bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Airflow resistance and pressure drop behavior in different conditions of bulk‐stored onion and its dynamic modeling
Authors: Kate Adinath E. , Chakraborty Subir K. , Pawar Dilip A. , Gorrepati Kalyani
Published: June 2019

The knowledge of airflow resistance and distribution pattern in a highly porous‐bed commodity like an onion is an important consideration in designing an appropriate ventilation system and for proper selection of fans. The resistance to airflow through bulk onions was determined at the airflow rates range of 0.04–1.0 m3/s.m2, bed depth of 0–100 cm, and scaled and descaled condition of onion at vertical and horizontal position of the onion stock. Three models (Shedd, Hukill and Ives, and Ergun) were investigated to describe pressure drop data of onion bulbs. The pressure drop through bulk onion was increased with an increase in airflow rate and bed depth. Also, pressure drop was 43.5 and 33.3% higher in scaled condition over the descaled condition of bulbs at the vertical and horizontal position of the column, respectively. Shedd model was found to more reliable among three models to describe airflow resistance in bulk of onion bulbs.

Practical Applications

Onion is perishable vegetable consumed throughout the year. Being a seasonal crop and to fulfill the demand of consumers it must be stored for off seasonal use. Storage of the onion bulbs at ambient and modified environment condition is the most commonly used methods in a tropical climate. But there were huge postharvest losses mainly in the form of physiological weight loss, sprouting, and decay and considerable loss in nutritional qualities. Properly designed aeration, ventilation, and fumigation system is the only way to reduce such losses. Therefore, the understanding of dynamic behavior of applied ventilation and fumigation with its distribution pattern in a highly porous commodity like an onion is a preliminary requirement for the proper design of storage system. Different model based approach to understand flow dynamics could be used in the dimensional design of a storage system in a tropical climate.
GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS AND RELATIVE LABOUR DEMAND: A GEOMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF NEOCLASSICAL TRADE MODELS
Authors: Franssen Loe
Published: June 2019

Technological advancements and reductions in trade tariffs have made it increasingly profitable for firms to separate their production into individual tasks, creating global value chains (GVCs). The theoretical literature on the distributional effects of GVCs is large, but ambiguous. Since the early conception of Jones' general equilibrium model in 1965, there seems to have been a tendency to repackage (part of) this model, generating apparent conflicts and implicit overlaps. This paper goes back to the basics by using the dual nature of the production model in Jones to provide a geometric exposition of the main channels by which GVCs can affect the relative demand for skilled labour. The explanatory power of this figure is vast. First, it can synthesize the ambiguous literature in a coherent and intuitive framework and show how subtle modelling differences can have widespread effects on key predictions. Second, it can serve as a conceptual framework and as a guide to empirical analysis. Third, it can be used as an illustration of key models explaining global value chains. Ultimately, the proposed figure can be used as a pedagogical tool for policy makers and (under)graduate students alike, without the need to understand complex algebra.
Comparing Protest Massacres
Authors: Anisin Alexei
Published: June 2019

Why do some bouts of collective action end in bloodshed? This study evaluates a diverse collection of cases featuring opposition movements that experienced government‐led massacres. Historically, protest massacres originate to 19th century struggles associated with populational needs of obtaining public goods and political representation from governments. Unlike genocide and politicide which are likely to take place during heightened conflict, protest massacres tend to occur outside of war and civil war. Data on 76 incidents (1819–2017) capturing direct action strategies, preceding levels of mobilization, regime threat levels, and temporal characteristics of each massacre is analyzed.
The Jewish Issue in Islamic Radicalism: Historicity, Impact and Evolutions
Authors: Adraoui Mohamed‐Ali
Published: June 2019

This article focuses on the long‐term ideological vision of Jews and Israel in radical Islam. By examining, on the one hand, the animosity towards Judeo‐Israelis in the spawning and bolstering of Islamist, Salafist and Jihadist movements, and on the other hand, the sociological composition of Jihadist elites related to the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict, I show the centrality of the Judeophobic discourse in the world of radical Islam as well as the importance of Israel in its reinforcement. By trying to historicize this discourse, as well as political and strategic movements linked with the State of Israel, I also question the nature of the hostility towards Judaism, and more specifically the role of the Israeli issue in the development and evolution of the most radical and violent forms of Muslim identity over nearly a century.
Endogenous pain modulation assessed with offset analgesia is not impaired in chronic temporomandibular disorder pain patients
Authors: Moana‐Filho Estephan Jose , Herrero Babiloni Alberto , Nisley Aaron
Published: June 2019

Background

Abnormal endogenous pain modulation (EPM) was suggested as a pathophysiological characteristic of chronic pain. EPM has been investigated using psychophysical tests for pain facilitation and inhibition such as temporal summation of pain and conditioned pain modulation, respectively. Another psychophysical test for pain inhibition is offset analgesia (OA), where small variations in noxious stimulus intensity over time elicit a disproportionately large analgesic response. OA has been investigated in patients with mixed pain conditions, but not in chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients.

Objective

To compare OA responses in chronic TMD female cases to age‐matched, pain‐free female controls.

