bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Dry Cask Storage Container CFD Model Experimental Validation and Uncertainty Quantification
Authors: Hall Kimbal , Zigh Abdelghani , Solis Jorge
Published: November 2019

CFD is a valuable tool for showing compliance with peak temperatures in dry cask storage systems (DCSS). When demonstrating compliance, it is valuable to quantify the uncertainty in the simulation result as a function of the computational mesh and simulation inputs. USNRC was a participant in a CFD validation test using the TN-32B cask, with extensive temperature measurements throughout the DCSS, including measurements on the cask surface and in fuel bundles.

This paper discusses validation and uncertainty quantification of a CFD model using experimental data. Uncertainty quantification follows the procedures outlined in ASME V&V20-2009 [1]. Sources of uncertainty that were examined in the analysis include iterative uncertainty, spacial discretization, and uncertainty due to approximately twenty input parameters. Input parameters investigated include environmental conditions, material properties, decay heat, and the spacing of the many small gaps in the installation. The uncertainty in gap size was found to be a particularly large source of uncertainty in this particular installation.

Results of a “base case” using the conservative estimates outlined in the updated final safety analysis report (UFSAR) [2] are presented, as well as a “best estimate case” that uses more realistic values. These results are compared to experimentally measured values, which fall within the uncertainty band of the analysis. This work is also the subject of an upcoming NUREG/CR.
Rigorous Code Verification: An Additional Tool to Use With the Method of Manufactured Solutions
Authors: Krueger Aaron M. , Mousseau Vincent A. , Hassan Yassin A.
Published: November 2019

The Method of Manufactured Solutions (MMS) has proven to be useful for completing code verification studies. MMS allows the code developer to verify that the observed order-of-accuracy matches the theoretical order-of accuracy. Even though the solution to the partial differential equation is not intuitive, it provides an exact solution to a problem that most likely could not be solved analytically. The code developer can then use the exact solution as a debugging tool. While the order-of-accuracy test has been historically treated as the most rigorous of all code verification methods, it fails to indicate code “bugs” that are of the same order as the theoretical order-of-accuracy. The only way to test for these types of code bugs is to verify that the theoretical local truncation error for a particular grid matches the difference between the manufactured solution (MS) and the solution on that grid. The theoretical local truncation error can be computed by using the modified equation analysis (MEA) with the MS and its analytic derivatives, which we call modified equation analysis method of manufactured solutions (MEAMMS). In addition to describing the MEAMMS process, this study shows the results of completing a code verification study on a conservation of mass code. The code was able to compute the leading truncation error term as well as additional higher-order terms. When the code verification process was complete, not only did the observed order-of-accuracy match the theoretical order-of-accuracy for all numerical schemes implemented in the code, but it was also able to cancel the discretization error to within roundoff error for a 64-bit system.
The Strength of Fan Ties: Emotional Support in Sport Fan Egocentric Networks
Authors: Katz Matthew , Mansfield Aaron C. , Tyler B. David
Published: November 2019

Sport management researchers have increasingly noted a relationship between sport spectatorship and well-being, with the line of inquiry predicated on transformative sport service research. In this study, the authors contribute to transformative sport service research by utilizing multilevel egocentric network analysis to examine the consumption networks of National Football League fans over the course of one season. The authors utilized a network theory approach to explore how emotional support is created and embedded within sport fans’ networks of interpersonal ties and social relationships. Through multilevel modeling, the authors highlighted how attributes of both the ego (i.e., focal actor) and alter (i.e., individual with whom ego shares a tie) affect emotional support. Previous studies of transformative sport service research and the link between well-being outcomes and sport spectatorship have implicitly examined only ego-level attributes (i.e., team identification), yet the present work suggests that emotional support depends on the interpersonal ties and network structures within which sport fans are embedded.
White Women Smiling? Media Representations of Women at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Authors: Pavlidis Adele , Kennelly Millicent , Rodriguez Castro Laura
Published: November 2019

In this article we analyze images of sportswomen from four media outlets over the course of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia. Through visual discourse analysis we find that despite structural changes to increase gender equality at the Commonwealth Games—which for the first time ensured equal opportunities for men and women to win medals—sportswomen were still depicted in a very narrow way, and intersectional representations were mainly excluded. Though the quantity of images of women had increased, the ‘quality’ of these images was poor in terms of representing sportswomen in their diversity. We still have far to go if we are to embrace women in their multiplicity—and to recognize that women can be strong, capable, butch, femme, and varied in their range of expressions of gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity.
Nucleocapsid Protein Recruitment to Replication-Transcription Complexes Plays a Crucial Role in Coronaviral Life Cycle
Authors: Cong Yingying , Ulasli Mustafa , Schepers Hein , Mauthe Mario , V’kovski Philip , Kriegenburg Franziska , Thiel Volker , de Haan Cornelis A. M. , Reggiori Fulvio
Published: November 2019

