bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Reported Dental Visits Among Older Adults Receiving Home- and Community-Based Services
Authors: Chamut Steffany , Boroumand Shahdokht , Iafolla Timothy J. , Adesanya Margo , Fazio Elena M. , Dye Bruce A.
Published: June 2020

Objective: To investigate factors associated with infrequent dental use among older adults receiving home- and community-based services. Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed responses from the 2014 National Survey of Older Americans Act participants who received home- and community-based services. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were conducted to examine the association between infrequent dental use and key sociodemographic and health indicators. Results: Infrequent dental use was highest among adults participating in case management and home-delivered meals (63%); the lowest among those participating in congregate meals (41%). Participants who did not complete high school were 2 to 5 times more likely to be infrequent dental users compared to those with educational attainment beyond high school. Discussion: Among older adults receiving home- and community-based services, improving oral health knowledge and health literacy may reduce infrequent dental use.
Building Research Capacity in Nursing Academia in 2020: Is the Road Less Perilous?
Authors: Tranmer Joan E. , Almost Joan , Plazas Pilar Camargo , Duhn Lenora , Galica Jacqueline , Goldie Catherine , Luctkar-Flude Marian , Medves Jennifer , Sears Kim , Tregunno Deborah
Published: June 2020

Background

Building research capacity in nursing academic units continues to be a challenge. There are a number of external contextual factors and internal factors that influence individual faculty as well as the collective to engage successfully in research.

Purpose

The overall aim of this opinion article is to provide an overview of the current external and internal, processes and structures, relevant to capacity of nursing faculty to engage in research.

Methods

To inform the external context, we reviewed national research funding trends for nursing. To inform the internal context, we provided an exemplar of the internal processes and structures designed to support research capacity building within our academic unit.

Results

Canadian Institutes of Health Research funding trends for research grants led by nurse principal applicants increased between 2010 and 2013, followed by a steady decline. In 2017 to 2018, there were only 24 research grants led by nurse principal applicants. These external challenges coupled with the traditional internal barriers, such as the imbalance between teaching and research time, threaten research capacity for nursing academics.

Conclusion

Organizational strategies to promote research capacity within academic nursing units are a necessary requirement to move forward.
Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Radiology Residency Training Programs
Authors: Odedra Devang , Chahal Baljot S. , Patlas Michael N.
Published: June 2020

Purpose:

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has swept the globe, with a domino effect on medical education and training. In this study, we surveyed Canadian radiology residents to understand the impact of the pandemic on their residency training, strategies utilized by the residency programs in mitigating those impacts, and factors important to residents in the selection of educational resources on COVID-19.

Methods:

A 10-item questionnaire was distributed to 460 resident members of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. The survey was open for 2 weeks, with a reminder sent at half-way mark.

Results:

We received 96 responses (response rate: 20.9%). The 4 highest affected domains of training were daytime case volumes (92.4%), daytime schedules (87.4%), internal and external assessments (86.5%), and vacation/travel (83.3%). Virtual teaching rounds (91.7%), change in schedules to allow staying home (78.1%), and virtual/phone readouts (72.9%) were the most utilized strategies by the Canadian radiology residency programs. Overall stress of exposure to the disease was moderate to low (86.5%). A minority of the residents were redeployed (6.2%), although most (68.8%) were on standby for redeployment. Residents preferred published society guidelines (92.3%), review papers (79.3%), video lectures (79.3%), and web tools (76.9%) for learning about COVID-19 imaging manifestations.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on various domains of the Canadian radiology residency programs, which has been mitigated by several strategies employed by the training programs.
Differences in Women’s Substance-Related Sexual Assaults: Force, Impairment, and Combined Assault Types
Authors: O’Callaghan Erin , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: June 2020

This study furthers previous research on sexual assaults (SAs) involving substances and/or force by examining effects of perpetrator behaviors of alcohol and/or drug impairment level (none, impaired, incapacitated) and/or force during SA in relationship to various assault and recovery outcomes. A diverse sample of 632 women from a large Midwestern city participated in a study on women’s experiences with SA. Of this sample of substance-involved SAs, 37.3% ( n = 236) reported a forcible-only unimpaired assault, 50.6% ( n = 320) reported a combined impairment/incapacitation and force assault, and 12% ( n = 76) reported an impaired/incapacitated-only assault. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) and chi-square analyses compared assault types as defined by combined alcohol and/or drug impairment level and/or force to determine how these assaults differed in demographics, other assault characteristics, and post-assault experiences. Assault types differed on several demographic, assault, and post-assault factors with most differences showing that the combined assault type was related to worse outcomes than forcible-type assaults, including greater reexperiencing, avoidance, and numbing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Implications for clinical intervention include recognizing that assaults involving substance use and force are traumatic and warrant individualized treatment.
Building Holistic Defense: The Design and Evaluation of a Social Work Centric Model of Public Defense
Authors: Harris Heather M.
Published: June 2020

