bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stepwise Regression and Latent Profile Analyses of Locomotor Outcomes Poststroke
Authors: Hornby T. George , Henderson Christopher E. , Holleran Carey L. , Lovell Linda , Roth Elliot J. , Jang Jeong Hoon
Published: September 2020

Background and Purpose:

Previous data suggest patient demographics and clinical presentation are primary predictors of motor recovery poststroke, with minimal contributions of physical interventions. Other studies indicate consistent associations between the amount and intensity of stepping practice with locomotor outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the relative contributions of these combined variables to locomotor outcomes poststroke across a range of patient demographics and baseline function.

Methods:

Data were pooled from 3 separate trials evaluating the efficacy of high-intensity training, low-intensity training, and conventional interventions. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and training activities from 144 participants >1-month poststroke were included in stepwise regression analyses to determine their relative contributions to locomotor outcomes. Subsequent latent profile analyses evaluated differences in classes of participants based on their responses to interventions.

Results:

Stepwise regressions indicate primary contributions of stepping activity on locomotor outcomes, with additional influences of age, duration poststroke, and baseline function. Latent profile analyses revealed 2 main classes of outcomes, with the largest gains in those who received high-intensity training and achieved the greatest amounts of stepping practice. Regression and latent profile analyses of only high-intensity training participants indicated age, baseline function, and training activities were primary determinants of locomotor gains. Participants with the smallest gains were older (≈60 years), presented with slower gait speeds (<0.40 m/s), and performed 600 to 1000 less steps/session.

Conclusions:

Regression and cluster analyses reveal primary contributions of training interventions on mobility outcomes in patients >1-month poststroke. Age, duration poststroke, and baseline impairments were secondary predictors.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02507466 and NCT01789853.
Lessons Learned from the 2017 Flash Drought across the U.S. Northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies
Authors: Hoell Andrew , Parker Britt-Anne , Downey Michael , Umphlett Natalie , Jencso Kelsey , Akyuz F. Adnan , Peck Dannele , Hadwen Trevor , Fuchs Brian , Kluck Doug , Edwards Laura , Perlwitz Judith , Eischeid Jon , Deheza Veva , Pulwarty Roger , Bevington Kathryn
Published: September 2020

The 2017 flash drought arrived without early warning and devastated the U.S. northern Great Plains region comprising Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota and the adjacent Canadian Prairies. The drought led to agricultural production losses exceeding $2.6 billion in the United States, widespread wildfires, poor air quality, damaged ecosystems, and degraded mental health. These effects motivated a multiagency collaboration among academic, tribal, state, and federal partners to evaluate drought early warning systems, coordination efforts, communication, and management practices with the goal of improving resilience and response to future droughts. This essay provides an overview on the causes, predictability, and historical context of the drought, the impacts of the drought, opportunities for drought early warning, and an inventory of lessons learned. Key lessons learned include the following: 1) building partnerships during nondrought periods helps ensure that proper relationships are in place for a coordinated and effective drought response; 2) drought information providers must improve their understanding of the annual decision cycles of all relevant sectors, including, and beyond, direct impacts in agricultural sectors; and 3) ongoing monitoring of environmental conditions is vital to drought early warning, given that seasonal forecasts lack skill over the northern Great Plains.
Evaluation of Mesoscale Convective Systems in Climate Simulations: Methodological Development and Results from MPAS-CAM over the United States
Authors: Feng Zhe , Song Fengfei , Sakaguchi Koichi , Leung L. Ruby
Published: September 2020

A process-oriented approach is developed to evaluate warm-season mesoscale convective system (MCS) precipitation and their favorable large-scale meteorological patterns (FLSMPs) over the United States. This approach features a novel observation-driven MCS-tracking algorithm using infrared brightness temperature and precipitation features at 12-, 25-, and 50-km resolution and metrics to evaluate the model large-scale environment favorable for MCS initiation. The tracking algorithm successfully reproduces the observed MCS statistics from a reference 4-km radar MCS database. To demonstrate the utility of the new methodologies in evaluating MCS in climate simulations with mesoscale resolution, the process-oriented approach is applied to two climate simulations produced by the Variable-Resolution Model for Prediction Across Scales coupled to the Community Atmosphere Model physics, with refined horizontal grid spacing at 50 and 25 km over North America. With the tracking algorithm applied to simulations and observations at equivalent resolutions, the simulated number of MCS and associated precipitation amount, frequency, and intensity are found to be consistently underestimated in the central United States, particularly from May to August. The simulated MCS precipitation shows little diurnal variation and lasts too long, while the MCS precipitation area is too large and its intensity is too weak. The model is able to simulate four types of observed FLSMP associated with frontal systems and low-level jets (LLJ) in spring, but the frequencies are underestimated because of low-level dry bias and weaker LLJ. Precipitation simulated under different FLSMPs peak during the daytime, in contrast to the observed nocturnal peak. Implications of these findings for future model development and diagnostics are discussed.
The spatial-relational challenge: Emplacing the spatial turn in peace and conflict studies
Authors: Brigg Morgan
Published: September 2020