CoVs have long been regarded as relatively harmless pathogens for humans. Severe respiratory tract infection outbreaks caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV, however, have caused high pathogenicity and mortality rates in humans. These outbreaks highlighted the relevance of being able to control CoV infections. We used a model CoV, MHV, to investigate the importance of the recruitment of N protein, a central component of CoV virions, to intracellular platforms where CoVs replicate, transcribe, and translate their genomes. By identifying the principal binding partner at these intracellular platforms and generating a specific mutant, we found that N protein recruitment to these locations is crucial for promoting viral RNA synthesis. Moreover, blocking this recruitment strongly inhibits viral infection. Thus, our results explain an important aspect of the CoV life cycle and reveal an interaction of viral proteins that could be targeted in antiviral therapies.
Interactions between the Gut Microbiome and Mucosal Immunoglobulins A, M, and G in the Developing Infant Gut
Authors: Janzon Anders , Goodrich Julia K. , Koren Omry ,   the TEDDY Study Group, Waters Jillian L. , Ley Ruth E.
Published: November 2019

Antibodies are secreted into the gut and attach to roughly half of the trillions of bacterial cells present. When babies are born, the breastmilk supplies these antibodies until the baby’s own immune system takes over this task after a few weeks. The vast majority of these antibodies are IgA, but two other types, IgG and IgM, are also present in the gut. Here, we ask if these three different antibody types target different types of bacteria in the infant gut as the infant develops from birth to 18 months old and how patterns of antibody coating of bacteria change with age. In this study of healthy infant samples over time, we found that IgA and IgM coat the same bacteria, which are generally representative of the diversity present, with a few exceptions that were more or less antibody coated than expected. IgG coated a separate suite of bacteria. These results provide a better understanding of how these antibodies interact with the developing infant gut microbiome.
Racial Differences in the Oral Microbiome: Data from Low-Income Populations of African Ancestry and European Ancestry
Authors: Yang Yaohua , Zheng Wei , Cai Qiuyin , Shrubsole Martha J. , Pei Zhiheng , Brucker Robert , Steinwandel Mark , Bordenstein Seth R. , Li Zhigang , Blot William J. , Shu Xiao-Ou , Long Jirong
Published: November 2019

In this systemic investigation of racial differences in the oral microbiome using a large data set, we disclosed the significant differences in the oral microbial richness/evenness, as well as in the overall microbial composition, between African-Americans and European-Americans. We also found multiple oral bacterial taxa, including several preidentified oral pathogens, showing a significant different abundance or prevalence between African-Americans and European-Americans. Furthermore, these taxa were consistently found to be associated with the percentage of genetic African ancestry. Our findings warrant further research to understand how the racial difference in the oral microbiome influences the health disparity.
Multiproxy paleosol evidence for a rain shadow effect linked to Miocene uplift of the North Patagonian Andes
Authors: Bucher Joaquín , Varela Augusto , D’Elia Leandro , Bilmes Andrés , López Manuel , García Micaela , Franzese Juan
Published: November 2019

Climate changes related to orographic barrier uplift have been in the research spotlight over recent years. Several works have focused on the interactions between climatic and tectonic processes in order to understand the development of a rain shadow. Patagonia is an ideal region in which to analyze such interactions, since a Miocene climate change, from wetter to drier conditions, has mainly been associated with Andean uplift. In this work, we analyzed a succession of stacked paleosols recorded in a Miocene North Patagonian foreland basin in order to understand how the paleosol moisture regime related to the atmospheric humidity changes caused by the uplift of the Patagonian Andes. Based on macromorphological, micromorphological, and geochemical studies, and supported by a high-resolution chronostratigraphic scheme based on U-Pb geochronology and magnetostratigraphy, the paleosols were characterized with corresponding mean annual paleoprecipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature values. Alfisol-like paleosols were identified at the base of the foreland infill (15–14.6 Ma) with a MAP of 1229 ± 108 mm/yr. The Andisol-like paleosols recognized in the middle section of the sequence (14.6–12.75 Ma) exhibited a MAP of 1053 ± 108 mm/yr, whereas the Aridisol-like paleosols occurring in the upper section of the infill (12.75–11.5 Ma) presented a MAP of 677 ± 108 mm/yr. The determined Miocene mean annual temperatures (∼11 ± 2.1 °C) were similar to the present-day values (11 °C). Based on the complete tectonic record of the Patagonian Andes, the observed decrease in MAP was assigned to the rain shadow effect created by the uplift of the North Patagonian Andes. Results indicate that although the process started around 19 Ma, the rain shadow effect was not effectively recorded before ca. 14.6 Ma.
Effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust exposure on soluble P-selectin, E-selectin, I-CAM-1, VCAM-1 and complete blood count
Authors: Giles Luisa V , Tebbutt Scott J , Carlsten Christopher , Koehle Michael S
Published: November 2019

Background

Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) that contains transition metals may play a role in systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. Exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) can increase adhesion molecules, which are important in the inflammatory response; however, it is unclear how exercising in DE affects adhesion molecules and how exercise intensity modulates this response.

