bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
6-Formyl-5-isopropyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 7-methyl-1H-indene mitigates methamphetamine-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity through inhibiting oxidative stress
Authors: Xu H , Jiang C , Zhao H , Liu L
Published: January 2020

As an extremely addictive psychostimulant drug and an illicit dopaminergic neurotoxin, methamphetamine (METH) conducts to enhance satisfaction, feelings of alertness through influencing monoamine neurotransmitter systems. Long-lasting exposure to METH causes psychosis and increases the risk of neurodegeneration. 6-Formyl-5-isopropyl-3-hydroxymethyl-7-methyl-1H-indene (FIHMI) is a novel compound with potent antioxidant properties. This study was to investigate whether FIHMI could mitigate METH-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity. METH-caused cell toxicity was established in 661W cells and protective effects of FIHMI at different concentrations (1–10 µM) was examined. FIHMI significantly attenuated the METH-caused cell damage in 661W cells, evidenced by increasing cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, decreasing cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation, inhibiting activities of caspase 3/9, and changing expression of apoptosis-related protein. Furthermore, FIHMI treatment decreased mRNA expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B protein expression in METH-induced 661W cells suggesting autophagy is reduced. FIHMI decreased the oxidative stress through increasing protein expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2. These data demonstrated FIHMI could inhibit oxidative stress, which may also play an essential role in the regulation of METH-triggered apoptotic response, providing the scientific rational to develop FIHMI as the therapeutic agent to alleviate METH-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity.
Bayesian cure fraction models with measurement error in the scale mixture of normal distribution
Authors: Marinho Anna R S , Loschi Rosangela H
Published: January 2020

Cure fraction models have been widely used to model time-to-event data when part of the individuals survives long-term after disease and are considered cured. Most cure fraction models neglect the measurement error that some covariates may experience which leads to poor estimates for the cure fraction. We introduce a Bayesian promotion time cure model that accounts for both mismeasured covariates and atypical measurement errors. This is attained by assuming a scale mixture of the normal distribution to describe the uncertainty about the measurement error. Extending previous works, we also assume that the measurement error variance is unknown and should be estimated. Three classes of prior distributions are assumed to model the uncertainty about the measurement error variance. Simulation studies are performed evaluating the proposed model in different scenarios and comparing it to the standard promotion time cure fraction model. Results show that the proposed models are competitive ones. The proposed model is fitted to analyze a dataset from a melanoma clinical trial assuming that the Breslow depth is mismeasured.
Rage Against the Machine: The Legacy of Education Leaders’ Valiant Struggle for Social Justice in Abbeville v. South Carolina
Authors: Tran Henry , Aziz Mazen , Reinhardt Sara Frakes
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

Abbeville v. South Carolina was a nearly three-decade long school funding lawsuit initiated by the education leaders of South Carolina's most rural and impoverished school districts that primarily educated students of color. Recently, the State Supreme Court dismissed the entire case. Guided by a multiperspective framework of social justice, one year after the dismissal, we sought to understand the perspectives and experiences of five of the original plaintiff superintendents who either initiated or engaged in the court hearings for the case. These education leaders shared unique insights on their valiant struggle against systemic inequities in order to improve the quality of their students’ education.

Research method:

To address our research questions, we relied on an intrinsic retrospective case study methodology that relies on face-to-face semistructured interview data collection with five of the original superintendents who were involved in the legacy case. We then supplemented the qualitative findings with quantitative descriptive data and results from our differences-in-differences analyses to support the qualitative analysis.

Findings:

Participants shared rich detailed experiences concerning both the struggle their districts faced that necessitated the lawsuit and the struggle they faced while fighting to ameliorate those conditions. There was a mixed reaction concerning whether participants felt the struggle was worth the effort, yet they universally felt the conditions have not improved for their districts. Some further felt that the funding gap between the rich (urban/suburban) school districts and their poor rural counterparts has actually widened. These perceptions were supported by the revenue data.
Scandcleft Project Trial 3: Comparison of Speech Outcomes in Relation to Sequence in 2-Stage Palatal Repair Procedures in 5-Year-Olds With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Persson Christina , Pedersen Nina-Helen , Hayden Christine , Bowden Melanie , Aukner Ragnhild , Vindenes Hallvard A. , Åbyholm Frank , Withby David , Willadsen Elisabeth , Lohmander Anette
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To compare speech outcome following different sequencing of hard and soft palate closure between arms and centers within trial 3 and compare results to peers without cleft palate.

Design:

A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Setting:

Two Norwegian and 2 British centers.

Participants:

One hundred thirty-six 5-year-olds with unilateral cleft lip and palate were randomized to either lip and soft palate closure at 3 to 4 months and hard palate closure at 12 months (arm A) or lip and hard palate closure at 3 to 4 months and soft palate closure at 12 months (arm D).