Holistic defense is a model of public defense rooted in the early 20th century recognition that lawyers and social workers should cooperate to advocate with and for individuals and communities in need. Prior work on holistic defense highlighted its potential to transform the lives of public defender clients by transforming the legal practice of attorneys. Comparatively, social workers’ roles in these transformations have been neglected. Yet many holistic defense programs begin by integrating social workers onto legal teams. In this article, I describe and evaluate a social work centric holistic defense model piloted in Santa Barbara, California. My research supports recent findings that holistic defense improves case outcomes and substantially reduces incarceration without negatively affecting public safety. I discuss my results in the context of prior research and the potential for holistic defense to reform criminal justice. I then make recommendations for the design of future holistic defense evaluations.
Introduction to Special Issue: New Developments in Public Defense Research
Authors: Moore Janet , Davies Andrew L. B.
Published: June 2020

This special issue focuses on interdisciplinary research in public defense. Seven papers represent a diverse group of scholars in an understudied field. Two overarching themes emerge. The first theme, “System Interventions: Evaluating Programs and Identifying Opportunities,” includes three studies of innovative policies and practices. Two evaluate new resource injections that support, respectively, social work-initiated holistic defense and counsel at first appearance. The third examines state sentencing schemes to identify opportunities for emphasizing defendant assets instead of deficits. The second theme, “Understanding Decision Makers,” includes four papers drawing on qualitative data regarding juvenile resentencing and reentry, defendant views of attorney–client communication, defender motivations for remaining in the profession, and manager perspectives on likely effects of caseload reductions. As a collection, these papers bridge gaps between theory and practice, offer new insight into public defense as a critical component of criminal legal systems, and identify new avenues for future research.
Engaging African American Parents to Develop a Mobile Health Technology for Breastfeeding: KULEA-NET
Authors: Patchen Loral , Ellis Lindsey , Harrington Cherise B. , Ma Tony , Mohanraj Rohini , Andrews Virginia , Evans William Douglas
Published: June 2020

Background

African Americans breastfeed less than other groups, which has implications for health throughout the life course. Little is known about mobile health technologies to support breastfeeding.

Research aims

This study proceeded in two phases. The aim of Phase 1 was to identify ideal technological components and content of a mobile health intervention. The aim of Phase 2 was to determine the usability of a prototype, KULEA-NET, based on the Phase 1 findings.

Methods

For this mixed-methods study, we used community-based participatory research methods and user-centered technology design methods. We used open coding in NVivo 11 to organize data from focus groups and in-depth interviews, then we analyzed the data. We then developed a prototype and tested the prototype’s usability with the System Usability Scale. Fifty pregnant and postpartum African Americans from the District of Columbia participated.

Results

Participants preferred an app with text messaging technology and identified areas for intervention: self-efficacy, parent-child attachment beliefs, social support, public breastfeeding and social desirability, and returning to work. Desired features included local resources, support person access, baby care logs, identification of public breastfeeding venues, and peer discussions. The System Usability Scale score was 73.8, which indicates above average usability.

Conclusions

A mobile health technology like KULEA-NET can be used to meet the breastfeeding needs of African Americans, build social desirability, and complement traditional health care. The appeal of an African American-specific intervention is unclear. Responding to mixed feeding practices is challenging. KULEA-NET is a mobile breastfeeding intervention guided by the preferences of African American parents and offers promising usability metrics.
Effects of multiple extrusions on structure–property relationships of hybrid wood flour/poly (vinyl chloride) composites
Authors: Nadali Elham , Naghdi Reza
Published: June 2020

This study emphasizes on closed-loop recycling of wood flour/poly (vinyl chloride) composites, since there is normally a considerable amount of material waste in wood plastic production lines. Composite materials were produced and subjected to four times reprocessing cycles under industrial conditions. Detailed analytical methods including bending strength, modulus of elasticity, impact strength, scanning electron microscopy, fiber length, water absorption, contact angle, Fourier transform infrared, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were conducted to evaluate the effects of recycling on the mentioned composites. Results demonstrated that the recycled composites, except for the four-time recycled ones, had lower bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact strength due to fiber-chain scission/fracture resulting from shear stress during reprocessing; however, impact strength remained almost unchanged after the first recycling cycle. Results also revealed that generally the reprocessed composites showed lower water absorption rates due to better fiber wetting and encapsulation. There was also a reduction in hemicellulose hydroxyl groups, rendering the recycled composites less hydrophilic. DMTA results showed an increase in mechanical loss factor (tan δ) for all the reprocessed composites showing a more viscous than elastic nature. The glass transition temperature of Rec4 composites increased due to polymer dehydrochlorination and the resulting cross-linking, which restricted the molecular mobility of the polymer chains.
Association between Role Overload and Sleep Disturbance among Dementia Caregivers: The Impact of Social Support and Social Engagement
Authors: Liang Jiaming , Aranda María P. , Lloyd Donald A.
Published: June 2020

