared to the unmodified Pt/C catalyst. In addition, the Pt-Bi/C catalyst showed more stable activity relative to Pt-Pb/C. The Pt-Bi/C catalyst also showed slightly higher activity for ethanol oxidation at low potentials compared to the unmodified Pt/C.
Efficient Shoot Organogenesis Using Leaf Disc and Nodal Explants of Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulisSims) and Genetic Fidelity Assessment Using Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) Markers
Authors: Asande Lydia K. , Ombori Omwoyo , Nyaboga Evans N. , Oduor Richard O.
Published: July 2020

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis(Sims)) is currently ranked third among fruit exports from Kenya and has great potential since the demand for both fresh fruit and processed juice is on a continuous increase. Passion fruit production in Kenya is constrained by a lack of healthy, clean planting material, poor seed viability, and low germination rates. To address this, the present study reports anin vitroplant regeneration protocol for passion fruit using leaf disc and nodal explants and genetic fidelity analysis of the regenerated plants. The highest number of shoot regeneration was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−16-Benzyl amino purine (BAP) (shoot induction medium). The multiplication of shoots was optimum in MS medium supplemented with 3 mg·L−1BAP. To eliminate the requirement of an additional step ofin vitrorooting, exogenous application of putrescine induced the formation and development of roots on nodal explants. Genetic fidelity analysis of thein vitroregenerated and macropropagated plants with that of the mother plant was carried out by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers, and monomorphic banding profile for 80% of the regenerants confirmed the genetic uniformity of thein vitroregenerated and macropropagated plants. Thein vitroregeneration system developed can be utilized for mass clonal propagation for the economic commercial exploitation of this important tropical fruit.
The First Clinical Use of Augmented Reality to Treat Salivary Stones
Authors: Lysenko Anna , Razumova Alexandra , Yaremenko Andrey , Mirzakhmedov Rustam , Zubareva Anna , Chibisova Marina
Published: July 2020

In this study, we report our first experience of applying the concretion visualization method using augmented reality technology. A clinical case of a new surgical intervention on the parotid salivary gland with the localization of salivary stone in its parenchyma is considered. During additional diagnostics, it was found that the size of the concretion exceeds 5 mm which did not allow us to use the endoscopic technologies. That was the reason for the choice of surgical intervention external access using salivary stone visualization with the help of augmented reality. The preoperative procedures included making the upper jaw cast model, fitting the model and individual mouthguard with an X-ray contrast marker and marker slot. In addition to this, computed tomography of the head and neck using a mouthguard was made. During surgery under general anesthesia with nasal intubation, the mouthguard together with the marker is installed in the patient’s mouth and the surgeon puts on the glasses to visualize the stone image in place of its localization. This method enables to visualize the salivary stone on all surgery stages no matter what type of approach is used or performing hydropreparation. That is why using the augmented reality appears promising and is to be studied further.
Obesity and Multisite Pain in the Lower Limbs: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Authors: Vennu Vishal , Alenazi Aqeel M. , Abdulrahman Tariq A. , Binnasser Ahmad S. , Bindawas Saad M.
Published: July 2020

Background. Although several studies investigated the relationship between obesity, osteoarthritis, and pain, no study examined the association between obesity and multijoint pain in the lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to address this gap. Method. This cross-sectional study was performed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between March and April 2019. In this study, a total of 4,661 adults aged 45–79 years with or at high risk for knee osteoarthritis were included from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. The persons who had an elevated risk of developing symptoms of knee osteoarthritis during the study were defined as high risk for knee osteoarthritis. According to the body mass index, participants were categorized into three groups: normal weight (n = 1,068), overweight (n = 1,832), and obese (n = 1,761). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between obesity and multisite pain. Results. The odds of multisite pain was associated significantly (p<0.001) by 1.36 times higher with obesity than normal weight, no, or sigle-site pain, even after adjusting for sociodemographic and health variables Conclusion. Obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of multisite pain in the lower limbs. The results enable clinicians to adopt better standards of practice for the prevention and screening of multisite pain in this community.
Expression and Significance of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Gao Chun , Zhang Hui , Zhang Wei-Shuo , Fang Long
Published: July 2020

