bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bulk Density of Bitumen Sheets
Authors: Plachy Jan , Petranek Vít , Šuhajda Karel , Vysoka Jana , Petricek Tomas , Bednářová Petra , Sidibe Karim
Published: June 2013

This article deals with determination of bulk density of bitumen waterproofing sheets using different methods, namely calculation and experimental measurement. Volume density actually well reflects bitumen sheet composition. Composition of bitumen sheet is the factor that influences the hydro insulation function.
Resistance of Soil to a Vertically Vibrating Pile
Authors: Gao Zhan Shi , Ren Qing
Published: June 2013

Based on the plane strain model, a three-dimensional vibration model was setup for soil dynamic response of soil surrounding large diameter pile. An accurate analytical solution was got by considering the couple effect of vertical and horizontal displacement of soil. Through the discussion parameters slenderness ratio (L/d), hysteretic damping ratio (Ds,Dv) and soil Poisson's ratio (ν),it is concluded that they are very important for the vertical vibration propproperties of soil impedance.
Research on Recrystallization and Crack Fracture of Single Crystal Turbine Blade
Authors: Li Shi Feng , Zhang Ding Hua , Bu Kun , Luo Qiu Sheng
Published: June 2013

The cracks were found on the surface of DD6 single crystal turbine blade. The blade fracture mode and causing reason were studied by analyzing the fracture surface and the microstructure in the vicinity of the cracks using Optical Microscope (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results indicated that the cracks fracture was resulted from the surface recrystallization of the blade. Owing to the presence of cast stress in the blade during the directional solidification process, a later solution treatment resulted in the formation of recrystallization grains. Meanwhile, some white particles with high concentration of W were precipitated at the grain boundary. Under the testing condition, the cracks initiated at the recrystallization boundary and expanded along the white precipitated phases until fatigue fracture.
Structural Design and Verification of Composite Pressure Vessels for Submarine External Stowage
Authors: Miller Daniel J.
Published: June 2013

Designers of modern conventional submarines are constantly striving to improve the platforms capabilities in a time of diverse missions. The inherent space and weight restrictions imposed on submarine design dictate a high level of optimisation and the implementation of advanced technologies to combat these often conflicting requirements. The design of external stowages is an area where this design paradigm is especially evident. In order to provide the RAN with additional mission flexibility and meet rigorous submarine requirements a novel approach was adopted to develop a composite pressure proof stowage. The design develops the use of composite laminate construction with the aim of minimising weight and cost, maintaining buoyancy and maintaining impact resistance using glass/carbon reinforced plastic for the prototype stowage. The resultant prototypes require structural validation including strain gauge verification to ensure that the final items can demonstrate adherence to stringent component and ultimately ship safety criteria.
Damage Characterisation of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composite Plate Using Acoustic Emission
Authors: Mohammed Bizuayehu Y. , Tan Chee K. , Wilcox Steven J. , Chong Alex Z.S.
Published: June 2013

Acoustic Emission (AE) is a sensitive technique which can be used to characterise damage in high strength composite plate. This paper describes an extension to an earlier piece of research work carried out by the ERC which resulted in the successful development of a novel source location methodology for the said material. The previous work concentrated on the source location in plate-like composite structures using acoustic emission. The work presented in this paper focuses on establishing the correlation between the different damage types suffered in the material namely de-lamination, matrix cracking, fibre rupture and stringer to skin debonding with key signal features of the AE activities. Controlled bending tests were initially carried out on laterally grooved slender composite specimens to progressively propagate damage in the weakened region of these specimens. The composite laminate plate itself is made from 16 plies of carbon fibre twill weaved in an epoxy matrix with bidirectional fibre alignments in the 0° and 90° directions with 60/40 fibre-matrix volume composition. These prepared samples were fully instrumented with broad band (100 kHz to 1MHz) Physical Acoustic AE sensors linked to the necessary signal conditioning hardware. The AE events were recorded using a high speed DAQ card accessed by customised software written in LabVIEWTM. Gathered raw data were analysed off-line for key signal features including energy and frequency contents and subsequently correlated to actual damage types. It can be concluded from the empirical evidence that feature vectors are distinct to the type of damage. Results gathered from additional test on the progressive skin-stringer debonding of the same material to failure confirmed the uniqueness of the AE feature trends. An integrated system which is capable of both in-situ location of compromised sites and the diagnostic of flaw types in composite plate can potentially find engineering applications including the structural health monitoring of composite aircraft parts.
Dynamic Displacement Estimation from Acceleration Measurements Using a Wireless Smart Sensor
Authors: Park Jong Woong , Sim Sung Han , Jung Hyung Jo , Spencer Billie F.
Published: June 2013

