bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attributions, causal beliefs, and help-seeking behavior of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and sleep problems
Authors: McLay Laurie , Hansen Sarah G , Carnett Amarie , France Karyn G , Blampied Neville M
Published: June 2020

Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder are prevalent and persistent but also treatable. Little is known about how and why parents of such children seek help for sleep disturbance. Via an online survey ( n = 244 respondents), we gathered information about parents’ attributions about children’s sleep problems and beliefs about causes and on sources of information about, and their decisions regarding, help-seeking. Eighty-two percent of parents reported seeking some kind of help for their child’s sleep disturbance, and the average parent had tried six different treatment strategies, most commonly medical. Alignment of parents’ treatment choices with empirical evidence about treatment efficacy was poor, but belief in effectiveness was closely related to frequency of use of a treatment. In a Principal Components Analysis, parental attributions loaded on two factors: one which suggests the sleep problems are viewed as intrinsic to autism and stable (factor one) and the other as located within the child, stable, and treatment resistant (factor two). These findings have important implications for parental education and clinical practice in the treatment of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Lay abstract

Sleep problems are commonly reported among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Without effective treatment, such problems are unlikely to resolve. To date, we know very little about how and why parents of children with ASD seek help for sleep disturbance. Via an online survey, we gathered information about how parents make sense of their children’s sleep problems, beliefs about their causes, sources of information, and help-seeking behavior. The analysis of responses from 244 parents revealed that parents commonly view sleep problems (a) as a consequence of their child’s ASD, and unlikely to change over time (stable), and (b) as located within the child (intrinsic), stable over time, and difficult to treat. Despite this, parents also rated sleep problems as being important to treat. Eighty-two percent of parents surveyed reported seeking some kind of help for their child’s sleep disturbance, and the average parent had tried six different treatment strategies, most commonly medical approaches (e.g. melatonin). The alignment between parents’ treatment choices and those strategies that are supported by research was poor, but belief in the effectiveness of treatments was closely related to how often the treatment was used. These findings have important implications for parental education and clinical practice in the treatment of sleep problems in children with ASD.
Giving the right direction: Predictive action cues during an attentional task reduce prejudice
Authors: Capellini Roberta , Sacchi Simona
Published: June 2020

The current work aims to investigate if social cueing during an attentional task is likely to influence prejudice. In three studies we adopted a Posner-like task whereby participants observed an outgroup (vs ingroup) member performing a reach-to-grasp movement. The individual’s action, oriented rightward or leftward toward an object, preceded a peripheral target stimulus requiring a simple categorization response. The action direction could be congruent or incongruent with target location. Unbeknownst to the participants, the action direction predicted the target location with different validities. We measured the identification with the ingroup (i.e., Italians) and the prejudice toward the outgroup (i.e., Iraqi). Results showed that, for highly identified participants, explicit prejudice toward Arabs was lower after predictive-congruent social cues provided by an outgroup member than after predictive-incongruent cues. Thus, these findings suggest that positive experience with an outgroup member, even when subtle, might be effective in changing attitudes toward the entire social category.
A way forward? The impact of interculturalism on intergroup relations in culturally diverse nations
Authors: Yogeeswaran Kumar , Verkuyten Maykel , Ealam Breanne
Published: June 2020

Various diversity ideologies including assimilation, colorblindness, and multiculturalism have been promoted with mixed results about their costs and benefits. In the current research, we consider the impact of a new diversity ideology, interculturalism, discussed and debated by political philosophers and policy-makers as the “way forward.” Across three experiments ( N = 1230) in two ethnically diverse nations, we examined the causal impact of promoting interculturalism on intergroup relations. Data revealed that interculturalism reduced outgroup prejudice, increased willingness to engage in intergroup contact, improved implicit attitudes, and increased behavioral trust and cooperation relative to controls. Reductions in essentialist beliefs partially mediated the impact of interculturalism, highlighting one psychological mechanism underlying the benefits of interculturalism. However, interculturalism was found to be no better than multiculturalism in its impact on intergroup relations in two of three experiments. Collectively, these studies suggest that interculturalism may be a promising new diversity strategy for improving intergroup relations.
Seismic performance of a load-bearing prefabricated composite wall panel structure for residential construction
Authors: Huang Qunyi , Orr John , Huang Yanxia , Xiong Feng , Jia Hongyu
Published: June 2020