Methods

Offset analgesia was assessed by applying noxious heat over the non‐dominant forearm of chronic TMD cases (n = 22) and controls (n = 17), using a previously reported paradigm with individualised test temperatures (TT): T1(5 seconds) = TT, T2(5 seconds) = TT + 1°C and T3(20 seconds) = TT. Clinical and psychosocial characteristics were measured. Main outcomes for OA were delta computerised visual analogue scale (COVAS), per cent change (T2‐T3/T2‐T1) and area under the curve (AUC) ratio of pain ratings controlling for TT.

Results

No statistically significant between‐group differences were found for delta COVAS (TMD cases mean ± SD = 53.5 ± 22.0; controls = 51.6 ± 22.9, P = 0.876) and per cent change (T2‐T3/T2‐T1) (cases mean = 327.2 ± 375.1; controls = 226.9 ± 553.4, P = 0.515), with both groups presenting a robust OA response. TMD cases perceived more pain during OA trials than controls, as measured by AUC ratio (mean difference [95% CI] = −15.6 [−26.9, −3.5], P = 0.017).

Conclusion

Chronic TMD cases presented with similar OA response over the forearm as controls; however, they experienced greater pain during testing. Future studies including this patient population should investigate OA responses over painful body sites, for example, jaw/face.
Efficacy of modified chin tuck against resistance exercise using hand‐free device for dysphagia in stroke survivors: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kim Hwan‐Hee , Park Ji‐Su
Published: June 2019

Background

Chin tuck against resistance exercise was recently reported as a novel method for improving the swallowing function of patients with post‐stroke dysphagia. However, as this exercise involves holding and fixing the device using the hand, physically weak patients may find it difficult to perform it.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the effect of modified chin tuck against resistance (mCTAR) exercise on patients with post‐stroke dysphagia.

Methods

In total, 30 patients with dysphagia were recruited in this study. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group performed mCTAR exercise and received traditional dysphagia treatment, whereas the control group received only traditional dysphagia treatment. mCTAR exercise involved isometric and isotonic exercises. Aspiration and oral diet were evaluated using penetration‐aspiration scale (PAS) and functional oral intake scale (FOIS), respectively. Moreover, the rate of nasogastric tube removal was analysed.

Results

Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in PAS and FOIS (P < 0.001, both). The rates of nasogastric tube removal were 25% and 15% in the experimental and control groups, respectively.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that mCTAR exercise can reduce aspiration and improve dietary levels in patients with post‐stroke dysphagia. Therefore, mCTAR exercise is expected to be beneficial for physically vulnerable patients with dysphagia who have limited hand strength and range of motion.
Belief in a Loving Versus Punitive God and Behavior
Authors: Shepperd James A. , Pogge Gabrielle , Lipsey Nikolette P. , Miller Wendi A. , Webster Gregory D.
Published: June 2019

We examined the extent to which beliefs in a loving God and punitive God correspond with self‐reported behavior in an online, longitudinal survey involving three waves of data collection, each separated by 6 months. Adolescents (N = 760) reported the extent to which they believed in a loving God and a punitive God (Times 1 and 3) and reported their engagement in benevolent (helping and forgiveness) and aggressive behavior (Times 2 and 3). Participants strongly endorsed a loving God but not a punitive God. In addition, belief in a loving God corresponded with reports of less aggressive and more benevolent behavior, whereas belief in a punitive God corresponded with more aggressive and less benevolent behavior.
Religion, Spirituality, and Thriving: Transcendent Narrative, Virtue, and Telos
Authors: Schnitker Sarah A. , King Pamela E. , Houltberg Benjamin
Published: June 2019

A theory is proposed to explain how religion/spirituality (R/S) is related to positive youth development and thriving. The concept of telos is employed to define thriving as continued growth through strength‐based living that leads to contributing to one's communities and living out one's ethical ideals. Virtue development is proposed as a primary process by which R/S promotes thriving. Virtues are defined as hybrid personality units emerging when characteristic adaptations are given meaning by a transcendent narrative identity. R/S contributes to virtue formation through the ideological, social, and transcendent contexts embedded within religion by providing opportunities to grow both the characteristic adaptations and transcendent narrative identities necessary for virtue formation in youth and, ultimately, thriving. Implications for future research are discussed.
A Person‐Centered Approach to the Study of Black Adolescent Religiosity, Racial Identity, and Sexual Initiation
Authors: Taggart Tamara , Powell Wizdom , Gottfredson Nisha , Ennett Susan , Eng Eugenia , Chatters Linda M.
Published: June 2019

Decreasing the number of adolescents who have never had sexual intercourse is one way to address sexual health disparities. We used intersectionality to explore the joint effects of religiosity and racial identity on Black adolescent sexual initiation. Data originated from the National Survey of American Life‐Adolescent (n = 1,170), a nationally representative study of Black adolescents. Latent profile analysis and survival analysis were used to evaluate study hypotheses. Results showed four distinct profiles of religiosity and racial identity. These profiles explained 19% of the variability in sexual initiation. Additional analyses revealed sociodemographic differences in profile membership. Findings contribute to understanding ethnic heterogeneity among Black adolescents and racial identity and religiosity as sociocultural factors that influence sexual initiation; and support reconceptualizing Black adolescent religiosity.
Religiosity and Effortful Control as Predictors of Indonesian Adolescents’ Tobacco and Alcohol Use: Moderation and Mediation
Authors: French Doran C. , Purwono Urip , Zhao Siman , Shen Mengqian , Eisenberg Nancy
Published: June 2019