Objective: To explore the association between role overload (RO) and sleep maintenance insomnia (SMI), and the moderation effects of social support and social engagement (SE). Methods: We report a cross-sectional study using data drawn from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. We used multiple regression and controlled for demographics and potential confounders. Results: Nearly 45% of caregivers reported suffering from SMI during “some” and “more” nights within the past month with one half reporting “almost” or “every” night. RO was found positively associated with the risk of SMI. Instrumental support moderated the effect of RO on SMI overall, although moderation was limited to a subsample of adult children caregivers. Discussion: The sleep quality of dementia caregivers may be affected by RO, particularly for adult children caregivers. Increasing instrumental support may be beneficial to caregiver's sleep quality.
The new doctrine on misuse of power under Article 18 ECHR: Is it about the system of contre-pouvoirs within the State after all?
Authors: Tsampi Aikaterini
Published: June 2020

The case-law on Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights has been evolving recently in a dramatic fashion. This evolution, which shaped a new doctrine on the misuse of power, focuses on the criminalisation of dissent within a State where undemocratic tendencies arise. The purpose of this article is to highlight these undemocratic tendencies and demonstrate that Article 18 ECHR addresses the systemic deficiencies in the balance of powers within a State. A violation of Article 18 ECHR occurs when the executive branch of government male fide tries to erode the social, political and economic contre-pouvoirs within a State and when the institutional contre-pouvoirs, namely the judicial and the legislative branch of government, fail to avert this erosion.
A new Convention on the human right to development: Putting the cart before the horse?
Authors: Schrijver Nico
Published: June 2020

In this column I discuss the background, evolution, legal status and functions of the human right to development, with special reference to the proposed draft Convention on this subject, published by the Human Rights Council in January 2020. It notes the widely diverse views on the added value of the right to development. In my view, taking the discussion on the formulation, consolidation and implementation of the right to development seriously, is important to create a balance in the international human rights discourse by showing a genuine interest in matters raised for long by developing countries. This could serve the cause of the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of the global human rights architecture. However, it is questionable whether the adoption of a new Convention on the Right to Development would serve the cause of the right to development. The right to development is already well rooted in the existing core human rights treaties and has the potential to play a key role as a cluster right, an integrative right and a bridging right. Therefore, I suggest some alternative avenues for realising and operationalising the right to development.
Fusing and refining convolutional neural network models for assembly action recognition in smart manufacturing
Authors: Al-Amin Md. , Qin Ruwen , Tao Wenjin , Doell David , Lingard Ravon , Yin Zhaozheng , Leu Ming C
Published: June 2020

Assembly carries paramount importance in manufacturing. Being able to support workers in real time to maximize their positive contributions to assembly is a tremendous interest of manufacturers. Human action recognition has been a way to automatically analyze and understand worker actions to support real-time assistance for workers and facilitate worker–machine collaboration. Assembly actions are distinct from activities that have been well studied in the action recognition literature. Actions taken by assembly workers are intricate, variable, and may involve very fine motions. Therefore, recognizing assembly actions remains a challenging task. This paper proposes to simply use only two wearable devices that respectively capture the inertial measurement unit data of each hand of workers. Then, two convolutional neural network models with an identical architecture are independently trained using the two sources of inertial measurement unit data to respectively recognize the right-hand and the left-hand actions of an assembly worker. Classification results of the two convolutional neural network models are fused to yield a final action recognition result because the two hands often collaborate in assembling operations. Transfer learning is implemented to adapt the action recognition models to subjects whose data have not been included in dataset for training the models. One operation in assembling a Bukito three-dimensional printer, which is composed of seven actions, is used to demonstrate the implementation and assessment of the proposed method. Results from the study have demonstrated that the proposed approach effectively improves the prediction accuracy at both the action level and the subject level. Work of the paper builds a foundation for building advanced action recognition systems such as multimodal sensor-based action recognition.
An extended analytic network process method for optimal design of reconfigurable products considering dependency relations among descriptions of design/process candidates and evaluation criteria
Authors: Gadalla Moustafa , Xue Deyi
Published: June 2020