The nascent spatial turn in peace and conflict studies is a promising development that expands conceptual resources and offers useful correctives to existing scholarship. However, the turn to space and place tends not to adequately emplace itself (including on its own European-derived terms) or sufficiently engage the socio-spatial difference of diverse peoples. Instead, a de-contextualised knower is invited to apply a new set of mobile scholarly tools in various settings without seriously considering diverse peoples’ conceptualisation and operationalisation of place in socio-political ordering. Long-standing Aboriginal Australian approaches to place, meanwhile, indicate the diversity and sophistication of approaches to space and place. They furthermore show that western political ontology – including the figures of the individual and the state embedded in much dominant scholarship – may not be relevant in many settings in which peace and conflict scholarship is undertaken. Realising the full potential of the spatial turn requires grappling with the relational emplacement of the knowing subject and the varied ways in which place configures socio-political order both for diverse peoples ‘in the field’ and in the centres of dominant forms of knowing in the Global North.
Travel as a Catalyst of Peak Experiences Among Young Chinese Adults
Authors: Hoffman Edward , Jiang Shan , Wang Yan , Li Mengzhe
Published: September 2020

Humanistic psychology has pioneered in investigating travel as a contributor to personality growth. In this study, 182 native Chinese undergraduates responded to a survey inquiring if they had ever experienced “wonderful happiness” while engaged in tourism, and if so, to indicate the purpose of their travel, how recently and where their peak-experience occurred, whether they were alone or with others at the time, its intensity and subsequent impact on their view of life. Participants were also asked to describe the “trigger” of their peak-experience; these were coded into nine categories. A total of 86.8% (N=158) responded affirmatively, most of whom were touring within China. Peaks involving nature were reported significantly most frequently. A cluster involving interpersonal joy, serenity, and personal growth were reported second-most frequently, with relatively small frequencies relating to culture/aesthetics, culinary delight, and particularly materialism, skill mastery, and external achievement. More than 75% of participants rated their peak as “moderately” or “very” intense and 53.5% reported that it impacted their subsequent view of life. No significant gender differences emerged. The implications of these findings for understanding growth aspects of tourism among Chinese young adults are discussed, and future avenues of research are highlighted.
The gendered consequences of skill-discounting for migrants
Authors: Treuren Gerrit JM , Manoharan Ashokkumar , Vishnu Vidya
Published: September 2020

Skill-discounting is the term often used to describe when the knowledge, qualifications and experience of migrants are assessed by employers as being less valuable than those of domestic job seekers. As a result of skill-discounting, migrants usually struggle to obtain employment comparable to their pre-migration job. Using analysis of covariance of the Continuous Survey of Australia’s Migrants dataset of 109,000 migrants collected between 2009 and 2011, this article investigates whether male and female migrants experience skill-discounting differently. We compare the extent, form, processes and outcomes of skill-discounting between male and female self-initiated migrants. Female migrants are less likely to be skill-discounted, are skill-discounted for different reasons, find replacement jobs that require similar skill but lower levels of responsibility and pay considerably less than for their male counterparts, and report marginally greater job satisfaction. This article contributes to the migration literature by identifying the gendered effects of the skill-discounting of migrant expertise. It also contributes to the public policy literature by making a series of recommendations to minimise skill-discounting.
An alternative method for oral drug administration by voluntary intake in male and female mice
Authors: Teixeira-Santos Luísa , Albino-Teixeira António , Pinho Dora
Published: September 2020

Drug administration to experimental rodents is often invasive and stressful, thus reducing animal welfare and potentially confounding experimental results. Methods of oral drug delivery in which rodents cooperate voluntarily minimize stress, pain and morbidity. We herein describe a method for oral administration through voluntary intake of strawberry jam, developed for C57BL/6J mice. During a 3-day habituation period, animals were placed in individual cages once daily and presented with a drop of jam. Five days later, the jam was again offered with admixed drug. Mice ingested it in less than 5 min, with latency times below 1 min, confirming the suitability of the administration method.
Gender and Prison Work: The Experience of Female Provincial Correctional Officers in Canada
Authors: Ricciardelli Rosemary , McKendy Laura
Published: September 2020

Drawing on the accounts of female correctional officers working in Canadian prisons, we explore how gender identity influences the work orientations and social relationships of female officers and their interpretations of working with male and female prisoners. We suggest that female officers tend to pursue correctional work in a way that incorporates traits culturally associated with femininity and that relies on gendered understandings of prisoners’ dispositions and needs. In general, female officers’ accounts suggest that feminine identity operates as both a liability and currency in the context of prison work, albeit for reasons that vary across women and men’s prison.
Health Department Efforts to Increase Hepatitis C RNA Testing Among People Appearing Out of Care: Comparison of Outreach Approaches, New York City, 2017
Authors: Webster Rachel , Moore Miranda S. , Bocour Angelica , Johnson Nirah , Winters Ann
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious health problem in New York City. Although curative treatments are available, many people are out of care. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) used surveillance data and various outreach methods to attempt to link to care people diagnosed with HCV infection from 2010 through 2015.