Main Outcome Measures:

A composite measure of velopharyngeal competence (VPC), overall assessment of VPC from connected speech (VPC-Rate). Percentage of consonants correct (PCC), active cleft speech characteristics (CSCs), subdivided by oral retracted and nonoral errors, and developmental speech characteristics (DSCs).

Results:

Across the trial, 47% had VPC, with no statistically significant difference between arms within or across centers. Thirty-eight percent achieved a PCC score of >90%, with no difference between arms or centers. In one center, significantly more children in arm A produced ≥3 active CSCs ( P < .05). Across centers, there was a statistically significant difference in active CSCs (arm D), oral retracted CSCs (arm D), and DSCs (arms A and D).

Conclusions:

Less than half of the 5-year-olds achieved VPC and around one-third achieved age-appropriate PCC scores. Cleft speech characteristics were more common in arm A, but outcomes varied within and across centers. Thus, outcome of the same surgical method can vary substantially across centers.
Adrenal Insufficiency and Response to Stress Dose Hydrocortisone in Patients With Cirrhosis and Vasopressor Dependency Using Cirrhosis-Specific Cortisol Thresholds
Authors: Vu Trenton , Vallabh Meghna , Laine Greg
Published: January 2020

Background: Cortisol thresholds defining adrenal insufficiency (AI) in some cirrhosis-specific studies differ from those recommended by the SCCM/ESICM (Society of Critical Care Medicine/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine) guidelines, which may influence treatment decisions. Objective: To determine if stress-dose hydrocortisone (HC) improves outcomes in vasopressor-dependent patients meeting cirrhosis-specific criteria for AI. Methods: In this retrospective study, AI was defined using criteria from 2 studies in critically ill cirrhosis patients showing mortality reduction with HC (random cortisol <20 µg/dL, or if a standard-dose cosyntropin test was performed, baseline cortisol <15 µg/dL or delta cortisol <9 µg/dL if baseline = 15-34 µg/dL). Use of HC was at the discretion of the intensivist. The primary endpoint was days of vasopressor therapy. Secondary endpoints included hospital mortality and newly acquired infections. Sixty-four patients were evaluated; 40 patients received HC and 24 did not. Results: Mean random cortisol was significantly lower in the HC group (9.8 ± 3.2 vs 12.0 ± 3.7 µg/dL, P = 0.04). Delta cortisol also tended to be lower in the HC group (8.2 ± 4.4 vs 11.3 ± 6.4 µg/dL, P = 0.25). Patients in the HC group exhibited significantly fewer median days of vasopressor therapy (4.0 [2.0-7.0] vs 7.0 [4.2-10.8], P = 0.006), lower mortality (22.5% vs 50%, P = 0.02), and a similar incidence of newly acquired infections. Conclusion and Relevance: The use of HC in patients meeting cirrhosis-specific criteria for AI resulted in significantly shorter duration of vasopressor therapy, lower mortality, and no increased risk of infection. Use of traditional AI definitions may exclude patients with cirrhosis that could benefit from HC therapy.
Correcting Misperceptions: The Causal Role of Motivation in Corrective Science Communication About Vaccine and Food Safety
Authors: van Stekelenburg Aart , Schaap Gabi , Veling Harm , Buijzen Moniek
Published: January 2020

Some people stick to beliefs that do not align with scientific consensus when faced with science communication that contradicts those misperceptions. Two preregistered experiments (total N = 1,256) investigated the causal role of motivated reasoning in the effectiveness of correcting misperceptions. In both experiments, accuracy-driven reasoning led to a larger corrective effect of a science communication message than reasoning driven by directional motivation. Individuals’ default reasoning made them just as receptive to the correction as accuracy-driven reasoning. This finding supports a more optimistic view of human receptivity to science communication than often found in the literature.
Differences in Major Bleeding Events Between Patients With Severe Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Shih Ming-Yang , Wang Jiaan-Der , Yin Jia-De , Tsan Yu-Tse , Chan Wei-Cheng
Published: January 2020

There has been an ongoing debate as to whether hemophilia A (HA) is more severe than hemophilia B (HB), and there are studies supporting each side of the argument. The study aimed to investigate whether any differences in major bleeding events exist between patients with severe HA and HB. A nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database was conducted. We compared 658 patients with severe HA and 137 patients with severe HB without inhibitors from 1997 to 2013, during the period when adult patients older than 18 years old were treated with the on-demand therapy since birth. There was no significant difference between patients with severe HA and HB in the rate of major bleeding events, with an adjusted relative ratio of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-1.71, P = .548). There was also no significant difference in the incidence rate of major bleeding events between adult patients with HA and HB with the on-demand therapy, and an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.65-1.02). However, patients with HA had a lower incidence rate of intracranial hemorrhage, with an adjusted HR of 0.44 (95% CI: 0.25-0.79). In addition, no significant difference in the frequency of major bleeding events requiring hospitalization between patients with HA and HB was found, P > .05. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that patients with severe HB encountered a similar rate of major bleeding events to those with severe HA.
Fatigue failure and Grms–N curve of corrugated paperboard box
Authors: Wang Li-Jun , Lai Yang-Zhou , Wang Zhi-Wei
Published: January 2020

