bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibrous skeleton reconstruction for invasive aortic and mitral valve endocarditis
Authors: Miletic Kyle , Tong Michael Z
Published: October 2020

Invasive endocarditis of the aortic and mitral valves with involvement of the intervalvular fibrosa is a particular surgical challenge. We describe a technique for aortic and mitral valve replacement with concomitant reconstruction of the intervalvular fibrosa, utilizing a folded bovine pericardial patch (Commando operation).
Mitigating cardiac dysfunction by TOE-guided cardioplegia and mitral valve repair
Authors: Jin Xu Yu , Sayeed Rana , Pepper John , Petrou Mario
Published: October 2020

Based on current guidelines, 15% to 20% of patients undergoing mitral valve repair for regurgitation develop left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%–55%) despite a normal baseline. Two schools of thought have been debated: preexisting myocardial disease or suboptimal intraoperative myocardial protection. In our view, they could be reconciled. It is well recognized that left ventricular ejection fraction with a standard cut off at 50%–55% has limited sensitivity in detecting early systolic impairment in mitral regurgitation patients. Mitral regurgitation also leads to mitochondrial oxidative stress, thus rendering the myocardium more susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury and precipitating postoperative cardiac dysfunction. The fall in left ventricular ejection fraction early after mitral valve repair was shown to be caused by the reduction in both myocardial contractility and left ventricular stroke volume. To mitigate the risk to myocardial reperfusion injury, appropriate cardioplegia volume and distribution and well-defined surgical repair processes are equally important. We use transesophageal echocardiography-guided cardioplegia delivery, imaging the intramyocardial flow and ensuring adequate protection of the subendocardium during mitral valve repair. Mild aortic regurgitation on a beating heart often leads to left ventricular dilatation with diminished cardioplegia flow in the myocardium, thus requiring direct ostia cardioplegia. Systematic transesophageal echocardiography assessment before surgery is essential for establishing the mitral regurgitation mechanisms and translating them into precise surgical repair strategies. The benefits of transesophageal echocardiography-guided cardioplegia delivery warrant further clinical trials in order to evolve into part of a high surgical standard.
Faith in Internationalism: Covid-19 and the International Order
Authors: Ross Kenneth R.
Published: October 2020

One inescapable feature of the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the world in 2020 is that it has shown how inter-connected and inter-dependent is the human community. It was soon apparent that the spread of the coronavirus was a global crisis calling for a global response. Yet the human community had to meet the pandemic after a period of systematic weakening of agencies of international cooperation as populist and nationalist political movements gained control of nation after nation. This put the issue of internationalism, the belief that the nations of the world should work for greater mutual understanding and cooperation, high on the agenda. The focus of this article is on the role of faith, particularly the missionary dimension of Christianity, in relation to internationalism. It explores what recent thinking about Christian mission might have to contribute to the recovery of internationalism in the crisis of the 2020s.
COVID-19 Shows the Need to Make Church More Flexible
Authors: Pillay Jerry
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 challenge is unprecedented. It has caused enormous trauma, disrupted economies, social life, mass transportation, work and employment, supply chains, leisure, sport, international relations, academic programmes; literally everything. Churches and religious communities have not been spared; they have been severely affected and, in all likelihood, permanently transformed by the pandemic. The pre-COVID-19 world is gone, replaced by a ‘new normal’. The new landscape calls for both resilience and adaptation, embracing new ways of doing things and of being church. Churches have to adapt; they have to ask themselves questions about the implications for being church in this ‘new normal’ context. This article aims to explore the impact of the coronavirus on the mission and theology of the church.
Intracranial vessel wall lesions on 7T MRI and MRI features of cerebral small vessel disease: The SMART-MR study
Authors: Zwartbol Maarten HT , van der Kolk Anja G , Kuijf Hugo J , Witkamp Theo D , Ghaznawi Rashid , Hendrikse Jeroen , Geerlings Mirjam I ,   on behalf of the UCC-SMART Study Group*
Published: October 2020

The etiology of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the subject of ongoing research. Although intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) has been proposed as a possible cause, studies on their relationship remain sparse. We used 7 T vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the association between intracranial vessel wall lesions—a neuroimaging marker of ICAS—and MRI features of CSVD. Within the SMART-MR study, cross-sectional analyses were performed in 130 patients (68 ± 9 years; 88% male). ICAS burden—defined as the number of vessel wall lesions—was determined on 7 T vessel wall MRI. CSVD features were determined on 1.5 T and 7 T MRI. Associations between ICAS burden and CSVD features were estimated with linear or modified Poisson regression, adjusted for age, sex, vascular risk factors, and medication use. In 125 patients, ≥1 vessel wall lesions were found (mean 8.5 ± 5.7 lesions). ICAS burden (per + 1 SD) was associated with presence of large subcortical and/or cortical infarcts (RR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.12–2.43), lacunes (RR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14–1.86), cortical microinfarcts (RR = 1.48; 95%CI: 1.13–1.94), and total white matter hyperintensity volume ( b = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.02–0.46). Concluding, patients with a higher ICAS burden had more CSVD features, although no evidence of co-location was observed. Further longitudinal studies are required to determine if ICAS precedes development of CSVD.
Imagination and Fantasy: Correlates of Preschoolers’ Science Relevant Inquisitiveness
Authors: Smith Maureen Claire , Fusaro Maria
Published: October 2020