A reconfigurable product serves as multiple products to deliver different functions through reconfiguration processes to change between product configurations. An optimization method was developed in our previous research to identify both the optimal design and the optimal reconfiguration processes. Because the generic design or process considering different candidates was modeled by an AND–OR tree or graph, importance weights were assigned to nodes with an AND or OR relation, such that the less-important nodes were pruned to improve the optimization efficiency. In this research, an extended analytic network process method is introduced to further improve the quality of the optimal reconfigurable product design approach when dependency relations among descriptions of design/process candidates and evaluation criteria are considered. In this method, the initial weights of the design/process nodes in the AND–OR tree or graph are adjusted based on the dependency relations such that the weights which truly reflect their contributions to the solutions are achieved. In addition, multiple evaluation criteria similar to the evaluation measures used in optimization are selected to identify the weights of the design/process nodes. A case study has been implemented to demonstrate effectiveness of the extended analytic network process for improving the quality of optimal reconfigurable product design.
Experimental and numerical study on the crashworthiness evaluation of an intercity coach under frontal impact conditions
Authors: Güler Mehmet Ali , Cerit Muhammed Emin , Mert Sinem Kocaoglan , Acar Erdem
Published: June 2020

In this study, the energy absorption capacity of a front body of a bus during a frontal crash was investigated. The strength of the bus structure was examined by considering the ECE-R29 European regulation requirements. The nonlinear explicit finite element code LS-DYNA was used for the crash analyses. First, the baseline bus structures without any improvements were analyzed and the weak parts of the front end structure of the bus body were examined. Experimental tests are conducted to validate the finite element model. In the second stage, the bus structure was redesigned in order to strengthen the frontal body. Finally, the redesigned bus structure was compared with the baseline model to meet the requirements for ECE-R29. In addition to the redesign performed on the body, energy absorption capacity was increased by additional energy absorbers employed in the front of bus structure. This study experimentally and numerically investigated the energy absorption characteristics of a steering wheel armature in contact with a deformable mannequin during a crash. Variations in the location of impact on the armature, armature orientation, and mannequin were investigated to determine the effects of the energy absorption characteristics of the two contacting entities.
Review of the existing energy labelling systems and a proposal for rail vehicles
Authors: Liu Zhendong , Berg Mats , Bustad Tohmmy
Published: June 2020

Improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions are becoming very essential worldwide. To encourage the development and application of energy-efficient and low-emission technologies and to increase people's awareness of energy-saving, many energy labelling systems are developed and utilized in most countries. Since energy labelling systems have a significant impact, more and more sectors are developing their energy labelling systems to have their products included. Globally, the transport sector consumes a great proportion of energy and is responsible for considerable CO2 emissions. Although rail vehicles have relatively high energy efficiency, a labelling system has not been developed in the railway sector, whereas other modes of transport have developed energy efficiency indicators or energy labelling systems. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an energy labelling system for rail vehicles to promote rail transport and develop the technology of rail vehicles. First, this paper gives a review of the existing energy labelling systems. Second, it summarizes the rail needs and rail stakeholders’ interests regarding energy efficiency and corresponding labelling. Last but not least, a proposal for an energy labelling system for rail vehicles is given.
Direct impact angle control guidance for passive homing missiles
Authors: Cho Dongsoo , Kim Seung-Hwan
Published: June 2020

A guidance problem for impact angle control applicable to a missile equipped with a passive seeker is investigated. The proposed guidance law based on the sliding mode control consists of the proportional navigation guidance term with a varying navigation constant and the additional biased term which is a function of the novel sliding surface. The guidance law directly uses the impact angle error but does not require any range information to be estimated by the additional filter loop of the passive seeker. The asymmetric limit of the passive seeker’s field-of-view is also taken into account, which is not violated by introducing a continuous switching function. The finite time convergence properties are analyzed, and nonlinear simulations are performed to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed guidance law.
Viral load outcomes in a cohort of alcohol-consuming people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in Mumbai, India
Authors: Sarna Avina , Singh Roopal J , Schensul Jean J , Gaikwad Sushma S , Joshi Kavita , Malye Rupal , Mahapatra Bidhubhushan , Ha Toan , Schensul Stephen
Published: June 2020

We examined the association between alcohol consumption, adherence and viral load (VL) in a cohort of 940 alcohol-consuming, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men receiving antiretroviral therapy in Mumbai. Some of the participants (16.7%) had missed >1 doses in the last four days and 17.6% reported >1 treatment interruptions in the last 12 months; 60.8% of the participants consumed alcohol >2 times/month, 62.8% consumed >3 drinks/typical day and 11.5% reported binge drinking >1 times/month; 76.4% of the participants had VL<200 copies/mL. Higher alcohol consumption was associated with nonadherence (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.31) and treatment interruptions (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.11–1.31). We found no association between alcohol use and VL. There was, however, a significant interaction effect of alcohol use and nonadherence on virological failure (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.03–1.47) implying that alcohol negatively impacts VL outcomes but mediated through adherence. Alcohol use was associated with poor adherence, which in turn was a strong predictor of virological failure.
Excess noise reduction with ear protector applying mathematical algorithm: A case of medium density fiber industry
Authors: Khan Sohail , Noor Ishrat , Habib Tufail , Waseem Muhammad
Published: June 2020