Background. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is an important molecule of the insulin signal transduction pathway and has been associated with the occurrence and development of many tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study was designed to determine the expression and significance of IRS-1 in human HCC. Methods. Two hundred and forty specimens were drawn from 140 patients, including 100 HCC tissues and 100 paracancerous (PC) tissues from 100 HCC patients, 20 liver cirrhosis (LC) tissues from 20 LC patients, and 20 chronic hepatitis (CH) tissues from 20 CH patients. Baseline and pathological characteristics were included, and the expression of IRS-1 was examined by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Binary logistic regression model calculation was used for multivariate analysis. Results. The total positive rates of IRS-1 expression were 41.0%, 17.0%, 15.0%, and 10.0% in HCC, PC, LC and CH tissues, respectively. IRS-1-positive signals were brown in color and located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Compared with PC, LC, and CH tissues, a significantly increased expression was observed in human HCC tissues (P<0.001, P=0.028, and P=0.008). Eight of the total 240 specimens had the strong immunostaining of IRS-1 expression, and all of them were HCC tissues. After control of the age, gender, and HBV and HCV infection, IRS-1 expression was independently associated with the diagnosis of HCC (OR 6.60, 95% CI 2.243-19.425, P=0.001). Conclusions. Positive expression of IRS-1 in HCC was increased significantly and may play an important role in the occurrence and development of human HCC.
Simulation of a Novel Tubular Microalgae Photobioreactor with Aerated Tangent Inner Tubes: Improvements in Mixing Performance and Flashing-Light Effects
Authors: Cui Xuyang , Yang Junhong , Feng Yuanzheng , Zhang Wenwen
Published: July 2020

At present, large-scale and high-efficiency microalgal cultivation is the key to realizing the technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and bioresource recovery. Meanwhile, tubular photobioreactors (PBRs) have great potential for microalgal cultivation due to their high productivity. To improve the mixing performance and flashing-light effect, a novel tube PBR with the inner tube tangential to the outer tube was developed, whose radial aeration pores are situated along the length of the inner tube. The direction of aeration, aeration rate, light/dark cycle period (L/D), light-time ratio, average turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and degree of synergy between the velocity and direction of the light field in the PBR were optimized by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and field synergy theory. The results show that a downwards aeration direction of 30° and an aeration rate of 0.7 vvm are the most conducive to reducing the dead zone and improving the light/dark cycle frequency. Compared to the concentric double-tube PBR, the light/dark cycle frequency and light time of the tangent double-tube PBR increased by 78.2% and 36.2% to 1.8 Hz and 47.8%, respectively, and the TKE was enhanced by 48.1% from 54 to 80 cm2·s−2. Meanwhile, field synergy theory can be extended and applied to the design of tubular microalgae PBRs, and the average synergy of the light and velocity gradients across the cross-section increased by 38% to 0.69. The tangential inner tube aeration structure generated symmetrical vertical vortices between the light and dark areas in the PBR, which significantly improved the mixing performance and flashing-light effect. This novel design can provide a more suitable microenvironment for microalgal cultivation and is promising for bioresource recovery applications and improving the yield of microalgae.
Involvement of Annexin A2 Expression and Apoptosis in Reverse Polarization of Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast
Authors: Arai Kazumori , Iwasaki Tomohiro , Tsuchiya Chinatsu , Sonoda Akihiro
Published: July 2020

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) is characterized by pseudopapillary tumor-cell clusters with a reverse polarity (RP) floating in lacunar spaces, with aggressive biological characteristics. The RP prevention is considered to inhibit IMPC, but its pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Annexin A2 (ANX A2), a cell-polarity protein, is known to be involved in lumenogenesis. ANX A2 expression is immunohistochemically examined, as well as both epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and mucin-1 glycoprotein (MUC-1), the gold-standard markers for luminal differentiation, in the background tumor components of a case of IMPC. The following findings were noticed: (1) Apoptosis was scattered with peripheral apoptotic vacuolar change; (2) EMA and MUC-1 expressions were found, rimming the peripheral apoptotic vacuoles (including the contact surface with neighboring tumor cells), and these positions corresponded to the ones with a distinct ANX A2 positivity; and (3) partially detached tumor cells showed distinct positivity of three proteins at the stroma-facing surface, which is consistent with a RP. Taken together, frequent apoptosis in tumor cells with membranous accumulation of ANX A2 is considered to be indispensable for the reverse polarization of IMPC, and that secondary necrosis following apoptosis induces the cell-polarity disorder and creates detached tumor cells with a RP.
Finite frequency H∞ control for wind turbine systems in T-S form
Authors: Aboulem Salma , EL-Amrani Abderrahim , Boumhidi Ismail
Published: July 2020

In this work, we study H∞ control wind turbine fuzzy model for finite frequency(FF) interval. Less conservative results are obtained by using Finsler’s lemma technique, generalized Kalman Yakubovich Popov (gKYP), linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach and added several separate parameters, these conditions are given in terms of LMI which can be efficiently solved numerically for the problem that such fuzzy systems are admissible with H∞ disturbance attenuation level. The FF H∞ performance approach allows the state feedback command in a specific interval, the simulation example is given to validate our results.
ДІАГНОСТИЧНИЙ АЛГОРИТМ ТА ОБ’ЄМ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ПАЦІЄНТІВ ІЗ ПІДОЗРОЮ НА ТУБЕРКУЛЬОЗНУ ЕМПІЄМУ ПЛЕВРИ
Authors: Koshak Yu. F.
Published: July 2020

Мета: удосконалити діагностичний алгоритм та об’єм дослідження пацієнтів із туберкульозною емпіємою плеври та встановити фактори, які призводять до міні-інвазивного торакохірургічного (VTS, VATS) лікування.