One early manifestation of science inquiry skills may be inquisitiveness; that is, children’s tendency to ask questions about science relevant information. Little is known about individual differences in inquisitiveness, despite its fundamental role in emerging science inquiry skills. Prior research hints at potential predictors of inquisitiveness, including children’s imagination and curiosity through children’s exploration and play. Hence, this study examines potential correlates of inquisitiveness: children’s fantasy orientation and curiosity. Thirty-four ethnically diverse 4- to 5-year-old children (58.8% female) self-reported imaginary companion status, fantasy orientation, engagement in pretend role-play, and drew imaginative pictures. Children participated in two tasks, one that measures preference for uncertainty (curiosity) and one that measures inquisitiveness about science relevant content. MANOVA indicated differences in inquisitiveness by imaginary companion status and regression indicated that fantasy orientation made an independent contribution to inquisitiveness. Our results suggest that educators can enhance children’s science education in early childhood classrooms by providing opportunities for children to engage in imaginative play and experience stories and games with fantasy content.
Polymorphism rs6478109 in the TNFSF15 gene contributes to the susceptibility to Crohn’s disease but not ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Zhu Yi , Jiang HongGang , Chen ZhiHeng , Lu BoHao , Li Jin , Shen Xuning
Published: October 2020

Objective

Polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor superfamily 15 ( TNFSF15) gene contribute to susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, associations between TNFSF15 rs6478109, rs7869487, and rs7865494 polymorphisms and IBD remain unclear.

Methods

Eligible articles were retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CNKI databases through 20 March 2020. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the relationships of TNFSF15 polymorphisms with IBD susceptibility.

Results

Under the recessive model, TNFSF15 rs6478109 was associated with IBD risk (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92). Stratification analyses based on the type of disease—Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC)—revealed a significant association under the allelic and recessive models between TNFSF15 rs6478109 and CD (allelic model: OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.99; recessive model: OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.87) but not UC. Stratification by ethnicity indicated a significantly decreased risk of IBD in Asian populations with TNFSF15 rs6478109 under the recessive model (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.92).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis suggested that under the allelic and recessive models, the TNFSF15 rs6478109 polymorphism was likely protective for CD but not UC in the Asian population.
A Comparative Study of the In-Built Torque and Slot Size of MBT Prescription Bracket of Different Manufacturing Companies: A Stereo-Microscopic Study
Authors: Mathew Ashish , Kumar HC Kiran , Shetty Sadashiva
Published: October 2020

Torque is produced by a twist in an “archwire” that creates a couple when interacted with a “bracket slot.” Depending on the magnitude of the twist, the size of the wire, the built-in torque and the size of the slot, the archwire expresses torsional forces to the teeth. When brackets are manufactured, some variations may inadvertently occur in the dimensions of the bracket slot. Hence this study was done to determine the accuracy of different manufacturer’s dimensions of bracket slots and the built-in torque.

Method:

Seven upper right central incisor brackets of Mclaughlin Bennet and Trevisi (MBT) prescription with 0.022-inch slot from 5 different manufacturers were taken to assess the accuracy of bracket slot dimensions and built-in torque. A stereomicroscope was used to accurately determine slot dimensions and built-in torque.

Results:

The results showed that all the bracket slots measured in this study were oversized when compared to the standard value. Dentaurum showed significant difference from the ideal slot size and brackets from JJ Orthodontics and Desires showed highly significance difference from ideal slot size. The mean values for built in torque were less in all the brackets. The brackets from JJ Orthodontics and Desires showed highly significant difference from the ideal built in torque values.

Interpretation and Conclusion:

The above findings of the study suggest that one should be cautious when choosing a commercially available brand in day to day practice as some of the materials may not fulfill the desired standards.
The effective music teacher: A model for predicting music teacher’s self-efficacy
Authors: Biasutti Michele , Concina Eleonora , Deloughry Ciaran , Frate Sara , Konkol Gabriela , Mangiacotti Anthony , Rotar Pance Branka , Vidulin Sabina
Published: October 2020

