bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Normativity: The Case of the Budget Constraint
Authors: Jongeneel Roel
Published: November 2019

In contrast to the dominant way of thinking in economics, in which economics is seen as a positive or neutral science, this paper argues that economics is a discipline that has its own normativity. This economic normativity should be distinguished from what is usually considered as ethics, which normally has a broader scope (e.g., stewardship). This paper further argues that the budget constraint is a key source of economic normativity, although it is not the only source. Economic-theoretical and philosophical aspects are discussed, and consequences for economic life and policy are assessed.
Paris nitida (Melanthiaceae): revisting morphological characteristics, biogeography and phylogenetic relationships

Authors: RAO WEN-XIA , YIN HONG-XIANG , YAO RU-YU
Published: November 2019

Paris nitida is a newly published species, but little is known about its morphological characteristics, distribution and phylogenetic relationship. In this study, field investigation, literature study, morphological observation and molecular nrITS sequence analysis were used to improve knowledge of this species. Morphological traits of P. nitida were found to be more similar to those of Paris fargesii var. brevipetalata, rather than Paris caobangensis as reported before; moreover, a new distribution record in the centre of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau was found; additionally, P. nitida was clustered with Paris fargesii var. fargesii, P. fargesii var. brevipetalata, and P. caobangensi in a NJ tree based on the ITS sequences. Accordingly, P. nitida is more closely related to P. sect. Fargesianae rather than P. caobangensis; the habitat of P. nitida is located from south of the Yangtze River to the north of the Nanling Mountains, mainly including the central part of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and central Chinese mountains. It is geographically isolated from P. caobangensis, which occurs in northern Vietnam. The central part of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau may be its area of origin.
Post-mortem computed tomography for forensic applications: A systematic review of gunshot deaths
Authors: Cascini Fidelia , Polacco Matteo , Cittadini Francesca , Paliani Giovanni Battista , Oliva Antonio , Rossi Riccardo
Published: November 2019

The first reported application of computed tomography (CT) to the field of forensic medicine was in 1977 for the study of gunshot injuries to the head. Since then, CT scanning has shown increased uses within the field of forensic practice. In this study a systematic literature search was carried out by consulting 17 electronic scientific databases. This systematic review considers studies published to date concerning the use of post-mortem CT (PMCT) in gunshot injury cases; this review shows variability between the PMCT and autopsy examination findings. Furthermore we identify the technical differences between the selected studies, emphasizing the specific findings obtainable with PMCT, in order to support forensic research towards shared and validated practices, whose results are used as evidence in the courtroom.
Crowds, Bread and Fame: John 6.1-15 and History Revisited
Authors: Ferda Tucker S.
Published: November 2019

From the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century it was common to regard the unique conclusion to the Johannine account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (6.15) as one of the most important episodes in Jesus’ public career. This view has all but disappeared from current Jesus research. This article revisits, challenges and ultimately reframes this thesis with the help of some recent developments in historical method in Jesus studies. The argument is this: even if the exact scenario in Jn 6.14-15 is not historical, the episode captures an important political dimension to Jesus’ activities that probably is historical and can illuminate other events in his life as well. Historians were right to highlight Jn 6.14-15, if perhaps for the wrong reasons.
Natural internal thoracic-to-coronary artery collateral network
Authors: Nagata Tomoki , Hasegawa Takao , Johno Hiroyuki
Published: November 2019

We describe a rare case of three-vessel coronary disease in a 67-year-old man who had spontaneous communication between the left internal mammary artery and the left anterior descending artery. We decided to perform elective coronary artery bypass grafting. However, he died from sudden cardiac arrest before surgery.
Rhodamine B removal from aqueous solution by CT269DR resin: Static and dynamic study
Authors: Yang Jinbei , Yu Shuyue , Chen Wentao , Chen Yibing
Published: November 2019

The adsorption of Rhodamine B onto CT269DR resin has been studied through static and dynamic experiments. The effects of shaking speed, resin dosage, and pH on adsorption were investigated by static experiments. The external mass transfer rate remains substantially unchanged when the shaking speed exceeds 160 r min−1. The optimal pH range is 5–8, and an increase of resin dosage can directly improve the percentage of removal of Rhodamine B. The equilibrium isotherm data of Rhodamine B on CT269DR resin fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm well. The thermodynamics parameters, Δ H = 69.93 kJ mol−1, Δ S = 326.73 J mol−1 K−1, and Δ G < 0, demonstrate that the adsorption of Rhodamine B onto CT269DR resin is spontaneous and endothermic. The pseudo first-order kinetic model can be successfully used to represent the adsorption process and the activation energy is 25.7 kJ mol−1. The dynamic experiments show that the breakthrough point is advanced when the flow rate increases and the bed adsorption capacity increases with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the desorption using the solution of 2% NaOH is suitable for desorption and reusing process, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis reveals that used resin has good wear resistance and chemical stability. The results confirm that CT269DR resin can be employed as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Rhodamine B from wastewater.
Psychological support in end-of-life decision-making in neonatal intensive care units: Full population survey among neonatologists and neonatal nurses
Authors: Dombrecht Laure , Cohen Joachim , Cools Filip , Deliens Luc , Goossens Linde , Naulaers Gunnar , Beernaert Kim , Chambaere Kenneth , Laroche Sabrina , Theyskens Claire , Vandeputte Christine , Cornette Luc , Van de Broek Hilde
Published: November 2019

