bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of relative humidity on water injection technique in downsized spark ignition engines
Authors: Khatri Jayesh , Sharma Nikhil , Dahlander Petter , Koopmans Lucien
Published: July 2020

Combustion knock is a major barrier to achieving high thermal efficiency in spark ignition engines. Water injection was recently identified as a potential way of overcoming this barrier. To evaluate its general applicability, experiments were performed on a downsized three-cylinder spark ignition engine, varying the humidity of the intake air, the water injection timing, and the engine speed. The minimum quantity of injected water required to maintain a given load (and thus level of engine performance) was determined under each set of tested conditions. The knock-suppressing effects of water injection were found to be related to changes in the fuel–air mixture’s specific heat ratio (kappa) rather than evaporative cooling, and to therefore depend on the total quantity of water in the cylinder rather than the relative humidity per se. The total quantity of water in the cylinder was also shown to be a key determinant of advancement in combustion phasing and particulate emissions under various conditions.
Integrative approach for transducer positioning optimization for ultrasonic structural health monitoring for the detection of deterministic and probabilistic damage location
Authors: Ewald Vincentius , Groves Roger , Benedictus Rinze
Published: July 2020

The concept of structural health monitoring has been introduced to ensure structural integrity during the design lifetime of a structure. The main objectives of structural health monitoring are to detect, locate, quantify, and predict any damage that occurs during this lifetime of the structure so that effective and efficient maintenance and repair procedures can be performed. The location of structural damage events can be discretized as deterministic and probabilistic. A deterministic location specifies that the damage occurs in high-stress regions or other regions that can be predicted by the structural design, such as the most probable location for a fatigue crack. A probabilistic damage event is one where the location of the damage is independent of structural design parameters, such as hail impact, bird strike, and impact from ground vehicles. A structural health monitoring system should be able to handle both these damage occurrences. In our previous work, we optimized the transducer placement in Lamb wave–based structural health monitoring for the detection of a fatigue crack that emerges from a rivet hole. In this article, we demonstrate a combination of that method with a different sensor placement optimization method to add the capability to detect probabilistic damage location. First, we considered the ultrasonic wave attenuation in the structure and based on this attenuation, we created a fitness function. Since this fitness function is difficult to solve due to its combinatorial nature, we compared three common metaheuristic stochastic strategies: global random search, greedy algorithm, and genetic algorithm, for solving this problem. The results of this analysis were then integrated with the previously described deterministic approach, making a global structural health monitoring sensor placement strategy that balances the need to detect both pre-determined and random damage location occurrences. The analytical result of the study presented is validated by experiment.
A review of computer vision–based structural health monitoring at local and global levels
Authors: Dong Chuan-Zhi , Catbas F Necati
Published: July 2020

Structural health monitoring at local and global levels using computer vision technologies has gained much attention in the structural health monitoring community in research and practice. Due to the computer vision technology application advantages such as non-contact, long distance, rapid, low cost and labor, and low interference to the daily operation of structures, it is promising to consider computer vision–structural health monitoring as a complement to the conventional structural health monitoring. This article presents a general overview of the concepts, approaches, and real-life practice of computer vision–structural health monitoring along with some relevant literature that is rapidly accumulating. The computer vision–structural health monitoring covered in this article at local level includes applications such as crack, spalling, delamination, rust, and loose bolt detection. At the global level, applications include displacement measurement, structural behavior analysis, vibration serviceability, modal identification, model updating, damage detection, cable force monitoring, load factor estimation, and structural identification using input–output information. The current research studies and applications of computer vision–structural health monitoring mainly focus on the implementation and integration of two-dimensional computer vision techniques to solve structural health monitoring problems and the projective geometry methods implemented are utilized to convert the three-dimensional problems into two-dimensional problems. This review mainly puts emphasis on two-dimensional computer vision–structural health monitoring applications. Subsequently, a brief review of representative developments of three-dimensional computer vision in the area of civil engineering is presented along with the challenges and opportunities of two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer vision–structural health monitoring. Finally, the article presents a forward look to the future of computer vision–structural health monitoring.
A research on an improved Unet-based concrete crack detection algorithm
Authors: Zhang Lingxin , Shen Junkai , Zhu Baijie
Published: July 2020