Methods

We randomly assigned people out of care (ie, no HCV test >6 months after first report) to 4 outreach groups: no outreach (control group); letter only; letter and telephone call; and letter, text message, and telephone call. Three months after outreach ended, we analyzed surveillance data to identify people with a subsequent HCV RNA or genotype test suggesting linkage to care.

Results

Of 2626 selected people, 199 (7.6%) had a subsequent HCV test. People in all 3 outreach groups had higher odds of a subsequent test than people in the control group (letter only: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.81 [95% CI, 1.18-2.91]; letter and telephone: aOR = 3.11 [95% CI, 1.67-5.79]; letter, text, and telephone: aOR = 3.17 [95% CI, 1.48-6.51]). People in the letter and telephone group had higher odds of a subsequent test than people in the letter-only group (aOR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.04-2.74). Most people in the letter and telephone (136/200, 68.0%) and the letter, text, and telephone (71/99, 71.7%) groups could not be reached, primarily because telephone numbers were incorrect or out of service.

Conclusion

Reaching out to people soon after first report or prioritizing groups in which more recent contact information can be found might improve outcomes of future outreach.
Model predictive control of steering torque in shared driving of autonomous vehicles
Authors: Bao Chunjiang , Feng Jiwei , Wu Jian , Liu Shifu , Xu Guangfei , Xu Haizhu
Published: September 2020

The current path tracking control method is usually based on the steering wheel angle loop, which often makes the driver lose control of the automatic driving control loop. In order to involve the driver in the automatic driving control loop, and to solve the vehicle path tracking control problem with system robustness and model uncertainty, this paper puts forward a steering torque control method based on model predictive control algorithm. Based on the vehicle model, this method introduces the steering system model and the steering resistance torque model, and calculates the optimal control torque of the vehicle through the real-time vehicle status, so as to make up for the model mismatch, interference and other uncertainties, and ensure the real-time participation of the driver in the automatic driving control loop. To combine the nonlinear vehicle dynamics model with the steering column model, and to take the vehicle state parameters as the feedback variables of the model predictive controller model, then input the solution of the steering superposition control rate into the vehicle model, the design of the steering controller is realized. Finally, to carry out the simulation of lane keeping based on CarSim software and Simulink control model, and the hardware in-the-loop test on the hardware in-the-loop experimental platform of CarSim/LabVIEW-RT. The simulation and test results indicate that the designed torque loop path tracking control method based on model predictive control can help the driver track the target path better.
Optimal control for hybrid magnetically suspended flywheel rotor based on state feedback exact linearization model
Authors: Wen Tong , Xiang Biao , Zhang Shilei
Published: September 2020

For a hybrid magnetically suspended flywheel (MSFW) rotor suspended by permanent magnet biased active magnetic bearing (AMB) and passive magnetic bearing (PMB), the dynamic functions are nonlinear and coupling among different degrees of freedom (DOFs). In this article, the nonlinear dynamic functions in two controllable DOFs of the hybrid MSFW rotor are developed based on the equivalent magnetic circuit, and then the nonlinear dynamic function is linearized by using the state feedback exact linearization (SFEL) in order to minimize the coupling in two controllable DOFs. Furthermore, an optimal control based on the SFEL model is designed to reduce displacement runout and coupling among two controllable DOFs of the hybrid MSFW rotor at the rated speed. Finally, the simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the optimal control based on SFEL model, and the stability of the hybrid MSFW rotor with an impulse-type disturbance is improved.
An evaluation of a simulation and video-based training program to address adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Miller-Cribbs Julie , Bragg Jedediah , Wen Frances , Jelley Martina , Coon Kim A , Hanks Heather , Howell Daniel , Randall Ken , Isaacson Mary , Rodriguez Kristin , Sutton Ginger
Published: September 2020

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are multiple sources of maltreatment and household dysfunction with tremendous impact on health. A trauma-informed (TI) approach is preferred when working with patients with ACEs. The Professional ACEs-Informed Training for Health© (PATH©) educational program and simulation experience using standardized patients (SP) was developed to help healthcare professionals address ACEs with adults. PATH© is a 3–4 hour curriculum comprised of lecture and discussion, video-based demonstration, simulation experience, and debriefing. It was first developed for primary care (PC) residents in family medicine and internal medicine, and subsequently modified for occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) students. This study evaluates a preliminary dataset focusing on PATH© skills of PC residents and OT and PT students during simulation. Recordings of 53 learner-SP encounters from 15 OT and PT students and 38 PC residents were coded using standardized behavioral codes. A subset of ten recordings of PC residents who participated in simulations in the first and fourth year of the training program allowed for evaluation of training outcomes over time. Results showed that medical residents and OT and PT students demonstrated skills during SP encounters congruent with TI training on addressing ACEs with adults, particularly in explaining ACEs, demonstrating empathy, collaborative treatment planning, and stigma reduction. PC residents showed both positive and negative changes in PATH©-specific skills from year 1 to 4 of the training program. This study supports the PATH© model and simulation-based training in preparing clinicians to address ACEs with adults and provides insight into further curriculum improvement.
Compassion, gratitude and awe: The role of pro-social emotions in training physicians for relational competence
Authors: Fogarty Colleen T
Published: September 2020

