bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Democratização do Saber
Authors: Saldiva Paulo Hilário Nascimento
Published: December 2020

A entrevista com o Prof. Dr. Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva, realizada dia 11/09/2020, é o início de uma discussão sobre a seguinte pergunta: “Qual o papel do novo cientista?” Abrindo uma série de podcasts e entrevistas, o Prof. Dr. Paulo Saldiva aborda como a Democratização do Saber é relevante e necessita ser aplicada nos dias de hoje, com enfoque para a importância da divulgação científica. A conversa ocorreu entre o professor, a diretoria da RevMed e seus colaboradores - alunos do curso de medicina da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP): desse conjunto, o produto final aproxima-se, sobretudo, de uma conversa entre estudantes de medicina e um professor que, preocupado com suas formações, é fonte de inspiração constante a eles.
Por outras grafias de lugar: do encontro de trajetórias em Uma viagem à Índia à escrita literária como experiência geográfica
Authors: Martins Ludmila Gonçalves , Queiroz Filho Antônio Carlos
Published: December 2020

Este artigo problematiza, a partir da literatura, o modo como se produzem imaginações espaciais únicas sobre os lugares. Amparada nos estudos de Doreen Massey (2008) sobre o lugar como uma coleção de histórias num espaço articulado por relações de poder, nossa escrita mostra que um processo de imaginação espacial tem estreita relação com as narrativas sobre os lugares. Quando uma dada imagem/história se repete como estereótipo e verdade, repercute na imaginação espacial em associações pouco promissoras e reforça uma forma privilegiada de narrativa sobre os lugares. Nosso questionamento concebe a provocação de pensar o lugar como múltiplo, justaposição de relações e narrativas heterogêneas de mundo. Escolhemos a obra Uma viagem à Índia, de Gonçalo M. Tavares, para nos apropriar da potência narrativa dos modos de ver e dizer o espacial que a obra traz e, assim, propor um encontro com a escrita literária como experiência geográfica.
O testemunho da catástrofe em Hiroshima mon amour
Authors: Mascaro Laura Degaspare Monte
Published: December 2020

O artigo busca realizar uma investigação a respeito da possibilidade da memória e representação da catástrofe a partir da obra cinematográfica Hiroshima mon amour (1959), roteirizada por Marguerite Duras e dirigida por Alain Resnais. Partiremos de uma breve introdução acerca do que pode ser definido como literatura de teor testemunhal, que desponta principalmente após as Grandes Guerras Mundiais no século XX, buscando em seguida situar a obra de Marguerite Duras, e o filme especificamente, sob o prisma testemunhal. Finalmente, mergulharemos na questão dos limites de possibilidade e impossibilidade de se testemunhar Hiroshima.
Hiroshima mon amour, de Marguerite Duras, e o ‘resíduo sublimado’: celebração dos 60 anos e ressonâncias no Contemporâneo
Authors: Silva Maria Luiza Berwanger da
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo busca celebrar os 60 anos de publicação da obra Hiroshima, mon amour, de Marguerite Duras, evidenciando a ressonância de temas, modos e formas de abordagem no Contemporâneo. Para tanto, toma como ponto de partida a própria definição de “memórias” dita pela autora em entrevistas e documentos inéditos, os quais repercutem em distintos campos do saber, de natureza simbólica e não simbólica. Intelectuais franceses como François Jullien, Edgar Morin, Giorgio Agamben, Gilles Lipovetsky e a escritora brasileira Clarice Lispector traduzem esse efeito da escritura durasiana produzido sobre o pensamento, hoje.
O que se diz do que (não) se viu? Hiroshima mon amour
Authors: Mello Celina Maria Moreira de
Published: December 2020

A Segunda Guerra mundial, em sua complexidade e dimensões, levou a uma reflexão sobre a (im)potência da literatura e das artes, interrogando os limites de sua representação em registros documentais e em obras de arte. Neste ensaio são comparados certos processos de construção das narrativas de Nuit et brouillard (1955), dirigido por Alain Resnais, com roteiro de Jean Cayrol, e Hiroshima, mon amour, também de Alain Resnais, roteiro de Marguerite Duras, que se colocam diante deste desafio. Será dado destaque aos recursos de que se valem diretor e escritores, à potência criativa do entrelaçamento das imagens fílmicas e do texto literário, assim como a seu impacto político.
Poética dos materiais na arquitetura contemporânea
Authors: Fabbrini Ricardo
Published: December 2020

Este artigo trata da convergência entre arte e arquitetura em uma poética dos materiais. Partindo da reflexão de “Dentro do nevoeiro” (Ubu, 2018), de Guilherme Wisnik, investigamos em que medida certa arte e arquitetura ainda podem promover o sentimento de assombro em um mundo caracterizado pela dimensão global do espetáculo midiático e da tecnociência. É na poética do nublamento que localizamos formas residuais e emergentes de resistência à arte e arquitetura hegemônicas no capitalismo neoliberal, tais como as fotografias de Michael Wesely; as instalações de Olafur Eliasson; e as construções do escritório SANAA de Kazuyo Sejima e Ryue Nishizawa; e do escritório Diller + Scofidio, de Elizabeth Diller e Ricardo Scofidio. É na forma da presença imaterial da névoa que as obras destes artistas e arquitetos abrem um campo de indeterminação em relação ao devir, na medida em que elas se opõem à comunicação corriqueira e às imagens hegemônicas que apenas reforçam a realidade existente.
A poética da história: Letícia Pumar e a produção artística como pesquisa
Authors: Hussak Pedro
Published: December 2020

