bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Drug Classes and Their Potential Use in Hypertension
Authors: Azizi Michel , Rossignol Patrick , Hulot Jean-Sébastien
Published: September 2019

Despite the availability of multiple antihypertensive drugs targeting the different pathways implicated in its pathophysiology, hypertension remains poorly controlled worldwide, and its prevalence is increasing because of the aging of the population and the obesity epidemic. Although nonadherence to treatment contributes to uncontrolled hypertension, it is likely that not all the pathophysiological mechanisms are neutralized by the various classes of antihypertensive treatment currently available, and, the counter-regulatory mechanisms triggered by these treatments may decrease their blood pressure–lowering effect. The development of new antihypertensive drugs acting on new targets, with different modes of action, therefore, remains essential, to improve blood pressure control and reduce the residual burden of cardiovascular risks further. However, the difficulties encountered in the conception, development, costs, and delivery to the market of new classes of antihypertensive agents highlights the hurdles that must be overcome to release and to evaluate their long-term safety and efficacy for hypertension only, especially because of the market pressure of cheap generic drugs. New chemical entities with blood pressure–lowering efficacy are thus being developed more for heart failure or diabetic kidney disease, 2 diseases pathophysiologically associated with hypertension. These include dual angiotensin II receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, nonsteroidal dihydropyridine-based mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. However, centrally acting aminopeptidase A inhibitors and endothelin receptor antagonists have a dedicated program of development for hypertension. All these emergent drug classes and their potential use in hypertension are reviewed here.
Associations of Leisure‐Time Physical Activity and Television Viewing With Life Expectancy Free of Nonfatal Cardiovascular Disease: The ARIC Study
Authors: Cuthbertson Carmen C. , Tan Xianming , Heiss Gerardo , Kucharska‐Newton Anna , Nichols Hazel B. , Kubota Yasuhiko , Evenson Kelly R.
Published: September 2019

Background

High levels of physical activity have been associated with longer life expectancy free of cardiovascular disease (
CVD
), but specific types of
CVD
and sedentary behavior have not been examined. We examined associations of leisure‐time moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (
LTPA
) and television viewing with life expectancy free of 3 types of
CVD
.

Methods and Results

We included 13 534 participants from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) cohort. We used multistate survival models to estimate associations of
LTPA
in the past year (no
LTPA
, less than the median, equal to or greater than the median) and television viewing (often or very often, sometimes, seldom or rarely) with life expectancy at age 50 free of nonfatal coronary heart disease (
CHD
), stroke, and heart failure (
HF
). Over 27 years of follow‐up, 4519 participants developed one of the 3 nonfatal
CVD
s and 5475 deaths occurred. Compared with participants who engaged in no
LTPA
, participants who engaged in
LTPA
equal to or greater than the median had longer life expectancy free of nonfatal
CHD
(men: 1.5 years [95%
CI
, 1.0–2.0]; women: 1.6 years [95%
CI
, 1.1–2.2]), stroke (men: 1.8 years [95%
CI
, 1.2–2.3]; women: 1.8 years [95%
CI
, 1.3–2.3]), and
HF
(men: 1.6 years [95%
CI
, 1.1–2.1]; women: 1.7 years [95%
CI
, 1.2–2.2]). Compared with viewing more television, watching less television was associated with longer life expectancy free of
CHD
, stroke, and HF (≈0.8 year).

Conclusions

Higher levels of
LTPA
and less television viewing were associated with longer life expectancy free of CHD, stroke, and HF. Engaging in
LTPA
and watching less television may increase the number of years lived free of
CHD
, stroke, and
HF
.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Is Associated With Elevated G‐Protein Coupled Receptor Autoantibodies
Authors: Gunning William T. , Kvale Heather , Kramer Paula M. , Karabin Beverly L. , Grubb Blair P.
Published: September 2019

Background

The etiology of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (
POTS
) is yet to be established. The disorder is often misdiagnosed as chronic anxiety or a panic disorder because the autonomic failure in these patients is not severe. A growing body of evidence suggests that
POTS
may be an autoimmune disorder. Antinuclear antibodies and elevations of ganglionic, adrenergic, and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies have all been reported.

Methods and Results

We collected detailed clinical symptoms of 55 patients diagnosed with
POTS
. We also evaluated serum levels of autoantibodies against 4 subtypes of G‐protein coupled adrenergic receptors and 5 subtypes of G‐protein coupled muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by
ELISA
. Our patients had a multitude of comorbidities, were predominantly young females, and reported viral‐like symptoms preceding episodes of syncope. We detected a significant number of patients with elevated levels of autoantibodies against the adrenergic alpha 1 receptor (89%) and against the muscarinic acetylcholine M
4
receptor (53%). Surprisingly, elevations of muscarinic receptor autoantibodies appeared to be dependent upon elevation of autoantibodies against the A
1
adrenergic receptor! Four patients had elevations of G‐protein coupled autoantibodies against all 9 receptor subtypes measured in our study. Five
POTS
patients had no elevation of any autoantibody; similarly, controls were also negative for autoantibody elevations. There was a weak correlation of clinical symptom severity with G‐protein coupled autoantibodies.

