bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Rodent Species That Infest Poultry Houses in Mafikeng, North West Province, South Africa
Authors: Ramatla Tsepo , Mphuthi Nthabiseng , Gofaone Kutswa , Taioe Moeti O. , Thekisoe Oriel M. M. , Syakalima Michelo
Published: April 2019

Rodents cause serious adverse effects on farm production due to destruction of food, contamination of feed, and circulation of diseases. The extent of damage or the diseases spread will depend on the type of rodents that invade the farm. This study was conducted in order to find out the species of rodents that infest poultry farms around Mafikeng, North West Province of South Africa. The study was part of a broader project that was investigating Salmonella vectors in the poultry farms around the province. The study trapped 154 rodents from selected farms and used the Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the Cytochrome b (Cyt-b) barcoding genes for species identification. Two rodent pest species, namely, Rattus rattus (the black rat) and Rattus tanezumi (the Asian Rat/Asian House Rat) were identified. A total of 99 (64.3%) were identified as Rattus rattus and 55 (35.7%) were Rattus tanezumi. Between the two target genes, Cyt-b gene was only able to identify 40 (25.97%) of the total samples while COI was more efficient and amplified all the samples and thus was a better target gene for this kind of identification. The two rat species identified are known vectors of serious diseases; thus their presence should be regarded as an indication of high risk for diseases. Despite having been detected in the country before, finding R. tanezumi as the second largest rat species in the area was unexpected since this species is known to be indigenous to Asia.
Analytical Solution of Deformations for Two‐Layer Timoshenko Beams Glued by a Viscoelastic Interlayer
Authors: Pei Zhiyi , Wang Lin , Wu Peng , Zhang Jiandong , Zhou Ding
Published: April 2019

An analytical solution of stresses and deformations for two‐layer Timoshenko beams glued by a viscoelastic interlayer under uniform transverse load is presented. The standard linear solid model is employed to simulate the viscoelastic characteristics of the interlayer, in which the memory effect of strains is considered. The mechanical behavior of each layer is described by the first‐order shear deformation theory (FSDT). By means of the principle of minimum potential energy, a group of equations for displacements and rotation angles are derived out. The final solution is obtained by conducting the Laplace transform and the inversion of Laplace transform to the equation group. Numerical comparison shows that the present solutions and the finite element results are in good agreement. It is shown that the present results are more accurate than those obtained from the Euler‐Bernoulli beam theory, especially for thick beams. And the present solutions can accurately describe the variation of stresses and deformations of the beam with the time, compared with those ignoring the memory effect of strains. Finally, the effects of the geometric parameters and material properties of the interlayer on stresses and deformations of the beam are studied in detail.
Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles by Gamma Co-60 Ray Irradiation Method Using Chitosan as Stabilizer
Authors: Nguyen Thi Kim Lan , Nguyen Ngoc Duy , Dang Van Phu , Phan Dinh Tuan , Tran Thai Hoa , Nguyen Quoc Hien
Published: April 2019

Platinum nanoparticles were synthesized using the gamma-ray irradiation as a reducing factor and chitosan as a stabilizer. The prepared platinum nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The saturated conversion dose to reduce the Pt4+ to Pt0 was found to be about 14 kGy for initial Pt4+ concentration of 1 mM. The size of the platinum nanoparticles (1.4–1.6 nm) did almost not change with the increase of chitosan concentration from 0.5 to 2.0%. Thus, gamma Co-60 ray irradiation method is favorable for synthesizing PtNPs with the small sizes.
Abelmoschus manihot for Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shi Liwei , Feng Ling , Zhang Meizhen , Li Xiaowen , Yang Yanan , Zhang Yueying , Ni Qing
Published: April 2019

