bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of Peer Group‐Based Training on the Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Transradial Coronary Angiography
Authors: Dehghan Ahmad Reza , Fereidouni Zhila , Najafi Kalyani Majid
Published: April 2020

Introduction. Coronary artery angiography using radial artery is one of the methods used for diagnosis of coronary artery disease, which causes physical and psychological problems in patients despite its precise and definite diagnosis. The present study is aimed at investigating the effect of peer group‐based education on physical and psychological outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery angiography through the radial artery. Methodology. The present clinical study was conducted on 60 patients undergoing coronary angiography through the radial artery in Vali‐e‐Asr educational hospital of Fasa during 2018 to 2019. The participants were divided into peer training and control groups (n = 30 in each group) using permutated block randomization. In the peer training group, the patients received the necessary precare training through peer training during and after angiography care. In the control group, the patients received the routine care by the nurse of the related ward. The peer group’s stress, anxiety, and depression levels were evaluated before and after the training. Indeed, their comfort, tolerance, satisfaction, and pain levels were measured by a nurse after angiography at the time of entering the ward. Findings. The results indicated no significant difference between the two groups regarding the mean scores of stress, anxiety, and depression before the intervention (p > 0.05). After the intervention, however, there was a significant difference between the two groups concerning the mean score of anxiety (p < 0.05). Nonetheless, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of tolerance, comfort, satisfaction, and pain levels (p > 0.05). Finally, the level of pain decreased in both groups over time (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Peer group‐based training was effective in decreasing the mean score of anxiety in the patients undergoing coronary angiography. Thus, this method is recommended to be utilized alongside other methods to train patients before coronary angiography due to its inexpensiveness and lack of side effects as well as not increasing the nurses’ workload.
Numerical Investigation of Flow around Two Tandem Identical Trapezoidal Cylinders
Authors: Wang Yupu , Cheng Wenming , Du Run , Wang Shubiao , Deng Yong
Published: April 2020

The trapezoidal beam structure is ubiquitous in giant engineering equipment, while their aerodynamic characteristics have not been clearly understood. Numerical simulation method was adopted to investigate the flow around two tandem identical trapezoidal cylinders. The study was conducted using a Reynolds number of 2.2 × 104, and with a spacing ratio varying from 0.5 to 10. The incompressible two-dimensional finite volume method was used for solving Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with realizablek−εmodel. The effects of cylinder geometry and spacing between the cylinders on aerodynamic characteristics, unsteady flow patterns, time-averaged flow characteristics, and flow instability was studied. The results show that the flow around the two tandem trapezoidal cylinders is highly dependent on the spacing ratio. The flow modes can be classified into: extended-body regime (Mode I,S∗ ≤ 1), reattachment regime (Mode II, 2 ≤ S∗ ≤ 3), and binary regime (Mode III,S∗ ≥ 4). We explored their respective flow characteristics and distinctions through the force/pressure coefficients, time-average streamwise velocity, and the flow field evolution.
Electrical Properties of Horizontal Array Capacitor Using Composite Organic Dielectric Layer of Impregnated Glass-Fiber Epoxy
Authors: Park Hwa-Sun , Na Young-Il , Lee Sang-Min , Suh Su-Jeong , Oh Yong-Soo , Lee Joon-kyun , Kim Sang Gweon , Han Sang-Woo , Cha Ho-Young , Yoon Jung-Rag
Published: April 2020

We introduce a horizontal array capacitor with nine capacitances in a single body using an organic dielectric layer impregnated with glass fiber as a prepreg sheet. An organic solid horizontal array capacitor with a dielectric of prepreg materials of the epoxy type can implement the nine capacitances in a single body via a unique simple lamination and cutting process. We then investigate the basic electrical properties of a horizontal array capacitor. The organic solid array capacitors with five electrodes and four dielectrics are Cu/PPG layer/Cu/PPG layer/Cu/PPG layer/Cu/PPG layer/Cu with a horizontal array structure. The size of a completed array capacitor is 2.85 × 2.85 mm. The height of the fabricated array capacitor in the vertical direction is 0.5 mm, with nine capacitances possessing a series-type structure. The average capacitance value of C1, C2, C3, and C4 is 1.98 nF, and each tolerance has a value within 1% based on the average value. The temperature change rate in the capacitance maintains a nearly linear characteristic, but the rate of change tends to increase finely from 120°C or more. The capacitance values of C5, C6, and C7 with the parallel circuit were measured according to the voltage. Impedance and ESR (equivalent series resistor) of C1 were measured according to frequency and temperature.
Improved Artificial Potential Field Method Applied for AUV Path Planning
Authors: Fan Xiaojing , Guo Yinjing , Liu Hui , Wei Bowen , Lyu Wenhong
Published: April 2020