Матеріали і методи. Представлено сучасні методи діагностики туберкульозної емпієми плеври, торакоскопічні методи верифікації туберкульозу плеври, емпієми плеври та методи міні-інвазивного хірургічного лікування.

Результати. Удосконалено та впроваджено в практику охорони здоров’я для ранньої діагностики туберкульозної емпієми плеври діагностичний алгоритм. Впроваджено цитологічний та молекулярно-генетичний методи верифікації туберкульозної емпієми плеври, методи удосконаленого спеціального обстеження хворих на емпієму плеври та методи біопсії під контролем УЗД, плеврографії, спіральної комп’ютерної томографії із контрастуванням, торакоцентезу та відеоторакоскопії у пацієнтів на різних етапах амбулаторно-поліклінічних та стаціонарних закладів.

Висновки. Для діагностики туберкульозної емпієми плеври у доклінічній фазі на сучасному етапі велике значення має пункційна біопсія плеври з бактеріологічними та цитологічними дослідженнями, міні-інвазивна відеоторакоскопія з біопсією горбиків плеври, патогістологічне дослідження казеозних виразок, некрозів та підозрілих на туберкульоз бронхолегеневих фістул.
МЕДИКО-СОЦІАЛЬНЕ ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ЛОГІСТИКИ В УПРАВЛІННІ КОМУНАЛЬНИМ НЕПРИБУТКОВИМ ПІДПРИЄМСТВОМ ЗАКЛАДУ ОХОРОНИ ЗДОРОВ᾽Я
Authors: Mykhalchuk V. M. , Kolomoyets A. V. , Hbur Z. V.
Published: July 2020

Мета: розкрити особливості застосування логістичних підходів в управлінні комунальним неприбутковим підприємством (КНП) закладу охорони здоров᾽я.

Матеріали і методи. Аналіз (теоретичний огляд наукової літератури з проблеми дослідження); синтез, завдяки якому вдалося з’єднати окремі частини об’єкта у єдине ціле (наведення основних елементів медичного постачання та циклу потоку ресурсів у КНП закладу охорони здоров’я); порівняльний аналіз, що дозволив зіставити явища з метою встановлення схожості чи відмінності між ними.

Результати. У статті висвітлено сутність поняття «логістика», «логістична система». Наведено основні функції та складові логістичної системи. Виокремлено елементи медичного постачання ресурсів у КНП закладу охорони здоров’я. Зображено цикл потоку ресурсів у КНП закладу охорони здоров’я. Визначено особливості застосування логістичного підходу в управлінні потоковими процесами медичних установ. З’ясовано, що у КНП галузі охорони здоров’я існують кілька видів потоків (пацієнтів, інформації, фінансів, матеріально-технічних ресурсів), які формують єдиний багатокомпонентний потік, де пацієнти є першочерговими об᾽єктами ефективного управління, оскільки від них залежить динаміка показників інших видів потоків. Ефективний механізм організації логістичних процесів, пов᾽язаних із потоками ресурсів і їх використанням у КНП закладу охорони здоров’я, є одним з елементів оптимізації бізнес-процесів. Зазначено важливість задіяної в бізнес-процесах сукупності потоків ресурсів, що впливає на формування ефективних логістичних систем управління. Розкрито принципи логістики, якими необхідно керуватися КНП закладу охорони здоров᾽я для розвитку логістичних систем: раціональності, цілісності, системності, ієрархії, інтеграції, формалізації і формування. Обґрунтовано необхідність впровадження логістичних інновацій у КНП. Запропоновано напрямки застосування логістики в управлінні КНП закладу охорони здоров’я.