Background:

Moral distress and burnout related to end-of-life decisions in neonates is common in neonatologists and nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. Attention to their emotional burden and psychological support in research is lacking.

Aim:

To evaluate perceived psychological support in relation to end-of-life decisions of neonatologists and nurses working in Flemish neonatal intensive care units and to analyse whether or not this support is sufficient.

Design/participants:

A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all neonatologists and neonatal nurses of all eight Flemish neonatal intensive care units (Belgium) in May 2017. The response rate was 63% (52/83) for neonatologists and 46% (250/527) for nurses. Respondents indicated their level of agreement (5-point Likert-type scale) with seven statements regarding psychological support.

Results:

About 70% of neonatologists and nurses reported experiencing more stress than normal when confronted with an end-of-life decision; 86% of neonatologists feel supported by their colleagues when they make end-of-life decisions, 45% of nurses feel that the treating physician listens to their opinion when end-of-life decisions are made. About 60% of both neonatologists and nurses would like more psychological support offered by their department when confronted with end-of-life decisions, and 41% of neonatologists and 50% of nurses stated they did not have enough psychological support from their department when a patient died. Demographic groups did not differ in terms of perceived lack of sufficient support.

Conclusion:

Even though neonatal intensive care unit colleagues generally support each other in difficult end-of-life decisions, the psychological support provided by their department is currently not sufficient. Professional ad hoc counselling or standard debriefings could substantially improve this perceived lack of support.
Anti-inflammatory effect of adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Wang Su , Gao Jian , Wang Maohuai , Chen Liquan , Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: November 2019

Objective

This study investigated the effect of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (hCTGF) on rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and explored the feasibility of using ADSCs to treat pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods

ADSCs were isolated from rat inguinal adipose tissue and characterized by flow cytometry and for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. ADSCs were treated with recombinant hCTGF and qRT-PCR was performed to detect collagen I and III expression on post-treatment days 7, 14, and 28. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs was performed to evaluate the effect of hCTGF. ADSCs were seeded in biological grafting materials, acellular porcine pericardium (APP) and acellular bovine pericardium (ABP), then implanted in the rat vagina. Histology was performed to observe inflammation among different groups.

Results

Collagen I and III expression in ADSCs was significantly increased, and the ability to differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages was diminished after hCTGF treatment. APP and ABP seeded with ADSCs significantly decreased inflammation and protected from degradation in vivo compared with APP and ABP only; ABP seeded with ADSCs had the lowest inflammation.

Conclusion

hCTGF regulates collagen I and III expression and induces ADSC differentiation in vitro. ADSCs decrease inflammation associated with APP and ABP in vivo.
Three-dimensional printing technologies in the fabrication of maxillofacial prosthesis: A case report
Authors: Cevik Pinar , Kocacikli Mustafa
Published: November 2019

Purpose:

Patients with maxillofacial deformities always seek for aesthetic prosthesis. Recently, three-dimensional printing technologies have been used for dental treatments on such patients.

Case report:

A 24-year-old man reported to the Department of Prosthodontics for replacement of his missing right ear induced by a trauma. A magnet-retained auricular prosthesis was planned for the patient. Three-dimensional scanning was performed on the healthy side by using a three-dimensional optical scanner and the data were mirrored. The mirrored image was then imported to a software and a virtual model of the future prosthesis was obtained for the defect side. A three-dimensional printer was used to fabricate a negative mold for the mirrored image by using additive manufacturing. Initially, an impression of the defect side was made; then, the cast model was obtained in a dental flask. Magnets of the prosthesis were inserted to the acrylic resin framework on the cast model. Room temperature vulcanized silicone elastomer was mixed and poured into the three-dimensionally fabricated mold. Then, the flask was placed over the negative mold firmly. After polymerization of the silicone, the auricular prosthesis was delivered to the patient and the patient was instructed to clean the prosthesis daily.