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Many trials have shown that Abelmoschus manihot could further improve proteinuria and protect kidney function in patients with DN when added to a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blocker. A systematic assessment of the efficacy and safety of A. manihot in DN is essential. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify eligible trials published from inception to December 2017. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of eligible studies. Seventy-two studies with 5,895 participants were identified. The methodological quality of included studies was generally low. The results indicated that, compared to a RAS blocker, combined treatment of A. manihot with a RAS blocker was more effective for 24h urinary protein (24h UP) (mean difference [MD], -0.39 [95% confidence interval [CI], -0.46 to -0.33] g/d; P<0.00001), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER)(MD, -19.90 [95% CI, -22.62 to -17.18] μg/min; P<0.00001), 24h UP reduction rate (risk ratio [RR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.26-1.63; P<0.00001), normalization of UAER (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.29-1.70; P<0.00001), and serum creatinine (SCr) (MD, -7.35 [95% CI, -9.95 to -4.76] umol/L; P<0.00001). None of these trials reported the ESRD rate. No statistically significant difference occurred between A. manihot combined with a RAS blocker and a RAS blocker alone in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (MD, 4.43 [95% CI, -1.68 to 10.54] mL/min; P=0.16). A. manihot did not increase the rates of adverse drug events. A. manihot in addition to a RAS blocker was effective and safe to further improve proteinuria and protect kidney function in patients with DN. However, due to the generally low methodological quality, significant heterogeneity, and publication bias, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings before the routine use of A. manihot can be recommended.
The Impact of Using Emotionally Arousing Stimuli on Muscle Response Testing Accuracy
Authors: Jensen Anne M. , Stevens Richard J. , Burls Amanda J.
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Muscle response testing (MRT) is an assessment method used by 1 million practitioners worldwide, yet its usefulness remains uncertain. The aim of this study, one in a series assessing the accuracy of MRT, was to determine whether emotionally arousing stimuli influence its accuracy compared to neutral stimuli. Methods: To assess diagnostic test accuracy 20 MRT practitioners were paired with 20 test patients (TPs). Forty MRTs were performed as TPs made true and false statements about emotionally arousing and neutral pictures. Blocks of MRT alternated with blocks of intuitive guessing (IG). Results: MRT accuracy using emotionally arousing stimuli was different than when using neutral stimuli. However, MRT accuracy was found to be significantly better than IG and chance. Similar to previous studies in this series, this study failed to detect any characteristic that consistently influenced MRT accuracy. Conclusion: Using emotionally arousing stimuli had no effect on MRT accuracy compared to using neutral stimuli. This study would have been strengthened by adding personally relevant lies instead of impersonal stimuli. A limitation of this study is its lack of generalizability to other applications of MRT. This study shows that a simple yet robust methodology for assessing MRT as a diagnostic tool can be implemented effectively.
House Dust Mite-Induced Allergic Lung Inflammation Is Not Exacerbated in Sickle Cell Disease Mice
Authors: Jiang Chenyang , Gavitt Tyler D. , Szczepanek Steven M.
Published: April 2019

Aim: Asthma appears to be a common comorbid condition in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), and such individuals may be at a higher risk for increased morbidity and mortality. However, several reports have indicated that asthma severity is not particularly high in those with SCD, and airway hyperreactivity and wheeze may be independently associated with SCD. In SCD mice, exacerbated allergic airway disease (AAD) has been observed in response to the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA). We sought to determine if allergic lung inflammation is also exacerbated in SCD mice when they are exposed to the human allergen, house dust mite (HDM). Methods and Results: Eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined by cytocentrifugation and increased in both wild-type (WT) and SCD mice after acute exposure to a high dose (25 µg) of HDM, which then decreased in chronically exposed mice. WT mice exposed to a low dose of HDM (1 µg) followed the same pattern of eosinophil flux, but SCD mice did not induce much eosinophilia after acute exposure to HDM. As was observed in previous studies, lung lesions similarly increased in severity in both WT and SCD mice after acute exposure to HDM, which remained elevated after chronic exposure. Furthermore, serum HDM-specific IgE titers similarly increased and selected serum cytokines were similar in both WT and SCD mice. Conclusion: These results contrast with previous reports of exacerbated AAD in SCD mice exposed to OVA and support the alternative hypothesis that asthmatic responses are normal in those with SCD.
Understanding Atherosclerosis Through an Osteoarthritis Data Set
Authors: Liu Wenjin , Balu Niranjan , Canton Gador , Hippe Daniel S. , Watase Hiroko , Waterton John C. , Hatsukami Thomas , Yuan Chun
Published: April 2019

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a worldwide epidemic and one of the leading causes of death nowadays. Vessel wall imaging can be used to understand the development and progression of atherosclerosis, but it is rarely done because of the high cost. We recently identified the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a large prospective cohort study of knee osteoarthritis, which might serve as a valuable source for atherosclerosis research with its serial knee magnetic resonance imaging data. We have found that these images are suitable for vessel wall image analysis of the lower extremity arteries. Here, we will introduce the Osteoarthritis Initiative data set and explain why it could be used for cardiovascular research purposes. Also, we will briefly comment on peripheral artery atherosclerosis as it is covered in the Osteoarthritis Initiative image data set and review the use of vessel wall imaging for studying atherosclerosis. We think data mining of imaging studies, not originally designed on cardiovascular research, can not only maximize the value of the imaging data set but also boost our understanding of atherosclerosis.
CD146 (Cluster of Differentiation 146)
Authors: Leroyer Aurélie S. , Blin Muriel G. , Bachelier Richard , Bardin Nathalie , Blot-Chabaud Marcel , Dignat-George Françoise
Published: April 2019

CD146 (cluster of differentiation 146) is an adhesion molecule that is expressed by different cells constituting vessels, particularly endothelial cells. The last 30 years of research in this field have shown that CD146 plays a key role in the control of several vessel functions. Three forms of CD146 have been described, including 2 transmembrane isoforms and a soluble protein that is detectable in the plasma. These CD146 forms mediate pleiotropic functions through homophilic and heterophilic interactions with proteins present on surrounding partners. Several studies used neutralizing antibodies, siRNA, or genetically modified mice to demonstrate the involvement of CD146 in the regulation of angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and leukocyte transmigration. In this review, we will focus on the current knowledge of the roles of CD146 in vascular homeostasis and diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction.
Planning After Stroke Survival: Advance Care Planning in the Stroke Clinic
Authors: Johnson Paul D. , Ulrich Angela , Siv Jenny , Taylor Breana , Tirschwell David , Creutzfeldt Claire J.
Published: April 2019

Background

Stroke survivors have high rates of mortality and recurrent stroke. Stroke patients are often unable to participate in decision making, highlighting the need for advance care planning (
ACP
) in poststroke care. We sought to better understand experiences and perceptions around stroke risk and
ACP
in our stroke clinic.