To improve both seismic performance and thermal insulation of low-rise housing in rural areas of China, this study proposes a load-bearing prefabricated composite wall panel structure that achieves appropriate seismic performance and energy efficiency using field-assembled load-bearing prefabricated composite wall panels. A 1:2 scale prototype built using load-bearing prefabricated composite wall panel is subjected to quasi-static testing so as to obtain damage characteristics, load-bearing capacity and load–displacement curves in response to a simulated earthquake. As a result, seismic performance indicators of load-bearing capacity, deformation and energy-dissipating characteristics, are assessed against the corresponding seismic design requirements for rural building structures of China. Experimental results indicate that the earthquake-resistant capacity of the prototype is 68% higher than the design value. The sample has a ductility factor of 4.7, which meets the seismic performance requirement mandating that the ductility factor of such concrete structures should exceed 3. The design can be further optimized to save the consumption of material. This shows that the load-bearing prefabricated composite wall panel structure developed here has decent load-bearing capacity, ductility and energy dissipation abilities, a combination of which is in line with the seismic design code. A new construction process proposed here based on factory prefabrication and field assembly leads to a considerable reduction of energy consumption.
Self-reported mould and long-term sickness absences from work
Authors: Finell Eerika , Nätti Jouko
Published: June 2020

Aims: The impact of indoor mould on employees’ long-term absence from sickness (more than 10 days of absence) is poorly understood. This paper examines whether self-reported mould was related to long-term absences from work between 1 and 3 years later. Methods: By using negative binomial modelling, we analysed a representative sample of the working-age population in Finland ( N = 16,084) from the Finnish Quality of Work Life Surveys in 1997, 2003, 2008 and 2013 combined with the register-based follow-up data of participants’ long-term sickness absences covering a period of 1 to 3 years after the Finnish Quality of Work Life Surveys was collected. Results: After all necessary background, work- and health-related factors were included in the model, employees who reported mould in their work had 1.20 higher rates of long-term sickness absence than those who did not report mould (mould: estimated marginal mean = 13.45 days; no mould: estimated marginal mean = 11.23). If employees perceived that mould caused strain, they had 1.30 higher rates of long-term absence than those who did not report such strain (mould caused strain: estimated marginal mean = 14.64 days; mould did not cause strain: estimated marginal mean = 11.25). In total, 10% ( N=1628) of employees reported mould in their workplace and 6% ( N=987) reported that mould caused strain. Conclusions: Supervisors, occupational physicians and other authorities need to take employees’ complaints of mould in the workplace seriously.
A validation study of the Norwegian version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire: A robust nine-dimension factor model
Authors: Wahl Astrid K. , Hermansen Åsmund , Osborne Richard H. , Larsen Marie Hamilton
Published: June 2020

Objective: This study aimed to undertake a rigorous psychometric evaluation of the nine-scale Norwegian version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) based on data from a sample of people with psoriasis. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 825 adults with psoriasis who previously participated in the Norwegian Climate Heliotherapy programme. To investigate the factorial validity of the Norwegian HLQ, confirmatory factor analyses were carried out using Stata. Results: A highly restricted model fit with no cross-loadings or correlated residuals was acceptable for three of the nine scales (‘Feeling understood and supported by health-care providers’, ‘Appraisal of health information’ and ‘Ability to find good health information’). After minor model adjustments of the other scales, one-factor models were acceptable. All scales showed acceptable internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.71 to 0.87. Except for three items, all items had high to acceptable factor loadings. Conclusions: This study of the Norwegian HLQ replicates the original factor structure of the Australian HLQ, indicating the questionnaire has cogent and independent scales with good reliability. Researchers, programme implementers and policymakers could use the Norwegian version of the HLQ with confidence to generate reliable information on health literacy for different purposes.
Modelling and performance evaluation of a novel disk-type liquid desiccant air dehumidifier with no film flow
Authors: Wang Yuan , Yin Yonggao , Zhang Fan , Lyu Yue
Published: June 2020

A liquid desiccant air dehumidifier (LDAD) with both high efficiency and low desiccant carryover is of vital significance to indoor environment. However, the instability introduced by desiccant film flow tends to deteriorate the droplets entrainment in product air and remains to be solved. In this study, a novel disk-type liquid desiccant air dehumidifier with no film flow (DLDAD) was developed to radically eliminate the apparent desiccant film flow. The distribution and refreshing of liquid desiccant on wetted surface is realized by the rotation of the disks rather than the film flow of liquid desiccant. The performance of DLDAD was numerically evaluated under varied dehumidifier parameters, including stage number, immersion depth, rotation speed and air and solution parameters. The results show that an increase in the stage number can increase dehumidification performance, ensuring the air outlet humidity ratio below 10 g/kg. The dimensionless immersion depth of 0.4 and the rotation speed of 3 r/min are suggested for better dehumidification performance in this case. Increasing solution concentration or decreasing solution temperature can effectively reduce the air outlet humidity ratio. All these results can support the structural design and practical application for LDADs with higher efficiency and lower desiccant carryover in the future.
Ethnic perspective in e-government use and trust in government: A test of social inequality approaches
Authors: Rosenberg Dennis
Published: June 2020