With the topics related to the intelligent AUV, control and navigation have become one of the key researching fields. This paper presents a concise and reliable path planning method for AUV based on the improved APF method. AUV can make the decision on obstacle avoidance in terms of the state of itself and the motion of obstacles. The artificial potential field (APF) method has been widely applied in static real-time path planning. In this study, we present the improved APF method to solve some inherent shortcomings, such as the local minima and the inaccessibility of the target. A distance correction factor is added to the repulsive potential field function to solve the GNRON problem. The regular hexagon-guided method is proposed to improve the local minima problem. Meanwhile, the relative velocity method about the moving objects detection and avoidance is proposed for the dynamic environment. This method considers not only the spatial location but also the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the moving objects, which can avoid dynamic obstacles in time. So the proposed path planning method is suitable for both static and dynamic environments. The virtual environment has been built, and the emulation has been in progress in MATLAB. Simulation results show that the proposed method has promising feasibility and efficiency in the AUV real-time path planning. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in the real environment. Experimental results show that the proposed method is capable of avoiding the obstacles efficiently and finding an optimized path.
New Sequential Fractional Differential Equations with Mixed-Type Boundary Conditions
Authors: Zhang Haiyan , Li Yaohong , Yang Jingbao
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we introduce new sequential fractional differential equations with mixed-type boundary conditionsCDq+kCDq−1ut=ft,ut,CDq−1ut,t∈0,1,α1u0+β1u1+γ1Iruη=ε1,η∈0,1,α2u′0+β2u′1+γ2Iru′η=ε2,whereq∈1,2is a real number,k,r>0,αi,βi,γi,εi∈ℝ,i=1,2,CDqis the Caputo fractional derivative, and the boundary conditions include antiperiodic and Riemann-Liouville fractional integral boundary value cases. Our approach to treat the above problem is based upon standard tools of fixed point theory and some new inequalities of norm form. Some existence results are obtained and well illustrated through the aid of examples.
Metformin: A Possible Option in Cancer Chemotherapy
Authors: Ugwueze Chidiebere V. , Ogamba Odunze J. , Young Ekenechukwu E. , Onyenekwe Belonwu M. , Ezeokpo Basil C.
Published: April 2020

Metformin has been used for a long time as an antidiabetic medication for type 2 diabetes. It is used either as a monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetic medications. The drug came into prominence in diabetes and other conditions with cardiovascular risk after the landmark study of 1995 by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study which emphasized its importance. However, the drug has been used in experimental trials in various aspects of medicine and pharmacology such as in reproductive medicine, cancer chemotherapy, metabolic diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been in use in the treatment of polycystic ovarian disease and obesity and is being considered in type 1 diabetes. This study seeks to evaluate the relevance of metformin in cancer management. Different mechanisms have been proposed for its antitumor action which involves the following: (a) the activation of adenosine monophosphate kinase, (b) modulation of adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA), (c) reduction in insulin/insulin growth factors, and (d) the role of metformin in the inhibition of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS); and its resultant damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule is another paramount antitumor mechanism.
Effect of Quercetin on PC12 Alzheimer’s Disease Cell Model Induced by Aβ25-35 and Its Mechanism Based on Sirtuin1/Nrf2/HO‐1 Pathway
Authors: Yu Xinjun , Li Yicai , Mu Xiaohua
Published: April 2020

Objective. This study is aimed at studying the effect of quercetin on the Alzheimer disease cell model induced by Aβ25-35 in PC12 cells and its mechanism of action. Methods. The AD cell model was established by Aβ25-35. Quercetin was used at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μmol/L). The morphology of cells was observed, and the effect on cell survival rate was detected by the MTT method. Cell proliferation was detected by the SRB method. The contents of LDH, SOD, MDA, GSH‐Px, AChE, CAT, and T‐AOC were detected by kits. The expression of sirtuin1/Nrf2/HO‐1 was detected by RT‐qPCR and Western blot. Results. PC12 cells in the control group grew quickly and adhered well to the wall, most of which had extended long axons and easily grew into clusters. In the model group, cells were significantly damaged and the number of cells was significantly reduced. It was found that PC12 cells were swollen, rounded, protruding, and retracting, with reduced adherent function and floating phenomenon. Quercetin could increase the survival rate and proliferation rate of PC12 cells; reduce the levels of LDH, AChE, MDA, and HO‐1 protein; and increase the levels of SOD, GSH‐Px, CAT, T‐AOC, sirtuin1, and Nrf2 protein. Conclusion. Quercetin can increase the survival rate of PC12 injured by Aβ25-35, promote cell proliferation, and antagonize the toxicity of Aβ; it also has certain neuroprotective effects. Therefore, quercetin is expected to become a drug for the treatment of AD.
Lower Bounds on the Entire Zagreb Indices of Trees
Authors: Luo Liang , Dehgardi Nasrin , Fahad Asfand
Published: April 2020

For a (molecular) graph G, the first and the second entire Zagreb indices are defined by the formulas M1εG=∑x∈VG∪EGdx2 and M2εG=∑x is either adjacent or incident to ydxdy in which dx represents the degree of a vertex or an edge x. In the current manuscript, we establish some lower bounds on the first and the second entire Zagreb indices and determine the extremal trees which achieve these bounds.
A Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Treatment of Gastroparesis Using Different Acupoints
Authors: Xuefen Wu , Ping Li , Li Liu , Xiaoli Chen , Yue Zenghui
Published: April 2020