As a kind of transport packaging, the corrugated paperboard box is widely used in logistics. During transport, the stacked packaging units are subjected to random vibration induced by vehicles. Thus, the random dynamic force will be exerted to corrugated paperboard box continuously. As the shipping distance increases, there will be cumulative fatigue damage within the corrugated paperboard box, which will weaken the mechanical property (stiffness) and the protective value of the corrugated paperboard box. Therefore, the dynamic damage and fatigue failure of corrugated paperboard box are crucial for the design of corrugated paperboard box. This article aims to develop the acceleration root mean square-life [Formula: see text] curve of corrugated paperboard box. At first, the accelerated random vibration test method was developed by the theory analysis according to the damage equivalent principle of a specified point within the corrugated paperboard box. Then, the random vibration experiments were conducted on the loaded corrugated paperboard box by taking white noise as excitation power spectral density. In the experiments, the acceleration transmissibility curve was recorded periodically. Relative stiffness was taken as the indicator to detect the cumulative damage and assess the structural integrity of the corrugated paperboard box. The stiffness reduction 20%, 30%, and 40% were taken as fatigue failure criteria to develop the [Formula: see text] curves. Results show that both the Basquin type and exponential function type are in good fitting with the [Formula: see text] curve of the corrugated paperboard box. The index b of the Basquin type is between 8.16 and 11.01, and b′ of the exponential function type between 21.19 and 26.84. The study provides reference for the accelerated random vibration test of corrugated paperboard box.
“Pay Attention to Me”: Children’s Subjective Perceptions of the Process of Leaving Home With Their Mothers to Shelters for Battered Women
Authors: Vass Anat , Haj-Yahia Muhammad M.
Published: January 2020

Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research on children’s subjective perception of the process of leaving their home with their mother to shelters for battered women. Based on thematic analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 32 Israeli 7- to 12-year-old children, the results revealed the following three main themes: violence against the mother in general, the way they left for the shelter, and the reasons and circumstances of leaving the home and community. The results are discussed in light of the cognitive-structural framework.
Heart Transplantation After Ventricular Assist Device Therapy: Benefits, Risks, and Outcomes
Authors: Pal Nirvik , Gay Samuel H. , Boland Charles G. , Lim Aaron C.
Published: January 2020

Heart transplantation is an established treatment for end-stage heart failure. Due to the increase in demand and persistent scarcity of organ, mechanical circulatory devices have played a major role in therapy for advanced heart failure. Usage of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has gone up from 6% in 2006 to 43% in 2013 as per the United Network of Organ Sharing database. Majority of patients presenting for a heart transplantation are often bridged with an assist device prior for management of heart failure while on wait-list. On one hand, it is well established that LVADs improve survival on wait-list; on the other hand, the effect of LVAD on morbidity and survival after a heart transplantation is still unclear. In this article, we review the available literature and attempt to infer the outcomes given the risks and benefits of heart transplantation with prior LVAD patients.
Optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetes: A review
Authors: Battista Marco , Borrelli Enrico , Sacconi Riccardo , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: January 2020

Diabetic retinopathy is a common diabetes complication representing a heavy burden in terms of visual impairment and heath expenditure. Optical coherence tomography angiography is a relatively new imaging method and has proven to be a powerful tool in the analysis of diabetic retinopathy common features, including microaneurysms, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, or neovascularization, as well as in research field, challenging the gold standard of fluorescein angiography. Many studies underlined the vascular impairment observed through optical coherence tomography angiography and its typical parameters such as vessel length density, foveal avascular zone, and fractal dimension. Choriocapillaris involvement in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy is an interesting point, derived from the analysis of this plexus using optical coherence tomography angiography. In conclusion, optical coherence tomography angiography, which is not free of limitations, such as motion artifacts or segmentation errors, has become an indispensable technique in adding more information to our understanding of diabetic retinopathy.
Evaluation of ciliary body by ultrasound bio-microscopy after trans-scleral diode cyclo-photocoagulation in refractory glaucoma
Authors: Safwat Abdallah Mohsen Mohamed , Hammouda Laila Mohammed , El-Zembely Hosam Ibrahim , Omar Ismail Ahmed Nagib
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the morphological changes of the ciliary body after diode laser trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation using ultrasound bio-microscopy in refractory glaucoma.

Settings:

This prospective, interventional, non-comparative, non-randomized, longitudinal study was performed on 40 eyes with refractory glaucoma, during the period between February 2016 and March 2018.

Methods:

All patients were treated with single session diode laser trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation. The intraocular pressure was obtained over a period of 3 months after the operation and morphological changes of the ciliary body were observed using ultrasound bio-microscopy.

