bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Profiling of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Circulating Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Kaseb Ahmed O. , Sánchez Nora S. , Sen Shiraj , Kelley Robin K. , Tan Benjamin , Bocobo Andrea G. , Lim Kian H. , Abdel-Wahab Reham , Uemura Marc , Pestana Roberto Carmagnani , Qiao Wei , Xiao Lianchun , Morris Jeffrey , Amin Hesham M. , Hassan Manal M. , Rashid Asif , Banks Kimberly C. , Lanman Richard B. , Talasaz AmirAli , Mills-Shaw Kenna R. , George Bhawana , Haque Abedul , Raghav Kanwal P.S. , Wolff Robert A. , Yao James C. , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Ikeda Sadakatsu , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: July 2019

Purpose:

Molecular profiling has been used to select patients for targeted therapy and determine prognosis. Noninvasive strategies are critical to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) given the challenge of obtaining liver tissue biopsies.

Experimental Design:

We analyzed blood samples from 206 patients with HCC using comprehensive genomic testing (Guardant Health) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Results:

A total of 153/206 (74.3%) were men; median age, 62 years (range, 18–91 years). A total of 181/206 patients had ≥1 alteration. The total number of alterations was 680 (nonunique); median number of alterations/patient was three (range, 1–13); median mutant allele frequency (% cfDNA), 0.49% (range, 0.06%–55.03%). TP53 was the common altered gene [>120 alterations (non-unique)] followed by EGFR, MET, ARID1A, MYC, NF1, BRAF, and ERBB2 [20–38 alterations (nonunique)/gene]. Of the patients with alterations, 56.9% (103/181) had ≥1 actionable alterations, most commonly in MYC, EGFR, ERBB2, BRAF, CCNE1, MET, PIK3CA, ARID1A, CDK6, and KRAS. In these genes, amplifications occurred more frequently than mutations. Hepatitis B (HBV)-positive patients were more likely to have ERBB2 alterations, 35.7% (5/14) versus 8.8% HBV-negative (P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

This study represents the first large-scale analysis of blood-derived ctDNA in HCC in United States. The genomic distinction based on HCC risk factors and the high percentage of potentially actionable genomic alterations suggests potential clinical utility for this technology.
Tumor Priming by SMO Inhibition Enhances Antibody Delivery and Efficacy in a Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Model
Authors: Wang Jun , Chan Darren K.W. , Sen Arindam , Ma Wen Wee , Straubinger Robert M.
Published: July 2019

Despite frequent overexpression of numerous growth factor receptors by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), such as EGFR, therapeutic antibodies have not proven effective. Desmoplasia, hypovascularity, and hypoperfusion create a functional drug delivery barrier that contributes to treatment resistance. Drug combinations that target tumor/stroma interactions could enhance tumor deposition of therapeutic antibodies, although clinical trials have yet to support this strategy. We hypothesize that macromolecular or nanoparticulate therapeutic agents may best exploit stroma-targeting “tumor priming” strategies, based on the fundamental principles of the Enhanced Permeability and Retention phenomenon. Therefore, we investigated the molecular and pharmacologic tumor responses to NVP-LDE225, an SMO inhibitor of sonic hedgehog signaling (sHHI), of patient-derived xenograft models that recapitulate the desmoplasia and drug delivery barrier properties of PDAC. Short-term sHHI exposure mediated dose- and time-dependent changes in tumor microvessel patency, extracellular matrix architecture, and interstitial pressure, which waned with prolonged sHHI exposure, and increased nanoparticulate permeability probe deposition in multiple PDAC patient-derived xenograft isolates. During sHHI-mediated priming, deposition and intratumor distribution of both a nontargeted mAb and a mAb targeting EGFR, cetuximab, were enhanced. Sequencing the sHH inhibitor with cetuximab administration resulted in marked tumor growth inhibition compared with cetuximab alone. These studies suggest that PDAC drug delivery barriers confound efforts to employ mAb against targets in PDAC, and that short-term, intermittent exposure to stromal modulators can increase tumor cell exposure to therapeutic antibodies, improving their efficacy, and potentially minimize adverse effects that may accompany longer-term, continuous sHHI treatment.
The PHD Method for Psychotherapy: Integrating Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, and Psychodynamics
Authors: Stanghellini Giovanni
Published: July 2019