Conclusions

Our observations provide further evidence that, in most cases,
POTS
patients have at least 1 elevated G‐protein coupled adrenergic autoantibody and, in some instances, both adrenergic and muscarinic autoantibodies, supporting the hypothesis that
POTS
may be an autoimmune disorder.
Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Associates With a Vulnerable Plaque Phenotype in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Hultman Karin , Edsfeldt Andreas , Björkbacka Harry , Dunér Pontus , Sundius Lena , Nitulescu Mihaela , Persson Ana , Boyle Joseph J. , Nilsson Jan , Hultgårdh-Nilsson Anna , Bengtsson Eva , Gonçalves Isabel
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—

Extracellular matrix proteins are important in atherosclerotic disease by influencing plaque stability and cellular behavior but also by regulating inflammation. COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) is present in healthy human arteries and expressed by smooth muscle cells. A recent study showed that transplantation of COMP-deficient bone marrow to
apoE
−/−
mice increased atherosclerotic plaque formation, indicating a role for COMP also in bone marrow–derived cells. Despite the evidence of a role for COMP in murine atherosclerosis, knowledge is lacking about the role of COMP in human atherosclerotic disease.

Methods—

In the present study, we investigated if COMP was associated with a stable or a vulnerable human atherosclerotic plaque phenotype by analyzing 211 carotid plaques for COMP expression using immunohistochemistry.

Results—

Plaque area that stained positive for COMP was significantly larger in atherosclerotic plaques associated with symptoms (n=110) compared with asymptomatic plaques (n=101; 9.7% [4.7–14.3] versus 5.6% [2.8–9.8];
P
=0.0002). COMP was positively associated with plaque lipids (
r
=0.32;
P
=0.000002) and CD68 cells (
r
=0.15;
P
=0.036) but was negatively associated with collagen (
r
=−0.16;
P
=0.024), elastin (
r
=−0.14;
P
=0.041), and smooth muscle cells (
r
=−0.25;
P
=0.0002). COMP was positively associated with CD163 (
r
=0.37;
P
=0.00000006), a scavenger receptor for hemoglobin/haptoglobin and a marker of Mhem macrophages, and with intraplaque hemorrhage, measured as glycophorin A staining (
r
=0.28;
P
=0.00006).

Conclusions—

The present study shows that COMP is associated to symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis, CD163-expressing cells, and a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque phenotype in humans.
Oenothera resicum (Onagraceae), a new species and the first record of the family from the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico

Authors: BENAVIDES EVA , KUETHE J.R. , ORTIZ-ALCARAZ A. , LEÓN DE LA LUZ J.L.
Published: September 2019

Oenothera resicum (Onagraceae) is here described and illustrated. This is the first record of the Onagraceae family in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexican Pacific. The new species, presently known only from Isla Clarión, has characteristic features of species of subsect. Raimannia, from which can be differentiated by its perennial habit, glabrescent large fruits, glabrous sepals, conspicuously dentated leaves, stigma surrounded by the anthers at anthesis, basal rosette absent, and its particular ecological habitat. The species description, ecological information, habitat and conservation assessment are also discussed. Additionally, a key for the species of  subsect. Raimannia distributed in Mexico is provided.
Discovery of a cavernicolous trechine species from the Sanwang Dong-Erwang Dong cave system, Wulong, Chongqing, southwestern China (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)
Authors: CHEN MENGZHEN , MA ZIJUN , TIAN MINGYI
Published: September 2019

Qianaphaenops (Sanwangius) rowselli Tian et Chen, n. subgen., n. sp. is described from the Sanwang Dong-Erwang Dong cave system, northeastern Wulong, southern Chongqing, southwestern China. Sanwangius is markedly distinct by several important features from subgenera Qianaphaenops (s. str.) Uéno, 2000 and Tiankengius Tian et Huang, 2018. Larval characteristics of this new species are also provided. This is the first report of a Qianaphaenops species from Chongqing.
A new species of the genus Rachicerus Walker (Diptera: Xylophagidae), with notes on Messias Carrera’s 1940 and 1945 types housed in Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo and in Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: PUJOL-LUZ JOSÉ ROBERTO
Published: September 2019

Five Rachicerus species are recorded in Brazil: Rachicerus lanei Carrera, 1940, R. oliverioi Carrera, 1940, R. lopesi Carrera, 1940, R. marcusi Carrera, 1940 and, R. shannoni Carrera, 1945. Here I describe a new species Rachicerus carrerai sp. nov. based on three male specimens from Brazil (Amazonia and Mato Grosso do Sul) and Colombia (Chocó). The new species is distinguished from the other known species by the antenna with bipectinate flagellomeres, a character only known from fossils. The conditions of the Messias Carrera’s type specimens are discussed and a key for the Brazilian species of Rachicerus is provided.
Regional Differences in the Response of Rainfall to Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves over Tropical Africa
Authors: Jackson Lawrence S. , Keane Richard J. , Finney Declan L. , Marsham John H. , Parker Douglas J. , Senior Catherine A. , Stratton Rachel A.
Published: September 2019