Aim

To determine how DE exposure during exercise of varying intensities affects adhesion molecules and markers of systemic inflammation.

Methods

Eighteen males performed 30 min cycling bouts at low intensity and high intensity (30% and 60% of power at VO2peak(peak oxygen consumption) and a control condition (rest)). Each trial was performed once breathing filtered air (FA) and once breathing DE (300 μg/m3of PM2.5, six trials in total). Prior to, immediately post, 1 and 2 hours post exposure, blood was drawn to measure parameters of a complete blood count and soluble (s) platelet-Selectin, endothelin-Selectin, intracellular cell adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1. Data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results

Two hours following high-intensity exercise, sICAM-1 was significantly less in DE compared with FA (p=0.008). Immediately following rest (p=0.013) and high-intensity exercise (p=0.042) in DE, sICAM-1 was significantly greater than immediately following low-intensity exercise in DE. There were no significant differences in other markers between DE and FA.

Conclusions

Based on this study, healthy individuals may not experience an acute increase in adhesion molecules and systemic inflammatory markers from exercising in DE compared with FA, and higher exercise intensities do not appear to increase the likelihood that DE will affect adhesion molecules and systemic inflammatory markers.
Leadership in physiotherapy: experiences of leaders of physiotherapy professional organisations
Authors: McGowan Emer , Stokes Emma
Published: November 2019

Background

The changing demands of healthcare and ongoing advances in practice and technology require corresponding change and development of the physiotherapy profession. Physiotherapy professional organisations perform many important functions in ensuring the ongoing growth and success of the profession. The leaders of these organisations therefore have key roles in progressing the physiotherapy profession in their country. To date, however, there has been very little written about these physiotherapy leaders and their work for the profession.

Purpose

To explore the professional leadership journeys of international physiotherapy leaders and their experiences of leading physiotherapy professional organisations.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 physiotherapy leaders from a range of physiotherapy professional organisations from around the world. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Three main themes were found in the analysis of the data: ‘Leadership roles, behaviours and challenges’, ‘Perceptions of the profession of physiotherapy’ and ‘Leadership development’.

Conclusions

The physiotherapy leaders describe interesting and varied roles that can also be challenging and demanding. They recognise the many challenges facing the physiotherapy profession internationally and the need for physiotherapists to more effectively advocate for the profession and demonstrate leadership. Leadership development opportunities and mentoring may be potential strategies to enable the development of future leaders of the physiotherapy profession.
Exploring fake solutions in the sterile neutrino sector at long-baseline experiments
Authors: Choubey Sandhya , Dutta Debajyoti , Pramanik Dipyaman
Published: November 2019

Active-sterile neutrino mixing is known to affect the neutrino oscillation probabilities at both short as well as long-baselines. In particular, constraints on active-sterile neutrino oscillation parameters can be obtained from long-baseline experiments such as T2HK and DUNE. We present here existence of fake solution in the appearance channel for the 3 + 1 scenario at long-baseline experiments. We show that the appearance probability is same for values of $$\Delta m_{41}^2$$Δm412 for which the fast oscillations are averaged out and for $$\Delta m_{41}^2=(1/2)\Delta m_{31}^2$$Δm412=(1/2)Δm312. The fake solution does not appear for the disappearance channel.
Gauss–Bonnet black holes supporting massive scalar field configurations: the large-mass regime
Authors: Hod Shahar
Published: November 2019

It has recently been demonstrated that black holes with spatially regular horizons can support external scalar fields (scalar hairy configurations) which are non-minimally coupled to the Gauss–Bonnet invariant of the curved spacetime. The composed black-hole-scalar-field system is characterized by a critical existence line $$\alpha =\alpha (\mu r_{\text {H}})$$α=α(μrH) which, for a given mass of the supported scalar field, marks the threshold for the onset of the spontaneous scalarization phenomenon [here $$\{\alpha ,\mu ,r_{\text {H}}\}$${α,μ,rH} are respectively the dimensionless non-minimal coupling parameter of the field theory, the proper mass of the scalar field, and the horizon radius of the central supporting black hole]. In the present paper we use analytical techniques in order to explore the physical and mathematical properties of the marginally-stable composed black-hole-linearized-scalar-field configurations in the eikonal regime $$\mu r_{\text {H}}\gg 1$$μrH≫1 of large field masses. In particular, we derive a remarkably compact analytical formula for the critical existence-line $$\alpha =\alpha (\mu r_{\text {H}})$$α=α(μrH) of the system which separates bare Schwarzschild black-hole spacetimes from composed hairy (scalarized) black-hole-field configurations.
Higher codimensional alpha invariants and characterization of projective spaces
Authors: Zhu Ziwen
Published: November 2019