This study examined the interactive effect of ethnicity and e-government use on trust in government and of ethnicity and trust in government on e-government use by means of social inequality approaches outlined in Internet sociology studies. The data for the study was obtained from the 2017 Israel Social Survey. It was found that Arabs from small localities with varying levels of trust in government are less likely to use e-government than Israeli Jews with the same levels of trust. Yet they are more likely than Israeli Jews to have some degree of trust in government. Arabs from large localities differ from Israeli Jews in terms of e-government use only when they have some degree of trust in government. However, they do not differ from Israeli Jews regarding the trust itself. The results provide support for the social stratification approach and a justification for treating disadvantaged minorities according to the size of their residential localities.
Decision-making in foster care: A view on the dynamic and collective nature of the process
Authors: Chateauneuf Doris , Poirier Marie-Andrée , Pagé Geneviève
Published: June 2020

Placement in a foster family by child welfare services is a crucial decision in the trajectory of a child. Nevertheless, the strategies and procedures underlying the decision to remove a child from his/her family for placement in foster care remain little studied. Based on 39 semi-directed individual interviews with social workers from child welfare services, the current study aims at highlighting how social workers come to the decision to remove a child from parental care, and how they choose a foster family.

Findings

The thematic analysis of the qualitative data collected reveals that four main components were raised by social workers to explain how they make their decisions regarding placement and what are the considerations associated with this process: (1) Professional consensus and collaboration, (2) Clinical and legal guidelines, (3) Risk assessment and clinical judgment, and (4) Personality and values of the social worker. The results of this study show that decisions surrounding the removal of a child from his/her family and the choice of a foster family are the result of multiples factors and strategies involving the social worker and other collaborating professionals, as well as their legal and administrative context.

Application

The findings suggest that additional efforts could be made in child protection organizations and agencies in order to develop supportive measures that take into account the collective and interactional aspect of the decision-making process regarding placement in foster care.
Influence of wall-wetting conditions on in-flame and exhaust soot structures in a spark ignition direct injection petrol engine
Authors: Kim Dongchan , Zhang YiLong , Kook Sanghoon
Published: June 2020

Great attention to the efficiency benefits of spark ignition direct injection engine has been averted due to its problematic particulate emissions. In the present study, the fundamental knowledge of wall-wetting-induced spark ignition direct injection soot particles is enhanced through direct particle sampling from pool fire on the piston top surface and cylinder liner as well as from the exhaust stream. The sampled soot particles are imaged using transmission electron microscope, and the image post-processing for statistical morphology and internal structure analysis is performed to better understand the soot formation and oxidation processes. The experiments were performed in a single-cylinder optical spark ignition direct injection engine where diffusion flame luminosity was recorded using a high-speed camera through the cylinder liner window, with which the overall sooting level was understood, and the pool fire location was identified. Given the in-flame soot sampling experiments in the spark ignition direct injection engine were new, error analysis was conducted in terms of the number of fuel injections and engine run-to-run variations. This sampling technique then was applied for various injection timings in the intake stroke. The data analysis and physical interpretation was focused on a piston-wetting condition at the most advanced injection timing of 320 °CA bTDC and a liner-wetting condition at the most retarded injection timing of 180 °CA bTDC in the present study. Between these two different wall-wetting conditions, it was found that the piston-wetting condition has larger soot primary particles and soot aggregates. The internal carbon-layer fringe shows longer length, less tortuosity and smaller gap, indicating more mature and carbonised soot. This was consistent with more significant and wider distributed pool fire and thus longer soot residence time within the flames. When the exhaust soot particles were analysed, however, it was found that the reduction in soot aggregate size was much higher and the carbonisation was more progressed for the piston-wetting condition than those of the liner-wetting condition. This suggested higher soot oxidation later in the expansion/exhaust stroke for the piston-wetting condition, which potentially can be better utilised for engine applications.
Understanding partial fuel stratification for low temperature gasoline combustion using large eddy simulations
Authors: Priyadarshini Priya , Sofianopoulos Aimilios , Mamalis Sotirios , Lawler Benjamin , Lopez-Pintor Dario , Dec John E
Published: June 2020