This paper, endorsing the dialogical perspective in psychotherapy, provides a synopsis of the PHD psychotherapy method, based on the integration of phenomenology, hermeneutics and psychodynamics. The first section covers the background knowledge required for PHD psychotherapy, consolidating and extending three basic concepts: life-world (the originary domain of a person’s experience), dialectical principle (psychopathological symptoms are the result of a disproportion between the occurrence of alterity and the person’s capacity to make sense of it), dialogical principle (individual human consciousness is inherently dialogical since it is formed in the dynamic interrelation of self and other). The second section describes the know-how or practical implementation of these principles, including (1) the phenomenological unfolding (P) of the patient’s experiences, which equips the clinician and patient with a systematic knowledge of the abnormal phenomena that affect the patient and are part of her life-world; (2) the hermeneutic moment (H), which focuses on the patient’s default interpretation of her experiences and then encourages her to actively take a different perspective towards her experiences, aiming at the resignification of these experiences in order to restore a sense of agency or responsibility; (3) the (psycho-)dynamic moment (D), which aims to contextualize the patient’s psychopathological experiences and position-taking within the personal life-history in which they are embedded, and to trace back psychopathological symptoms to the limit-situation from which they emerge. The final section discusses the “something more” or knowing how-to-be that is required of a clinician who aims to apply this therapeutic method; it includes a concise discussion of how psychotherapeutic dialogue is a kind of practice that moves in unpredictable directions to experience something new for both partners.
Real-Time Detection of Spatial Disorientation in Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Schaat Samer , Koldrack Philipp , Yordanova Kristina , Kirste Thomas , Teipel Stefan
Published: July 2019

Background: Detecting manifestations of spatial disorientation in real time is a key requirement for adaptive assistive navigation systems for people with dementia. Objective: To identify predictive patterns of spatial disorientation in cognitively impaired people during unconstrained locomotion behavior in an urban environment. Methods: Accelerometric data and GPS records were gathered during a wayfinding task along a route of about 1 km in 15 people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or clinically probable Alzheimer’s disease dementia (13 completers). We calculated a set of 48 statistical features for each 10-s segment of the acceleration sensor signal to characterize the physical motion. We used different classifiers with the wrapper method and leave-one-out cross-validation for feature selection and for determining accuracy of disorientation detection. Results: Linear discriminant analysis using three features showed the best classification results, with a cross-validated ROC AUC of 0.75, detecting 65% of all scenes of spatial disorientation in real time. Consideration of an additional feature that informed about a person’s distance to the next traffic junction did not provide an additional information gain. Conclusions: Accelerometric data are able to capture the uniformity and activity of a person’s walking, which are identified as the most informative locomotion features of spatially disoriented behavior. This serves as an important basis for real-time navigation assistance. To improve the required accuracy of real-time disorientation prediction, as a next step we will analyze whether location-based behavior is able to inform about person-centered habitual factors of orientation.
Deconstructing Heritage Language Dominance: Effects of Proficiency, Use, and Input on Heritage Speakers’ Production of the Spanish Alveolar Tap
Authors: Kim Ji Young , Repiso-Puigdelliura Gemma
Published: July 2019

This study considers language dominance as a composite of proficiency, use, and input, and examines how these constructs in Spanish influence heritage speakers’ production of Spanish alveolar taps. Two aspects of Spanish tap production were examined: lingual constriction rates and the degree of lingual constriction. Multiple measures associated with Spanish proficiency, use, and input were reduced to a smaller number of dimensions using principal component analysis, and the effects of the components on heritage speakers’ tap production were analyzed using mixed effects modeling. The overall findings suggest that dominance in Spanish may not have an effect on the degree of lingual constriction of heritage speakers’ taps, but it does have an effect on how frequently heritage speakers produce taps with lingual constriction. Spanish use and input were found to be the main contributors to heritage speakers’ target-like production of taps.
Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Critically Ill Patients: An Underdiagnosed Entity
Authors: Martins Pedro , Verdelho Machado Mariana
Published: July 2019

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients (SSC-CIP) is a recently identified cholestatic liver disease occurring in patients without prior history of hepatobiliary disease, after receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) in different settings, including cardiothoracic surgery, infection, trauma, and burns. It is a rare entity, being estimated to occur in 1/2,000 patients in an ICU; however, it is a dismal condition, with up to half of the patients dying during the ICU stay and with rapid progression to liver cirrhosis over weeks to months. SSC-CIP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cholestasis in the ICU, particularly when cholestasis persists after recovery from the critical event. Diagnosis is established with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showing dilations and stenoses of the intrahepatic bile ducts as well as biliary casts. No available treatment has been shown to slow the rapid progression of the disease, and liver transplant referral should be considered early after the diagnosis of SSC-CIP. Increased awareness and timely diagnosis are crucial in order to improve the current appalling outcome.
Sacral Neuromodulation for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hu Maolin , Lai Shicong , Zhang Yaoguang , Liu Ming , Wang Jianye
Published: July 2019