We generalize the definition of alpha invariant to arbitrary codimension. We also give a lower bound of these alpha invariants for K-semistable [Formula: see text]-Fano varieties and show that we can characterize projective spaces among all K-semistable Fano manifolds in terms of higher codimensional alpha invariants. Our results demonstrate the relation between alpha invariants of any codimension and volumes of Fano manifolds in the characterization of projective spaces.
Area-Efficient Capacitor-Splitting Switching Scheme with a Nearly Constant Common-Mode Voltage for SAR ADCs
Authors: Wang Hao , Xie Wenming , Chen Zhixin
Published: November 2019

A novel area-efficient switching scheme is proposed for the successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The capacitor-splitting structure, charge-average switching technique, and [Formula: see text] (equal to [Formula: see text]/4) are combined together and optimized to realize the proposed switching scheme. [Formula: see text] is only used in the last two bit cycles, which affects the ADC accuracy little and reduces capacitor area by half. It achieves a 98% less switching energy and an 87.5% less capacitor area compared with the conventional switching method. In addition, the DAC output common-mode voltage is approximately constant. Thus, the proposed switching method is a good tradeoff among power consumption, capacitor area, DAC output common-mode voltage, and ADC accuracy. The proposed SAR ADC is simulated in 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS technology with a supply voltage of 0.6[Formula: see text]V and at a sampling rate of 20[Formula: see text]kS/s. The signal-to-noise-distortion ratio (SNDR) and spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) are 58.2 and 73.7[Formula: see text]dB, respectively. The effective number of bits (ENOB) is 9.4. It consumes 42[Formula: see text]nW, resulting in a figure-of-merit (FoM) of 3.11 fJ/conversion-step.
Design of a Ku-band MMIC LNA with a Simple T-type Input Matching Network
Authors: Qi Tian , He Songbai , Zhong Cheng , Zhu Zhitao
Published: November 2019

In this paper, the design of a wideband monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) low-noise amplifier (LNA) fabricated in 0.13-[Formula: see text]m GaAs pHEMT process is presented. A simple T-type input matching network (IMN) and a source feedback structure are employed to achieve low noise figure (NF). The MMIC LNA, which operates across 12–18[Formula: see text]GHz, can be used for satellite applications. Experimental results show an NF around 1.5[Formula: see text]dB in 12–17.5[Formula: see text]GHz and a minimum NF of 1.21[Formula: see text]dB at 16.5[Formula: see text]GHz. In addition, a flat small-signal gain of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dB is achieved at 13.5–17.5[Formula: see text]GHz. The input return loss is lower than [Formula: see text] dB at 12–14.5[Formula: see text]GHz and the output return loss is lower than [Formula: see text] dB at 12–17[Formula: see text]GHz. The power consumed is lower than 0.3[Formula: see text]W and the [Formula: see text] (1-dB compression point) output power is around 13[Formula: see text]dBm.
RegRocket
Authors: Sabek Ibrahim , Musleh Mashaal , Mokbel Mohamed F.
Published: November 2019

Autologistic regression is one of the most popular statistical tools to predict spatial phenomena in several applications, including epidemic diseases detection, species occurrence prediction, earth observation, and business management. In general, autologistic regression divides the space into a two-dimensional grid, where the prediction is performed at each cell in the grid. The prediction at any location is based on a set of predictors (i.e., features) at this location and predictions from neighboring locations. In this article, we address the problem of building efficient autologistic models with multinomial (i.e., categorical) prediction and predictor variables, where the categories represented by these variables are unordered. Unfortunately, existing methods to build autologistic models are designed for binary variables in addition to being computationally expensive (i.e., do not scale up for large-scale grid data such as fine-grained satellite images). Therefore, we introduceRegRocket: a scalable framework to build multinomial autologistic models for predicting large-scale spatial phenomena.RegRocketconsiders both the accuracy and efficiency aspects when learning the regression model parameters. To this end,RegRocketis built on top of Markov Logic Network (MLN), a scalable statistical learning framework, where its internals and data structures are optimized to process spatial data.RegRocketprovides an equivalent representation of the multinomial prediction and predictor variables using MLN where the dependencies between these variables are transformed into first-order logic predicates. Then,RegRocketemploys an efficient framework that learns the model parameters from the MLN representation in a distributed manner. Extensive experimental results based on two large real datasets show thatRegRocketcan build multinomial autologistic models, in minutes, for 1 million grid cells with 0.85 average F1-score.
Decolonizing design through the perspectives of cosmological others: Arguing for an ontological turn in design research and practice
Authors: Ansari Ahmed
Published: November 2019

A closer attention to cultural and cosmological difference as the basis for thinking about how we redesign our own modern technological infrastructures may be the way to decolonize design research.
WNT and β-Catenin in Cancer: Genes and Therapy
Authors: Jackstadt Rene , Hodder Michael Charles , Sansom Owen James
Published: November 2019

