bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-specific distributions and determinants of thoracic aortic diameters in the elderly
Authors: Bons Lidia R , Rueda-Ochoa Oscar L , El Ghoul Khalid , Rohde Sofie , Budde Ricardo PJ , Leening Maarten JG , Vernooij Meike W , Franco Oscar H , van der Lugt Aad , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W , Kavousi Maryam , Bos Daniel
Published: September 2019

Objective

To provide population-based distributions of thoracic aortic diameters in men and women aged 55 years or older and to identify determinants of thoracic aortic diameters.

Methods

From 2003 to 2006, 2505 participants (1208 men, mean age 69.1±6.8 years) from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study underwent non-enhanced cardiac CT. The diameter of the ascending (AA) and descending aorta (DA) was measured at the level of the pulmonary bifurcation.

Results

The mean diameter of the ascending and descending aorta was substantially larger in men (38±4 mm and 30±2 mm) than in women (35±3 mm and 27±2 mm). An ascending aortic diameter of larger than 40 mm was found in 228 (18.9%) men and 76 (5.9%) women and a descending aortic diameter larger than 40 mm was found in two men and no women. Male sex was found to be independently associated with larger DA diameter (standardised β 0.24, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.30), while a statistically non-significant trend was found for the AA diameter (standardised β 0.06, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.12). Age, height, weight and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were also associated with larger AA and/or DA diameters. Diabetes was associated with smaller AA and DA diameters. We found no evidence for effect modification by sex.

Conclusions

In persons aged 55 years or older, an ascending aortic diameter of 40 mm or larger was found in 18.9% of men and 5.9% of women. Given the importance of sex, sex-specific distribution values may prove useful in clinical practice, even when correcting for body surface area or height.
Characteristics of subjects with alcoholic cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death
Authors: Hietanen Siiri , Herajärvi Johanna , Junttila Juhani , Pakanen Lasse , Huikuri Heikki V , Liisanantti Janne
Published: September 2019

Objective

To study social and clinical characteristics of victims of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM).

Methods

The study population comprised a subset of Fingesture cohort. All subjects were verified SCD victims determined to have ACM as cause of death in medico-legal autopsy between 1998 and 2017 in Northern Finland. The Finnish Population Register Centre provided SCD victims’ last place of residence. Population data of residential area were obtained from Statistics Finland.

Results

From a total of 5869 SCD victims in Fingesture cohort, in 290 victims the cause of SCD was ACM (4.9%; median age 56 (50–62) years; 83% males). In 64 (22.1%) victims, the diagnosis of cardiac disease was made prior to death and in 226 (77.9%) at autopsy. There were no significant differences in autopsy findings between victims with or without known cardiac diagnosis, but steatohepatitis (94.5%) and liver cirrhosis (64,5%) were common in both groups. Alcoholism was more often recorded in the known cardiac disease group (64.1% vs 47.3%, p=0.023). Majority were included in the working age population (ie, under 65 years) (54.8% and 53.1%, p=0.810). In high-income communities, 28.8% of ACM SCD victims had previously diagnosed cardiac disease, the proportion in the middle-income and low-income communities was 18.6% (p=0.05).

Conclusions

Majority of SCD victims due to ACM did not have previously diagnosed cardiac disease, but documented risk consumption of alcohol was common. This emphasises the importance of routine screening of alcohol consumption and signs of cardiomyopathy in heavy alcohol users in primary healthcare.
Unrecognised self-injury mortality (SIM) trends among racial/ethnic minorities and women in the USA
Authors: Rockett Ian R H , Caine Eric D , Connery Hilary S , Nolte Kurt B , Nestadt Paul S , Nelson Lewis S , Jia Haomiao
Published: September 2019

Aim

To assess whether an enhanced category combining suicides with nonsuicide drug self-intoxication fatalities more effectively captures the burden of self-injury mortality (SIM) in the USA among US non-Hispanic black and Hispanic populations and women irrespective of race/ethnicity.

Methods

This observational study used deidentified national mortality data for 2008–2017 from the CDC’sWeb-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. SIM comprised suicides by any method and age at death plus estimated nonsuicide drug self-intoxication deaths at age ≥15 years. Measures were crude SIM and suicide rates; SIM-to-suicide rate ratios; and indices of premature mortality.

Results

While the suicide rate increased by 29% for blacks, 36% for Hispanics and 25% for non-Hispanic whites between 2008 and 2017, corresponding SIM rate increases were larger at 109%, 69% and 55% (p<0.0001). SIM:suicide rate ratio gaps were widest among blacks but similar for the other two groups. Gaps were wider for females than males, especially black females whose ratios measured ≥3.71 across the observation period versus <3.00 for white and Hispanic counterparts. Total lost years of life for Hispanic, white and black SIM decedents in 2017 were projected to be 42.6, 37.1 and 32.4, respectively.