The representation of convection remains one of the most important sources of bias in global models, and evaluation methods are needed that show that models provide the correct mean state and variability, both for the correct reasons. Here we develop a novel approach for evaluating rainfall variability due to convectively coupled Kelvin waves (CCKWs) in this region. A phase cycle was defined for the CCKW cycle in OLR and used to composite rainfall anomalies. We characterize the observed (TRMM) rainfall response to CCKWs over tropical Africa in April and evaluate the performance of regional climate model (RCM) simulations: a parameterized convection simulation (P25) and the first pan-Africa convection-permitting simulation (CP4). TRMM mean rainfall is enhanced and suppressed by CCKW activity, and the occurrence of extreme rainfall and dry days is coupled with CCKW activity. Focusing on regional differences, we show for the first time that there is a dipole between West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea involving onshore/offshore shifts in rainfall, and the transition to enhanced rainfall over west equatorial Africa occurs one phase before the transition over east equatorial Africa. The global model used to drive the RCMs simulated CCKWs with mean amplitudes of 75%–82% of observations. The RCMs simulated coherent responses to the CCKWs and captured the large-scale spatial patterns and phase relationships in rainfall although the simulated rainfall response is weaker than observations and there are regional biases that are bigger away from the equator. P25 produced a closer match to TRMM mean rainfall anomalies than CP4 although the response in dry days was more closely simulated by CP4.
Mass School Shootings in the United States: A Novel Root Cause Analysis Using Lay Press Reports
Authors: Rees Chris A. , Lee Lois K. , Fleegler Eric W. , Mannix Rebekah
Published: September 2019

School shootings comprise a small proportion of childhood deaths from firearms; however, these shootings receive a disproportionately large share of media attention. We conducted a root cause analysis of 2 recent school shootings in the United States using lay press reports. We reviewed 1760 and analyzed 282 articles from the 10 most trusted news sources. We identified 356 factors associated with the school shootings. Policy-level factors, including a paucity of adequate legislation controlling firearm purchase and ownership, were the most common contributing factors to school shootings. Mental illness was a commonly cited person-level factor, and access to firearms in the home and availability of large-capacity firearms were commonly cited environmental factors. Novel approaches, including root cause analyses using lay media, can identify factors contributing to mass shootings. The policy, person, and environmental factors associated with these school shootings should be addressed as part of a multipronged effort to prevent future mass shootings.
Effects of Public Green Space on Acute Psychophysiological Stress Response: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Evidence
Authors: Mygind Lærke , Kjeldsted Eva , Hartmeyer Rikke , Mygind Erik , Stevenson Matt P. , Quintana Daniel S. , Bentsen Peter
Published: September 2019

Contact with nature is widely considered to ameliorate psychological stress, but the empirical support for a causal link is limited. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize and critically assess the evidence. Six electronic databases were searched. Twenty-six studies evaluated the difference between the effect of natural environments and that of a suitable control on the acute psychophysiological stress response. Eighteen studies were rated as being of moderate quality, four studies of low quality, and four studies of high quality. Meta-analyses indicated that seated relaxation ( g = .5, p = .06) and walking ( g = .3, p = .02) in natural environments enhanced heart rate variability more than the same activities in control conditions. Cortisol concentration measures were inconsistent. While intuitively and theoretically sound, the empirical support for acute stress-reducing effects of immersion in natural environments is tentative due to small sample sizes and methodological weaknesses in the studies. We provide guidelines for future research.
The association between parental views on dietary quality and physical activity levels
Authors: S Earnesty Dawn , Mphwanthe Getrude , M Shipp Gayle , Kelleher Deanne , Plasencia Julie , Quilliam Elizabeth Taylor , Rifon Nora J , J Weatherspoon Lorraine
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

Numerous external factors, including parental influences, impact the dietary quality and physical activity of children. In this study, we examined if parental views were associated with the dietary quality and physical activity of children.

Design:

A cross-sectional observational study was used to recruit and collect data from a purposive sample of 176 parents and their children, 4–11 years of age.

Setting:

A suburban school district in Michigan, USA.

Methods:

Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 scores were calculated from child food frequency data, and bivariate linear regression was used to test associations between the total HEI 2005 and fruit, total vegetable, solid fats and added sugars (SoFAAs) and saturated fat dietary components, as well as relative to the parent’s views of raising children. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between the HEI score and the parental views. Multinomial linear regression was used to test associations between physical activity and parental views on their children’s behaviours related to health outcomes.

Results:

Children whose parents had firm parenting views were significantly more likely to eat vegetables and foods and beverages that were lower in saturated fat and added sugars. Parental views on child behaviour were not associated with physical activity of children.