On April 28, 2019, Dr. Beat Steiner, president of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), proposed that we as family medicine educators focus on increasing kindness and compassion in our lives and the world around us. As teachers of Family Medicine, we are poised in the intersections among healing, teaching, training, and caregiving. Faculty are held accountable for ensuring that our learners achieve certain milestones by demonstrating defined clinical competencies. We have a long list of topics, biomedical and psychosocial, to be sure our learners understand, and procedures of all types that our learners must do. This paper discusses the importance of extending kindness to ourselves, our colleagues, and patients, and explores three “pro-social” emotions—compassion, gratitude, and awe, which health professions educators can model for trainees in the service of developing self-aware, relationally competent, and well-rounded clinicians.
Model order reduction based on discrete-time Laguerre functions for discrete linear periodic time-varying systems
Authors: Sun Li-Li , Xu Kang-Li , Jiang Yao-Lin
Published: September 2020

Many engineering problems can be modelled as linear periodic time-varying (LPTV) systems, which naturally leads to the need for model order reduction of LPTV systems. This paper investigates a new model order reduction method for discrete LPTV systems. First, the state-space realization in the Fourier-lifted form of discrete LPTV system is constructed by representing periodic matrices in exponentially modulated periodic (EMP) Fourier series. By using Laguerre functions to expand the transfer function of the resulting Fourier-lifted system, the corresponding model order reduction algorithm is developed. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is used to reduce the discrete LPTV system in the standard-lifted form. Theoretical analysis indicates that the transfer functions of both reduced order systems can match a certain number of moments. Finally, two numerical examples are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Deep Learning for Carotid Plaque Segmentation using a Dilated U-Net Architecture
Authors: Meshram Nirvedh H. , Mitchell Carol C. , Wilbrand Stephanie , Dempsey Robert J. , Varghese Tomy
Published: September 2020

Carotid plaque segmentation in ultrasound longitudinal B-mode images using deep learning is presented in this work. We report on 101 severely stenotic carotid plaque patients. A standard U-Net is compared with a dilated U-Net architecture in which the dilated convolution layers were used in the bottleneck. Both a fully automatic and a semi-automatic approach with a bounding box was implemented. The performance degradation in plaque segmentation due to errors in the bounding box is quantified. We found that the bounding box significantly improved the performance of the networks with U-Net Dice coefficients of 0.48 for automatic and 0.83 for semi-automatic segmentation of plaque. Similar results were also obtained for the dilated U-Net with Dice coefficients of 0.55 for automatic and 0.84 for semi-automatic when compared to manual segmentations of the same plaque by an experienced sonographer. A 5% error in the bounding box in both dimensions reduced the Dice coefficient to 0.79 and 0.80 for U-Net and dilated U-Net respectively.
Integrative Review of Emotional Care Following Perinatal Loss
Authors: Furtado-Eraso Sara , Escalada-Hernández Paula , Marín-Fernández Blanca
Published: September 2020

Emotional care is an important part of the holistic labor and should be considered when providing care to people affected by perinatal losses. To synthesize the findings from recently published scientific evidence on the emotional care needed following perinatal loss, a search in PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science was carried out in January 2020 yielding 22 studies which met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed following Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) methodology. One category on “offering emotional care” was identified: “Aspects influencing the psychosocial well-being of women after perinatal loss,” comprising eight themes: risk of complicated grief, cultural values, perinatal losses in multiple pregnancies, experience of subsequent pregnancies, need of information, contact with the deceased baby, impact on relatives, and strategies for emotional care. In conclusion, the evidence highlights the need of specific emotional grief care.
An eye-tracking study of attention to visual cues in L2 listening tests
Authors: Batty Aaron Olaf
Published: September 2020