The WNT pathway is a pleiotropic signaling pathway that controls developmental processes, tissue homeostasis, and cancer. The WNT pathway is commonly mutated in many cancers, leading to widespread research into the role of WNT signaling in carcinogenesis. Understanding which cancers are reliant upon WNT activation and which components of the WNT signaling pathway are mutated is paramount to advancing therapeutic strategies. In addition, building holistic insights into the role of WNT signaling in not only tumor cells but also the tumor microenvironment is a vital area of research and may be a promising therapeutic strategy in multiple immunologically inert cancers. Novel compounds aimed at modulating the WNT signaling pathway using diverse mechanisms are currently under investigation in preclinical/early clinical studies. Here, we review how the WNT pathway is activated in multiple cancers and discuss current strategies to target aberrant WNT signaling.
RNA Expression Profile and Alternative Splicing Signatures of Genistein-Treated Breeder Hens Revealed by Hepatic Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: Lv Zengpeng , Jiang Jingle , Ning Chao , Dai Hongjian , Jin Song , Wei Xihui , Yu Debing , Shi Fangxiong
Published: November 2019

Little information has been available about the influence of dietary genistein (GEN) on hepatic transcriptome of laying broiler breeder (LBB) hens. The study is aimed at broadening the understanding of RNA expression profiles and alternative splicing (AS) signatures of GEN-treated breeder hens and thereby improving laying performance and immune function of hens during the late egg-laying period. 720 LBB hens were randomly allocated into three groups with supplemental dietary GEN doses (0, 40 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg). Each treatment has 8 replicates of 30 birds. Dietary GEN enhanced the antioxidative capability of livers, along with the increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Furthermore, it improved lipid metabolic status and apoptotic process in the liver of hens. 40 mg/kg dietary GEN had the better effects on improving immune function and laying performance. However, transcriptome data indicated that 400 mg/kg dietary GEN did negative regulation of hormone biosynthetic process. Also, it upregulated the expressions of EDA2R and CYR61 by the Cis regulation of neighbouring genes (lncRNA_XLOC_018890 and XLOC_024242), which might activate NF-κB and immune-related signaling pathway. Furthermore, dietary GEN induced AS events in the liver, which also enriched into immune and metabolic process. Therefore, the application of 40 mg/kg GEN in the diet of breeder hens during the late egg-laying period can improve lipid metabolism and immune function. We need to pay attention to the side-effects of high-dose GEN on the immune function.
FOXO1 Mediates Advanced Glycation End Products Induced Mouse Osteocyte-Like MLO-Y4 Cell Apoptosis and Dysfunctions
Authors: Zhang Citong , Wei Wei , Chi Minghan , Wan Yao , Li Xue , Qi Manlin , Zhou Yanmin
Published: November 2019

Osteocyte plays an essential role in bone metabolism by regulating osteoblast and osteoclast activities. Dysfunction or apoptosis of osteocyte will severely endanger the bone homeostasis and result in bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis has been considered as one of the diabetes complications; however, the mechanism is still to be discovered. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as the main pathogenic factor of diabetes mellitus, have the capacity to induce osteocyte apoptosis thus sabotaging bone homeostasis. Here, we examined the role of AGE during osteocyte apoptosis and how this effect would affect osteocyte’s regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast. Mouse osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells were used to study the properties of osteocyte and to examine its biological and pathological function. MTT assay and Annexin V assay showed that AGE significantly induce MLO-Y4 cell apoptosis. qPCR and Western blot results have shown that AGE upregulates proapoptotic gene p53 and its downstream target gene Bax, which leads to enhanced activation of caspase-3, thus inducing apoptosis in MLO-Y4 cells. Increased expression of sclerostin and RANKL in osteocytes has shown that AGE induces osteocyte dysfunction thus severely damaging the bone homeostasis by decreasing osteoblast and increasing osteoclast activities. Furthermore, the role of the transcription factor FOXO1, which is intensely associated with apoptosis, has been determined. Western blot has shown that AGE significantly decreases Akt activities. Immunofluorescence has shown that AGE promotes FOXO1 nuclei localization and enhances FOXO1 expression. Silencing of FOXO1 suppressed AGE-enhanced apoptosis; mRNA and protein expressions of cleaved caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL were downregulated as well. Moreover, exogenous FOXO1 increased caspase-3 mRNA levels and caspase-3 transcriptional activity. Lastly, ChIP assay has established the capacity of FOXO1 binding directly on the caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL promoter region in AGE environment, providing the mechanism of the AGE-induced osteocyte apoptosis and dysfunction. Our results have shown that FOXO1 plays a crucial role in AGE-induced osteocyte dysfunction and apoptosis through its regulation of caspase-3, sclerostin, and RANKL. This study provides new insight into diabetes-enhanced risk of osteoporosis given the critical role of AGE in the pathogenesis of diabetes and the essential part of osteocyte in bone metabolism.
Altered Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations in Inactive Patients with Nonneuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Yu Yang , Chen Liheng , Wang Qiaohong , Hu Lingzhen , Ding Qiuping , Jia Xize , Yang Xuyan
Published: November 2019