Objective: To evaluate the intervention effect of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: We selected relevant studies published between January 1, 1971 and November 15, 2018 by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases. The outcome was assessed as follows: patients who had at least 50% improvement in bladder diary variables (number of leakages, pad use, number of voids, number of catheterizations, and so on). All analyses were performed with R software (version 3.5.1). We used Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistics to evaluate the heterogeneity. Results: A total of 8 articles met all inclusion criteria for the systematic review. According to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine hierarchy, the evidence levels ranged from 2b to 4. During the test phase of SNM, we considered 108 patients. During the test phase, the merged success rate was 45% (95% CI 36–55%, p = 0.23, I2 = 31%). Overall, 99 patients were considered during the permanent implantation phase of SNM; the mean follow-up time ranged from 8.4 to 61.3 months, and the merged success rate of the permanent SNM phase was 75% (95% CI 64–83%, p = 0.46, I2 = 0%). All the reported adverse events were resolved. Conclusions: Based on current evidence, the success rate of the test phase of SNM for LTUD in SCI patients was low, but in the permanent phase, the success rate of SNM was optimistic. In the future, well-designed randomized controlled trial with adequate sample sizes and power are necessary to validate the efficacy and safety of SNM.
A beleza e sensualidade que emana do sadismo e crueldade: o conto a tatuagem de Tanizaki Jun’ichirô
Authors: Sorte Junior Waldemiro Francisco
Published: July 2019

O presente artigo examina a construção da beleza e sensualidade a partir de uma estética marcada pelo sadismo, perversão e crueldade nas obras de Tanizaki Jun’ichirô, por intermédio da análise do conto A Tatuagem (Shisei), publicado em 1910. Os trechos apresentados da obra demonstram que elementos usualmente ligados a sentimentos negativos, como o sadismo e a crueldade, encontram-se no conto intrinsecamente conectados a valores estéticos clássicos, de tal sorte que o despertar da sensualidade e beleza suprema na heroína é um resultado direto de desejos secretos e latentes de sadismo, crueldade e perversão, instigados pelo tatuador protagonista.
Uma Leitura Erótica de Sôseki
Authors: Cordaro Madalena Natsuko Hashimoto
Published: July 2019

Pensar numa leitura das obras literárias de Sôseki que explore aspectos eróticos parece, num primeiro sentido, um contrasenso, já que em nenhum aspecto se revelam as punções claramente assim expressadas, ao contrário do que ocorre na escrita de seu contemporâneo Mori Ôgai (especialmente em Vita sexualis). De fato, a nova ordem social do período Meiji coloca no ostracismo as formas abertas dos relacionamentos da paixão que haviam sido até então sobejamente cultivados, seja no conceito de irogonomi do período Heian (794-1192), seja em sua retomada paródica como kôshoku centrada em Edo (1603-1878). A angústia da domesticação dos relacionamentos amorosos baseados numa monogamia impingida encontra-se no âmago de alguns protagonistas dos romances de Sôseki, e é sobre eles que se pretende refletir no presente estudo.
Endovascular-First Treatment Is Associated With Improved Amputation-Free Survival in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia
Authors: Lin Jonathan H. , Brunson Ann , Romano Patrick S. , Mell Matthew W. , Humphries Misty D.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Critical limb ischemia remains a difficult disease to treat, with limited level one data. The BEST-CLI trial (Best Endovascular vs Best Open Surgical Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia) is attempting to answer whether initial treatment with open surgical bypass or endovascular therapy improves outcomes, although it remains in enrollment. This study aims to compare amputation-free survival and reintervention rates in patients treated with initial open surgical bypass or endovascular intervention for ischemic ulcers of the lower extremities.

Methods and Results:

Using California nonfederal hospital data linked to statewide death data, all patients with lower extremity ulcers and a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease who underwent a revascularization procedure from 2005 to 2013 were identified. Propensity scores were formulated from baseline patient characteristics. Inverse probability weighting was used with Kaplan–Meier analysis to determine amputation-free survival and time to reintervention for open versus endovascular treatment. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to adjust for patient ability to manage their disease and hospital revascularization volume. A total of 16 800 patients were identified. Open surgical bypass was the initial treatment in 5970 (36%) while 10 830 (64%) underwent endovascular interventions. Patients in the endovascular group were slightly younger compared with the open group (70 versus 71 years, ±12 years;
P
<0.001). Endovascular-first patients were more likely to have comorbid renal failure (36% versus 24%), coronary artery disease (34% versus 32%), congestive heart failure (19% versus 15%), and diabetes mellitus (65% versus 58%; all
P
values <0.05). After inverse propensity weighting as well as adjustment for patient ability to manage their disease and hospital revascularization experience, open surgery first was associated with a worse amputation-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.13–1.20) with no difference in mortality (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89–1.11). Endovascular first was associated with higher rates of reintervention (hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.14–1.23).