Results:

Trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation has achieved a reasonable success in reducing intraocular pressure to less than 22 mm Hg without increasing the number of glaucoma medication. The overall success rate was 40%, as the intraocular pressure decreased from a baseline mean value of 54.70 ± 12.27 to 42.45 ± 9.85 mm Hg 1 week after operation, 33.50 ± 8.00 mm Hg after 1 month, and 25.60 ± 6.62 after 3 months of operation. Ultrasound bio-microscopy detected reduction in the length and width of ciliary processes in addition to the ciliary muscle thickness of the treated quadrants. Intraocular pressure was more correlated to the width of the ciliary processes.

Conclusion:

Trans-scleral cyclo-photocoagulation is a rapid and effective procedure in treatment of refractory glaucoma with intraocular pressure reduction. Ultrasound bio-microscopy is a promising twin tool for cyclo-destructive procedures to detect ciliary body changes and can be used as a guide for re-treatment procedures.
Net clinical benefit of anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation following intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Pappas Matthew A , Burke James F
Published: January 2020

Following an anticoagulation-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), whether and when to resume anticoagulation is controversial. Patient-level recurrence risk is difficult to predict with accuracy, but time-based recurrence risk may be more predictable. To better inform clinical decisions, we set out to estimate the net clinical benefit of anticoagulation over time among patients with atrial fibrillation. Using a large administrative dataset with 5339 index ICH hospitalizations and 132 readmissions for ICH, we created a two-stage prediction model, first predicting patient-level risk of recurrence and then predicting timing, conditional on recurrence. A log-normal survival function best explained the declining risk of recurrent ICH over time. We then compared risk of recurrent ICH over time against ischemic stroke risk, weighting the two outcomes to compute the net clinical benefit on each day following an index discharge. Using a bootstrapping approach, we identified the first day following discharge on which anticoagulation would lead to net benefit rather than net harm. Anticoagulation remains harmful for at least 11 days following index discharge and, depending on desired confidence level and assumptions, may remain harmful for as long as 62 days after discharge. Results were sensitive to the overall ICH recurrence risk. Although patient-level risk of recurrent ICH is difficult to predict accurately, recurrence risk declines rapidly over time. The survival function presented herein can inform decision-analytic models regarding when patients should resume anticoagulation following ICH.
Structural control of the floating breakwaters by implementation of tuned liquid column damper
Authors: Shahrabi Mostafa , Bargi Khosrow
Published: January 2020

The growing maritime activities have led offshore engineers to the application of floating breakwaters to protect coastlines from erosion and to provide a layer of support to ports in the case of strong wave actions. In these applications, minimizing the floating part responses to wave-induced excitations as one of the most critical operational characteristics would be a key factor. In this article, the structural responses of the floating breakwaters are studied through modeling and simulation. To mitigate the floating part wave-induced vibrations, an attached tuned liquid column damper is integrated into the simulation. In the first stage, the numerical model of the floating breakwater system containing the floating body and the mooring system is created. Then, by proposing an iterative coupling procedure, the joint tuned liquid column damper-floating breakwater model is developed. Several rigorous study cases are defined to evaluate the effect of tuned liquid column damper on controlling the floating body unwanted vibrations. In this application, the Airy wave theory and the Joint North Sea Wave Observation Project wave spectrum are used for wave excitations. In order to evaluate the effect of tuned liquid column damper on floating breakwaters, some design parameters like floating body motions and mooring system-mobilized tensile stresses are evaluated. The simulations are conducted in both the time domain and the frequency domain for cases with and without tuned liquid column damper. The rain flow counting method is applied to perform the mooring system fatigue analysis. The study results clearly proved that implementation of tuned liquid column damper would mitigate the floating body responses compared to the original floating breakwater system. In addition, it is indicated that the fatigue-induced failure risks in tuned liquid column damper-floating breakwater mooring system is decreased that would reduce the procurement costs and increase the operational safety of the floating breakwater system.
Impact and static behavior of strain-hardening cementitious composites–strengthened reinforced concrete slabs
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed H , Afefy Hamdy M , Baraghith Ahmed T , Elnagar Amira B
Published: January 2020

Impact loading could impair the entire structure or a part of it, thus making the human life at stake. In this study, to improve the impact resistance of reinforced concrete slabs under drop-weight loading, a thin layer of strain-hardening cementitious composites was added at either tension or compression side of the slab. The main parameter of this study was the three contact surface conditions, namely grinding, grinding plus steel dowels, and grinding plus epoxy adhesive, between the substrate slab and the strain-hardening cementitious composites layer. Therefore, 63 reinforced concrete slabs were prepared and tested under the effect of drop-weight falling from three different heights: 1, 1.5, and 2 m. In addition, for comparison purposes, additional seven slabs were tested under central incremental static loading until failure is presented. It was found that the strain-hardening cementitious composites–strengthening layer enhanced the impact and static response of the strengthened slabs when added at either tension or compression side. Besides, to achieve the outermost impact resistance showing ductile performance, it is better to provide a thin layer of the strain-hardening cementitious composites at the tension side of the slab connected to the substrate slab by epoxy resin applied on pre-prepared grinded surface.
Shear strength of steel plate reinforced concrete shear wall
Authors: Zhou Zhi , Qian Jiang , Huang Wei
Published: January 2020