Methods and Results

Clinic patients completed the Planning After Stroke Survival survey assessing (1) advance directive (
AD
) documentation and
ACP
conversations, (2) factors associated with
ADs
and
ACP
, (3) perceptions of stroke risk, and (4)
ACP
needs. We used a physician survey and the electronic medical record to assess clinical and demographic information. We collected 219 surveys (78% response rate). Forty‐five percent reported having completed
ADs
, although the correlation between patient report and
EMS
documentation of
ADs
was low. Most patients (73%) had discussed
ACP
, and 58% desired additional conversation. Predictors of completing
ADs
included age (≥65 years; odds ratio, 4.8; 95%
CI,
2.3–10.1), white race (odds ratio, 3.1; 95%
CI
, 1.2–7.8), milder poststroke disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≤1; odds ratio, 2.9; 95%
CI
, 1.3–6.4), having previously discussed
ACP
with a physician (odds ratio, 4.8; 95%
CI
, 2.0–11.7), and discussing risk of stroke recurrence (odds ratio, 2.2; 95%
CI
, 1.1–4.5).

Conclusions

Stroke survivors had low
AD
completion rates and desired more conversations about stroke risk and
ACP
. Completed
ADs
were inconsistently documented in the electronic medical record. These findings provide guidance to improve
ACP
in our stroke clinic and may provide a model for others interested in enhancing
ACP
and ultimately goal‐concordant care.
SECTOR: A Neural Model for Coherent Topic Segmentation and Classification
Authors: Arnold Sebastian , Schneider Rudolf , Cudré-Mauroux Philippe , Gers Felix A. , Löser Alexander
Published: April 2019

When searching for information, a human reader first glances over a document, spots relevant sections, and then focuses on a few sentences for resolving her intention. However, the high variance of document structure complicates the identification of the salient topic of a given section at a glance. To tackle this challenge, we present SECTOR, a model to support machine reading systems by segmenting documents into coherent sections and assigning topic labels to each section. Our deep neural network architecture learns a latent topic embedding over the course of a document. This can be leveraged to classify local topics from plain text and segment a document at topic shifts. In addition, we contribute WikiSection, a publicly available data set with 242k labeled sections in English and German from two distinct domains: diseases and cities. From our extensive evaluation of 20 architectures, we report a highest score of 71.6% F1 for the segmentation and classification of 30 topics from the English city domain, scored by our SECTOR long short-term memory model with Bloom filter embeddings and bidirectional segmentation. This is a significant improvement of 29.5 points F1 over state-of-the-art CNN classifiers with baseline segmentation.
Naucleopsis tubulata (Moraceae), a new overlooked species from the Brazilian Amazon, and the re-establishment of Naucleopsis insculptula
Authors: DOS SANTOS ALESSANDRA , GAGLIOTI ANDRÉ LUIZ , PEDERNEIRAS LEANDRO CARDOSO , ROMANIUC-NETO SERGIO
Published: April 2019

Naucleopsis tubulata (Moraceae), a new species endemic to the Brazilian Amazon is described and illustrated in this paper. The conical to tubular shape of the perianth of the pistillate flower and fruit, the narrowly oblong shape of the leaves, and the filaments connate at the base differ from other species in the genus. This new species shows morphological similarities with N. caloneura and N. insculptula. The latter, previously treated as a synonym of N. caloneura, is re-established in this paper. We here present a taxonomic treatment for the new species of Naucleopsis, reestablished N. insculptula, and an updated identification key for the Naucleopsis species that occur in the Boreal Brazilian Domain.
Cololejeunea tianmuensis, a new epiphyllous species of Cololejeunea (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta) from Zhejiang, China
Authors: DAI ZUN , TANG XIA , TU SHU-WEN , ZHUANG LI-JIE , ZHU MAO-JIE , ZHAO MING-SHUI , ZHANG ZHAO-CHEN , WANG JIAN
Published: April 2019

Cololejeunea tianmuensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Tianmushan National Nature Reserve, Lin’an City, Zhejiang Province, China. The new species is similar to C. magnistyla and C. japonica, but differs mainly in its variable stylus which ranges from one to five cells in length and one to two cells in width on the same stem. The conservation of the new species is also discussed here.
New species and records of Colurella (Rotifera: Lepadellidae) from South China, with a key to Chinese Colurella
Authors: WEI NAN , JERSABEK CHRISTIAN D. , XU RUNLIN , YANG YUFENG
Published: April 2019