Висновки. Впровадження логістичних підходів допоможе підвищити рівень організації роботи медичних закладів, культури обслуговування хворих та, зрештою, розв’язати проблему самофінансування і матеріально-технічного забезпечення всієї галузі завдяки налагодженню їхньої рентабельної роботи.
“A Living Artist with Open Eyes”: the Transnational Journey of Mitsu Yashima
Authors: Matsumoto Valerie J.
Published: July 2020

Mitsu Yashima (1908–1988) was a political dissident and artist in two countries. In prewar Japan, she became a proletarian rights activist; during World War ii she continued to oppose Japanese militarism by working for the United States government. In her later years, she opposed US militarism during the Vietnam War. In San Francisco, she became an admired cultural worker in the Asian American movement. Examining her life offers rare glimpses of a woman’s efforts to forge a career in the male-dominated art worlds of twentieth-century Japan and the US. Her transnational life expands the boundaries of Japanese American history, which has long focused on late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century immigration to the US West and Hawaiʻi. Her activism also challenges the perception that only third-generation Japanese Americans joined the Asian American movement of the 1960s-1970s. Yashima’s concern for human rights and peace fueled her art, political engagement, and community building.
Trends and Findings in Education-Work Transitions among Young People in Argentina: a Study on Two Cohorts of Secondary School Graduates
Authors: Corica Agustina M. , Otero Analía E.
Published: July 2020

The increasing democratisation of education and the destructuring of the labour market in times of institutional, political and economic uncertainty in Latin America have fuelled the debate on the youth school-to-work transition in the region.

This paper aims to contribute to the discussion by presenting the insights drawn from research on the topic, carried out throughout the last thirty years by the same academic team. Such research was based on a longitudinal analyses of students who graduated from compulsory studies during 1999–2011 in Argentina. The main findings provide insights into two core concepts: on the one hand, they evidence that the period of transition between the completion of secondary school and the labour market entry has become longer; on the other hand, they show that education-work activities in the early years after completing secondary studies are characterised by their instability-feature present in young people’s stories from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Parascaphoidella, a new leafhopper genus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Scaphoideini)
Authors: WEI XINGTAO , FANG YONGQIN , XING JICHUN
Published: July 2020

Parascaphoidella gen. nov. and two species: Parascaphoidella transversa (Li & Xing, 2009) comb. nov. (as type species) and Parascaphoidella biprocessa sp. nov. from China are described and illustrated. A key to species is also provided.
An educational tool based on finite element method for electromagnetic study
Authors: Prasad Nisha , Jain Shailendra , Gupta Sushma
Published: July 2020

Electromagnetism forms a mandatory topic in the syllabus of undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical engineering. This topic involves many physical and mathematical concepts like curl, divergence, gradient for field determination and representation. These concepts are not only difficult to understand but also often lead to poor learning because of the imaginations and non-visualization of electric and magnetic fields. A correct understanding of fields and its distribution is necessary to understand the working, design and optimization of electrical machines. This paper presents a finite element method (FEM) based educational tool that allows the technical students to visualize electromagnetic (EM) fields inside the EM systems. This tool therefore provides a better understanding of the design and optimization of various electrical devices. This paper shows an example of a 2-pole linear machine to visualize the distribution of the magnetic field in a non-linear circuit. This machine extends to form a linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) using step-by-step design and optimization procedure along with the user guide interface programmed in FEM based ANSYS Maxwell software. This motor is used as an example to visualize magnetic fields using FEM software in complex circuits and can be used as a good educational tool for students. The paper incorporates the validation of the design procedure through FEM simulations.
Voices of Returning Citizens: A Qualitative Study of a Supportive Housing Program for Ex-Offenders in a Rural Community
Authors: Bowman Edward I. , Ely Katherine
Published: July 2020

Stable housing is a critical need for offenders at reentry and an urgent need for offenders returning to rural communities. Stable housing provides a foundation for life changes impacting recidivism and desistance. For rural jail populations, there are unique challenges in securing stable postrelease housing. In this qualitative study, we explore the impact of a supportive housing program through interviews with ex-offenders. The study examines how changes related to stable housing affect life course trajectories and transform social relationships. The research adds to the literature through narrative accounts of the importance of supportive housing for rural offender reentry.
From “Jungles of Terror” to “God Will Begin a Healing in This City”: Billy Graham and Evangelicals on Cities and Suburbs
Authors: Miller Brian J.
Published: July 2020

Evangelist Billy Graham spoke to millions in the postwar era when suburban populations swelled and many white Americans, including conservative Protestants, left cities for suburbs. Adding to research on white flight and the suburbanization of religious groups, this study of Graham’s consistent approach to cities and suburbs over six decades demonstrates how conservative Protestants’ individualistic approach to social and spiritual ills contributed to their negative view of cities and justified settling in suburban locations. Graham discussed numerous urban problems and suggested solutions should begin with individual spiritual renewal. Graham proclaimed heaven as the ultimate city and did not encourage listeners to stay in cities or challenge white flight. As a respected pastor and leader, Graham’s messages highlight how evangelicals could consider cities in need of spiritual renewal but not require structural responses or living in cities as well as the limited power evangelical religious leaders have regarding contentious social issues.
Maximum likelihood-based robust state estimation over a horizon length during measurement outliers
Authors: Ali Khurram , Tahir Muhammad
Published: July 2020