This article investigates the shear strength of steel plate reinforced concrete shear wall under cyclic loads. A nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model in ABAQUS was developed and validated against published experimental results. Then, a parametric study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the parameters on the lateral capacity of composite shear wall, including shear span ratio, concrete strength, axial load ratio, steel plate ratio and transverse reinforcement ratio of the web. Furthermore, a modified formula of shear strength of composite shear wall was proposed. Regression analyses were used to obtain the contribution coefficients of different parts from 720 finite element models. Finally, the shear strengths of specimens from published tests were compared with design strengths calculated using the proposed formula, American Institute of Steel Construction Provisions and Chinese Code. It was found that the Chinese Code well predicts the shear strength of composite shear wall of a steel plate ratio of less than 5%, while unsafely predicting that of a higher steel plate ratio. The American Institute of Steel Construction Provisions predictions are quite conservative because the contribution of the reinforced concrete is neglected. The modified formula safely predicts the shear strength of composite shear wall.
Establishing authenticity and commodifying difference: a social semiotic analysis of Sámi jeans
Authors: Archer Arlene , Westberg Gustav
Published: January 2020

This article investigates a semiotic phenomenon within the global fashion industry: the branding of designer jeans as ‘authentic’ and ‘genuinely local’, focusing on the Swedish brand Sarva. Drawing on a social semiotics approach, the authors see authenticity as a discursive construct and look at the ways in which Sarva authenticate their jeans as Sámi in multimodal texts. The aim is: (1) to reveal how places and narratives are commodified in texts that accompany the jeans; and (2) to explore how authenticity is materially instantiated in the jeans by using different resources. The article focuses on the connotative provenance and affordances of different semiotic materials for the rendering of authenticity. The analysis of the jeans as semiotic entities reveals how the thickness of the garment, texture and leather details, and the choice of materials, languages as well as iconography, evoke ideas about historical and local ‘Sáminess’, whilst at the same time indexing a global ideology that regiments what quality jeans are. The analysis shows how authenticity can be reinvented and relocated in ways that allow a commodity to travel between the local and the global. It also shows how this movement is not neutral or straightforward, but rooted in power relations that underlie globalization and advanced capitalism.
Efficient stoneware hand mold for slip casting in natural rubber latex glove preparation
Authors: Tangboriboon Nuchnapa , Teeraroengrit Sukritchai , Chawhuaymhak Pattara , Kamonsawas Jirarat , Changkhamchom Sairung , Sirivat Anuvat
Published: January 2020

Disposal medical gloves are an important product to maintain hygienic conditions, ensuring security for patients and safeguarding against infections. They are used in many fields, such as dental and medical, beauty and cuisine, food and pharmaceutical industries. Presently, aging populations and an emerging middle class in developing countries require medical gloves at a higher volume. Therefore, the demand for medical gloves increases continuously. In this work, two types of hand molds were prepared from stoneware clay and plaster to be used in the natural rubber glove preparation. The ceramic stoneware and plaster hand molds were prepared by the slip casting. The obtained stoneware hand molds were found to be superior to the commercial hand molds. Natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves were fabricated by dipping the stoneware hand mold coated with a coagulant into the NRL compound using the sulfur curing system at 120°C for 30 min. The latex solid:water weight ratio, drying and firing temperatures, and firing time used to prepare stoneware hand molds were found to affect the adsorption–adhesion properties between the mold surface and the NRL films. The obtained NRL films were further characterized for the physical properties such as appearance, film thickness, tackiness, and effusion of the phase formation by X-ray diffraction, the microstructure by scanning electron microscope, and the mechanical properties. The NRL glove films prepared by the stoneware hand mold possessed the high percentage elongation at break and the maximum load stress equal to 1343.30 ± 78.36% and 12.74 ± 2.34 MPa, respectively. On the other hand, the latex glove films prepared by the plaster hand mold with 80 consistency provided the percentage of elongation at break and the maximum load stress equal to 531.76 ± 2.54 and 21.01 ± 0.08 MPa, respectively.
A Systematic Review Evaluating Psychometric Properties of Parent or Caregiver Report Instruments on Child Maltreatment: Part 1: Content Validity
Authors: Yoon Sangwon , Speyer Renée , Cordier Reinie , Aunio Pirjo , Hakkarainen Airi
Published: January 2020

Aims:

Child maltreatment (CM) is a serious public health issue, affecting over half of all children globally. Although most CM is perpetrated by parents or caregivers and their reports of CM is more accurate than professionals or children, parent or caregiver report instruments measuring CM have never been systematically evaluated for their content validity, the most important psychometric property. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the content validity of all current parent or caregiver report CM instruments.

