bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of 7°C environmental temperature acclimation during a 3-week training period
Authors: Shute Robert , Marshall Katherine , Opichka Megan , Schnitzler Halee , Ruby Brent , Slivka Dustin
Published: February 2020

Cold environmental temperatures during exercise and recovery alter the acute response to cellular signaling and training adaptations. Approximately 3 wk is required for cold temperature acclimation to occur. To determine the impact of cold environmental temperature on training adaptations, fitness measurements, and aerobic performance, two groups of 12 untrained male subjects completed 1 h of cycling in 16 temperature acclimation sessions in either a 7°C or 20°C environmental temperature. Fitness assessments before and after acclimation occurred at standard room temperature. Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle before and after training to assess molecular markers related to mitochondrial development. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α ( PGC-1α) mRNA was higher in 7°C than in 20°C in response to acute exercise before training ( P = 0.012) but not after training ( P = 0.813). PGC-1α mRNA was lower after training ( P < 0.001). BNIP3 was lower after training in the 7°C than in the 20°C group ( P = 0.017) but not before training ( P = 0.549). No other differences occurred between temperature groups in VEGF, ERRα, NRF1, NRF2, TFAM, PINK1, Parkin, or BNIP3L mRNAs ( P > 0.05). PGC-1α protein and mtDNA were not different before training, after training, or between temperatures ( P > 0.05). Cycling power increased during the daily training ( P < 0.001) but was not different between temperatures ( P = 0.169). V̇o2peak increased with training ( P < 0.001) but was not different between temperature groups ( P = 0.460). These data indicate that a 3-wk period of acclimation/training in cold environmental temperatures alters PGC-1α gene expression acutely but this difference is not manifested in a greater increase in V̇o2peak and is dissipated as acclimation takes place.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study examines the adaptive response of cellular signaling during exercise in cold environmental temperatures. We demonstrate that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α mRNA is different between cold and room temperature environments before training but after training this difference no longer exists. This initial difference in transcriptional response between temperatures does not lead to differences in performance measures or increases in protein or mitochondria.
A Rare Case of Watery Vaginal Discharge due to Caesarean Scar Dehiscence following Brace Suture and Balloon Tamponade for the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage
Authors: Koh Krystal , Kanagalingam Devendra , Kathirvel Rajeswari
Published: February 2020

A woman in her early twenties with dichorionic diamniotic twins underwent emergency caesarean section (CS) for failed induction of labor for discordant growth at 37 weeks. Her CS was complicated by atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) requiring uterotonics, B-lynch suture, and Bakri balloon. She presented on the 5thpostoperative day (POD) with fever and wound pain and collapsed due to desaturation. Investigations confirmed ascites on computed tomography (CT) of her abdomen and cardiomyopathy on echocardiogram. She was readmitted on the 22ndPOD with watery vaginal discharge. CT abdomen revealed a dehisced CS scar and loculated ascites. Her discharge settled after three weeks with antibiotics and drainage of the ascites. A CT scan 3 months later showed reduction of the peritoneal collection. Caesarean scar dehiscence should be considered for patients presenting with ascites and vaginal discharge after a CS, particularly in the presence of risk factors such as infection or anemia.
Approximation of Interactive Betweenness Centrality in Large Complex Networks
Authors: Wandelt Sebastian , Shi Xing , Sun Xiaoqian
Published: February 2020

The analysis of real-world systems through the lens of complex networks often requires a node importance function. While many such views on importance exist, a frequently used global node importance measure is betweenness centrality, quantifying the number of times a node occurs on all shortest paths in a network. This centrality of nodes often significantly depends on the presence of nodes in the network; once a node is missing, e.g., due to a failure, other nodes’ centrality values can change dramatically. This observation is, for instance, important when dismantling a network: instead of removing the nodes in decreasing order of their static betweenness, recomputing the betweenness after a removal creates tremendously stronger attacks, as has been shown in recent research. This process is referred to as interactive betweenness centrality. Nevertheless, very few studies compute the interactive betweenness centrality, given its high computational costs, a worst-case runtime complexity of O(N∗∗4) in the number of nodes in the network. In this study, we address the research questions, whether approximations of interactive betweenness centrality can be obtained with reduction of computational costs and how much quality/accuracy needs to be traded in order to obtain a significant reduction. At the heart of our interactive betweenness approximation framework, we use a set of established betweenness approximation techniques, which come with a wide range of parameter settings. Given that we are interested in the top-ranked node(s) for interactive dismantling, we tune these methods accordingly. Moreover, we explore the idea of batch removal, where groups of top-k ranked nodes are removed before recomputation of betweenness centrality values. Our experiments on real-world and random networks show that specific variants of the approximate interactive betweenness framework allow for a speedup of two orders of magnitude, compared to the exact computation, while obtaining near-optimal results. This work contributes to the analysis of complex network phenomena, with a particular focus on obtaining scalable techniques.
A New Multivariable Grey Convolution Model Based on Simpson’s Rule and Its Applications
Authors: Ding Song , Li Ruojin
Published: February 2020