Conclusion:

Parental views on child behaviour and other influences on child dietary quality are complex. As a result, health care professionals including dieticians should use a multifaceted approach to assess how parental views shape guidance regarding children’s dietary quality and subsequent health.
Rethinking the nation: Intersections of race, desire, and love in Irene Sabatini’s The Boy Next Door
Authors: Mtenje Asante Lucy
Published: September 2019

This article examines the interplay of race, desire, and love in Irene Sabatini’s novel The Boy Next Door by focusing on an interracial relationship that develops in a newly independent, yet still fraught, Zimbabwe. I argue that as a narrative strategy Sabatini uses two major historical periods in the history of independent Zimbabwe as the backdrop of a complicated and controversial relationship in order to offer critical commentary on the constructs of, and attitudes towards, interracial sexual unions in a country emerging from decades of systematic segregation where panics about sex and race were identified as social problems threatening the fundamental moral fibre and social order of colonial society. Drawing ideas from Dobrota Pucherova, the article highlights the way in which sexuality is used as a site to regulate and mark national belonging and further argues that Sabatini points to the apparent dissidence of such desires and relationships, and at the same time signals towards a racial utopia that can culminate from the realization of such desires.
A Tale of Two Twitterspheres: Political Microblogging During and After the 2016 Primary and Presidential Debates
Authors: Berman Ron , Melumad Shiri , Humphrey Colman , Meyer Robert
Published: September 2019

In this research, the authors study the process by which social media posts are created and shared during live political debates. Using data from over 9.5 million tweets posted during and shortly after four key debates leading up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the authors test a series of hypotheses about how tweeting evolves over time during such events. They find that (1) as the debates progressed, the content of the “Twittersphere” became increasingly decoupled from the live event, and (2) the drivers of the success of tweets during the debates differed from the drivers of success observed after the debates. During the debates, users acted akin to narrators, posting shorter tweets that commented on unfolding events, with linguistic emotionality playing a limited role in sharing. However, when the debates were over, users acted more like interpreters, with successful posts being more elaborate and visually and emotionally rich accounts of the event. Evidence for the generalizability of the findings is provided by an analysis of Barack Obama’s last State of the Union Address, where similar dynamics are observed.
Classificatory struggles in the midst of austerity: Policing or politics?
Authors: Jeffery Bob , Thomas Peter , Devine Dawn
Published: September 2019

This article reports findings on class identities amongst a small sample of mainly working-class residents in the City of Salford. We attempt to develop a Rancièrian framework for understanding class identities, centred on his key concept of dissensus, and how these ideas have been developed by Imogen Tyler through the notion of ‘classificatory struggles’. From this, we identify a continuum of responses that are discernible in relation to the neoliberal order of classifications: from those orientated to a ‘policing’ function, either accepting and internalising dominant discourses or attempting to displace abjection onto others, to those that tend more towards ‘politics’ in either asserting alternative circuits of value or through an appeal to the name of the proletariat as a political claim to radical equality. In examining our data, we note that although a majority disavowed an explicit working-class identity, they nonetheless engaged in a range of classificatory struggles.
Going Beyond the Western Pass: Chinese Folk Models of Danger and Abandonment in Songs of Separation
Authors: Gibbs Levi S.
Published: September 2019

From the early Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to the beginning of the People’s Republic, men in northern China from drought-prone regions of northwestern Shanxi province and northeastern Shaanxi province would travel beyond the Great Wall to find work in western Inner Mongolia, in a migration known as “going beyond the Western Pass” 走西口. This article analyzes anthologized song lyrics and ethnographic interviews about this migration to explore how songs of separation performed at temple fairs approached danger and abandonment using traditional metaphors and “folk models” similar to those of parents protecting children from life’s hazards and widows and widowers lamenting the loss of loved ones. I argue that these duets between singers embodying the roles of migrant laborers and the women they left behind provided a public language for audiences to reflect upon and contextualize private emotions in a broader social context, offering rhetorical resolutions to ambivalent anxieties.
Research on early fault warning system of coal mills based on the combination of thermodynamics and data mining
Authors: Zhu Pengcheng , Qian Hong , Chai Tingting
Published: September 2019

This paper presents a fault early warning approach of coal mills based on the Thermodynamic Law and data mining. The Thermodynamic Law is used to describe the working characteristics of coal mills and to determine the multi-parameter vector that characterize the operating state of the coal mill. Data mining technology is applied to analysis the interrelationships among elements of the multi-parameter vector. Then the abnormal boundaries of parameters are calculated based on the distribution of parameters under different working conditions according to the Pauta criterion. Finally, the fault early warning model is implemented combining the abnormal boundaries and the confidence algorithm that can detect the working status of coal mills. Two actual numerical examples are used to illustrate the proposed method is capable of estimating the abnormality of coal mills before the fault happens.
An equivalent-input-disturbance approach for current sensor faults estimation and rejection in permanent magnet synchronous motor drives
Authors: Huang Gang , Li Zhengtan , Fukushima Edwardo F , Zhang Changfan , He Jing
Published: September 2019