Moderation and mediation models of religiosity and effortful control as predictors of tobacco and alcohol use were tested in this 2‐year longitudinal study of 563 16‐year‐old Muslim Indonesian adolescents. Adolescents reported their effortful control, religiosity, and tobacco and alcohol use and peers provided reports of adolescents’ effortful control. Although both moderation and mediation effects emerged when predicting Year 2 substance use, predictions of change from Year 1 to Year 2 substance use yielded effects of moderation for peer‐ but not self‐reported effortful control for boys; no mediation effects emerged. These findings provide evidence of interconnections between effortful control and religiosity as predictors of substance use and suggest the need for further longitudinal studies that compare moderation and mediation models.
Consequences of Confronting Patronizing Help for People with Disabilities: Do Target Gender and Disability Type Matter?
Authors: Wang Katie , Walker Keshia , Pietri Evava , Ashburn‐Nardo Leslie
Published: June 2019

People with disabilities face a dilemma in dealing with patronizing help: Although accepting unsolicited assistance can incur psychological costs, confronting the helper has been shown to incur interpersonal penalties. The present research explored whether the consequences of confronting patronizing help vary across target gender and disability type. A vignette paradigm introduced participants to various interactions between adults with and without disabilities. Study 1 (N = 137) showed that, when blind targets confronted help that was clearly patronizing, they were rated as ruder and less warm after (vs. before) confronting regardless of their gender. Study 2 (N = 368) showed that, although both blind and wheelchair‐using targets were rated as less warm and ruder after (vs. before) confronting, blind targets were penalized more, and patronizing behavior toward blind targets was perceived as more appropriate. These results highlight the importance of considering intersectionality and cross‐disability heterogeneity when examining the multifaceted experience of ableism.
Evaluation of sedative, analgesic, physiological, and laboratory effects of two doses off medetomidine and xylazine in dromedary calves
Authors: Samimi Amir Saeed , Sakhaee Ehsanollah , Iranmanesh Fattah
Published: June 2019

The present study aims to comparatively evaluate the effects of different doses of intravenous xylazine and medetomidine on sedation and antinociception scores, and physiological and laboratory parameters in dromedary calves. Thirty clinically healthy male dromedary calves 15 ± 2 weeks old and weighing 95 ± 5.5 kg were studied. Two groups received xylazine at low (0.2 mg/kg) and high (0.4 mg/kg) doses. Two groups received medetomidine at low (10 µg/kg) and high (20 µg/kg) doses. One group received normal saline. Sedation signs were scored using a 3‐point scale. Analgesic effect was analyzed using pinpricks. Data were analyzed by one‐way ANOVA and Mann–WhitneyU‐tests. Sedation and antinociception scores of the animals 1 hr after receiving the higher dose of xylazine and medetomidine were significantly higher than that of other groups. Compared with other studied groups, the animals receiving the higher dose of xylazine showed significantly higher potassium and creatinine serum levels after 24 hr. Doses as high as 0.4 mg/kg for xylazine and 20 µg/kg for medetomidine can be considered safe and useful for procedures associated with mild pain in dromedary calves.
Pharmacokinetics of levosulpiride after single‐dose administration in goats (Capra hircus) by different routes of administration
Authors: Łebkowska‐Wieruszewska Beata , Barsotti Giovanni , Camillo Francesco , Rota Alessandra , Panzani Duccio , Poapolathep Amnart , Lisowski Andrzej , Giorgi Mario
Published: June 2019

Levosulpiride (LSP) is the l‐enantiomer of sulpiride, and LSP recently replacing sulpiride in several EU countries. Several studies about LSP in humans are present in the literature, but neither pharmacodynamic nor pharmacokinetic data of LSP is present for veterinary species. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of LSP after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral (PO) administration in goats. Animals (n = 6) were treated with 50 mg LSP by IV, IM, and PO routes according to a randomized cross‐over design (3 × 3 Latin‐square). Blood samples were collected prior and up to 24 hr after LSP administration and quantified using a validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection. IV and IM administration gave similar concentration versus time curve profiles. The IM mean bioavailability was 66.97%. After PO administration, the drug plasma concentrations were detectable only in the time range 1.5–4 hr, and the bioavailability (4.73%) was low. When the AUC was related to the administered dose in mg/kg, there was a good correlation in the IV and IM groups, but very low correlation for the PO route. In conclusion, the IM and IV administrations result in very similar plasma concentrations. Oral dosing of LSP in goats is probably not viable as its oral bioavailability was very low.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intramammary cefquinome in lactating goats with and without experimentally inducedStaphylococcus aureusmastitis
Authors: El Badawy Shymaa A. , Amer Aziza M. M. , Kamel Gehan M. , Eldeib Kamal M. , Constable Peter D.
Published: June 2019