Objective.This study is aimed at investigating the characteristics of the spontaneous brain activity in inactive patients with nonneuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (non-NPSLE). Methods. Thirty-one female inactive patients with non-NPSLE and twenty healthy controls were examined by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). Three amplitude methods including amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF) (with and without standardization) were applied to evaluate the spontaneous brain activity. The correlation was performed between low-frequency oscillations and clinical and neuropsychological factors in inactive patients with non-NPSLE. Results. Compared to healthy controls, patients with non-NPSLE showed increased standardized ALFF (mALFF) in the left inferior temporal gyrus and left putamen, decreased PerAF in the right postcentral gyrus and bilateral precentral gyrus, and increased standardized PerAF (mPerAF) in the left putamen and decreased mPerAF in the right postcentral gyrus and bilateral precentral gyrus. By standardized fALFF (mfALFF), no significant brain regions were found between the two groups. Correlation analysis revealed significantly positive correlations between glucocorticoid dose and PerAF in the right precentral gyrus and mPerAF in the left putamen, and Complement 3 (C3) and mPerAF in the right postcentral gyrus. There was a significant negative correlation between C3 and mALFF in the left putamen. Conclusion. Abnormal low-frequency oscillations in multiple brain regions were found in inactive patients with non-NPSLE, indicating that the alteration of mALFF, PerAF, and mPerAF in specific brain regions might be an imaging biomarker of brain dysfunction in inactive patients with non-NPSLE.
ПРАВОВІ ТА ЕТИЧНІ ЗАСАДИ ГРОМАДСЬКОГО ЗДОРОВ’Я
Authors: Terzi O. O. , Liakhova N. O. , Pluzhnikova T. V.
Published: November 2019

Мета: проаналізувати правові та етичні засади громадського здоров’я.

Матеріали і методи. Методи дослідження обрані з урахуванням поставленої мети дослідження. Для встановлення об’єктивності та обґрунтованості наукових положень, висновків, під час проведеного дослідження застосовували комплекс загальнонаукових та спеціальних наукових методів, зокрема таких, як: формально-юридичний метод використовували для проведення аналізу правових та етичних засад громадського здоров’я; за допомогою порівняльно-правового методу з’ясовано підходи національного законодавства та міжнародних стандартів до етичного компонента громадського здоров’я, зокрема етична складова у правовому регулюванні діяльності лікарів, фармацевтичних фахівців, захисті пацієнтів, проведенні медичних досліджень та клінічних випробувань; метод прогнозування і моделювання використовували для розроблення практичних рекомендацій щодо значення аналізу правових та етичних засад громадського здоров’я у процесі реформування системи охорони здоров’я України та імплементації Угоди про асоціацію між Україною та Європейським Союзом; метод системного аналізу дозволив дослідити правові та етичні засади громадського здоров’я як компонент системи охорони здоров’я України; історико-правовий метод дозволив виявити особливості еволюції правових та етичних засад громадського здоров’я.

Результати. Ефективність правового регулювання громадського здоров’я безпосередньо залежить від відповідності даних норм права засадам моралі та етики. Правовим та етичним зобов’язанням лікаря є абсолютна повага до життя людини, зберігання і відновлення фізичного і психічного здоров’я людей. Етичні та правові норми у сфері громадського здоров’я відображені і в рекомендаційних документах, присвячених захисту прав пацієнтів.

Висновки. Положення національного законодавства та міжнародних стандартів у сфері громадського здоров’я поєднують правові та етичні засади при регулюванні діяльності лікарів, фармацевтичних фахівців, захисті пацієнтів, проведенні медичних досліджень та клінічних випробувань. Ефективність та найвищий рівень необхідного забезпечення громадського здоров’я нерозривно пов’язані у реформуванні системи охорони здоров’я України відповідно до міжнародних стандартів, які поєднують етичну складову.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Triple-A Analysis for the Screening of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Burrello Jacopo , Buffolo Fabrizio , Domenig Oliver , Tetti Martina , Pecori Alessio , Monticone Silvia , Poglitsch Marko , Mulatero Paolo
Published: November 2019

Primary aldosteronism is recognized as the most frequent cause of secondary hypertension, and its screening is expected to become a routine evaluation in most patients with hypertension. The interference of antihypertensive therapies with the aldosterone-to-renin ratio during screening process is a major confounder. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system Triple-A analysis is a novel liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry diagnostic assay that allows simultaneous quantification of aldosterone, equilibrium Ang I (angiotensin I), and Equilibrium Ang II in a single sample of serum. We performed a comparative evaluation of the diagnostic performance of the aldosterone-to-Ang II ratio and 5 renin-based diagnostic ratios, differing in methods to determine aldosterone levels and renin activity in a cohort of 110 patients with hypertension (33 patients with confirmed primary aldosteronism and 77 with essential hypertension). All ratios showed comparable areas under the curves ranging between 0.924 and 0.970 without significant differences between each other. The evaluation of the Ang II-to-Ang I ratio revealed persistent drug intake in some patients as cause for suppressed renin-based diagnostic ratios, while aldosterone-to-Ang II ratio remained unaffected. The Youden index optimal cutoff value for the aldosterone-to-Ang II ratio was 6.6 ([pmol/L]/[pmol/L]) with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 93%, proving noninferiority compared with the aldosterone-to-renin ratio while pointing to the potential for an interference-free application in patients under ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor therapy. This study shows for the first time the accuracy and reliability of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system triple-A analysis for the screening of primary aldosteronism that can be applied in clinical routine.
First records of Kempnyia and Macrogynoplax (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Tocantins State, Brazil with description of the immatures and the adult female
Authors: RIPPEL MELLIS LAYRA SOARES , NOVAES MARCOS CARNEIRO , KROLOW TIAGO KÜTTER
Published: November 2019