Consistent exposure to elevated sound levels results in noise health effects. The industrial environment represents a major source of such effects. There is significant variation in noise at different sections of such industries due to which most of the workers are exposed to these sounds at one or another level. In this study, a noise level measuring methodology is used for fixed and moving workers. This article introduces an algorithm for optimum selection of earmuff and earplug for different working places depending upon the exposure to noise. Medium density fiber industry is considered as a case for this study. It considers workers who are busy at a single point and face a consistent amount of noise as well as the workers who move and are exposed to a varying level of the noise. Noise level meters are used to measure the noise level at different points. At each point, the average value of the samples is taken. Based on the data collected, earmuff with high noise reduction rate is assigned to the workers closed to the machines. Implementation of the developed algorithm reduced the effect of noise on workers by 6.9%, 5%, and 16.3% for the chipper machine, pneumatic fan, and sanding machine, respectively, that were identified as the major source of noise at medium density fiber industry. This percentage reduction helped the workers to bring them to the optimum safe level of noise that is 85 dB and protect them from hearing loss severity due to frequency variations.
The origin of the forest-grassland mosaic of central Cameroon: What we learn from the isotopic geochemistry of soil organic matter
Authors: Desjardins Thierry , Turcq Bruno , Lézine Anne-Marie , Nguetnkam Jean-Pierre , Mandeng-Yogo Magloire , Cetin Fethiye , Achoundong Gaston
Published: June 2020

The end of the Holocene Humid Period was characterized by the massive collapse of forest ecosystems in central Africa. Was this large-scale environmental crisis dated between 3300 and 2500 years BP at the origin of the present-day wooded-grassland/forest mosaic of central Cameroon? Here we present carbon isotope data on soil organic matter collected from 29 sites from this area, including the Grassfield plateaus, with the aim of characterizing this environmental crisis and discussing the origin of the present-day landscape. 14C data on total soil organic matter and charcoal fragments show that the organic matter in these soils originates from the Holocene. In our forest sites, the δ13C profiles do not show any marked alteration of the forest cover throughout the Holocene. Discrete traces of forest expansion or retreat are observed only punctually at the forest margins. In the wooded-grassland/forest mosaic zone, the environmental crisis was of reduced amplitude. In the present grassland and wooded grassland areas, there was no true forest during the lower to middle Holocene, but a markedly more tree-covered landscape. The timing of this crisis revealed by our 14C measurements, although only indicative at this stage, suggests that it occurred earlier at higher altitudes than in the lowlands due to marked topographic relief favoring drainage along the slopes. These results fit a climatic rather than anthropogenic origin of the vegetation opening in this region.
Roflumilast counteracts DMH-induced preneoplastic colon damage in albino Wistar rats
Authors: Saeedan AS , Rastogi S , Ansari MN
Published: June 2020

Objective:

The study explored the chemoprophylactic potential of roflumilast against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) actuated preneoplastic colon damage in albino Wistar rats.

Methods:

Animals were arbitrarily divided into five groups of six animals each. DMH was used to induce preneoplastic colon damage (20 mg/kg/7 days, subcutaneously, for 42 days). Roflumilast was administered subcutaneously at two doses (1 and 5 mg/kg/day, from day 28 to 42). At the end of the study, the animals were recorded for the electrocardiographic changes and heart rate variability (HRV) paradigms on 42nd day, using PowerLab system. Blood samples were collected from all the animals to measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric acid. The colon tissue was dissected out and analyzed for inflammatory markers, biochemical parameters including, superoxide dismutase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, catalase, and glutathione reductase and histopathology.

Results:

DMH caused derangement of HRV factors, abnormal antioxidant markers, and elevated levels of inflammatory markers. H2S and nitric oxide levels upsurge in DMH-treated rats and promoted preneoplastic damage. Histopathologically, loss of crypts, goblet cells, and distorted lamina propria were observed in toxic group. Treatment with roflumilast was able to curtail down oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and stabilitate the hemodynamic derangements as well as was able to restore the normal architecture of colonic mucosa.