Accurate estimations can provide a solid basis for decision-making and policy-making that have experienced some kind of complication and uncertainty. Accordingly, a multivariable grey convolution model (GMC (1, n)) having correct solutions is put forward to deal with such complicated and uncertain issues, instead of the incorrect multivariable grey model (GM (1, n)). However, the conventional approach to computing background values of the GMC (1, n) model is inaccurate, and this model’s forecasting accuracy cannot be expected. Thereby, the drawback analysis of the GMC (1, n) model is conducted with mathematical reasoning, which can explain why this model is inaccurate in some applications. In order to eliminate the drawbacks, a new optimized GMC (1, n), shorted for OGMC (1, n), is proposed, whose background values are calculated based on Simpson’ rule that is able to efficiently approximate the integration of a function. Furthermore, its extended version that uses the Gaussian rule to discretize the convolution integral, abbreviated as OGMCG (1, n), is proposed to further enhance the model’s forecasting ability. In general, these two optimized models have such advantages as simplified structure, consistent forecasting performance, and satisfactory efficiency. Three empirical studies are carried out for verifying the above advantages of the optimized model, compared with the conventional GMC (1, n), GMCG (1, n), GM (1, n), and DGM (1, n) models. Results show that the new background values can effectively be calculated based on Simpson’s rule, and the optimized models significantly outperform other competing models in most cases.
Adrenal Adenoma Anarchy: A Case of an ACTH-Secreting Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Lee Michelle N. , Wan WingYee , Chormanski Dianna C. , Kravchenko Maria I.
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Pheochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise from sympathetic adrenomedullary chromaffin tissue. Depending on the amount of catecholamines they secrete, they have variable presentations. There have been reported cases of adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) secreting pheochromocytomas that present with severe Cushing syndrome. Here, we present a pheochromocytoma with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) cosecretion, which due to its rarity and variable presentation, may be a diagnostic challenge. Presentation. A 64-year-old woman with history of colon cancer presented with new-onset diabetes, worsening hot flashes, and hypertension. On CT imaging she had an enlarging right adrenal nodule (1.7 cm) with 60 Hounsfield units of attenuation and no PET avidity. Biochemical evaluation showed elevated urinary and plasma metanephrines, elevated plasma cortisol levels despite dexamethasone suppression, elevated late-night salivary cortisol, and high-normal adrenocorticotrophic hormone. The patient underwent laproscopic right adrenalectomy, and pathology confirmed pheochromocytoma. Her lab abnormalities and symptoms of hot flashes and hypertension improved postoperatively. Conclusion. This case demonstrates an unusual ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma with subtle presentation and highlights the importance of obtaining a complete biochemical evaluation of incidental adrenal adenomas.
Apixaban as a Rare Cause of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis
Authors: Spears Jenna , Chetrit David Alexandre , Manthey Sina , Lee Christopher , Al-Saiegh Yousif
Published: February 2020

Apixaban is a rare cause of leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). To our knowledge, there is only one other reported case due to apixaban in the literature. We present a case of apixaban-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a 95-year-old male. He had been started on apixaban 12 days prior to presentation and developed worsening palpable purpura of his lower extremities. Possible etiologies of this new rash were excluded, with biopsy showing extensive purpura with superficial perivascular neutrophilic infiltrate and leukocytoclasis. Apixaban was discontinued, and the patient was started on a slow prednisone taper with subsequent resolution of his rash.
Saving the Breast Saves the Lives of Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Akbari Mohammad Esmaeil , Khayamzadeh Maryam , Mirzaei Hamid Reza , Moradi Afshin , Akbari Atieh , Moradian Farid , Khalili Neda
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Surgery has been known as the procedure of choice for breast cancer management since 1700 years before Christ. Nowadays, breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy are performed in selected cases with specific clinical criteria. Here, we compare these two procedures for breast cancer patients with variable features in Cancer Research Center, Tehran, as a single institution experience. Methods. In this 25-year follow-up retrospective cohort study, we identified breast cancer patients who had undergone breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy. Disease-free survival and overall survival were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test between the two groups. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 3358 breast cancer patients, including 61% breast-conserving therapy and 39% mastectomy cases were identified, with a mean follow-up time of 94 months. The overall survival and disease-free survival of all cases were significantly better in breast-conserved patients, particularly in early-stage breast cancer with favorable clinical, pathological, and biological features. Ten-year disease-free survival and overall survival in breast-conserving therapy and mastectomy cases were 74%, 88% and 58%, 80%, respectively. Conclusion. Breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy prove to be an appropriate treatment option for breast cancer patients in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival when indicated.
Assessment of Bronchiectasis in HIV Patients among an Urban Population
Authors: Dronamraju Veena , Singh Navneet , Poon Justin , Shah Sachi , Gorga Joseph , Ojeda-Martinez Hector , McFarlane Samy
Published: February 2020