Effective music teachers have several skills that influence the learning processes of their students. Music teachers’ effectiveness is a multidimensional construct that includes professional and personal features; it is a complex phenomenon characterized by several hidden variables that contribute in an interrelated way. Variables like professional self-efficacy could be good indicators of teachers’ effectiveness and are used to analyze professional and personal factors. The aim of this study is to examine music teachers’ professional self-efficacy and to define a predictive model based on their psychological and professional attitudes. Participants were 335 music teachers from several European countries who completed a set of questionnaires that included measures for professional self-efficacy, professional motivation, professional satisfaction, resilience, coping strategies, and self-esteem. A regression analysis was used to define a predictive model of professional self-efficacy. The results show that professional self-efficacy was positively predicted by professional satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and regulation attitudes toward teaching activity, perceived resilience, coping strategies based on planning solutions, and self-esteem. Conversely, coping strategies based on passive acceptance of critical situations had a negative impact on music teachers’ professional self-efficacy. The educational implications of these findings are discussed.
The feasibility of a combined model of online interventions for adults with cancer-related cognitive impairment
Authors: Maeir Talia , Nahum Mor , Makranz Chen , Hoba Afik , Peretz Tamar , Nagary Shai Netanel , Silberman Nechama , Gilboa Yafit
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a telehealth intervention combining computerised cognitive training and occupation-based treatment among adult cancer survivors experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Method

This was a single-arm study including six cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment. Participants completed the computerised retraining and functional treatment intervention consisting of 10 hours of computerised cognitive training (BrainHQ) and approximately 10 1:1 remote sessions with an occupational therapist using an occupation-based approach. Feasibility was measured in terms of recruitment, adherence, acceptability and potential effectiveness. Assessments were administered at baseline, post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up and included measures of occupational performance, objective cognitive functions, quality of life and mood questionnaires.

Results

From the nine participants enrolled in the study, six completed 8–13 weeks of computerised retraining and functional treatment intervention and reported high satisfaction levels. Positive and significant improvements were found in occupational performance, useful field of view and social quality of life (all P < 0.05). The positive gains were maintained at the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusion

A combined model of computerised cognitive training and occupation-based treatment delivered remotely to adults with cancer-related cognitive impairment was found feasible and may improve occupational performance, cognitive functions and quality of life.
Longitudinal study of prosthesis use in veterans with upper limb amputation
Authors: Resnik Linda , Borgia Matthew , Biester Sarah , Clark Melissa A
Published: October 2020

Background:

Little is known about the patterns of prosthesis use and satisfaction of those who cease use or begin to use upper limb prostheses.

Objectives:

Among a longitudinal sample of Veterans with upper limb amputation, (1) describe changes in prosthesis use over 1 year, (2) examine rates of receipt of new prostheses, and (3) compare prosthesis satisfaction in respondents who received a new prosthesis to those who did not.

Study Design:

Longitudinal survey.

Methods:

808 Veterans who had participated in a baseline interview 1 year earlier were invited to participate in structured telephone interviews.

Results:

A total of 562 persons with unilateral and 23 with bilateral amputation participated in the interviews (Response rate = 72.4% and 85.2%, respectively). Prosthesis use, frequency and intensity of use, and types of prostheses used were stable over 1 year. About 24% reported using a different primary terminal device type at follow-up than baseline. Prosthesis use was less frequent/intense at baseline among those who discontinued use compared with those who did not (P < 0.05), and less frequent/intense for those who started compared with those who continued using a prosthesis (P < 0.0001). Rates of prosthetic training were higher among those who received a different prosthesis type compared with those using the same type (P = 0.06). Satisfaction scores were higher (P < 0.01) for new prosthesis recipients, and lower at baseline for prosthesis abandoners compared with continued users (P = 0.03).

Conclusion:

Prosthesis abandonment appears to be predicated on dissatisfaction with the device, as well as less frequent/intense prosthesis use. These findings can be used to identify those at risk for prosthesis abandonment and improve their prosthesis experience.
What Are the Benefits of Pet Ownership and Care Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia? Findings From the IDEAL programme
Authors: Opdebeeck Carol , Katsaris Michael A. , Martyr Anthony , Lamont Ruth A. , Pickett James A. , Rippon Isla , Thom Jeanette M. , Victor Christina , Clare Linda
Published: October 2020