Este artigo consiste em uma análise do trabalho da artista plástica Letícia Pumar, ressaltando como ele reflete em grande medida a sua própria trajetória. Ao tomar contato com o Atlas Mnemosyne de Aby Warburg, cujo procedimento situa-se entre a ciência e a arte, a pesquisadora em história da ciência passa a incorporar procedimentos do campo artístico para a pesquisa historiográfica. Trata-se de acentuar os elementos sensíveis da pesquisa histográfica, como a materialidade dos documentos e o trabalho com as imagens a fim de elaborar uma poética da historiografia, ou seja, outras possibilidades de apresentação dos resultados de uma pesquisa.
Rediscovery of Caracal Caracal caracal (Schreber, 1776) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
Authors: Gubiani Robert , Al Zaabi Rashed , Chuven Justin , Soorae Pritpal
Published: December 2020

We present evidence confirming the presence of Caracal Caracal caracal in Abu Dhabi Emirate.  Camera trap deployment into areas likely to harbour elusive species revealed the presence of at least one male individual with 37 records in 683 camera trap days over a seven-month period.  These records represent the first confirmed presence of Caracal in Abu Dhabi Emirate since 1965.  Both diurnal and nocturnal records highlighted varied activity patterns of this generally elusive species.  Foraging activity occurred primarily during low luminosity levels associated with the new moon.  The evidence obtained proves the presence of Arabian Caracal in a location long suspected of providing suitable habitat for this species.
BETWEEN VÖLKERRECHTSFREUNDLICHKEIT AND REALPOLITIK: THE EU AND TRADE AGREEMENTS COVERING OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Authors: Kassoti Eva
Published: December 2020

The EU’s identity as a global actor is firmly anchored in a distinct normative and political agenda; it has consistently portrayed itself as a normative power committed to the strict observance of international law. However, more recently, the EU’s practice in relation to the conclusion of trade agreements covering occupied territories has increasingly challenged the narrative of “normative power Europe”. In this light, the present article attempts a survey of the relevant EU practice by focusing on two case studies: Palestine and Western Sahara. The article argues that, in both cases, the EU has fallen foul of the obligation to promote the right to self-determination and of the corollary obligation of non-recognition. Furthermore, it argues that the EU has adopted a largely inconsistent approach when it comes to the labelling of products originating from occupied territories – something that severely undermines the international credibility and legitimacy of its external action. Overall, this contribution asserts that there is a growing gap between EU identity rhetoric as a promoter of global fundamental values, on the one hand, and realpolitik, on the other.
U.S. Pacific Coastal Droughts Are Predominantly Driven by Internal Atmospheric Variability
Authors: Baek Seung H. , Smerdon Jason E. , Cook Benjamin I. , Williams A. Park
Published: December 2020

Droughts that span the states of Washington, Oregon, and California are rare but devastating due to their large spatial coverage and potential loss of redundancies in water, agricultural, and fire-fighting resources. Such pan-coastal droughts [which we define using boreal summer volumetric soil moisture along the U.S. Pacific coast (32°–50°N, 115°–127°W)] require a more precise understanding of the roles played by the Pacific Ocean and internal atmospheric variability. We employ 16-member ensembles of the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 and Community Climate Model version 3 forced with observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from 1856 to 2012 to separate and quantify the influences of the tropical Pacific and internal atmospheric variability on pan-coastal droughts; all other boundary conditions are kept at climatological levels to explicitly isolate for the impacts of SST changes. Internal atmospheric variability is the dominant driver of pan-coastal droughts, accounting for 84% of their severity, and can reliably generate pan-coastal droughts even when ocean conditions do not favor drought. Cold phases of the Pacific Ocean play a secondary role and contribute, on average, only 16% to pan-coastal drought severity. Spatiotemporal analyses of precipitation and soil moisture along the U.S. Pacific coast corroborate these findings and identify an antiphased wet–dry dipole pattern induced by the Pacific to play a more secondary role. Our model framework expands on previous observational analyses that point to the spatially uniform forcing of internal atmospheric variability as the more dominant mode of hydroclimate variability along the U.S. Pacific coast. The secondary nature of oceanic forcing suggests limited predictability of pan-continental droughts.
Mesoscale draping simulation of carbon fiber mat for arbitrary weave architecture
Authors: Matsuzaki Ryosuke , Koshiro Hiroki
Published: December 2020

We perform a mesoscale draping simulation using a woven carbon fiber mat model consisting of fiber bundles. The deformation of various types of fabrics during draping is predicted using fiber bundle data; no fabric experiments are necessary. First, bending experiments and simulations are performed to determine the material constants of the fiber bundle. To confirm the validity of the mesoscale model, we compare the experimental and simulation results of bias-extension tests. The simulated test shows that the simulation reproduces the deformation behavior of the carbon fiber mat under tensile force. The draping of a plain-weave or twill-weave carbon fiber mat on a hemispheric mold is simulated using the proposed mesoscale model and investigated experimentally. The results confirm that the simulation reproduces the deformation of the fabric using only the fiber bundle data.
Urban Planning Education and Using CityCAD to Transform Our Cities
Authors: Bokhari Ali
Published: December 2020