Bronchiectasis is characterized by permanent destruction of the airways that presents with productive cough, as well as bronchial wall thickening and luminal dilatation on computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest; it is associated with high mortality. Accumulating data suggests higher rates of bronchiectasis among the HIV-positive population. This case series involves 14 patients with bronchiectasis and HIV followed at two major urban institutions from 1999 to 2018. Demographics, clinical presentation, microbiology, radiographic imaging, and outcomes were collected and compiled. Mean age was 42 years (range 12-77 years). 36% had a CD4 count greater than 500 cells/mm3, 28% had a CD4 count between 200 and 500 cells/mm3, and 36% had AIDS. 43% were treated for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) and 50% for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. 21% had COPD, 7% had asthma, and 7% had a history of pulmonary aspergillosis. Two patients were followed up by pulmonary services after diagnosis of bronchiectasis on CT. The timeline of the follow-up in these cases was within months and after three years respectively. It is posited that the prevalence of bronchiectasis in HIV patients may be underestimated. Improving recognition and management of bronchiectasis could help diminish rehospitalization rates.
One Step Closer towards a Reliable Tinnitus Pitch-Match Frequency Determination Using Repetitive Recursive Matching
Authors: Korth Daniela , Wollbrink Andreas , Wunderlich Robert , Ivansic Daniela , Guntinas-Lichius Orlando , Salvari Vasiliki , Pantev Christo , Dobel Christian
Published: February 2020

Introduction: The determination of the tinnitus pitch-match (PM) frequency is not straightforward but an important audiological assessment recommended for clinical and research purposes. We evaluated repetitive recursive matching using an iPod-based matching procedure as a method to estimate a patient’s PM frequency without audiometric equipment. Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients with chronic tonal tinnitus (uni- and bilateral tinnitus) measured their tinnitus in 10 sessions using a self-administered automated iPod-based procedure comprising a recursive 2 interval forced-choice test. Results: Mean SD of the PM frequency of all participants across sessions was 0.41 octaves. The internal consistency measured by Cronbach’s α was very high (0.8–>0.95). As an example, 7 PMs obtained excellent internal consistency (α = 0.93). The exclusion of the first and/or second session led to more definite PMs with a decreased SD. Outliers were identified by PMs departing 2 SDs (i.e., 0.94 octaves) from the mean variability (n = 5). Conclusion: Repetitive recursive matching together with recommendations for the exclusion of initial and redundant sessions as well as outlier identification and treatment can enable a reliable estimation of the PM frequency.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pandemic Fuels the Upsurge in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Cai Jingjing , Zhang Xiao-Jing , Ji Yan-Xiao , Zhang Peng , She Zhi-Gang , Li Hongliang
Published: February 2020

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Among the major risk factors for CVD, obesity and diabetes mellitus have received considerable attention in terms of public policy and awareness. However, the emerging prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as the most common liver and metabolic disease and a cause of CVD, has been largely overlooked. Currently, the number of individuals with NAFLD is greater than the total number of individuals with diabetes mellitus and obesity. Epidemiological studies have established a strong correlation between NAFLD and an increased risk of CVD and CVD-associated events. Although debate continues over the causal relationship between NAFLD and CVD, many mechanistic and longitudinal studies have indicated that NAFLD is one of the major driving forces for CVD and should be recognized as an independent risk factor for CVD apart from other metabolic disorders. In this review, we summarize the clinical evidence that supports NAFLD as a risk factor for CVD epidemics and discuss major mechanistic insights regarding the acceleration of CVD in the setting of NAFLD. Finally, we address the potential treatments for NAFLD and their potential impact on CVD.
Habitual Fish Consumption, n‐3 Fatty Acids, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Lipoprotein Subfractions in Women
Authors: Amigó Nuria , Akinkuolie Akintunde O. , Chiuve Stephanie E. , Correig Xavier , Cook Nancy R. , Mora Samia
Published: February 2020

Background

Supplementation with omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acid or dietary fish may protect against atherosclerosis, but the potential mechanisms are unclear. Prior studies found modest triglyceride‐lowering effects and slight increases in LDL (low‐density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Limited evidence has examined n‐3 effects on more detailed lipoprotein biomarkers.