Conclusions:

Three-dimensional printing technology was used for the fabrication of the patient’s missing ear. This method eliminated the conventional laboratory steps and reduced the number of stages of the fabrication of a silicone prosthesis. The negative mold of the defect side allowed us a direct fabrication of the silicone prosthesis without a need for waxing or flasking procedures.
Flexible vitality of near-infrared spectroscopy – Talking about Norris derivative filter
Authors: Pan Tao , Zhang Jing , Shi Xiaowen
Published: November 2019

Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis is a modeling system that fuses three multidimensional spaces of samples, variables, and models. Spectral preprocessing is a basic skill that plays an important role in information extraction, de-noising, model maintenance, and transfer. Due to the variety of objects, conditions, and measurement methods, pre-processing patterns often need to meet personalization requirements. Norris derivative filter adopts three variable parameters: the derivative order: d, the number of smoothing points: s and the number of differential gaps: g, which is a multi-mode algorithm group. The fusion of parameters with different functions can enhance the flexible vitality of near-infrared spectroscopy and meet the personalized needs of the spectral preprocessing diversity. In this study, a partial least squares (PLS)-based platform was constructed to achieve global optimal selection of Norris derivative filter algorithm. Taking the near-infrared analysis of corn crude protein as an example, we want to share the understanding of Norris derivative filter method. In the early stage of this paper production, we were shocked to hear that Dr. Karl H. Norris died! We did this study in memory of Dr. Karl H. Norris.
Gravity Perspective of Trade Realignment: Assessing China’s Engagement in West Africa
Authors: Azu Nnanna P. , Okezie Benedette Nneka , Hirwa Amatus
Published: November 2019

This article examines the impact of emerging West African trade partners—China and India with respect to the traditional trade partners. In this regard, we augmented the gravity model and used dummy to capture bilateral trade effects. This allowed trade to be represented from both sides of its occurrence—import and export—while also accounting for the percentage increase as well as the volume of trade. Applying poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) technique, we observed a growth in the coefficient of emerging trading partners concerning China in the import direction and India in the export direction, while that of the traditional trade partners remained positive but decreasing. Therefore, West Africa is witnessing a partial and imperfect realignment of trade with China, predominantly on import. As China continues to provide better prices and aids for trade, merchandise trade activities with the traditional partners may start to negatively impact when competing with emerging China.
Tight-Knit Webs and Telescoping Families: Conversations With Psychological Experts in India and China
Authors: Chen Wenrui
Published: November 2019

This qualitative exploratory study based on therapy observations and interviews with psychological experts and family therapists in Beijing, China, and Delhi, India, compares and contrasts families’ psychotherapeutic experiences in India and China. Analysis suggests that the economic growth enjoyed by middle- and upper-class, urban families has also brought with it substantial anxiety and guilt. Therapists in India and China report some similar family dynamics, such as a belief in and striving for a special mother–son bond, alongside differences, such as the greater participation of men in therapy in India. This article argues this striking difference in the gender composition of clients in India compared to China is best understood in relation to the greater political and social context of each country. Elite families in India and China are differently positioned in ways that significantly impact their respective concerns about their children and their family’s future class reproduction.
Association of Social Media Use With Social Well-Being, Positive Mental Health, and Self-Rated Health: Disentangling Routine Use From Emotional Connection to Use
Authors: Bekalu Mesfin A. , McCloud Rachel F. , Viswanath K.
Published: November 2019

Most studies addressing social media use as a normal social behavior with positive or negative effects on health-related outcomes have conceptualized and measured social media use and its effects in terms of dose–effect relations. These studies focus on measuring frequency and duration of use, and have seldom considered users’ emotional connections to social media use and the effects associated with such connections. By using a scale with two dimensions capturing users’ integration of social media use into their social routines and their emotional connection to the sites’ use, the present study has brought preliminary evidence that may help map where social media use, as a normal social behavior, may be considered beneficial or harmful. Data from a nationally representative sample ( n = 1,027) of American adults showed that while routine use is associated with positive health outcomes, emotional connection to social media use is associated with negative health outcomes. These associations have been consistent across three health-related outcomes: social well-being, positive mental health, and self-rated health. The data also showed that the strength of the positive and negative associations of routine use and emotional connection with the health outcomes varies across socioeconomic and racial/ethnic population subgroups. Our findings suggest that the link between social media use and health may not only be captured by and explained in terms of conventional dose–effect approaches but may also require a more sophisticated conceptualization and measurement of the social media use behavior.
Topic Clustering of E-Cigarette Submissions Among Reddit Communities: A Network Perspective
Authors: Barker Joshua O. , Rohde Jacob A.
Published: November 2019