Objective. To explore the effect of “selecting acupoints by site” on the synergy effect of “acupoint compatibility” according to the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of patients with gastroparesis. Methods. A total of 99 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for gastroparesis were enrolled in 3 clinical centers and randomly divided into group A (33 cases), group B (33 cases, 1 case of shedding), and group C (33 cases, 1 case of shedding). In group A, acupuncture was performed at Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group B, acupuncture was performed at Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36); in group C, acupuncture was performed at nonacupoint and Zusanli (ST 36). Treatment was performed for 30 minutes every day, 5 days as a course of treatment. There were 2 days off between courses and three courses in total. Differences in a main symptom index of gastroparesis (GCSI) scores, 9 symptom scores, and a health questionnaire (SF-36) were compared between each group before and after treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment. The difference of gastric emptying rate was compared before and after treatment. Results. The GCSI scores of each group after treatment and at follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.01), and the reduction in group A was greater than that of groups B and C (P<0.01). The score of each symptom was meaningfully lower than that before treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The effect was best in group A, followed by group B. After treatment, the barium meal in the stomach of the three groups was significantly reduced compared with before treatment (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference between the groups. The results of SF-36 showed that acupuncture treatment can improve health status, to a certain extent, and there was no significant difference in the three groups. Conclusion. (1) Acupuncture is an effective method for the treatment of gastroparesis. (2) The combination of Zhongwan (CV 12) with Zusanli (ST 36) showed the most promising effect on relief of the symptoms in patients with gastroparesis. (3) “Selecting acupoints by site” is the key factor affecting the synergy effect of “acupoint compatibility.” This trial was registered with the International Center for Clinical Trials (registration no. NCT02594397).
Yiqi Huoxue Recipe Improves Liver Regeneration in Rats after Partial Hepatectomy via JNK Pathway
Authors: Li Wen-cong , Zhao Su-xian , Ren Wei-guang , Du Hui-juan , Zhang Yu-guo , Nan Yue-min
Published: April 2020

The liver is the only visceral organ that exhibits a remarkable capability of regenerating in response to partial hepatectomy (PH) or chemical injury. Improving liver regeneration (LR) ability is the basis for the favourable treatment outcome of patients after PH, which can serve as a potential indicator for postoperative survival. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Yiqi Huoxue recipe (YQHX) on LR after PH in rats and further elucidate its underlying mechanism. A two‐thirds PH rat model was used in this study. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham‐operated, PH, YQHX + PH, and Fuzheng Huayu decoction (FZHY) + PH groups. All rats were sacrificed under anesthesia at 24 and 72 h after surgery. The rates of LR were calculated, and the expression levels of cyclin D1 and c‐jun were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of p‐JNK1/2, JNK1/2, p‐c‐jun, c‐jun, Bax, and Bcl‐2 were detected by Western blotting, while the mRNA levels of JNK1, JNK2, c‐jun, Bax, and Bcl‐2 were examined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). At the corresponding time points, YQHX and FZHY administration dramatically induced the protein levels of p‐JNK1/2 compared to the PH group (p < 0.05), while FZHY + PH group showed prominently increase in p‐JNK1/2 protein levels compared to the YQHX + PH group (p < 0.05). A similar trend was observed for the expression levels of p‐c‐jun. Compared to the PH group, YQHX and FZHY markedly reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax at 24 h after PH, while those in the FZHY + PH group decreased more obviously (p < 0.05). Besides, in comparison with the PH group, YQHX and FZHY administration predominantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl‐2 at 24 and 72 h after PH (p < 0.05). In conclusion, YQHX improves LR in rats after PH by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis via the JNK signaling pathway.
Construction and Optimization of Fuzzy Rule-Based Classifier with a Swarm Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: Mao Li , Chen Qidong , Sun Jun
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we propose a particle swarm optimization method incorporating quantum qubit operation to construct and optimize fuzzy rule-based classifiers. The proposed algorithm, denoted as QiQPSO, is inspired by the quantum computing principles. It employs quantum rotation gates to update the probability of each qubit with the corresponding quantum angle updating according to the update equation of the quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO). After description of the principle of QiQPSO, we show how to apply QiQPSO to establish a fuzzy classifier through two procedures. The QiQPSO algorithm is first used to construct the initial fuzzy classification system based on the sample data and the grid method of partitioning the feature space, and then the fuzzy rule base of the initial fuzzy classifier is optimized further by QiQPSO in order to reduce the number of the fuzzy rules and thus improve its interpretability. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, QiQPSO is tested on various real-world classification problems. The experimental results show that the QiQPSO is able to effectively select feature variables and fuzzy rules of the fuzzy classifiers with high classification accuracies. The performance comparison with other methods also shows that the fuzzy classifier optimized by QiQPSO has higher interpretability as well as comparable or even better classification accuracies.
Validation of a Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Biomarker Profile for Risk of Recurrence after Breast-Conserving Surgery with and without Radiotherapy
Authors: Weinmann Sheila , Leo Michael C. , Francisco Melanie , Jenkins Charisma L. , Barry Todd , Leesman Glen , Linke Steven P. , Whitworth Pat W. , Patel Rakesh , Pellicane James , Wärnberg Fredrik , Bremer Troy
Published: April 2020