Methods and Results

We conducted a study of 26 034 healthy women who reported information on fish and n‐3 intake from a 131‐item food‐frequency questionnaire. We measured plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy lipoproteins and examined their associations with dietary intake of fish, total n‐3, and the n‐3 subtypes (eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and α‐linolenic acids). Top‐ versus bottom‐quintile intake of fish and n‐3 were significantly associated with lower triglyceride and large VLDL (very‐low‐density lipoprotein) particles. Fish intake, but not total n‐3, was positively associated with total cholesterol,
LDL
cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and larger
LDL
size, but only α‐linolenic acid was associated with lower
LDL
cholesterol. Total n‐3, docosahexaenoic acid, and α‐linolenic acid intake were also positively associated with larger HDL (high‐density lipoprotein) size and large
HDL
particles. High eicosapentaenoic acid intake was significantly associated with only a decreased level of
VLDL
particle concentration and
VLDL
triglyceride content. The n‐3 fatty acids had some similarities but also differed in their associations with prospective cardiovascular disease risk patterns.

Conclusions

Higher consumption of fish and n‐3 fatty acids were associated with multiple measures of lipoproteins that were mostly consistent with cardiovascular prevention, with differences noted for high intake of eicosapentaenoic acid versus docosahexaenoic acid and α‐linolenic acid that were apparent with more detailed lipoprotein phenotyping. These hypothesis‐generating findings warrant further study in clinical trials.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00000479.
Visualizing the Invisible: Performing Chaos Theory
Authors: Weitkamp Emma
Published: February 2020

Edward Lorenz, a pioneering figure in the field of chaos theory, coined the phrase “butterfly effect” and posed the well-known question “Does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” In posing the question, Lorenz sought to highlight the intrinsic difficulty of predicting the long-term behavior of complex systems that are sensitive to initial conditions, for example, the weather and climate; these systems are often referred to as chaotic. Taking Lorenz's butterfly as a starting point, the author's science theater project Chaos Cabaret seeks to explore the nuances of chaos theory through performance and music.
Contributions to the knowledge of Canuleius Stål (Phasmatodea: Heteronemiidae): taxonomy, morphology and notes on the biology of two species
Authors: CRISPINO EDGAR B. , CHIQUETTO-MACHADO PEDRO I. , ENGELKING PHILLIP W. , CANCELLO ELIANA M.
Published: February 2020

We present new information on the poorly known genus of stick insects, Canuleius Stål, 1875, with redescriptions of two Brazilian species, Canuleius grandis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius sanguinolentus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov., the latter herein transferred from Bacteria Berthold, 1827. Type material of both species was examined, as well as additional specimens recently collected and deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). The types of two other species in the genus, Canuleius affinis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius brevipes Toledo Piza, 1936, were also examined and both species are herein synonymised under C. grandis (syn. nov.). The study includes the first descriptions of the male of C. grandis, the female of C. sanguinolentus and the eggs of both species, which are the first descriptions of eggs of Canuleius. Some notes are presented on the biology of both species, including the first observations of mating and oviposition in Heteronemiidae. Taxonomic aspects of Canuleius are discussed.
Mountain-Wave Turbulence Encounter of the Research Aircraft HALO above Iceland
Authors: Bramberger Martina , Dörnbrack Andreas , Wilms Henrike , Ewald Florian , Sharman Robert
Published: February 2020

Strong turbulence was encountered by the German High-Altitude Long-Range Research Aircraft (HALO) at flight level 430 (13.8 km) on 13 October 2016 above Iceland. In this event the turbulence caused altitude changes of the research aircraft of about 50 m within a period of approximately 15 s. Additionally, the automatic thrust control of the HALO could not control the large gradients in the horizontal wind speed and, consequently, the pilot had to switch off this system. Simultaneously, the French Falcon of Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement (SAFIRE), flying 2 km below HALO, also encountered turbulence at almost the same location. On that day, mountain-wave (MW) excitation and propagation was favored by the alignment of strong surface winds and the polar front jet. We use a combination of in situ observations, ECMWF and empirical turbulence forecasts, and high-resolution simulations to characterize the observed turbulent event. These show that a pronounced negative vertical shear of the horizontal wind favored overturning and breaking of MWs in the area of the encountered turbulence. The turbulent region was tilted upstream and extended over a distance of about 2 km in the vertical. The analyses suggest that HALO was flying through the center of a breaking MW field while the French Falcon encountered the lower edge of this region. Surprisingly, the pronounced gradients in the horizontal wind speeds leading to the deactivation of the automatic thrust control were located north of the breaking MW field. In this area, our analysis suggests the presence of gravity waves that could have generated the encountered modulation of the horizontal wind field.
The Engaged Child in Occupational Therapy
Authors: D’Arrigo Rachel G. , Copley Jodie A. , Poulsen Anne A. , Ziviani Jenny
Published: February 2020

Background.

Achieving optimal outcomes for children in occupational therapy settings is influenced, in part, by their engagement. The nature of child engagement from the occupational therapy perspective remains relatively unexplored.

Method.