E-cigarette use in the United States has significantly grown in recent years. Widespread diffusion of e-cigarette content across social media communities may be contributing to this growth. In this study, we (1) explored topics related to e-cigarettes and vaping on Reddit and (2) examined the extent to which these topics clustered across distinct communities. We analyzed a total of N = 79,783 Reddit submissions posted between March 2017 and February 2018 that mentioned at least one e-cigarette or vaping keyword. We created a dictionary to classify submissions into seven different topics related to e-cigarettes and vaping. Submissions were also categorized into one of six mutually exclusive communities identified using subreddit meta-data. Our results indicate that e-cigarette and vaping content on Reddit is primarily about the buying and selling of e-cigarette products. Other common topics included how to build vaping devices, e-juice, and e-cigarette advice. Network correlation analyses found that the distribution of our seven identified topics varied significantly among general e-cigarette, drugs, and research/news subreddit communities. Findings from this study add to a growing literature investigating e-cigarettes and vaping on social media and also contribute to network-level theories by linking communities on Reddit to the diffusion of various depictions of e-cigarettes and vaping.
Weights of Fetal Membranes and Umbilical Cords: Correlation With Placental Pathology
Authors: Ma Lucy X , Levitan Daniel , Baergen Rebecca N
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Proper placental gross examination requires weighing the placental disc trimmed of fetal membranes and the umbilical cord. However, untrimmed placental weights are often reported, both in cases submitted for consultation and in publications. Thus, determining the contribution of membranes and cords to untrimmed placental weights would be helpful in estimating the true trimmed weight of placentas. We sought to report the average weights of membranes and cord in term placentas and to correlate these weights with common placental pathologies.

Methods

A total of 500 consecutive placentas delivered between 36 and 42 weeks gestational age were subjected to a modified grossing protocol, in which the weight of the trimmed and untrimmed placentas, fetal membranes, and umbilical cords were recorded. Acute chorioamnionitis, meconium, maternal vascular malperfusion, and fetal vascular malperfusion were included as pathologic correlates. Clinical data such as the presence of fetal hydrops, intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal demise, and maternal diabetes were also recorded.

Results

The mean weights of the trimmed placenta, fetal membranes, and umbilical cords were 442 g (180–805 g), 47.2 g (16–108 g), and 37.9 g (9–126 g), respectively. The fetal membranes and umbilical cord weights contributed a mean of 16% to the total untrimmed placental weight. Meconium was associated with heavier fetal membranes. Fetal vascular malperfusion was associated with longer umbilical cord and thus also with heavier umbilical cords. Maternal vascular malperfusion and intrauterine growth restriction were associated with lighter placentas.

Discussion

The trimmed placental disc weight may be estimated by subtracting 16% (ie, weight of the fetal membranes and umbilical cord) from the untrimmed placental weight, or alternatively by subtracting the mean weight of the membranes and umbilical cord. It is important to consider the effects of meconium, fetal and maternal vascular malperfusion, and intrauterine growth restriction on membrane and cord weights when estimating the trimmed placental disc weight.
Police Cadets’ Career Plans in China: Testing the Mediation and Moderation Effects of Job Satisfaction
Authors: Kim Bitna , Xu Tao
Published: November 2019

In recent decades, police organizations have encountered difficulty in maintaining employees; a large number of police officers are leaving the service early. Using data collected from three police colleges in three different provinces in China, this study examines the mechanism of cadets’ career plan or turnover intention. Specifically, the test of a mediating mechanism in this study demonstrates the extent to which satisfaction mediates the relationship between distal factors and career plans among police cadets. Besides, the test of a moderating mechanism focuses on the possibility that the predictors differ in the relationship with cadets’ career plans by the degree of satisfaction. This study results found that satisfaction had no mediating effect. Instead, results showed that police cadets’ satisfaction is a strong moderator in the link between predictors and their career plans. Implications for recruitment, training, and retention strategies, as well as avenues for future research, are then discussed.
Relationship Between Diurnal Cortisol Profile and Sleep Quality in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Huang Tsai-Wei , Cheung Denise Shuk Ting , Xu Xinyi , Loh El-Wui , Lai Jun-Hung , Su Wei-Wen , Wu Shun-Sheng , Lin Chia-Chin
Published: November 2019

Purpose:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Sleep problems are common in HCC patients and may be attributable to disturbances in the circadian rhythm. Research into the role of circadian rhythms in sleep quality among HCC patients is lacking, however. This study investigated the relationship between the diurnal cortisol profile and sleep quality among HCC patients. We aimed to identify alterations in the diurnal cortisol profile in patients with HCC compared to healthy controls and investigate whether they were associated with poor sleep quality among HCC patients.

Methods:

Participants comprised 75 HCC patients and 33 healthy individuals. The Taiwanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-T) was administered to assess sleep quality. Saliva samples were collected on 3 consecutive days at five time points daily to measure diurnal cortisol levels.

Results:

In the HCC group, 89.3% of individuals were poor sleepers (PSQI-T > 5), whereas among healthy individuals, 30.3% were poor sleepers. While the healthy participants’ diurnal cortisol profile followed a typical pattern that peaked 30 min after waking and declined gradually throughout the day, the cortisol level in the HCC patients rebounded at bedtime. Higher cortisol levels were marginally correlated with poor sleep quality ( OR = 1.00007, p < .05).