Crack is an important indicator for evaluating the damage level of concrete structures. However, traditional crack detection algorithms have complex implementation and weak generalization. The existing crack detection algorithms based on deep learning are mostly window-level algorithms with low pixel precision. In this article, the CrackUnet model based on deep learning is proposed to solve the above problems. First, crack images collected from the lab, earthquake sites, and the Internet are resized, labeled manually, and augmented to make a dataset (1200 subimages with 256 × 256 × 3 resolutions in total). Then, an improved Unet-based method called CrackUnet is proposed for automated pixel-level crack detection. A new loss function named generalized dice loss is adopted to detect cracks more accurately. How the size of the dataset and the depth of the model affect the training time, detecting accuracy, and speed is researched. The proposed methods are evaluated on the test dataset and a previously published dataset. The highest results can reach 91.45%, 88.67%, and 90.04% on test dataset and 98.72%, 92.84%, and 95.44% on CrackForest Dataset for precision, recall, and F1 score, respectively. By comparing the detecting accuracy, the training time, and the information of datasets, CrackUnet model outperform than other methods. Furthermore, six images with complicated noise are used to investigate the robustness and generalization of CrackUnet models.
Performative enactments of teacher evaluation: Two preservice teachers and the edTPA
Authors: Kessler Meghan A
Published: July 2020

Teacher preparation and preservice evaluation practices in the US have seen increasing influence from social efficiency and productivity logics. While analyses of the impacts of such neoliberal ascendancies are diverse and numerous, this article focuses closely on the impact of neoliberalism in preservice teacher evaluation and its impact on new teacher development. In particular, the teacher candidates who participated in this study shared their experiences with and perceptions of the edTPA, a relatively new, standardized portfolio licensure assessment published by Pearson, Inc. Analysis of qualitative case study data found that the regulatory influence of external surveillance created tensions with teacher candidates’ desire to learn and grow whilst completing their evaluation materials. Furthermore, analysis found that these candidates’ critical perspectives implicated their completion of evaluation materials. When more critical of neoliberal influences in evaluation policy, candidates’ materials were constructed in a performative manner.
Bridge of Promise: Comparing the Academic Outcomes of Kalamazoo Promise to Public School Students in a 4-Year Institution
Authors: Collier Daniel A. , Fitzpatrick Dan , Houston Derek A. , Archer Eric
Published: July 2020

This study compares Kalamazoo Promise (KPromise) students to non-Promise, public high school graduating students at a 4-year institution. The final sample for this study was N=9,969; n = 310 (3%) were KPromise students. Descriptive analysis suggests that KPromise students were racially more diverse and less affluent than non-Promise students. Unweighted regressions show that being a KPromise student was correlated with lower college GPA, increased chance of Academic Dismissal, and lowered likelihood of Degree Attainment. Weighting the sample using Inverse Probability Weighing with Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), being a KPromise student was not correlated to any examined outcomes. However, we were unable to generate a suitably similar comparison sample with the variables we could access. Overall, the Kalamazoo Promise allows students to access the university who are so different from the comparison population that it interferes with standard approaches to assessing outcomes. Discussion centers on descriptive differences and highlights the need for better student-level data.
Increasing inter-yarn friction to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene yarns for ballistic application by sol-gel treatment
Authors: Chu Yanyan , Rahman Riazur , He Haonan , Huang Weihan , Chen Xiaogang
Published: July 2020

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibre is popularly used in military for ballistic protection owing to its low density but high modulus and high tenacity. However, the inter-yarn friction in the corresponding ballistic fabric is too low and thus the yarns in the fabric are easily pulled out, in which lowers down the ballistic performance. This paper aims to improve the inter-yarn friction in the fabric by sol-gel method using TiO2/ZnO hydro-sols and investigate the ballistic performance of fabric treated. The results from the coefficient of friction test have showed that the inter-yarn friction treated with TiO2/ZnO hydro-sol can be increased 40%. Moreover, tensile test indicates that the tenacities of yarns after different treatments are increased whereas the strains and moduli of the yarns almost kept unaffected. Through ballistic performance test, the treated fabric displays higher ballistic energy absorption compared with the original one, indicating that higher inter-yarn friction is beneficial to fabric against ballistic impact.
MicroRNA-499 Suppresses the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Downregulating Astrocyte Elevated Gene-1
Authors: Wang Jing , Li Jia , Chen Liping , Fan Zhenyu , Cheng Jilin
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of microRNA-499 (miR-499) in hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of miR-499 was significantly decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, miR-499 overexpression in HEPG2 cell was related to the tumor growth in nude mice xenograft models. Likewise, miR-499 mimic or inhibitor decreased or accelerated cell proliferation, respectively. Mechanistically, miR-499 directly targeted the 3′- untranslated region of astrocyte elevated gene-1 and downregulate astrocyte elevated gene-1 expression. Restoration of astrocyte elevated gene-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-499 on cell growth. In addition, astrocyte elevated gene-1 and miR-499 expression were inversely correlated in human and mice hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Our study identified miR-499 as a tumor-suppressive miR in hepatocellular carcinoma, thus providing a candidate therapeutic target for the future diagnosis or treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
PPM1D Knockdown Suppresses Cell Proliferation, Promotes Cell Apoptosis, and Activates p38 MAPK/p53 Signaling Pathway in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Li Bin , Hu Jie , He Di , Chen Qi , Liu Suna , Zhu Xiaoling , Yu Meijia
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