The development of gasoline compression ignition engines operating in a low temperature combustion mode depends heavily on robust control of the heat release profile. Partial fuel stratification is an effective method for controlling the heat release by creating a stratified mixture prior to autoignition, which can be beneficial for operation across a wide load range. In this study, three-dimensional large eddy simulations were used to model a double direct injection strategy for which 80% of the fuel was injected during the intake stroke, and 20% of the fuel was injected at varying timing during the compression stroke. The simulations replicated a set of experiments performed at Sandia National Laboratories on a 1-L single-cylinder research engine using E10 gasoline (gasoline fuel containing 10% vol. ethanol). The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of the double direct injection strategy on the compositional and thermal stratification of the mixture, and understand the best use of this operating strategy. The modeling results indicated that by retarding the start of the second injection, the mixture stratification increases, which can be used to control the autoignition timing and the combustion phasing. Ignition and CA50 (crank angle of 50% mass fraction burned) are dictated by the mass concentration of the richest zones in the combustion chamber, as well as their location. The richer zones have the lowest temperatures before ignition primarily due to evaporative cooling from direct fuel injection. Overall, this study enhances the understanding of partial fuel stratification that can be used for controlling the heat release in gasoline compression ignition engines.
Experimental study and optimization in the layouts and the structure of the high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system for a marine diesel engine
Authors: Hu Ying , Yang Jianguo , Hu Nao
Published: June 2020

The structure and performance of the common-rail system for the marine diesel engine are different from those used for automobile applications, resulting from the larger accumulator volume and the single injection volume. According to the characteristics of the distributed structure of the accumulator volume, a novel optimisation idea to improve the steady-state performance of the high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system designed for a marine engine retrofitting is proposed. The study concentrates on the optimisation in the hydraulic layouts and the structure parameters to manage the energy stored in the pressure waves. First, the test rig was established to study and evaluate the steady-state performance of the high-pressure common-rail system. Second, the experiments of rail orders and injection sequences were carried out to study the influence of different hydraulic layouts on the energy distribution of pressure waves in the system. Meanwhile, a comprehensive and detailed model of the high-pressure common-rail system was built to investigate the structural parameters of a rail-to-injector pipe. Based on the high-pressure common-rail system model, the modified multi-objective genetic algorithm was employed to seek the trade-off between the consistency of the injection volume and the reduction of the rail pressure fluctuation. Results show that a uniform distribution of multiple rails in one cycle contributed to reducing the amplitude of the rail pressure oscillation. In the parameter ranges of this study, a longer length and larger diameter of the rail-to-injector pipe could reduce the standard deviation of the injection volume and the rail pressure fluctuation rate simultaneously.
Towards a circular economy in food consumption: Food waste reduction practices as ethical work
Authors: Lehtokunnas Taru , Mattila Malla , Närvänen Elina , Mesiranta Nina
Published: June 2020

This article explores the transition towards a circular economy in the context of household food waste practices. The research concerning the circular economy has mainly focused on engineering or the processes of production, manufacturing, business and industry. However, the transition towards a circular economy requires, in addition to new technologies, infrastructures and innovations, a societal change and a change in everyday practices. In this article, we address this by examining the everyday practices of food waste reduction in households as ethical work. We claim that the intertwined practices, institutions and policies of the circular economy create moral categories and responsibilities in everyday food consumption. Thus, the transition towards circular economy requires everyday ethical work carried out by consumers. However, our analysis also brings out some possible challenges related to this transition that has not yet been accomplished. Our research materials consist of 26 food waste diaries collected from Finnish households and participant observation in 4 leftover cooking workshops organized with the Finnish Martha organization. We adapt Michel Foucault’s conception of ethics, focusing on the constitution of ethical subjectivity in food waste practices. Moreover, we utilize practice theoretical approach that has been widely used in food waste and sustainable consumption studies and connect it with Foucault’s theory. Our results suggest that in order to understand the circular economy as a moral economy, it is crucial to note the moral complexity of everyday life that results from partly contradictory ethical sensitivities and practices.
A Method to Measure Standard Costs of Juvenile Justice Systems: The Example of Italy
Authors: Ciappi Silvio , Dalla Chiara Elena , Padovani Alessandro , Perali Federico , Santagata Barbara
Published: June 2020

This study proposes a standard costs method to evaluate the total direct costs of a juvenile justice system and applies it to the Italian case. The proposed cost-analysis method based on standard costs by offense-related groups illustrates how it can be implemented for improving the quality of management and cost monitoring. An illustrative cost-benefit analysis of the costs of juvenile justice in Italy shows that investments in rehabilitation programs are highly attractive even during a period of economic crisis and in very different regions.
Graphic geography: drawing territories at the Po Delta (Italy)
Authors: Bertoncin Marina , Pase Andrea , Peterle Giada , Quatrida Daria
Published: June 2020

