bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consequences of Routine Work-Schedule Instability for Worker Health and Well-Being
Authors: Schneider Daniel , Harknett Kristen
Published: February 2019

Research on precarious work and its consequences overwhelmingly focuses on the economic dimension of precarity, epitomized by low wages. But the rise in precarious work also involves a major shift in its temporal dimension, such that many workers now experience routine instability in their work schedules. This temporal instability represents a fundamental and under-appreciated manifestation of the risk shift from firms to workers. A lack of suitable existing data, however, has precluded investigation of how precarious scheduling practices affect workers’ health and well-being. We use an innovative approach to collect survey data from a large and strategically selected segment of the U.S. workforce: hourly workers in the service sector. These data reveal that exposure to routine instability in work schedules is associated with psychological distress, poor sleep quality, and unhappiness. Low wages are also associated with these outcomes, but unstable and unpredictable schedules are much more strongly associated. Precarious schedules affect worker well-being in part through the mediating influence of household economic insecurity, yet a much larger proportion of the association is driven by work-life conflict. The temporal dimension of work is central to the experience of precarity and an important social determinant of well-being.
Optic Flow and Tunnel Vision in the Detection Response Task
Authors: van Winsum Wim
Published: February 2019

Objective:

In a driving simulator, a backwards counting task, a simple steering task, and a fully autonomous driving task were applied to study the independent effects of cognitive load, visual-cognitive-manual load, and optic flow on visual detection response task (vDRT) performance. The study was designed to increase the understanding of the processes underlying vDRT effects.

Background:

The tunnel vision effect induced by a “steering while driving” task found in a previous study was investigated further in this experiment.

Method:

Stimulus eccentricity and conspicuity were applied as within-subjects factors.

Results:

Cognitive load, visual-cognitive-manual load, and optic flow all resulted in increased vDRT response time (RT). Cognitive load and visual-cognitive-manual load both increased RT but revealed no interaction of task by stimulus eccentricity. However, optic flow resulted in a task by stimulus eccentricity interaction on vDRT RT that was evidence of a tunnel vision effect.

Conclusion:

The results suggested that optic flow may be a factor responsible for tunnel vision while driving, although this does not support the tunnel vision model because it is unrelated to workload. However, the results supported the general interference model for cognitive workload.

Application:

The results have implications for the diagnosticity of the vDRT. During driving tasks, tunnel vision effects may occur as a result of optic flow, and these effects are unrelated to workload.
Assessment of Competitiveness of Food-tech Start-ups in India
Authors: Munshi Angad
Published: February 2019

Two years ago, the central government launched the ‘Start-up India’ initiative to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, capturing the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth. The initiative promised to build an ecosystem conducive to scaling up start-up companies. The Start-up India action plan of the government is a very important step in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. This article is an endeavour to portray the start-up ecosystem in India, which has also focused on the global best practices. The ecosystem for successful start-ups typically starts with proper mentorship with a mix of technological and directorial support. India has made a strong name for itself in the global start-up community and ranks among the top five countries in the world in terms of number of start-ups founded. It is estimated that the job creation from these entrepreneurs is likely to reach 250,000– 300,000 by 2020. The Indian food start-ups are now playing a pivotal role in accomplishing transformation, and trying and testing innovative technologies and business models. The innovations in this segment have been the result of improving technology in three segments: ordering food, food preparation and finally delivery. To seize the opportunity for the food industry, it is important to understand the dynamics around the start-up ecosystem. The challenges in the space are many, but it is heartening to see the passion and ability of the young start-ups who are working towards accomplishing their goals. The consolidation is the new mantra for food delivery companies, while quality will be the decisive factor, playing a catalytic role in the near future for health-conscious consumers.
Posttraumatic Growth, Personality Factors, and Social Support Among War-Experienced Young Georgians
Authors: Panjikidze Mariam , Beelmann Andreas , Martskvishvili Khatuna , Chitashvili Marine
Published: February 2019

Despite much research on adult posttraumatic growth in recent decades, few studies have focused on posttraumatic growth in the young and especially after experiencing war. This study examined personality factors and different types and sources of social support as key correlates of posttraumatic growth in war-experienced children and adolescents. Participants were 242 individuals from settlements for internally displaced people in Georgia with a mean age of 13.22 years ( SD = 2.73). Relations between variables were examined with correlations, standard multiple regressions, and mediation analyses. Results showed that the main predictors of posttraumatic growth were extraversion, conscientiousness, and social support. In addition, informational type of support from peers related significantly to posttraumatic growth. Moreover, general social support mediated the link between personality factors and posttraumatic growth. Conclusions are drawn on the mechanisms underlying posttraumatic growth in young persons.
Sound absorption of gradient structure fabrics based on functional finishing with metal compounds
Authors: Zhang Chunchun , Gong Jixian , Zhang Jianfei , Li Huiqin , Zhang Nan
Published: February 2019