Computer-aided design (CAD) tools are widely used in the urban planning process, giving planners the ability to generate urban contexts and many scenarios for future development. However, debate is ongoing regarding the effects of CAD tools on student learning and the reliability of the cluster of assumptions that usually come with them. This article aims to examine whether CityCAD can be an effective tool for achieving learning objectives related to critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in the urban planning discipline. This research also examines whether the software influences students’ interest in planning and affects students’ perceptions of the discipline. Using instructor observations, students’ projects, and surveys, we find that using CityCAD in education can achieve learning objectives, increase students’ interest, and enhance the perception of planning as a more creative field. The results have implications for instruction, student recruitment, and perceptions of the field.
Transformational Leadership and Employees’ Helping Behavior in Public Organizations: Does Organizational Structure Matter?
Authors: Lim Jae Young , Moon Kuk-Kyoung
Published: December 2020

Although transformational leadership (TFL) has been recognized as a significant predictor of follower work behaviors, open questions remain concerning whether its effectiveness is universally valid or contingent on context. Building on social exchange theory and leadership contingency theory, we propose that TFL affects employees’ helping behavior, and this relationship depends on centralized and formalized structural contexts. The results show that TFL is positively associated with employees’ helping behavior; however, when moderated by centralization and formalization, TFL is negatively associated with employees’ helping behavior. The results recognize that organizations’ structural characteristics should not be ignored in TFL literature and practice.
Biopower, Disciplinary Power and Surveillance: An Ethnographic Analysis of the Lived Experience of People Who Use Drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
Authors: Scher Benjamin
Published: December 2020

Focusing on the role of police as primary actors in the arena of citizen safety, this article examines the impact of policing practices on the daily lived experience of people who use drugs in accessing a supervised consumption site in Vancouver, Canada. The site is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) neighborhood at a community center that I refer to as the Hawthorne Resource Centre. The method of data collection for this study comprised five months of ethnographic fieldwork, including focus groups and one-on-one interviews with community members accessing the site, site staff and management. Drawing on Foucauldian conceptualizations of power, the findings of this research suggest that governmental modes of power, including biopower and disciplinary power, are pervasively operative in various realms of the day to day lives of the Hawthorne Resource Centre clients. Evidence of the scalable nature of these modes of power are seen within the internal functioning of the Supervised Consumption Site, outside in the methods of community policing in the DTES and in weekly police practices in Oppenheimer Park. As such, this study represents a multiscalar assessment of how these Foucauldian power structures work at multiple levels and locations in the DTES. Driven by the narratives of the Hawthorne Resource Centre clients, the findings of this research illustrate not only the importance of understanding power relations within specific policy interventions, but further, highlight how specific tactics mobilized within “harm reduction policing” would be relevant and applicable to the context of the DTES.
Origin and paleoenvironment of organic matter in the Wufeng–Longmaxi shales in the northeastern Sichuan basin
Authors: Wang Chaoyong , Dong Zaitian , Fu Xuehai , Hu Xin , Li Zhen
Published: December 2020

The formation environment and preservation conditions of sedimentary organic matter (OM) play an important role in the accumulation of shale gas. In the present study, inorganic and organic geochemical data were analyzed to determine the origin and preservation environment of sedimentary OM in the Wc-1 well of the Wufeng–Longmaxi (WF–LMX) Formation in northeastern Chongqing, China. In a biomarkers analysis, the numerical characteristics of n-alkanes ( n-C17/ n-C31>4.0), tricyclic terpenes (C23TT/C30H>1.0), and steranes (C27/C29St>1.0) suggested that the main origin of OM in the black shale was planktonic algae. High values of P/Ti and BaXS in the paleoproductivity indices suggested that primary productivity in the WF–LMX Formation was relatively high, peaking in the lower LMX Formation. Relative enrichment in U, V, and Mo, and the changing trends in V/(V+Ni) and Ni/Co suggested that the redox conditions for the bottom water, which changed from the WF Formation to the lower and upper LMX Formation, were oxic/dysoxic to anoxic and dysoxic, respectively. The relationship between total organic carbon and the above indexes indicates that different key factors controlled OM enrichment in the WF–LMX Formation. In the WF Formation, oxic bottom water was not conducive to the preservation of sedimentary OM. In the lower LMX Formation, the highest paleoproductivity and anoxic bottom water conditions promoted the enrichment and preservation of sedimentary OM. In the upper LMX Formation, excessive terrigenous inputs and relatively low paleoproductivity limited the enrichment of sedimentary OM.
Early Childhood Education and Adult Depression: An Attrition Reanalysis With Inverse Propensity Score Weighting
Authors: Mondi Christina F. , Reynolds Arthur J. , Richardson Brandt A.
Published: December 2020