Current sensor is commonly used in a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system. Occurrence of unexpected current sensor faults may cause feedback currents deviation and system degradation, which can be extremely detrimental to the safety of the industrial system with PMSM. This paper presents an estimation and rejection strategy of current sensor faults for a PMSM drive system. Sensor faults in current measurement circuits are treated as system disturbances by constructing a new system plant. A sliding mode observer and an improved equivalent-input-disturbance (EID) estimator are designed for the plant based on the EID theory. Accurate estimates of the current sensor equivalent-input-faults are thus obtained readily. Faults rejection is performed by subtracting the equivalent-input-faults from the control input. This allows an existing controller in a PMSM system to continue to function normally even a current sensor fault occurs. An existence analysis and stability proof are also discussed in detail for the system. Finally, different faults examples and a hardware-in-the-loop experiment are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
The Brief COPE: Factor Structure and Associations With Self- and Other-Directed Aggression Among Emerging Adults
Authors: Cramer Robert J. , Braitman Abby , Bryson Claire N. , Long Molly M. , La Guardia Amanda C.
Published: September 2019

The Brief COPE has seen frequent use across populations despite lack of confirmatory factor-analytic examination. We further examine Brief COPE validity with respect to self- and other-directed aggression because emerging adulthood represents a distinct developmental time period in which stress, poor coping, and aggression intersect. Drawing on archival data ( n = 576) from a larger investigation of college student health, this cross-sectional survey study tested (1) four competing Brief COPE factor structures, (2) Brief COPE factor associations with aggression, and (3) stress by coping interactions predicting aggression outcomes. Prominent findings included (1) poor-to-marginal confirmatory factor-analytic support for a four-factor structure; (2) positive bivariate associations of avoidant coping with elevated stress, depression, suicide, self-injury, and aggression; (3) positive bivariate associations between adaptive coping strategies with stress and aggression; and (4) an interaction where avoidant coping has a stronger association with other-directed aggression for those low in stress. The interaction findings were significant for males only and applied specifically to hostility. Findings are contextualized within future Brief COPE research as well as emerging adulthood theory.
Witnessing in crisis contexts in the social media age: the case of the 2015 Tianjin blasts on Weibo
Authors: Wu Xiaoping , Montgomery Martin
Published: September 2019

This study explores how the act of witnessing takes distinctive discursive shape in social media in the context of large-scale disasters or crisis events. Drawing upon a set of microblogs posted on China’s most widely used social media platform, Weibo, immediately after one of China’s most serious industrial accidents, this study shows how witnessing manifests itself through individual eyewitness accounts foregrounding personal experience but constrained within Weibo’s standard protocol of 140 Chinese characters. Often blending word and image, these accounts are examined using methodologies drawn from discourse analysis. On this basis, we argue that witnessing in social media in China not only demonstrates strong participatory, connective, and self-reflexive characteristics. It also opens up new possibilities for various patterns of meaning, which, when appropriated by other social media users, constitute a public testimony that can challenge official discourses of crisis in China.
From Individual to Population Preferences: Comparison of Discrete Choice and Dirichlet Models for Treatment Benefit-Risk Tradeoffs
Authors: Tervonen Tommi , Pignatti Francesco , Postmus Douwe
Published: September 2019

Introduction. The Dirichlet distribution has been proposed for representing preference heterogeneity, but there is limited evidence on its suitability for modeling population preferences on treatment benefits and risks. Methods. We conducted a simulation study to compare how the Dirichlet and standard discrete choice models (multinomial logit [MNL] and mixed logit [MXL]) differ in their convergence to stable estimates of population benefit-risk preferences. The source data consisted of individual-level tradeoffs from an existing 3-attribute patient preference study ( N = 560). The Dirichlet population model was fit directly to the attribute weights in the source data. The MNL and MXL population models were fit to the outcomes of a simulated discrete choice experiment in the same sample of 560 patients. Convergence to the parameter values of the Dirichlet and MNL population models was assessed with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 500 (100 simulations per sample size). Model variability was also assessed with coefficient P values. Results. Population preference estimates of all models were very close to the sample mean, and the MNL and MXL models had good fit (McFadden’s adjusted R2 = 0.12 and 0.13). The Dirichlet model converged reliably to within 0.05 distance of the population preference estimates with a sample size of 100, where the MNL model required a sample size of 240 for this. The MNL model produced consistently significant coefficient estimates with sample sizes of 100 and higher. Conclusion. The Dirichlet model is likely to have smaller sample size requirements than standard discrete choice models in modeling population preferences for treatment benefit-risk tradeoffs and is a useful addition to health preference analyst’s toolbox.
Domination and Objectification: Men’s Motivation for Dominance Over Women Affects Their Tendency to Sexually Objectify Women
Authors: Bareket Orly , Shnabel Nurit
Published: September 2019