In this paper, a novel approach towards horizon-based maximum likelihood (ML) state estimator is proposed that makes the state estimation process more robust against unmodeled and unstructured noise and disturbances in the state-space models. State space models provide a powerful way to perform state and parameter estimation for dynamical systems. However, if the measurements are contaminated by outliers and disturbances with no known models, the estimation process is highly biased. A ML-based approach is used to find a batch solution for the filtering problem. Based on ML solution, a robust algorithm is proposed that seamlessly estimates dynamic state in the presence of zero or non-zero mean measurement outliers. The proposed algorithm that dictates this switching uses an explicit outlier detection mechanism that enables its seamless working. Simulations have been carried out for a moving target tracking application as an example to demonstrate the resilience of the proposed method against zero-mean and non-zero mean measurement outliers in comparison to state-of-the-art methods.
When My Parents Came to the Gay Ball: Comfort Work in Adult Child–Parent Relationships
Authors: Stone Amy L.
Published: July 2020

In addition to the emotion work that occurs in families, I theorize that adult children also engage in comfort work with their parents, navigations, and strategies to reduce the discomfort of parents with their adult children’s lives. This study analyzes how gay and lesbian adults navigate the participation of their parents at events run by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) clubs or “krewes” in the Gulf South during Carnival season. I conducted over 50 days of ethnographic fieldwork during Mardi Gras events and 26 interviews with gay and lesbian members of krewes in Mobile, Alabama, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I argue that gay and lesbian adults negotiate their parents’ attendance in gay spaces by comfort work, mostly by creating comfort for their parents and managing disreputability through education. Ultimately, I conclude that parents’ attendance at LGBTQ events results in supportive reciprocation, “payoffs” of acceptance that are rich in emotional and symbolic significance for adult children.
Balancing Internal and External Validity Using Precis-2 and Re-Aim: Case Exemplars
Authors: Wright Pamela J. , Pinto Bernardine M. , Corbett Cynthia F.
Published: July 2020

The National Institutes of Health estimated that $3–$4 billion is spent supporting clinical trials annually, yet an average of 17 years is required for research evidence to be implemented into practice. Study designs that balance external and internal validity, based on the goals of the study and relative to the state of the science, may accelerate knowledge translation. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate two randomized control trials on the effectiveness-efficacy continuum using the PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary and the Research Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance model. Findings provided insight into strategies that may lead to more balanced approaches to research design. Incorporating tools such as PRECIS-2 and RE-AIM when designing and implementing research interventions may accelerate knowledge translation to close the gap between scientific knowledge and clinical practice.
The recognition and management of protracted alcohol withdrawal may improve and modulate the pharmacological treatment of alcohol use disorder
Authors: Caputo Fabio , Cibin Mauro , Loche Antonella , De Giorgio Roberto , Zoli Giorgio
Published: July 2020

About 50% of persons with an alcohol use disorder may have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) when they reduce or discontinue their alcohol consumption. Protracted alcohol withdrawal (PAW), an underestimated and not yet clearly defined clinical condition that follows the acute stage of AWS, is characterized by the presence of substance-specific signs and symptoms (i.e. anxiety, irritability, mood instability, insomnia, craving) common to acute AWS, but persisting beyond the generally expected acute AWS time frames. Considering that PAW symptoms are mainly related to the neuro-adaptive changes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) systems, naltrexone, nalmefene, and disulfiram may not be able to suppress the symptoms of PAW. After treatment of the acute phase of AWS, a more specifically pharmacological therapy able to suppress PAW symptoms could perhaps be used earlier and may be more helpful in preventing the risk of alcohol relapse, which remains higher during the first months of treatment. In light of this, medications acting on GABA and NMDA neurotransmitter systems to counterbalance the up-regulation of NMDA and the down-regulation of GABA could be employed in combination and started as soon as possible.
College Athletes Under Pressure: Eating Disorders Among Female Track and Field Athletes
Authors: Quinn Michael A. , Robinson Stephanie
Published: July 2020

Eating disorders are a widespread problem for college female athletes. This article builds on this research by collecting survey data from female college track and field athletes at 30 universities. Results find that the division level is not a significant driver of eating disorders. Another significant finding comes from breaking out the pressures into its team-related and social causes. Results find that team-related pressures lead to more vomiting behavior, while social pressures impact dieting. Previous studies which aggregate pressures, rely on one eating disorder, or focus on a single university for their sampling may not reflect these complex relationships. Even after controlling for individual factors, competition level, and team nutritionists, the pressures still impact these athletes. This suggests a need for additional screenings and counselors to address pressures occurring both on and off the track. While difficult to achieve, there needs to be a change in team cultures across all divisions.