The common porous sound absorbing materials are thick and have a narrow sound absorption band. In order to design light and thin gradient structure functional fibrous assemblies with excellent performance of sound absorption and noise reduction, metal compounds with a heavy vibration damping characteristic were applied to a nonwoven by padding finishing, dipping finishing (DF) and spraying finishing. The influences of metal compound type, finishing method, the application amount of finishing agent and distribution of the finishing agent on nonwoven fabric for the sound absorption performance were studied. The results showed that the samples following DF had the largest amount of metal compound applied, and this processing method was beneficial to the construction of the gradient structure. The heavy vibration damping property of the metal compound could combine with the porous sound absorption mechanism of the nonwoven fabric to improve the sound absorption performance of fabric. The greater the amount of metal compound in the application, the better the sound absorption performance, and the effects of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and barium sulfate (BaSO4) were particularly remarkable. Different finishing methods would affect the distribution of the metal compound on the material, which in turn affected the sound absorption performance.
Restoring Confidence in Consumer Financial Protection Regulation in Australia: A Sisyphean Task?
Authors: Schmulow Andrew , Fairweather Karen , Tarrant John
Published: February 2019

Consumer financial protection and the integrity of the Australian financial system are critical to the Australian economy in many ways, including the provision of an effective banking system, and the security of Australia’s significant superannuation savings. This is especially the case in an environment where financial products have become more complex and difficult for consumers to understand. In recent years there have been several scandals in Australia’s financial sector that have undermined confidence in the financial system, and exposed regulatory failure. The authors argue that there needs to be a more effective oversight of the key regulators in the Australian financial system to maintain confidence in the system, and prevent capture of the regulators by the financial services industry. The authors contend that the recommendation of the Financial System Inquiry for the establishment of an Assessment Board to provide continuous oversight of the financial regulators is an effective solution to the poor regulatory outcomes encountered in Australia in recent years. The consequences of not having such oversight are likely to be more financial scandals, and further instability in the financial system. These deficiencies must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
An improved radial basis function neural network control strategy-based maximum power point tracking controller for wind power generation system
Authors: Sitharthan R , Parthasarathy T , Sheeba Rani S , Ramya KC
Published: February 2019

This literature presents an improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller based on radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) control strategy to extract optimal power for wind power generation system. The proposed RBFNN controller is trained online using gradient descent algorithm and its network learning rate modification is carried out by the modified particle swarm optimization algorithm. The proposed MPPT controller uses optimal torque control methodology to extract optimal power available in the wind by upholding the generated torque at an optimal level. The most promising aspects of the proposed controller are that it not only extracts maximum available power from wind, but it also rapidly responses to the change in wind speeds and maintains converter with negligible converter losses. To evaluate the performance of the proposed MPSO-RBFNN-based MPPT controller, an extensive simulation study and experimental analysis is performed. The attained results confirm the enhanced performance of the proposed MPPT controller.
Experimental test of vision-based navigation and system identification of an unmanned underwater survey vehicle (SAGA) for the yaw motion
Authors: Karadeniz Kartal Seda , Leblebicioglu M. Kemal , Ege Emre
Published: February 2019

In this study, a nonlinear mathematical model for an unmanned underwater survey vehicle (SAGA) is obtained. The structure of the mathematical model of the vehicle comes from a Newton–Euler formulation. The yaw motion is realized by a suitable combination of right and left thrusters. The navigation problem is solved by using the inertial navigation system and vision-based measurements together. These are integrated to more accurately obtain navigation data for the vehicle. In addition, the magnetic compass is used to support the attitude information of the vehicle. A pool experimental set-up is designed to test the navigation system. Performance of the resultant navigation system can be analysed by creating suitable system state, measurement and noise models. The navigational data for the vehicle has been improved using a Kalman filter. The mathematical model of the vehicle includes some unknown parameters such as added mass and damping coefficients. It is not possible to determine all the parameter values as their effects on the state of the system are usually negligible. On the other hand, most of the ‘important’ parameters are obtained based on a system identification study of the vehicle using this estimated navigational data for coupled motion. This study is performed in a MATLAB/Simulink environment.
Increased Awareness, Unchanged Behavior: Prediabetes Diagnosis in a Low-Income, Minority Population
Authors: Strodel Rachel J. , Chang Claire H. , Khurana Sonia G. , Camp Anne W. , Magenheimer Elizabeth A. , Hawley Nicola L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to explore preventive behaviors and attitudes among mostly low-income, young Hispanic women with and without prediabetes.