This study was to explore the effect of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D knockdown on proliferation and apoptosis as well as p38 MAPK/p53 signaling pathway in acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods:

The expression of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D was detected in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines including SKM-1, KG-1, AML-193, and THP-1 cells, and normal bone marrow mononuclear cells isolated from healthy donors. The knockdown of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D was conducted by transfecting small interfering RNA into AML-193 cells and KG-1 cells.

Results:

The relative messenger RNA/protein expressions of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D were higher in SKM-1, KG-1, AML-193, and THP-1 cells compared with control cells (normal bone marrow mononuclear cells). After transfecting protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D small interfering RNA into AML-193 cells and KG-1 cells, both messenger RNA and protein expressions of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D were significantly reduced, indicating the successful transfection. Most importantly, knockdown of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D suppressed cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in AML-193 cells and KG-1 cells. In addition, knockdown of protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D enhanced the expressions of p-p38 and p53 in AML-193 cells and KG-1 cells. The above observation suggested that protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and activated p38 MAPK/p53 signaling pathway in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Conclusion:

Protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D is implicated in acute myeloid leukemia carcinogenesis, which illuminates its potential role as a treatment target for acute myeloid leukemia.
Understanding Factors That Enable and Inhibit Assessment of Outcomes of Competence Development
Authors: Wallo Andreas , Kock Henrik , Lundqvist Daniel , Coetzer Alan
Published: July 2020

Employee participation in formal and informal learning is essential for the economic viability and competitive advantage of organizations. Therefore, assessing outcomes of competence development activities is important. However, this domain of human resources (HR) practice is often neglected because of factors that are not well understood. Accordingly, this article addresses the question: What factors enable and inhibit HR professionals in assessing outcomes of competence development activities and initiatives? To answer this question, we conducted a review of articles that examine assessment of outcomes of competence development activities. The primary purpose of the review was to identify and categorize enabling and inhibiting factors so that the factors can be better understood by researchers and HR professionals. We also call upon voices from the field, using quotations from HR professionals to illustrate enabling and inhibiting factors. Analysis and synthesis of the literature informed the development of propositions to guide future research.
Antimalarial and cytotoxic drugs on COVID-19 and the cardiovascular burden: Literature review and lessons to be learned
Authors: Sultan Sherif , Acharya Yogesh
Published: July 2020

Background

The world is witnessing an unprecedented crisis with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is important to accurately analyze the available evidence to provide correct clinical guidance for optimal patient care. We aim to discuss current clinical evidence regarding chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, remdesivir, and the cardiovascular burden of COVID-19.

Methods

A literature review was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar. Additional clinical trials were identified through the “TrialsTracker” project.

Results

We found conflicting evidence of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin, and remdesivir in COVID-19 despite promising early reports of in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Some of the current studies have demonstrated adverse drug reactions to chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin. Widespread systemic inflammation and procoagulant/hypercoagulable state, including thrombotic microangiopathy, endothelial dysfunction, bleeding disorder, and thrombosis are increasingly being witnessed in COVID-19. Evidence of cardiac injury and stroke is mostly reported in hospitalized patients; however, large specialized studies that focus on cardiac or neuropathology are lacking.

Discussion

There is no convincing clinical evidence of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin, and remdesivir use in COVID-19. As evidence of systemic inflammation is rapidly unfolding, there is a dire need to maximize our resources to find the best possible solutions to the current crisis while conclusive evidence from clinical trials emerges.
Confronting Jurisdiction with Antinomian Bodies
Authors: Shaw Joshua David Michael
Published: July 2020