In a previous study of the Child-Parent Centers (CPC) education program, preschool participation was linked to a 4.6 percentage point reduction (26%) in depressive symptoms at ages 22–24 over the matched comparison group enrolling the usual programs. The present study reanalyzed these data in the Chicago Longitudinal Study to address potential attrition bias since more than a quarter of the sample was missing on the outcome. Using inverse probability weighting (IPW) involving 32 predictors of sample retention, findings for the 1,142 participants growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods indicated that CPC participation was associated with a 7.1 percentage point reduction (95% CI = [−9.7, −5.4]) in one or more depressive symptoms (39% reduction over the comparison group). Although this marginal effect was within the confidence interval of the original study (95% CI = [−9.5, 0.3]), the 54% increase in the point estimate is substantial and of practical significance, suggesting underestimation in the prior study. Alternative analysis of different predictors and IPW models, including adjustments for program selection and attrition together, yielded similar results. Findings indicate that high-quality early childhood programs continue to be an important strategy for the prevention of depression and its debilitating effects on individuals and families.
A safe and secure approach for creating a box lesion in the left atrium
Authors: Saito Shunei , Matsuura Akio , Miyahara Ken
Published: December 2020

A bipolar radiofrequency clamp is an attractive alternative to the cut-and-sew technique for surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. We have been using this device for isolating the posterior left atrium. However, there is a risk of disconnection of the ablation lines as well as perforation of the left atrium by the tip of the radiofrequency clamp. Here, we report our simple contrivance to make the procedure more secure and safe.
Pattern of thermal damage and tissue carbonisation from endovenous radiofrequency ablation catheter – Using an in vitro porcine liver model
Authors: Dabbs Emma B , Riley Max I , Davies Charlotte E , Bishop Olivia H , Whiteley Mark S
Published: December 2020

Background

Successful endovenous thermoablation relies on transmural vein wall ablation. We investigated the pattern of thermal spread and tissue carbonisation from RadioFrequency-induced ThermoTherapy (RFiTT) at different powers and pull back methods, using a porcine liver model.

Methods

We used a previously validated in-vitro porcine liver model. Different powers from 5–25 W were used to administer 150 J. We compared continuous and pulsed energy delivery. Length, lateral spread, and total area of thermal damage, together with any tissue carbonisation, was measured using digital analysis software.

Results

All experiments used 150 J total energy. Total thermal damage area was smaller with lower power and pulsed energy. Continuous energy caused more tissue carbonisation than pulsed except at 25 W.

Conclusion

Reduced thermal damage with lower power or pulsed energy results from cooling due to increased time of treatment. Increasing the power increases tissue carbonisation. Optimal treatment is determined by the highest power used continuously that does not cause tissue carbonisation.
Mystical-type experiences occasioned by ketamine mediate its impact on at-risk drinking: Results from a randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Rothberg Rebecca L , Azhari Nour , Haug Nancy A , Dakwar Elias
Published: December 2020

Background:

Sub-anesthetic ketamine administration may be helpful for substance use disorders. Converging evidence suggests that the efficacy of ketamine for certain conditions may implicate a subset of its psychoactive effects.

Aims:

The aim of this analysis is to evaluate whether the mystical-type effects of ketamine are critical for clinical efficacy in alcohol-dependent individuals. In this secondary analysis, we determine if a subset of the psychoactive effects of ketamine, the so-called mystical-type experience, mediates the effect of ketamine, when combined with motivational enhancement therapy, on at-risk drinking behavior in alcohol-dependent individuals interested in treatment.

Methods:

Forty alcohol dependent adults were randomized to either a 52-minute infusion of ketamine or midazolam, which they received on a designated quit-day during the second week of a five-week motivational enhancement therapy regimen. Psychoactive effects were assessed following the infusion, and alcohol use was monitored for the subsequent 3 weeks at each twice-weekly visit.

Results:

We found that ketamine leads to significantly greater mystical-type effects (by Hood Mysticism Scale) and dissociation (by Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale) compared to the active control. Ketamine also led to significant reduction in at-risk drinking. The Hood Mysticism Scale, but not Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale score, was found to mediate the effect of ketamine on drinking behavior.

Conclusions:

This trial adds evidence to the literature on the importance of mystical-type experiences in addiction treatment. Future research should continue to investigate the relationship between the psychoactive effects of psychedelic therapeutics and clinical outcomes for other substance use and mental health disorders.
Percutaneous stent-in-stent placement with large cell-type stents for malignant hilar biliary obstruction
Authors: Kim Gun Ha , Gwon Dong Il , Ko Gi-Young , Kim Jin Hyoung , Kim Jong Woo , Chu Hee Ho , Yoon Hyun-Ki , Sung Kyu-Bo
Published: December 2020

Background

To overcome the technical difficulty of bilateral stent-in-stent placement, large cell-type biliary stents have been developed. However, most of the studies using large cell-type stents were conducted with endoscopic method.

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous stent placement with a stent-in-stent method using large cell-type stents in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction.

Material and Methods

From December 2015 and October 2018, 51 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction were retrospectively studied. All of the patients underwent bilateral (n=46) or unilateral (n=5) stenting in a T, Y, or X configuration with a stent-in-stent method using large cell-type stents. Technical success, complications, successful internal drainage, stent patency, and patient survival were analyzed.