Methods

In 2017, a convenience sample of women without diabetes aged 18 to 49 years (n = 214, 77.8% Hispanic) was recruited from the waiting room of a community health center to complete a 77-item questionnaire. Attitudes, risk perception, and recent lifestyle change were measured using a validated instrument, the Risk Perceptions Survey: Developing Diabetes. Chi-squared tests and multivariable binary logistic regression were conducted to assess the relationship between prediabetes diagnosis and attitude or lifestyle variables.

Results

Women diagnosed with prediabetes were more likely to report worry about diabetes and to perceive themselves at higher risk for developing diabetes in the next 10 years than women without a prior prediabetes diagnosis. There was no significant association between prediabetes diagnosis and recent adoption of lifestyle changes compared with those without prediabetes. After controlling for demographic characteristics and risk factors for type 2 diabetes, prediabetes diagnosis was significantly associated with elevated risk perception for developing diabetes if no lifestyle change is made but not with worry or risk perception for developing diabetes generally.

Conclusions

Prediabetes diagnosis is associated with heightened perception of diabetes risk but not lifestyle change compared to women without prediabetes in this low-income, predominantly Hispanic population. Prediabetes counseling efforts must emphasize evidence-based approaches for motivating preventive behaviors.
A Study on Distribution Features of Neovascularization in Atherosclerotic Carotid Artery Plaques: Comparing Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound with Histopathology
Authors: Ning Bin , Zhang Dong , He Wen , Wang Li Shu , Jin Zhan Qiang
Published: February 2019

Intraplaque neovascularization (IPNV) is a characteristic feature of the vulnerable plaques. In this study of neovessels of carotid plaques, we assessed intraplaque echogenicity and plaque surface morphology, and performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to observe the location and grading of neovessels to identify the vulnerability of plaques. The results showed that plaque with a ruptured fibrous cap on the histopathological images presented as a sunken or fissured surface on corresponding ultrasound images. Both in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, plaque echogenicity did not correlate with neovessels grading. The neovessels that appeared in the tunica media and base of the plaque in the symptomatic and asymptomatic group on CEUS had no statistical difference ( p > 0.05), but those located in the fibrous cap and shoulders had a significant statistical difference ( p = 0.000). Statistical differences were not found in the locations of IPNV on CEUS and histopathology (all p > 0.05). The sensitivity (82.4%, 56/68) and specificity (77.4%, 24/31) of IPNV location were higher than those (77.9%, 53/68; 45.2%, 14/31) of IPNV grading in the identification of plaque vulnerability. IPNVs located at the fibrous cap and shoulders on CEUS is a reliable indicator for identifying plaque vulnerability.
Book review: Nayanjot Lahiri and Upinder Singh (eds), Buddhism in Asia: Revival and Reinvention
Authors: Chakravarti Uma
Published: February 2019

Nayanjot Lahiri and Upinder Singh (eds), Buddhism in Asia: Revival and Reinvention, University of Manchester Press, Manchester, 2015, ix + 208 pp., ₹1,395.
Trusting e-voting amid experiences of electoral malpractice: The case of Indian elections
Authors: Avgerou Chrisanthi , Masiero Silvia , Poulymenakou Angeliki
Published: February 2019

This article constructs explanatory theory on trust in e-voting, a term that refers to the use of stand-alone IT artefacts in voting stations. We study e-voting as a techno-organisational arrangement embedded in the process of elections and the broader socio-economic context of a country. Following a critical realist approach, we apply retroduction and retrodiction principles to build theory by complementing existing studies of e-voting with insights from an in-depth case study of elections in India. First, we seek evidence of trust in e-voting in the responses of the public to the announcement of election results. Then we derive the following four mechanisms of trust creation or loss: the association of e-voting with the production of positive democratic effects; the making of e-voting part of the mission and identity of electoral authorities; the cultivation of a positive public attitude to IT with policies for IT-driven socio-economic development; and, in countries with turbulent political cultures, a clear distinction between the experience of voting as orderly and experiences of malpractice in other election tasks. We suggest that these mechanisms explain the different experience with e-voting of different countries. Attention to them helps in assessing the potential of electoral technologies in countries that are currently adopting them, especially fragile democracies embarking upon e-voting.
Sociocultural, economic and ethnic homogeneity in residential mobility and spatial sorting among couples
Authors: van Gent Wouter , Das Marjolijn , Musterd Sako
Published: February 2019