Purpose:

A major challenge in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treatment is selection of the most appropriate therapeutic approach for individual patients. We conducted an external prospective–retrospective clinical validation of a DCIS biologic risk signature, DCISionRT, in a population-based observational cohort of women diagnosed with DCIS and treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Experimental Design:

Participants were 455 health plan members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest diagnosed with DCIS and treated with BCS with or without radiotherapy from 1990 to 2007. The biologic signature combined seven protein tumor markers assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue with four clinicopathologic factors to provide a DCISionRT test result, termed decision score (DS). Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to measure the association of the DS, continuous (linear) or categorical (DS ≤ 3 vs. DS > 3), and subsequent total ipsilateral breast events and invasive ipsilateral breast events at least 6 months after initial surgery.

Results:

In Cox regression, the continuous and categorical DS variables were positively associated with total and invasive breast event risk after adjustment for radiotherapy. In a subset analysis by treatment group, categorical Kaplan–Meier analyses showed at least 2-fold differences in 10-year risk of total breast events between the elevated-risk and low-risk DS categories.

Conclusions:

In this first external validation study of the DCISionRT test, the DS was prognostic for the risk of later breast events for women diagnosed with DCIS, following BCS.
Severe Postoperative Chronic Constipation Related to Anorectal Malformation Managed with Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
Authors: Vismara Luca , Cozzolino Vincenzo , Pradotto Luca Guglielmo , Gentile Riccardo , Tarantino Andrea Gianmaria
Published: April 2020

Constipation is frequent amongst infants who have undergone surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM). Faecal retention, due to a dysfunctional enteric reflex of defaecation, can cause abdominal cramps, pseudoincontinence and, in the worst cases, megacolon. Prokinetic protocols are used to stimulate at least 1 bowel movement per day, including laxatives, enema, stools softeners and dietary schedules. While osteopathic manipulative treatment is adopted in adults for functional constipation, it has not been described for infants. Herein, we report the case of an infant undergoing anorectoplasty for a low ARM who was referred to the osteopath 2 years after the onset of severe constipation associated with pseudoincontinence and abdominal cramps and was refractory to the prokinetic protocol. In a child with a good ARM prognosis, autonomous daily bowel movements should be achieved. In this child, the imbalanced tension of the pelvic floor and immaturity of the parasympathetic plexus led to a functional alteration of the defaecation reflex. After adjunction of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to the therapeutic panel, the constipation showed gradual remission, with acquisition of autonomous defaecation 4 months after the therapy began. This suggests the importance of investigating the efficacy of OMT inclusion in the postsurgical prokinetic protocols for ARM patients with a good prognosis.
Neoliberalism and trade unions in Britain
Authors: Cushion Steve
Published: April 2020

For the past 30 years, Britain’s ruling class has been deeply split over membership of the European Union. This came to a head over the referendum on so-called “Brexit”. The Conservative Party (Tories) was split into “Remain” and “Leave” wings, both neoliberal, but with a different interpretation of the best way to make profits for the section of British capitalism each represents. Meanwhile the Labour Party is divided between the pro-business, neoliberal wing and the social democratic, reformist wing. The trade unions, with one or two notable exceptions, have conducted their activities within the parameters of parliamentary politics and desperately hoped for a Labour victory. The recent general election gave complete victory to the “Leave” Tories, which is potentially disastrous for the trade unions and their members.
Increased Arterial Stiffness Amplifies the Association Between Home Blood Pressure Variability and Cardiac Overload
Authors: Ishiyama Yusuke , Hoshide Satoshi , Kanegae Hiroshi , Kario Kazuomi
Published: April 2020