A new species of the rotifer genus Colurella (Rotifera, Monogononta, Lepadellidae), C. ovalis sp. nov., is described from four sites (an artificial pond site, a mangrove swamp site, a tidal creek site on Qi’ao Island and an estuarine river site in Macao) in the Pearl River Estuary, South China. The ovate lorica of the new species is similar to C. sanoamuangae Chittapun, Pholpunthin & Segers, 1999, but can easily be distinguished by asymmetric posterior lorica ends and a less elongate lorica. The eurythermal and euryhaline animal could be observed perennially in the mangrove swamp site, occasionally with high abundances.Besides, two species of uncertain taxonomic status, two new records of Colurella species for China and a key to Chinese Colurella species are also presented. [Species Zoobank url: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A725658A-5364-45EC-8B5C-485B23252710]
Two new species of Temeritas Richards (Collembola, Symphypleona, Sminthuridae) from Neotropical Region, with comments on the genus
Authors: MEDEIROS GLEYCE DA SILVA , BELLINI BRUNO CAVALCANTE
Published: April 2019

Temeritas Richards is a small genus of Sminthuridae with 40 species described worldwide, 10 of them from Neotropical Region. Herein we describe in detail two new species of the genus from Brazil: T. andreazzei sp. nov., similar to other neotropical taxa such T. amazonensis Arlé & Oliveira and T. caatingae Arlé & Oliveira in the presence of several long chaetae on body and appendages, absence of oval organs on tibiotarsi and presence of mucronal chaeta, but can be readily separate from both by its exclusive combination of fourth antennal segment articles and head, male’s parafurcal area and dorsal dens chaetotaxy; and T. paradoxalis sp. nov., unique in the genus by the combination of low number of fourth antennal segment articles, absence of remarkably long chaetae on third and second antennal segments and head, ungues with serrated dorsal and lateral margins, and mucronal chaeta absent. We also present an updated diagnosis, a comparison of neotropical Temeritas with an identification key to these species and notes on the genus.
Rethinking the “Gold Standard” of Racial Profiling: §287(g), Secure Communities and Racially Discrepant Police Power
Authors: Coleman Mat , Kocher Austin
Published: April 2019

In this article, we explore methodological difficulties related to proving racial profiling, specifically in the context of §287(g) and Secure Communities enforcement. How it is that critical immigration researchers understand racial profiling as the object of their research, and how might they go about substantiating racial profiling in the field? Can racial profiling be made a straightforward object of problematization and, if not, why? We are particularly interested in how racial profiling can be so self-evidently at the core of programs like §287(g) and Secure Communities and yet how racialized law enforcement decisions and tactics are so often inscrutable—and difficult to prove—in the context of routine police work. Building on original fieldwork findings and data on roadblocks by §287(g) and Secure Communities agencies in central North Carolina, we dissect the differences between racially discrepant police work and racial profiling, and argue that chasing the “gold standard” of racial profiling risks leaving racially discrepant policing on the table as an apparently unproblematic, and perhaps even defensible, outcome of policing. As such, we argue that critical scholars should leave aside the problem of proving racial profiling and instead refocus on the problem of racially discrepant policing.
Currents of contact welding in a static layout: A laboratory exercise
Authors: Kolimas Łukasz , Łapczyński Sebastian
Published: April 2019

The purpose of the proposed course is to enhance students’ knowledge, engineering skills and understanding in the field of electrical contacts power engineering – the currents of contact welding. The main goal for students is to acquire brief skills concerning measurements of certain parameters using static layout: currents that cause contact welding, clamping force of contacts joints and breaking force. Moreover, students are encouraged to obtain soft skills like confidence in the mentioned field and creativity. Student work during the exercise is evaluated on the basis of report from laboratory work and test. Essential aspect is safety training while working with HV and MV switchgears – that is another obligatory feature which participants will obtain from this course. Course results were evaluated as significant on the basis of concluded statistical analysis and comparison to previous formula employed during the classes.
Practicing Responsiveness: Using Approximations of Teaching to Develop Teachers’ Responsiveness to Students’ Ideas
Authors: Kavanagh Sarah Schneider , Metz Mike , Hauser Mary , Fogo Brad , Taylor Megan Westwood , Carlson Janet
Published: April 2019

As practice-based teacher education (PBTE) has become more prevalent, debates about its contribution have emerged. Critics of PBTE question whether emphasizing practice will support a technocratic approach to teacher education rather than promoting instruction that is responsive to students’ ideas. This qualitative case study was motivated by an interest in understanding whether and in what ways practice-based approaches to teacher learning can support teachers in practicing responsiveness as opposed to practicing decontextualized moves. To this end, we investigated how early-career teachers in a practice-based professional development program were supported to approximate teaching practices. We focused on the extent to which approximations of practice supported teachers to hone their skill at being responsive to students’ ideas. Findings revealed characteristics of approximations of practice that support teachers in developing their capacity to enact responsive instruction. These findings have implications for program design, teacher educator pedagogy, and future research.
Characterization of Ossicular Chain Vibration at the Umbo: Implications for a Middle Ear Microelectromechanical System Design
Authors: Young Darrin J. , Zurcher Mark A. , Trang Tung , Megerian Cliff A. , Ko Wen H.
Published: April 2019