Results

A total of 118 stents were successfully placed in 51 patients (100.0%). Three patients had minor complications with self-limiting hemobilia. Major complications were not observed in any patient. Successful internal drainage was achieved in 45 patients (88.2%). Clinical follow-up information until death or the end of the study was available for 50 of 51 patients. The median patient survival was 285.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 197–374). Stent dysfunction occurred in 16 patients (35.6%) due to tumor ingrowth (n=9) or tumor ingrowth combined with biliary sludge (n=7) among the patients who achieved successful internal drainage. Median stent patency was 179 days (95% CI 104–271).

Conclusion

Percutaneous stent-in-stent placement with large cell-type stents is technically feasible and safe, and can be an effective technique in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction.
Dr Himson Tamur Mulas, the first national specialist anaesthetist in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Loughnan Terence E , Wake Pauline B
Published: December 2020

Dr Himson Tamur Mulas was born on the Gazelle Peninsula of East New Britain, New Guinea, on 13 March 1934. After finishing his schooling, he was selected to go to Fiji to undertake a medical course at Fiji Central Medical School in 1953, returning to New Guinea in 1958. He successfully completed residency posts and after a period of training in anaesthesia in Port Moresby, was sent to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, in 1966–1967 to further his anaesthetic career. After returning to New Guinea he undertook several administrative posts as well as continuing his anaesthetic career before settling at Nonga Hospital in Rabaul, East New Britain Province. He was first registered as a specialist anaesthetist in 1972. He went on to complete a Diploma in Public Health in New Zealand in 1974, and in 1976 completed a Diploma in Tropical Health and Hygiene at the University of Sydney. He left public hospital anaesthetic practice in 1980. He is recognised as the first New Guinean to be a specialist anaesthetist. He died on 28 July 2000 aged 66 years.
Characterization of the Proximal Long Head of Biceps Tendon Anatomy Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Implications for Biceps Tenodesis
Authors: Ek Eugene T. , Philpott Andrew J. , Flynn Jennifer N. , Richards Nada , Hardidge Andrew J. , Rotstein Andrew H. , Wood Ayla D.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Biceps tenodesis is a common treatment for proximal long head of biceps (LHB) tendon pathology. To maintain biceps strength and contour and minimize cramping, restoration of muscle-length tension and appropriate positioning of the tenodesis is key. Little is known about the biceps musculotendinous junction (MTJ) anatomy, especially in relation to the overlying pectoralis major tendon (PMT), which is a commonly used landmark for tenodesis positioning.

Purpose:

To characterize the in vivo topographic anatomy of the LHB tendon, in particular the MTJ relative to the PMT, using a novel axial proton-density magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

In total, 45 patients having a shoulder MRI for symptoms unrelated to their biceps tendon or rotator cuff were prospectively recruited. There were 33 men and 12 women, with a mean age of 37 ± 13 years (range, 18-59 years). All patients underwent routine shoulder MRI scans with an additional axial proton density sequence examining the LHB tendon and its MTJ. Three independent observers reviewed each MRI scan, and measurements were obtained for (1) MTJ length, (2) the distance between the proximal MTJ and the superior border of the PMT (MTJ-S), (3) the distance between the distal MTJ to the inferior border of the PMT, and (4) the width of the PMT.

Results:

The average position of the MTJ-S was 5.9 ± 10.8 mm distal to the superior border of the PMT. The mean MTJ length was 32.5 ± 8.3 mm and the width of the PMT was 28.0 ± 7.3 mm. We found no significant correlation between patient age, height, sex, or body mass index and any of the biceps measurements. We observed wide variability of the MTJ-S position and identified 3 distinct types of biceps MTJ: type 1, MTJ-S above the PMT; type 2, MTJ-S between 0 and 10 mm below the superior border of the PMT; and type 3, MTJ-S >10 mm distal to the superior PMT.

Conclusion:

In this study, the in vivo anatomy of the LHB tendon is characterized relative to the PMT using a novel MRI sequence. The results demonstrate wide variability in the position of the MTJ relative to the PMT, which can be classified into 3 distinct subtypes or zones relative to the superior border of the PMT. Understanding this potentially allows for accurate and anatomic placement of the biceps tendon for tenodesis.

Clinical Relevance:

To our knowledge, this is the first study to radiologically analyze the in vivo topographic anatomy of the LHB tendon and its MTJ. The results of this study provide more detailed understanding of the variability of the biceps MTJ, thus allowing for more accurate placement of the biceps tendon during tenodesis.
Hemoglobin Target and Transfusion Modality for Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease Acute Chest Syndrome
Authors: Simonson Joseph L. , Rosentsveyg Juliana A. , Schwartz Noah G. , Agrawal Abhinav , Koenig Seth , Zaidi Gulrukh Z.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Despite the importance of transfusion in treating sickle cell disease acute chest syndrome, the target hemoglobin and optimal modality for transfusion remain unknown.