A qualitative research methodology was adopted, using an interpretive description approach. Thirty-two occupational therapists participated in five focus groups and six individual interviews that were thematically analyzed.

Findings.

Four themes emerged from the data: (i) signs of child engagement and disengagement; (ii) it’s about the child feeling safe; (iii) a sense of meaning and purpose; and (iv) service and therapist factors influencing child engagement.

Implications.

Helping the child feel safe; providing meaningful experiences; and being flexible and responsive were key means of connecting with, and supporting, child engagement. Strategies occupational therapists reportedly used to engage the child aligned with the tenets of self-determination theory (autonomy, relatedness, and competence).
From Principals to Teachers to Students: Exploring an Integrative Model for Predicting Students’ Achievements
Authors: Qadach Mowafaq , Schechter Chen , Da’as Rima’a
Published: February 2020

Purpose: This study explored a theoretical model proposing direct and mediated effects for principals’ characteristics—principals’ information-processing mechanisms (PIPMs) and instructional leadership (IL)—with organizational learning mechanisms (OLMs), for schools’ OLMs with teachers’ characteristics—teachers’ affective commitment (TAC), collective teacher efficacy (CTE), and teachers’ job satisfaction (TJS)—and finally, for teachers’ characteristics with students’ achievements on national math and science tests. Design: Data were collected from a multisource survey of a random sample of 130 elementary school principals representing Israel’s full socioeconomic range, 1,700 teachers from those schools, as well as data on those schools retrieved from the Ministry of Education data set. Data were aggregated at the school level for structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Findings: Analysis from SEM confirmed that IL emerges as a prominent mediator between PIPMs and OLMs. OLMs emerged as a prominent mediator between IL and the three teachers’ characteristics. TAC and CTE were significantly directly related to students’ math and science achievements. Finally, OLMs promoted students’ math and science achievements only through CTE. Implications: The relationships found for both principal characteristics (PIPMs and IL) with OLMs in schools highlight principals’ potentially important role in promoting collective learning within schools through utilization of OLMs, which can predict critical teacher characteristics (TAC, CTE, TJS), which in turn can predict school effectiveness measures (i.e., students’ achievements).
Making sense of organisational change failure: An identity lens
Authors: Hay Georgia J. , Parker Sharon K. , Luksyte Aleksandra
Published: February 2020

This study investigates how employees craft narratives of organisational change failure through the lens of their work identity. We analysed change recipients’ retrospective sensemaking accounts of an organisational re-structuring in a university, finding these accounts to be filled with widely varying descriptions of failure – of errors, dysfunction, and loss. We explored how employees’ organisational, professional, and work-group identities were intertwined with, and fundamentally challenged by, their sensemaking about the change and its failure. Our inductive analysis revealed four distinct narrative trajectories – Identity Loss, Identity Revision, Identity Affirmation, and Identity Resilience – each characterised by distinct cognitive, affective, and behavioural patterns. We discuss the unique contributions that this study makes to the literatures on organisational change failure, sensemaking, and identity.
Everyday Multiculturalism in the Public Library: Taking Knitting Together Seriously
Authors: Robinson Katherine
Published: February 2020

This article brings recent discussions of everyday multiculturalism into a context which has had little sociological attention – the public library. Focusing on a south London library’s newly established knitting group, made up of predominantly older women from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, I show how the library’s framing of multiculturalism, limited to either celebratory occasions or targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, was unable to recognise the knitting group as an everyday multicultural space. Using an ethnographic approach which ‘takes seriously’ the ordinariness of knitting together, I show how the library setting provided the group with a reliable foundation, and attend closely to how, for its participants, the group became a space of multicultural recognition. I argue that the public library has capacity to anchor vital spaces of everyday multicultural conviviality which are not curated as special projects, and that the ordinary positioning of these spaces is integral to their formation.
Revisiting L’Herbe by Claude Simon
Authors: Fletcher John
Published: February 2020

The article takes a second look at the novel L’Herbe, by Claude Simon, 60 years after it first publication. The work is now included in the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade series (Paris: Gallimard) with an extensive scholarly apparatus edited by Alastair B. Duncan. The article makes use of this new material together with the fruits of the author’s own research into the background of the novel.
Media discourse, sport and the nation: narratives and counter-narratives in the digital age
Authors: Mauro Max
Published: February 2020