Conclusion

Application of SIM exposed substantial excess burdens from substance poisoning relative to suicide for minorities, particularly non-Hispanic blacks and for women generally. Results underscored the need to define, develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive strategies to address common antecedents of self-injurious behaviours.
Urinary bisphenol A and serum lipids: a meta-analysis of six NHANES examination cycles (2003–2014)
Authors: Dunder Linda , Lejonklou Margareta H , Lind P Monica , Lind Lars
Published: September 2019

Background

Mounting evidence from both experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) has a role in metabolic disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess whether urinary BPA concentrations were associated with dyslipidaemia in children (≤17 years old) and adults (≥18 years old) by performing a meta-analysis of data from six cycles (2003–2014) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of data from 4604 children and 10 989 adult participants who were part of a substudy of urinary BPA measurements from six NHANES cycles from 2003 to 2014. Linear regression models conducted in each cycle were used to perform a meta-analysis to investigate associations between urinary BPA and serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB).

Results

The meta-analysis did not disclose any significant associations between urinary BPA concentrations and LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, TG and ApoB in children. In adults, the meta-analysis revealed negative regression coefficients for all five lipid variables. However, no associations were significant following Bonferroni correction for multiple tests.

Conclusions

In the present meta-analysis of cross-sectional data from NHANES, no associations were found between urinary BPA and the five different lipid variables when investigated in both children and adults. However, considering the cross-sectional nature of the present study, results should be clarified in carefully designed longitudinal cohort studies with repeated BPA measurements.
Deformed classical mechanics with α-deformed translation symmetry and anomalous diffusion
Authors: Chung Won Sang , Hassanabadi Hassan
Published: September 2019

In this paper, [Formula: see text]-deformed mechanics was presented with the [Formula: see text]-deformed translation symmetry based on [Formula: see text]-addition and [Formula: see text]-subtraction. The [Formula: see text]-deformed Langevin equation is also discussed. Finally, the anomalous diffusion relation is derived from the [Formula: see text]-deformed Langevin equation.
Bifurcation Analysis of a Diffusive Predator–Prey Model with Bazykin Functional Response
Authors: Zhou Jun
Published: September 2019

This paper deals with a diffusive predator–prey model with Bazykin functional response. The parameter regions for the stability and instability of the unique constant steady state are derived. The Turing (diffusion-driven) instability which induces spatial inhomogeneous patterns, the existence of time-periodic orbits which produce temporal inhomogeneous patterns, the existence and nonexistence of nonconstant steady state positive solutions are proved. Numerical simulations are presented to verify and illustrate the theoretical results.
Open source firmware
Authors: Frazelle Jessie
Published: September 2019

Step into the world behind the kernel.
Demo data as code
Authors: Limoncelli Thomas A.
Published: September 2019

Automation helps collaboration.
Protecting industrial control systems
Authors: Kirkpatrick Keith
Published: September 2019

Finding, and plugging, the security holes in SCADA.
The cloud as an innovation platform for software development
Authors: Cusumano Michael A.
Published: September 2019

How cloud computing became a platform.
Power Grid Estimation Using Electric Network Frequency Signals
Authors: Bang Woorim , Yoon Ji Won
Published: September 2019

The electric network frequency (ENF) has a statistical uniqueness according to time and location. The ENF signal is always slightly fluctuating for the load balance of the power grid around the fundamental frequency. The ENF signals can be obtained from the power line using a frequency disturbance recorder (FDR). The ENF signal can also be extracted from video files or audio files because the ENF signal is also saved due to the influence of the electromagnetic field when video files or audio files are recorded. In this paper, we propose a method to find power grid from ENF signals collected from various time and area. We analyzed ENF signals from the distribution level of the power system and online uploaded video files. Moreover, a hybrid feature extraction approach, which employs several features, is proposed to infer the location of the signal belongs regardless of the time that the signal was collected. Employing our suggested feature extraction methods, the signal which extracted from the power line can be classified 95.21% and 99.07% correctly when ENF signals have 480 and 1920 data points, respectively. In the case of ENF signals extracted from multimedia, the accuracy varies greatly according to the recorded environment such as network status and microphone quality. When constructing a feature vector from 120 data points of ENF signals, we could identify the power grid had an average of 94.17% accuracy from multimedia.
Stabilization of Early Duchenne Cardiomyopathy With Aldosterone Inhibition: Results of the Multicenter AIDMD Trial
Authors: Raman Subha V. , Hor Kan N. , Mazur Wojciech , Cardona Andrea , He Xin , Halnon Nancy , Markham Larry , Soslow Jonathan H. , Puchalski Michael D. , Auerbach Scott R. , Truong Uyen , Smart Suzanne , McCarthy Beth , Saeed Ibrahim M. , Statland Jeffrey M. , Kissel John T. , Cripe Linda H.
Published: September 2019

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy incurs nearly universal dilated cardiomyopathy by the third decade of life, preceded by myocardial damage and impaired left ventricular strain by cardiac magnetic resonance. It has been shown that (1) mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy with spironolactone attenuated damage while maintaining function when given early in a mouse model and (2) low‐dose eplerenone stabilized left ventricular strain in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and evident myocardial damage but preserved ejection fraction. We hypothesized that moderate‐dose spironolactone versus eplerenone would provide similar cardioprotection in this first head‐to‐head randomized trial of available mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, the AIDMD (Aldosterone Inhibition in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) trial.