A displacement measurement provides useful information for structural health monitoring (SHM) as it is directly related to stiffness of the structure. Most existing methods of direct measurement such as the Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) and the Liner Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) are known to have accurate performance but have difficulties particularly in the use of large-scale civil structures as the methods rely on fixed reference points. Alternatively, indirect methods have been developed and widely used methods are Global Positioning System (GPS), vision-based displacement measurement system and displacement estimation from acceleration record. Among the indirect method, the use of accelerometer provides simple and economical in term of both hardware installation and operation. The major problem using acceleration based displacement estimation is low frequency drift caused by double integration. Recently, dynamic displacement estimation algorithm that addresses low-frequency drift problem has been developed.
This study utilizes Wireless Smart Sensor (WSN) for estimating dynamic displacement from acceleration measurement in combination with the recently developed displacement estimation algorithm. Integrated into WSN that are low-cost, wireless, compatible with accelerometers, and capable of onboard computation, the displacement can be measured without limit of location on large-scale civil structures. Thus, this approach has the significant potential to impact many applications that require displacement measurements. With the displacement estimation algorithm embedded, the WSN performs in-network data processing to estimate displacements at each distributed sensor location wirelessly using only measured acceleration data. To experimentally validate the performance of displacement estimation using WSN for the use in structures with multiple-degree of freedom, the random vibration test is conducted on the three-story shear building model. The estimated displacement is compared with the reference displacements measured from the laser displacement sensor and the result shows good agreement.
Composite Catalysts towards Oxygen Reduction in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Khomenko Volodymyr , Lykhnytskyi Kostiantyn , Barsukov Viacheslav , Chaban Vitalii
Published: June 2013

Electrochemical properties and possibilities of manufacturing the anodes based on water-soluble binders such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) have been investigated in order to create prerequisites for development of “green” technologies for recyclability of LIBs components.In this work an advanced anode was designed. A kind of nanosized carbon coated Si composite was synthesized. The charge/discharge test reveals that the advanced anode shows a reversible capacity of 600 mAh/g. The improved performance was ascribed to the carbon shell of Si and CMC binder. The binder CMC buffers the expansion of the Si and the improved electric contact between the active material and copper current collector.
Polymethylmethacrylated Oligoaniline: Synthesis, Characterization and Properties
Authors: Bogomolova Olga E. , Pyshkina O.A. , Sergeyev V.G.
Published: June 2013

Polymethylmethacrylated oligoaniline was synthesized by methylmethacrylate radical polymerization in the presence of oligoaniline. By means of IR-spectroscopy polymethylmethacrylated oligoaniline was characterized and its degree of oxidation was showed to be conserved. With the use of cyclic voltammetry its electroactivity was found to be preserved after modification.
Young’s Modulus Identification by Using Cylindrical Specimens
Authors: Kovalovs Andrejs , Gluhihs Sergejs , Chate Andris
Published: June 2013

A method for determining the flexural Young’s modulus of polymeric materials from deformation diagrams of thin-walled circular cylindrical shells in compression in the region of geometrical nonlinearity has been elaborated. A numerical solution is found by the finite-element method (ANSYS.) The existence of a unified deformation diagram in generalized coordinates is established, from which the flexural Young’s modulus is determined. To validate the method, the Young’s modulus of specimens was found experimentally.
Influence of Welding Parameters in Substrate/Coating of Galvanized Sheets Using Resistance Spot Welding
Authors: Silva Dias Joanes , Costa Hector Reynaldo Meneses , de Aguiar Ricardo Alexandre Amar , de Araujo Alves Lima Rosemere , Cunha Marcio Luiz Almeida , Ferreira Ramon Fonseca
Published: June 2013

The main objective of this work is to propose an optimization of welding parameters through the process of resistance spot welding, applied to Interstitial Free (IF) steel sheets in order to increase the life of conventional copper electrodes. The methodology consisted of using a weld tester in order to ensure the accuracy of values. The main parameters selected through a survey of the weldability were: force, time and welding current. To evaluate the resistance of the weld and the electrode wear, mechanical tests were performed like tensile-shear, cross-tension, peel test and microhardness. A microstructural evaluation by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was made. The results show reducing the thickness of the coating in the weld region and macro and microstructures were observed. Through the tensile-shear and cross-tension tests were verified using electrodes caps up to 1250 points with acceptable welds. The microhardness test results indicated significant hardness increase in weld nugget elucidated by differences in microconstituents evaluated by OM and SEM. The methodology used for parameter selection has highlighted an optimal combination with 200kgf electrodes force, 9cy welding time and 7.8 kA welding current, in overlap IF steel sheets with 0.75mm of thickness, thereby increasing the lifetime of the electrode and ensures a better quality of welds and the consequent reduction of energy applied to the weld process.
Role of IRF4 in IFN-Stimulated Gene Induction and Maintenance of Kaposi Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus Latency in Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cells
Authors: Forero Adriana , Moore Patrick S. , Sarkar Saumendra N.
Published: June 2013

IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 4 is a hematopoietic cell–specific transcription factor that regulates the maturation and differentiation of immune cells. Using an inducible expression system, we found that IRF4 directly induced a specific subset of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in a type I IFN–independent manner in both epithelial and B cell lines. Moreover, Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV)–encoded viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) enhances IRF4-mediated gene induction. Coexpression of IRF4 with vFLIP significantly increased ISG60 (IFIT3) and Cig5 (RSAD2) transcription that was dependent on the ability of vFLIP to activate NF-κB. A vFLIP mutant (A57L) defective in NF-κB activation failed to enhance IRF4-mediated ISG induction. Thus, we provide a physiologically relevant mechanism by which viral protein–mediated NF-κB activation modulates specific ISG induction by IRF4. In contrast, IRF4 also acted as a negative regulator of KSHV replication and transcription activator expression after induction of KSHV lytic reactivation in KSHV-positive primary effusion lymphoma cells. Taken together, these results suggest a dual role for IRF4 in regulating ISG induction and KSHV lytic reactivation in primary effusion lymphoma cells.
Depletion of Alveolar Macrophages during Influenza Infection Facilitates Bacterial Superinfections
Authors: Ghoneim Hazem E. , Thomas Paul G. , McCullers Jonathan A.
Published: June 2013

Viruses such as influenza suppress host immune function by a variety of methods. This may result in significant morbidity through several pathways, including facilitation of secondary bacterial pneumonia from pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. PKH26-phagocytic cell labeling dye was administered intranasally to label resident alveolar macrophages (AMs) in a well-established murine model before influenza infection to determine turnover kinetics during the course of infection. More than 90% of resident AMs were lost in the first week after influenza, whereas the remaining cells had a necrotic phenotype. To establish the impact of this innate immune defect, influenza-infected mice were challenged with S. pneumoniae. Early AM-mediated bacterial clearance was significantly impaired in influenza-infected mice: ∼50% of the initial bacterial inoculum could be harvested from the alveolar airspace 3 h later. In mock-infected mice, by contrast, >95% of inocula up to 50-fold higher was efficiently cleared. Coinfection during the AM depletion phase caused significant body weight loss and mortality. Two weeks after influenza, the AM population was fully replenished with successful re-establishment of early innate host protection. Local GM-CSF treatment partially restored the impaired early bacterial clearance with efficient protection against secondary pneumococcal pneumonia. We conclude that resident AM depletion occurs during influenza infection. Among other potential effects, this establishes a niche for secondary pneumococcal infection by altering early cellular innate immunity in the lungs, resulting in pneumococcal outgrowth and lethal pneumonia. This novel mechanism will inform development of novel therapeutic approaches to restore lung innate immunity against bacterial superinfections.
Cutting Edge: IL-12 and Type I IFN Differentially Program CD8 T Cells for Programmed Death 1 Re-expression Levels and Tumor Control
Authors: Gerner Michael Y. , Heltemes-Harris Lynn M. , Fife Brian T. , Mescher Matthew F.
Published: June 2013

Naive CD8 T cells proliferate in response to TCR and CD28 signals, but require IL-12 or type I IFN to survive and develop optimal effector functions. Although murine CTL generated in vitro in response to IL-12 or IFN-α had comparable effector functions, IL-12–stimulated cells were significantly more effective in controlling tumor in an adoptive immunotherapy model. They maintained high numbers and function, whereas IFN-α–stimulated cells declined in number and became exhausted. Consistent with this, IFN-α–stimulated cells in the tumor expressed higher levels of programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitory receptor than did IL-12–stimulated cells. When blocking Ab specific for the PD-L1 ligand of PD-1 was administered, the efficacy of IFN-α–stimulated CTL became comparable with that of IL-12–stimulated cells. Thus, IL-12 and IFN-α differentially program CD8 T cells to re-express distinct levels of PD-1 upon re-encountering Ag, resulting in IL-12–stimulated cells being less susceptible to exhaustion in the face of sustained tumor Ag.
NKG2D Induces Mcl-1 Expression and Mediates Survival of CD8 Memory T Cell Precursors via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
Authors: Wensveen Felix M. , Lenartić Maja , Jelenčić Vedrana , Lemmermann Niels A. W. , ten Brinke Anja , Jonjić Stipan , Polić Bojan
Published: June 2013

Memory formation of activated CD8 T cells is the result of a specific combination of signals that promote long-term survival and inhibit differentiation into effector cells. Much is known about initial cues that drive memory formation, but it is poorly understood which signals are essential during the intermediate stages before terminal differentiation. NKG2D is an activating coreceptor on Ag-experienced CD8 T cells that promotes effector cell functions. Its role in memory formation is currently unknown. In this study, we show that NKG2D controls formation of CD8 memory T cells by promoting survival of precursor cells. We demonstrate that NKG2D enhances IL-15–mediated PI3K signaling of activated CD8 T cells, in a specific phase of memory cell commitment, after activation but before terminal differentiation. This signal is essential for the induction of prosurvival protein Mcl-1 and precursor cell survival. In vivo, NKG2D deficiency results in reduced memory cell formation and impaired protection against reinfection. Our findings show a new role for PI3K and the NKG2D/IL-15 axis in an underappreciated stage of effector to memory cell transition that is essential for the generation of antiviral immunity. Moreover, we provide novel insights how these receptors control both effector and memory T cell differentiation.
Is it still possible to study religion religiously today? Mircea Eliade's religious apologetic account
Authors: Ngcobo Eric T. , Beyers Jaco
Published: June 2013