JEL Classifications: I1, Z2
Writing Oneself Into the Curriculum: Photovoice Journaling in a Secondary Ethnic Studies Course
Authors: de los Ríos Cati V.
Published: July 2020

The writing of transnational youth has continued to emerge as a promising area of research in writing and literacy studies, and yet despite the breadth of this work, few studies have examined transnational students’ writing about social and racial justice. Drawing on theoretical contributions of coloniality, this article highlights the experiences of one immigrant adolescent’s participation in a secondary ethnic studies course in California. In this study, photovoice was used as a mutually informing classroom writing pedagogy and research methodology to understand how students in an ethnic studies course problematize the dominance of Whiteness in school. I specifically analyze field notes and a focal student’s writing and interviews to demonstrate (a) her understandings of her participation in this course and (b) the ways in which her writing of self was a form of curricular justice that spanned school and home. These findings help to amplify writing as a tool for social justice and remind us that literacy and students’ histories are inextricably linked.
Institutional and economic transition in Vietnam: Analysing the heterogeneity in firms’ perceptions of business environment constraints
Authors: Angelino Antonio , Tassinari Mattia , Barbieri Elisa , Di Tommaso Marco R
Published: July 2020

Vietnam has experienced a gradual process of institutional transition combined with rapid economic growth since the Doi Moi reform in 1986. In recent years, the government has recognized the need to implement reforms to foster the development of favourable business environment conditions. In this scenario, however, the government seems to assume a uniform demand for business environment reforms, ignoring possible divergences in the constraints faced by different actors of the system. The aim of this paper is to analyse the heterogeneity in firms’ perceptions of business environment constraints. Adopting discrete choice models on firm-level data and subjective assessments on business environment obstacles, we differentiate the nature and severity of firms’ obstacles according to different characteristics of the enterprises, including the firm size, territorial localization and levels of performance and competitiveness. The study is useful as an informative base for defining public interventions calibrated on the different categories and needs of Vietnamese enterprises.
In the Shadows of Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer: An Interview Study with Next of Kin about Their Experiences Participating in Surgical Cancer Care
Authors: Ibrahim Farzana , Wennerholm Carina , Sandström Per , Lindhoff Larsson Anna , Björnsson Bergthor , Drott Jenny
Published: July 2020

The study aimed to explore the experiences of participation among the next of kin of patients who had surgery for upper abdominal tumours. This study had a qualitative research design and data were analysed by thematic analysis. Eleven qualitative interviews were conducted with next of kin to patients who had surgery for liver, bile duct or pancreatic malignancy. The following themes emerged: from the shadows to an important role and an inviting and inhibiting environment for participation. Next of kin were a central part of their loved one’s care but often in the shadows. The next of kin described how they were not always invited and often they had to struggle to get involved. Next of kin often have a major psychosocial role to supporting the patient during and after discharge, and therefore need to be invited and involved in the whole care process.
Sleep-Wake Disturbances and Episodic Memory in Older Adults
Authors: Yeh An-Yun , Pressler Susan J. , Algase Donna , Struble Laura M. , Pozehl Bunny J. , Berger Ann M. , Giordani Bruno J.
Published: July 2020

Sleep-wake disturbances have been associated with episodic memory loss, but past studies were limited by use of single measures of objective or perceived disturbances. Notably, cognitive reserve and depressive symptoms have been associated with sleep-wake disturbances and poorer episodic memory in older adults. The aims of this study were to determine the relationship between episodic memory and sleep-wake disturbances using objective and perceived measures in older adults and to examine cognitive reserve and depressive symptoms as moderators of this relationship. In this descriptive study, 62 healthy older adults (mean age: 69.9 years; 75.8% women) were recruited from the University of Michigan Clinical Research Program. Objective sleep-wake disturbances were measured by 7-day actigraphy and perceived sleep-wake disturbances by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Episodic memory was measured by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised. Analyses involved Pearson’s correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression. Results showed that more objectively measured sleep disruption was associated with poorer episodic memory and more perceived daytime sleepiness was associated with better episodic memory. Cognitive reserve and depressive symptoms were not moderators of this relationship. In this study, the relationship between sleep-wake disturbances and episodic memory differed by type of measure, objective or perceived. Future studies are needed using multiple measures of episodic memory to further understand the sleep-wake disturbances and episodic memory relationship in a larger diverse sample of healthy older adults.
The anaesthetic management of patients with thoracic ascending aortic aneurysms: A review
Authors: Silvay George , Lurie Jacob M , Casale Marc
Published: July 2020