Increased blood pressure (BP) variability, an index of hemodynamic stress, leads to cardiac overload and worse cardiovascular prognosis. The association between day-by-day home BP variability and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) as an index of cardiac overload may be amplified by increased arterial stiffness as assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). J-HOP (Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure) Study participants who were selected from a practitioner-based population with at least one cardiovascular risk factor underwent home BP monitoring, and their BP levels and SD, coefficient of variation, and average real variability as indexes of systolic BP variability were assessed. We analyzed 2115 individuals without prevalent heart failure and divided them into lower (<1800 cm/s, n=1464) and higher (≥1800 cm/s, n=651) baPWV groups. The higher baPWV group had significantly higher SD
SBP
, CV
SBP
, ARV
SBP
values, and NT-proBNP levels than the lower baPWV group (all
P
<0.001). In the higher baPWV group, a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the SD
SBP
was associated with the NT-proBNP level after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors including the average home systolic BP (coefficient per 1 SD increase, 0.049 [95% CI, 0.018–0.081];
P
=0.002). Similar trends were found for CV
SBP
(
P
=0.003) and ARV
SBP
(
P
=0.004). However, these associations were not found in the lower baPWV group. There was an interaction between all indexes of systolic BP variability and the NT-proBNP level according to lower or higher baPWV group (all
P
<0.05). Arterial stiffness amplified the association between home BP variability and cardiac overload.
Blood Pressure–Lowering Profiles and Clinical Effects of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Versus Calcium Channel Blockers
Authors: Mehlum Maria H. , Liestøl Knut , Kjeldsen Sverre E. , Wyller Torgeir B. , Julius Stevo , Rothwell Peter M. , Mancia Giuseppe , Parati Gianfranco , Weber Michael A. , Berge Eivind
Published: April 2020

Blood pressure–lowering drugs have different blood pressure–lowering profiles. We studied if differences in blood pressure mean and variability can explain the differences in risks of cardiovascular events and death among 15 245 high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to valsartan or amlodipine and followed for 4.2 years in the VALUE trial (Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-Term Use Evaluation). We selected patients with ≥3 visits and performed Cox regression analyses, defining mean blood pressure as a time-dependent covariate and visit-to-visit and within-visit blood pressure variability as the SD. Of 14 996 eligible patients, participants in the valsartan group had higher systolic mean blood pressure by 2.2 mm Hg, higher visit-to-visit systolic variability by 1.4 mm Hg, and higher within-visit systolic variability by 0.2 mm Hg (
P
values <0.0001). The higher risks of myocardial infarction and stroke in the valsartan group was attenuated after adjustment for mean and variability of systolic blood pressure, from HR 1.19 (95% CI, 1.02–1.39) to 1.11 (0.96–1.30) and from HR 1.13 (0.96–1.33) to 1.00 (0.85–1.18), respectively. The lower risk of congestive heart failure in the valsartan group was accentuated after adjustment, from HR 0.86 (0.74–1.00) to 0.76 (0.65–0.89). A smaller effect was seen on risk of death, from 1.01 (0.92–1.12) to 0.94 (0.85–1.04). In conclusion, the higher risks of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients randomized to valsartan versus amlodipine were related to the drugs’ different blood pressure modulating profiles. The risk of congestive heart failure with valsartan was lower, independent of the less favorable blood pressure modulating profile.
Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Exhibit a Greater Exercise-Induced Increase in Arterial Stiffness and Vessel Hemodynamics
Authors: Cooke Alexandra B. , Dasgupta Kaberi , Spronck Bart , Sharman James E. , Daskalopoulou Stella S.
Published: April 2020

Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a greater blood pressure (BP) response to acute maximal exercise compared to those without T2DM; however, whether they exhibit a different arterial stiffness response to maximal exercise has yet to be explored. Adults with (n=66) and without T2DM (n=61) underwent an arterial stress test: at rest and immediately postexercise, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, the gold standard measure of arterial stiffness, brachial BP, heart rate, and other hemodynamic measurements were assessed. Linear regression models were used to evaluate between-group differences at rest, and the response to exercise (postexercise value), adjusting for covariates including BP and heart rate when relevant, and the corresponding baseline value of each parameter. All participants (mean±SD: age 59.3±10.6 years; body mass index 31.2±3.9 kg/m
2
) had hypertension (mean BP 130±14/80±9 mm Hg). At rest, participants with T2DM had significantly higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (10.3±2.7 versus 9.1±1.9 m/s), heart rate (69±11 versus 66±10 beats/min), and lower diastolic BP (79±9 versus 83±9 mm Hg), but systolic BP (129±15 versus 131±13 mm Hg) was similar. In response to exercise, participants with T2DM showed greater increases in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (1.6 [95% CI, 0.4–2.9 m/s]) and systolic BP (9 [95% CI, 1–17 mm Hg]) than participants without T2DM. A greater proportion of participants with T2DM had a hypertensive response to exercise compared to participants without T2DM (n=23, 35% versus n=11, 18%;
P
=0.033). By incorporating exercise as a vascular stressor, we provide evidence of a greater increase in arterial stiffness in individuals with T2DM, independently of resting arterial stiffness, and the BP postexercise.
Low-Skilled Immigrants and Urban Development  in China: A Labor Market Perspective
Authors: Liang Chao , Wang Susu
Published: April 2020

This study investigates the impact of low-skilled immigrants on urban labor markets in China. Using historical migration networks as an instrumental variable to overcome endogeneity problems, we find that low-skilled immigrants significantly increase local wages. Census data reveal significant occupational segregation between low-skilled immigrants and local inhabitants. Low-skilled immigrants are found to substitute for low-skilled local inhabitants but are complementary for high-skilled local inhabitants. In addition, low-skilled immigrants boost women's labor participation and wages through consumption service markets. This study's findings reveal that discrimination against low-skilled immigrants weakens the reciprocal effects among immigrants and local inhabitants and hinders urban development.
Decoding Brain Activity Associated with Literal and Metaphoric Sentence Comprehension Using Distributional Semantic Models
Authors: Djokic Vesna G. , Maillard Jean , Bulat Luana , Shutova Ekaterina
Published: April 2020