Geography and the graphic image have a long, intertwined history of exchange. In recent scholarship, the graphic image plays an important role in geography’s creative (re)turn and geographers are experimenting with new visual languages and creative practices to carry out research and communicate with wider audiences. This paper explores geography as a ‘graphic’ discipline that represents and produces spatial knowledge by experimenting with scribing, a verbo-visual technique. In the first part of the article, we propose an auto-ethnographic account of a residential seminar with students in Local and Sustainable Territorial Development, held in 2017 at the Po Delta (Italy), where we experimented with scribing as a tool for geographical fieldwork and spatial storytelling, understanding it as a practice for seeing beyond representing territories. The second more theoretical part of the paper presents scribing as a means to respond to the increasing need for more creative visualisation tools in qualitative research and highlights the performative potential of scribing as a practice/product for thinking about space. The graphic product of scribing results from an intersubjective dialogue and is used to develop spatial analyses and disseminate geographical research beyond academic boundaries, engaging non-expert audiences and local communities.
Performance degradation assessment of wind turbine gearbox based on maximum mean discrepancy and multi-sensor transfer learning
Authors: Pan Yubin , Hong Rongjing , Chen Jie , Feng Jianshe , Wu Weiwei
Published: June 2020

Gearboxes are critical transmission components in the drivetrain of wind turbine, which have a dominant failure rate and the highest downtime loss in all wind turbine subsystems. However, load variations of wind turbine gearbox are far from smooth and usually nondeterministic, which result in inconsistent data distributions. To solve the problem, a novel performance degradation assessment and prognosis method based on maximum mean discrepancy is proposed to test the difference between data distributions and extract the characteristics of multi-source working conditions data. Besides, the increase in sensors will bring more difficulties to establish prediction models in real-world scenarios due to different installation locations. In view of this, a transfer learning strategy called joint distribution adaptation is utilized to adapt data distribution between multi-sensor signals. Nevertheless, the presence of background noise of wind turbine signals restricts the applicability of these algorithms in practice. To further reduce the distribution difference, a novel criterion is proposed to evaluate and measure the data distribution difference between known and tested working conditions based on the witness function of maximum mean discrepancy. The application and superiority of proposed methodology are validated using a wind turbine gearbox life-cycle test data set. Meanwhile, model comparison and cross-verification are conducted between conventional and proposed prediction models. The results indicate that the proposed method has a better performance in performance degradation assessment for wind turbine gearbox.
Diabetes and atherothrombosis: The circadian rhythm and role of melatonin in vascular protection
Authors: Otamas Anastasia , Grant Peter J , Ajjan Ramzi A
Published: June 2020

Obesity-related euglycaemic insulin resistance clusters with cardiometabolic risk factors, contributing to the development of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An increased thrombotic tendency in diabetes stems from platelet hyperactivity, enhanced activity of prothrombotic coagulation factors and impaired fibrinolysis. Furthermore, a low-grade inflammatory response and increased oxidative stress accelerate the atherosclerotic process and, together with an enhanced thrombotic environment, result in premature and more severe cardiovascular disease. The disruption of circadian cycles in man secondary to chronic obesity and loss of circadian cues is implicated in the increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Levels of melatonin, the endogenous synchronizer of circadian rhythm, are reduced in individuals with vascular disease and those with deranged glucose metabolism. The anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antioxidative and antithrombotic activities of melatonin make it a potential therapeutic agent to reduce the risk of vascular occlusive disease in diabetes. The mechanisms behind melatonin-associated reduction in procoagulant response are not fully known. Current evidence suggests that melatonin inhibits platelet aggregation and might affect the coagulation cascade, altering fibrin clot structure and/or resistance to fibrinolysis. Large-scale clinical trials are warranted to investigate the effects of modulating the circadian clock on insulin resistance, glycaemia and cardiovascular outcome.
Optimizing various parameters influencing mechanical properties of banana/coir natural fiber composites using grey relational analysis and artificial neural network models
Authors: Sumesh KR , Kanthavel K
Published: June 2020

The natural fibers of banana and coir from southern part of India was taken as the reinforcement material. Taguchi-based grey relational analysis was used for optimizing the factors influencing tensile, flexural and impact strength of banana/coir composites. Banana wt%, coir wt%, alkali treatment %, pressure and temperature during compression moulding process were the five major factors used for optimizing the mechanical strengths of epoxy-based composites. Grey relational analysis observed 20% banana/15% coir/3% alkali treatment/16 MPa pressure and 100°C temperature combination having the maximum mechanical properties in 16 trial combinations. The signal-to-noise ratio table of grey relational analysis showed combination with 20% banana /15% coir/5% alkali treatment/16 MPa pressure and 100°C temperature having optimized mechanical properties. Banana has the highest rank in improving the mechanical strength of natural composites, followed by coir, alkali treatment %, pressure and temperature. The graph between actual and artificial neural network computed results observed high correlation, proving that network topology of 5-3-1 with five factors, three hidden nodes and one response is the best method for analyzing the parameters in mechanical strength. Hybrid fiber composites with NaOH treatment showed hackles in interface with improved interfacial bonding during SEM analysis.
A navigation satellite selection algorithm for optimized positioning based on Gibbs sampler
Authors: Xia Na , Zhi Qinan , He Menghua , Hong Yunqing , Du Huazheng
Published: June 2020