We propose the use of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer as a middle ear microphone for future totally implantable cochlear prostheses. The MEMS accelerometer would be attached to the umbo to detect and convert the natural bone vibration that occurs in response to external sounds into an electrical signal that represents the acoustic information. The signal could be further processed to stimulate cochlear implant electrodes. To determine the feasibility of our proposal, we conducted a study to investigate whether the characteristics of umbo vibration along two orthogonal axes—one axis being perpendicular to the tympanic membrane and the other axis being parallel to the tympanic membrane plane but orthogonal to the long process of the malleus—differ significantly enough to compromise the sensing performance of the proposed accelerometer should a position misalignment occur during the implant procedure. We used laser Doppler vibrometry to measure the displacement of the umbo along the two orthogonal axes in 4 cadaveric temporal bones at multiple frequencies within the audible spectrum. We found that the peak-to-peak displacement frequency response along both axes was nearly flat from 250 Hz to 1 kHz, and it gradually rolled off with a slope of approximately −20 dB and −40 dB per decade above 1 kHz and 4 kHz, respectively. At each frequency, the displacement exhibited a linear function of the input sound level with a slope of 20 dB per decade. A comparison of measurements along the two axes indicated a similar frequency response, with an average amplitude difference of 20%. The characterization data suggest that the performance of a miniature ossicular vibration-sensing device attached on the umbo would not be degraded in the event of a position misalignment. The data also indicate that a MEMS accelerometer needs to achieve a resolution of i g /√ Hz to detect normal conversation.
Superior Laryngeal Nerve Neuralgia: Case Series and Review of Anterior Neck Pain Syndromes
Authors: Tamaki Akina , Thuener Jason , Weidenbecher Mark
Published: April 2019

Superior laryngeal nerve neuralgia (SLNN) is an anterior neck pain syndrome that is underrecognized and, as a result, is often misdiagnosed. We present a series of patients who were diagnosed with and subsequently treated for SLNN. Nineteen patients were treated with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or a therapeutic neck injection with 2% lidocaine and 40% triamcinolone acetonide. All patients completed a visual analog scale (VAS) to rate the level of pain before and after treatment. Four patients rated their pain as mild, 14 as moderate, and 1 as severe according to the VAS. Of the 19 patients, 8 chose to proceed with a 2-week course of NSAIDs and only 1 of them had complete resolution of their symptoms. A total of 18 patients underwent therapeutic neck injections, with a complete response to injection therapy in 10 patients. Five patients described a minimal residual foreign body sensation and 3 patients complained of mild residual pain. In this study, we found that therapeutic neck injections are effective not only in confirming the diagnosis but also in treating pain.
Adam Smith on Wages and Education: Some Policy Implications for India
Authors: Thomas Alex M.
Published: April 2019

This article outlines Adam Smith’s views on wages and education and employs them in providing suggestions for contemporary politics and economic policy. In particular, the joint examination of his concept of ‘subsistence wages’ and his views on education offer a radically different interpretation of Smith to that found in the mainstream literature. Smith’s qualified and nuanced view of wages and education suggests that the market, if left to itself, cannot generate fair wages nor provide inclusive education. Therefore, our contemporary politics and economic policy must incorporate them as central socioeconomic targets.
Use of Social Media in Health Communication: Findings From the Health Information National Trends Survey 2013, 2014, and 2017
Authors: Huo Jinhai , Desai Raj , Hong Young-Rock , Turner Kea , Mainous Arch G. , Bian Jiang
Published: April 2019

The number of social media users has increased substantially in the past decade, creating an opportunity for health-care professionals and patients to leverage social media for health communication. This study examines the recent use and predictors of social media for health communication in a nationally representative sample of US adults over time. We used 2013, 2014, and 2017 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey to identify respondents’ use of social media for sharing health information or exchanging medical information with a health-care professional. We conducted bivariate analysis using the Pearson χ2 test to assess the association of respondents’ basic demographic characteristics as well as health status and the use of social media for health communication. We performed multivariable logistic regression models to examine factors associated with the use of social media for health communication. We identified 4242 respondents (weighted sample size: 343 465 241 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for sharing health information and 4834 respondents (weighted sample size: 354 419 489 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for exchanging medical information. Multivariable analyses indicated the proportion of respondents who used social media for sharing health information has decreased (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.85, P = .002), while the use of social media for exchanging medical information with a health-care professional has increased (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.26, P = .025). The younger population had significantly higher odds of using social media for health communication. The study found no racial/ethnic disparities in the use of social media for health communication. Use of social media for sharing health information has declined, while exchanging medical information with health-care professionals has increased. Future research is needed to determine how to engage the population in social media–based health interventions, particularly for older adults.
A new comprehensive tribo-dynamic analysis for lubricated translational joints in low-speed two-stroke marine engines
Authors: Li Rui , Meng Xianghui , Li Wenda , Dong Jingjin
Published: April 2019