Conclusion:

The findings from the present study conclude that treatment with roflumilast positively modulates the preneoplastic colon damage.
A Novel Type of Stem Cells Double-Positive for SSEA-3 and CD45 in Human Peripheral Blood
Authors: Sato Tetsuya , Wakao Shohei , Kushida Yoshihiro , Tatsumi Kazuki , Kitada Masaaki , Abe Takatsugu , Niizuma Kuniyasu , Tominaga Teiji , Kushimoto Shigeki , Dezawa Mari
Published: June 2020

Peripheral blood (PB) contains several types of stem/progenitor cells, including hematopoietic stem and endothelial progenitor cells. We identified a population positive for both the pluripotent surface marker SSEA-3 and leukocyte common antigen CD45 that comprises 0.04% ± 0.003% of the mononuclear cells in human PB. The average size of the SSEA-3(+)/CD45(+) cells was 10.1 ± 0.3 µm and ∼22% were positive for CD105, a mesenchymal marker; ∼85% were positive for CD19, a B cell marker; and ∼94% were positive for HLA-DR, a major histocompatibility complex class II molecule relevant to antigen presentation. These SSEA-3(+)/CD45(+) cells expressed the pluripotency markers Nanog, Oct3/4, and Sox2, as well as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 2, and migrated toward S1P, although their adherence and proliferative activities in vitro were low. They expressed NeuN at 7 d, Pax7 and desmin at 7 d, and alpha-fetoprotein and cytokeratin-19 at 3 d when supplied to mouse damaged tissues of the brain, skeletal muscle and liver, respectively, suggesting the ability to spontaneously differentiate into triploblastic lineages compatible to the tissue microenvironment. Multilineage-differentiating stress enduring (Muse) cells, identified as SSEA-3(+) in tissues such as the bone marrow and organ connective tissues, express pluripotency markers, migrate to sites of damage via the S1P-S1P receptor 2 system, and differentiate spontaneously into tissue-compatible cells after homing to the damaged tissue where they participate in tissue repair. After the onset of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, patients are reported to have an increase in the number of SSEA-3(+) cells in the PB. The SSEA-3(+)/CD45(+) cells in the PB showed similarity to tissue-Muse cells, although with difference in surface marker expression and cellular properties. Thus, these findings suggest that human PB contains a subset of cells that are distinct from known stem/progenitor cells, and that CD45(+)-mononuclear cells in the PB comprise a novel subpopulation of cells that express pluripotency markers.
The past shall not begin: Frozen seeds, extended presents and the politics of reversibility
Authors: Wolff Leon
Published: June 2020

The article analyzes the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV) as a specific security technology created to deal with the ecological threat of biodiversity loss. Built in 2008 inside the Arctic Circle, the SGSV serves as a backup for 1,700 agricultural gene banks around the world. If seed collections are lost due to natural disasters or human error, the gene banks can request copies of their varieties from Svalbard and restore their collections to continue the endeavour of plant breeding. The article focuses on the particular temporal politics expressed in the SGSV. Drawing on Niklas Luhmann’s reflections on time, it is argued that the SGSV opens up the possibility of reversing events by expanding the duration of the present. By separating seeds from their ecological connections on the one hand and controlling their metabolic processes through the use of cold on the other, an enduring temporal zone is created that allows modern society to control the unpredictable and irreversible dynamics of life and undo its emergent effects. The SGSV therefore materializes what is herein called the politics of reversibility.
Characterization of textile-grade carbon fiber polypropylene composites
Authors: Yeole Pritesh , Alwekar Shailesh , Veluswamy N Krishnan P , Kore Surbhi , Hiremath Nitilaksha , Vaidya Uday , Theodore Merlin
Published: June 2020

In this work, we consider low-cost carbon fiber produced with a textile-grade precursor. The objective of the study is to investigate textile-grade carbon-fiber-reinforced-polypropylene composites (TCF-PP) from compounded pellets for mechanical and thermal characterization. Four sets of pellets with 1%, 5%, 10%, and 15% reinforcement were manufactured using textile-grade carbon fiber (TCF) and polypropylene (PP) by twin-screw compounding. The addition of TCFs through gravimetric feeder directly in the extruder resulted in lower fiber content; however, side feeder has shown good potential. The pellets were further processed in extrusion compression molding to manufacture plaques. An increase in fiber loading has a negligible effect on fiber attrition as fiber length distribution variation between 1% and 15% reinforced pellets was very small. The addition of TCFs in PP showed a significant improvement in mechanical properties. The tensile strength and modulus of the composite were 26% and 161%, respectively, improved by the addition of 10 wt% TCF. Similar results were observed in the flexure test. However, the impact properties were reduced by 25.54% by the addition of 15% TCF.
Symptom Clusters’ Content, Stability and Correlation with the Quality of Life in a Heterogeneous Group of Cancer Patients: A Large-Scale Longitudinal Study
Authors: Al Qadire Mohammad , Shamieh Omar , Abdullah Sameer , Albadainah Faisal
Published: June 2020