Conclusions:

Our study suggests a potential association between disturbed circadian rhythm and poor sleep quality in HCC patients. Further investigation of the causal relationship between sleep and circadian rhythm is warranted.
Language use before and after Stonewall: A corpus-based study of gay men’s pre-Stonewall narratives
Authors: Motschenbacher Heiko
Published: November 2019

This study presents a contrastive corpus linguistic analysis of language use before and after Stonewall. It uses theoretical insights on normativity from the field of language and sexuality to investigate how the shifting normativities associated with the Stonewall Riots (1969) – widely considered the central event of gay liberation in the Western world – have shaped our conceptualization of sexuality as it surfaces in language use. Drawing on two corpora of gay men’s pre-Stonewall narratives dating from two time periods (before and after Stonewall, called PRE and POST), the analysis combines quantitative (keyword analysis, collocation analysis) and qualitative (concordance analysis) corpus linguistic methods to examine discursive shifts as evident from narrators’ language use. The study identifies the terms homosexual and normal as central contrastive labels in PRE, and gay and straight as corresponding terms in POST. Other discursive shifts detected are from sexual desire/practices to identity (and vice versa), from an individualistic to a community-based conceptualization of sexuality, and from unquestioned heteronormativity and gender binarism to a weakening of such dominant discourses. The findings are discussed in relation to the desire-identity shift, which is traditionally assumed to have taken place at the end of the 19th century, and shed new light on Stonewall as a central event for the development of an identity-based conceptualization of sexuality as we know it today.
Male Homosexual Preference: Femininity and the Older Brother Effect in Indonesia
Authors: Nila Sarah , Crochet Pierre-Andre , Barthes Julien , Rianti Puji , Juliandi Berry , Suryobroto Bambang , Raymond Michel
Published: November 2019

Male homosexual preference (MHP) is an evolutionary enigma because it is partially heritable and imposes a fertility cost. In occidental societies, homosexual men are feminized at various levels and they have more older brothers than heterosexual men. To evaluate whether femininity and the fraternal birth order (FBO) effect are universal features of MHP or not, we collected original data from homosexual men, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women from Java (Indonesia). Facial photographs were used to test whether homosexual faces are feminized when compared with heterosexual ones. We found that faces manipulated to resemble the average face of homosexual men are perceived as facially feminized, suggesting that homosexual men are facially feminized compared to heterosexual men, although a higher facial femininity was not captured by morphological analyses. Then, family data were used to detect differences in siblings’ composition between homosexuals and heterosexuals. Homosexual men displayed a higher number of older brothers than heterosexual men, even when sibship size was controlled for, suggesting that the FBO effect exists in Indonesian populations. Independent of sexual orientation, men with older brothers seem more feminized than those without older brothers, consistent with the immune origin of the FBO effect. In conclusion, MHP in Indonesia is partially feminized and they have more older brothers. Such features are also associated with MHP in other cultural contexts, suggesting a cross-cultural effect of men homosexual preference. An evolutionary explanation is available for the feminizing effect, although the FBO effect remains unexplained even if proximal mechanisms start to be identified.
Time series data interpretation for ‘wheel-flat’ identification including uncertainties
Authors: Cao Wen-Jun , Zhang Shanli , Bertola Numa J , Smith I F C , Koh C G
Published: November 2019

Train wheel flats are formed when wheels slip on rails. Crucial for passenger comfort and the safe operation of train systems, early detection and quantification of wheel-flat severity without interrupting railway operations is a desirable and challenging goal. Our method involves identifying the wheel-flat size by using a model updating strategy based on dynamic measurements. Although measurement and modelling uncertainties influence the identification results, they are rarely taken into account in most wheel-flat detection methods. Another challenge is the interpretation of time series data from multiple sensors. In this article, the size of the wheel flat is identified using a model-falsification approach that explicitly includes uncertainties in both measurement and modelling. A two-step important point selection method is proposed to interpret high-dimensional time series in the context of inverse identification. Perceptually important points, which are consistent with the human visual identification process, are extracted and further selected using joint entropy as an information gain metric. The proposed model-based methodology is applied to a field train track test in Singapore. The results show that the wheel-flat size identified using the proposed methodology is within the range of true observations. In addition, it is also shown that the inclusion of measurement and modelling uncertainties is essential to accurately evaluate the wheel-flat size because identification without uncertainties may lead to an underestimation of the wheel-flat size.
Web-Based and mHealth Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Prevention: A Systematic Review
Authors: Anderson Elizabeth J. , Krause Keegan C. , Meyer Krause Caitlin , Welter Abby , McClelland D. Jean , Garcia David O. , Ernst Kacey , Lopez Elise C. , Koss Mary P.
Published: November 2019