Throughout the 20th century, the growth of international sport events as media spectacles has provided one of the most powerful tools for the projection of national identities. Traditional media, such as newspapers and private and public broadcasters, have been instrumental in this process. Media discourses around sporting events have historically tended to legitimise exclusionary versions of the idea of the nation, reproducing hegemonic gender divisions and marginalising ethnic minorities and immigrants. At the same time, sport is also a contested vehicle for nation-building, providing to some degree opportunities for the expression of different versions of the idea of the nation. The deep changes in the media industry, and particularly the emergence and success among young people of interactive and transnational media, open the way for counter-narratives and alternative media discourses. For example, sport celebrities can use social media to expose and criticise the racialisation of immigrants in sport and beyond. But can the millions who follow them on Instagram or Twitter be counted as a ‘public’?
Playback: An Investigation of the Discursive Implications and the Pragmatic Functions of Repetition in Traditional Chinese Medical Consultations
Authors: Jin Ying , Watson Bernadette Maria
Published: February 2020

The current study examined a role-related difference in the use of playback (one form of repetition) in medical discourse. We adopted a language and social psychology approach and invoked communication accommodation theory (CAT) to explore this discourse. Thirty doctor/older adult dyads were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings suggested that the deployment of repetition is a strategy used by the addresser to either complement or converge to the other interlocutor, in order to ensure that the medical instrumental task is efficiently accomplished and interpersonal rapport is established. Our results show that discourse management is the dominant strategy used by speakers when playing back the other’s utterances. Our analysis also demonstrates that CAT strategies work interdependently. We conclude that CAT is a valuable framework to elucidate the dynamics of, and the social psychological processes underlying, the practice of repetition in medical interviews.
Health-related quality of life in patients with advanced cancer who express a wish to hasten death: A comparative study
Authors: Crespo Iris , Rodríguez-Prat Andrea , Monforte-Royo Cristina , Wilson Keith G , Porta-Sales Josep , Balaguer Albert
Published: February 2020

Background:

Some evidence suggests the wish to hasten death is related to poor health-related quality of life. Deficits in perceived dignity and self-efficacy are risk factors for wish to hasten death that also impact health-related quality of life.

Aim:

To compare perceived health-related quality of life, dignity and self-efficacy in patients with advanced cancer who either do (case group) or do not (control group) express a wish to hasten death. Cases and controls were matched on sociodemographic and functional characteristics.

Design:

A comparative cross-sectional study.

Participants:

A total of 153 adult patients with advanced cancer were assessed for wish to hasten death using the Desire for Death Rating Scale. Scores ⩾1 indicate some degree of wish to hasten death (case group, n = 51), and score = 0 implies no wish to hasten death (control group, n = 102). Assessments included health-related quality of life using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Core 15-Item Palliative Questionnaire, perceived loss of dignity using the Patient Dignity Inventory and self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale.

Results:

Patients with a wish to hasten death had worse emotional functioning ( p < 0.001), greater perceived loss of dignity ( p < 0.001) and lower self-efficacy ( p = 0.001). There was no difference in most physical symptoms. Perceived overall health-related quality of life was significantly worse for those with a clinically relevant wish to hasten death ( p = 0.023) and marginally worse for the case group than the control group ( p = 0.052).

Conclusion:

Patients with wish to hasten death showed lower perceived dignity, self-efficacy and emotional quality of life than patients without wish to hasten death without necessarily perceiving worse physical symptoms.
High-Flow Oxygen Therapy Concepts: Time to Standardize Nomenclature and Avoid Confusion
Authors: Miller David C. , Bime Christian , Partharsarathy Sairam , Mosier Jarrod M.
Published: February 2020

High-flow nasal oxygen systems are rapidly being adopted as an initial noninvasive treatment for acute respiratory failure. However, the term “high-flow nasal cannula” is nonspecific and leads to imprecise communication between physicians, respiratory therapists, and nurses with the potential for patient harm. In this viewpoint and a brief review of the technology, we argue for a change in nomenclature in order to reduce the chance for future clinical, administrative, and research misunderstanding surrounding high-flow nasal oxygen systems.
A Desire for Growth? An Exploratory Study of Growth Aspirations Among Nascent Nonprofit Entrepreneurs
Authors: Andersson Fredrik O.
Published: February 2020

This research note examines the growth aspirations, and beliefs about growth, based on survey responses from 57 nascent nonprofit entrepreneurs. About 21% of the respondents displayed strong growth ambitions and 40% declared they do not consider growth a current and/or highly prioritized matter. A majority of the nascent nonprofit entrepreneurs recognized that growth could have both positive and negative implications on their emerging nonprofit. Only 14% perceived growth as a ubiquitous positive feat. Perceived positive implications of growth included enhanced impact and reputation, and some of the perceived negative implications of growth were loss of control and increased workload. Furthermore, drawing on brief follow-up conversations with eight respondents, this research note illuminates how growth preferences can evolve as the nonprofit evolve, and even nonprofit entrepreneurs with clear and explicit aspirations to grow may not have the ability to grow.
Chemokines—What Is Their Role in Colorectal Cancer?
Authors: Pączek Sara , Łukaszewicz-Zając Marta , Mroczko Barbara
Published: February 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. It is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy in Europe and third worldwide. Colorectal malignancies diagnosed at an early stage offer a promising survival rate. However, advanced tumors often present distant metastases even after the complete resection of a primary tumor. Therefore, novel biomarkers of CRC are sorely needed in the diagnosis and prognosis of this common malignancy. A family of chemokines are composed of small, secreted proteins. They are best known for their ability to stimulate the migration of several cell types. Some investigations have indicated that chemokines are involved in cancer development, including CRC. This article presents current knowledge regarding chemokines and their specific receptors in CRC progression. Moreover, the prime aim of this review is to summarize the potential role of these proteins as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.
The Great Digital Migration: Exploring What Constitutes the Black Press Online
Authors: Williams Fayne Miya
Published: February 2020