Objectives:

To compare hospital length of stay (LOS) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute chest syndrome transfused to hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL versus patients transfused to hemoglobin < 8 g/dL; and to compare hospital LOS in acute chest syndrome patients treated with and without exchange transfusion.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all acute chest syndrome patients treated in the medical ICU at 2 tertiary care hospitals between January 2011 and August 2016 ( n = 82). We compared median hospital LOS in patients transfused to hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL by the time of ICU transfer to the medical floor versus patients transfused to hemoglobin < 8 g/dL as well as patients who received exchange transfusion versus no exchange transfusion using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. We modeled the association between hospital LOS and hemoglobin at ICU transfer to the medical floor using multivariable log-linear regression.

Results:

Median hospital LOS was about half as long for patients transfused to hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL versus hemoglobin < 8 g/dL (8.0 versus 16.5 days, P = 0.008). There was no difference in LOS for patients treated with and without exchange transfusion. On average, a 1 g/dL increase in hemoglobin was associated with a 19.5% decrease (95% CI 10.8-28.2%) in LOS, controlling for possible confounding factors.

Conclusions:

Transfusion to a hemoglobin target ≥ 8 g/dL is associated with decreased hospital LOS in patients with acute chest syndrome. There was no difference in LOS between patients who received exchange transfusion and those who did not.
Robust augmented H∞ shift control strategy for power-split system with a two-speed AMT gearbox of a heavy commercial vehicle
Authors: Zeng Xiaohua , Wang Zhenwei , Song Dafeng , Yang Dongpo
Published: December 2020

The coordination control of a transmission system has gradually attracted more attention with the development of hybrid electric vehicles. However, nonlinear coupling of multiple power sources, superposition of different dynamic characteristics in multiple components, and withdrawal and intervention for a power-split powertrain with a two-speed automated manual transmission (AMT) gearbox can cause jerk and vibration of the transmission system during the shift, which has higher requirements and challenges for the overall performance improvement of the system. This paper designs a novel, robust, augmented H∞ shift control strategy for a power-split system with a two-speed AMT gearbox of a heavy commercial vehicle and verifies the strategy’s effectiveness with simulations and experiments. First, the dynamic plant model and kinetic equations are established, and the shift is divided into five stages to clearly reveal the jerk and vibration problem. Based on augmented theory, a robust H∞ shift control strategy is proposed. Shift coordination is transformed into a speed tracking problem, and state variable and disturbance are reconstructed to obtain a new augmented system. Simulation and hardware-in-the-loop test are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the strategy, which mainly includes simulation of pneumatic actuator and H∞ control strategy. Results show that the proposed H∞ control strategy can greatly reduce the jerk of the transmission system. The jerk produced by the proposed strategy is decreased from 20.4 to 4.07 m/s3, leading to a substantial improvement of 80%. Therefore, the proposed strategy may offer a theoretical reference for the actual vehicle controller during the shift.
Comprehensive design of an oleo-pneumatic nose landing gear strut
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Ayaz , Shah Syed Irtiza Ali , Shams Taimur Ali , Javed Ali , Rizvi Syed Tauqeer ul Islam
Published: December 2020

A comprehensive design cycle of a nose landing gear strut having an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber for a lightweight aircraft is proposed. Design and analysis of a retractable nose landing gear according to Airworthiness Standards FAA FAR Part 23 have been carried out. This research is focused on mathematical modeling of an oleo-pneumatic strut with an analytical solution of design variables at static and dynamic loading conditions. The variation of spring and damping characteristics of an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber with the stroke length is also presented. Feasibility of equivalent mechanical spring and damper along with comparison of pneumatic as air spring and oleo as hydraulic damper is studied. Numerical integration technique was used to solve the dynamic model of an oleo-pneumatic strut with forcing function of an impact force during touch down scenario. Energy conservation principle was used to determine height required for drop tests. Parametric study of anteversion angle within the constraints of ground clearance and volume in the fuselage determined an optimized angle of nose landing gear strut. Based on the maximum pressure and impact force encountered during landing, the hydraulic cylinder and piston design was finalized. In order to validate the proposed design cycle for preliminary phase, a structural integrity of cylinder and piston assembly was carried out using finite element analysis. Deformation, maximum stresses and factor of safety validated the proposed design cycle of a nose landing gear strut specific to a general aviation aircraft having all up mass of 1600 Kg.
Tanshinone ⅡA may alleviate rifampin-induced cholestasis by regulating the expression and function of NTCP
Authors: Yang Y , Liu L , Xu M , Zhang X , Wang L , He Q , Xu M , Jiang X
Published: December 2020

The Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) acts as the major hepatic basolateral uptake system, and plays a key role in balancing bile flow. The anti-tuberculosis drugs rifampin (RFP) can affect bile flow causing liver injury, while tanshinone IIA (TAN IIA) has the effect of protecting liver. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RFP and TAN IIA on the NTCP expression and activity, and explore the potential connections. Herein, we established sandwich-cultured primary rat hepatocytes, and quantified mRNA and protein levels of NRF2 and NTCP after treatment with RFP (10, 25, or 50 μM) or co-treatment with TAN IIA (5, 10, or 20 μM) for 12, 24, 48 h (n = 3). NTCP activity was assessed by measuring the initial uptake rates of known substrates taurocholate (TCA) (n = 3) after treatment with different concentrations of RFP, TAN ⅡA for 12, 24 and 48 h. We found that RFP had inhibition effects on NRF2, NTCP mRNA and protein expression, and co-administration of TAN IIA could reverse RFP inhibition. TCA cellular accumulation was significantly decreased by RFP (39.1%), and TAN IIA could significantly induce TCA uptake of NTCP (2.9-fold at 48 h). The TCA uptake activity was correlated with the NTCP mRNA expression, confirming the role of RFP or TAN IIA on NTCP expression and activity is synchronous, and we can predict NTCP activity by detecting its mRNA expression. In conclusion, our work will enrich the significance of NTCP in the liver protection, and provide theoretical basis for TAN IIA to prevent RFP induced cholestatic liver injury.
Systemic lupus erythematosus: The search for the ideal biomarker
Authors: González Luis Alonso , Ugarte-Gil Manuel Francisco , Alarcón Graciela S
Published: December 2020