In the present research, we examined the association between heterosexual men’s motivation for dominance over women and their sexual objectification of women. We found that men’s social dominance orientation (SDO) correlated with their tendency to sexually objectify women (Study 1). Inducing threat to men’s dominance over women by assigning men to work under the supervision of women bosses—versus jointly with women partners (Study 2a) or under men bosses (Study 3)—led to increased sexual objectification of women among high-SDO participants. These results persisted when controlling for mood. Examining the corresponding effects among heterosexual women revealed that the correlation between SDO and the sexual objectification of men was non-significant (Study 1) and that working under men bosses did not affect women’s sexual objectification of men (Study 2b). These findings support feminist theorizing that men (re)assert their dominance over women by sexually objectifying them. Increased awareness of the motivations underlying women’s sexual objectification can help professionals plan useful interventions to reduce this phenomenon, hopefully limiting its negative effects on women’s well-being.
Evaluation of the Safety of Intravenous Thiamine Administration in a Large Academic Medical Center
Authors: Tjugum Shelby L. , Hedrick Tanner L. , Jean Stephanie J. , Heeney Stephanie A. , Rohde Kalynn A. , Campbell-Bright Stacy L.
Published: September 2019

Background/Objective:

Previous literature describes increased incidence of infusion-related reactions when administering thiamine doses greater than 100 mg as an intravenous (IV) push. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the safety of administering higher doses of thiamine as IV push compared to infusion.

Methods:

A single-center, retrospective review was performed from June to October 2017. Included patients were aged 18 years or older and received 1 dose of IV thiamine 200 mg or greater. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 included patients who received 200-mg IV push and, group 2 included patients who received any dose greater than 200 mg. The primary objective was to quantify and compare rate of adverse reactions between the 2 groups. Institutional thiamine prescribing practices were examined. Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Fischer exact tests were performed.

Results:

Sixty-six percent of patients were male, and the median age was 55 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 44-63). Fifty percent received 200-mg IV push, 20% received a combination of IV infusion and IV push, and 30% received IV infusion. Adverse reactions possibly due to thiamine administration occurred in 4 (2.0%) patients. One patient received 200 mg via IV infusion, while 3 received 200 mg via IV push. There was no significant difference in adverse reaction rate between IV push and IV infusion administrations ( P = .640).

Conclusion:

Our results support administering thiamine doses of 200 mg or less as an IV push. Given lack of robust safety data, it is recommended to continue to dilute doses greater than 200 mg and infuse over 30 minutes.
Numerical analysis of propeller loading with a coupling RANS and potential approach
Authors: Sun Wenyu , Yang Li , Wei Jinfang , Chen Jingpu , Huang Guofu
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we present a coupling potential and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach for the analysis of propeller loading and propulsion performance at self-propulsion condition. There is a presentation of a combination of unsteady RANS method for ship flow with free surface taking into account by volume of fluid method and Lifting Line Model for propeller operating behind ship. An intensified coupling strategy is proposed to simulate the propeller effect in the ship wake. The effective wake is re-examined through the iterations, and there is a presentation of the spatial distribution of propeller forces. Propeller unsteady loading of KCS test case is predicted by flow field from both Full RANS and the Coupling method and compared to experiment results. A circulation-based analysis is made to scrutinize the spatial distribution of propeller loading. The simulation results prove that the coupling method can estimate propeller’s loading and effect on averaged flow field. Ultimately, the coupling method is applied to design an optimal propeller accounting for hull–propeller interaction, which shows its potential for further integrated optimization application.
Magnesium supplementation ameliorates toxic effects of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in rat model
Authors: Shafeeq S , Mahboob T
Published: September 2019

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is an extensively used herbicide in the field of agriculture, its ever-escalating use induces toxicity, health effects, and environmental impact. Oxidative stress plays a key role in pathogenesis of 2,4-D-induced liver and kidney damage. Magnesium (Mg) is a highly effective antioxidant agent in restoring oxidative damage by directly influencing the metabolic and physiological processes. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate Mg role in ameliorating the oxidative damages provoked by 2,4-D in rat model. Male Wistar rats (180–220 g) were distributed into four groups and treated intragastrically for 4 weeks. Group 1: control, group 2: 2,4-D (150 mg/kg body weight/day), group 3: simultaneously treated with 2,4-D (150 mg/kg body weight/day) and Mg supplement (50 mg/kg body weight/day), and group 4: Mg supplement (50 mg/kg body weight/day). Under experimental conditions, plasma hepatic and renal biomarkers, tissue oxidative status, and antioxidant enzymes activities were investigated. Results demonstrated that 2,4-D intoxication caused hepatic and renal impairments as indicated by the significantly increased ( p < 0.001) alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels. In addition, 2,4-D caused a significant enhancement ( p < 0.001) in the level of malondialdehyde as well as reduction ( p < 0.001) of the superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities in both hepatic and renal tissues. Mg treatment prevented and reversed the toxic variations induced by 2,4-D. In general, these outcomes suggest that Mg may have antioxidant potential and ameliorative effects against 2,4-D provoking hepatic and renal toxicity in rat model.
Mutational Profile Using Next-Generation Sequencing May Aid in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Urachal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cornejo Kristine M. , Cosar Ediz F. , Paner Gladell P. , Yang Ping , Tomaszewicz Keith , Meng Xiuling , Mehta Vikas , Sirintrapun Sahussapont Joseph , Barkan Guliz A. , Hutchinson Lloyd
Published: September 2019