Recent years have seen a growing interest within the natural language processing (NLP) community in evaluating the ability of semantic models to capture human meaning representation in the brain. Existing research has mainly focused on applying semantic models to decode brain activity patterns associated with the meaning of individual words, and, more recently, this approach has been extended to sentences and larger text fragments. Our work is the first to investigate metaphor processing in the brain in this context. We evaluate a range of semantic models (word embeddings, compositional, and visual models) in their ability to decode brain activity associated with reading of both literal and metaphoric sentences. Our results suggest that compositional models and word embeddings are able to capture differences in the processing of literal and metaphoric sentences, providing support for the idea that the literal meaning is not fully accessible during familiar metaphor comprehension.
Limiting Permissible Limitations: How to Preserve the Substance of Religious Freedom
Authors: Bielefeldt Heiner
Published: April 2020

The question of how to draw legitimate limits to the content and exercise of human rights has caused many controversies, not only in academic debates, but also in human rights practice. Governments often invoke limitation clauses linked to human rights provisions as a broad allowance to impose restrictions. However, the main function of those clauses is actually to limit the scope of permissible limitations. This chapter takes freedom of religion or belief as a test case to illustrate the role of limitation clauses. Moreover, from an adequate understanding of limitation clauses, the popular “balancing” semantics deserves serious criticism, since it obfuscates the task to preserve the substance of human rights guarantees even in situations of normative conflict.
External Intervention, Identity, and Civil War
Authors: Sambanis Nicholas , Skaperdas Stergios , Wohlforth William
Published: April 2020

We examine how external intervention interacts with ethnic polarization to induce rebellion and civil war. Previous literature views polarization as internally produced—the result of demographic characteristics or intergroup differences made salient by ethnic entrepreneurs. We complement these approaches by showing that polarization is also affected by international politics. We model intervention’s effect on civil war via the pathway of ethnic identification—a mechanism not previously identified in the literature. In our model, local actors representing different groups are emboldened by foreign patrons to pursue their objectives violently. This, in turn, makes ethnic identity salient and induces polarization. Without the specter of intervention, polarization is often insufficient to induce war and, in turn, in the absence of polarization, intervention is insufficient to induce war. We illustrate the model with case evidence from Ukraine.
The Effect of Election Proximity on Government Responsiveness and Citizens’ Participation: Evidence From English Local Elections
Authors: Dipoppa Gemma , Grossman Guy
Published: April 2020

Does political engagement depend on government responsiveness? Identifying the drivers of political action is challenging because it requires disentangling instrumental from expressive motives for engagement and because government responsiveness is likely endogenous. We overcome the first challenge by studying citizens’ reporting of street-problems—a form of participation arguably driven by instrumental considerations. We overcome the second challenge by taking advantage of variation in local elections timing in England’s district authorities. We report three key results. First, local governments address requests faster in the months leading to elections. Second, street-problem reporting increases in (pre)electoral periods. Third, the increase in requests sent in preelection periods is driven by districts in which government responsiveness is higher. These findings show that, individuals consider expected benefits when choosing to undertake at least some instrumental forms of participation. Our results also underscore the importance of temporal factors that increase the perceived benefits of one’s political engagement.
A Mixture IRTree Model for Extreme Response Style: Accounting for Response Process Uncertainty
Authors: Kim Nana , Bolt Daniel M.
Published: April 2020

This paper presents a mixture item response tree (IRTree) model for extreme response style. Unlike traditional applications of single IRTree models, a mixture approach provides a way of representing the mixture of respondents following different underlying response processes (between individuals), as well as the uncertainty present at the individual level (within an individual). Simulation analyses reveal the potential of the mixture approach in identifying subgroups of respondents exhibiting response behavior reflective of different underlying response processes. Application to real data from the Students Like Learning Mathematics (SLM) scale of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 demonstrates the superior comparative fit of the mixture representation, as well as the consequences of applying the mixture on the estimation of content and response style traits. We argue that methodology applied to investigate response styles should attend to the inherent uncertainty of response style influence due to the likely influence of both response styles and the content trait on the selection of extreme response categories.
Detailed stress analysis of a twill orthogonally woven textile composite
Authors: Ballard M Keith , Whitcomb John D
Published: April 2020