Conclusions:

Patients with critical limb ischemia have multiple comorbidities, and initial surgical bypass is associated with poorer amputation-free survival compared with an endovascular-first approach, perhaps due to increased severity of wounds at the time of presentation.
Artistic Portraits of Strange-Face Illusions Produced through Eye-to-Eye Gazing in Dyads or Mirror-Gazing
Authors: Caputo Giovanni B. , Lepore Giancarlo
Published: July 2019

Strange-face illusions are apparitional perceptions of deformed faces, unknown people and monstrous beings produced by prolonged staring at one's own face in a mirror or when staring eye to eye at another person in a dyad, at low-level room illumination. In the authors’ experiment, portrait artists drew illusions they perceived during a 10-minute eye-to-eye gazing session while paired in dyads with naive participants. Dissociation was measured through standard self-report questionnaires. Results showed that portraits became more abstract and less figurative as the artists experienced higher levels of nonpathological dissociation. Statistically, a significant correlation was found between art-abstraction ratings and dissociation scores by judges and portrait artists, respectively. Findings are discussed in relationship to portraits à la manière de Scipione and Francis Bacon.
A catalog of Athericidae (Diptera) from Neotropical and Andean Regions
Authors: GONZÁLEZ CHRISTIAN R , ELGUETA MARIO , COSCARÓN SIXTO
Published: July 2019

A catalog of the Athericidae from Neotropical and Andean Regions is provided. All valid names and synonyms are presented, totaling twenty-seven species and three genera in these Regions. All references known from the taxonomic and biological literature are given, including information about name, author, year of publication, page number, type species, type locality and bibliography. The genus Atherix Meigen is not represented in Neotropical nor Andean Regions.
A review of the genus Sarbanissa Walker, 1865 in China, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Agaristinae)
Authors: WEI FU-HONG , KISHIDA YASUNORI , WANG MIN
Published: July 2019

The genus Sarbanissa Walker in China is reviewed. A new species, S. pseudassimilis sp. nov., from Yunnan is described. This new species is diagnosed from S. assimilis Orhant. Moreover, here S. speciose Orhant is synonymized with S. transiens (Walker). A key to Chinese species and a checklist of Sarbanissa species of the world is provided.
Three Early Tropical Field Experiments
Authors: Garstang Michael , Zipser Edward , Ellingson Robert , Warsh Kenneth , Grose Peter , Ulanski Stanley , Holle Ronald , Seguin Ward , Fitzjarrald David , Greco Steven , Emmitt George D.
Published: July 2019

Fifty years ago the Line Islands Experiment was launched to obtain in situ surface, soundings, and aircraft observations in a convectively active region of the tropical oceans close to the nadir point of the new geosynchronous meteorological satellite. Two related tropical field experiments, in 1968 and 1969, followed in the vicinity of Barbados in the western Atlantic. Component parts of these three field experiments are recalled in this presentation that resonated over the subsequent half century.
A New Horizontal Length Scale for a Three-Dimensional Turbulence Parameterization in Mesoscale Atmospheric Modeling over Highly Complex Terrain
Authors: Goger Brigitta , Rotach Mathias W. , Gohm Alexander , Stiperski Ivana , Fuhrer Oliver , de Morsier Guy
Published: July 2019

The correct simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) in highly complex terrain is a challenge for mesoscale numerical weather prediction models. An improvement in model performance is possible if horizontal contributions to turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) production, such as horizontal shear production, are implemented in the model’s turbulence parameterization. However, 3D turbulence parameterizations often only have a constant horizontal length scale that depends on the horizontal grid spacing. This is unphysical for mesoscale applications, because such parameterizations were initially developed for much smaller model grid spacings (e.g., for large-eddy simulations). In this study, we develop a new physically based horizontal length scale for the high-resolution mesoscale model COSMO. We analyze days dominated by thermally driven circulations (valley wind days) in the Inn Valley, Austria. Results show that the new horizontal length scale improves TKE simulations in the valley, when horizontal shear processes contribute to the overall TKE budget. Vertical profiles of TKE and transects across the valley indicate that the model simulates the ABL in a more realistic way than standard turbulence schemes, because the new scheme is able to account for terrain inhomogeneities. A model validation with 88 stations in Austria for four case study days indicates no change in the mean surface fields of temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed by the new turbulence parameterization.
Radiative Feedbacks Associated with the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Authors: Zhang Bosong , Kramer Ryan J. , Soden Brian J.
Published: July 2019

Radiative kernels derived from CloudSat/CALIPSO measurements are used to diagnose radiative feedbacks induced by the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). Over the Indo-Pacific warm pool, positive cloud and water vapor feedbacks are coincident with the convective envelope of the MJO during its active phases, whereas the lapse rate feedback shows faster eastward propagation than the convective envelope. During phase 2/3, when the convective envelope is over the Indian Ocean, water vapor exhibits a vertically coherent response, with the largest anomalies and strongest feedback in the midtroposphere. Though spatial structures of the feedbacks vary, the most prominent difference lies in the magnitude. Cloud changes induce the largest radiative perturbations associated with the MJO. It is also found that the strength of the cloud feedback per unit of precipitation is greater for strong MJO events, suggesting that the strength of individual MJO events is largely dictated by the magnitude of cloud radiative heating of the atmosphere. In addition, stronger radiative heating due to water vapor and clouds helps the MJO survive the barrier effect of the Maritime Continent, leading to farther eastward propagation. These results offer process-oriented metrics that could help to improve model simulations and predictions of the MJO in the future.
Using Digital and Physical Simulation to Focus on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Aviation Maintainability
Authors: Bernard Fabien , Zare Mohsen , Sagot Jean-Claude , Paquin Raphael
Published: July 2019

Objective:

This research aimed to evaluate the differences in the assessments made by three simulation tools used in a maintainability design office to perform human factor/ergonomics (HFE) analysis: digital human modeling (DHM), virtual reality (VR), and physical mock-up (PMU).