During the last decades, there has been an increased interest in the discovery and validation of biomarkers that reliably reflect specific aspects of lupus. Although many biomarkers have been developed, few of them have been validated and used in clinical practice, but with unsatisfactory performances. Thus, there is still a need to rigorously validate many of these novel promising biomarkers in large-scale longitudinal studies and also identify better biomarkers not only for lupus diagnosis but also for monitoring and predicting upcoming flares and response to treatment. Besides serological biomarkers, urinary and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have emerged for assessing both renal and central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively. Also, novel omics techniques help us to understand the molecular basis of the disease and also allow the identification of novel biomarkers which may be potentially useful for guiding new therapeutic targets.
Bayesian variable selection in logistic regression with application to whole-brain functional connectivity analysis for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Cao Xuan , Lee Kyoungjae , Huang Qingling
Published: December 2020

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, chronic, and neurodegenerative disorder that is primarily diagnosed by clinical examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this paper, we propose a Bayesian model to predict Parkinson’s disease employing a functional MRI (fMRI) based radiomics approach. We consider a spike and slab prior for variable selection in high-dimensional logistic regression models, and present an approximate Gibbs sampler by replacing a logistic distribution with a t-distribution. Under mild conditions, we establish model selection consistency of the induced posterior and illustrate the performance of the proposed method outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods through simulation studies. In fMRI analysis, 6216 whole-brain functional connectivity features are extracted for 50 healthy controls along with 70 Parkinson’s disease patients. We apply our method to the resulting dataset and further show its benefits with a higher average prediction accuracy of 0.83 compared to other contenders based on 10 random splits. The model fitting procedure also reveals the most discriminative brain regions for Parkinson’s disease. These findings demonstrate that the proposed Bayesian variable selection method has the potential to support radiological diagnosis for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Understanding the Psychology Behind Panic Buying: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Kaur Amandeep , Malik Garima
Published: December 2020

A psychological phenomenon that has triggered panic buying by the rapid spread of emergent epidemic is worthy of consideration. Population across cultures and national boundaries has raided shops at each growth stage of this epidemic, and India’s fast-moving consumer goods companies have faced increased pressure to ramp up production to meet demand. Limited research in consumer behaviour theory has approached to this collective action of panic buying or in other terms stockpiling. A theory needs to be developed from panic literature to understand this collective action by consumers in an emergency situation. The framework thus developed will facilitate in making economic choices in relative social isolation. This article is an attempt to identify the factors that lead to panic buying in case of pandemic. The research is carried out in stressed circumstances during the lockdown in Delhi and uses grounded theory to obtain insights from 22 consumer goods retail store operators to understand the reasons of panic buying by consumers. The responses have been carefully analysed to propose a model for further testing of consumer behaviour towards panic buying of essential and non-essential items under the pandemic situation.
Serum vitamin D levels in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and its relationship with disease severity
Authors: Sorkhabi Rana , Ahoor Mohammad Hosein , Ghorbanihaghjo Amir , Jafari Sasan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the serum vitamin D levels of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC)

Method

A total of 39 VKC patients (21 males and 18 females) and 32 healthy individuals (19 males and 13 females) were enrolled in this study with the mean age of 18.38 ± 8.83 and 21.6 ± 9.43, respectively. The type and the grade of VKC were identified for each patient and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels of all subjects were evaluated.

Results

The patients affected by VKC had statistically significant lower 25(OH)D levels (27.64 ± 8.50 ng/mL) than healthy subjects group (35.96 ± 11.34 ng/mL) ( p = 0.001). A reverse correlation was found between the serum vitamin D levels and the severity of the VKC but it was not statistically significant ( r = −0.159, p = 0.33). Besides, there were a few cases with severe and very severe VKC (2 in grade 3 and 4 in grade 4). Patients with the mixed type of the disease had lower serum vitamin D levels in comparison to tarsal and limbal forms but the difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.38).