Pet ownership has been associated with positive outcomes in many populations, yet the associations with physical and psychological wellbeing in people with dementia remain unclear. The current study used baseline data from 1,542 people living at home with mild-to-moderate dementia from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme. Regression analyses investigated associations of pet ownership and pet care with self-reports of walking, loneliness, depression, and quality of life (QoL). After adjusting for covariates, having any pet was associated with higher likelihood of walking over 3 hr in the last week. Those with a dog and who were involved in its care were less likely to be lonely than those with no dog. Having any pet but no involvement in its care was associated with increased depression and decreased QoL compared with those without a pet. The key factor in the associations was involvement in the care of the pet by the person with dementia.
Stressors, Job Resources, Fear of Contagion, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Nursing Home Workers in Face of the COVID-19: The Case of Spain
Authors: Blanco-Donoso Luis Manuel , Moreno-Jiménez Jennifer , Amutio Alberto , Gallego-Alberto Laura , Moreno-Jiménez Bernardo , Garrosa Eva
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to analyze the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing home workers, as well as the influence of certain related stressors and job resources. Two-hundred twenty-eight nursing home workers in Spain participated in this cross-sectional study. High levels of workload, social pressure from work, contact with suffering, and fear of contagion were found. In nursing homes where cases of COVID-19 had been detected, workers experienced higher levels of secondary traumatic stress. Social pressure from work, high doses of exposure to suffering, lack of personnel and personal protective equipment, and minimal supervisor support were significant in explaining traumatic stress. Supervisor and coworker support moderated some of these relationships. The results are discussed in terms of the need to implement urgent psychosocial protection strategies and to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent future psychological disorders in this worker population.
Negotiated Agency in the Face of Consumption Constraints: A Study of Women Entrepreneurs in Subsistence Contexts
Authors: Venugopal Srinivas , Viswanathan Madhubalan
Published: October 2020

Millions of women entrepreneurs in subsistence contexts face consumption constraints while embedded in strongly patriarchal social institutions. In these contexts, the place for women is believed to be within the home as homemakers and not in the market as entrepreneurs. Yet these women are able to overcome gender-based institutional barriers and engage with the marketplace as entrepreneurs as a way to overcome consumption constraints. The authors conducted a longitudinal qualitative study of women entrepreneurs in low-income neighborhoods of Chennai, India, to understand (1) what motivates women to overcome the gender-based institutional barriers to entrepreneurial action and (2) how they can overcome the “iron cage” of institutional norms to initiate and sustain entrepreneurial action. The findings help the authors theorize the process of negotiated agency and elaborate on the microprocesses that underlie its enactment. Substantively, they demonstrate how consumption constraints in poverty trigger entrepreneurial agency among low-income women. The authors build on the findings to offer welfare-enhancing policy recommendations.
Toxicokinetics and distribution in female rats after chronic nonylphenol exposure
Authors: Fu Haowei , Di Qiannan , Wang Jinming , Jiang Qianqian , Xu Qian
Published: October 2020

Our previous studies have shown that continuous exposure to nonylphenol (NP) may cause female reproductive toxicity even at low doses. To better understand this toxic effect, the aim of this study was to investigate the basic characteristics of the disposal kinetics of NP under a chronic exposure scenario to simulate human exposure. Female rats were exposed to NP at three dose levels (50-, 500-, and 10,000 µg kg−1 bw day−1, low, medium, and high dose, respectively) by gavage daily for 17 weeks. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect NP in rat sera and tissues. The results suggested that a two extravascular compartment model was found to better match the actual serum metabolic behavior of NP. Compared with the high-dose group, the NP absorption in the low-dose group was relatively efficient, the clearance rate was slower, and the residual amount of NP was greater. NP was found mostly in the uterus, adipose and brain tissues and to a lesser degree, in the liver, kidney, and ovary. The results indicated that the extensive organ distribution may cause corresponding toxicity even at relatively low doses.
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Atherosclerotic Stenosis in the Middle Cerebral Artery Using High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Lin Guo-hui , Song Jian-xun , Fu Nian-xia , Huang Xu , Lu Hong-xia
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

We analyzed and compared the imaging characteristics of the vessel wall of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients using a 3.0-T high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) protocol, including a 3-dimensional T1-sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions sequence.

Methods:

Fifty-three patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of the MCA underwent 3.0-T HR-MRI examinations. The characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques in 53 patients (28 symptomatic, 25 asymptomatic) were analyzed, including plaque distribution and signal intensity. Plaque burden (PB), stenosis degree, and the remodeling index were measured and compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Results:

The PB of the symptomatic group was significantly higher than that of the asymptomatic group ( P = .006), and moderate−severe stenosis was more common ( P = .01). The remodeling index of the symptomatic group was also lower ( P = .015) and negative remodeling (NR) was more common ( P = .043). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that stenosis degree was a risk factor in symptomatic patients (odds ratio = 135, P = .023).

Conclusion:

There is a trend that some characteristics of plaques and vessels, including the moderate-severe stenosis, larger PB, and NR, were observed more frequently among patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the MCA than among asymptomatic patients.
Proanthocyanidin as a crosslinking agent for fibrin, collagen hydrogels and their composites with decellularized Wharton’s-jelly-extract for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Hasanzadeh Elham , Mahmoodi Narges , Basiri Arefeh , Esmaeili Ranjbar Faezeh , Hassannejad Zahra , Ebrahimi-Barough Somayeh , Azami Mahmoud , Ai Jafar , Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa
Published: October 2020