This study aims to advance the spatial conceptualization of ‘social homophily’ by relating the match, or mismatch, between a household’s social and sociocultural characteristics and the characteristics of the neighbourhood of residence to the probability of moving away from that neighbourhood. Three matching dimensions were investigated: economic status, ethnic background and sociocultural disposition. This paper’s focus is on the sociocultural dimension because this has not been included extensively in large-scale research so far. Initially we investigate how level of education at the household level interacts with education composition at the neighbourhood level. To further investigate the sociocultural dimension, we then include the share of each partner’s income in the total household income in our analyses. Based on the spatial literature at the intersections of class, gender and family, we assume that, together with higher education, the intra-household distribution of income reflects a broader set of sociocultural values. We make use of large- N register data to analyse the residential and mobility behaviour of all registered stable couples in the four largest Dutch urban regions between 2008 and 2009. Our analyses indicate that the degree to which a household ‘matches’ its social surroundings negatively affects its probability of leaving. This is the case for all three dimensions, with sociocultural disposition having the largest effect. The conclusion reflects on the importance of these findings for social homophily, sorting and residential segregation, and proposes directions for further research.
The U-turn of utopia – Utopia, socialism and modernity in Zygmunt Bauman’s social thought
Authors: Aidnik Martin , Jacobsen Michael Hviid
Published: February 2019

Zygmunt Bauman was undoubtedly one of the most prolific and renowned social theorists of the later part of the 20th and the early part of the 21st century. In his work spanning more than half a century, Bauman explored and tangled with some often overlooked topics within mainstream sociology such as freedom, the Holocaust, morality, art, immortality and utopia. In this article, the authors delineate the development of an unmistakable utopian mentality in Bauman’s writings from the early pieces concerned with socialism and culture through the acclaimed body of work dealing with modernity and postmodernity to the most recent writings investigating, for example, the rise of ‘Retrotopia’. Throughout Bauman’s work, one will discover that utopia is always present – either explicitly or implicitly – as a critique of the world ‘as it is’ and the world we uncritically take for granted. In this way, Bauman urges his readers to consider that there is always possibility for change and that we are the human motors who can make it happen.
“Keep it Realistic”: Reactions to and Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion Messages From Focus Groups of Women
Authors: Thai Chan L. , Taber Jennifer M. , Oh April , Segar Michelle , Blake Kelly , Patrick Heather
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

Less than half of US adults meet the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise each week. Health promotion messages are frequently used to promote physical activity (PA); however, this messaging may be ineffective if it does not resonate with the target audience. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how women respond to examples of PA promotion messages.

Approach/Design:

A qualitative study.

Setting:

Washington DC Metro Area.

Participants:

Forty women, stratified by race/ethnicity (white, black, Latina) and level of self-reported PA (active, inactive).

Method:

Eight focus groups were conducted in which participants were shown 3 PA promotion messages representative of typical messaging strategies. Three researchers conducted a thematic analysis to code the data for emergent themes.

Results:

Current PA promotion messaging strategies do not resonate with women. Women want to see individuals with “realistic” bodies who look similar to them (eg, body shape, age, race/ethnicity), and for PA messaging to include daily activities as a way to be active.

Conclusions:

Public health practitioners who promote PA to women should consider developing messages that better resonate with women’s dynamic roles and lifestyles. Successful strategies may include depicting busy lifestyles that PA may be physically and logistically difficult to fit into and using models with diverse body shapes.
Modification and optimization strategies for turbine arbitrary blade tips
Authors: Jin Jiahui , Song Yanping , Yu Jianyang , Chen Fu
Published: February 2019

The influence of different arbitrary blade tip shapes on restraining the tip leakage flow in a highly loaded turbine cascade has been numerically studied. A combined method of establishing and optimizing the arbitrary blade tip shape is proposed by using B-spline surface modeling, Kriging model and genetic optimization algorithm. The results show that the Kriging model established by the B-spline surface modeling method can accurately fit the relationship between the arbitrary blade tip shape and the relevant aerodynamic parameters. The optimal leakage mass flow tip and the optimal total pressure loss tip obtained by genetic algorithm both have strong inhibitory effects on tip leakage flow. Compare to the flat tip at 1%H gap height, the tip leakage mass flow of the optimal leakage mass flow case and the optimal total pressure loss case decrease by 11.14% and 10.23%, respectively, the area-average total pressure loss at exit section is reduced by 8.08% and 7.41%, respectively.
Holocene vegetation record of upland northern Calabria, Italy: Environmental change and human impact
Authors: Sevink Jan , Bakels Corrie C , Attema Peter AJ , Di Vito Mauro A , Arienzo Ilenia
Published: February 2019

Earlier studies on Holocene fills of upland lakes (Lago Forano and Fontana Manca) in northern Calabria, Italy, showed that these hold important palaeoecological archives, which however remained poorly dated. Their time frame is improved by new 14C dates on plant remains from new cores. Existing pollen data are reinterpreted, using this new time frame. Two early forest decline phases are distinguished. The earliest is linked to the 4.2 kyr BP climatic event, when climate became distinctly drier, other than at Lago Trifoglietti on the wetter Tyrrhenian side, where this event is less prominent. The second is attributed to human impacts and is linked to middle-Bronze Age mobile pastoralism. At Fontana Manca (c. 1000 m a.s.l.), it started around 1700 BC, in the higher uplands a few centuries later (Lago Forano, c. 1500 m a.s.l.). In the Fontana Manca fill, a thin tephra layer occurs, which appears to result from the AP2 event (Vesuvius, c. 1700 BC). A third, major degradation phase dates from the Roman period. Land use and its impacts, as inferred from the regional archaeological record for the Raganello catchment, are confronted with the impacts deduced from the palaeoarchives.
“We Loved It Because We Felt That We Existed There in the Classroom!”: International Students as Epistemic Equals Versus Double-Country Oppression
Authors: Hayes Aneta
Published: February 2019