Thoracic aortic aneurysms present significant challenges to clinicians, especially due to their complex nature and an evolving understanding of the safest and most effective ways to manage this condition in the perioperative setting. Thoracic aortic aneurysms have a prevalence rate of 1.3–8.9% in men and 1.0–2.2% in women, and they are estimated to affect more than five per 100,000 person-years. This is notable because the complications of thoracic aortic aneurysms can be catastrophic. The current understanding of the optimal intraoperative management of thoracic aortic aneurysms is changing, as more evidence becomes available regarding lung protective ventilation and its role in enhancing patient safety and wellbeing. This review strives to provide a brief historical understanding of thoracic aortic aneurysms and highlight some of the key discoveries and advances in the management of this condition. This review then describes an overview of the general anaesthetic principles associated with thoracic aortic aneurysms, including ventilatory modalities and how these impact a patient’s physiology and intraoperative haemodynamics. A brief discussion on one-lung ventilation is then provided, drawing from current literature in the field, to describe the most up-to-date management of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
When and for Whom Implicit Partner Evaluations Predict Forgiveness
Authors: Faure Ruddy , Righetti Francesca , Larson Grace , Cuellar Maria Fernanda , Koutsoumpis Antonis , Zwicker Maria , Hofmann Wilhelm
Published: July 2020

Recent work suggests that implicit partner evaluations have long-term implications for relationship success. However, little evidence shows whether and under which conditions implicit partner evaluations affect relationship maintenance processes in daily life, especially those exhibited in situations that may be highly decisive for the fate of the relationship, such as when partners hurt each other. Drawing upon dual-process theories, we predicted that, when executive control is limited—either as a trait or a state—people’s implicit partner evaluations influence forgiveness toward their partner. Results revealed that when temporarily impairing people’s executive control with an experimental manipulation (Study 1), or for people with lower trait executive control (Study 2), more positive implicit partner evaluations were associated with more forgiveness, both in laboratory settings and in an 8-day diary. These findings highlight the importance of implicit partner evaluations under specific, yet common, conditions for promoting reparatory responses that are key to relationship success.
Twenty-Four-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Pena-Hernandez Camilo , Nugent Kenneth , Tuncel Meryem
Published: July 2020

The diagnosis, management, and estimated mortality risk in patients with hypertension have been historically based on clinic or office blood pressure readings. Current evidence indicates that 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be an integral part of hypertension care. The 24-hour ambulatory monitors currently available on the market are small devices connected to the arm cuff with tubing that measure blood pressure every 15 to 30 minutes. After 24 hours, the patient returns, and the data are downloaded, including any information requested by the physician in a diary. The most useful information includes the 24-hour average blood pressure, the average daytime blood pressure, the average nighttime blood pressure, and the calculated percentage drop in blood pressure at night. The most widely used criteria for 24-hour measurements are from the American Heart Association 2017 guidelines and the European Society of Hypertension 2018 guidelines. Two important scenarios described in this document are white coat hypertension, in which patients have normal blood pressures at home but high blood pressures during office visits, and masked hypertension, in which patients are normotensive in the clinic but have high blood pressures outside of the office. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has made changes in its policy to allow reimbursement for a broader use of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring within some specific guidelines. Primary care physicians should make more use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, especially in patients with difficult to manage hypertension.
Atypical Multiple Sclerosis Lesions or Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Lesions: That Is the Question
Authors: De Mercanti Stefania Federica , Gned Dario , Matta Manuela , Iudicello Marco , Franchin Emanuele , Clerico Marinella
Published: July 2020

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a serious infective disease of the central nervous system that may occur in case of severe immunosuppression or after some treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) with natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate, and fingolimod. In these case reports, we highlight the importance of differential diagnosis between PML and MS lesions in order to provide rapidly the best treatment option, by discussing the finding of brain (magnetic resonance imaging) MRI suggestive for PML in 2 MS patients, one treated with dimethyl fumarate and the other during natalizumab withdrawal. In both cases, although brain MRI was highly suggestive for PML, the detection of John Cunningham virus-DNA copies in cerebrospinal fluid resulted in negative result. These case reports illustrate the diagnostic process in case of suspected PML, as both patients were diagnosed with suspected PML during a routine brain MRI control, and highlights the importance of providing a strict brain MRI follow-up during dimethyl fumarate treatment, although only a few cases of PML during this therapy have been detected, and during natalizumab suspension phase. In clinical practice, in case of a radiologically suspected case of PML, although not confirmed by the cerebrospinal fluid analysis, the best approach could be to perform a close radiological and clinical monitoring before starting a new MS therapy.
Zinc Level and Its Role in Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Parvataneni Swetha , Dasari Avinash R.
Published: July 2020