Cancer-related symptoms can negatively affect the quality of life, hinder or delay treatment, and increase suffering. This study aimed to explore symptom clusters among Jordanian cancer patients. A longitudinal survey design was used. The sample consisted of 1280 cancer patients treated in three selected hospitals. Two-thirds of the participants were female (63.5%) with a mean age of 52.7 SD 13.8 years and 40.3% had breast cancer. Five clusters were identified, the first was the psychological cluster of eight symptoms; the second was the treatment side-effects cluster consisting of ten symptoms; the third was the nausea and vomiting cluster comprising four symptoms; the fourth was the pain cluster comprising four symptoms; and last was the fatigue cluster, with three symptoms. Cancer patients through the journey of cancer treatment have several symptoms that tend to occur in five clusters which are negatively correlated with their quality of life.
Geosocial Factors Associated With Adherence to Statin Medications
Authors: Erickson Steven R. , Bravo Mercedes , Tootoo Joshua
Published: June 2020

Background:

Individual patient characteristics, social determinants, and geographic access may be associated with patients engaging in appropriate health behaviors.

Objective:

To assess the relationship between statin adherence, geographic accessibility to pharmacies, and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics in Michigan.

Methods:

The proportion of days covered (PDC) was calculated from pharmacy claims of a large insurer of adults who had prescriptions for statins between July 2009 and June 2010. A PDC ≥0.80 was defined as adherent. The predictor of interest was a ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA)-level measure of geographic accessibility to pharmacies, measured using a method that integrates availability and access into a single index. We fit unadjusted models as well as adjusted models controlling for age, sex, and ZCTA-level measures of socioeconomic status (SES), racial isolation (RI) of non-Hispanic blacks, and urbanicity.

Results:

More than 174 000 patients’ claims data were analyzed. In adjusted models, pharmacy access was not associated with adherence (0.99; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.03). Greater RI (0.87; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.88) and urban status (0.93; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.96) were associated with lower odds of adherence. Individuals in ZCTAs with higher SES had higher odds of adherence, as were men and older age groups.

Conclusion and Relevance:

Adherence to statin prescriptions was lower for patients living in areas characterized as being racially segregated or lower income. Initiating interventions to enhance adherence, informed by understanding the social and systematic barriers patients face when refilling medication, is an important public health initiative that pharmacists practicing in these areas may undertake.
Efficient impedance model for the estimation of train-induced vibrations in over-track buildings
Authors: Zou Chao , Moore James A , Sanayei Masoud , Wang Yimin , Tao Ziyu
Published: June 2020

Rapid growth and the urban development of Chinese megacity in recent decades have led to land utilization challenges and the need for over-track buildings above metro depots that are part of the subway systems in these cities. Frequent subway operations into and out of the depots, which generate excessive vibration that transmits into the over-track buildings, can have adverse effects on the buildings’ occupants in terms of feelable vibration and noise. An efficient modeling procedure is presented for estimating vibration levels within the buildings before construction to determine whether vibration mitigation is required. Models were developed and validated based on vibration measurements in low-rise and high-rise buildings over a metro depot in Shenzhen, China. Impedance models were developed that characterize vibration transmission through the primary support columns or load-bearing walls into the building floors. Inputs to the model are vibration levels at the buildings’ foundation where the model estimates the transmission through individual support structures to the upper floors. Vibration estimates at different elevations within the building were compared with the measured levels during train pass-bys under the buildings with good agreement. Based on axial wave transmission impedances for column or load-bearing wall segments and simple impedance expressions for building floors, the closed-form analytical impedance model is an efficient and cost-effective tool for estimating floor vibration before construction.
Muting or Meddling? Advocacy as a Relational Communication Strategy Affecting Organization–Public Relationships and Stakeholder Response
Authors: Browning Nicholas , Lee Ejae , Park Young Eun , Kim Taeyoung , Collins Ryan
Published: June 2020

This article conceptualizes organizational advocacy as a relational communication strategy by which organizations take stances on controversial, sociopolitical issues to signal shared commitment with key publics. The authors conducted a series of two-by-two experimental surveys—controlling whether an organization took a defined position (advocacy vs. silence) and whether it acted alone or in line with peers (leader vs. follower)—across both less partisan (Study 1) and highly partisan (Study 2) issues. Findings indicate advocacy is an effective relational communication strategy that strengthens organization–public relationships (OPRs) and increases publics’ support for the organization. Theoretical contributions and practical applications are discussed.
A review of Osimertinib in NSCLC and pharmacist role in NSCLC patient care
Authors: Al-Quteimat Osama M , Amer Amer M
Published: June 2020