The article compares student narratives of engagement in internationalization in the United Kingdom and Germany. The comparison signals a new area of critical sociology of internationalization which shows signs that internationalization in non-Anglophone countries may evolve under conditions the article calls “double-country oppression.” “Double-country oppression” denotes a situation whereby international students are put at risk of exclusion not only on the basis of lacking characteristics that “bind” them to the country of education (in this case Germany) but also, and perhaps primarily, because they lack characteristics that “bind” them to Anglophone countries, despite being located in a non-Anglophone country. As such, “double-country oppression” has important pragmatic and conceptual implications as it calls into question analytical paradigms which center around the nation-state. The emergence of “double-country oppression” also challenges the view that there are new possibilities for epistemic democracy as more non-Anglophone countries enter the internationalization competition.
Impact of Quetiapine Therapy on QTc Prolongation in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Lee Sue , Morris Amanda , Kim Sarah , Li Fanny , Baumgartner Laura
Published: February 2019

Background: Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic commonly utilized for the management of delirium in critically ill patients. The impact of quetiapine on QTc in the critically ill population is largely unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate QTc prolongation following administration of quetiapine for the management of delirium in critically ill patients. Methods: This was a single-center prospective, observational cohort study. QTc measurements of patients who received at least one dose of quetiapine were compared with a control group receiving melatonin. The primary outcome was mean change in QTc from baseline to maximum serum drug concentration after the first dose of quetiapine. Results: No significant change in QTc was observed from baseline to post–quetiapine administration, with a mean change in QTc of 2.7 ms (438.4 ± 43.2 ms vs 441.1 ± 36.4 ms; P = 0.50). When comparing mean change in QTc between the quetiapine group and melatonin group, the difference was not significant (2.7 ± 37.8 ms vs −0.18 ± 32.0 ms, P = 0.73). Conclusion and Relevance: This study represents one of the first prospective studies evaluating the impact of quetiapine on QTc. The results of this study demonstrate a nonsignificant statistical and clinical change in the QTc following quetiapine administration in critically ill patients utilizing telemetry measurements. Routine QTc monitoring with formal electrocardiogram(s) following quetiapine administration may not be warranted.
Combining Strengths for Multi-genome Visual Analytics Comparison
Authors: Diaz-del-Pino Sergio , Rodriguez-Brazzarola Pablo , Perez-Wohlfeil Esteban , Trelles Oswaldo
Published: February 2019

The eclosion of data acquisition technologies has shifted the bottleneck in molecular biology research from data acquisition to data analysis. Such is the case in Comparative Genomics, where sequence analysis has transitioned from genes to genomes of several orders of magnitude larger. This fact has revealed the need to adapt software to work with huge experiments efficiently and to incorporate new data-analysis strategies to manage results from such studies. In previous works, we presented GECKO, a software to compare large sequences; now we address the representation, browsing, data exploration, and post-processing of the massive amount of information derived from such comparisons. GECKO-MGV is a web-based application organized as client-server architecture. It is aimed at visual analysis of the results from both pairwise and multiple sequences comparison studies combining a set of common commands for image exploration with improved state-of-the-art solutions. In addition, GECKO-MGV integrates different visualization analysis tools while exploiting the concept of layers to display multiple genome comparison datasets. Moreover, the software is endowed with capabilities for contacting external-proprietary and third-party services for further data post-processing and also presents a method to display a timeline of large-scale evolutionary events. As proof-of-concept, we present 2 exercises using bacterial and mammalian genomes which depict the capabilities of GECKO-MGV to perform in-depth, customizable analyses on the fly using web technologies. The first exercise is mainly descriptive and is carried out over bacterial genomes, whereas the second one aims to show the ability to deal with large sequence comparisons. In this case, we display results from the comparison of the first Homo sapiens chromosome against the first 5 chromosomes of Mus musculus.
Familicide: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Karlsson Linda C. , Antfolk Jan , Putkonen Hanna , Amon Sabine , da Silva Guerreiro João , de Vogel Vivienne , Flynn Sandra , Weizmann-Henelius Ghitta
Published: February 2019