Values for pharmacokinetic variables are usually obtained in healthy animals, whereas drugs are frequently administered to diseased animals. This study investigated cefquinome pharmacokinetics in healthy goats and goats with experimentally induced mastitis. Five adult lactating goats received 75 mg of cefquinome intramammary infusion using a commercially available product into one udder half in healthy goats and goats with clinical mastitis that was induced by intracisternal infusion of 100 cfu ofStaphylococcus aureusATCC 29213 suspended in 5 ml of sterile culture broth. Cefquinome concentrations were determined in plasma and skimmed milk samples using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacodynamics was investigated using the California Mastitis Test and pH of milk. Experimentally induced mastitis significantly increased the California Mastitis Test score and pH, and decreased the maximal cefquinome concentration and shortened the half‐life in milk when compared to healthy goats. In conclusion, mastitis facilitated the absorption of cefquinome from the mammary gland of lactating goats and induced marked changes in milk pH, emphasizing the importance of performing pharmacokinetic studies of antimicrobial agents in infected animals.
Nest removal by humans creates an evolutionary trap for Amazonian freshwater turtles
Authors: Quintana I. , Norris D. , Valerio A. , Becker F. G. , Gibbs J. P. , Michalski F.
Published: June 2019

Nest‐site selection exerts a fundamental maternal effect on offspring fitness in oviparous species. In many freshwater turtles, females do not care for their eggs after oviposition but rather rely on a nest's micro‐environment to incubate developing embryos although linkages between oviposition choices and overall fitness remain poorly evaluated. We tested predictions derived from multiple hypotheses to examine nesting patterns of the yellow‐spotted river turtle Podocnemis unifilis, a species imperiled by egg harvesting by humans throughout its range, based on data collected from 73 nesting sites along 118 km of river in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. Nesting area size largely explained nest‐site selection by turtles, but only weakly explained turtle egg harvesting by humans. Despite the wide availability of alternative nesting habitats, turtles do not appear to be capable of avoiding hazardous nesting sites associated with increased egg harvesting by humans. Because signals used by female turtles to select nesting areas are apparently not sufficient for avoiding nesting along rivers accessible to humans, direct conservation action will be vital for persistence of these and likely other Amazonian freshwater turtles.
Differences in regional oceanography and prey biomass influence the presence of foraging odontocetes at two Atlantic seamounts
Authors: Romagosa Miriam , Lucas Carlos , Pérez‐Jorge Sergi , Tobeña Marta , Lehodey Patrick , Reis Jesus , Cascão Irma , Lammers Marc O. , Caldeira Rui M. A. , Silva Mónica A.
Published: June 2019

The importance of seamounts as foraging hotspots for cetaceans depends on interactions between ocean flow and topographical features that concentrate prey. However, the oceanographic processes driving these aggregations are still unclear. Here, we analyzed two months of passive acoustic recordings from two remote seamounts in the Northeast Atlantic, Atlantis and Irving, in relation to regional oceanography and estimates of prey biomass. Delphinids and sperm whales were detected in both seamounts with higher foraging activity at night, indicating feeding on diel migrating prey. There were more detections of delphinids and sperm whales at Atlantis than at Irving. These two seamounts lie in different oceanographic settings created by the Azores Current that separates colder and less saline water masses in the north (Atlantis seamount) from warmer and more saline waters in the south (Irving seamount). Irving seamount is only affected by transient features like eddies that enhance productivity for short time periods. These conditions translate into more productive waters at Atlantis seamount than at Irving, as shown by predicted prey biomasses that ultimately attract top predators. Comparative studies such as this one can help to explain the main drivers of presence of top predators at seamounts.
Extra‐axial anaplastic astroblastoma in a 67‐year‐old woman
Authors: Bernasconi Riccardo , Eccher Albino , Girolami Ilaria , Boldrini Marcello , Masotto Barbara , Barresi Valeria
Published: June 2019

Astroblastoma is a rare glial neoplasia of the central nervous system. It is histologically defined by the presence of neoplastic cells with non‐ or slightly tapering processes arranged around blood vessels (astroblastic rosettes) and conventionally subdivided into well‐differentiated and anaplastic. It commonly affects children and young adults, although cases and due to its superficial location in the brain cortex, it can mimic an extra‐axial mass on magnetic resonance imagining. Herein, we describe a unique case of pure extra‐axial anaplastic astroblastoma in an elderly woman. Awareness that astroblastoma may be also extra‐axial and affect older subjects, may be helpful for its identification and differential diagnosis toward more common entities at this site and age of onset, and for appropriate therapeutic management as well.
GbCYP86A1‐1 from Gossypium barbadense positively regulates defence against Verticillium dahliae by cell wall modification and activation of immune pathways
Authors: Wang Guilin , Xu Jun , Li Lechen , Guo Zhan , Si Qingxin , Zhu Guozhong , Wang Xinyu , Guo Wangzhen
Published: June 2019