A finite element analysis framework that leverages high-performance computing was used to analyze a twill orthogonally woven textile model. Boundary conditions for uniaxial tension along the warp direction were applied to a large analysis region, and an interior subregion was used for investigating the stress distributions. The locations of severe stresses were investigated for the binders, wefts, warps, and matrix, respectively, and the connection of the stress state to the surrounding tow architecture was discussed. It was shown that the highest stresses developed in the binders where the path of a binder changed direction, due to a transfer of load to nearby wefts that induced a severe shear stress in the binder. Additionally, severe stress concentrations were observed in both the wefts and binders where the binders traversed the thickness of the textile and came near a weft. The magnitude of the concentration in the binders closely matched across similar locations. On the other hand, the concentrations in the weft appeared to be sensitive to the faceted surfaces of the tows, which sometimes resulted in sharp edges, but these stress the concentrations in the wefts did remain localized. In the warps, the normal stress in the direction of the load was the largest, but the most severe stress state was shown to occur in a very small region where warps came close to binders as the path of the binder transitioned.
Claiming National Heritage: State Appropriation of Nazi Art Plunder in Postwar Western Europe
Authors: Campbell Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

In the wake of the Second World War, cultural officers from the western Allied powers recovered several million objects plundered by the Nazis – works of art, Judaica, fine furniture, collectible books and archive collections. Recent books and films have popularized the history of the heroic art recovery effort, but less well-known is the story of what happened to objects that were never returned to rightful owners. In France, Belgium and the Netherlands, postwar governments selected the best of the unclaimed objects and distributed them to public museums, ministries, embassies and other state buildings. This public use of recovered art quietly endured until the 1990s, when heightened awareness of Holocaust-era assets led to greater public and press scrutiny and an increase in restitution claims. This article examines the origins of postwar art custodianships in a comparative analysis of French, Belgian and Dutch restitution policies. The comparison reveals national differences in the scope of looting operations and postwar restitution policies, yet the broad contours of each government’s approach to ownerless art are remarkably similar. In all three cases the custodianships continued the long-term dispossession of Jewish owners wrought by the Nazis and their collaborators.
The Continuing Relevance of George L. Mosse to the Study of Nationalism
Authors: Hutchinson John
Published: April 2020

This article explores four aspects of George L. Mosse’s legacy in the field of nationalism. First, it examines his wrestling with the normative complexities of nationalism, reflected in his horror of integralist nationalism (exemplified in fascism) that was in tension with his sympathy with liberal Zionism. Second, it discusses Mosse’s innovative anthropological approach to nationalism as a form of culture that aligns him with the ethno-symbolic school of nationalism, associated with Anthony D. Smith. A third contribution was his pioneering studies of the rituals of war commemoration and their changing forms as central to national legitimation. Finally, Mosse has been recognised by leading feminists as an important early investigator of sexuality as it relates to the construction of repressive national codes of respectability. What links these topics is Mosse’s tendency to view nationalism as reinforcing the coercive aspects of modern industrial societies. In none of these areas was Mosse a systematic thinker, but the interdisciplinary character of his work and his concern with fundamental problems of identity continues to inspire research into these issues.
Sdccag3 Promotes Implant Osseointegration during Experimental Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Ren H. , Huo F. , Wang Z. , Liu F. , Dong X. , Wang F. , Fan X. , Yuan M. , Jiang X. , Lan J.
Published: April 2020

Hyperlipidemia adversely affects bone metabolism, often resulting in compromised osseointegration and implant loss. In addition, genetic networks associated with osseointegration have been proposed. Serologically defined colon cancer antigen 3 (Sdccag3) is a novel endosomal protein that functions in actin cytoskeleton remodeling, protein trafficking and secretion, cytokinesis, and apoptosis, but its roles in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and in implant osseointegration under hyperlipidemic conditions have not been uncovered. Here, we performed microarray and RNA sequencing analysis to determine the differential expression of the Sdccag3 gene and related noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and to assess the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MSTRG.97162.4-miR-193a-3p-Sdccag3 coexpression network in bone tissues within the region 0.5 mm around implants in hyperlipidemic rats. In this experiment, we found that Sdccag3 and the previously uncharacterized lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4 were downregulated during hyperlipidemia, while miR-193a-3p was upregulated. Sdccag3 overexpression increased new trabecular formation, the bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) (1.24-fold), and bone-implant combination ratio (BIC%) (1.26-fold). An RNA pulldown experiment revealed that Sdccag3 protein targeted lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4 nucleotides 361 to 389. In addition, lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4 overexpression significantly enhanced Sdccag3 (2.78-fold) expression and increased BV/TV (1.45-fold) and BIC% (1.07-fold) at the bone-implant interface. Taken together, these findings indicate that Sdccag3 overexpression enhances implant osseointegration under hyperlipidemic conditions by binding to lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4. Furthermore, miR-193a-3p overexpression inhibited lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4 (0.63-fold) and Sdccag3 (0.88-fold) expression and induced poor implant osseointegration (BV/TV, 0.86-fold; BIC%, 0.82-fold), while miR-193a-3p downregulation produced the opposite results (lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4, 10.69-fold; Sdccag3, 6.96-fold; BV/TV, 1.20-fold; BIC%, 1.26-fold). Therefore, our findings show that Sdccag3 promotes implant osseointegration, and its related lncRNA-MSTRG.97162.4 and miR-193a-3p play an important role in osseointegration during hyperlipidemia, which might be a promising therapeutic target for improving dental implantation success rates.
The Editor’s Note: An ode to joy
Authors: Heller Rafael
Published: April 2020