This article reflects on the question whether it is still possible to study religion religiously today or not? This is due to the variety of disciplines� interest in religion and its phenomena. Such interest influenced the study to adopt a new approach that is different from that of religious studies. Both religion and its phenomena, especially myths according to the reductionists, should be treated lesser than they are professed to be. Mircea Eliade on the other hand argues differently, as he stresses on the point that religious phenomena can only be studied under religious spheres alone.
Occurrence of glyphosate and cloransulam resistant Canada fleabane (Conyza canadensis L. Cronq.) in Ontario
Authors: Byker Holly P. , Soltani Nader , Robinson Darren E. , Tardif François J. , Lawton Mark B. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: June 2013

Byker, H. P., Soltani, N., Robinson, D. E., Tardif, F. J., Lawton, M. B. and Sikkema, P. H. 2013. Occurrence of glyphosate and cloransulam resistant Canada fleabane ( Conyza canadensis L. Cronq.) in Ontario. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 851–855. Canada fleabane is the second documented glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed species in Ontario, Canada. In 2010, the first eight GR Canada fleabane populations were identified in Essex County. In 2011 and 2012, an expanded survey was conducted to identify the occurrence of GR and cloransulam-resistant populations in Ontario. Seed was collected from field weed escapes in the early fall and sprayed in the greenhouse with 900 g a.e. ha−1 of glyphosate at the 10-cm rosette stage. Ninety-three and 54 additional sites were confirmed in 2011 and 2012, respectively. There are now 155 sites with confirmed GR Canada fleabane in Ontario in the counties of Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Huron, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, and Niagara region. Twelve and seven sites were identified with multiple resistant Canada fleabane (glyphosate and cloransulam) in 2011 and 2012, respectively in Elgin, Essex, Kent, Lambton, and Middlesex counties. This is the first survey documenting the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant and multiple resistant (glyphosate and cloransulam) Canada fleabane in Ontario and its distribution.
Tree height and tropical forest biomass estimation
Authors: Hunter M. O. , Keller M. , Vitoria D. , Morton D. C.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. Tropical forests account for approximately half of above-ground carbon stored in global vegetation. However, uncertainties in tropical forest carbon stocks remain high because it is costly and laborious to quantify standing carbon stocks. Carbon stocks of tropical forests are determined using allometric relations between tree stem diameter and height and biomass. Previous work has shown that the inclusion of height in biomass allometries, compared to the sole use of diameter, significantly improves biomass estimation accuracy. Here, we evaluate the effect of height measurement error on biomass estimation and we evaluate the accuracy of recently published diameter : height allometries at four sites within the Brazilian Amazon. As no destructive sample of biomass was available at these sites, reference biomass values were based on allometries. We found that the precision of individual tree height measurements ranged from 3 to 20% of total height. This imprecision resulted in a 5–6% uncertainty in biomass when scaled to 1 ha transects. Individual height measurement may be replaced with existing regional and global height allometries. However, we recommend caution when applying these relations. At Tapajós National Forest in the Brazilian state of Pará, using the pantropical and regional allometric relations for height resulted in site biomass 26% to 31% less than reference values. At the other three study sites, the pan-tropical equation resulted in errors of less that 2%, and the regional allometry produced errors of less than 12%. As an alternative to measuring all tree heights or to using regional and pantropical relations, we recommend measuring height for a well distributed sample of about 100 trees per site. Following this methodology, 95% confidence intervals of transect biomass were constrained to within 4.5% on average when compared to reference values.
The Greenland ice sheet: modelling the surface mass balance from GCM output with a new statistical downscaling technique
Authors: Geyer M. , Salas Y Melia D. , Brun E. , Dumont M.
Published: June 2013

Abstract. The aim of this study is to derive a realistic estimation of the Surface Mass Balance (SMB) of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) through statistical downscaling of Global Coupled Model (GCM) outputs. To this end, climate simulations performed with the CNRM-CM5.1 Atmosphere-Ocean GCM within the CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5) framework are used for the period 1850–2300. From the year 2006, two different emission scenarios are considered (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Simulations of SMB performed with the detailed snowpack model Crocus driven by CNRM-CM5.1 surface atmospheric forcings serve as a reference. On the basis of these simulations, statistical relationships between total precipitation, snow-ratio, snowmelt, sublimation and near-surface air temperature are established. This leads to the formulation of SMB variation as a function of temperature variation. Based on this function, a downscaling technique is proposed in order to refine 150 km horizontal resolution SMB output from CNRM-CM5.1 to a 15 km resolution grid. This leads to a much better estimation of SMB along the GrIS margins, where steep topography gradients are not correctly represented at low-resolution. For the recent past (1989–2008), the integrated SMB over the GrIS is respectively 309 and 243 Gt yr–1 for raw and downscaled CNRM-CM5.1. In comparison, the Crocus snowpack model forced with ERA-Interim yields a value of 245 Gt yr–1. The major part of the remaining discrepancy between Crocus and downscaled CNRM-CM5.1 SMB is due to the different snow albedo representation. The difference between the raw and the downscaled SMB tends to increase with near-surface air temperature via an increase in snowmelt.
Qazion
Authors: Killebrew Ann E.
Published: June 2013