Methods and Results

This was a multicenter, double‐blind, randomized, noninferiority trial. Subjects were randomized to eplerenone, 50 mg, or spironolactone, 50 mg, orally once daily for 12 months. The primary outcome was change in left ventricular systolic strain at 12 months. Among 52 enrolled male subjects, aged 14 (interquartile range, 12–18) years, spironolactone was noninferior to eplerenone (∆strain, 0.4 [interquartile range, −0.4 to 0.6] versus 0.2 [interquartile range, −0.2 to 0.7];
P
=0.542). Renal and pulmonary function remained stable in both groups, and no subjects experienced serious hyperkalemia. Infrequent adverse events included gynecomastia in one subject in the spironolactone arm and facial rash in one subject in the eplerenone arm.

Conclusions

In boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, spironolactone added to background therapy is noninferior to eplerenone in preserving contractile function. These findings support early mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy as effective and safe in a genetic disease with high cardiomyopathy risk.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
02354352.
Antithrombotic Treatment in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale
Authors: Sagris Dimitrios , Georgiopoulos Georgios , Perlepe Kalliopi , Pateras Konstantinos , Korompoki Eleni , Makaritsis Konstantinos , Vemmos Konstantinos , Milionis Haralampos , Ntaios George
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—

It is unclear whether treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelets is the optimal strategy in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack of undetermined cause and patent foramen ovale that is not percutaneously closed. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment in this population.

Methods—

We searched PubMed until July 16, 2019 for trials comparing anticoagulants and antiplatelet treatment in patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack and medically treated patent foramen ovale using the terms: “cryptogenic or embolic stroke of undetermined source” and “stroke or cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack” and “patent foramen ovale or patent foramen ovale or paradoxical embolism” and “trial or study” and “antithrombotic or anticoagulant or antiplatelet.” The outcomes assessed were stroke recurrence, major bleeding, and the composite end point of stroke recurrence or major bleeding. We used 3 random-effects models: (1) a reference model based on the inverse variance method with the Sidik and Jonkman heterogeneity estimator; (2) a strict model, implementing the Hartung and Knapp method; and (3) a commonly used Bayesian model with a prior that assumes moderate to large between-study variance.

Results—

Among 112 articles identified in the literature search, 5 randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis (1720 patients, mean follow-up 2.3±0.5 years). Stroke recurrence occurred at a rate of 1.73 per 100 patient-years in anticoagulant-assigned patients and 2.39 in antiplatelet-assigned patients (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.32–1.48 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator). Major bleeding occurred at a rate of 1.16 per 100 patient-years in anticoagulant-assigned patients and 0.68 in antiplatelet-assigned patients (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.72–3.59 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator). The composite outcome occurred in 52 anticoagulant-assigned and 54 antiplatelet-assigned patients (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.65–1.70 for the Sidik and Jonkman estimator).

Conclusions—

We cannot exclude a large reduction of stroke recurrence in anticoagulant-assigned patients compared with antiplatelet-assigned, without significant differences in major bleeding. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial of a non–vitamin K antagonist versus aspirin is warranted.
Crocus keltepensis (Iridaceae): a new Crocus species from the highest part of the Samanlı Mountains, NW Turkey

Authors: YÜZBAŞIOĞLU SIRRI
Published: September 2019

Crocus keltepensis (Iridaceae) is described as a new endemic species from Kocaeli province in north-western Turkey. Diagnostic morphological characters, a full description, and detailed illustrations are given herein. Crocus keltepensis is distributed in a restricted area in the highest part of the Samanlı Mountains. According to its morphological features, it belongs to C. sect. Nudiscapus ser. Biflori. It shows morphological similarities with C. pulchricolor, which belongs to the same series. However, these two species are separated from each other by flower color, corm tunics, leaf and seed macromorphological characteristics.
Improving Hydrologic Modeling Using Cloud-Free MODIS Flood Maps
Authors: Tran Hoang , Nguyen Phu , Ombadi Mohammed , Hsu Kuolin , Sorooshian Soroosh , Andreadis Konstantinos
Published: September 2019

Flood mapping from satellites provides large-scale observations of flood events, but cloud obstruction in satellite optical sensors limits its practical usability. In this study, we implemented the Variational Interpolation (VI) algorithm to remove clouds from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Snow-Covered Area (SCA) products. The VI algorithm estimated states of cloud-hindered pixels by constructing three-dimensional space–time surfaces based on assumptions of snow persistence. The resulting cloud-free flood maps, while maintaining the temporal resolution of the original MODIS product, showed an improvement of nearly 70% in average probability of detection (POD) (from 0.29 to 0.49) when validated with flood maps derived from Landsat-8 imagery. The second part of this study utilized the cloud-free flood maps for calibration of a hydrologic model to improve simulation of flood inundation maps. The results demonstrated the utility of the cloud-free maps, as simulated inundation maps had average POD, false alarm ratio (FAR), and Hanssen–Kuipers (HK) skill score of 0.87, 0.49, and 0.84, respectively, compared to POD, FAR, and HK of 0.70, 0.61, and 0.67 when original maps were used for calibration.
Experimental investigation of seismic strengthening of reinforced concrete short columns using externally bonded reinforcement, near surface mounted, and hybrid techniques
Authors: Kargaran A , Kheyroddin A
Published: September 2019