Scholars have previously conceptualized the Black press as print publications that are owned and managed by African Americans, targeting a Black audience and advocating for the Black community. This study investigates how online producers of Black news are troubling previous definitions of the Black press. Websites that target African American readers but are owned by White media companies and Black-targeted websites that primarily produce entertainment news create ambiguity. I conclude that African American ownership and advocacy are no longer requirements for the Black press and that entertainment content is often a relevant and important component of the digital Black press.
Examining the Relationship Between Discrimination and Depressive Symptomatology in African American Men: A Literature Review Utilizing a Metanarrative Approach
Authors: Miller Jumelie A.
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND: Depression is a debilitating disease that can significantly affect one’s life. Perceived discrimination has been shown to have an impact on depressive symptoms. The purpose of this review is to examine the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptomatology. AIMS: This literature review provides a synthesis of recent literature that provides valuable information that can be used to recognize depressive symptomatology and to improve health outcomes for African American men experiencing depression. METHODS: This literature review examines the current literature and synthesizes 13 studies that met the inclusion criteria utilizing metanarrative methodology with RAMSES standards. Attention was paid to the six guiding principles characteristic of a metanarrative review. PRISMA guidelines were followed for this review. Articles that focused on specific subsets of the African American male community were excluded. RESULTS: It was noted that perceived discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptomatology in African American men. While similar methods for measuring depression were noted in several of the studies, measurement of discrimination varied. Additional factors that appeared to have an association with the relationship between discrimination and depression in this population included social supports, masculine role norms, and sociodemographic factors such as age. CONCLUSION: This synthesis of the literature also can be used to improve health care providers’ engagement with this population to improve the quality of care and health care outcomes. As a result of this review it was found that a positive relationship exists between discrimination and depressive symptomatology in African American men.
The digital ecosystem: The new politics of party organization in parliamentary democracies
Authors: Dommett Katharine , Kefford Glenn , Power Sam
Published: February 2020

Since at least the 1980s, scholars have highlighted parties’ reliance on external actors, with Panebianco’s ‘electoral–professional’ party model spotlighting the increasing role of professionals in supporting party activities and campaigns. Over successive decades, our understanding of the role of external actors, and particularly consultants, has grown. As parties have begun to embrace digital tools and technologies, however, it has become apparent that our understanding of party organization does not reflect the array of actors who support party activities. In this article, we draw on extensive interview data from Australia and the United Kingdom to offer a new conceptual framework – that we call the ‘party-centred digital ecosystem’ – to highlight the functions that different types of external actor provide for parties. Introducing the classification of CLANS to describe these different actors, we discuss the significance of this trend, highlighting the potential for increasingly porous organizational boundaries as parties call on different types of external actor for support.
Fragility analysis of a long-span transmission tower–line system under wind loads
Authors: Tian Li , Zhang Xin , Fu Xing
Published: February 2020

Numerous transmission towers have collapsed due to experiencing strong winds; therefore, the purpose of this article is to investigate the collapse mechanism and the anti-collapse performance of a long-span transmission tower–line system. The detailed finite element model of a typical tower–line system is established in ABAQUS. A global damage index is proposed to quantitatively estimate the overall damage of the structure and define the collapse criteria. An incremental dynamic analysis is performed to obtain the collapse mechanism and the ultimate capacity of the structure. Subsequently, a fragility analysis for evaluating the anti-collapse performance is conducted due to the uncertainty of wind loads. Eventually, the influence of the wind attack angle and the length of the side spans on the fragility is discussed. The results demonstrate that the proposed global damage index is capable of quantitatively reflecting the overall damage and assessing the ultimate capacity of the structure. In addition, the uncertainty of the wind load has a significant influence on the ultimate capacity and the failure position. Furthermore, the results reveal that the wind attack angle and the length of the side spans have an apparent effect on the fragility of the structure.
Multipath transmission control protocol–based multi-access traffic steering solution for 5G multimedia-centric network: Design and testbed system implementation
Authors: Kang Yoohwa , Kim Changki , An Donghyeok , Yoon Hyunsoo
Published: February 2020