Nonverbal and other visual cues are well established as a critical component of human communication. Under most circumstances, visual information is available to aid in the comprehension and interpretation of spoken language. Citing these facts, many L2 assessment researchers have studied video-mediated listening tests through score comparisons with audio tests, by measuring the amount of time spent watching, and by attempting to determine examinee viewing behavior through self-reports. However, the specific visual cues to which examinees attend have heretofore not been measured objectively. The present research employs eye-tracking methodology to determine the amounts of time 12 participants viewed specific visual cues on a six-item, video-mediated L2 listening test. Seventy-two scanpath-overlaid videos of viewing behavior were manually coded for visual cues at 0.10-second intervals. Cued retrospective interviews based on eye-tracking data provided reasons for the observed behaviors. Faces were found to occupy the majority (81.74%) of visual dwell time, with participants largely splitting their time between the speaker’s eyes and mouth. Detected gesture viewing was negligible. The reason given for most viewing behavior was determining characters’ emotional states. These findings suggest that the primary difference between audio- and video-mediated L2 listening tests of conversational content is the absence or presence of facial expressions.
Supportive effect of body contact care with ylang ylang aromatherapy and mobile intervention team for suicide prevention: A pilot study
Authors: Amadéo Stéphane , Nguyen Ngoc Lam , Teai Taivini , Favro Patrick , Mulet Aurélia , Colin-Fagotin Nathalie , Rereao Moerani , Malogne Aurélia , Simone Michel De , Rioche Géraldine , Gassion Virginie , Pere Paul , Prokop Alban , Bernis Fabienne , Dufour Pierre , Tuheiava Annie , Vanquin Germaine , Vilhem Steve , Gokalsing Erick , Spodenkiewicz Michel , Pradem Marianne , Seguin Monique , Beauchamp Guy , Thomas Pierre , Vaiva Guillaume , Jehel Louis
Published: September 2020

Objectives

To assess understudied, alternative suicide prevention modalities in a mental health care setting.

Methods

This was a prospective study of patients (n = 140, 68 cases and 72 controls) who were admitted to hospital or who contacted an SOS suicide crisis line for suicidal ideation or attempts. Psychiatric diagnoses (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview) and intensity of anxiety/depression/suicidality (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation) were assessed. All intervention group subjects received a crisis card with a crisis line number, interviews with psychologists or volunteers and a telephone call on days 10 to 21, then 6 months later. These subjects also had a choice between two further 4-month interventions: body contact care or mobile intervention team visits.

Results

The interventions significantly reduced the number of suicide attempts and suicide (3%) at 6 months compared with the control condition (12%). There were fewer losses to follow-up in the intervention group (7.35%) than in the control group (9.72%).

Conclusions

The results favour the implementation of integrated care and maintaining contact in suicide prevention.
Peripheral hematological parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: ALhabardi Nadiah A , Al-Wutayd Osama , Eltayieb Khalid M , Shiha Yasir S , AL-Shafei Ahmad I , Adam Ishag
Published: September 2020

Objective

There have been few studies on hematological parameters (e.g., hemoglobin, red cell distribution width, white blood cells, and mean platelet volume), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aimed to compare hematological parameters between women with PCOS and controls.

Methods

We performed an age-matched case–control study in Faisal bin Mishal Center for Infertility, Buraidah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). The cases were women with PCOS and an equal number of healthy women were enrolled as controls. The basic gynecological history was recorded and blood samples were analyzed for blood parameters using an automated hematology analyzer.

Results

The two groups (60 women in each arm of the study) were similar in age. However, body mass index was significantly higher in women with PCOs compared with controls. There were no significant differences in any of the hematological parameters (hemoglobin, red blood cells, red cell distribution width, white blood cells, platelets, and mean platelet volume) between the two groups.

Conclusion

There does not appear to be a significant difference in hematological parameters in Saudi women with PCOS and healthy controls. A larger study on this issue is required in the future.
Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Chinese neonates with cutaneous mastocytosis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Li Yanfang , Li Xiaoying , Liu Xianghong , Kang Lili , Liu Xinjie
Published: September 2020

Mastocytosis is an accumulation of clonal mast cells within tissues and it is most commonly caused by an activating mutation in the KIT gene. In this study, we report a neonatal case who presented with diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) at birth. In China, nine other cases of neonatal-onset CM have been reported in the literature since 2006. In those cases, diffuse CM and urticaria pigmentosa were the main symptoms, and mutations in exon 17 at codon 816 in KIT were identified.
Twelfth rib syndrome: a case report
Authors: Jung Jaewoong , Lee Misoon , Choi Dasom
Published: September 2020

Twelfth rib syndrome is a rare condition that causes severe pain in the loin. The diagnosis of this phenomenon is based on the patient’s medical history and physical examination findings. However, many clinicians still lack an understanding of the disease; this delays an accurate diagnosis, causing patients to experience prolonged pain without proper treatment. We herein describe a 72-year-old woman and a 47-year-old woman with loin pain. They had undergone various imaging tests, but the cause of the pain remained unknown. Their pain was reproduced by the hooking maneuver, and twelfth rib syndrome was diagnosed. Both patients were immediately relieved of pain after a twelfth intercostal nerve block. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are needed for pain relief in patients with twelfth rib syndrome.
Pathological and Immunohistochemical Analyses of Naturally Occurring Equine Glanders Using an Anti-BpaB Antibody
Authors: Erdemsurakh Ochbayar , Purevdorj Baatarjargal , Ochirbat Khurtsbaatar , Adilbish Altanchimeg , Vanaabaatar Batbaatar , Aoshima Keisuke , Kobayashi Atsushi , Kimura Takashi
Published: September 2020