Suberin acts as stress‐induced antipathogen barrier in the root cell wall. CYP86A1 encodes cytochrome P450 fatty acid ω‐hydroxylase, which has been reported to be a key enzyme for suberin biosynthesis; however, its role in resistance to fungi and the mechanisms related to immune responses remain unknown. Here, we identified a disease resistance‐related gene, GbCYP86A1‐1, from Gossypium barbadense cv. Hai7124. There were three homologs of GbCYP86A1 in cotton, which are specifically expressed in roots and induced by Verticillium dahliae. Among them, GbCYP86A1‐1 contributed the most significantly to resistance. Silencing of GbCYP86A1‐1 in Hai7124 resulted in severely compromised resistance to V. dahliae, while heterologous overexpression of GbCYP86A1‐1 in Arabidopsis improved tolerance. Tissue sections showed that the roots of GbCYP86A1‐1 transgenic Arabidopsis had more suberin accumulation and significantly higher C16‐C18 fatty acid content than control. Transcriptome analysis revealed that overexpression of GbCYP86A1‐1 not only affected lipid biosynthesis in roots, but also activated the disease‐resistant immune pathway; genes encoding the receptor‐like kinases (RLKs), receptor‐like proteins (RLPs), hormone‐related transcription factors, and pathogenesis‐related protein genes (PRs) were more highly expressed in the GbCYP86A1‐1 transgenic line than control. Furthermore, we found that when comparing V. dahliae ‐inoculated and noninoculated plants, few differential genes related to disease immunity were detected in the GbCYP86A1‐1 transgenic line; however, a large number of resistance genes were activated in the control. This study highlights the role of GbCYP86A1‐1 in the defence against fungi and its underlying molecular immune mechanisms in this process.
MITF controls the TCA cycle to modulate the melanoma hypoxia response
Authors: Louphrasitthiphol Pakavarin , Ledaki Ioanna , Chauhan Jagat , Falletta Paola , Siddaway Robert , Buffa Francesca M. , Mole David R. , Soga Tomoyoshi , Goding Colin R.
Published: June 2019

In response to the dynamic intra‐tumor microenvironment, melanoma cells adopt distinct phenotypic states associated with differential expression of the microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF). The response to hypoxia is driven by hypoxia‐inducible transcription factors (HIFs) that reprogram metabolism and promote angiogenesis. HIF1α indirectly represses MITF that can activate HIF1α expression. Although HIF and MITF share a highly related DNA‐binding specificity, it is unclear whether they co‐regulate subset of target genes. Moreover, the genomewide impact of hypoxia on melanoma and whether melanoma cell lines representing different phenotypic states exhibit distinct hypoxic responses is unknown. Here we show that three different melanoma cell lines exhibit widely different hypoxia responses with only a core 23 genes regulated in common after 12 hr in hypoxia. Surprisingly, under hypoxia MITF is transiently up‐regulated by HIF1α and co‐regulates a subset of HIF targets including VEGFA. Significantly, we also show that MITF represses itself and also regulates SDHB to control the TCA cycle and suppress pseudo‐hypoxia. Our results reveal a previously unsuspected role for MITF in metabolism and the network of factors underpinning the hypoxic response in melanoma.
Evaluating sunscreen ultraviolet protection using a polychromatic diffuse reflectance device
Authors: Cole Curtis , Silverman Jay , Bonitatibus Michael
Published: June 2019

Background

Sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA protection factor (UVA‐PF) are determined using in vivo tests, with high exposures of subjects to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Hybrid diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (HDRS) enables estimation of both indices using only trace amounts UVB. However, the equipment requires two expensive monochromators that must synchronously scan the spectrum.

Methods

An alternate approach was developed using a polychromatic source that illuminates the skin via a custom light guide array, and the diffuse reflected light is measured with a photomultiplier. The ratio of the diffuse reflectance with and without the sunscreen on the skin determines the polychromatic diffuse reflectance UVA‐PF (PDRS UVA‐PF0). This factor was used to adjust in vitro UV spectroscopy scans of the sunscreen (with and without UV exposure to assess photostability), to calculate SPF and UVA protection factors. Ten sunscreens were evaluated and compared to in vivo SPF and UVA‐PF values.

Results

The data show an excellent correlation with known in vivo determinations.

Conclusion

This polychromatic HDRS approach uses simpler, faster, and less expensive equipment to determine both UVA‐PF and SPFs without high doses of UV radiation to the test subjects.
Maternal childhood and lifetime traumatic life events and infant bronchiolitis
Authors: Adgent Margaret A. , Elsayed‐Ali Omar , Gebretsadik Tebeb , Tylavsky Frances A. , Kocak Mehmet , Cormier Stephania A. , Wright Rosalind J. , Carroll Kecia N.
Published: June 2019

Background

Viral bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection that often affects term, otherwise healthy infants. A small literature suggests maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with bronchiolitis. However, the association between maternal exposure to lifetime traumatic stress, including traumatic events occurring in childhood or throughout the life course, and bronchiolitis has not been studied previously.