Olivia Barr argued that the common law is carried on the surface of bodies and transferred through encounters, creating, altering and organising ‘lawful relations’. She also argued that the common law is reconstituted through these movements, particularly the place-making activities of burying the dead. However, if the lawful treatment of the dead is cleaved from burial, can the dead still be constitutive of the common law or does this potentiate alternative nomoi? Through a material metaphor of dance, biogram and lawscape, the author explores the potential for different configurations of jurisdiction in events following the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
Study of the foot morphology of recreational marathon runners
Authors: Chen Ling-Hui , Liu Kang-Hung , Liu Pin-Ling , Wang Mao-Jiun , Kobayashi Yoshiyuki , Chang Chien-Chi
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of the foot morphology of recreational marathon runners. We compared the foot dimensions data of recreational marathon runners with the data of non-habitual exercisers. The results indicated that the recreational marathon runners had significantly shorter feet and shorter fibulare instep. The lengths of the toes and halluces on their right feet were significantly shorter than those of the non-habitual exercisers. Based on the analysis of relative foot length, the recreational marathon runners had wider foot breadth, heel breadth, and ball girth circumference. In addition, the arches of recreational marathon runners had a higher arch height index value for both feet.
Kaempferide Induces G0/G1 Phase Arrest and Apoptosis via ROS-Mediated Signaling Pathways in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Hong-Liang , Li Shu-Mei , Luo Ying-Hua , Xu Wan-Ting , Zhang Yu , Zhang Tong , Zhang Dong-Jie , Jin Cheng-Hao
Published: July 2020

Kaempferide is an O-methylated flavonol that has received much attention due to its various biological activities. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanisms of kaempferide in human lung cancer A549 cells. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double staining, flow cytometry, scratch wound healing assay, and Western blot analysis were used to measure cell apoptosis, the cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cell migration of human lung cancer cells. Kaempferide significantly inhibited human lung cancer cell proliferation, and its toxic effects on normal cells were significantly lower than those of 5-fluorouracil. Kaempferide induced A549 cell apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression level of B-cell lymphoma 2, and by increasing the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3. It also regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways by increasing the expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p-p38, I kappa B, and by decreasing the expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-STAT3, and NF-κB. Kaempferide induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells by downregulating the expression levels of p-AKT, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Furthermore, kaempferide blocked A549 cell migration by downregulating the expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), p-β-catenin, p-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and by upregulating the expression level of E-cadherin. Kaempferide enhanced the accumulation of ROS, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (a ROS inhibitor) decreased the regulation of MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways by kaempferide, inhibited cell apoptosis, and reversed cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that kaempferide induced apoptosis via ROS-mediated MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways in A549 cells. Thus, kaempferide may be a novel drug candidate for lung cancer.
The Quality Control of Both Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. Et Wils by Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC)
Authors: Deng Li , Yin Chunping , Ma Yuan-Chun
Published: July 2020

Quality problems with Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (SCB) and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd.et Wils. (SSR) have been increasing owing to their obvious difference in supply and demand. In this study, qualitative and quantitative studies were carried out on the contents of various components of SCB and SSR, which provided the reference for the quality control of the raw materials of SCB and SSR. A ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (1.8 μm, 100 mm × 2.1 mm) was used with a column temperature of 40 °C, a mobile phase consisting of a gradient of acetonitrile and water, a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min, and an injection sample of 1 µL. Ultraviolet detection was operated at 220 nm throughout the analyzing time. Almost all the compounds achieved baseline separation. In addition, this method showed a favorable recovery (98.3%-102.5% for SCB and 99.1%-100.5% for SSR) and good precision and stability, confirming the reliability of the experimental data.
Eosinophilic Mucin: A Predictor for Disease Severity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Unsal Aykut A. , Reyes Camilo , Biddinger Paul , Kountakis Stilianos E.
Published: July 2020

Objective

The presence of tissue eosinophilia is a determinate of disease severity in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The impact of eosinophilic mucin (EM) as an independent variable has not yet been elucidated.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Setting

Tertiary academic clinic. Subjects Methods: CRS patients who failed medical therapy were classified by tissue eosinophilia, presence of polyps and EM. Tissue eosinophilia count per high power field (HPF) as well as the presence of EM were determined by pathologic examination of sinus tissue removed during surgery. Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), Lund-Mackay (LM), and Lund-Kennedy (LK) scores were compared between all groups preoperatively and postoperatively up to two and a half years (30 months).

Results

192 patients with CRS were included in the study. 87 were diagnosed with eosinophilic CRS with polyps, 58 with eosinophilic CRS without polyps, 14 with noneosinophilic CRS with polyps, and 33 with noneosinophilic CRS without polyps. Only patients with eosinophilia had EM on pathology. Of eosinophilic CRS, 50% of patients with polyps and 12% of cases without polyps demonstrated EM, respectively. EM presence portended more severe disease in patients with eosinophilia on subjective and objective scores preoperatively (P < 0.005). Postoperatively, EM patients experienced a greater improvement of symptoms, but continued to have worse endoscopy scores until 1.5 years. A tissue eosinophil count of 30 or greater per HPF was identified as a potential marker for the development of EM.