Glanders is caused by the gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia mallei. In this study, we investigated the histopathology and immunohistochemical localization of B. mallei in natural cases of equine glanders. Four horses showing clinical signs of nasal discharge and multiple cutaneous nodules or papulae in the hindlimbs and abdomen were reported in Mongolia. They tested positive for B. mallei infection on complement fixation, Rose Bengal agglutination, and mallein tests. Gross and histological lesions observed in these cases were similar to those previously reported in equine glanders. Immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to B. mallei BpaB showed localization of the bacterial antigen in the cytoplasm of neutrophils, macrophages, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells in the pyogranulomas and abscesses in target organs. Some alveolar type II cells and bronchiolar epithelial cells also contained the antigen. These results suggest that the anti-BpaB antibody is useful for identifying B. mallei–infected cell types in naturally infected horses.
Ovine Fetal and Placental Lesions and Cellular Tropism in Natural Rift Valley Fever Virus Infections
Authors: Odendaal Lieza , Clift Sarah J. , Fosgate Geoffrey T. , Davis A. Sally
Published: September 2020

Infection with Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) causes abortion storms and a wide variety of outcomes for both ewes and fetuses. Sheep fetuses and placenta specimens were examined during the 2010–2011 River Valley fever (RVF) outbreak in South Africa. A total of 72 fetuses were studied of which 58 were confirmed positive for RVF. Placenta specimens were available for 35 cases. Macroscopic lesions in fetuses were nonspecific and included marked edema and occasional hemorrhages in visceral organs. Microscopically, multifocal hepatic necrosis was present in 48 of 58 cases, and apoptotic bodies, foci of liquefactive hepatic necrosis (primary foci), and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in hepatocytes were useful diagnostic features. Lymphocytolysis was present in all lymphoid organs examined with the exception of thymus and Peyer’s patches, and pyknosis or karyorrhexis was often present in renal glomeruli. The most significant histologic lesion in the placenta was necrosis of trophoblasts and endothelial cells in the cotyledonary and intercotyledonary chorioallantois. Immunolabeling for RVFV was most consistent in trophoblasts of the cotyledon or caruncle. Other antigen-positive cells included hepatocytes, renal tubular epithelial, juxtaglomerular and extraglomerular mesangial cells, vascular smooth muscle, endothelial and adrenocortical cells, cardiomyocytes, Purkinje fibers, and macrophages. Fetal organ samples for diagnosis must minimally include liver, kidney, and spleen. From the placenta, the minimum recommended specimens for histopathology include the cotyledonary units and caruncles from the endometrium, if available. The diagnostic investigation of abortion in endemic areas should always include routine testing for RVFV, and a diagnosis during interepidemic periods might be missed if only limited specimens are available for examination.
Perceptual Differences in Emotionally Ambiguous Neutral Faces Among Individuals Displaying Clinically Significant Insomnia Symptoms
Authors: Akram Umair
Published: September 2020

Many psychiatric populations present deficits in the processing of neutral faces. While insomnia is associated with perceptual alterations of facially expressed fear, sadness, and happiness, the perception of neutral faces have not been explored in this population. This study compared normal sleepers and individuals experiencing insomnia symptoms in their expression intensity ratings of neutral faces. A total of 56 normal sleepers scoring <5 on the Insomnia Severity Index and 58 individuals experiencing clinically significant insomnia symptoms scoring ≥15 on the Insomnia Severity Index (19.24 ± 3.53) observed 12 neutral facial photographs from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces database. Participants rated the extent to which each face appeared as attractive, sad, happy, trustworthy, approachable, healthy, and sociable. The results revelated a main effect of group, F(1,117) = 4.04, p = .047, and expression, F(7, 819) = 39.08, p = .001, on intensity ratings. While no significant Group × Expression interaction was confirmed, F(7,819)=1.03, p = .41, simple effects analysis determined that those experiencing insomnia symptoms rated neutral faces as significantly more attractive (34.30 ± 14.82; t(117) = −2.73, p = .007; Cohen’s d =  0.50) and happy (34.83 ± 13.87; t(117) = −2.23, p = .028; Cohen’s d =  0.41) compared with normal sleepers (Attractive: 26.89 ± 14.76; Happy: 28.90 ± 12.48). The present outcomes tentatively suggest that individuals experiencing clinically significant insomnia symptoms differentially perceive neutral faces when compared with normal sleepers. These outcomes present potentially negative psychosocial implications for those with insomnia.
Visualizing bivariate local spatial autocorrelation between commodity revealed comparative advantage index of China and USA from a new space perspective
Authors: Ye Sijing , Cheng Changxiu , Song Changqing , Shen Shi
Published: September 2020