In tissue engineering, natural hydrogel scaffolds gained considerable attention due to their biocompatibility and similarity to macromolecular-based components in the body. However, their low mechanical strength and high degradation degree limit their biomedical application. By varying the composition of hydrogels, their biochemical and mechanical properties can be improved. In this study, the stability of fibrin and collagen hydrogels and their composites with decellularized Wharton’s jelly extract (DEWJ) was improved using proanthocyanidin (PA) as a cross-linker, extracted from grape seeds. The cytocompatibility, physicochemical and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated. Human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were seeded on the hydrogels and their attachment, morphology, and proliferation were investigated using a scanning electron and optical microscopy. Our results showed that hydrogels containing DEWJ along with PA enhance cell proliferation and showed higher mechanical properties compared with the fibrin and collagen hydrogel. The results present the potential utility of these hydrogels in tissue engineering and for application in three-dimensional culture.
Reformed Aesthetics and Disability Ethics: The Potential Contribution of Nicholas Wolterstorff
Authors: Zerra Luke
Published: October 2020

Nicholas Wolterstorff has presented an account of justice that has important implications for disability. He does not ground rights in intellectual capacities. Instead, rights are justly owed by virtue of the inherent worth bestowed by God to humanity, thereby protecting those with severe intellectual disabilities. Wolterstorff’s aesthetics, I claim, offer a vision for how these rights are rendered. By describing art as a social practice wherein justice can be rendered, and by describing justice as essential to Christian liturgy, Wolterstorff allows liturgy to be a site where justice can and ought to be rendered to the disabled. Liturgy then becomes a social practice where one can learn to see those with disabilities differently, not as inherently ugly but as beloved by God and owed certain goods by right.
Numerical and experimental investigation of notch-induced high-speed precise shearing of 42CrMo bar
Authors: Dong Yuanzhe , Ren Yujian , Jiang Hong , Zhang Shuowen , Zhao Shengdun
Published: October 2020

A notch-induced high-speed precise shearing method was developed for high-strength metal bars, which prefabricated V-shape circumferential notches in batch on the bar surface to make stress concentration, and applied a high-speed load to complete separation on a new type of electric-pneumatic counter hammer. The FE simulation and experimental tests were conducted; the inﬂuences of loading speed, notch depth, and axial clearance were analyzed on the fracture behavior and blank quality; the microfracture mechanism was further investigated. The results showed that the circumferential notch inhibited the plastic distortion and obtained high precision chamfered billets, with a roundness error of 1.34%, flatness error of 0.34 mm, and incline angle of 0.87°. Besides, the surface notch effectively reduced Max. impact force and fracture energy. The fractography revealed that: for the notched bar, the cracks initiated from the thin extrusion layers at the bilateral-notch tips, and from micro extrusion and intrusion at the top-notch tip. The predominant microfracture mechanism involves microvoid coalescence and forming of quasi-parabolic dimples along with the shear stress.
Numerical approach for prediction of turbulent flow resistance coefficient of 90° pipe bends
Authors: Ayala Manuel , Cimbala John M
Published: October 2020

In the present study turbulent flow in a circular cross-sectioned 90° smooth-walled pipe bend has been investigated numerically. The geometry of the model consisted of three sections: a straight inlet pipe of length 52 diameters, a 90° bend with radius of curvature 1 diameter, and a straight downstream pipe of length 52 diameters. Reynolds numbers from 5,000 to 120,000 were considered. The numerical model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics and all turbulent flow simulations were performed using the standard k- ε turbulence model. The main objective of this work was to estimate the resistance coefficient of pipe bends using not only pressure drop but also information of the flow behavior far downstream in the outlet pipe. Wall static pressure and velocity fields of the secondary flow were illustrated to provide information of the flow behavior in the bend and downstream of the pipe bend. Furthermore, swirl intensity of secondary flow was presented in order to describe its behavior as the flow develops in the outlet pipe. Estimations of resistance coefficient were calculated and compared to other studies. It was found that the procedure used in this study is a viable method for a more accurate estimation of resistance coefficient values for turbulent pipe flows containing 90° bends. For best accuracy in either experimental or computational analyses, it is recommended that pressure in the downstream tangent be measured at no less than fifty diameters downstream of the bend to avoid influence of the secondary flow.
Analysis of thermal stresses and its effect in the multipass welding process of SS316L
Authors: Vemanaboina Harinadh , Akella Suresh , Uma Maheshwer Rao AC , Gundabattini Edison , Buddu Ramesh Kumar
Published: October 2020

In this work, simulation has been carried out for multipass Gas tungsten Arc Welding of SS316L and their effects were studied for thermal, and residual stresses and compared with experimental results. The sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical, transient thermal and static structural analysis was modelled using ANSYS with relevant Ansys Parametric Design Language coding. Infrared thermography camera was used to obtain the real time temperatures during the welding. The effect of temperatures and the induced residual stresses of the weldment is measured with X-Ray diffraction technique. Tensile residual stresses have been identified at fusion zone and compressive stresses at heat affected zone. Pass wise temperature measurements were taken from analysis and experiment the agreement with 7.24%. The agreement of measured and analysed residual stress had an agreement with 16.66%.
A “trigger”, a cause or obscured? How trauma and adversity are constructed in psychiatric stress-vulnerability accounts of “psychosis”
Authors: Harper David J , O’Donnell Edward , Platts Simon
Published: October 2020