In low-speed two-stroke marine engines, the effect of connecting rod inertia is important for the tribo-dynamics of crosshead slipper-guide and piston skirt-liner. However, this has not been considered in previous research. Therefore, a new tribo-dynamic model that considers the connecting rod inertia is presented for the two lubricated translational joints, and the lubricant viscosity–temperature properties are accurately incorporated into the model. The modified extended backward differentiation formulate method is used to solve the nonlinear stiff differential equations effectively. The simulation results show that the effect of connecting rod inertia on the dynamic characteristics of two translational joints is mainly observed during the latter half of the upward stroke. For the crosshead slipper, the amplitude of the transverse velocity is increased by 30% at a crank angle of approximately 300° compared to the early model that ignored the connecting rod inertia. With the increase of the connecting rod mass, the secondary motions of both the crosshead slipper and the piston skirt are increased. Furthermore, a decrease of the connecting rod mass can reduce the friction losses of the engine.
Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the Attitudes Toward Research Scale in a Graduate Student Sample
Authors: Howard Alicia , Michael Paul G
Published: April 2019

Graduate training in psychology emphasizes a student's ability to understand research design and methodology, as well as to generate research that contributes to the profession. The Attitudes Toward Research (ATR) scale was developed in 2005 to measure attitudes among student populations. Past research suggests the scale contains five factors: usefulness of research, research anxiety, positive feelings about research, relevancy of research to the students' daily lives, and difficulty of research. The current study utilized data collected from first year graduate students ( N = 128) to examine the psychometric properties of the ATR. While the internal consistency and the construct validity of the scale were adequate, the scale did not appear to be a predictor of student grades in this sample. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a three-, four-, and seven-factor solution. Confirmatory factor analyses suggested that the five-factor model was a poor fit for the ATR. While the ATR assesses an important construct, the inferences made from this measure may be less useful when studying graduate students' attitudes and how they may impact learning and training.
Event-Related Potential Analysis of ADHD and Control Adults During a Sustained Attention Task
Authors: Kaur Simranjit , Singh Sukhwinder , Arun Priti , Kaur Damanjeet , Bajaj Manoj
Published: April 2019

Background. Event-related potentials (ERPs) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) population have been extensively studied using the time-domain representation of signals but time-frequency domain techniques are less explored. Although, adult ADHD is a proven disorder, most of the electrophysiological studies have focused only on children with ADHD. Methods. ERP data of 35 university students with ADHD and 35 control adults were recorded during visual continuous performance task (CPT). Gray level co-occurrence matrix-based texture features were extracted from time-frequency ( t-f) images of event-related EEG epochs. Different ERP components measures, that is, amplitudes and latencies corresponding to N1, N2, and P3 components were also computed relative to standard and target stimuli. Results. Texture analysis has shown that the mean value of contrast, dissimilarity, and difference entropy is significantly reduced in adults with ADHD than in control adults. The mean correlation and homogeneity in adults with ADHD were significantly increased as compared with control adults. ERP components analysis has reported that adults with ADHD have reduced N1 amplitude to target stimuli, reduced N2 and P3 amplitude to both standard and target stimuli than controls. Conclusions. The differences in texture features obtained from t-f images of ERPs point toward altered information processing in adults with ADHD during a cognitive task. Findings of reduction in N1, N2, and P3 components highlight deficits of early sensory processing, stimulus categorization, and attentional resources, respectively, in adults with ADHD.
Flexural properties of load-holding reinforced concrete beams strengthened with textile-reinforced concrete under a chloride dry–wet cycle
Authors: Yin Shiping , Yu Yulin , Na Mingwang
Published: April 2019

To study the reinforcement effect of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) on concrete structures in a marine environment, a four-point bending loading method was used for graded loading to analyze the influence of the dry–wet cycle number, the reinforcement method, and chopped fiber addition on the flexural properties of load-holding reinforced concrete beams reinforced with textile-reinforced concrete. The results show that with the increase of dry–wet cycle numbers, the crack width and deflection of beams develop faster and the bearing capacity decreases. The performance of the prefabricated textile-reinforced concrete plate is close to that of a cast-in-place textile-reinforced concrete in limiting crack, bearing capacity, and deflection deformation. The addition of chopped fibers in fine-grained concrete can improve the reinforcement effect of textile-reinforced concrete. Based on the experimental results and referring to the relevant design codes and literature, the calculation formula of the bearing capacity of TRC-strengthened beam with a secondary load is established, and the calculated values are in good agreement with the actual values.
Epigenetic and metabolic programming of innate immunity in sepsis
Authors: Vachharajani Vidula , McCall Charles E
Published: April 2019