Background:

Maintainability engineers use digital/physical simulation tools in the early design phase to analyze whether the design is well adapted for maintenance operators. Knowing the potential of these simulation tools would encourage maintainability stakeholders to integrate HFE in the design process more efficiently.

Method:

Eleven maintenance tasks were analyzed from the participation of six maintenance operators. Various HFE indicators including physical, cognitive, and organizational indicators were assessed. Each operator repeated 11 maintenance tasks on VR and PMU. Based on the anthropometric parameters, six manikins were created to analyze 11 maintenance tasks on DHM.

Results:

A significant difference was found for the organizational indicators between VR and PMU, whereas the physical and cognitive indicators are similar. DHM, VR, and PMU are compared with the common HFE indicators for the physical dimension and present a significant difference for individual tasks.

Conclusion:

To reduce the gap between simulation tools, a better physical representation is requested on the VR platform, improving the perception of work sequences in the virtual world. Concerning DHM, a new paradigm is proposed to study a few tasks per work area instead of studying each task independently.

Application:

This study will help develop a new methodology and tools specifically for non-HFE experts in the maintainability department.
Aging: Older Adults’ Driving Behavior Using Longitudinal and Lateral Warning Systems
Authors: Souders Dustin J. , Charness Neil , Roque Nelson A. , Pham Hellen
Published: July 2019

Objective

This study assessed older drivers’ driving behavior when using longitudinal and lateral vehicle warning systems together.

Background

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can benefit drivers of all ages. Previous research with younger to middle-aged samples suggests that safety benefits are not necessarily additive with additional ADAS. Increases in following distance associated with the use of forward collision warning (FCW) decreased when drivers also used lane departure warning (LDW), likely due to attending to the LDW more than the FCW.

Method

The current study used a driving simulator to provide 128 older drivers experience with FCW and/or LDW system(s) during a ~25-min drive to gauge their usage’s effects on driving performance and subjective workload.

Results

There were no significant differences found in headway distance between older drivers who used different combinations of FCW and LDW systems, but those who used an FCW system showed significantly longer time-to-collision (TTC) when approaching the critical event than those who did not. Users of LDW systems did not show reductions in standard deviation of lane position. Analyses of subjective workload measures showed no significant differences between conditions.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that FCW could increase older drivers’ TTC over the course of a drive. Contrary to previous findings in younger samples, concurrent use of FCW and LDW systems did not adversely affect older drivers’ longitudinal driving performance and subjective workload.

Application

Potential applications of this research include the assessment of older drivers’ use of vehicle warning systems and their effects on subjective workload.
Influence of nucleating agent type on the morphology of extruded polyetherimide foam for printed circuit boards*
Authors: Keilholz Clemens , Raps Daniel , Köppl Thomas , Altstädt Volker
Published: July 2019

This work focuses on the development of foamed high temperature thermoplastic substrates for printed circuit boards. For this application it is necessary to achieve mean cell diameters smaller than 30 µm in order to be able to realize vias and high packaging densities (miniaturization). Different additives as nucleating agents, namely macro- and micro-crystalline talc, silica, calcium carbonate, and wollastonite, were melt-compounded with polyetherimide using a twin-screw extruder. Foamed samples are prepared by foam extrusion using a slit die and CO2as physical blowing agent. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the mean particle size and the particle surface tension on the mean cell diameters. Therefore, the shape of the additives, the foam morphology, and the elongational viscosity were considered. The additives with a suitable particle size and surface tension exhibit a positive influence on the foam morphology, resulting in smaller cell diameters (<30 µm), a narrower cell size distribution and a foam density lower than 900 kg/m3. If the mean particle diameter of the nucleating agents is lower than 0.6 µm in this study, no nucleation effect could be observed. This is related to the fact that no heterogeneous nucleation occurs, if the particle diameter is too small. If the mean particle diameter of the used additives is larger than 1.5 µm, which could be demonstrated in this study in case of polyetherimide, then the additive acts as nucleating agent and heterogeneous nucleation occurs. Furthermore, it was observed that the mean cell diameter was affected by the different surface tensions of the studied nucleating agents.
The foaming dynamic characteristics of polyurethane foam
Authors: Zhang Cui , Tong Xinglin , Deng Chengwei , Wen Hongqiao , Huang Di , Guo Qian , Liu Xinrui
Published: July 2019