How do mental health professionals link adverse life experiences with the kinds of beliefs and experiences which attract a diagnosis of psychosis and what implications does this have for women with these diagnoses? Drawing on a broadly critical realist framework, we present data from two studies relevant to these questions. First, we analyse the discursive practices engaged in during a staff-only discussion of a female in-patient with a psychosis diagnosis who had been raped some years previously. Staff oriented to the irrationality and factuality of her ostensibly delusional statements about rape and pregnancy in the present and formulated adverse experience as a “stress factor” triggering a manic episode, thereby precluding alternative contextualising interpretations. In a second, interview-based, study, psychiatrists drew on a range of discursive resources which differentiated “psychosis” from other forms of distress, constructed trauma as a stressor which could trigger psychosis because of a genetic predisposition, and constructed medication as the primary intervention whilst trauma was de-emphasised. We discuss the implications of these findings for the kinds of explanations and forms of help offered and suggest ways in which distress might be contextualised as well as possible future directions for feminist research and practice.
miR-19 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Invasion, Migration, and EMT by Inhibiting SPRED2-mediated Autophagy in Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Xie Chuhai , Liu Shengyao , Wu Boyi , Zhao Yu , Chen Binwei , Guo Jianhong , Qiu ShouHong , Cao Yan-ming
Published: October 2020

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy with rapid development and poor prognosis. microRNA-19 (miR-19) plays an important role in several biological processes. Sprouty-related EVH1 domain protein 2 (SPRED2) is a suppressor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling to inhibit tumor development and progression by promoting autophagy. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-19, SPRED2, and autophagy in osteosarcoma. We detected the expression of miR-19, SPRED2, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and autophagy-related proteins via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. To evaluate the function of miR-19 and SPRED2, we used MTT and colony formation assays to detect cell proliferation, Transwell, and wound-healing assays to detect cell invasion and migration. Targetscan and luciferase reporter assays confirmed the relationship between SPRED2 and miR-19. The expression of miR-19 was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma, while SPRED2 was downregulated. miR-19 inhibitor reduced cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, while its cell biological effects were partially reversed by addition of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or SPRED2 siRNA in osteosarcoma. SPRED2, a suppressor of ERK/MAPK pathway that is known to trigger autophagy, was identified as a direct target of miR-19. SPRED2 overexpression increased cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT by promoting autophagy, and the effects could be inhibited by 3-MA. Collectively, these findings reveal an underlying mechanism for development of osteosarcoma. miR-19 was upregulated in osteosarcoma cells, and negatively regulated SPRED2, thus promoting the malignant transformation of osteosarcoma cells via inhibiting SPRED2-induced autophagy. Therefore, miR-19/SPRED2 may be a potential target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Intensity of Regulations as a Cause of the Informal Sector
Authors: Mughal Khurrum S. , Schneider Friedrich G. , Hayat Zafar
Published: October 2020

It is argued in the literature that the intensity of regulations and control in an economy is a determinant of the informal sector which however is ignored in most of its estimates. This article uses a new variant of the currency demand approach where ‘unemployment’ and ‘intensity of government control’ are used to estimate a shadow economy, alongside a the traditional tax variable. We choose Pakistan since it has a significant share of its activities in the informal sector along with the history of various political and dictatorial regimes. Further, there are examples of bureaucratic control leading to corruption in the economy. It provides an opportunity to study the nexus between regulation intensity and informal economy and present a case study for other developing countries exercising control over the economy through the large size of its public sector. The results show that the intensity of the control variable has statistically and economically significant role in increasing the shadow economy, almost equivalent to the tax coefficient. Once the yearly variation in our estimates is mapped with various political regimes, it seems that the validity of estimates is reinforced considering policy inconsistencies and prominent events of each regime.
Caste, Social Networks and Variety Adoption
Authors: Gupta Ishika , Veettil Prakashan Chellattan , Speelman Stijn
Published: October 2020