Familicides have received relatively little attention and are mostly discussed in studies with broader aims. Here, we reviewed 67 studies from 18 countries on familicides, in which an offender killed or attempted to kill their current or former spouse/intimate partner and one or more of their biological or stepchildren. We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Eight studies investigated familicide specifically, while the remaining reported on familicide cases as a subsample. We retrieved data on offenders’ gender, age, and background as well as on victims and their relationship to the offender. We also retrieved data on contextual factors and offense characteristics (i.e., modus operandi, offense location, premeditation, and whether or not the offender had committed suicide). We also coded methodological aspects of the studies. Familicides were almost exclusively committed by men and about half of the familicide cases led to the suicide of the offender. Mental health problems, relationship problems, and financial difficulties were prevalent. Because few studies reported population base rates of the investigated characteristics, it is difficult to draw conclusions about specific risk factors. Future research should further investigate typologies of familicide and examine risk factors for different types of familicides.
Expanded Suitability of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms for Total Endovascular Repair Using the Endurant Endograft and Heli-FX EndoAnchors
Authors: Reyes Valdivia Andrés , Álvarez Marcos Francisco , Duque Santos África , Ocaña Guaita Julia , Gandarias Zúñiga Claudio
Published: February 2019

Purpose: To assess if the suitability of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) can be expanded by combining the Endurant stent-graft with the Heli-FX EndoAnchors. Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of 90 patients (mean age 73.2±9 years; 87 men) with RAAA admitted between January 2014 and January 2018 in 2 tertiary care centers were analyzed in a 3-dimensional workstation. Anatomical features of the aneurysms according to the instructions for use (IFU) for the Endurant endograft were evaluated and expansion of treatment with Heli-FX EndoAnchors was assessed. Results: Neck length <10 mm was present in 41 (45.6%) patients; 5 had neck diameters outside the IFU and 45 (50.0%) had conical necks. Thrombus and calcium were absent in 63 (70.0%) and 73 (81.1%), respectively. In the study cohort, 44 (48.9%) patients met all the neck criteria, although overall IFU compliance was found in only 35 (38.9%) patients due to iliac-related issues in 21 patients. The adjunctive use of EndoAnchors in the entire study group would enhance the therapeutic range to an additional 24 patients, 8 of whom would need an associated iliac procedure. This represents an expansion of the total EVAR approach from 48.9% to 75.6% of cases if some iliac issues are overcome and from 38.9% to 56.7% without correcting iliac deficiencies. Conclusion: The main reason of being unfit for endovascular treatment in this series was neck length <10 mm. Based on this analysis, nearly 40% of RAAA patients would have been candidates for EVAR based on the IFU neck criteria for the Endurant stent-graft. This suitability could be nearly doubled with the use of EndoAnchors and correction of unsuitable iliac anatomy. The use of EndoAnchors has the potential to offer a significant benefit in the endovascular treatment of RAAA patients.
A comparative protein analysis of lung cancer, along with three controls using a multidimensional proteomic approach
Authors: Saleem Mahwish , Raza Syed K , G Musharraf Syed
Published: February 2019

Lung cancer is an important respiratory disease accounting for millions of deaths worldwide. Developments in proteomics techniques and mass spectrometry offer comprehensive answers to unravel the complexities of lethal diseases such as lung cancer at the molecular level. The current study focuses on the proteomic profiling of lung cancer and its comparison with other controls including chronic smoker (high-risk individuals), obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and healthy control. A multistep proteomic strategy was used on the pooled plasma of each group including depletion of seven most abundant proteins, 2D-SDS-PAGE separation followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS) analysis. Total 23 proteins were identified, and out of them only 7 proteins were found to be expressed in increased amounts in disease and smoker groups as compared to healthy group including haptoglobin, retinol binding protein 4 (RBP 4), alpha-1 antitrypsin, Ig lambda 2 chain C region, Ig alpha-1-chain C region, clusterin, transthyretin (TTR). Haptoglobin and alpha-1-antitrypsin were found to be sequentially increased in healthy control along with smoker, COPD, and lung cancer. The differentially expressed proteins might have a prognostic potential to be used in the progression of COPD to ultimately lung cancer.

Impact statement

A multistep proteomics fractionation strategy was developed and validated for the discovery of proteomic biomarkers which could be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers for monitoring the progression of disease in smokers and COPD patients towards lung cancer.
Electromyogram-Related Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Restoring Wrist and Hand Movement in Poststroke Hemiplegia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Monte-Silva Katia , Piscitelli Daniele , Norouzi-Gheidari Nahid , Batalla Marc Aureli Pique , Archambault Philippe , Levin Mindy F.
Published: February 2019