Lung cancer is a complex, genetically heterogeneous disease. It is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the majority of the diagnosed lung cancer cases. Osimertinib is a new treatment option that demonstrated a superior efficacy over standard epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) or platinum-based chemotherapy. The safety and efficacy of osimertinib (a third generation EGFR-TKIs) were confirmed by well-designed clinical trials. Consequently, osimertinib was considered a first-line treatment option, particularly in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC. It has been approved by FDA for the treatment of advance or metastatic NSCLC patients with specific EGFR-mutant NSCLC. As an active member of the multidisciplinary team, pharmacist has a promising role in assuring safe, effective and cost-effective treatment in patient with NSCLC. This review article aims to highlight the latest evidence about osimertinib use as a new treatment option in the clinical practice and to review the potential pharmacist key roles in NSCLC patient care.
Which Child Will Benefit From a Behavioral Intervention for ADHD? A Pilot Study to Predict Intervention Efficacy From Individual Reward Sensitivity
Authors: van Langen Myrte J. M. , van Hulst Branko M. , Douma Miriam , Steffers Maarten , van de Wiel Nicolle M. H. , van den Ban Els , Durston Sarah , de Zeeuw Patrick
Published: June 2020

Objective: This article aims to assess whether individual differences in reward sensitivity can be used to predict which children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will benefit most from behavioral interventions that include reinforcement. Methods: A 12-week behavioral intervention was offered to 21 children with ADHD and their parents. Reward sensitivity was assessed prior to the intervention using a combination of psychological and physiological measures. ADHD symptoms were assessed pre- and posttreatment using the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal behavior (SWAN) rating scale. Results: Lower scores on one of the questionnaire scales were associated with greater pre/posttreatment differences in ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: We found that pre/posttreatment change was associated with one measure of parent-rated reward sensitivity. Children with low impulsive negative behavior toward gaining reward improved most during treatment. This result suggests that aspects of reward-related behaviors in ADHD may be useful to predict the effectiveness of treatment.
Murder as Importation: An Empirical Study of the Continuity of Homicide Offending From Community to Confinement
Authors: DeLisi Matt , Butler H. Daniel
Published: June 2020

Prison murder is the most severe form of institutional violence but its exceedingly low prevalence has limited prior research. Recent studies of prison murders make clear that serious, violent, and chronic career criminals are most likely to perpetrate inmate murders with equivocal evidence of the role of prior homicide offending on prison murder. Using retrospective administrative data from 1,005 prisoners selected from the southwestern United States, the current study examined whether homicide offending in the community is itself an importation factor that is useful for understanding prison murder and thus can be used to understand continuity in homicidal offending from the community to confinement context. Rare events logistic regression models found that individuals sentenced for first-degree murder are more likely to perpetrate prison murder. A separate rare events logistic regression model with any type of homicide commitment offense as a predictor provided similar findings suggesting these effects are robust to model specification. Given its gravity and fundamental threat to prison safety and security, we encourage data collection and additional research on prison murder and the inmates that perpetrate it.
Idiopathic binasal hemianopia: case report and literature review
Authors: Pellegrini Francesco , Interlandi Emanuela , Marullo Michele , Cirone Daniele , Cuna Alessandra
Published: June 2020

A 56-year-old lady was referred for complete binasal hemianopia noticed during routine glaucoma screening. On examination the patient was asymptomatic, there were no ophthalmic causes explaining her visual field defect and further neurologic investigation was normal. Binasal hemianopia is an uncommon finding that is usually associated to intraocular conditions, but may rarely be caused by neurologic diseases. The Authors also review the current ophthalmic literature about binasal hemianopia in patients with otherwise complete neurologic and ophthalmic investigation (idiopathic binasal hemianopia).
The utility of portable negative pressure wound therapy in the management of prosthetic dialysis arteriovenous graft infection
Authors: Morimoto Nobuhisa , Tanabe Madoka , Imono Atsuhiro , Otani Megumi , Shioji Shingo , Hirasawa Suguru , Aki Shota , Aoyagi Makoto , Tanaka Hiroyuki
Published: June 2020

The management of prosthetic dialysis arteriovenous graft infection comprises antibiotic treatment and total or partial excision of infected grafts for infectious source control. Partial excision with graft bypass is an important graft preservation strategy for localized infection but carries a higher reinfection risk. Here, we report a case of prosthetic graft infection that was successfully treated with partial excision, a graft bypass procedure, and a portable negative pressure wound therapy system, PICO, applied to the open wound postoperatively. The combined approach may be a useful strategy that decreases reinfection risk, shortens the length of hospital stay, and preserves graft patency.