The development of trade research plays an important role in enhancing the understanding of the trade relationship structure, evolution and relevant driving factors. While there is little research on analyzing and visualizing bilateral trade patterns and the evolution of numerous kinds of commodities. In this paper, we respectively calculate revealed comparative advantage index (RCAI) of each traded commodity of China and USA in 2017. Then the RCAI of thousands of commodities have been mapped to a two-dimensional space and visualized in a grid system by using digital trade feature map method. On that basis, bivariate local spatial auto-correlation features between China – USA have been comprehensively depicted.
Maximum power point tracking control of wind energy conversion system driving a permanent magnet synchronous generator: Comparative study
Authors: Elbeji Omessaad , Hannachi Marwa , Benhamed Mouna , Sbita Lassaad
Published: September 2020

A wind energy conversion system needs a maximum power point tracking strategy. In the literature, several works have interested in the search for a maximum power point. Generally, their goals are to optimize the rotation speed or the machine torque and the direct current–direct current or the alternating current–direct current duty cycle switchers. This work presents a comparative study between two maximum power point tracking strategies of a wind energy conversion system. The model of the system is studied and developed. It includes a permanent magnet synchronous generator, a diode rectifier and a three-cell direct current–direct current converter. The direct current–direct current is controlled in order to generate the wind maximum power using the tip speed ratio strategy and optimal torque strategy. The effectiveness of the used strategies control scheme is proved by simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink.
Cluster headache not responsive to sumatriptan: A retrospective study
Authors: Giani Luca , Cecchini Alberto Proietti , Astengo Alberto , Lauria Giuseppe , Leone Massimo
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Subcutaneous sumatriptan, a 5HT1B/1D agonist, is the most effective drug in cluster headache acute treatment. About 25% of the patients do not respond to subcutaneous sumatriptan; the reasons for this are unknown. In this study, we compare clinical characteristics of cluster headache patients responding and non-responding to subcutaneous sumatriptan.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated the clinical records of 277 cluster headache patients. Patients reporting repeated satisfactory response to subcutaneous sumatriptan within 15 minutes were considered responders.

Results

Of 206 cluster headache patients who had used subcutaneous sumatriptan (mean age 45.6, 16% females, 48% chronic), 91% were responders, and 9% non-responders. Compared to responders, non-responders had longer and more frequent attacks: 60 (median; IQR 38–90) vs. 100 (60–120) minutes ( p = 0.028), 4 (2.5–5) vs. 3 (2–4) attacks/day ( p = 0.024). No other difference was found.

Conclusions

In cluster headache attacks with long duration and high frequency, pain mechanisms not involving 5HT1B/1D receptors may play a more relevant role.
Benefits of crowdsourcing for libraries: A case study from Africa
Authors: Lynch Renee , Young Jason C. , Boakye-Achampong Stanley , Jowaisas Chris , Sam Joel , Norlander Bree
Published: September 2020

Many libraries in the Global South do not collect comprehensive data about themselves, which creates challenges in terms of local and international visibility. Crowdsourcing is an effective tool that engages the public to collect missing data, and it has proven to be particularly valuable in countries where governments collect little public data. Whereas crowdsourcing is often used within fields that have high levels of development funding, such as health, the authors believe that this approach would have many benefits for the library field as well. They present qualitative and quantitative evidence from 23 African countries involved in a crowdsourcing project to map libraries. The authors find benefits in terms of increased connections between stakeholders, capacity-building, and increased local visibility. These findings demonstrate the potential of crowdsourced approaches for tasks such as mapping to benefit libraries and similarly positioned institutions in the Global South in multifaceted ways.
Estimation of Average Annual Daily Bicycle Counts using Crowdsourced Strava Data
Authors: Dadashova Bahar , Griffin Greg P. , Das Subasish , Turner Shawn , Sherman Bonnie
Published: September 2020

Traffic volumes are fundamental for evaluating transportation systems, regardless of travel mode. A lack of counts for non-motorized modes poses a challenge for practitioners developing and managing multimodal transportation facilities, whether they want to evaluate transportation safety or the potential need for infrastructure changes, or to answer other questions about how and where people bicycle and walk. In recent years, researchers and practitioners alike have been using crowdsourced data to supplement the non-motorized counts. As such, several methods and tools have been developed. The objective of this paper is to take advantage of new data sources that provide a limited and biased sample of trips and combine them with traditional counts to develop a practical tool for estimating annual average daily bicycle (AADB) counts. This study developed a direct-demand model for estimating AADB in Texas. Data from 100 stations, installed in 12 cities across the state, was used together with the crowdsourced Strava, roadway inventory, and American Community Survey data to develop the count model for estimating AADB. The results indicate that crowdsourced Strava data is an acceptable predictor of bicycle counts, and when used with the roadway functional class and number of high-income households in a block group, can provide quite an accurate AADB estimate (29% prediction error).
Quantifying the Mobility Benefits of Express Lanes using Real-Time Traffic Data
Authors: Kadeha Cecilia , Alluri Priyanka , Sando Thobias
Published: September 2020