Conclusions

The presence of eosinophilic mucin predicts overall worse disease severity in patients with eosinophilic CRS.
Endovascular treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms: feasibility and successful employment of a new low profile visible intraluminal support (LVIS) EVO stent
Authors: Sirakov Alexander , Bhogal Pervinder , Möhlenbruch Markus , Sirakov Stanimir
Published: July 2020

Background and purpose

Low-profile self-expandable stents have increased the number of intracranial aneurysms treated by endovascular means. The new low-profile visible intraluminal support device LVIS EVO (Microvention), the successor of LVIS Jr, is a self-expandable and retrievable microstent system, designed for implantation into intracranial arteries with a diameter up to 2.0 mm. In this retrospective study we aimed to elucidate the technical feasibility and clinical safety of the novel LVIS EVO stent for stent-assisted coil embolisation of intracranial aneurysms.

Materials and methods

A single centre technical report of the first six consecutive cases of stent-assisted coil embolisation with the novel LVIS EVO stent for the treatment of unruptured or recanalised intracranial aneurysms. Records were made of basic demographics, aneurysmal characteristics, device properties and related technical details, adverse events, clinical outcomes and occlusion rates on available radiological follow-up.

Results

Six LVIS EVO devices were successfully implanted in all subjects to treat a total number of six intracranial aneurysms. No device-related intraprocedural complications were seen. At early clinical follow-up six out of six (100%) patients had a modified Ranking score of 0–1. Early angiographic and cross-sectional radiological follow-up, available in five out of six (83.3%) of the patients confirmed unchanged aneurysmal occlusion rates. A minor, transitory neurological deficit was recorded in one of the six (16.6%) patients. Mortality was 0%.

Conclusions

Preliminary experience in this subset of our patients confirms a notably improved technical behaviour of the novel LVIS EVO stent system when compared to its ancestor LVIS Jr. The enhanced visibility of the stent and the refined delivery/retrieval capabilities of the stent further increase the safety margins of the devices profile, especially in cases of tortuous anatomy.
From waifus to whales: The evolution of discourse in a mobile game-based competitive community of practice
Authors: Britt Brian C. , Britt Rebecca K.
Published: July 2020

Online communities devoted to mobile games represent exemplary examples of competitive communities of practice, leveraging the competing forces of cooperation and competition to foster in-group solidarity and motivate members to further engage with the game and community. In this study, latent Dirichlet allocation was used to model conversation topics across over two million posts and comments made during a 3-year period on the r/grandorder subreddit, a competitive community of practice devoted to the mobile game Fate/Grand Order. In total, 20 distinct topics emerged spanning topical foci and emotional tones. The prevalence of certain topics, such as those related to gacha game mechanics, declined as community members mastered the practice and as the practice itself changed. Future studies should compare the structure and evolution of conversations across contexts, and they should likewise examine differences that emerge in discourse due to the relative balance of competitive and cooperative influences.
Testing relationships between smartphone engagement, romantic partner communication, and relationship satisfaction
Authors: Lapierre Matthew A. , Custer Benjamin E.
Published: July 2020

As smartphone technology has spread rapidly across the globe, growing concern has spotlighted how these devices can limit the quality of our communication with others and harm interpersonal relationships. The current study examined how self-reported smartphone use and smartphone dependency were associated with romantic partner communication, and how these variables subsequently tied to relationship satisfaction. Working with a sample of 433 American young adults in romantic relationships, the study found that smartphone use was associated with increased communication between romantic partners, and increased mediated communication between partners predicted more affectionate communication. Conversely, increased smartphone dependency was directly associated with less affectionate communication and lower relationship satisfaction. The study offers insights into how smartphones potentially affect how we connect with romantic partners.
Arthroscopic resection of a loose body in the inextensible metacarpophalangeal joint of the middle finger complicated with osteoarthritis: A case report
Authors: Hattori Tetsuya , Tsujii Masaya , Uemura Takeshi , Sudo Akihiro
Published: July 2020

Arthroscopic surgery is a standard technique for removal of loose bodies in large joints. By contrast, there were a few reports of arthroscopic surgery for loose bodies in small joints. We herein report a case of a 70-year-old woman with an inextensible metacarpophalangeal joint in the right middle finger due to an intra-articular loose body that developed after osteoarthritis. Surgery proceeded under vertical traction using traction tower. Two portals were developed at dorsal aspect on the metacarpophalangeal joints. The loose body was removed under arthroscopy with a small incision of both skin and sagittal band, thereby resolving clinical symptoms, including pain and limitations to metacarpophalangeal joint motion.
Management of recurrent urinary tract infections in women
Authors: Sihra Néha , Malde Sachin , Greenwell Tamsin , Pakzad Mahreen , Kujawa Magda , Sinclair Andrew
Published: July 2020