Objectives

To investigate the association between maternal exposure to total lifetime and childhood traumatic stress events and infant bronchiolitis.

Methods

We studied mother‐infant dyads enrolled in a prospective prenatal cohort, recruited 2006‐2011, and Tennessee Medicaid. During pregnancy, we assessed maternal lifetime exposure to types of traumatic events by questionnaire. We captured bronchiolitis diagnoses in term, non‐low birthweight infants’ first 12 months using linked Medicaid data. In separate models, we assessed the association of maternal lifetime traumatic events (0 to 20 types) and a subset of traumatic events that occurred during childhood (0 to 3: family violence, sexual, and physical abuse) and infant bronchiolitis using multivariable log‐binomial models.

Results

Of 629 women, 85% were African American. The median count (interquartile range) of lifetime traumatic events was 3 (2, 5); 42% reported ≥1 childhood traumatic event. Among infants, 22% had a bronchiolitis diagnosis (0 to 2 lifetime traumatic events: 24%; 3 events: 20%; 4 to 5 events: 18%; 6 or more events: 24%). Total maternal lifetime traumatic events were not associated with bronchiolitis in multivariable analyses. For maternal childhood traumatic events, the risk of infant bronchiolitis increased with number of event types reported: adjusted Risk ratios were 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80, 1.59), 1.31 (95% CI 0.83, 2.07), and 2.65 (95% CI 1.45, 4.85) for 1, 2, and 3 events, respectively, vs none.

Conclusions

Infants born to women reporting multiple types of childhood trauma were at higher risk for bronchiolitis. Further research is needed to explore intergenerational effects of traumatic experiences.
Generalization of fear in post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Lis S. , Thome J. , Kleindienst N. , Mueller‐Engelmann M. , Steil R. , Priebe K. , Schmahl C. , Hermans D. , Bohus M.
Published: June 2019

Overgeneralization (i.e., the transfer of fear to stimuli not related to an aversive event) is part of alterations in associative fear learning in mental disorders. In the present experimental study, we investigated whether this holds true for post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to childhood abuse. We expected that fear generalization under experimental conditions reflects generalization of aversive stimuli to different social domains in real life. Sixty‐four women with PTSD after childhood abuse and 30 healthy participants (HC) underwent a differential fear conditioning and generalization paradigm. Online risk ratings, reaction time, and fear‐potentiated startle served as dependent variables. Based on the subjectively assessed generalization of triggered intrusions across different domains of life, PTSD participants were split into two groups reporting low (low‐GEN) and high (high‐GEN) generalization. PTSD patients reported a higher expectation of an aversive event. During fear conditioning, they assessed the risk of danger related to a safety cue slower and showed a blunted fear‐potentiated startle toward the danger cue. During generalization testing, reaction time increased in the high‐GEN patients and decreased in the HC group with increasing similarity of a stimulus with the conditioned safety cue. Alterations of fear learning in PTSD suggest impaired defensive responses in case of a high threat probability. Moreover, our findings bridge the gap between the generalization of aversive cues during everyday life and laboratory‐based experimental parameters: impairments in the processing of cues signaling safety generalize particularly in those patients who report a spreading of PTSD symptoms across different domains of everyday life.
Hydroseeding tackifiers and dryland moss restoration potential
Authors: Blankenship W. Dillon , Condon Lea A. , Pyke David A.
Published: June 2019

Tackifiers are long‐chain carbon compounds used for soil stabilization and hydroseeding and could provide a vehicle for biological soil crust restoration. We examined the sensitivity of two dryland mosses,Bryum argenteumandSyntrichia ruralis,to three common tackifiers—guar, psyllium, and polyacrylamide (PAM)—at 0.5×, 1.0×, and 2.0× of recommended (×) concentrations for erosion control and revegetation. We measured moss shoot, gemma, and protonema production as well as moss organic matter and bound sand masses as indicators of growth and soil holding ability. We tested sand and tackifier chemistry to investigate potential nutrient and toxicant potential on moss growth. Groups of 10 fragments from field‐collected mosses were grown on sand in open petri dishes arranged in a growth chamber in replicated blocks containing each tackifier and concentration combination plus a distilled water control.Bryum(n = 10) andSyntrichia(n = 9) growth were measured at the end of 6 and 5 weeks, respectively. Overall model tests yielded statistically significant results (p < 0.001) for every variable in each species. When compared to water, guar tended to decrease growth, psyllium tended to increase growth, and PAM's effects were generally neutral to positive. Within tackifier types, increasing concentrations of guar tended to decrease growth, while increasing concentrations of psyllium tended to increase growth. Changes in PAM concentrations had little effect on growth. Increases in guar and psyllium lowered pH and increased P and K. Psyllium and PAM yielded promising results as potential agents of dispersal and adherence of dryland mosses in field restoration.
Effect of hyperhydration on the pharmacokinetics and detection of orally administered budesonide in doping control analysis
Authors: Athanasiadou Ioanna , Vonaparti Ariadni , Dokoumetzidis Aristeidis , Saleh Amal , Mbeloug Miriam , Al‐Maadheed Mohammed , Valsami Georgia , Georgakopoulos Costas
Published: June 2019