Social networks influence technology diffusion but targeting formal leaders (institutional central nodes) may lead to distributional consequences. This paper analyzes the role of informal social networks in technology diffusion in a socially hierarchical caste-based society. Often, information flow and technology diffusion are constrained by social and economic boundaries where informal nodes such as caste play a very decisive role in everyday life. Proper targeting and dissemination of technology to the marginalized sections of society are very important for their development. We observed that only one-fourth of farmers cultivate newer varieties which include hybrids and recently released high yielding varieties. The results showed that individuals belonging to marginal groups are influential and act as informal leaders when they are the dominant caste in the village. Progressive farmers are found to fail in disseminating new varieties, and targeting influential informal leaders who belong to the dominant caste of the village appears to be a better strategy. Among non-dominant caste members, influential leaders belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs) are more desirable targets than other caste groups. The more concentrated a network is in terms of its caste composition, the faster will be the spread of any technology.
Short-term and 1-year outcome of patients’ with borderline personality admitted to a short-term recovery-oriented residential service
Authors: Sekharan Lokesh , Jagadheesan Karuppiah , Das Partha , Lakra Vinay , West Kim , Baldwin Miranda
Published: October 2020

Objectives:

Given the paucity of literature, this study investigated whether a prevention and recovery care (PARC) service supported recovery in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Method:

This retrospective study included patients with BPD who had their first (index) admission to North West PARC between 2011 and 2016. Patient medical records and the state-wide database were the sources of information.

Results:

Of the 67 patients included, over 70% attended group activities. All patients achieved their recovery goals, either fully or partially. Compared to admission, the frequency of substance use and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) scores at discharge were significantly less. A significantly smaller number of patients needed inpatient treatment during the 12 months following their PARC admission.

Conclusion:

The PARC service appears to promote clinical and psychosocial recovery in patients with BPD.
The pulse-like nature of decisions in rational choice theory
Authors: Lenine Enzo
Published: October 2020

Is the act of making a decision a process or pulse? Critiques of rational choice theory and models often treat cognitive processes of preference ordering as part of the act of decision that should be incorporated into the models. The failure to account for human psychology, they argue, responds for RCT’s lack of predictability. However, this argument and the models of human mind, such as prospect theory, see decision as a process that begins at the cognitive considerations of preference ordering and extends up to the act of decision. In this paper, I argue that decision is analogous to a pulse rather than a process. I draw this analogy with the Dirac delta function, which in signal theory represents an unitary pulse. In the exact moment of making a decision, all preferences and contextual evaluations must have been already structured in the agent’s mind, otherwise she would not be capable of making the decision. Acknowledging the pulse-like nature of rational choice models allows modellers to eschew the incorporation of complex cognitive processes into their analyses, which has both theoretical and empirical implications to RCT’s representation of real-world phenomena.
Magnetorheological elastomers characterization under shear loading up to failure: A magneto-mechanical multivariate analysis
Authors: Spaggiari Andrea , Bellelli Alberto
Published: October 2020

This work analyses the shear behavior of magnetorheological elastomers (MRE), a class of smart materials which presents interesting magneto-mechanical properties. In order to determine the effect of several variables at a time, a design of experiment approach is adopted. A set of several samples of MRE was manufactured, by varying the weight fraction of ferromagnetic material inside the viscoelastic matrix and the isotropicity of the material, by adding an external magnetic field while the elastomeric matrix was still liquid. The mechanical behavior of each sample was analyzed by conducting cyclic tests at several shear rates, both with and without an external magnetic field. Moreover, in order to estimate the maximum shear stress, the specimens were loaded monotonically up to failure. Shear stiffness, maximum shear stress and specific dissipated energy were calculated on the basis of the experimental data. The results were analyzed using an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to assess the statistical influence of each variable. The experimental results highlighted a strong correlation between the weight fraction of ferromagnetic material in each sample and its mechanical behavior. Moreover, the dissipated energy of the MRE drops down when the magnetic field stiffens the behavior or the shear rate increases. The ultimate failure shear stress is strongly affected by the external magnetic field, increasing it by nearly 50%. The ANOVA on the results provides a simple phenomenological model is built for each output variable and it is compared with the experimental tests. These models produce a fast and fairly accurate prediction of each analyzed response of the MRE under various shear rates and applied magnetic fields.
Escape the Simulation Room
Authors: Sanders Jennifer E. , Kutzin Jared , Strother Christopher G.
Published: October 2020

Background.

Healthcare simulations are used at most academic facilities to improve knowledge and performance on critical and key concepts and can also be used to enhance competency and teamwork. Group simulation scenarios often have individual team leaders, but these scenarios require a team to work together to efficiently care for the patient. Escape rooms can be utilized in healthcare as a fun educational activity to encourage teams to work together and think creatively to solve puzzles and challenges. One advantage of this type of activity in a healthcare setting is to dissolve any hierarchy amongst the team and build the confidence of novice or more passive participants. Escape rooms in a healthcare setting do not have to be medically themed to be effective, and rooms can be set up with minimal equipment.

Aim.

This article addresses the detailed steps required to set up a healthcare themed escape room that has been shown to work well. It is applicable to healthcare professionals and can be adapted for non-healthcare workers.

Method.