In various applications of satellite navigation and positioning, it is a key topic to select suitable satellites for positioning solutions to reduce the computational burden of the receiver in satellite selection system. Moreover, in order to reduce the processing burden of receivers, the satellite selection algorithm based on Gibbs sampler is proposed. First, the visible satellites are randomly sampled and divided into a group. The group is regarded as an initial combination selection scheme. Then, the geometric dilution of precision is chosen as an objective function to evaluate the scheme’s quality. In addition, the scheme is updated by the conditional probability distribution model of the Gibbs sampler algorithm, and it gradually approaches the global optimal solution of the satellite combination with better geometric distribution of the space satellite. Furthermore, an “adaptive perturbation” strategy is introduced to improve the global searching ability of the algorithm. Finally, the extensive experimental results demonstrate that when the number of selected satellite is more than 6, the time that the proposed algorithm with the improvement of “adaptive perturbation” takes to select satellite once is 43.7% of the time that the primitive Gibbs sampler algorithm takes. And its solutions are always 0.1 smaller than the related algorithms in geometric dilution of precision value. Therefore, the proposed algorithm can be considered as a promising candidate for satellite navigation application systems.
Return-to-Function Following Treatment of Dupuytren Contracture With Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Versus Fasciectomy
Authors: Divino Victoria M. , DeKoven Mitch , Hurley David
Published: June 2020

Background: Dupuytren contracture (DC) treatment with collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) has lower associated treatment costs than fasciectomy, but real-world, postprocedure return-to-function data are limited. Methods: This retrospective study used a US claims database and included adults treated for DC with CCH or fasciectomy (first treatment = index date), who had continuous health plan enrollment ≥360 days preindex and ≥90 days postindex (ie, 90-day follow-up). Analgesic use and physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) visits during the follow-up were used as surrogate markers for return-to-function. Results: Overall, 1654 and 2745 patients were included in the CCH and fasciectomy cohorts, respectively. A significantly lower percentage of patients in the CCH versus fasciectomy cohort used opioid analgesics (32.3% vs 82.7%; P < .0001), used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (8.6% vs 17.2%; P < .0001), or had ≥1 DC-specific PT or OT visit during follow-up (PT, 38.9% vs 45.3% [ P < .0001]; OT, 32.8% vs 38.0% [ P = .0006]). The mean number of DC-specific PT and OT visits (PT, 2.5 vs 6.4 [ P < .0001]; OT, 1.4 vs 1.9 [ P < .0001]) per patient was significantly lower in the CCH versus fasciectomy cohort. Conclusions: This analysis using surrogate markers suggests that CCH treatment may allow earlier return-to-function than fasciectomy in adults treated for DC.
Unintended Consequence of High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy for an Oncology Patient: Evaluation of Ascorbic Acid Interference With Three Hospital-Use Glucose Meters
Authors: Katzman Brooke M. , Kelley Brandon R. , Deobald Gayle R. , Myhre Nikki K. , Agger Sean A. , Karon Brad S.
Published: June 2020

The use of high-dose vitamin C in cancer care has offered promising results for some patients. However, the intravenous (IV) doses used for these patients can reach concentrations that interfere with some strip-based glucose meters. We characterized the impact of vitamin C interference, from standard to the very high doses used for some cancer protocols, using three different hospital-use glucose meters. For two of the three devices tested, increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid caused false elevations in the glucose measurements. The third glucose meter did not provide inaccurate results, regardless of the vitamin C concentration present. Rather, above a certain threshold, the device generated error messages and no results could be obtained.
Response mechanisms of reinforced concrete panels to the combined effect of close-in blast and fragments: An integrated experimental and numerical analysis
Authors: Del Linz Paolo , Fung Tat Ching , Lee Chi King , Riedel Werner
Published: June 2020

The effect of cased explosives on reinforced concrete components is important for the design of protective structures, since the interaction between the fragments and blast waves can modify or even amplify the damage caused. This work deals with the development of finite element analysis techniques to simulate the combined loading and to understand this interaction. In this work, an experiment conducted with a cased explosive and further tests from the literature were used together to develop and stepwise validate finite element analysis models of the different loading phases. The casing fragment velocities and spatial distribution were derived from explosive expansion simulations of the hull using the smooth particle hydrodynamics method together with a momentum conserving penalty contact. The blast loading applied on the concrete plate was based on established empirical formulae, acting at the same times as the fragments. Comparing the final damage with the experimental records revealed good agreement for most damage patterns. The model was used to identify the different damage evolution stages, such as shock-induced shear plug formation and subsequent structural dynamic bending with the associated damage. In addition, differential model variants with fragment and blast loading in isolation were simulated to resolve the response and damage of each loading component. The blast load caused predominantly bending deformations and damage, while the fragments caused similar cratering as seen in the combined case. However, the final combined damage was larger than that caused by each phenomenon. In the given situation, the fragments created most damage, but the established modelling approach opens the perspective to study these effects also for other ratios of explosive to casing weight and scaled distances, where the contributions might differ. Establishing a valid modelling approach is thus an important step towards more insight into the interaction of these complex loading types and damage effects.
Influence of alexithymia on the management of Latin American patients with asthma: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vanegas Emanuel , Felix Miguel , Ramon German D , López Jove Orlando , Matos Benavides Edgar Emilio , Tinoco-Morán Iván , Bernstein Jonathan A , Cherrez-Ojeda Iván
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