Nowadays, the existence of short columns is a major factor in the failure and collapse of structures during the earthquake. In this article, 10 reinforced concrete short columns are prepared and experimentally investigated under cyclic lateral displacements. Since failure in short columns under earthquake was in the form of diagonal cracks and shear rupture, two new techniques are proposed to strengthen short columns against seismic loads. These techniques include externally bonded reinforcement with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheets and near surface mounted with glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars in the form of transverse, diagonal, and hybrid strengthening techniques. The experimental results demonstrated that the above-mentioned strengthening techniques in short columns lead to a change in the type of failure from shear to flexural, and the change of crack patterns and columns failure. The mentioned strengthening methods lead to an increase of ductility, increase of load carrying capacity and increase of dissipated energy.
Experimental analysis of adhesively bonded joints in synthetic- and natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites
Authors: de Queiroz HFM , Banea MD , Cavalcanti DKK
Published: September 2019

The application of adhesively bonded joints in automotive industry has increased significantly in recent years mainly because of the potential for lighter weight vehicles, fuel savings and reduced emissions. The use of composites in making automotive body components to achieve a reduced vehicle mass has also continuously increased. Natural fibre composites have recently attracted a great deal of attention by the automotive industry due to their many attractive benefits (e.g. high strength-to-weight ratio, sustainable characteristics and low cost). However, the literature on natural fibre-reinforced polymer composite adhesive joints is scarce and needs further investigation. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the mechanical performance of adhesively bonded joints made of synthetic- and natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites. Similar and dissimilar single lap joints bonded with a modern tough structural adhesive used in the automotive industry, as well as the epoxy resin AR260 (the same resin used in composite fabrication) were tested. It was found that the average failure loads varied significantly with adhesive material strength and adherend stiffness. Furthermore, it was also observed that failure mode has a significant effect in failure load. The jute-based natural fibre composites joints, both hybrid and purely natural, were superior in strength compared to the sisal-based natural composites joints.
The Parental Experience of Unexpectedly Losing a Child in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Bekkering Holly J. , Woodgate Roberta L.
Published: September 2019

Child loss is the most traumatic loss a parent can experience, increasing their risk of negative outcomes such as complicated grief. Unexpected loss in the unfamiliar environment of the Emergency Department (ED) significantly increases this risk. Despite this knowledge, research on child loss in the context of the ED is scarce. An interpretive description qualitative research study was performed with eight parents (five mothers and three fathers) to examine their experience of unexpectedly losing a child in the pediatric ED. Data collection included interviews, demographic questionnaires, and field notes. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method and revealed four main themes: “grief as waves,” “being the good parent,” “coping through the waves of grief,” and “the new normal.” Improving understanding around child loss and implementing stronger support for parents, through communication, advocacy, and physical presence while in the ED, could greatly reduce parents’ risk of negative outcomes.
Efficacy of Nursing Support in the Pre- and Postmedical Termination of Pregnancy Phases: A Randomized Study
Authors: Mecdi Kaydirak Meltem , Aslan Ergül
Published: September 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a nursing support program developed in accordance with the Roy adaptation model that was applied in addition to routine nursing care during the treatment process of pregnant women for whom the medical termination decision. This study, which was conducted using a pretest–posttest design, was a prospective, single-blind, and randomized-controlled empirical study. In the experimental group, although the first and last assessment State Anxiety Inventory scores were higher than those in the control group after the medical termination nursing support program, there was no significant difference. Compared with the control group, there were positive differences in the Scale of Ways of Coping with Stress, Adaptation Assessment Form for Role Function Area, and physical complaints in the experimental group. At the follow-up assessment, the total Perinatal Grief Scale score was significantly higher than that in the control group.
Understanding Offender Needs Over Forms of Isolation Using a Repeated Measures Design
Authors: Campagna Michael F. , Kowalski Melissa A. , Drapela Laurie A. , Stohr Mary K. , Tollefsbol Elizabeth Thompson , Woo Youngki , Mei Xiaohan , Hamilton Zachary K.
Published: September 2019

A number of studies find that solitary confinement is associated with mental impairment. Yet, confinement dosage and which individual and exogenous variables lead to mental impairment have received less attention. This study of 2 years of data on disciplinary segregation male inmates employs a repeated measures design to examine how isolation affects mental health and psychological needs. The findings indicate that the duration of disciplinary segregation and incarceration, incidence of homelessness, and other individual-level factors had deleterious effects on mental health and psychological needs. Vocational programming and a high school education were found to be protective factors for psychological needs.
Does children’s visual attention to specific objects affect their verb learning?
Authors: Childers Jane B. , Porter Blaire , Dolan Megan , Whitehead Clare B. , McIntyre Kevin P.
Published: September 2019