Based on the Escape Room video games and social activity phenomenon, teams compete to solve content-specific challenges to attain pieces of the final puzzle set forth by the instructors. Traditional quiz-type exercises, pictograms, and procedural based activities comprise the puzzles of the game. The first team to obtain all pieces of the final clue and put them together in the correct order in the shortest amount of time is deemed the winner. Gameplay is designed to conclude in approximately 20 minutes.

Results and Conclusion.

This game mimics interdisciplinary teamwork environments. Participating in interactive collaborative learning environments enhances the overall learning experience, allowing learners to apply knowledge.
Natural Morality or Splendid Vice? The Case of Paul Ramsey
Authors: Meilaender Gilbert
Published: October 2020

In Basic Christian Ethics, first published in 1950, Paul Ramsey began a decades-long attempt to relate Christian love to natural morality. As his work focused increasingly on particular moral problems, critics suggested that he had altered the position staked out in his first book and should consider writing a new or revised version of it. This article traces Ramsey’s continuing examination of the relation between justice and love, and it suggests that the long introduction to Jonathan Edwards’ Ethical Writings, over which Ramsey labored in the last years of his life, was much more than just an introduction to those writings. It was one last reworking of the foundational themes first taken up in Basic Christian Ethics.
Micronodular Thymomas With Prominent Cystic Changes: A Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of 25 Cases
Authors: Oramas Diana M. , Moran Cesar A.
Published: October 2020

Twenty-five cases of micronodular thymomas with prominent cystic changes are presented. The patients are 13 men and 12 women between the ages of 38 and 69 years. Clinically, the majority of patients presented with nonspecific symptoms of cough, chest pain, and dyspnea. Four patients were asymptomatic. Diagnostic imaging showed the presence of an anterior mediastinal mass and surgical resection of the tumor mass was performed in all the patients. Histologically, all the tumors were characterized by the presence of cystic structures of varying sizes lined by different types of epithelium. In addition, the tumors were characterized by nodules of epithelial cells embedded in a lymphocyte-rich stroma with germinal centers. Twenty-one tumors were encapsulated while 4 tumors were minimally invasive. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for keratin in the nodular epithelial component while CD45 and CD20 were positive in the lymphoid component. Clinical follow-up ranging from 12 to 24 months was obtained in 19 patients. All the patients were alive and well without disease. No clinical follow-up was available in 6 patients. The cases presented in this article highlight the existence of cystic micronodular thymomas, which can be easily misdiagnosed as a multilocular thymic cyst.
How COVID-19 Is Placing Vulnerable Children at Risk and Why We Need a Different Approach to Child Welfare
Authors: Herrenkohl Todd I. , Scott Debbie , Higgins Daryl J. , Klika J. Bart , Lonne Bob
Published: October 2020

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brings new worries about the welfare of children, particularly those of families living in poverty and impacted other risk factors. These children will struggle more during the pandemic because of financial pressures and stress placed on parents, as well as their limited access to services and systems of support. In this commentary, we explain how current circumstances reinforce the need for systemic change within statutory child welfare systems and the benefits that would accrue by implementing a continuum of services that combine universal supports with early intervention strategies. We also focus on promising approaches consistent with goals for public health prevention and draw out ideas related workforce development and cross-sector collaboration.
Impact of dose-capping chemotherapy in concurrent chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients
Authors: Yang Ran , Younis Moftah , Joseph Kurian , Ghosh Sunita , Nijjar Tirath , Severin Diane , Tankel Keith , Tamhane Yash , Fairchild Alysa , Spratlin Jennifer , Mulder Karen , Usmani Nawaid
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The study evaluated the effect of chemotherapy dose-capping on disease recurrence, toxicity and survival of rectal cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods

601 consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with concurrent CRT were retrospectively analysed. Dose-capped patients were defined as having a body surface area (BSA) ≥2.0 m2 and who received <95% full weight-based chemotherapy dose. Binary logistic regression was used to study the factors associated with the outcome variables (capped vs. uncapped). Kaplan-Meier estimation evaluated significant predictors of survival.

Results

The median follow-up time was 7.54 years. The rate of disease recurrence was significantly higher in dose-capped patients (35%) compared to those without dose-capping (24%, P = 0.016). The adjusted odds ratio for dose-capped patients experiencing recurrence was 1.64 compared to uncapped patients (95% CI, 1.10–2.43). Overall, dose-capped patients were less likely to experience significant toxicity requiring dose reduction and/or treatment break when compared to uncapped patients (15% and 28% respectively, P = 0.008).There was significant differences in PFS between capped and uncapped group (77% vs. 85%; P = 0.017). The 5-year OS in the capped group was 75.0%, and 80% in the uncapped group ( P = 0.149).

Conclusions

Rectal cancer patients treated with dose-capped CRT were at increased risk of disease recurrence. Patients dosed by actual BSA did experience excessive toxicity compared to dose-capped group. We recommend that chemotherapy dose-capping based on BSA should not be practiced in rectal cancer patients undergoing CRT.