Polyurethane foam is a kind of polymer composite material. The foaming turgidity and reaction temperature of polyurethane foam are closely related to its mechanical properties. According to our present knowledge, this study is the first time that fiber optic sensing technology has been applied to monitor the dynamics change in the foaming turgidity and reaction temperature of polyurethane foam during its preparation. The effects on the foaming expansion force, contractile force, and reaction temperature are studied through changing proportion of water among the ingredients of the polyurethane foam. The results have shown that the fiber optic Bragg grating wavelength varies due to the reaction temperature and foaming power. In the reaction process, the foaming expansion force can make the maximum wavelength change of fiber optic Bragg grating 1–3.5 nm, equivalent to 1000–3541 micro strain. And the highest temperature of the reaction was 42.6°C. The wavelength shifts of the fiber optic Bragg gratings were closely related to the reaction temperature and foaming power. The results show that fiber optic sensing technology can be used for the online kinetics monitoring of the reaction process of polyurethane foam plastics. The data obtained from the fiber optic Bragg grating could be used for the design and performance prediction of new polyurethane foam materials.
Spontaneous formation of two-dimensional wrinkles in poly(urethane-isocyanurate) rigid foam boards
Authors: Reignier Joël , Sarbu Alexandru , Barraud Vincent
Published: July 2019

Processing low density poly(urethane-isocyanurate) rigid foam boards still remains challenging, especially for high thickness panels. In particular, subsequent shrinkage of the foam panel during cooling and cross-linking of the matrix creates in-plane compressive stresses in the facing that can be relieved by buckling with a relatively uniform wavelength of a few millimeters. An extensive study in the scientific literature documents the variety of wrinkling morphologies obtained when a thin film bonded on top of a soft substrate is compressed, and we proposed to apply this model in order to explain experimental observations of wrinkling in the case of a flexible facing bonded to a poly(urethane-isocyanurate) rigid foam. The wavelength, amplitude, and pattern of the waves were found to give information about the mismatch in Young’s modulus as well as the level of compressive strain in the foam panel at the moment of wrinkling formation. A shore durometer (type 00) was systematically used to quickly probe the mechanical properties of the foam surface at various locations along the width of the insulation panel (after removal of the facing) and was found to be a valuable tool to explain the location of surface wrinkling and its evolution with time. Variations in mechanical properties of the foam surface were explained in terms of differences in cell orientation near the surface.
Nanocomposite coatings on steel for enhancing the corrosion resistance: A review
Authors: Radhamani AV , Lau Hon Chung , Ramakrishna S
Published: July 2019

Steel is known for its low cost of fabrication, high mechanical strength and hence is extensively used for drilling equipment, pipelines, ship building and offshore structures. Corrosion of steel is a costly problem in many applications especially in oilfield and marine environments which are known for the high temperature, high pressure and corrosive conditions. In this paper, nanocomposite coating is being explored as the preferred strategy to improve corrosion resistance for steel. Here, we will give details on the various coating materials, deposition techniques and the challenges involved in realising the most suitable coating on steel based on results of recent research. In addition, we also detail the filler specifications for getting high performance nanocomposites.
Developments in the aluminum metal matrix composites reinforced by micro/nano particles – A review
Authors: Bhoi Neeraj K , Singh Harpreet , Pratap Saurabh
Published: July 2019

‘The micro/nano reinforced particle’ aluminum metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) are widely used in manufacturing sector due to light-weight, superior strength-to-weight ratio, better fracture toughness, improved fatigue, and tensile property, enhanced corrosion resistance to harsh environment, etc. This article provides an overview of the manufacturing processes and different reinforcing elements used during the synthesis of Al-MMCs. Generally, the reinforced particles like carbides, nitrides, and compounds of oxides are used. Different organic, inorganic, industrial and agricultural waste which can be used for reinforcement in the aluminum matrix is highlighted with their feasible applications. The common mechanical properties (i.e. hardness, tensile and compressive strength, etc.) reported by different researchers are thoroughly discussed with the aim to highlight the amount of reinforcement and improvement occurred during processing. The formation and methodology for mixing condition and sintering behaviour of Al-MMCs are discussed to impart knowledge about the processing circumstances in powder metallurgical route. The affecting conditions during operating and responsible factor for the tribological behaviour are deliberated in a precise manner to recognize the potentiality of reinforcing particles in Al-MMCs. Finally, the different shortcomings and future prospects of the Al-MMCs are given to encourage the future research directions.
Can police be trained in trauma processing to minimise PTSD symptoms? Feasibility and proof of concept with a newly recruited UK police population
Authors: Miller Jessica K , Peart Alexandra , Soffia Magdalena
Published: July 2019

Neuropsychological trauma processing techniques based on hippocampal-dependent spatial and episodic memory were trialled with 71 newly recruited officers within one UK police force between March 2018 and February 2019. Results indicate that the skills are teachable within an operational training environment, have a positive impact on feelings of ease about difficult or traumatic work-related incidents, can improve recall of events and may mitigate against the impact of age and trauma exposure on memory. Participants report the techniques to be useable, sharable and operationally relevant to trauma management and personal resilience. Results will inform a larger randomised controlled trial.
The European Citizens’ Initiative: Mobilization Strategies and Consequences
Authors: Weisskircher Manès
Published: July 2019