While we’re in the midst of a global pandemic that has shut down the education system, it may seem odd to publish a magazine issue on the pleasures of life in school. But sometime soon, our schools will reopen, and it will be more important than ever to focus on the joys of teaching and learning.
The Long Island play revolution
Authors: Sahlberg Pasi , Doyle William
Published: April 2020

This excerpt from Let the Children Play by Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle (Oxford University Press, 2019) describes how a Long Island school district began giving children more time for unstructured play during the school day by doubling the recess period, extending lunch, launching optional play clubs, and creating spaces for unstructured activity. At the same time, the district superintendent de-emphasized test scores and discouraged homework. Students began coming to class better prepared for learning, disciplinary problems went down, and student attendance went up.
Measuring joy: A social justice issue
Authors: Soutter Madora
Published: April 2020

Schools that make an effort to promote social-emotional learning, character growth, and joyful learning may question whether and how to measure the effectiveness of such efforts. Yet, as Madora Soutter explains, measurement is an important way to ensure that all students, including those who are frequently marginalized, feel emotionally supported in their schools. Soutter discusses how measurement of SEL and other outcomes is a social justice issue while also warning educators of some of the pitfalls of such measurements. She cites the efforts of the EL Education network of schools as one example of how a school can track social-emotional learning in a way that is attentive to equity.
Why we teach: A conversation with Sonia Nieto
Authors: Heller Rafael
Published: April 2020

In this interview, Sonia Nieto shares what she has learned from her long career in teaching, teacher education, and research about what motivates teachers to continue coming to the classroom each day. She shares the story of her early years as a teacher and how professional relationships helped her to thrive. And she describes the varied ways that other teachers she’s met have found purpose and joy in their work.
Creating a system of professional learning that meets teachers’ needs
Authors: Penuel William R. , Bell Philip , Neill Tiffany
Published: April 2020

State-level leaders face a difficult challenge of determining where to invest scarce professional learning dollars. To address this challenge, a team of researchers and state-level science educators surveyed teachers to learn more about their vision for science education and what kind of learning opportunities they preferred. The survey enabled the team to determine how well teachers’ ideas about science education aligned with the Framework for K-12 Science Education. They then set state-level aims for professional learning that took into account teacher preferences and any gaps between teacher visions and the vision of science education in the framework. Together, the researchers and state leaders created free learning resources that could help teachers achieve these aims.
What Kind of Disagreement Favors Reason-Giving? Analyzing Online Political Discussions across the Broader Public Sphere
Authors: Maia Rousiley CM , Hauber Gabriella , Choucair Thais , Crepalde Neylson JB
Published: April 2020

This study adopts a systemic approach, focusing on real-world online discussions in legislative-, media-, and activist-based forums, to explore a set of factors that affects reasoned disagreement in digital environments. While conventional analysis investigates the effects of disagreement on civic and political participation, this study unpacks forms of disagreement that retain a principled link with reason-giving. Our findings demonstrate that context matters for shaping online communication, but that other variables have even stronger correlations. Specifically, moderating disagreement—conceptualized as a way of disagreeing that nevertheless signals a background of agreement in the conversation—strongly increases the likelihood of justificatory behavior, and it does so in more categories than bold disagreement. In conclusion, we argue that forms of disagreement and their respective consequences deserve more empirical and normative attention, not only to advance debates on deliberation but also to critically understand the communicative complexities in a new media landscape.
What a Directed Motivational Current Is to Language Teachers
Authors: Peng Zhiyang , Phakiti Aek
Published: April 2020

This article discusses a framework developed by Dörnyei, Henry and Muir (2016). Known as the Directed Motivational Currents (DMCs) framework, it takes a socio-dynamic viewpoint in which learner motivation and other characteristics of learners, the learning task and the specific learning context are considered to be dynamically intertwined. Given that the DMCs framework is relatively new, descriptions of it remain highly theoretical. This article aims to discuss it in an accessible way, particularly by pinpointing how it can be translated into teaching practice. This article appraises the DMCs framework both theoretically and empirically.
Three Types of Old English Adjectival Postposition: A Corpus-Based Construction Grammar Approach
Authors: Grabski Maciej
Published: April 2020

The present article looks at different patterns of adjectival postmodification in Old English. A detailed corpus analysis is performed, whose results are interpreted within the framework of Construction Grammar. This study contributes to previous research on the subject by using a large set of corpus data which pave the way for adopting a usage-based approach. The results indicate that the patterns analyzed fulfilled different functions, which in the framework adopted is grounds enough for assigning them to different conceptual categories, i.e., “constructions.” Further, I investigate the mutual relations between these constructions as well as the internal dynamics of their functions and development. The findings support the basic constructionist notion that language is most effectively described as a complex and dynamic network of interrelated constructions.