Various technologies have been developed for the efficient use of the multiple radio access technologies resource at the radio access network level or other network levels to improve user service quality in mobile communication networks. In long-term evolution, mobile carriers are commercializing radio access network-level traffic aggregation technologies such as licensed-assisted access-long-term evolution, long-term evolution-unlicensed, and long-term evolution-wireless local area network aggregation, which use the multi-accesses of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and WiFi, and the multipath transmission control protocol–based traffic aggregation technologies at the L3 network level. The standardization of 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 16, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020, is under progress to support the traffic aggregation technology at the L3 network level through a multi-access 5G network. Multipath transmission control protocol is also considered as a traffic aggregation technology. However, it is difficult to apply the multipath transmission control protocol employment model used in long-term evolution to the 5G network structure as it is due to the change to a common core architecture that accommodates multiple radio access technologies through one common interface. Therefore, this article proposes an optimal 5G system architecture and a multipath transmission control protocol adaptation method to support the access traffic steering function based on multipath transmission control protocol in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project 5G mobile communication network. We have verified the development of the multipath transmission control protocol–based multi-access traffic steering technology by implementing the proposed solution in a commercial server on a testbed based on the 5G system standard of 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 15. Furthermore, this article defines problems that occur when implementing the multipath transmission control protocol–based multi-access traffic steering system and proposes relevant solutions. Based on the implementation results, it is demonstrated that the proposed multipath transmission control protocol–based multi-access traffic steering system can perform traffic steering in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 5G network.
Quality of Life: The Primary Goal of Lifestyle Intervention
Authors: Daundasekara Sajeevika S. , Arlinghaus Katherine R. , Johnston Craig A.
Published: February 2020

In much of lifestyle medicine, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a primary focus with the assumption that symptom reduction increases quality of life (QoL) in a more global sense. Lifestyle medicine research has shown that reducing symptoms increases the likelihood that QoL is improved. However, little information is available as to the impact of interventions when they are not effective in creating the desired healthy outcomes. It is possible that some lifestyle interventions have a negative impact on QoL, especially when a patient is not “successful” in reducing their symptomatology. Considering QoL from a broader perspective as an outcome in combination with traditional health outcomes may improve provider-patient rapport and empower patients to provide feedback on treatment, which, in turn, may improve overall treatment.
Slow-pull capillary technique versus suction technique in endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for diagnosing diseases involving hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement
Authors: He Xin , Wu Yanjun , Wang Haoyan , Yu Ganggang , Xu Bo , Jia Nan , Yao Zhigang
Published: February 2020

Background:

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a widely used, safe, and accurate technique for obtaining pathological specimens to be used in the diagnosis of diseases involving lung hilar and mediastinal lymph node (LN) enlargement. However, application of the suction technique during EBUS-TBNA remains controversial. In addition, the effectiveness of the slow-pull capillary technique for the diagnosis of pancreatic masses was recently reported. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA using these two techniques.

Methods:

The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and availability of tissue cores of the suction and slow-pull capillary techniques were studied retrospectively in patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of diseases involving lung hilar and mediastinal LN enlargement.

Results:

A total of 97 patients with hilar and mediastinal LN enlargement underwent EBUS-TBNA; 30 patients underwent the suction technique, 56 patients underwent the slow-pull capillary technique, 5 patients underwent both techniques, and 6 patients had failed operations. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, NPV, PPV, and the number of tissue cores obtained with the suction and slow-pull capillary techniques were 66.67% versus 85.71% ( p = 0.039), 43.75% versus 85.42% ( p < 0.001), 92.86% versus 87.5% ( p > 0.05), 59.09% versus 50% ( p > 0.05), 87.5% versus 97.62% ( p > 0.05), and 19 versus 50 ( p = 0.004), respectively. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the acquisition of tissue core was significantly associated with the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA. Moreover, the slow-pull capillary technique was significantly associated with the acquisition of tissue core in EBUS-TBNA. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the blood contamination of samples.

Conclusions:

Use of the slow-pull capillary technique in EBUS-TBNA can significantly increase the accuracy related to the diagnosis of diseases involving hilar and mediastinal LN enlargement by improving the acquisition of tissue core. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Whitening
Authors: Zhao Na , Su Xiaoming , Wang Yueyang , Chen Jianguang , Zhuang Wenyue
Published: February 2020

Melanin is the chief pigment responsible for the pigmentation of human skin. Increasing evidence indicates that traditional Chinese drugs with skin-whitening effects are attracting the attention of consumers and researchers because they are perceived to be milder, safer, and healthier than synthetic alternatives. This commentary summarizes the current research on Chinese herbal medicines that inhibit melanin and their biological activities. The findings presented in this study suggest that these traditional Chinese herbal medicines might be potential candidates for novel skin-whitening agents.