Research on the European Citizens’ Initiative has neglected the crucial role of social movements. This article contributes to the study of mobilization strategies and campaign consequences through two novel arguments: First, in explaining successful mobilization, I argue that the European Citizens’ Initiative as a political opportunity structure incentivizes the organization of nationally focused campaigns centred in at least one large, that is, populous state, instead of Europe-wide activism. Second, in explaining the multiple consequences of European Citizens’ Initiative mobilization, I show that a campaign may have important, often unintended, effects beyond (the failure to achieve) policy change, including disappointment with the democratic process leading to European Citizens’ Initiative reform and a renewed focus on national politics. This article provides an in-depth analysis of one of the only five European Citizens’ Initiative campaigns that have been able to collect the required one million signatures, while referring to other campaigns as shadow cases. The findings have important implications for debates on EU democracy.
Ideological Biases Weaken the Impact of Social Trust on Ethnic Outgroup Threat
Authors: Thomsen Jens Peter Frølund , Rafiqi Arzoo
Published: July 2019

Previous studies have not examined whether (personal) political ideology influences how trusters perceive of immigrants and refugees as a threat. Our contribution to the literature builds on theories of motivated reasoning and hypothesizes that political ideology weakens the ability of social trust to reduce perceived (ethnic) outgroup threat. Indeed, analyses show that the relationship between social trust and perceived outgroup threat is considerably weaker among rightists than among leftists. Although social trust does relate negatively to perceived outgroup threat across the ideological divide, political ideology has a constraining influence that cannot be ignored. Social trust is also a political phenomenon. We apply a fixed-effects regression, and analyses are based on the 2014-European Social Survey, including 21 countries and 32,175 individuals. In the concluding section, we discuss the full implications of our findings for theories of social trust in an era of increasing flows of immigrants and refugees that go beyond the usual gateway nations.
Issue Diversification: Which Niche Parties Can Succeed Electorally by Broadening Their Agenda?
Authors: Bergman Matthew E , Flatt Henry
Published: July 2019

This work proposes an explanation for nationalist party success based on successful issue competition. Niche parties, it has been argued, gain votes by concentrating on their “owned” issues, such as environmentalism for green parties and mono-culturalism for nationalists. We argue that nationalist parties may increase their vote share by engaging in issue competition with mainstream parties and expanding the diversity of issues emphasized in their platforms. Because of their position and ideology, green parties are not able to engage in such an electoral strategy. Relatedly, no such reward exists for nationalist parties in well-documented majoritarian systems. In party systems with a size typical of proportional systems, we find that as nationalist parties broaden their issue agenda from highly specialized positions, they are able to increase their vote share. Our findings have significant implications for the study of party–voter issue linkages and party competition in fragmented political space.
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Export Supply and Poverty in Guyana: Evidence From Cointegration Analysis
Authors: Modeste Nelson C.
Published: July 2019

Using the cointegration and error correction methodologies, this article studies the impact of trade liberalization on the supply of exports and poverty in Guyana from the early 1980s to the mid-2010s. From the empirical results of this study, two important points emerge. The first point is that, for Guyana, trade liberalization has resulted in the expansion of the country’s supply of exports and the reduction in its poverty rate. The second point is that the impact of trade liberalization on export supply and poverty has been quite small. In addition, this study finds that the real effective exchange rate and the growth of the economy along with the growth of the agricultural sector were important drivers for expanding the country’s supply of exports and reducing its poverty rate over the period covered in this study.
The Influence of Place Attachment on Social Distance: Examining Mediating Effects of Emotional Solidarity and the Moderating Role of Interaction
Authors: Aleshinloye Kayode D. , Fu Xiaoxiao , Ribeiro Manuel Alector , Woosnam Kyle Maurice , Tasci Asli D.A.
Published: July 2019

Building on common identity theory and intergroup contact theory, this study sought to further understanding of people–place relationships by developing a holistic theoretical model to scrutinize place attachment as an antecedent of social distance, mediated by emotional solidarity and moderated by frequency of contact between tourists and residents. Visitor data analyzed with SEM revealed that place dependence is a significant predictor of social distance given it affects affinity positively and avoidance negatively, both of which are mediated by the three dimensions of emotional solidarity. Furthermore, the mediated relationships (via emotional solidarity) between place attachment and social distance vary by level of visitors’ frequency of interaction with residents. This study expands current theorization by examining the merits of emotional solidarity as an affective link in a tourist cognitive-behavioral model. From a practical standpoint, DMOs need to understand these construct linkages and include residents in their marketing strategies to increase repeat visitation.
Political Skill and Role Overload as Antecedents of Innovative Work Behavior in the Public Sector
Authors: Clarke Nicholas , Higgs Malcolm
Published: July 2019