Objectives. The rare urachal adenocarcinoma (UAC) of the bladder has striking morphologic and immunohistochemical overlap with colorectal adenocarcinoma (CAC) and bladder adenocarcinoma (BAC). To date, the mutational status in UAC and BAC has not been well investigated. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated 34 UACs (mucinous, n = 9; intestinal, n = 3; signet ring cell, n = 1; not otherwise specified, n = 21) and 4 BACs (n = 4). Next-generation sequencing analysis of 50 cancer “hotspot” gene mutations using the Ampliseq Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 was performed. Two UAC cases did not have adequate DNA quality with poor sequencing coverage and were excluded from the study. Results. RAS mutations were identified in 16 of 32 (50%) UACs (15 KRAS; 1 NRAS) and none of the BACs (0%). TP53 mutations were found in both UACs (18/32; 56%) and BACs (4/4; 100%). GNAS (n = 4), SMAD4 (n = 3), and BRAF (n = 1) mutations were only found in UACs. In contrast, APC (n = 2) mutations were only found in BACs. The mucinous subtype of UAC contained a SMAD4 mutation in 33% of cases (3/9), which was not identified in any other subtype (0/23; 0%) ( P = .0169). The only BRAF mutation was identified in the single signet ring cell subtype of UAC. There were no other differences in the mutation profile when comparing histologic subtypes of UAC. Conclusions. In summary, UAC and BAC have overlapping but distinct mutation profiles and these differences may aid in separating these 2 entities. Next-generation sequencing to identify therapeutic targets or resistance markers may aid treatment decisions.
Cardioprotective Mechanisms of Hypothyroidism on Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats and Effects of Carvedilol: Energetic Study
Authors: Ragone María Inés , Bayley Matías , Colareda Germán A. , Bonazzola Patricia , Consolini Alicia E.
Published: September 2019

Hypothyroidism is considered a cardiac risk factor, but there is controversial evidence about its effects on coronary disease. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of hypothyroidism in rat hearts exposed to 2 degrees of stunning due to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) as well as the underlying mechanisms. Hypothyroid (HypoT) rats were obtained by drinking 0.02% methimazole during 15 days. Isolated hearts were perfused and introduced in a flow calorimeter to measure contractile performance (P), total heat rate (Ht), and muscle economy (P/Ht). Hearts were exposed to 2 models of I/R, moderate and severe (respectively 20 or 30 minutes I/45 minutes R). Moreover, free cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium changes were measured by confocal fluorometry on cardiomyocytes. Comparison to euthyroid (EuT) hearts was done. Hypothyroidism was cardioprotective, but HypoT hearts were more sensitive than EuT hearts to the preischemic blockade of mitochondrial transporters mNCX and mKATP channels. Moreover, the postischemic recovery of P and P/Ht in HypoT hearts was strongly reduced by inhibition of the cellular pathways of PI3K/Akt and protein kinase C (PKC), and it was increased by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition. However, physiological concentrations of adrenaline reduced the cardioprotection of HypoT, but oral treatment with 20 mg/kg/day carvedilol prevented it. Results show that hypothyroidism reduces the mitochondrial Ca2+ overload during I/R by mKATP channel activation and Ca2+ extrusion through mNCX, while the PI3K/Akt and PKC pathways are involved in that cardioprotection. Contrarily, NOS activation and adrenaline blunt such cardioprotection, but carvedilol prevented the adrenergic dysfunction. These results would explain why hypothyroidism is a clinical risk factor in angor patients under adrenergic exacerbation but reduced the incidence of acute episodes of coronary syndrome in hospitalized patients. Results suggest that a treatment with carvedilol could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent cardiac postischemic dysfunction in hypothyroid patients.
In Vitro Assessment of von Willebrand Factor in Cryoprecipitate, Antihemophilic Factor/VWF Complex (Human), and Recombinant von Willebrand Factor
Authors: Colling Meaghan E. , Friedman Kenneth D. , Dzik Walter H.
Published: September 2019

Patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) often require treatment with supplemental von Willebrand factor (VWF) prior to procedures or to treat bleeding. Commercial VWF concentrates and more recently recombinant human VWF (rVWF) have replaced cryoprecipitate as the mainstay of therapy. In comparison with cryoprecipitate, the VWF content and multimer distribution under current manufacturing processes of these commercial products has not been reported. We measured the factor VIII (FVIII:C), VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), VWF collagen-binding activity (VWF:CB), VWF platelet-binding activity by GPIbM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (VWF:GPIbM), and percentage of high-molecular-weight (HMWM) VWF in 3 pools of group A and O cryoprecipitate, 3 vials of VWF concentrate (Humate-P), and 1 lot of rVWF (Vonvendi). We found that both group O and group A cryoprecipitate have significantly higher ratios of VWF:GPIbM activity and FVIII:C activity relative to VWF:Ag and have better preservation of HMWM than Humate-P. Although not compared statistically, rVWF appears to have more HMWM VWF and a higher ratio of VWF:GPIbM to VWF:Ag than Humate-P and cryoprecipitate. The estimated acquisition cost for our hospital for treating one major bleeding episode was more than 4-fold higher with Humate-P and 7- to 10-fold higher with rVWF than with cryoprecipitate.
Examining Motivations and Strategies for Integrating Social Media Technologies Into the Classroom
Authors: Auxier Brooke
Published: September 2019