Sepsis, the 10th leading cause of death, is the most expensive condition in the United States. The immune response in sepsis transitions from hyperinflammatory to a hypoinflammatory and immunosuppressive phase; individual variations regarding timing and overlap between hyper- and hypoinflammation exist in a number of patients. While one third of the sepsis-related deaths occur during hyperinflammation, majority of the sepsis-mortality occurs during the hypoinflammatory phase. Currently, no phase-specific molecular-based therapies exist to treat sepsis. Coordinated epigenetic and metabolic perturbations orchestrate this shift from hyper- to hypoinflammation in innate immune cells during sepsis. These epigenetic and metabolic changes during sepsis progression and therapeutic opportunities they pose are described in this review.
Serum miR-21 expression correlates with radiographic progression but also low bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zou Yu-Cong , Gao Yan-Ping , Yin Hai-Dong , Liu Gang
Published: April 2019

Increased expressions of miR-21 have been detected in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. The current study was performed to examine the serum miR-21 expression with radiographic severity in AS patients, which was determined based on the modified New York (NY) criteria for sacroiliac joints assessment and modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) system for spine involvement. Bone mineral density at lumbar 1–4 and femoral neck were examined by dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA). Serum miR-21 expressions were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify the diagnostic value of miR-21 expression levels regarding the NY criteria. Elevated levels of serum miR-21 expressions were detected in AS patients compared with healthy controls. AS patients with modified NY grade 4 showed significantly higher miR-21 expression than grade 3 and grade 2. AS patients with spinal syndesmophytes had significantly higher serum miR-21 expressions than non-syndesmophyte patients. Increased miR-21 expressions were significantly related to the disease radiographic severity. In addition, serum miR-21 expressions were negatively associated with lumbar 1–4 and femoral neck bone mineral density. In summary, serum miR-21 expressions were related to structural damage and radiological progression in AS, indicating that miR-21 may act as a switch between inflammation and new bone information and regulate different signal ways between lesioned enthesis and trabecular bone.
Simultaneous analyses of carbohydrate-mediated serum GLP-1 and GLP-2 and duodenal receptor expression in children with and without celiac disease
Authors: Rachmiel Marianna , Ben-Yehudah Gilad , Shirin Haim , Broide Efrat
Published: April 2019

Background:

Variability in glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 plasma concentrations has been suggested in Celiac disease (CD), with inconclusive results. We assessed the association between serum levels of GLP-1 and GLP-2 and their duodenal receptor expression in children with and without CD.

Methods:

This was a two-part, cross-sectional and prospective cohort study. Group assignment, performed after duodenal samples for mRNA expression of GLP-1 receptor (GLP1R) and GLP-2 receptor (GLP2R), were taken during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The control group consisted of patients with normal endoscopy and negative serology. The CD group consisted of patients with positive serology and endoscopy suggestive of CD. All had an oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT). CD patients underwent a second OGTT after 6 months of a gluten-free diet (GFD).

Results:

The CD group included 12 patients; 7 males with mean age 9.2 ± 2.5 years. The control group included 10 patients; 5 males with mean age 12 ± 4 years, ( p = 0.14). No differences were detected in basal or peak levels of GLP-1 or GLP-2 between control, naïve CD (before GFD) and treated CD (after GFD) groups. Expression of GLP1R and GLP2R mRNA was similar. Significant positive correlations between glucose and C-peptide secretion ( r = 0.9, p < 0.01) and GLP-1 and GLP-2 ( r = 0.8, p = 0.01) were detected in the control group. Significant negative correlations were found in the naïve CD group between GLP2R expression and glucose secretion ( r = −0.68, p = 0.015) and GLP1R expression and serum GLP-1 ( r = −0.7, p = 0.016).

Conclusions:

Although no significant differences were detected in secretion patterns or gut receptor expression of GLP-1 and GLP-2 in healthy versus CD pediatric patients, the detected discrepancy between the ligand levels and their tissue receptors requires additional study.
A Review of the Role of Auditory Evoked Potentials in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment
Authors: Washnik Nilesh J. , Anjum Javad , Lundgren Kristine , Phillips Susan
Published: April 2019

Around 75% to 90% of people who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are classified as having a mild TBI (mTBI). The term mTBI is synonymous with concussion or mild head injury (MHI) and is characterized by symptoms of headache, nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. Problems in cognitive abilities such as deficits in memory, processing speed, executive functioning, and attention are also considered symptoms of mTBI. Since these symptoms are subtle in nature and may not appear immediately following the injury, mTBI is often undetected on conventional neuropsychological tests. Current neuroimaging techniques may not be sensitive enough in identifying the array of microscopic neuroanatomical and subtle neurophysiological changes following mTBI. To this end, electrophysiological tests, such as auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), can be used as sensitive tools in tracking physiological changes underlying physical and cognitive symptoms associated with mTBI. The purpose of this review article is to examine the body of literature describing the application of AEPs in the assessment of mTBI and to explore various parameters of AEPs which may hold diagnostic value in predicting positive rehabilitative outcomes for people with mTBI.
The Impact of Leadership and Psychosocial Work Environment on Recipient Satisfaction in Nursing Homes and Home Care
Authors: Lundgren Dan , Ernsth Bravell Marie , Börjesson Ulrika , Kåreholt Ingemar
Published: April 2019