In asthmatic patients, studies suggest that alexithymia leads to negative consequences and emotions that can affect physical, psychological, and social aspects of life. We designed this study to determine the frequency of alexithymia in Latin American patients with asthma, as well as to understand how this personality trait and each of its components interact with asthma severity and demographic variables, and their implications on treatment adherence and disease control under such setting.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study, involving 265 Latin American patients with asthma. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were reported. The presence of alexithymia, asthma severity, and control, as well as treatment adherence, was analyzed. To assess the presence of alexithymia, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale was used. For the statistical analyses, we performed Kendall’s tau-b correlation coefficient, chi-square tests for association, and one-way analysis of variance.

Results:

A total of 265 patients participated in the study with a gender distribution of 69.4% female and an average age of 54.7 years. In total, 30.2% of individuals presented alexithymia. There was a statistically significant correlation between educational level and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale categories ( p < .001), as well as a higher proportion of severe (35.1%, p = .001) and uncontrolled (50.0%, p = .185) asthma in patients with alexithymia. A higher proportion of patients with some level of non-adherence was seen on those with uncontrolled asthma (68.5%, p = .008).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that in our sample, 3 in 10 Latin American asthma patients have alexithymia, and such mental condition is more common in those individuals with lower educational levels. Individuals with alexithymia present with severe asthma more frequently than do patients with possible or no alexithymia and are also more likely to have their disease uncontrolled.
Risk factors for transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and mortality in a pediatric cohort
Authors: Schoettler Michelle , Lehmann Leslie E. , Margossian Steven , Lee Maia , Kean Leslie S. , Kao Pei-Chi , Ma Clement , Duncan Christine N.
Published: June 2020

Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is a well-recognized complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Diagnosis is challenging and in the absence of a tissue biopsy, TA-TMA is provisionally diagnosed by meeting clinical criteria. In this study, we describe the prevalence, outcomes, and risk factors for meeting 2 different diagnostic criteria for TA-TMA and for increased transplant-related mortality (TRM). In this retrospective study of 307 pediatric HCT patients, records were reviewed for the first 100 days after HCT. Patients who were diagnosed with TA-TMA by a provider during this time were included. In addition, the Cho et al criteria (2010) and Jodele et al (2014) TA-TMA criteria were applied retrospectively. Eight patients (2.6%) were diagnosed with TA-TMA by their provider. However, on retrospective review, 20% and 36% met the Cho and Jodele criteria for TA-TMA, respectively. Overall survival was significantly worse (P < .0001) and TRM was significantly higher in patients who met criteria for TA-TMA (MC-TA-TMA) (P < .0001). After controlling for comorbid conditions, MC-TA-TMA (hazard ratio [HR], 10.9; P = .0001) and grade 3/4 acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) (HR 3.5; P = .01) remained independently associated with increased TRM. Among allogeneic HCT recipients, features associated with an increased risk for MC-TA-TMA included ≥2 HCT, concurrent grade 3/4 aGVHD and concurrent infections. Among patients who MC-TA-TMA, LDH ≥2 times the upper limit of normal (P = .001), the need for ≥2 antihypertensive medications (P < .0001), and acute kidney injury (P = .003) were associated with significantly increased TRM.
Ethyl pyruvate protects against sepsis-associated encephalopathy through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Zhong Xiaoli , Xie Lingli , Yang Xiaolong , Liang Fang , Yang Yanliang , Tong Jianbin , Zhong Yanjun , Zhao Kai , Tang Yiting , Yuan Chuang
Published: June 2020

Background

With the advance of antibiotics and life support therapy, the mortality of sepsis has been decreasing in recent years. However, the incidence of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), a common complication of sepsis, is still high. There are few effective therapies to treat clinical SAE. We previously found that ethyl pyruvate (EP), a metabolite derivative, is able to effectively inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Administration of ethyl pyruvate protects mice against polymicrobial sepsis in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. The aim of present study is to investigate if ethyl pyruvate is able to attenuate SAE.