The aim of the present study was to investigate if hyperhydration could influence the excretion and subsequent detection of budesonide (BDS) and its main metabolites (6β‐hydroxy‐budesonide and 16α‐hydroxy‐prednisolone) during doping control analysis by leading to concentrations below the WADA reporting level (30 ng/mL). The influence of hyperhydration on the plasma and urinary pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of BDS and metabolites was also examined. Seven healthy physically active non‐smoking Caucasian males participated in a 15‐day clinical study. BDS was administered orally at a single dose of 9 mg on Days 1, 7, and 13. Hyperhydration was applied in the morning on two consecutive days, that is, 0 and 24 hours after first fluid ingestion. Water and a commercial sports drink were used as hyperhydration agents (20 mL/kg body weight). Results showed no significant difference (P > 0.05, 95% CI) on plasma or urinary PK parameters under hyperhydration conditions for all the analytes. However, significant differences (P < 0.05, 95% CI) due to hyperhydration were observed on the urinary concentrations of BDS and metabolites. To compensate the dilution effect due to hyperhydration, different adjustment methods were applied based on specific gravity, urinary flow rate, and creatinine. All the applied methods were able to adjust the concentration values close to the baseline ones for each analyte; however, specific gravity was the optimum method in terms of effectiveness and practicability. Furthermore, no masking of the detection sensitivity of BDS or its metabolites was observed due to hyperhydration either in plasma or urine samples.
Stopping the Hate: Applying Insights on Bullying Victimization to Understand and Reduce the Emergence of Hate in Schools*
Authors: Lehman Brett
Published: June 2019

Scholars and educators study how the school climate influences aggressive behaviors like bullying. Far less research examines the relationship between school climate and hateful actions. This study addresses that gap by examining students’ perceptions and observations of the school climate with a nationally representative sample of U.S. middle and high school students. These data include reports of hateful verbal victimization and observations of hateful words and symbols. While some speculate that bullying and hate are separate phenomena, results indicate that school climates which reduce bullying victimization also reduce this study's measures of hate. One difference is that the presence of security guards or police has no effect on bullying victimization while it is associated with increased reports of hateful incidents. The results are interpreted in light of current efforts to reduce school violence and concerns over the role of harsh punishment and law enforcement in school. While one cannot conclude that bullying and hate are empirically distinct from these findings, they point to strategies to combine formal social control and efforts to improve school climate through forming positive social bonds between students and authority figures. This can keep students safe from both violence and hate.
Viable terminal scalp hair follicles constitute a necessary and sufficient biological end‐organ that conditions clinical efficacy of finasteride in males with male pattern hair loss without implying reversal of miniaturized follicles
Authors: Van Neste Dominique
Published: June 2019

Background

Biopsy‐based “reversal hypothesis” claimed conversion of miniaturized hair follicles into terminal ones for the improvement of male pattern hair loss (MPHL) with FDA‐approved drugs.

Materials and methods

MPHL volunteers (n = 13) completed a 24‐month phototrichogram study. After 2 months no‐treatment, panellists took finasteride 1mg daily for 2 years. Hair changes from the best responder would explain the nature of improved hair growth.

Results

Due to the wide range of hair growth variables, no parameter was statistically significantly changed by finasteride in the group. Clinically there were 4 worse, 6 no change, 2 slightly and 1 moderately improved subject associated with turning telogen/empty terminal follicles into anagen after 12‐ and 24‐month finasteride. From 113 miniaturized hair (diameters ≤ 30 µm) at baseline, 79 were still miniature hair after 2 years on finasteride. No hair were found at the remaining mapped sites except for 2 terminal hairs considered a probabilistic “uncertainty.”

Conclusion

Moderate hair improvement resulted from increased productivity of deficient terminal follicles, but not yet irreversibly affected at baseline without implication of miniaturized hair follicles. The latter further regressed even with oral intake of finasteride. The data suggest the rejection of the “reversal hypothesis” unless proven otherwise with duly validated methods.
Intracortical motor networks are affected in both the contralateral and ipsilateral hemisphere during single limb cold water immersion
Authors: Delahunty Eden T , Bisset Leanne M , Kavanagh Justin J
Published: June 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

How does single limb cold water immersion affect corticomotor function and intracortical circuitry in the motor cortex of each cerebral hemisphere?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Immersion of a single limb in very cold water caused an increase in corticomotor excitability and intracortical facilitation, and a decrease in intracortical inhibition, in the motor cortex of both hemispheres. These findings provide evidence that intense sensory stimuli induce widespread changes in motor circuitry in the contralateral, as well as the ipsilateral, hemisphere.