Traffic congestion is one of the major problems facing transportation agencies, especially in urban areas. Agencies are exploring ways to use the existing transportation infrastructure efficiently by deploying appropriate traffic management strategies. One of these strategies is the use of express lanes, which are expected to effectively mitigate congestion and increase the reliability of highway facilities. Express lanes are managed toll lanes, separated from general-purpose lanes within a freeway facility. The goal of this study was to quantify the mobility benefits of express lanes by comparing the performance of express lanes with that of their adjacent general-purpose lanes, and by assessing the performance of the general-purpose lanes when the express lanes were open versus when the express lanes were closed. The Buffer Index (BI), a travel time reliability measure, was selected as the performance measure. The analysis was based on 95Express, express lanes along I-95 in Miami, Florida. Overall, the results indicated that BIs for the express lanes were significantly lower than the BIs for the general-purpose lanes, and the BIs for the general-purpose lanes were significantly lower when the express lanes were open compared with the periods when the express lanes were closed. The study results showed mobility improvements on both the express lanes and the general-purpose lanes, although the extent of the improvements varied by direction (i.e., northbound and southbound) and time of day (i.e., a.m. peak, p.m. peak, daytime off-peak, and nighttime off-peak). Transportation agencies may use these findings to quantify and evaluate the mobility benefits of the express lanes and the general-purpose lanes on express lane facilities.
Granulated biofuel ash as a sustainable source of plant nutrients
Authors: Buneviciene Kristina , Drapanauskaite Donata , Mazeika Romas , Tilvikiene Vita , Baltrusaitis Jonas
Published: September 2020

Recovery of nutrients from biomass combustion ash is of great importance for sustainable bioenergy waste use. In this work, granulated fertilizer materials were engineered from biofuel bottom ash, lime kiln dust and water, analysed for their chemical complexity and tested in pot experiments (2017–2018) for their propensity to release nutrients. The results obtained in this work showed that spring barley yield was observed to be the highest for granulated biomass ash with 30% of ash in the granule. The yield increased 3.99 t ha−1 per 100 kg ha−1 potassium oxide (K2O) in 2017 and 1.23 t ha−1 per 100 kg ha−1 K2O in 2018. Straw yield varied between 1.39–5.08 t ha−1/100 kg ha−1 in 2017 and 0.36–1.23 t ha−1/100 kg ha−1 in 2018. Calcium concentration significantly increased in soil. No significant changes in soil mobile phosphorus (P) were obtained as well as for the heavy metal concentrations in soil. This suggests that biofuel ash can be a significant source of certain major nutrients for crops that can also beneficially affect soil pH. The results of this work can provide policy-makers with the information needed to diversify existing and enable new biomass bottom ash utilization routes which currently vary significantly between the countries.
Evaluating the electric vehicle popularization trend in China after 2020 and its challenges in the recycling industry
Authors: Wang Shuoyao , Yu Jeongsoo
Published: September 2020

In recent years, China has started to develop electric vehicles (EVs) and has become the largest EV market in the world since 2015. Accordingly, the lithium-ion battery (LiB) industry has also been developing quickly in China. However, the Chinese government has decided to cancel the subsidy policy on EVs, which makes the EV market in China unpredictable in the future. Moreover, there will be a considerable number of end-of-life (EoL) EVs and waste LiBs generated in China. These wastes should be appropriately recycled to avoid resource waste or pollution problems. Nevertheless, the quantity and type of EoL EVs and waste LiBs has not been obtained. This research aims at unravelling the trend of EV sales and the volume and type of EoL EVs and waste LiBs in China. We found that it is fair to predict that EVs will increase as the Chinese government has planned even without the subsidy policy. Moreover, we estimated the number of EoL EVs and waste LiBs number based on their calendar lifespan and found that there will be 1.36 million EoL EVs and 11.36 million waste LiBs generated in China in 2030. Furthermore, most of these waste LiBs will be of the nickel cobalt manganese oxide type of ternary LiBs. However, due to the flow of second-hand vehicles from economically developed cities to less economically developed cities, only 400,000 EoL EVs and 3.4 million waste LiBs will be recycled through the formal recycling route. Such information is necessary when evaluating the environmental effect or profitability of the EoL EV and waste LiB recycling industry.
Leadership/Teamwork Self-Efficacy Scale: Longitudinal Confirmatory Factor Analysis in the Context of an Energy Science Intervention
Authors: Deemer Eric D. , Sharma Pankaj , Xu Chunyu
Published: September 2020

The Leadership/Teamwork Self-Efficacy Scale has been shown to be an effective tool for measuring interpersonal competence beliefs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics academic settings. However, little is known about its psychometric properties. The present research explored the measure’s longitudinal factor structure in the context of an energy science intervention for high school students. Results of multiple group confirmatory factor analysis yielded evidence of a two-factor structure, as the measure demonstrated strong measurement invariance and excellent test–retest reliability. Results also indicated that latent leadership and teamwork means increased significantly from pretest to posttest, thus also highlighting the efficacy of the intervention in promoting these attributes. Development of leadership and teamwork skills is discussed from trait-based and contextual perspectives.