First discovered in 1860, the monumental structure at Qazion and its late second-century CE Greek dedicatory inscription by Galilean Jews have been a focal point of scholarly debate. Did this building serve as a synagogue for the local community or was it a Roman temple constructed by Jews to honor Septimius Severus and his family? This article presents the results of the Hachlili and Killebrew archaeological survey of the Qazion cultic complex and a new interpretation of this site located on the border of Jewish and pagan Galilee.
Analysis of use of a single best answer format in an undergraduate medical examination
Authors: El-Uri Fahmi Ishaq , Malas Naser
Published: June 2013

Examinations at the Faculty of Medicine of Mu'tah University are based on a single best answer multiple-choice questions (MCQs) format. However, the reliability of this examination format has not been determined. Objective: Using an examination of obstetrics and gynaecology as a model, this study aims to analyze the difficulty (facility) index, the discriminatory power and reliability of the examination format. Materials, Subjects and Methods: A prospective study on the psychometric performance was carried out for an undergraduate examination in obstetrics and gynaecology. The performance of the items was measured in terms of facility, discrimination and reliability. Two statistical tests were used to estimate the reliability of the exam: The Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) and the Cronbach alpha test. Results: The items scored well in facility with a significant portion (26%) achieving a positive point biserial of over 0.3 and a Cronbach alpha score of 0.947. However, 23% of the items had a negative point biserial and the Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR20) score was only 0.599. Conclusion: In order to improve the reliability of examinations, we recommend removing the items with negative point biserials and increasing the total number of items.
The effect of non-exercise activity thermogenesis on subjects with metabolic syndrome – a proof of concept study in Qatar
Authors: Hammoudeh Samer , Bener Abdulbari , Zirie Mahmoud , Al-Hamaq Abdullah , Chandra Prem , Moses Olivia , Dos Santos Hildemar , Tonstad Serena
Published: June 2013

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Total human energy expenditure is divided into three major components; resting metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, and activity thermogenesis which is divided into exercise and non exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). In this study, NEAT was used as a lifestyle intervention on subjects with metabolic syndrome. 200 eligible patients from the Diabetes and Endocrinology Department at Hamad Medical Hospital in Doha, Qatar were assigned to an intervention (n = 100) or control (n = 100) group and followed for one year. The intervention group was advised to practice NEAT enhancing activities, while the control group was not advised about NEAT. Measurements of waist circumference, weight, BMI, blood pressure, glucose and lipid profile were assessed at baseline, six months and 1 year.

After 1 year 52 intervention and 55 control subjects completed the study. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in metabolic syndrome components between the two randomized groups. The amount of recommended NEAT activity appears to have been too small to influence study outcomes. Future studies in similar populations may need to consider the high dropout rate, and use of incentives or other interventions to increase compliance and retention.
The Current State of Absence Epilepsy: Can We Have Your Attention?
Authors: Tenney Jeffrey R. , Glauser Tracy A.
Published: June 2013

Absence seizures are common within many different epilepsies and span all the ages. Even though absence seizures were described more than three centuries ago advances associated with its classification, pathophysiology, genetics, treatment, prognosis, and associated co-morbidities continue to be made.
Simbolismos de Gênero e Gestão: Uma Análise das Feminilidades de Executivas Brasileiras
Authors: Menezes Raquel Santos Soares , Oliveira Janete Lara , Diniz Ana Paula Rodrigues
Published: June 2013

A noção de simbolismo de gênero, considerada como expectativas sociais de como deveriam se comportar homens ou mulheres, e quais trabalhos deveriam exercer, possibilita compreender como são desempenhados papéis profissionais na sociedade atual. O objetivo desse artigo é identificar os ideais da profissão executiva na narrativa das mulheres. Foram entrevistadas 64 executivas em organizações diversas em sete capitais brasileiras – Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Porto Alegre, Salvador, Vitória, São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. Os dados foram analisados por meio da Análise de Discurso Crítica, possibilitando a identificação de significados do trabalho executivo que seriam supostamente neutros quanto ao gênero, bem como das feminilidades associadas a (in) competências das mulheres para o trabalho executivo. Mesmo competências associadas a feminilidades, como capacidade de negociação e organização, flexibilidade e cautela são apresentadas como ambivalentes, ora pesando a favor das mulheres que ocupam os cargos de gestão, ora as condenando como menos aptas para o trabalho executivo do que os homens.DOI:10.7769/gesec.v4i1.139
Rebuilding the Relative Value Unit–Based Physician Payment System
Authors: McMahon Laurence F. , Song Zirui
Published: July 2024

This Viewpoint explores the use of relative value units assigned by the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale in US physician payment systems and the need to rebuild this scale to reflect changes in modern clinical practice.
Bed Bugs
Authors: Norton Scott A. , Pollack Richard J.
Published: July 2024

This Patient Page describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of bed bugs.
Dupilumab in Adults With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Beck Lisa A. , Bissonnette Robert , Deleuran Mette , Nakahara Takeshi , Galus Ryszard , Coleman Anna , Gherardi Guy , Xiao Jing , Dingman Robert , Xu Christine , Avetisova Elena , Dubost-Brama Ariane , Shabbir Arsalan
Published: July 2024

Importance

Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often requires continuous long-term systemic management. Long-term safety and efficacy data for treatment options are critically important.