Methods:

A systematic literature search was performed in CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Sociological Abstracts; gray literature was retrieved through reference checking. Eligible studies needed to report on content validity of instruments measuring CM perpetrated and reported by parents or caregivers. The quality of studies and content validity of the instruments were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments guidelines.

Results:

Fifteen studies reported on the content validity of 15 identified instruments. The study quality was generally poor. The content validity of the instruments was overall sufficient, but most instruments did not provide high-quality evidence for content validity.

Conclusions:

Most instruments included in this review showed promising content validity. The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool for use in Trial appears to be the most promising, followed by the Family Maltreatment–Child Abuse criteria. However, firm conclusions cannot be drawn due to the low quality of evidence for content validity. Further studies are required to evaluate the remaining psychometric properties for recommending parent or caregiver report CM instruments.
The Complexity of the “x” in Latinx: How Latinx/a/o Students Relate to, Identify With, and Understand the Term Latinx
Authors: Salinas Cristobal
Published: January 2020

The usage of term Latinx has gained popularity in higher education settings. This study documents how 34 Latinx/a/o students relate to, identify with, and understand the term Latinx. Participants perceive higher education as a privileged space where they use the term Latinx. Once they return to their communities, they do not use the term. Due to the variations in understandings of the term, the author contends that one should consider using the term Latin*.
Towards cloud-native simulations – lessons learned from the front-line of cloud computing
Authors: Kratzke Nane , Siegfried Robert
Published: January 2020

Cloud computing can be a game-changer for computationally intensive tasks like simulations. The computational power of Amazon, Google, or Microsoft is even available to a single researcher. However, the pay-as-you-go cost model of cloud computing influences how cloud-native systems are being built. We transfer these insights to the simulation domain. The major contributions of this paper are twofold: (A) we propose a cloud-native simulation stack and (B) derive expectable software engineering trends for cloud-native simulation services. Our insights are based on systematic mapping studies on cloud-native applications, a review of cloud standards, action research activities with cloud engineering practitioners, and corresponding software prototyping activities. Two major trends have dominated cloud computing over the last 10 years. The size of deployment units has been minimized and corresponding architectural styles prefer more fine-grained service decompositions of independently deployable and horizontally scalable services. We forecast similar trends for cloud-native simulation architectures. These similar trends should make cloud-native simulation services more microservice-like, which are composable but just “simulate one thing well.” However, merely transferring existing simulation models to the cloud can result in significantly higher costs. One critical insight of our (and other) research is that cloud-native systems should follow cloud-native architecture principles to leverage the most out of the pay-as-you-go cost model.
Modeling and Simulation as a Service infrastructure capabilities for discovery, composition and execution of simulation services
Authors: Hannay Jo Erskine , van den Berg Tom , Gallant Scott , Gupton Kevin
Published: January 2020

Modeling and Simulation as a Service (MSaaS) embodies the idea that simulations should be composed quickly for the task at hand from loosely coupled shared components, simulation services, in a cloud-based environment. These simulations are then offered, as composed simulation services, to human and technical consumers. Instrumental to this, is functionality that lets a simulation operator discover and compose simulation services and execute the composition. We describe this functionality in terms of what we call MSaaS infrastructure capabilities. Following the idea of stepwise refinement, the discovery and composition of simulation services can be done at design time using implementation-independent information about simulation services and at implementation time using implementation-specific information about simulation services. The execution environment can also be set up at design time and at implementation time. We therefore describe the MSaaS infrastructure capabilities in terms of how they are used on both implementation-independent and implementation-specific service information. By doing these elaborations, we intend to gain greater insight into how to perform simulation service discovery, composition, and execution. We conclude that although much of the required functionality for a MSaaS infrastructure is available through existing platforms and frameworks, it is necessary to offer this functionality as services, alongside (composed) simulation services, to fulfill the MSaaS vision.
Cardiotoxicity and Cardioprotection by Artesunate in Larval Zebrafish
Authors: Zheng Chuanrui , Shan Letian , Tong Peijian , Efferth Thomas
Published: January 2020