Urinary tract infections are highly prevalent and result in significant patient morbidity as well as large financial costs to healthcare systems. Recurrent urinary tract infections can be challenging for many healthcare professionals, and the repeated use of antibiotics in this patient cohort inevitably contributes to the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance and superbugs. It is essential that these patients are appropriately diagnosed and managed to ensure rapid resolution of symptoms and the prevention of chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections. There are several antibiotic-based options available for the prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections however, in the current era of rising antimicrobial resistance, an awareness of antibiotic stewardship and the use of non-antibiotic alternatives for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections is of critical importance. We present a case-based multidisciplinary team discussion to highlight how women with recurrent urinary tract infections should be managed, encouraging the use of non-antibiotic prophylactic measures when suitable.

Level of evidence:

Level 5
Opening the black box of economic processes: Ecological Economics from its biophysical foundation to a sustainable economic institution
Authors: Ji Xi , Luo Zhen
Published: July 2020

The roots of Ecological Economics can be found at the very beginning of Classical Economics, where physical wellbeing was the object of research, instead of the allocation of resources. Although Neoclassical Economics abandoned this objective early on, other efforts to study the biophysical foundations of the economic processes persisted and were inherited by modern Ecological economists. The fundamental difference between Ecological Economic theory and Neoclassical Economic theory is that, Ecological economists attempt to open the black box of economic processes with modern scientific tools, while Neoclassical economists expand the black box without interest in the mechanisms inside. However, in the current Ecological Economics framework, the social sphere of discussion is dominated by translated mainstream versions of Ecological Economics, rather than its original biophysical form. In the next stage of its evolution, Ecological Economics must address such inconsistencies to provide institutional insights based on the biophysical foundations of the subject, to fully open the black box of how human society extracts material and energy from the ecosystem, transforms them into physical wealth, and distributes that physical wealth. Also it must provide policy implications on how to carve out a sustainable economic institution.
How mobile health affects primary healthcare? Questionnaire design and attitude assessment
Authors: Erfannia Leila , Barman Manash P , Hussain Sadiq , Barati Reyhane , Arji Goli
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The current research aimed to develop a questionnaire for the evaluation of the staff viewpoints in mobile phone use in the delivery of their services and then to assess the primary health center staff attitudes toward this area.

Methods

This was a two-stage cross-sectional study. In the initial stage, a questionnaire was constructed that tested their reliability and validity through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, multitrait/multi-item correlation matrix and multivariate method of factor analysis. In the second phase, we computed the raw score of each construct which was calculated by taking the mean of the responses of all the items in a particular construct. The normality of the scores for each construct was tested via Kolmogorov-Smirnov and various parametric/non-parametric statistical tests were applied to compare the responses of the subjects. After statistical tests, the final questionnaire was confirmed, including 28 items.

Results

The final questionnaires’ five main axes consisted of health services efficiency, education, notices, consultation, as well as follow-up. Personnel perspective assessment indicates that there is no difference of view among individuals coming from various demographic features, including gender, age, work experience, as well as education level, to mobile phone use in their services.

Conclusion

The attitude of public health center staff to mobile phone use in providing health services was positive in general, which would be an influential context for the effective application of mobile phones in public health; such a context would result in users' intentions to use and accept m-Health.
Evolution of our view on the IgE molecule role in bronchial asthma and the clinical effect of its modulation by omalizumab: Where do we stand today?
Authors: Novosad Jakub , Krčmová Irena
Published: July 2020

Bronchial asthma is a heterogeneous disease whose definition and treatment are based on evidence of variable airway obstruction and airway inflammation. Despite the enormous increase in the amount of information on the pathogenesis of this disease, diagnosis is still an unresolved problem, as we still lack sensitive and specific biomarkers. On the other hand, at the turn of the 20th and 21st century, there was a rapid development of therapeutic modalities based on the principle of biological therapy. The first authorized drug matching these characteristics was omalizumab – a monoclonal antibody directed against immunoglobulin E (IgE). It has been used for the treatment of severe forms of bronchial asthma for more than 15 years, which is a sufficient time to acquire ways of its effective use and to assess whether the treatment with omalizumab has met our expectations. However, we continue to discover new and surprising facts about the effects of omalizumab treatment which leads to widening of therapeutic indications. In this work, a basic overview of the very complex role of the IgE molecule in the organism (with a special emphasis on allergic asthma) is discussed, and the most important practical and clinical consequences resulting from its modulation by targeted therapy with omalizumab are summarized.
Fibrin Sealant Artiss Compared to Progressive Tension Sutures With Stratafix in the Management of Wound Drainage Following Post-Bariatric Body-Contouring Surgery
Authors: Zeplin Philip H. , Langer Stefan , Schwarzenberger Sarah , Spindler Nick
Published: July 2020