Objective

To assess the safety and efficacy of dupilumab treatment for up to 5 years in adults with moderate to severe AD.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The 5-year LIBERTY AD open-label extension study was conducted from September 2013 to June 2022 at 550 sites in 28 countries. The study enrolled adult patients with moderate to severe AD who had participated in previous dupilumab clinical trials. Data were analyzed from August 2022 to February 2023.

Exposures

At enrollment, patients initiated a regimen of subcutaneous dupilumab, 200 mg, weekly (400-mg loading dose). The regimen was amended in June 2014 to dupilumab, 300 mg, weekly (600-mg loading dose) based on a dose-ranging study and again in November 2019 to dupilumab, 300 mg, every 2 weeks to align with the regulatory regimen approvals.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end points were the incidence and rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Key secondary end points included incidence and rate of serious TEAEs and adverse events of special interest, proportion of patients achieving an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1 (clear or almost clear), and proportion of patients with 75% or more improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) from the parent study baseline.

Results

A total of 2677 patients were enrolled and treated in the open-label extension study; 1611 (60.2%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 39.2 (13.4) years. A total of 334 patients (12.5%) completed treatment up to week 260. The most common reasons for withdrawal were due to regulatory approval of dupilumab in compliance with the study protocol (810 of 1380 [58.7%]), patient withdrawal (248 of 1380 [18.0%]), and adverse events (116 of 1380 [8.4%]). Exposure-adjusted rates of TEAEs were generally stable or declined throughout the study. Common TEAEs (incidence of 5% or greater) included nasopharyngitis, worsening AD, upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis allergic, headache, oral herpes, and injection-site reaction. At week 260, 220 of 326 patients (67.5%) achieved an IGA score of 0 or 1 and 288 of 324 (88.9%) achieved 75% or greater improvement in the EASI. The mean (SD) EASI score was 16.39 (14.60) at baseline and 2.75 (5.62) at end of study.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, there was sustained safety and efficacy of continuous long-term dupilumab treatment for adults with moderate to severe AD.
Solitary Acute Necrotic Scrotal Ulcer in a Young Patient
Authors: Ciudad Andrea , Rivera Maria , Pujol Ramon M.
Published: July 2024

A healthy young male patient was referred to the department of dermatology for evaluation of a solitary painful scrotal ulceration that developed rapidly 48 hours before consultation. What is your diagnosis?
Feedback and Financial Incentives for Reducing Cell Phone Use While Driving
Authors: Delgado M. Kit , Ebert Jeffrey P. , Xiong Ruiying A. , Winston Flaura K. , McDonald Catherine C. , Rosin Roy M. , Volpp Kevin G. , Barnett Ian J. , Small Dylan S. , Wiebe Douglas J. , Abdel-Rahman Dina , Hemmons Jessica E. , Finegold Rafi , Kotrc Benjamin , Radford Emma , Fisher William J. , Gaba Kristen L. , Everett William C. , Halpern Scott D.
Published: July 2024

Importance

Handheld phone use while driving is a major factor in vehicle crashes. Scalable interventions are needed to encourage drivers not to use their phones.

Objective

To test whether interventions involving social comparison feedback and/or financial incentives can reduce drivers’ handheld phone use.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In a randomized clinical trial, interventions were administered nationwide in the US via a mobile application in the context of a usage-based insurance program (Snapshot Mobile application). Customers were eligible to be invited to participate in the study if enrolled in the usage-based insurance program for 30 to 70 days. The study was conducted from May 13 to June 30, 2019. Analysis was completed December 22, 2023.

Interventions

Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 trial arms for a 7-week intervention period: (1) control; (2) feedback, with weekly push notification about their handheld phone use compared with that of similar others; (3) standard incentive, with a maximum $50 award at the end of the intervention based on how their handheld phone use compared with similar others; (4) standard incentive plus feedback, combining interventions of arms 2 and 3; (5) reframed incentive plus feedback, with a maximum $7.15 award each week, framed as participant’s to lose; and (6) doubled reframed incentive plus feedback, a maximum $14.29 weekly loss-framed award.

Main Outcome and Measure

Proportion of drive time engaged in handheld phone use in seconds per hour (s/h) of driving. Analyses were conducted with the intention-to-treat approach.