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are increasingly used across health programming including intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention to optimize screening, educational outreach, and linkages to care via telehealth. We systematically evaluated current web-based and mHealth interventions, which include web- or mobile-based delivery methods for primary, secondary, and tertiary IPV victimization prevention. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Open Grey, and Google Scholar for empirical studies published 1998–2019. Studies were included if they considered empirical data, participants in adult romantic relationships, IPV as a primary or secondary outcome, and an mHealth component. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to record critical ratings of quality among studies selected for inclusion. We assessed variation in targeted populations, types of IPV addressed, and mHealth approaches used. Of 133 studies identified for full-text review, 31 were included. Computer-based screening with or without integrated education was the most common mHealth approach ( n = 8, 26%), followed by safety decision aids ( n = 7, 23%). Feasibility and acceptability were found to be generally high where assessed (23% of studies, n = 7). There was limited evidence around whether mHealth interventions better addressed population needs compared to conventional interventions. mHealth tools for IPV prevention are especially acceptable in health-care settings, on mobile phone platforms, or when connecting victims to health care. Despite enthusiasm in pilot projects, evidence for efficacy compared to conventional IPV prevention approaches is limited. A major strength of mHealth IPV prevention programming is the ability to tailor interventions to individual victim needs without extensive human resource expenditure by providers.
Different Order, Different Results? The Effects of Dimension Order in Factorial Survey Experiments
Authors: Düval Sabine , Hinz Thomas
Published: November 2019

Factorial surveys are widely used in the social sciences to measure respondents’ attitudes, beliefs, or behavioral intentions. In such surveys, respondents evaluate short descriptions of hypothetical situations, persons, or objects that vary across several dimensions. An important prerequisite of the method’s validity is that respondents are able to deal with the highly complex task created by the need to consider several variable dimensions within one coherent judgment. We analyze the effects of the order in which dimensions are presented in running text vignettes. An experimental setup with four order treatments was randomly allocated to 787 respondents (based on a random sample of register data), yielding 3,119 vignette evaluations. The analyses compare respondent groups across age, education, and response speed. Overall, there is no strong evidence for order effects. However, we find a slight tendency for fast responders to be more prone to recency effects.
Language-Related Neurophysiological Deficits in Schizophrenia
Authors: Hirano Shogo , Spencer Kevin M. , Onitsuka Toshiaki , Hirano Yoji
Published: November 2019

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that affects all aspects of one’s life with several cognitive and social dysfunctions. However, there is still no objective and universal index for diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Many researchers have studied language processing in schizophrenia since most of the patients show symptoms related to language processing, such as thought disorder, auditory verbal hallucinations, or delusions. Electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) with millisecond order high temporal resolution, have been applied to reveal the abnormalities in language processing in schizophrenia. The aims of this review are ( a) to provide an overview of recent findings in language processing in schizophrenia with EEG and MEG using neurophysiological indices, providing insights into underlying language related pathophysiological deficits in this disease and ( b) to emphasize the advantage of EEG and MEG in research on language processing in schizophrenia.
Research on the model of a multistate aggregated Markov repairable system
Authors: Zhang Quan , Yu Shihang , Han Yang , Li Yanjun
Published: November 2019

In theory and practice, system performance is one of the most important issues. Therefore, a series of indexes has been proposed for evaluating the system performance, such as availability. However, these indexes still cannot meet the variant requirements in the reliability and other fields. The purpose of the article is to develop some theoretical results that may be used in modeling the evolution of system performance. So, based on the aggregated stochastic process theory, some new indexes are introduced and established in Markov repairable systems. In this model, the state space is partitioned into working subset W and failure subset F. The system is regarded as stable if the state of system enters one subset, either W or F, at any instance and sojourns within the subset exceeding a given non-negative threshold [Formula: see text]. Otherwise, the system is regarded as unstable. Under these assumptions, the concepts of point-wise and interval-wise are proposed, and the computation formulae of two types of indexes are derived in the theory. Finally, a special case and a few of numerical examples are given to illustrate the results obtained in the paper.
Asian Elephant Futures: A Causal Layered Analysis with Gregory Bateson in Mind
Authors: Clemens Russell
Published: November 2019

Human population growth and dwindling fragmented natural habitats for elephants in Asia are leading to increasing conflict between humans and wild elephants. Sohail Inayatullah’s Causal layered analysis (CLA) is applied to understand the human–elephant conflict (HEC) situation. Gregory Bateson’s “ecology of mind” (EoM; epistemology, recurrence, abduction, and metaphor) is also employed to focus on possible implications of metaphor, epistemology, and social–psychological misalignments. The article aims to inform multidisciplinary practitioners on the relevance of applying both CLA and EoM to social–ecological issues in the twenty-first century. CLA and EoM are compatible and complementary multilayered approaches which, as metaphorical approaches, share mixed entailments. Bateson’s “double bind” theory is applied within CLA to explore the implications of possible Asian elephant extinction within the Anthropocene in respect to Indian (Hindu and Buddhist) cosmologies.
Evidence for Cultural Variability in Right-Wing Authoritarianism Factor Structure in a Politically Unstable Context
Authors: Vilanova Felipe , L. Milfont Taciano , Cantal Clara , Koller Silvia Helena , Costa Ângelo Brandelli
Published: November 2019

Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) has been a central explanatory concept and predictor of sociopolitical and intergroup attitudes over the last decades. Research indicates RWA is formed by the subdimensions of authoritarianism, traditionalism, and conservatism. The objective of this study was to assess the cross-cultural validity of this three-factor model in a politically unstable context where an alternative factor model was observed. Data from four Brazilian samples ( N total = 1,083) were assessed to test whether a four-factor model (with conservatism split) identified in Brazil recently was better fitting than the three-factor model. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and 3-year longitudinal evidence confirmed the four-factor model is the best RWA structure in the Brazilian context and that only the pro-trait conservatism items indexing submission to authority have adequate psychometric properties. Implications for future RWA propositions are discussed.
Pilot study on a new intervention programme for geriatric hip fracture patient with sarcopenia
Authors: Cheung Mei Yan , Man Lok Chun , Ho Wing Hang Angela
Published: November 2019

Introduction:

Sarcopenia and osteoporosis increase the risk of fall, resulting in fragility fracture. Intervention programme on sarcopenic hip fracture was set up in our centre.

Method:

All patients aged ≥65 admitted to Caritas Medical Centre with operatively treated hip fracture and diagnosed with sarcopenia were included. Interventions include inpatient nursing education, dietary advice, therapist assessment and structured 12-week Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) exercise programme. Those who are not eligible for GDH training were classified as control group. Changes in relative skeletal muscle mass index (RASM), muscle strength and functional scores were measured.

Results:

There were 11 intervention and 13 control patients. Both groups of patients were noted to have improvement in RASM, knee extension power of lower limbs and functional scores. Between-group analysis showed there was more improvement in injured limb extension power in the intervention group, although it is statistically insignificant (control group: 3.585 kg, intervention group: 5.827 kg, p = 0.147). There was no statistically significant difference in the 3-month change in RASM (control group: 0.581 kg/m2, intervention group: 0.347 kg/m2, p = 0.369) and functional scores.

Conclusion:

These sarcopenic hip fracture patients may be too frail to benefit from traditional exercise treatment for sarcopenia. However, more improvement in muscle strength was observed in the intervention group although not statistically significant. Intervention programme with exercise prescription in sarcopenic hip fracture patients may have the potential to improve the lower limb muscle strength. A more intensive and longer exercise training programme with incorporation into day rehabilitation model may be needed for these frail hip fracture patients.
FLT3 Inhibitor Resistant Cells Show Different Downstream Signaling Pathway Changes.
Authors: Kim Kyu-Tae , Piloto Obdulio , Small Donald
Published: November 2019

Receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 plays an important role in leukemogenesis, especially in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting wild-type and mutant FLT3 have been developed and shown to have activity in clinical trials. However, as seen with Gleevac in CML, prolonged incubation with TKIs can select for resistant clones that may contribute to disease progression. To study resistance to TKIs against FLT3 we developed FLT3 inhibitor resistant cell lines by co-culturing MOLM14 and BaF3/ITD cells, expressing FLT3/ITD mutants with increasing concentrations of the FLT3 inhibitor CEP-701. The resulting cell lines, MOLM14(R) and BaF3/ITD(R) are resistant to CEP-701 induced cytotoxicity. MOLM14(R) is also resistant to other selective FLT3 TKIs including CEP-5214 and PKC412. In contrast, BaF3/ITD(R) cells were still sensitive to CEP5214 and PKC412. Western blot analysis reveals that CEP-701, CEP-5214 and PKC412 all still inhibit FLT3 in MOLM14(R) cells implying selection of a clone no longer dependent on FLT3 signaling. FLT3 phosphorylation is not inhibited by CEP-701 in BaF3/ITD(R) cells but is still inhibited by CEP-5214 and PKC412. Thus the BaF3/ITD(R) cells appear to remain FLT3-dependent. Sequencing of FLT3 from the resistant clones showed that the resistance was not the result of drug resistance mutations in FLT3/ITD. To investigate possible mechanisms of resistance in FLT3-dependent and FLT3-independent FLT3 inhibitor resistant cells, we examined pathways downstream of FLT3. Previously, we and others reported that constitutive FLT3 activation results in specific changes in gene expression in myeloid leukemic cells. As expected for cells with continued FLT3/ITD activation, Western blot analysis of BaF3/ITD(R) cells treated with CEP-701 show that they maintain activation of Erk/MAPK, Akt, and STAT5 pathways and induction of FLT3 dependent genes including Pim-1 and cMyc. In the apparently FLT3-independent MOLM-14(R) clones, inhibition of FLT3 activity resulted in decreased phosphorylation of downstream Akt and Stat5. However, we found Erk/MAPK phosphorylation and cMyc expression were not decreased in response to FLT3 TKI. This implies that whatever pathway has been selected for the ability to grow in this inhibitor is still feeding into this part of the downstream signaling pathway normally activated by FLT3/ITD. Thus, BaF3/ITD(R) FLT3-dependent and MOLM-14(R) FLT3 independent cells differ in response to several FLT3 inhibitors that results from the differences in their mechanisms of resistance.
Targeting BCR-Independent Proliferation of CLL Cells
Authors: Erik Slinger , Kater Arnon P. , Thijssen Rachel , Eldering Eric
Published: November 2019