To learn a verb, children must attend to objects and relations, often within a dynamic scene. Several studies show that comparing varied events linked to a verb helps children learn verbs, but there is also controversy in this area. This study asks whether children benefit from seeing variation across events as they learn a new verb, and uses an eye tracker to test whether children adjust their visual attention to specific objects to better understand how they may be comparing events to each other. Children saw events in which the tool varied, the affected object varied, or there was no variation (control). No prior verb study has tested children’s visual attention to specific objects under different variability conditions. We found 2½- and 3½-year-olds could extend verbs, and they were more successful with age. Analyses of the looking patterns in the learning phase show that children’s attention to specific objects in events varied by condition, and that reduced looking to the tool was linked to less success at test. Eye tracking can provide a more detailed view of what children attend to while learning a new verb, which should help us better understand how children are learning from variation across examples.
Effects of Smoking on the Auditory System: Is There a Gender Difference?
Authors: Demir Emine , Celiker Metin , Afacan Nazife Nur , Aydogan Elif , Balaban Gokce Aydin , Erdivanli Ozlem Celebi , Dursun Engin
Published: September 2019

The main aim of our study is to evaluate whether the effect of smoking on the auditory system shows gender differences. Another aim is to evaluate whether smoking has any influence on the absorbance of sound. There were 236 volunteers including 90 nonsmokers (42 females and 48 males) and 146 smokers (72 females and 74 males) in the study. Smokers were grouped according to pack-years of smoking as 5 to 10 pack-years, 11 to 20 pack-years, and more than 20 pack-years. Pure tone audiometry and wideband tympanometry were performed in all individuals. Both female and male smokers who consume more than 20 pack-years had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 4 and 6 kHz and significantly lower sound energy absorbance rates at 4, 6, and 8 kHz. Moreover, female smokers with a consumption of 11 to 20 pack-years had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 6 kHz and significantly lower sound energy absorbance rates at 6 and 8 kHz. Smoking causes hearing loss at high frequencies in both females and males, especially in a dose-dependent manner affecting individuals with a consumption of more than 20 pack-years. The sound energy absorbance is significantly reduced at 4, 6, and 8 kHz. In addition, these effects may occur in women with even less exposure.
The Diagnostic Value of Traditional Nasal Examination Tools in an Endoscopic Era
Authors: Chainansamit Seksun , Chit-uea-ophat Chonthicha , Reechaipichitkul Wisoot , Piromchai Patorn
Published: September 2019

Background:

As the endoscope has become more common in the otolaryngologist’s office, there is a need to reevaluate the value of traditional nasal examination methods. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of traditional nasal examination tools compared to those of the rigid endoscope.

Methods:

A prospective diagnostic study was conducted. Eligible patients with nasal symptoms were recruited and examined using 4 tools: (1) a nasal speculum, (2) an otoscope, (3) a posterior rhinoscopy mirror, and (4) a rigid nasal endoscope. The diagnostic value of each tool was evaluated.

Results:

There were a total of 53 patients eligible for inclusion in the study. The mean age of all patients was 40.9 years. The most common nasal symptom was nasal obstruction (90.6%). With regard to the tools used in anterior rhinoscopy, the nasal speculum had a sensitivity of 54.69% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 41.75-67.18) and specificity of 88.10% (95% CI: 74.37-96.02); and the otoscope had a sensitivity of 57.81% (95% CI: 44.82-70.06) and specificity of 85.71% (95% CI: 71.46-94.57). After application of topical anesthesia and decongestant, the nasal speculum had a sensitivity of 67.19% (95% CI: 54.31-78.41) and specificity of 85.71% (95% CI: 71.46-94.57); and the otoscope had a sensitivity of 65.62% (95% CI: 52.70-77.05) and specificity of 83.33% (95% CI: 68.64-93.03). The posterior rhinoscopy mirror had a sensitivity of 12.50% (95% CI: 5.18-24.07) and specificity of 94.00% (95% CI: 83.45-98.75). All adverse events in this study were minor.

Conclusion:

The traditional nasal examination tools exhibited excellent specificity. However, the sensitivity was only average, meaning that they may not be suitable for screening. We do not recommend routine use of topical anesthesia and decongestants when applying these tools, as the application of these agents did not improve the clinical sensitivity or specificity. The posterior rhinoscopy mirror had a lowest sensitivity. We thus do not recommend using a posterior rhinoscopy mirror to rule out pathologies of the posterior nasal cavity.
Early experience and technical aspects of physician-modified fenestration in thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic arch pathologies
Authors: Li Xin , Li Quanming , Zhang Weichang , Li Ming , He Hao , Luo Mingyao , Fang Kun , Yang Chenzi , Zhu Jieting , Shu Chang
Published: September 2019

Objective

This study was performed to describe the treatment of aortic arch pathologies with a physician-modified fenestration (PMF) technique in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods

From August 2015 to August 2017, 32 patients with aortic arch pathologies underwent TEVAR with the PMF technique. All patients’ clinical data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism 7.0.