Results

Of 17 663 customers invited by email to participate, 2109 opted in and were randomized. A total of 2020 drivers finished the intervention period (68.0% female; median age, 30 [IQR, 25-39] years). Median baseline handheld phone use was 216 (IQR, 72-480) s/h. Relative to control, feedback and standard incentive participants did not reduce their handheld phone use. Standard incentive plus feedback participants reduced their use by −38 (95% CI, −69 to −8) s/h (P = .045); reframed incentive plus feedback participants reduced their use by −56 (95% CI, −87 to −26) s/h (P < .001); and doubled reframed incentive plus feedback participants reduced their use by −42 s/h (95% CI, −72 to −13 s/h; P = .007). The 5 active treatment arms did not differ significantly from each other.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, providing social comparison feedback plus incentives reduced handheld phone use while individuals were driving.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03833219
Delivering Impactful Scientific Oral Presentations
Authors: Choi Jeff , Spain David A.
Published: July 2024

This Viewpoint highlights specific challenges of facing a scientific conference audience and provides practical recommendations to overcome these challenges.
Effects of management practices on Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus density in privately owned working forests across the Southeastern United States
Authors: Nolan Victoria , Yeiser John M. , Costanzo Bridgett , Martin Melissa R. , McGuire Jessica L. , Delancey Clayton D. , Lewis William B. , Martin James A.
Published: July 2024

Obtaining rigorous baseline density estimates of species of conservation interest is key when assisting landowners to achieve management goals on private lands. Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations are declining throughout their range and despite being the focus of numerous private land conservation initiatives, baseline density estimates in privately owned pine forests are lacking.

We sought to address this knowledge gap across the Southeastern United States by sampling 105 privately owned pine stands throughout 2018 to 2020 using observer point count and autonomous recording unit (ARU) sampling data. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, we investigated the influence of stand management (brush management or applied fire) on bobwhite density, as well as four landscape‐scale environmental variables. These included percentage cover of forest, herbaceous, agricultural or burnt land area across six different spatial scales ranging from 500‐m to 10‐km around each pine stand.

Baseline density on sites with no management was estimated to be 2.24 coveys per 100 ha (1.00–5.03, 95% BCI), with little impact of applying brush management, but a trend for a positive effect of fire management (0.19, −0.01 to 0.38 95% BCI).

This impact of fire was seen at both the stand‐scale, correlated with an increase in acreage of applied prescribed burn management, and across the greater landscape area, correlated with cover of burnt area within a 2‐km buffer around each site.

There were also strong positive influences of herbaceous vegetation and a strong negative influence of forest cover on bobwhite density.

Practical implication: our sampling efforts fill an important information gap regarding densities throughout private lands in the Southeastern United States. Our study also highlights the necessity of landscape scale planning for Northern Bobwhite conservation initiatives because the efficacy of conservation practices (i.e. prescribed fire and brush management) could be altered by the landscape surrounding the treated forest stand.
Race and Social Media
Authors: Nutter‐Pridgen Kathryn L.
Published: July 2024

The sociology of race and social media explores the ways in which social media platforms can reproduce, challenge, and transform racial hierarchies. Sociological research locates examples of racism on social media, including racist cybertypes, selective algorithms, and cyberbullying. Online racism influences offline activities, from racist rallies to violence and hate crimes, as well. However, social media can also provide safe spaces where racial minorities can promote positive images of their group, build social capital, and contribute to antiracist efforts. Situating social media within its larger context of capitalism is crucial to understanding the consequences of race and racism online.
Critical Race Theory
Authors: Hatch Anthony , Khan Nazneen
Published: July 2024

Critical race theory refers to a historical and contemporary body of scholarship that aims to analyze how race and racism are foundational elements in historical and contemporary social structures and social experiences, and how they change conditions of racial injustice. In defining critical race theory, it is important to make a distinction between the deep historical tradition of critical theorizing about race and racism and a specific body of US legal scholarship that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s in response to the successes and failures of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. While this new school of legal thought coined the phrase “critical race theory” to signal a new critical analysis of the role of the law in propagating and maintaining racism, this movement is part of a broader intellectual tradition of critical theories of race and antiracist struggle. Using this broader framework, critical race theory can be viewed as a diagnostic body ofintellectual activism, scholarship that seeks to identify the pressure points for antiracist struggle. Given the historical scope of critical race theories, this entry highlights several core themes that tie together this eclectic body of explicitly political theorizing and concludes with an overview of contemporary political opposition to critical race theory.
Reclaiming the radical roots of adult education: Toward community‐based anti‐racism education through participatory action research
Authors: Guo Shibao , Liu Jingzhou , Nizamuddin Sameer , Cai Lily J. , Jurkova Sinela
Published: July 2024

In this article, we revisit the radical roots of adult education for social change by developing community‐based anti‐racism education through participatory action research. Drawing on critical race theory (CRT) as its theoretical framework, we incorporate principles of participatory action research (PAR) to conceptualize community‐based anti‐racism education where community members and academics collaborate as equal partners throughout the process. Three key features emerged out of this analysis to characterize this approach: using people's lived experiences as an entry point to understand contemporary forms of racism, underscoring the importance of participation at the grassroots level, and prioritizing an action‐oriented feature of community‐based anti‐racism education. By combining synergies between CRT and PAR, this approach has the potential to contribute to facilitating collaborative, equitable partnerships in practicing anti‐racism education in diverse communities and enabling action‐oriented anti‐racism education as a site of advocacy, emancipation, and institutional practice for social change.
How Chinese business leaders in the tutoring industry learned to think strategically in a time of crisis
Authors: Chen Ruohao
Published: July 2024