Background:

Post-bariatric body-contouring surgery is one of the most rapidly growing areas in plastic surgery. One of the most common complications following post-bariatric body-contouring surgery is seroma. There are a number of approaches to reducing wound drainage and seroma formation. A promising strategy to reduce these complications is to develop effective methods for reducing dead space between the tissue layers.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective trial assessing the use of human fibrin sealant Artiss in comparison to progressive tension sutures (PTS) with Stratafix, a bidirectional barbed suture device in patients undergoing post-bariatric body-contouring surgery. Thirty-six patients for abdominoplasty or lower-body-lift were evaluated. Treatment patients underwent procedure with fibrin sealant applied to adapt the tissue layers. Control patients underwent an identical procedure but with PTS. Primary outcome measures included total wound drainage and time to drain removal.

Results:

The use of Artiss in abdominoplasty was associated with a mean drain volume that was significantly higher and more days that were needed to remove all drains compared to the PTS group. In body-lift, the mean drain volume and number of days needed to remove all drains tended to be higher when using Artiss compared to the PTS group.

Conclusion:

The use of Artiss in post-bariatric body-contouring surgery did not decrease the rate of seromas and the length of time required for post-surgical drains when compared to PTS.
Optimal board independence with gray independent directors
Authors: Pascual-Fuster Bartolomé , Crespí-Cladera Rafel
Published: July 2020

Based on the optimal board independence theory, we analyze how Spanish listed firms determine the presence of genuine and gray independent directors. We classify independents as gray whenever they do not satisfy formal independence requirements. Given the findings in previous literature, this type of gray independent does not promote poor corporate governance practices. Our results suggest that the presence of gray and genuine independent directors is related to the optimal board independence determinants as if both provided real board independence. Results are not affected by the number and the type of unsatisfied independence criteria, nor by the firm’s achievement of regulators’ recommended level of board independence. Therefore, we conclude that firms pay little attention to formal independence requirements to reach their optimal board structure.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: G30; G34; K22
Visualizing 20 Years of Racial-Ethnic Variation in Women’s Ages at Sexual Initiation and Family Formation
Authors: Hemez Paul , Guzzo Karen Benjamin , Manning Wendy D. , Brown Susan L. , Payne Krista K.
Published: July 2020

This data visualization uses several cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth to compare trends in median ages at first sex, birth, cohabitation, and marriage between 1995 and 2015 across non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, native-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic women aged 40 to 44 years. Generally, women’s ages at first sex declined, ages at first cohabitation remained stable, and ages at marriage and birth increased. However, there were substantial race-ethnicity-nativity differences in the timing and sequencing of women’s reproductive and family experiences, and these differences grew over time. These descriptive findings point to the importance of identifying the larger social forces that contribute to differential experiences while underscoring the fundamental problems inherent with defining whites’ reproductive and family behaviors as “normal.”
Genetic Polymorphism of Head and Neck Cancers in African Populations: A Systematic Review
Authors: Okoturo Eyituoyo , Osasuyi Anslem , Opaleye Taofiq
Published: July 2020

Objective

Head and neck cancers are mostly composed of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The incidence and mortality of HNSCC are higher in countries with emerging health care systems, particularly Africa. Given that they are more genetically diverse, characterization of polymorphism in African HNSCC may result in the identification of distinct molecular targets as compared with the known HNSCC candidate genes. This study objective is to review the current evidence of genetic data on HNSCC among African populations as well as to demonstrate any distinctions as compared with known candidate genes and to appraise any research gaps.

Data Sources

Publications that interrogated susceptible gene polymorphisms to African‐based populations with cancer were reviewed for this study.

Review Methods

Our search methodology was modeled after the Cochrane systematic review protocol, which included MeSH terms and keywords related to cancer, polymorphisms, and African countries.

Results

Seven articles studying 2 HNSCC cancer types in 3 of 54 African countries met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen polymorphisms from 10 genes were screened (NOS3, CYP1A1, CYP2D6, NAT1, NAT2, NQO1, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐8, COX2). All articles were screened for polymorphisms based on a polymerase chain reaction–based technique. All polymorphs suggested association to HNSCC, with 10 of 13 polymorphs demonstrating a statistically significant association.