This study examines the association between nursing assistants’ assessment of leadership, their psychosocial work environment, and satisfaction among older people receiving care in nursing homes and home care. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with nursing assistants ( n = 1,132) and people receiving care ( n = 1,535) in 45 nursing homes and 21 home care units. Direct leadership was associated with the psychosocial work environment in nursing homes and home care. Furthermore, better leadership was related to higher satisfaction among nursing assistants and older people in nursing homes. Thus, indirect leadership had no effect on recipients’ satisfaction in either nursing homes or home care. The path analysis showed an indirect effect between leadership factors and recipient satisfaction. The findings suggest that the psychosocial work environment of nursing assistants and recipient satisfaction in nursing homes can be increased by improving leadership.
An Open-Label Feasibility Trial Examining the Effectiveness of a Cognitive Training Program, Goal Management Training, in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Boyd Jenna E. , O’Connor Charlene , Protopopescu Alina , Jetly Rakesh , Rhind Shawn G. , Lanius Ruth A. , McKinnon Margaret C.
Published: April 2019

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysfunction across multiple cognitive domains including executive functioning, attention, and verbal memory. This dysfunction is associated with negative impacts on functional outcomes (e.g., work or social functioning) and reduced response to psychotherapy for PTSD. Despite this knowledge, little work has investigated the efficacy of cognitive remediation strategies in improving cognition and functional outcomes among individuals with PTSD.

Objective

The current study investigated the efficacy of an established cognitive remediation program, Goal Management Training (GMT), in improving cognitive functioning in a pilot sample of individuals with PTSD symptoms in an inpatient treatment setting.

Method

Thirty-four inpatients with PTSD symptoms participated in either GMT in addition to treatment as usual (TAU; consisting of psychiatric management, group and individual psychotherapy) (TAU+GMT; n = 18) or TAU alone ( n = 16). The TAU+GMT group received neuropsychological assessment at baseline and posttreatment, while both the TAU+GMT and TAU groups received assessment with clinical self-report measures at baseline and posttreatment.

Results

Paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements on measures of executive functioning (e.g., response inhibition, cognitive flexibility), processing speed, sustained attention, and verbal memory in the TAU+GMT group. Mixed-design analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed a trend toward an interaction effect indicating potentially greater improvements on a measure of the ability to engage in goal-directed behaviors while highly emotional in the TAU+GMT group as compared to the TAU group.

Discussion

The results of this small feasibility investigation of GMT in PTSD point toward the potential efficacy of GMT in ameliorating cognitive difficulties in individuals with PTSD.
Stratospheric imperialism: Liberalism, (eco)modernization, and ideologies of solar geoengineering research
Authors: Surprise Kevin
Published: April 2019

Once a fringe notion, solar geoengineering via Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is gaining traction as a climate management tactic within mainstream institutions and factions of the climate justice movement. Cautious considerations of SAI are driven by the layered realities of climate urgency, political inaction, and the potential for climate impacts to harm the most vulnerable. This narrative is difficult to dispute, yet it originates from leading centers of SAI research—particularly the Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program (HSGRP)—that construct the “necessity” of research, experimentation, and potential deployment under ideological pretenses aimed at maintaining the hegemony of liberal-capitalism. Hence, advanced under the auspices of HSGRP, SAI would constitute a form of imperialism rather than a tool for climate justice. I link SAI to theories of capitalist imperialism, and situate HSGRP within Harvard’s legacy shaping U.S. imperialism and position as a nodal point of liberal-capitalist power. In this context, I identify three dominant ideologies undergirding SAI research at Harvard—ecomodernism, Realist International Relations theory, and Keynesianism—that construct a specific narrative whereby established climate solutions (liberal-capitalist ecomodernism) are frustrated by “anarchical” international politics, leaving the poor vulnerable to near-term climate impacts. SAI is thus positioned as a mechanism capable of buying time for market-driven policy and reducing near-term climate risk. HSGRP directly counter poses this approach to radical elements of the climate justice movement that address capitalism as the root cause of both climate change and global poverty.
Fundamentals of structure–property relationships in blown films of linear low density polyethylene/low density polyethylene blends
Authors: Patel Rajen M , Karjala Teresa P , Savargaonkar Nilesh R , Salibi Philip , Liu Lizhi
Published: April 2019

This study was undertaken to fundamentally understand structure–property relationship of blown films of linear low density polyethylene/low density polyethylene blends over the entire composition range via decoupling orientation effects from their intrinsic properties. Three different low density polyethylene blends with an octene Ziegler–Natta linear low density polyethylene resin were studied. The machine direction tear strengths of blown film of linear low density polyethylene/low density polyethylene blends went through a minimum as the low density polyethylene concentration increased, almost a mirror image of the melt strength curve for these blends. The machine direction tear decreased significantly up to 40% low density polyethylene, much sharper decrease compared to decrease in intrinsic tear suggesting orientation effects dominating the machine direction tear behavior. The decrease in the dart impact and puncture energy was also due to both an increase in the machine direction orientation, and a decrease in the intrinsic toughness due to decrease in the tie chain concentration, as the low density polyethylene content increased.