Although artesunate (ART) is generally accepted as a safe and well-tolerated first-line treatment of severe malaria, cases of severe side effects and toxicity of this compound are also documented. This study applied larval zebrafishes to determine the acute toxicity and efficacy of ART and performed RNA-sequencing analyses to unravel the underlying signaling pathways contributing to ART’s activities. Results from acute toxicity assay showed that a single-dose intravenous injection of ART from 3.6 ng/fish (1/9 maximum nonlethal concentration) to 41.8 ng/fish (lethal dose 10%) obviously induced pericardial edema, circulation defects, yolk sac absorption delay, renal edema, and swim bladder loss, indicating acute cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and developmental toxicity of ART. Efficacy assay showed that ART at 1/2 lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) exerted cardioprotective effects on zebrafishes with verapamil-induced heart failure. Artesunate significantly restored cardiac malformation, venous stasis, cardiac output decrease, and blood flow dynamics reduction. No adverse events were observed with this treatment, indicating that ART at doses below LOAEL was effective and safe. These results indicate that ART at low doses was cardioprotective, but revealed cardiotoxicity at high doses. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that gene expression of frizzled class receptor 7a ( fzd7a) was significantly upregulated in zebrafishes with verapamil-induced heart failure and significantly downregulated if ART at 1/2 LOAEL was coadministrated, indicating that fzd7a-modulated Wnt signaling may mediate the cardioprotective effect of ART. For the first time, this study revealed the biphasic property of ART, providing in-depth knowledge on the pharmacological efficacy-safety profile for its therapeutic and safe applications in clinic.
Interpreting the English school: History, science and philosophy
Authors: Bevir Mark , Hall Ian
Published: January 2020

This article introduces the Special Issue on ‘Interpretivism and the English School of International Relations’. It distinguishes between what we term the interpretivist and structuralist wings of the school and argues that disagreement about its preferred approach to the study of international relations has generated confusion about what it stands for and weakened its capacity to respond to alternative approaches. It puts the case for a reconsideration of the underlying philosophical positions that the school wishes to affirm and suggests that a properly grounded interpretivism may serve it best. The final part of the article discusses the topics and arguments of the remaining pieces in the Special Issue.
Antihypertensive Effects of Rg3-Enriched Korean Vitamin Ginseng in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Nagar Harsha , Kang Shin Kwang , Choi Si Wan , Song Hee-Jung , Choi Su-Jeong , Piao Shuyu , Kim Seonhee , Lee Ikjun , Kim Cuk-Seong
Published: January 2020

Ginseng is well known to treat various diseases. Ginsenoside Rg3 exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities including cardiovascular protective effects. Vitamins utilized as supplements have minimal interactions with other drugs making them attractive targets for therapeutics. Here, we prepared Rg3-enriched Korean ginseng catalyzed by vitamin (REKVG) and evaluated its ability to improve hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The ginsenoside content in both Korean Red ginseng (KRG) and REKVG were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Male SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) were randomly divided into 6 groups (WKY saline, WKY KRG, WKY REKVG, SHR saline, SHR KRG, and SHR REKVG). KRG and REKVG were orally administered once daily to the rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks, and blood pressure was measured in live rats using the tail-cuff method. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used for the in vitro experiment. HPLC chromatograms revealed that the concentration of ginsenoside Rg3 in REKVG was much higher than that in KRG. The administration of REKVG significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure in SHRs at the end of 6 weeks as compared to KRG. Further, REKVG use resulted in a dose-dependent increase in Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and NO production in endothelial cells. In addition, the administration of REKVG significantly increased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation and increased plasma NO levels in SHRs. We conclude that REKVG effectively lowers the blood pressure in rats and therefore could be considered for use in preventing or improving hypertension.
Spontaneous Nasal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Repaired With Single-Layer Mucoperichondrial Graft: Long-term Results
Authors: Alicandri-Ciufelli Matteo , Fermi Matteo , Rosa Maria Silvia , Garzaro Massimiliano , Presutti Livio
Published: January 2020

Background

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSFL) has been historically related to obesity and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), with a lower rate of success of endoscopic repair reported in the literature. Moreover, defects related to this condition have been largely repaired with multilayer reconstructions and pedicled flaps. Long-term postoperative results have not been appropriately discussed yet.

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the outcome of a cohort of patients treated with single-layer mucoperichondrial graft.

Methods

A retrospective review of clinical records of a consecutive series of patients who underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery for sCSFL was carried out at a tertiary care referral center for skull base pathologies. All patients underwent reconstruction with single-layer mucoperichondrial free graft. Local flap failures and postoperative outcomes, in terms of recurrence of sCSFL or brain herniation, were registered.

Results

Neither intraoperative nor perioperative complications were reported. Definitive closure was achieved in 27 of 29 (93%) patients after the first attempt, while in 2 cases, a revision surgery was required. In both of these, an inadequate position of the graft was detected and was repaired likewise with the same mucoperichondrial graft. None of the patients required postoperative lumbar drain placement. After a median follow-up period of 57 months, only 1 patient developed a meningocele without CSFL about 2 years after surgery at the contralateral lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus. None of the patients reported symptoms referable to elevated ICP nor underwent ventricular derivation.