The genera Macrogynoplax Enderlein, 1909 and Kempnyia Klapálek, 1914 are reported for the first time from Tocantins State, a new locality record for Brazil. The nymphs of M. matogrossensis Bispo & Neves (2005) and K. goiana Bispo & Froehlich (2004) are described. Additionally, we also describe the female of K. goiana.
Standardisation, disequilibrium, and crisis: The division of labour and financialisation
Authors: Hanlon Gerard , Harney Stefano
Published: November 2019

How does financialisation interact with the wider division of labour? One could be excused for thinking the connection was tangential as most articles connect it to shareholder value strategies, growth of finance, changing nature of states and so on. In contrast, this article centralises the relationship. It argues that financialisation is not new and that it is a tendency within capitalism supported or hindered by social re-composition connected to the division of labour. The changing nature of this relationship facilitates regimes of accumulation that are more or indeed less financialised.
Regional Differences following Partial Salivary Gland Resection
Authors: O’Keefe K.J. , DeSantis K.A. , Altrieth A.L. , Nelson D.A. , Taroc E.Z.M. , Stabell A.R. , Pham M.T. , Larsen M.
Published: November 2019

Regenerative medicine aims to repair, replace, or restore function to tissues damaged by aging, disease, or injury. Partial organ resection is not only a common clinical approach in cancer therapy but also an experimental injury model used to examine mechanisms of regeneration and repair in organs. We performed a partial resection, or partial sialoadenectomy, in the female murine submandibular salivary gland (SMG) to establish a model for investigation of repair mechanisms in salivary glands (SGs). After partial sialoadenectomy, we performed whole-gland measurements over a period of 56 d and found that the gland increased slightly in size. We used microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to examine messenger RNA and protein changes in glands over time. Microarray analysis identified dynamic changes in the transcriptome 3 d after injury that were largely resolved by day 14. At the 3-d time point, we detected gene signatures for cell cycle regulation, inflammatory/repair response, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the partially resected glands. Using quantitative IHC, we identified a transient proliferative response throughout the gland. Both secretory epithelial and stromal cells expressed Ki67 that was detectable at day 3 and largely resolved by day 14. IHC also revealed that while most of the gland underwent a wound-healing response that resolved by day 14, a small region of the gland showed an aberrant sustained fibrotic response characterized by increased levels of ECM deposition, sustained Ki67 levels in stromal cells, and a persistent M2 macrophage response through day 56. The partial submandibular salivary gland resection model provides an opportunity to examine a normal healing response and an aberrant fibrotic response within the same gland to uncover mechanisms that prevent wound healing and regeneration in mammals. Understanding regional differences in the wound-healing responses may ultimately affect regenerative therapies for patients.
Under the Law: Balancing free speech and student safety
Authors: Underwood Julie
Published: November 2019

As schools continue to deal with growing concerns about safety, some teachers and administrators are having to grapple with how to handle student speech that seems threatening. Julie Underwood reviews a series of cases that dealt with this issue. If a reasonable person would perceive student speech as a threat and the student intentionally communicates that threat, then the students’ speech may not be protected by the First Amendment.
Re-evaluating the Collateral Challenge in the Era of Statutory Interpretation
Authors: O’Donnell Jules
Published: November 2019

A collateral challenge impugns the validity of an administrative decision in a proceeding that is not specifically designed for the modification or setting aside of that decision. On the current state of the law, there is a presumption in favour of collateral challenge in an inferior court, which can be displaced by a contrary legislative intention. I argue, however, that the current presumption lacks a clear doctrinal basis, and that it places too much emphasis on statutory interpretation as a useful tool for rebutting, or indeed vindicating, the starting presumption (let alone determining what administrative law ‘grounds’ a collateral challenge might encompass). I suggest a rearticulation of the presumption as an expression of a defendant’s entitlement to vindicate legal rights. I point out, however, that contemporary norms of administrative law may otherwise demand a stricter approach to permitting collateral challenges. On this alternative view, a challenger must identify clear legislative authorisation for what is essentially a judicial review function.
Huge Tornwaldt Cyst With Otitis Media With Effusion
Authors: Lee Jae-Hoon
Published: November 2019