Background. Clinical trials have demonstrated some benefits of electromyogram-triggered/controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation (EMG-NMES) on motor recovery of upper limb (UL) function in patients with stroke. However, EMG-NMES use in clinical practice is limited due to a lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness. Objective. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of EMG-NMES on stroke UL recovery based on each of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains. Methods. Database searches identified clinical trials comparing the effect of EMG-NMES versus no treatment or another treatment on stroke upper extremity motor recovery. A meta-analysis was done for outcomes at each ICF domain (Body Structure and Function, Activity and Participation) at posttest (short-term) and follow-up periods. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on stroke chronicity (acute/subacute, chronic phases). Sensitivity analysis was done by removing studies rated as poor or fair quality (PEDro score <6). Results. Twenty-six studies (782 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Fifty percent of them were considered to be of high quality. The meta-analysis showed that EMG-NMES has a robust short-term effect on improving UL motor impairment in the Body Structure and Function domain. No evidence was found in favor of EMG-NMES for the Activity and Participation domain. EMG-NMES had a stronger effect for each ICF domain in chronic (≥3 months) compared to acute/subacute phases. Conclusion. EMG-NMES is effective in the short term in improving UL impairment in individuals with chronic stroke.
Texture defect detection by using polynomial interpolation and multilayer perceptron
Authors: Abid Sabeur
Published: February 2019

This article deals with fabric defect detection. The quality control in textile manufacturing industry becomes an important task, and the investment in this field is more than economical when reduction in labor cost and associated benefits are considered. This work is developed in collaboration with “PARTNER TEXTILE” company which expressed its need to install automated defect fabric detection system around its circular knitting machines. In this article, we present a new fabric defect detection method based on a polynomial interpolation of the fabric texture. The different image areas with and without defects are approximated by appropriate interpolating polynomials. Then, the coefficients of these polynomials are used to train a neural network to detect and locate regions of defects. The efficiency of the method is shown through simulations on different kinds of fabric defects provided by the company and the evaluation of the classification accuracy. Comparison results show that the proposed method outperforms several existing ones in terms of rapidity, localization, and precision.
Impact of prehospital stroke code in a public center in Paraguay: A pilot study
Authors: Flores Alan , Seró Laia , Otto Christian , Mernes Ricardo , Gonzalez Silvia , Diaz-Escobar Luis , Gonzalez Romina
Published: February 2019

Prehospital stroke code activation results in reduced pre- and in-hospital delays and triage and transport of stroke patients to the right centers. In Paraguay, data about acute reper fusion treatment are not available. Recently, a pilot prehospital stroke code program was implemented in the country in November 2016. In an observational, single-center cohort study with a before–after design, from April 2015 to July 2018, we found that 193/832 (23.1%) of stroke patients were stroke code activated, and from these, 54 (6.5%) were brought to hospital under the prehospital stroke code protocol. Fifty-eight patients (58 alteplase and 2 additional endovascular treatment) received reperfusion therapy. Prehospital stroke code patients had a lower mean door-to-CT time (24 vs. 33 min, p = 0.021) and lower mean door-to-needle time (35.3 vs.76.3 min, p < 0.001) compared to in-hospital stroke code patients. Prehospital stroke code is feasible in Paraguay and has a positive impact on in-hospital acute stroke management, reducing delays and increasing the rates of reperfusion treatments.
Effects of Intranasal Cellulose Powder on Asthma Control in Children With Mild-to-Moderate Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Chen Xi , Guan Wei-jie , Sun Shi-xue , Zheng Pei-yan , Sun Li-hong , Chen De-hui , Wang Dan-dan , Chen Chang , Sun Bao-qing , Douglas Zhang Xiao-hua
Published: February 2019

Background

Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) often coexists in asthmatic patients. Intranasal cellulose powder (ICP) was reportedly effective in ameliorating PAR.

Objective

We investigated whether ICP is equally effective compared with intranasal corticosteroids in improving asthma control as well as nasal symptoms among children with PAR and allergic asthma (AA).

Methods

Between July 2015 and September 2016, we did a single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Asthmatic children aged 6 to 11 years with mild-to-moderate PAR were randomly assigned to formoterol/budesonide inhalation (4·5 µg/80 µg, twice daily) plus intranasal budesonide 64 µg twice daily (group A), ICP 250 µg thrice daily (group B), or intranasal placebo 250 µg thrice daily (group C) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was change in asthma control test for children (C-ACT) score from baseline to week 8 posttreatment. Changes in spirometry, peak expiratory flow (PEF), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and visual analog scale (VAS) for nasal and ocular symptoms were detected as secondary outcomes.

Results

We included 121 patients (38 in group A, 41 in group B, and 42 in group C) in full-analysis set. C-ACT score was markedly higher at week 8 compared with baseline (mean difference: 5.11, 6.05, and 4.85 points in groups A, B, and C, respectively; P < .05). There were interactions between baseline and treatment in C-ACT scores ( P < .05). Group B demonstrated greater improvement in C-ACT score than group C among children with baseline C-ACT score of 6 to 18. 95% confidence intervals of group A at baseline overlapped with those of groups B and C. The treatment achieved reduced VAS symptoms in groups A and B but not in group C. Incidence of adverse events was comparable. No serious adverse event was reported.