Conclusion

This study shows that the patients affected by VKC have lower vitamin D levels in comparison to healthy subjects and the screening of all patients with VKC for vitamin D levels seems rational.
Caregiver engagement in youth partial hospitalization treatment
Authors: Dowell Kathy A , Nielsen Summer J
Published: December 2020

Although the importance of caregiver engagement in a child’s psychological treatment is well established within outpatient treatment settings, the question remains whether these findings can be generalized to more intensive treatment settings where caregiver engagement may be more challenging to facilitate. A correlational, multi-informant design was used to collect data by caregiver self-report and therapist-report from a sample of 64 caregivers of youth referred for partial hospitalization. Results show that caregivers’ attitudinal self-assessment of engagement was not significantly related to their self-report of behavioral engagement (e.g. number of family sessions attended) or therapists’ report of caregiver engagement. After controlling for caregiver expectations and therapist ratings of caregiver engagement, only caregiver ratings of attendance at family sessions marginally predicted treatment outcomes, but in the negative direction. Implications for adapting measures of caregiver engagement to intensive treatment settings and its impact on treatment outcomes are discussed.
Nep-hop for peace? Political visions and divisions in the booming Nepalese hip-hop scene
Authors: Lundqvist Martin
Published: December 2020

This article explores the burgeoning Nepalese hip-hop scene – commonly known as nep-hop – as a discursive intervention in the post-war politics of Nepal. Its core argument is that nep-hop oftentimes demonstrates an ethos of peacebuilding through popular culture. Indeed, many songs explicitly criticize violence, war, and the political leaders who recently brought the nation to a civil war. Yet, this political critique appears to often fall on deaf ears, due to the fact that nep-hop is commonly decoded as a radically ‘alien’ and ‘vulgar’ genre by audiences in mainstream Nepalese society. Importantly, however, this should not be read as a rejection of the ideological content of nep-hop, but rather as a negative evaluation of the aesthetic form of the genre, which bars many Nepalese citizens from engaging with its political messages in a meaningful manner.
A computational approach with surface-based cohesive contact for meso-scale interface damage simulation in 3D braided composites
Authors: Zhang Chao , Liu Jianchun , Bui Tinh Quoc , Curiel-Sosa Jose L , Lu Jinzhong
Published: December 2020

The yarn/yarn and yarn/matrix interface debonding has been recognized as a vital failure mode of 3 D braided composites. We present in this paper a meso-scale finite element (FE) model, which considers yarn/yarn and yarn/matrix interface debonding, for modeling progressive damage evolution of 3 D braided composites under typical tensile and shear loadings. In this setting, the damage state of braiding yarns and matrix is described through a continuum damage model (CDM) coupled with Murakami damage tensor; a bilinear traction-separation description is employed to govern the yarn/yarn and yarn/matrix interface behavior modeled by surface-based cohesive contact. We thus develop a user-material subroutine VUMAT (ABAQUS/Explicit) for our progressive damage simulation, including stress analysis, failure analysis and material properties degradation scheme. The mechanical properties of 3 D braided composites, and more importantly the damage evolution of interface debonding are thoroughly analyzed. The proposed FE modeling strategy provides a new perspective for the interface response study of other textile composites.
A Letter to Columbus: The Contemporary Piracy of the Americas
Authors: Diversi Marcelo
Published: December 2020

I walked into the Seville Cathedral, in 1998, and, unprepared, found myself face-to-face with Cristoforo Colombo’s tomb. History classes had taught me he had “discovered” the Americas. My young mind could not make sense of how an European explorer could “discover” lands already home to millions of fellow humans. Even a young mind could grasp the implications in the narrative of “discovery” of the Americas: Europeans were superior to Indigenous peoples. After decades of curiosity and formal education, I finally had a chance to say a few words to Colombo’s remains in person. Here is my letter to him.
High-throughput genotyping assays for identification of glycophorin B deletion variants in population studies
Authors: Amuzu Dominic SY , Rockett Kirk A , Leffler Ellen M , Ansah Felix , Amoako Nicholas , Morang’a Collins M , Hubbart Christina , Rowlands Kate , Jeffreys Anna E , Amenga-Etego Lucas N , Kwiatkowski Dominic P , Awandare Gordon A
Published: December 2020

Glycophorins are the most abundant sialoglycoproteins on the surface of human erythrocyte membranes. Genetic variation in glycophorin region of human chromosome 4 (containing GYPA, GYPB, and GYPE genes) is of interest because the gene products serve as receptors for pathogens of major public health interest, including Plasmodium sp., Babesia sp., Influenza virus, Vibrio cholerae El Tor Hemolysin, and Escherichia coli. A large structural rearrangement and hybrid glycophorin variant, known as Dantu, which was identified in East African populations, has been linked with a 40% reduction in risk for severe malaria. Apart from Dantu, other large structural variants exist, with the most common being deletion of the whole GYPB gene and its surrounding region, resulting in multiple different deletion forms. In West Africa particularly, these deletions are estimated to account for between 5 and 15% of the variation in different populations, mostly attributed to the forms known as DEL1 and DEL2. Due to the lack of specific variant assays, little is known of the distribution of these variants. Here, we report a modification of a previous GYPB DEL1 assay and the development of a novel GYPB DEL2 assay as high-throughput PCR-RFLP assays, as well as the identification of the crossover/breakpoint for GYPB DEL2. Using 393 samples from three study sites in Ghana as well as samples from HapMap and 1000 G projects for validation, we show that our assays are sensitive and reliable for genotyping GYPB DEL1 and DEL2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such high-throughput genotyping assays by PCR-RFLP for identifying specific GYPB deletion types in populations. These assays will enable better identification of GYPB deletions for large genetic association studies and functional experiments to understand the role of this gene cluster region in susceptibility to malaria and other diseases.