Although responses to noxious stimuli have been extensively studied for the contralateral hemisphere, little is known about how the ipsilateral hemisphere may be affected. Therefore, this study examined how exposing a single limb to noxious cold stimuli affects motor output arising from both the contralateral and ipsilateral hemisphere. A total of 17 healthy adults participated in three experiments. Single‐ and paired‐pulse TMS protocols were used to identify how immersing a single upper limb in cold water (4.0 ± 0.5 °C) affects inhibitory and facilitatory circuits in the primary motor cortex (M1) of the contralateral (experiment 1) and ipsilateral (experiment 2) hemisphere. The third experiment used a reaction time task to assess the functional consequences of acute adaptations in the ipsilateral M1. The target muscle in all experiments was the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). Immersion of a single limb in cold water increased self‐perception of pain and temperature, and increased EMG amplitude of the immersed limb. During immersion, motor evoked potentials and intracortical facilitation increased, whereas short interval intracortical inhibition decreased, for both the ipsilateral M1 and contralateral M1. Activity in the ipsilateral hemisphere to the limb immersed in cold water also slowed reaction time for the non‐immersed limb. Our findings suggest that altered motor responses from single limb cold water immersion are not restricted to a single hemisphere. Instead, widespread activation of somatosensory systems influences inhibitory and facilitatory circuits in the primary motor cortex of each hemisphere.
Belt-Drive Mechanics: Friction in the Absence of Sliding
Authors: Wu Yingdan , Leamy Michael J. , Varenberg Michael
Published: June 2019

Recent studies have shown that steady and unsteady operation of a belt drive may exhibit regimes absent of sliding at the belt–pulley interface, where instead detachment waves serve to relax stress in the so-called “slip” arc. To explore this finding further, herein we present an experimental and theoretical investigation into frictional mechanics in a simple belt drive system. To estimate friction experimentally, we perform a stress analysis based on spatio-temporal measurements of the belt tension, traction, and contact area evolution. Subsequently, we develop a model taking into account both bulk and surface hysteretic losses to explain the experimental observations. Our results show that the shear strain at the belt–pulley interface differs significantly between the driver and the driven pulleys, resulting in much larger mechanical losses in the driver case. The shear strain drops at the transition from the adhesion to the slip arc, and, in contrast to accepted theories, the slip arc contributes little to nothing to the power transmission. Our model reveals that the contact area evolution correlates to the shear traction changes and that viscoelastic shear and stretching dominate in the belt rolling friction. A significant contribution of detachment waves to the energy dissipation explains the higher mechanical losses observed in the driver case.
Comparison of Near-Wall Flow and Heat Transfer of an Internal Combustion Engine Using Particle Image Velocimetry and Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Wu Angela , Keum Seunghwan , Greene Mark , Reuss David , Sick Volker
Published: June 2019

In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling capability of near-wall flow and heat transfer was evaluated against experimental data. Industry-standard wall models for RANS and large-eddy simulation (LES) (law of the wall) were examined against the near-wall flow and heat flux measurements from the transparent combustion chamber (TCC-III) engine. The study shows that the measured, normalized velocity profile does not follow the law of the wall. This wall model, which provides boundary conditions for the simulations, failed to predict the measured velocity profiles away from the wall. LES showed a reasonable prediction in peak heat flux and peak in-cylinder pressure to the experiment, while RANS-heat flux was closer to experimental heat flux but lower in peak pressure. The measurement resolution is higher than that of the simulations, indicating that higher spatial resolution for CFD is needed near the wall to accurately represent the flow and heat transfer. Near-wall mesh refinement was then performed in LES. The wall-normal velocity from the refined mesh case matches better with measurements compared with the wall-parallel velocity. Mesh refinement leads to a normalized velocity profile that matches with measurement in trend only. In addition, the heat flux and its peak value matches well with the experimental heat flux compared with the base mesh.
Scaling, Growth, and Size Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of a Topologically Interlocking Material Based on Tetrahedra Elements
Authors: Short M. , Siegmund T.
Published: June 2019

The present study is concerned with the deformation response of an architectured material system, i.e., a 2D-material system created by the topological interlocking assembly of polyhedra. Following the analogy of granular crystals, the internal load transfer is considered along well-defined force networks, and internal equivalent truss structures are used to describe the deformation response. Closed-form relationships for stiffness, strength, and toughness of the topologically interlocked material system are presented. The model is validated relative to direct numerical simulation results. The topologically interlocked material system characteristics are compared with those of monolithic plates. The architectured material system outperforms equivalent size monolithic plates in terms of toughness for nearly all possible ratios of modulus to the strength of the material used to make the building blocks and plate, respectively. In addition, topologically interlocked material systems are shown to provide better strength characteristics than a monolithic system for low strength solids.
Thermally Actuated Hierarchical Lattices With Large Linear and Rotational Expansion
Authors: Xu Hang , Farag Amr , Ma Ruizhe , Pasini Damiano
Published: June 2019

This paper presents thermally actuated hierarchical metamaterials with large linear and rotational motion made of passive solids. Their working principle relies on the definition of a triangular bi-material unit that uses temperature changes to locally generate in its internal members distinct rates of expansion that translate into anisotropic motions at the unit level and large deployment at the global scale. Obtained from solid mechanics theory, thermal experiments on fabricated proof-of-concepts and numerical analysis, the results show that introducing recursive patterns of just two orders of the hierarchy is highly effective in amplifying linear actuation at levels of nearly nine times the initial height, and rotational actuation of almost 18.5 times the initial skew angle.