Results

Thirty-four aortic stent-grafts were implanted in 32 patients. The mean proximal diameter of the stent-graft was 32.4 ± 3.4 cm, and the mean length was 170.0 ± 25.2 cm. Twenty-nine PMF procedures were performed to preserve the left subclavian artery (LSA) and three to preserve both the LSA and left common carotid artery. The mean distance between the pathology and LSA was 8.4 ± 4.0 mm. The mean procedure time (from first to last digital subtraction angiography) was 22.8 ± 20.8 min. The mean follow-up time was 8.3 ± 5.3 months. During follow-up, the all-cause survival rate was 83.3% and the patency rate of the branch artery after PMF was 96.0%.

Conclusion

The PMF technique is a relatively safe, feasible, and time-saving method to preserve the branch artery in TEVAR for aortic arch pathologies. The short- to middle-term result of this technique is satisfactory.
Huang Qin Hua Shi decoction for high-temperature- and high-humidity-induced cognitive-behavioral disorder in rats is associated with deactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis
Authors: Luo Yong , Yang Min , Guo Mingyang , Zhong Xiaolong , Hu Yonghe
Published: September 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of Huang Qin Hua Shi (HQ) decoction on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in rats under high-temperature (hT)- and high-humidity (hH)-induced stress.

Methods

Male rats were randomized into four groups: rats without stress; rats induced with hT (35 ± 1°C) and hH (85 ± 5% humidity); rats induced with hT and hH and treated with HQ decoction; and rats induced with hT and hH and treated with mifepristone. After 3 weeks, rats underwent the Morris water maze and open-field test. Rat hypothalami were analyzed pathologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA expression was evaluated by in situ hybridization. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosteroid (CORT) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The administration of mifepristone or HQ in stressed rats significantly improved their performance in the Morris water maze test and increased the central-to-peripheral ratio and incidence of deep rearing in the open-field test. Mifepristone and HQ also reversed histological changes in the hypothalami of stressed rats. Compared with control rats, GR mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and serum CRH, ACTH, and CORT were significantly elevated in rats stressed with hT and hH, and these changes were attenuated by mifepristone and HQ.

Conclusion

HQ decoction protects against hT- and hH-induced cognitive-behavioral disorder and its therapeutic effect is associated with decreased HPA axis activity.
How Much Spatial Information Is Lost in the Sensory Substitution Process? Comparing Visual, Tactile, and Auditory Approaches
Authors: Richardson Michael , Thar Jan , Alvarez James , Borchers Jan , Ward Jamie , Hamilton-Fletcher Giles
Published: September 2019

Sensory substitution devices (SSDs) can convey visuospatial information through spatialised auditory or tactile stimulation using wearable technology. However, the level of information loss associated with this transformation is unknown. In this study, novice users discriminated the location of two objects at 1.2 m using devices that transformed a 16 × 8-depth map into spatially distributed patterns of light, sound, or touch on the abdomen. Results showed that through active sensing, participants could discriminate the vertical position of objects to a visual angle of 1°, 14°, and 21°, and their distance to 2 cm, 8 cm, and 29 cm using these visual, auditory, and haptic SSDs, respectively. Visual SSDs significantly outperformed auditory and tactile SSDs on vertical localisation, whereas for depth perception, all devices significantly differed from one another (visual > auditory > haptic). Our findings highlight the high level of acuity possible for SSDs even with low spatial resolutions (e.g., 16 × 8) and quantify the level of information loss attributable to this transformation for the SSD user. Finally, we discuss ways of closing this “modality gap” found in SSDs and conclude that this process is best benchmarked against performance with SSDs that return to their primary modality (e.g., visuospatial into visual).
A Fragment of an Early Book of Two Ways on the Coffin of Ankh from Dayr al-Barshā (B4B)
Authors: Willems Harco
Published: September 2019

Remains of the early Middle Kingdom coffin of a lady called Ankh (B4B) contain parts of the earliest now known version of the Book of Two Ways. The fragment published here retains parts of CT spells 1128 and 1130. The article discusses the problems involved in the publication of this particular source, and in reading the incised hieratic signs of this source. Also, the article places the version of source B4B within the context of the editorial development of the Book of Two Ways.
Zero growth: A grand challenge for the Asia-Pacific region
Authors: Groen Martin
Published: September 2019

This article presents a systematic and scientific literature review of the topic ‘zero growth’. Since its origins in the late 18th century, growth economics has expanded significantly in recent decades, leading to the development of ecological economics, political economics and growth and degrowth economics. It is apparent that humankind is now running out of time to develop a global consensus as to what approaches should be taken to transition from growth to zero growth and degrowth. Zero growth is the grand challenge of this century, particularly for the Asia-Pacific region where economic growth has been an imperative for emerging economies. Using Japan as an illustrative example, this article explores the scenario of a no-growth economy that is now confronted with potentially a zero-growth or even a degrowth future. The grand challenge for not just Japan but the entire Asia-Pacific region is how to survive a zero-growth future. Furthermore, this article also identifies emerging themes for future research to progress the zero-growth and degrowth discussions.