Conclusions

Single-layered mucoperichondrial free graft was safe and effective in the majority of the examined patients. In 7% of the study population, a surgical revision was necessary due to local failure of the graft. However, during long-term follow-up, only 1 case of recurrent meningocele without CSFL was reported in a patient who presented borderline ICP.
The utility of wearable fitness trackers and implications for increased engagement: An exploratory, mixed methods observational study
Authors: Lewis Zakkoyya H. , Pritting Lauren , Picazo Anton-Luigi , JeanMarie-Tucker Milagro
Published: January 2020

Objective

To explore which features of wearable fitness trackers are used and deemed helpful.

Methods

Forty-seven participants took part in an online survey. All participants were over 18 years of age and owned a wearable device that objectively measured physical activity and provided feedback. The survey included questions related to the acceptance of different features of wearables, and exercise information, self-efficacy, exercise identity, motivation, and general demographics of the wearer. Seven participants took part in focus groups in an effort to gain further insight into the acceptability and utilization of wearables. Data were examined using means and frequencies.

Results

Participants were mostly young adults (18–24 years, 48.9%), White (63.8%), female (80.9%), overweight (body mass index 26.0±6.2), students (42.6%) and generally healthy. Fitbit was the most commonly owned wearable device (42.6%). Most participants had owned their device for 6–12 months (27.7%) and they wore their device daily (80.9%). The most commonly used features were rewards/badges (59.6%), notifications (52.2%), and challenges (42.6%). The features that were reportedly the most helpful, however, were motivational cues (83.3%), general health information (82.4%), and challenges (75.0%).

Conclusions

The reported use and helpfulness ratings of various features of wearables appeared to vary based on the wearer’s gender, race/ethnicity, exercise goal, exercise proficiency, preferred type of exercise, and psychosocial metrics but the results are inconclusive. Future research should evaluate whether engagement with certain features is strongly associated with improved outcomes and whether the use of these features is significantly associated with wearer characteristics.
Does Facebook Commerce Enhance SMEs Performance? A Structural Equation Analysis of Omani SMEs
Authors: Alraja Mansour Naser , Khan Sarfraz Fayaz , Khashab Basel , Aldaas Raghad
Published: January 2020

This research aims to identify the factors affecting the adoption of Facebook commerce, in specific the adopted Facebook advertisements for both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how this contributes to enhancing such SMEs’ organizational performances. Specifically, ease of use, demographic targeting, interaction, and brand awareness are regarded as the key factors that can influence Facebook’s advertisements adoption. However, three organizational performance dimensions (efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness) are considered to be the most significant areas of focus in this research. In this study, both the quantitative research approach and the descriptive research design were employed. Data were collected from different SMEs in Muscat and Dhofar in Oman, and the total valid questionnaires suitable for analysis reached 342. The participants were primarily from those who publicize their services through Facebook. Many statistical techniques including exploratory, confirmatory, and structural equation modeling have been adopted in this study; meanwhile, the quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 25 softwares. The findings of this study suggested that the ease of use, demographic targeting, interaction, and brand awareness interpreted 20% of the variance in the Facebook advertisements as the dependent variable. However, Facebook advertisements as an independent variable were found to have a statistically significant effect on the SMEs’ performance dimensions (efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness) with standard regressions of 0.66, 0.51, and 0.74, respectively, thereby explaining 44% of the variance in the efficiency, 26% of the variance in the flexibility, and 55% of the variance in the responsiveness. Regarding the researchers’ knowledge, this research stands out as the first research to highlight SMEs that measure statistically the relationship between the organizational performance dimensions and Facebook advertising as key social media tools within a unique context—such as Oman as an example of developing countries.
Medical Pluralism, Mainstream Marginality or Subaltern Therapeutics? Globalisation and the Integration of ‘Asian’ Medicines and Biomedicine in the UK
Authors: Cant Sarah
Published: January 2020

Medical Pluralism refers to the coexistence of differing medical traditions and practices grounded in divergent epistemological positions and based on distinctive worldviews. From the 1970s, a globalised health market, underpinned by new consumer and practitioner interest, spawned the importation of ‘non-Western’ therapeutics to the UK. Since then, these various modalities have coexisted alongside, and sometimes within, biomedical clinics. Sociologists have charted the emergence of this ‘new’ medical pluralism in the UK, to establish how complementary and alternative medicines have fared in both the private and public health sectors and to consider explanations for the attraction of these modalities. The current positioning of complementary and alternative medicines can be described as one of ‘mainstream marginality’ ( Cant 2009 , The New Sociology of the Health Service, London: Routledge): popular with users, but garnering little statutory support. Much sociological analysis has explained this marginal positioning of non-orthodox medicine by recourse to theories of professionalisation and has shown how biomedicine has been able, with the support of the state, to subordinate, co-opt and limit its competitors. Whilst insightful, this work has largely neglected to situate medical pluralism in its historical, global and colonial contexts. By drawing on post-colonial thinking, the paper suggests how we might differently theorise and research the appropriation, alteration and reimagining of ‘Asian’ therapeutic knowledges in the UK.