Clostridium difficile infection is a common nosocomial infection in US hospitals, accounting for approximately 12 800 deaths annually in the United States. These infections are often associated with the use of antibiotics, which can alter the gut microbiome and thus render patients susceptible to C difficile infection. C difficile is often spread via fecal oral transmission. Multiple medications have been developed, but recurrence rates reach 60% after treatment. Recent data have shown that zinc supplementation decreases the recurrence of C difficile infection. In this article, we present a case of recurrent C difficile infection with zinc deficiency in which zinc supplementation improved the symptoms and reduced the incidence of recurrence.
Reconstructing family doctors’ psychological well-being and motivation for effective performance in China: the intervening role of psychological capital
Authors: Xu Xinglong , Zhou Lulin , Asante-Antwi Henry , Boafo-Arthur Ama , Mustafa Tehzeeb
Published: July 2020

Background

Family practice and family doctors are critical part of China’s primary healthcare delivery in a constantly evolving society. As the first point of contact with the medical system, family practices require physically and psychologically sound and a well-motivated family doctors at all times. This is because an error can lead to loss of lives as gatekeepers of the medical system. Our study explored the extent to which positive psychological capital promotes higher performance among family doctors.

Methods

A questionnaire was used to collect data from family doctors in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. We applied a structural equation analysis to analyze the causal relationship among the variables.

Results

We found out that psychological well-being and job involvement significantly influences the performance of family doctors in China. The study also noted that psychological capital moderates the relationship between psychological well-being attainment, job involvement, and performance.

Conclusions

Studies have shown that these pressures affect their well-being considerably. For this reason, a healthcare professional who experiences positive emotions affects the total behavior which culminates into performance.
Potential pharmacological approaches for the treatment of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders
Authors: Omeragic Amila , Kayode Olanre , Hoque Md Tozammel , Bendayan Reina
Published: July 2020

HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are the spectrum of cognitive impairments present in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The number of patients affected with HAND ranges from 30 to 50% of HIV infected individuals and although the development of combinational antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved longevity, HAND continues to pose a significant clinical problem as the current standard of care does not alleviate or prevent HAND symptoms. At present, the pathological mechanisms contributing to HAND remain unclear, but evidence suggests that it stems from neuronal injury due to chronic release of neurotoxins, chemokines, viral proteins, and proinflammatory cytokines secreted by HIV-1 activated microglia, macrophages and astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) not only serves as a route for HIV-1 entry into the brain but also prevents cART therapy from reaching HIV-1 brain reservoirs, and therefore could play an important role in HAND. The goal of this review is to discuss the current data on the epidemiology, pathology and research models of HAND as well as address the potential pharmacological treatment approaches that are being investigated.
Transmissibility of COVID-19 in 11 major cities in China and its association with temperature and humidity in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu
Authors: Guo Xiao-Jing , Zhang Hui , Zeng Yi-Ping
Published: July 2020

Background

The new coronavirus disease COVID-19 began in December 2019 and has spread rapidly by human-to-human transmission. This study evaluated the transmissibility of the infectious disease and analyzed its association with temperature and humidity to study the propagation pattern of COVID-19.

Methods

In this study, we revised the reported data in Wuhan based on several assumptions to estimate the actual number of confirmed cases considering that perhaps not all cases could be detected and reported in the complex situation there. Then we used the equation derived from the Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model to calculate R0 from January 24, 2020 to February 13, 2020 in 11 major cities in China for comparison. With the calculation results, we conducted correlation analysis and regression analysis between R0 and temperature and humidity for four major cities in China to see the association between the transmissibility of COVID-19 and the weather variables.

Results

It was estimated that the cumulative number of confirmed cases had exceeded 45 000 by February 13, 2020 in Wuhan. The average R0 in Wuhan was 2.7, significantly higher than those in other cities ranging from 1.8 to 2.4. The inflection points in the cities outside Hubei Province were between January 30, 2020 and February 3, 2020, while there had not been an obvious downward trend of R0 in Wuhan. R0 negatively correlated with both temperature and humidity, which was significant at the 0.01 level.

Conclusions

The transmissibility of COVID-19 was strong and importance should be attached to the intervention of its transmission especially in Wuhan. According to the correlation between R0 and weather, the spread of disease will be suppressed as the weather warms.