Chinese leaders in the tutoring industry encountered a crisis brought about by the Pandemic and the Double Reduction Policy. This exploratory multi‐case study applied a conceptual framework that combines informal learning, strategic thinking, and experiential learning theory to explore how those leaders learned to think strategically in this crisis. Fifteen Chinese educational entrepreneurs were interviewed about their strategies and learning experiences related to the crisis. The findings suggest that the participants learned to think strategically from direct experiences, indirect experiences, and two thinking processes – systems thinking and metaphorical thinking. This process was also influenced by Chinese cultural and historical wisdom. This study extends the current understanding of strategic thinking and learning practices among Chinese educational entrepreneurs. The research contributes to cultivating Chinese leaders’ strategic thinking capabilities through informal learning during crises and offers practical value for leadership development in Chinese culture.
Modular Anti‐Counterfeit Tags Formed by Template‐Assisted Self‐Assembly of Plasmonic Nanocrystals and Authenticated by Machine Learning
Authors: Ibrar Maha , Huang Sheng‐Yuan , McCurtain Zachery , Naha Shujon , Crandall David J. , Jacobson Stephen C. , Skrabalak Sara E.
Published: July 2024

Counterfeit goods are pervasive, being found in products as diverse as textiles and optical media to pharmaceuticals and sensitive electronics. Here, an anti‐counterfeit platform is reported in which plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) are used to create unique image tags that can be authenticated quickly and reliably. Specifically, plasmonic NPs are assembled into periodic arrays of NP clusters by template‐assisted self‐assembly (TASA), where the light scattering responses from the arrays are analyzed by dark‐field optical microscopy. Tag design proved modular as plasmonic NPs with different optical responses can be selected and paired with Templates with different features (e.g., well size, well shape, and number and arrangement of wells in an array), giving access to a variety of color responses and unique images. These images can be differentiated from one another and authenticated by image analysis. Authentication methods based on shallow and deep neural networks are compared, where deep neural networks authenticated TASA tags with higher accuracy. Given the ease of tag fabrication and rapid image analysis, these platforms are ideal for on‐the‐fly tagging and supply‐chain authentication of critical goods.
Temporal Separation between Lattice Dynamics and Electronic Spin‐State Switching in Spin‐Crossover Thin Films Evidenced by Time‐Resolved X‐Ray Diffraction
Authors: Ridier Karl , Bertoni Roman , Mandal Ritwika , Volte Alix , Jiang Yifeng , Trzop Elzbieta , Levantino Matteo , Watier Yves , Frey Johannes , Zhang Yuteng , Pezeril Thomas , Cailleau Hervé , Molnár Gábor , Bousseksou Azzedine , Lorenc Maciej , Mariette Céline
Published: July 2024

Spin‐crossover (SCO) complexes have drawn significant attention for the possibility to photoswitch their electronic spin state on a sub‐picosecond timescale at the molecular level. However, the multi‐step mechanism of laser‐pulse‐induced switching in solid state is not yet fully understood. Here, time‐resolved synchrotron X‐ray diffraction is used to follow the dynamics of the crystal lattice in response to a picosecond laser excitation in nanometric thin films of the SCO complex [Fe(HB(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)3)2]. The observed structural dynamics unambiguously reveal a lattice expansion on the 100 picosecond timescale, which is temporally decoupled both from the ultrafast molecular photoswitching process (occurring within 100 fs) and from the delayed, thermo‐elastic (Arrhenius‐driven) conversion (taking place ≈10 ns). These time‐separated dynamics are also manifested by the observation of damped acoustic oscillations in the time evolution of the lattice volume, whereas no such oscillations are observed in the electronic spin‐state dynamics. Overall, these results suggest the existence of a universal behavior whereby the intramolecular energy barrier between low‐spin and high‐spin states acts as an intrinsic dynamical bottleneck in the out‐of‐equilibrium spin‐state switching dynamics of SCO materials.
Enhancing Temperature Responsiveness of PNIPAM Through 3D‐Printed Hierarchical Porosity
Authors: Liu Weiyi , Wang Zhenwu , Serna Julian A. , Debastiani Rafaela , Gomez Joaquin E. Urrutia , Lu Lutong , Yang Wenwu , Dong Zheqin , Levkin Pavel A.
Published: July 2024

Materials with ultra‐fast responsive properties are essential for various applications. Among the responsive materials, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) stands out due to its well‐studied temperature‐responsive properties. Improving the kinetics of the responsive properties of PNIPAM is, however, still essential for advancing its practical use. Here, the responsive rate of PNIPAM hydrogels is enhanced by first incorporating sub‐micrometer porosity into the material through polymerization‐induced phase separation (PIPS), followed by introducing millimeter scale pores via 3D printing, thereby rendering the material with hierarchical porosity. The 3D‐printed porous PNIPAM structures show accelerated swelling and deswelling, when compared to non‐porous PNIPAM structures, due to enhanced water permeability associated with the continuous network of micrometer to millimeter‐sized pores. Additionally, thinner polymer structures result in faster temperature response rates. At the same time, the mechanical strength of PNIPAM hydrogels with high porosity and thinner polymer walls is not compromised, overcoming the common trade‐off between swelling and mechanical properties.