Tornwaldt cyst is a relatively rare lesion that is found in the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. It occurs in the midline bursa of the nasopharynx and represents a persistent communication between the roof of the nasopharynx and the notochordal remnants. Smaller cysts are usually asymptomatic; cysts exceeding a diameter of 1 to 2 cm may be symptomatic. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality for diagnosing Tornwaldt cyst. We present a rare case of a huge Tornwaldt cyst completely obstructing the nasopharyngeal airway.
Digital media, political authoritarianism, and Internet controls in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sinpeng Aim
Published: November 2019

A sharp rise in the use of digital media in Southeast Asia in recent years has raised questions about the impact of these digitally networked technologies on the prospect for democratization in a region known for its authoritarian resilience. In the absence of a regional uprising as witnessed in the Middle East through the Arab Spring, Southeast Asian authoritarian states have maintained their durability despite a massive surge in online political activities and in some cases, digitally mediated large-scale mobilization of opposition groups. What explains authoritarian resilience in Southeast Asia in the face of rising opportunities for online political opposition? This article argues that while digital media has emerged as an important repertoire of activism, particularly for political opposition groups, a deft combination of political authoritarianism and increasing Internet controls have stunted democratic pressure in society and hampered future prospect for democratization. It also offers a comparative analysis of how the Internet more generally and digital media in particular has affected state-society relations in Southeast Asia in recent years. In order for digitally mediated political opposition to meaningfully challenge the existing authoritarian incumbents, sufficient opening in the political system is needed. This means, authoritarian states with competitive, routinized elections which have recently experienced large-scale or sustained mobilization by opposition groups are most likely to be susceptible to breakdown than closed regimes.
Intergenerational Coresidence and Depressive Symptoms of Rural and Urban Older Adults in China
Authors: Liu Jinyu , Li Lydia , Zhang Zhenmei , Xu Hongwei
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

This study aimed to examine whether gender and marital status of coresiding adult children are associated with depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults.

Methods:

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, linear regression analysis was conducted to identify longitudinal associations of intergenerational coresidence with depressive symptoms in rural and urban older Chinese.

Results:

Both rural and urban older adults living with unmarried sons had significantly higher depressive symptoms at four-year follow-up than those who did not live with children. Living with married sons was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at four-year follow-up among rural elders only.

Discussion:

This study sheds light on the heterogeneity in the relationship between intergenerational coresidence and Chinese older adults’ psychological well-being by the gender and marital status of coresiding children. Further research is needed to understand the complex and dynamic household structures and health outcomes in later life.
Modern Notions of Accent-ism: Findings, Conceptualizations, and Implications for Interventions and Research on Nonnative Accents
Authors: Roessel Janin , Schoel Christiane , Stahlberg Dagmar
Published: November 2019

Nonnative-accented speakers face prevalent discrimination. The assumption that people freely express negative sentiments toward nonnative speakers has also guided common research methods. However, recent studies did not consistently find downgrading, so that prejudice against nonnative accents might even be questioned at first sight. The present theoretical article will bridge these contradictory findings in three ways: (a) We illustrate that nonnative speakers with foreign accents frequently may not be downgraded in commonly used first-impression and employment scenario paradigms. It appears that relatively controlled responding may be influenced by norms and motivations to respond without prejudice, whereas negative biases emerge in spontaneous responding. (b) We present an integrative view based on knowledge on modern forms of prejudice to develop modern notions of accent-ism, which allow for predictions when accent biases are (not) likely to surface. (c) We conclude with implications for interventions and a tailored research agenda.
A corroborative approach to verification and validation of human–robot teams
Authors: Webster Matt , Western David , Araiza-Illan Dejanira , Dixon Clare , Eder Kerstin , Fisher Michael , Pipe Anthony G
Published: November 2019

We present an approach for the verification and validation (V&V) of robot assistants in the context of human–robot interactions, to demonstrate their trustworthiness through corroborative evidence of their safety and functional correctness. Key challenges include the complex and unpredictable nature of the real world in which assistant and service robots operate, the limitations on available V&V techniques when used individually, and the consequent lack of confidence in the V&V results. Our approach, called corroborative V&V, addresses these challenges by combining several different V&V techniques; in this paper we use formal verification (model checking), simulation-based testing, and user validation in experiments with a real robot. This combination of approaches allows V&V of the human–robot interaction task at different levels of modeling detail and thoroughness of exploration, thus overcoming the individual limitations of each technique. We demonstrate our approach through a handover task, the most critical part of a complex cooperative manufacturing scenario, for which we propose safety and liveness requirements to verify and validate. Should the resulting V&V evidence present discrepancies, an iterative process between the different V&V techniques takes place until corroboration between the V&V techniques is gained from refining and improving the assets (i.e., system and requirement models) to represent the human–robot interaction task in a more truthful manner. Therefore, corroborative V&V affords a systematic approach to “meta-V&V,” in which different V&V techniques can be used to corroborate and check one another, increasing the level of certainty in the results of V&V.