Conclusions

ICP could be recommended for children with PAR and AA who have poorer asthma control.
A Novel Cartilage Fragments Stimulation Model Revealed that Macrophage Inflammatory Response Causes an Upregulation of Catabolic Factors of Chondrocytes In Vitro
Authors: Hamasaki Masanari , Terkawi Mohamad Alaa , Onodera Tomohiro , Homan Kentaro , Iwasaki Norimasa
Published: February 2019

Objective

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Presence of cartilage fragments in the joint due to degradation of cartilage is thought to be associated with local inflammatory response and progressive osteoarthritic process. Understanding the mechanism by which cartilage fragments elicit this destructive process should aid in designing novel therapeutic approaches. Therefore, objective of current study is to establish an in vitro model to examine the cross-talk between chondrocytes and cartilage fragments–stimulated macrophages.

Design

Cartilage fragments were prepared from femoral head cartilages of mice and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and particle size analyzer. Bone marrow–derived macrophages were co-cultured with cartilage fragments and chondrocytes using transwell co-culture system. Macrophage inflammatory mediators in supernatant of cultures were determined by ELISA and gene expression of macrophages and chondrocyte were quantified by qRT-PCR.

Results

Shapes of cartilage fragments were irregular with sizes ranged between 0.54 and 55 μm. Macrophages cultured with cartilage fragments released significantly higher concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO than those of mock and control. Consistently, gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and MMP-9 were significantly increased in stimulated macrophages. The elevation in production of pro-inflammatory molecules in stimulated macrophages cultures were coincident with an increase in gene expression of chondrocyte MMP-13, iNOS, and IL-6.

Conclusion

We developed an in vitro co-culture model to study the impact of stimulation of macrophage by cartilage fragments on the expression of chondrocyte carbolic factors. Our results revealed that cartilage fragments triggered macrophages inflammatory response that enhanced the production of chondrocyte catabolic factors.
β-Tubulinopathy caused by a mutation of the TUBB2B gene: magnetic resonance imaging findings of the brain
Authors: Jimenez Juliana , Herrera Diego A , Vargas Sergio A , Montoya Jorge , Castillo Mauricio
Published: February 2019

Patients with mutations in tubulin-related genes usually present with brain malformations, intellectual disability, epilepsy, microcephaly and ocular abnormalities. In these patients the diagnosis can be suggested by neuroimaging findings. We report a 5-year-old patient with characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings including malformation of cortical development, fused basal ganglia, large head of the caudate nuclei, absent anterior limbs of the internal capsules, corpus callosum dysgenesis and dysplastic cerebellar vermis. Sequencing of the TUBB2B gene confirmed a heterozygous mutation: c. 260C>A (p. Pro87Gln).
Automatic 3D illumination-diagnosis method for large-N arrays: Robust data scanner and machine-learning feature provider
Authors: Chamarczuk Michał , Malinowski Michał , Nishitsuji Yohei , Thorbecke Jan , Koivisto Emilia , Heinonen Suvi , Juurela Sanna , Mężyk Miłosz , Draganov Deyan
Published: February 2019

The main issues related to passive-source reflection imaging with seismic interferometry (SI) are inadequate acquisition parameters for sufficient spatial wavefield sampling and vulnerability of surface arrays to the dominant influence of the omnipresent surface-wave sources. Additionally, long recordings provide large data volumes that require robust and efficient processing methods. We address these problems by developing a two-step wavefield evaluation and event detection (TWEED) method of body waves in recorded ambient noise. TWEED evaluates the spatiotemporal characteristics of noise recordings by simultaneous analysis of adjacent receiver lines. We test our method on synthetic data representing transient ambient-noise sources at the surface and in the deeper subsurface. We discriminate between basic types of seismic events by using three adjacent receiver lines. Subsequently, we apply TWEED to 600 h of ambient noise acquired with an approximately 1000-receiver array deployed over an active underground mine in Eastern Finland. We develop the detection of body-wave events related to mine blasts and other routine mining activities using a representative 1 h noise panel. Using TWEED, we successfully detect 1093 body-wave events in the full data set. To increase the computational efficiency, we use slowness parameters derived from the first step of TWEED as input to a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. Using this approach, we detect 94% of the TWEED-evaluated body-wave events indicating the possibility to limit the illumination analysis to only one step, and therefore increase the time efficiency at the price of lower detection rate. However, TWEED on a small volume of the recorded data followed by SVM on the rest of the data could be efficiently used for a quick and robust (real-time) scanning for body-wave energy in large data volumes for subsequent application of SI for retrieval of reflections.