We draw upon the theory of Conservation of Resources (COR) in positing political skill and role overload as influencing perceptions of either resource loss or conservation not previously studied in innovative work behavior. Based on a survey of 249 junior doctors in the United Kingdom, we found that role overload not only had direct positive effects on innovative work behavior but also negatively affects innovative work behavior, mediated through its effects on perceived organizational support. Political skill was positively associated with innovative work behavior, mediated through role-breadth self-efficacy. Our findings support a growing body of literature suggesting that engaging in innovative work behavior is a problem-focused coping strategy to deal with job demands and stressors. Current theorizing that job demands can have positive effects on innovative work behavior needs to be reconsidered given alternative negative effects suggested by COR.
Monitoring the organizational wellness of a physician residency program: A quality improvement process
Authors: Talen Mary R , Edberg Deb , Pence Ari , Khan Laura
Published: July 2019

Background

Burnout and depression throughout physicians’ career cycles have been increasing. There has been a call for medical education leaders to devote resources to bolster the next generation of providers and shift the culture of medicine to organizational initiatives that impact physician well-being. Objective: The goal of this project has been to monitor and improve the organizational wellness of a residency program based on four core organizational areas: (1) culture of meaning and mission, (2) work capacity, (3) control and flexibility in decision-making, and (4) creativity in work–life balance. Method: A quality improvement strategy was implemented to monitor organizational wellness. The wellness was assessed five times over the course of 18 months. The survey was designed to evaluate the four core components. At each time interval, improvement strategies were implemented to address the wellness drains and strengthen drivers. Results: The four time series evaluations (residents: n = 19) indicated that culture of meaning, teamwork, and personal creativity are consistent wellness drivers. Work capacity and lack of control over decision-making were consistent drains. From first until last measurement, there was a slight improvement in control-decision-making; however, the burden of electronic medical record (EMR) charting and strains of coverage continue to drain our residency. Discussion and Conclusions: This model incorporates four categories for assessing organizational wellness within a residency program. The conceptual model is used as a framework to define, measure, analyze, and improve on organizational wellness. This process provides programs with a feedback approach to continually monitor and reassess the wellness of the organizational systems.
Tackling Taboo Topics: A Review of the Three Ms in Working Women’s Lives
Authors: Grandey Alicia A. , Gabriel Allison S. , King Eden B.
Published: July 2019

In North America and Western Europe, women now compose almost half the workforce but still face disparities in pay and promotions. We suggest that women’s natural experiences of the three Ms (i.e., menstruation, maternity, and menopause) are taboo topics in ways that may constrain women’s careers. We propose that the three Ms are particularly incongruent with expectations at intersecting career stages (i.e., a job market newcomer having menstrual discomfort, an early career professional breastfeeding, a company leader getting hot flashes), with implications for work outcomes. In this review, we tackle the taboo of the three Ms by reviewing the evidence for how menstruation, maternity, and menopause are each linked to (1) hormonal and physiological changes, (2) societal beliefs and stereotypes, and (3) work affect, cognition, and behavior. We conclude by proposing novel implications for incorporating the three Ms into existing theoretical frameworks (i.e., work-nonwork spillover; stigma and disclosure; occupational health) and presenting new research questions and practices for understanding and addressing the ways that women’s health intersects with career trajectories.
‘A new god will walk’: Shakespeare, the Renaissance, and the birth of the posthuman in Westworld
Authors: Burzyńska Katarzyna
Published: July 2019

Westworld, a highly acclaimed TV series by HBO, can boast a whole wealth of references to canonical texts, famous works of art and cultural icons. I would argue that the series alludes to numerous Renaissance works in order to address the crises of humanity in the digital age. The aim of this article is to investigate the parallels between the ‘brave new world’ of the early modern period and the postmodern period, both from which the series draws inspiration. I wish to discuss the functions of Shakespearean and other early modern references in the context of a dystopian vision of the fall of man and the emergence of a new race.
Flexible Endoscopic Zenker’s Diverticulotomy with an Articulating Bipolar Energy Sealer
Authors: Weissbrod Philip A. , Jafari Aria , Liu Shanglei , Horgan Santiago , Weisman Robert A.
Published: July 2019

The surgical management of Zenker’s diverticula is performed through open or endoscopic approaches. The purpose of this report is to review our early experience with flexible endoscopic diverticulotomy with an articulating bipolar energy sealer for cricopharyngeal and diverticular wall division in a series of 5 patients where transoral rigid access was not possible. In addition to technical details, safety and efficacy data are included. The average diverticulum size was 2.5 cm. All patients reported symptom resolution, and there were no surgical complications. Liquid diet was initiated on postoperative day 1 for all patients and solids on day 11.8 ± 14.4 (mean ± SD) per protocol. Results demonstrate that treatment of Zenker’s diverticula can safely and successfully be performed with flexible endoscopic visualization and utilization of an articulating bipolar energy sealer to perform diverticulotomy in a population of patients where transoral diverticulotomy would not otherwise be feasible due to anatomic constraints. Early results support obtaining further experience to study this technology as an alternative to open surgery, especially when visualization and access are suboptimal with rigid endoscopy.