Conclusion

Studies on known HNSCC candidate genes should be undertaken in Africa, particularly among sub‐Saharan Africans. Importantly, these studies should be large scale with multiple HNC sites and with use of high‐throughput methods.
Measures of outer setting constructs for implementation research: A systematic review and analysis of psychometric quality
Authors: McHugh Sheena , Dorsey Caitlin N , Mettert Kayne , Purtle Jonathan , Bruns Eric , Lewis Cara C
Published: July 2020

Background:

Despite their influence, outer setting barriers (e.g., policies, financing) are an infrequent focus of implementation research. The objective of this systematic review was to identify and assess the psychometric properties of measures of outer setting used in behavioral and mental health research.

Methods:

Data collection involved (a) search string generation, (b) title and abstract screening, (c) full-text review, (d) construct mapping, and (e) measure forward searches. Outer setting constructs were defined using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The search strategy included four relevant constructs separately: (a) cosmopolitanism, (b) external policy and incentives, (c) patient needs and resources, and (d) peer pressure. Information was coded using nine psychometric criteria: (a) internal consistency, (b) convergent validity, (c) discriminant validity, (d) known-groups validity, (e) predictive validity, (f) concurrent validity, (g) structural validity, (h) responsiveness, and (i) norms. Frequencies were calculated to summarize the availability of psychometric information. Information quality was rated using a 5-point scale and a final median score was calculated for each measure.

Results:

Systematic searches yielded 20 measures: four measures of the general outer setting domain, seven of cosmopolitanism, four of external policy and incentives, four of patient needs and resources, and one measure of peer pressure. Most were subscales within full scales assessing implementation context. Typically, scales or subscales did not have any psychometric information available. Where information was available, the quality was most often rated as “1-minimal” or “2-adequate.”

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to focus exclusively on measures of outer setting factors used in behavioral and mental health research and comprehensively assess a range of psychometric criteria. The results highlight the limited quantity and quality of measures at this level. Researchers should not assume “one size fits all” when measuring outer setting constructs. Some outer setting constructs may be more appropriately and efficiently assessed using objective indices or administrative data reflective of the system rather than the individual.
Investigating the “Socio” in Socio-Technical Development: The Case for Psychological Safety in Agile Information Systems Development
Authors: Hennel Phil , Rosenkranz Christoph
Published: July 2020

One constitutional part of project management is the management of teams, their actions, and their social mechanisms. Team processes, behavior, and agile practices used by team members play important parts in the success of projects. To reap benefits from these highly interactive and social-focused practices, team members need to feel safe to speak freely. We propose a model that conceptualizes the effects of psychological safety and (social) agile practices on team performance. The proposed model combines recent research from organizational psychology and agile information systems development to provide a better understanding of the team-level effects. Our findings from three case studies conducted in two large insurance companies and one software development company suggest that social agile practices positively influence psychological safety, transparency, communication, and ultimately productivity.
Determinants and risk factors of gastroenteritis in the general population, a web-based cohort between 2014 and 2017 in France
Authors: Ecollan Marie , Guerrisi Caroline , Souty Cécile , Rossignol Louise , Turbelin Clément , Hanslik Thomas , Colizza Vittoria , Blanchon Thierry
Published: July 2020

Background

Although it is rarely fatal in developed countries, acute gastroenteritis (AGE) still induces significant morbidity and economic costs. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with AGE in winter in the general population.

Methods

A prospective study was performed during winter seasons from 2014 to 2015 to 2016–2017. Participants filled an inclusion survey and reported weekly data on acute symptoms. Factors associated with having at least one AGE episode per winter season were analyzed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach.

Results

They were 13,974 participants included in the study over the three seasons. On average, 8.1% of participants declared at least one AGE episode during a winter season. People over 60 declared fewer AGE episodes (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.76, 95% CI [0.64; 0.89]) compared to individuals between 15 and 60 years old, as well as children between 10 and 15 (aOR = 0.60 [0.37; 0.98]). Overweight (aOR = 1.25 [1.07; 1.45]) and obese (aOR = 1.47 [1.19; 1.81]) individuals, those having frequent cold (aOR = 1.63 [1.37; 1.94]) and those with at least one chronic condition (aOR = 1.35 [1.16; 1.58]) had more AGE episodes. Living alone was associated with a higher AGE episode rate (aOR = 1.31 [1.09; 1.59]), as well as having pets at home (aOR = 1.23 [1.08; 1.41]).

Conclusions

Having a better knowledge of AGE determinants will be useful to adapt public health prevention messages.