Knowledge of emerging social media technology and intelligence platforms is in high demand for prospective employees and new graduates entering the journalism and media industries. However, journalism and mass communication departments have historically struggled to keep up with changing trends and new technologies used in industry, although some departments and educators are adopting these tools and integrating them into their courses. This study will explore the social media technologies that educators ( N = 39) are teaching in higher education curriculum and offer insights into their strategies and motivations for classroom implementation.
Pedagogy Is a Messy Affair: A Performative Narrative of Being New
Authors: Müller Marguerite , Kruger Frans , Lekoala Nthabiseng , Mokoena Nthabiseng
Published: September 2019

This article uses performative writing to explore the pedagogical entanglement of staff, students, and matter at the University of the Free State, South Africa. It is a collaborative narrative in which different voices share the textual stage. Each author contributes to one of the voices to create a performative narrative of how our experiences occur and emerge in this messy, complex, and volatile context. Our story sketches the backgrounds, in-between spaces, and “negative spaces” that pedagogy produces as relational encounters between human and the more-than-human world. We abandon the world of the real and move into a creative collaborative performative narrative space to explore the entanglements that pedagogies produce.
Does modularity of metal-on-metal hip implants increase cobalt: chromium ratio?
Authors: Ilo Kevin C , Aboelmagd Karim , Hothi Harry S , Asaad Asaad , Skinner John A , Hart Alister J
Published: September 2019

Background:

Blood metal ion levels are used in the surveillance of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants. Modular implants contain an extra source of metal debris that may affect the ratio of metal ions in the blood.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study of 503 patients with hip replacements made by a single manufacturer (Smith & Nephew, Warwick, UK) with the same bearing surface. There were 54 total hip arthroplasties, 35 Birmingham Mid-Head Resections and 414 hip resurfacings. Whole blood metal ion levels and their ratios were analysed to investigate the effect of a modular junction.

Results:

The cobalt:chromium ratios were greater in the total hip arthroplasty group (mean 2.3:1) when compared to the resurfacings group (mean 1.3:1, p = <0.05) and Birmingham Mid-Head Resection group (mean 1.1:1, p = 0.11).

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated a trend for a higher cobalt:chromium ratio in patients with MoM total hip replacement that may be due to metal debris from the modular stem-head junction. Further work is required to correlate clinical data with retrieval analysis to confirm the effect of taper material loss on the cobalt:chromium ratio.
Radiographic factors to predict operation time of direct anterior total hip arthroplasty for dysplastic hips
Authors: Tamaki Tatsuya , Nakakita Yoshiatsu , Miura Yoko , Higashi Hidetaka , Oinuma Kazuhiro , Shiratsuchi Hideaki
Published: September 2019

Background:

This study aimed to identify radiographic factors that could predict surgical difficulty in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA) for dysplastic hips.

Patients and Methods:

The clinical records of 160 patients (204 hips) who underwent primary THA for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip were retrospectively investigated. All THAs were performed through a direct anterior approach by a single surgeon. A multiple regression analysis was developed to identify the independent predictor of operation time, including variables such as age, sex, height, body mass index (BMI), the use of bone cement, previous hip surgery, and radiographic references, including the pelvic horizontal to vertical ratio, the extent of proximal and horizontal migration of the femoral head, flatness of the femoral head, and the vertical distance between the tips of the greater trochanter and the femoral head.

Results:

A multiple regression analysis revealed that as radiographic factors, proximal migration of the femoral head, and lower position of the femoral head related to the greater trochanter were significantly associated with longer operation time. In addition, our results revealed that younger age, male sex, height, high BMI, cement use, and previous hip surgery were also significantly associated with longer operation time.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that proximal migration of the femoral head and high-riding greater trochanter are isolated radiographic predictors of the longer operation time of direct anterior THA for dysplastic hips.
Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in an Adolescent: Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Sinno Sara , Assaad Adel M , Salem Shabb Nina
Published: September 2019

Oropharyngeal small cell carcinomas (OPSmCC) are rare with only few case reports and case series published in the literature. More recently, an association of these tumors with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been detected. However, unlike oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas which have a better outcome when associated with HPV, OPSmCC exhibit an aggressive behavior. In this article, we report a case of tonsillar carcinoma arising in a 14-year-old boy that was associated with HPV infection. The tumor exhibited morphologic features of small cell carcinoma with no overt squamous differentiation. Yet, by immunohistochemistry, it showed diffuse and strong co-expression of both squamous and neuroendocrine markers. In addition, we present the clinicopathologic features of all the cases of OPSmCC reported in the literature for which p16 and/or HPV testing have been done.