JEL Classification: F64, N5, Q32, Q5
The Economic Growth and Development Outcomes Related to Vibrancy: An Empirical Analysis of Major Employment Centers in Large U.S. Cities
Authors: Malizia Emil , Chen Yan
Published: September 2019

Economic developers are well aware of the live-work-play dynamic affecting downtowns and many other major employment centers across the country. This study of 90 employment centers, including 48 central business districts, offers a rigorous analysis of this dynamic. The authors first present a definition of vibrancy and show its connections to the fields of urban economics, economic geography, and urban design. Second, the authors offer face-valid measures of vibrancy that practitioners can replicate in their jurisdictions. Most important, the authors show that vibrancy is an important factor influencing economic development. The vibrancy index measured with 2010 data is positively associated with subsequent employment growth, property inventory expansion (tax base), and income growth. Economic developers should consider becoming more involved in downtown redevelopment by finding effective ways to serve economic-base companies and emerging entrepreneurial firms. As a result, major employment centers could become more productive and innovative places.
Analyzing the cyber-physical system–based autonomous collaborations among smart manufacturing resources in a smart shop floor
Authors: Ding Kai , Lei Jingyuan , Zhang Fuqiang , Wang Yan , Wang Chuang
Published: September 2019

Industry 4.0 focuses on the realization of smart manufacturing from shop floors to factories and to the whole supply chain. As a key technology of smart manufacturing, cyber-physical system has been widely discussed in the aspects of system design, data collection and processing, and cyber-physical synchronization. In a smart shop floor, manufacturing resources with intelligence and autonomy are abstracted as cyber-physical system units. They can communicate with each other autonomously to make optimal production decisions according to the real-time status of the shop floor. In this article, an autonomous collaboration network comprised of cyber-physical system–based smart manufacturing resources is modeled by using complex network theory. The collaboration activities among them are further analyzed, from which the information of key cyber-physical system units and key collaboration relationships are excavated. A demonstrative case is studied to verify the feasibility of the proposed model. From the case, it can be seen that (1) autonomous collaboration network has a small-world feature; (2) cyber-physical system units with bigger degrees and the collaborative relationships with bigger tightness are more important; (3) the workload of cyber-physical system units needs to be balanced because some cyber-physical system units have exceeded their capacities; and (4) cyber-physical system units with larger collaboration clustering coefficients will attract other nodes to form communities centered by them. Based on these results, the autonomous production control and management of smart shop floor will become more accurate, efficient, and balanced.
Design and performance study of a parametric diverterless supersonic inlet
Authors: B Saheby Eiman , Shen Xing , Hays Anthony P
Published: September 2019

Diverterless supersonic inlet integration for a flight vehicle requires a three-dimensional compression surface (bump) design with an acceptable shock structure and boundary layer diversion; this results in a low drag induction system with acceptable propulsive efficiency. In this investigation, a computational fluid dynamics-based-generated bump is used to design an integrated diverterless supersonic inlet without any bleed mechanism on a forebody with a large wetted area. Numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations simulates the flow pattern of the configuration. The forebody design analysis includes simulating the effects of angle of attack and sideslip by dependent computational domains. Results demonstrate the ability of the bump surface to keep the shock structures in an operational mode even at high supersonic angles of attack. Analysis of shock structures and shock wave boundary layer interactions at supersonic maneuver conditions indicate that the aerodynamic efficiency of the diverterless supersonic inlet in conditions with a thick boundary layer and high angles of attack is sufficient to ensure operation throughout the supersonic flight envelope.
Control of a small helicopter with linear matrix inequality-based design assuring stability and performance
Authors: Şahin İsmail Hakkı , Kasnakoğlu Coşku
Published: September 2019

This article focuses on linear matrix inequality-based controller designs that can achieve stabilization and reference tracking for a small unmanned helicopter at various flight conditions. A nonlinear mathematical model of a small-scale helicopter is constructed. Then trim conditions are found and linearized around different equilibrium points. Local [Formula: see text] controllers are designed at trim conditions based on the local linear models. The pointwise controllers achieve local stability and performance, but fail at stabilization and tracking over the full envelope. A scheduling controller is built by blending the local controller outputs. In addition, grid-based [Formula: see text] controllers are designed at each operating point with common Lyapunov function. This allows controller scheduling between the adjacent design points with guaranteed stability and performance across the design envelope. Based on the family of linear systems which are obtained from the nonlinear model, an affine parameter-dependent model is built to exploit the approximate linear parameter dependency. Then, a parameter-dependent linear parameter varying controller is synthesized for the affine parameter-dependent model. Although local performance is satisfactory for all given design methods, local [Formula: see text] controllers and affine parameter-dependent controller cannot yield satisfactory performance over the full flight envelope apart from the grid-based controller with common Lyapunov function approach.
Pruning operator for minimum deck wind in carrier aircraft launch
Authors: Zhou Zeyang , Huang Jun , Yi Mingxu
Published: September 2019