Methods

After CLP, C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally or intrathecally injected with saline or ethyl pyruvate using the sham-operated mice as control. New Object Recognition (NOR) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) were conducted to determine the cognitive function. Brain pathology was assessed via immunohistochemistry. To investigate the mechanisms by which ethyl pyruvate prevent SAE, the activation of NLRP3 in the hippocampus and the microglia were determined using western blotting, and cognitive function, microglia activation, and neurogenesis were assessed using WT, Nlrp3−/− and Asc−/− mice in the sublethal CLP model. In addition, Nlrp3−/− and Asc−/− mice treated with saline or ethyl pyruvate were subjected to CLP.

Results

Ethyl pyruvate treatment significantly attenuated CLP-induced cognitive decline, microglia activation, and impaired neurogenesis. In addition, EP significantly decreased the NLRP3 level in the hippocampus of the CLP mice, and inhibited the cleavage of IL-1β induced by NLRP3 inflammsome in microglia. NLRP3 and ASC deficiency demonstrated similar protective effects against SAE. Nlrp3−/− and Asc−/− mice significantly improved cognitive function and brain pathology when compared with WT mice in the CLP models. Moreover, ethyl pyruvate did not have additional effects against SAE in Nlrp3−/− and Asc−/− mice.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that ethyl pyruvate confers protection against SAE through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Multidimensional assessment of the effects of erenumab in chronic migraine patients with previous unsuccessful preventive treatments: a comprehensive real-world experience
Authors: Russo Antonio , Silvestro Marcello , Scotto di Clemente Fabrizio , Trojsi Francesca , Bisecco Alvino , Bonavita Simona , Tessitore Alessandro , Tedeschi Gioacchino
Published: June 2020

Background

erenumab was safe and effective in clinical trials for the prevention of migraine. However, real-life data are still lacking. Here we report the clinical experience from an Italian real-world setting using erenumab in patients with chronic migraine experiencing previous unsuccessful preventive treatments.

Methods

Seventy patients with chronic migraine and failure to ≥4 migraine preventive medication classes initially received monthly erenumab 70 mg s.c. Patients without a clinically meaningful improvement, considered as a > 30% reduction in headache days per month, after ≥3 months of therapy switched to monthly erenumab 140 mg. At the first administration and after 3 and 6 months, patients underwent extensive interviews to assess clinical parameters of disease severity and migraine-related disability and impact, and validated questionnaires to explore depression/anxiety, sleep, and quality of life (QoL). Finally, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Allodynia Symptom Checklist-12 and MIGraine attacks-Subjective COGnitive impairments scale (MIG-SCOG) were administered.

Results

70% of patients were “responders” after the third administration of erenumab 70 mg, whereas 30% switched to erenumab 140 mg; 29% (6 pts) responded after the sixth administration. The headache-day frequency was reduced from 21.1 ± 0.7 to 11.4 ± 0.9 days after the third administration (p < 0.001) and to 8.9 ± 0.7 days after the sixth administration (p < 0.001). 53% and 70% of patients, respectively, showed a reduction of ≥50% of headache days/month after the third and the sixth administrations.

Also improved were headache pain severity, migraine-related disability, and impact on daily living, QoL, pain catastrophizing and allodynia (all p < 0.001), quality of sleep, symptoms of depression or anxiety (p < 0.05) but not MIG-SCOG. There were no new adverse event signals.

Conclusion

These real-world data support monthly erenumab 70 or 140 mg s.c. as a safe and effective preventive treatment to reduce headache frequency and severity in chronic migraine patients experiencing previous unsuccessful preventive treatments.
Gradient Engineered Light Absorption Layer for Enhanced Carrier Separation Efficiency in Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wu Gaozhu , Zhu Qing , Zhang Teng , Zou Ziqi , Wang Weiping , Cao Yiyan , Kong Lijing , Zheng Xuanli , Wu Yaping , Li Xu , Wu Zhiming , Kang Junyong
Published: June 2020

Carrier transport behavior in the perovskite light absorption layer significantly impacts the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, reduced carrier recombination losses were achieved by the design of a band structure in perovskite materials. An ultrathin (PbI2/PbBr2)n film with a gradient thickness ratio was deposited as the lead halide precursor layer by a thermal evaporation method, and PSCs with a gradient band structure in the perovskite absorption layer were fabricated by a two-step method in ambient atmosphere. For comparison, PSCs with homogeneous perovskite materials of MAPbI3 and MAPbIxBr3 − x were fabricated as well. It is found that the gradient type-II band structure greatly reduces the carrier lifetime and enhances the carrier separation efficiency. As a result, the PSCs with a gradient band structure exhibit an average power conversion efficiency of 17.5%, which is 1–2% higher than that of traditional PSCs. This work provides a novel method for developing high-efficiency PSCs.