The clinical success of PI3K and Btk inhibitors that block upstream BCR signals, has been primarily attributed to inhibition of adhesion and migration of CLL cells. However, the effects of these inhibitors on the proliferative capacity of CLL cells is largely unknown. Interestingly, in vitro BCR triggering does not induce proliferation of CLL cells. Instead, we have found that activated T cell-derived signals, specifically CD40L and IL-21, initiate CLL proliferation in vitro and can be traced in CLL lymph node samples from patients [Pascutti et al., Blood 2013]. Targeting the underlying signaling pathways may be clinically relevant, and therefore we aimed to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying antigen-independent proliferation.

In the present study we applied CD40L/IL-21 stimulation to induce proliferation, and tested various specific kinase inhibitors for blocking potential. Surprisingly, the Btk inhibitor ibrutinib significantly suppressed CD40L/IL-21-induced proliferation (Figure 1). Similarly, inhibition of PI3Kδ with idelalisib dampened proliferation. While neither ibrutinib nor idelalisib affected CD40L-induced NF-kB or IL-21 induced STAT3 phosphorylation, both compounds efficiently blocked downstream ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Impact of idelalisib and ibrutinib was non-synergistic, suggesting that PI3K and Btk are acting in concert. In contrast with the inhibitory effects of the two compounds above, no effect of CD40L/IL-21 induced proliferation was observed following inhibition of SYK activity with R406 (tamatinib). This strongly suggests a role for PI3K and Btk signaling independent of BCR-signaling.

We demonstrate that antigen-independent proliferation completely depends on downstream CDK4-activity, which can be blocked by the CDK4-inhibitor PD0332991.

IL-21 signaling is absolutely required for antigen-independent proliferation as treatment with the pan-JAK inhibitor INCB abrogates proliferation. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining of lymph nodes from CLL patients indicated the presence of phospho-STAT3 in CLL cells at lymph node sites, suggesting a contribution of JAK/STAT signaling to in vivo proliferation.

In conclusion, our data strongly suggest that non-BCR signals contribute to proliferation of CLL cells. Since the most recent clinical data point to development of resistance against ibrutinib, targeting non-BCR pathways may offer additional venues for treatment.

Figure 1. CD40L/IL-21 induced proliferation can be inhibited with kinase inhibitors that target kinases involved in BCR-signaling Figure 1. CD40L/IL-21 induced proliferation can be inhibited with kinase inhibitors that target kinases involved in BCR-signaling

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Characterization of a new non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line (NCEB-1) with a chromosomal (11:14) translocation [t(11:14)(q13;q32)]
Authors: Saltman DL , Cachia PG , Dewar AE , Ross FM , Krajewski AS , Ludlam C , Steel CM
Published: November 2019

A new cell line, NCEB-1, was established by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with centroblastic-centrocytic diffuse lymphoma expressing IgM lambda. The transformed cells were lymphoblastoid, with many cells showing a plasmacytoid morphology. The NCEB-1 cells had cytoplasmic Ig (CyIg), with loss of the surface Ig (SIg) expression. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line demonstrated two clones with variations: a hypodiploid clone, with a complex karyotype including a t(11;14)(q13;q32) similar to the original tumor cells, and a near tetraploid clone with the same markers. Southern blot analysis of DNA from the patient's neoplastic cells and NCEB-1 demonstrated identical Ig heavy chain gene rearrangement, confirming the origin of the cell line. The cell line was not tumorigenic when tested in an in vitro assay using immunosuppressed mice. NCEB-1 has been in continuous culture for 9 months and will be valuable for the in vivo study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and EBV transformation.
Markers of autoimmunity in immune thrombocytopenia: prevalence and prognostic significance
Authors: Hollenhorst Marie A. , Al-Samkari Hanny , Kuter David J.
Published: November 2019

Key Points

There is a high prevalence of autoimmune markers in patients with ITP. An increased risk of thrombosis was observed in patients with ITP with a positive lupus anticoagulant or antinuclear antibody.