Launch resources and flight safety are important for carrier-based aircraft to takeoff. Aimed at making full use of marine wind resources, a pruning operator added to linear random search algorithm is developed to solve the minimum deck wind for carrier aircraft launch. On the basis of problem statement, the catapult safety criteria are quantified as the boundary condition of the critical solution. Then the mathematical model is established for the algorithm including pruning schematic. The influence of deck wind on aircraft catapult launch is analyzed. With the algorithm proceeding and the feedback results of aircraft catapult launch simulation, the optimal solution of the minimum deck wind is determined in a few simulation times. The main contribution of this research is the development of the pruning operator to greatly shorten the search times under permissible error for the discrete linear problems. And the minimum deck wind is solved in full takeoff weight range due to combining linear random search algorithm and simulation.
Terra Nullius? Temporal Legal Pluralism in an Australian Colony
Authors: Chalmers Shane
Published: September 2019

There remains a puzzle as to the status of Indigenous land rights in Australian colonial law. The common view is that the laws of the British colonies, and subsequently of the federated state, did not recognise Indigenous land rights until late in the 20th century. Against this, a smaller body of scholarship argues that recognition had already occurred much earlier, the clearest instance being in the colony of South Australia in the 1830s and 1840s. The result is an apparent duplicity in the colonial law, whereby Indigenous land rights appear to have been both recognised and denied. The article shows a tendency in the scholarly literature to resolve this duplicity in absolute terms, based on positivist analysis of law. In contrast, by taking a critical legal pluralist approach, the article shows how different and even contradictory manifestations of the same law subsisted simultaneously through time. This both sheds new light on the question of the recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australian colonial law, and contributes theoretically to ‘critical legal pluralism’ by developing its temporal dimension.
Effects of montmorillonite, sepiolite, and halloysite clays on the morphology and properties of polycaprolactone bionanocomposites
Authors: Kassa Amel , Benhamida Aida , Kaci Mustapha , Bruzaud Stéphane
Published: September 2019

The article reports some experimental data on the effects of three types of clay: organo-modified montmorillonite (cloisite 30B (C30B)), sepiolite (SP9), and halloysite nanotubes (HNT) on the morphology and physicomechanical properties of polycaprolactone (PCL)/clays bionanocomposites prepared by melt compounding. The clays were incorporated separately into the PCL matrix at a loading rate of 5.00 wt%, which corresponds to 2.91 ± 0.53, 2.42 ± 0.02, and 2.68 ± 0.13 vol% for C30B, SP9, and HNT, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed good dispersion of both C30B and SP9 in the polymer matrix, while the presence of a few HNT aggregates was observed on the fracture surface of the PCL bionanocomposite. Furthermore, the HNT aggregates were randomly dispersed. The results indicated an enhancement of the rheological and tensile properties of the PCL bionanocomposite samples filled with C30B and SP9 compared to those containing HNT. Indeed, it was shown an increase in Young’s modulus of PCL from 450 ± 16 MPa to 563 ± 42 MPa, 645 ± 68 MPa, and 502 ± 66 MPa for PCL bionanocomposites loaded with C30B, SP9, and HNT, respectively. On the other hand, the thermal stability of the whole PCL bionanocomposite samples was reduced being, however, more pronounced for those containing HNT. The decomposition temperature recorded at 5.00 wt% loss ( T 5%) indicated 384.7 ± 0.9 for neat PCL, while the PCL bionanocomposites filled with C30B, SP9, and HNT exhibited the values of 357.3 ± 0.5, 353.2 ± 0.9, and 368.4 ± 0.4, respectively.
Political Discussion Networks and Political Engagement among Voters of Color
Authors: Carlson Taylor N. , Abrajano Marisa , García Bedolla Lisa
Published: September 2019

Despite a large and growing literature documenting the powerful and positive role that political discussion networks exert on the political behavior among whites, we know little about how political discussion networks affect political behavior among voters of color. To fill this void in the existing literature, we conducted an original survey in California to gather information on a diverse group of registered voters’ political discussion networks and political engagement. The social positioning of ethnoracial groups in society, we contend, will affect how network characteristics explain their levels of political engagement. Our results support this contention. While we find that network characteristics, including network size, partisan homogeneity, and discussion frequency are positively associated with validated voter turnout and nonelectoral political participation, the effects are not uniform across black, Latino, Asian American, and white respondents. This is the first study that examines the relationship between political discussion network characteristics and political engagement among voters of color. Our analysis demonstrates that the opportunities for political integration and engagement offered by political discussion networks are not afforded equally across the U.S. electorate, which has important implications for broader patterns of engagement.