bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discontinuing cannabis improves depression in people with multiple sclerosis: A short report
Authors: Feinstein Anthony , Meza Cecilia , Stefan Cristiana , Staines W Richard
Published: June 2020

To assess whether symptoms of depression change when people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) discontinue cannabis use, 40 cognitively impaired pwMS who smoked cannabis almost daily were randomly assigned to either a cannabis continuation (CC) or cannabis withdrawal (CW) group. Both groups were followed for 28 days. All participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. At day 28 the 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THCCOOH)/creatinine ratio in the CW group declined to zero ( p = 0.0001), but remained unchanged in the CC group ( p = 0.709). Depression scores in those pwMS who were using cannabis to manage their depression remained statistically unchanged in the CC group, but declined in the CW group ( p = 0.006). Despite pwMS using cannabis to help their mood, depression improved significantly off the drug. Our finding provides a cautionary note in relation to cannabis use in pwMS, at least with respect to depression.
Prevalence of disability improvement as a potential outcome for multiple sclerosis trials
Authors: Signori Alessio , Boffa Giacomo , Bovis Francesca , Mariottini Alice , Repice Annamaria , Inglese Matilde , Amato Maria Pia , Mancardi Gianluigi , Massacesi Luca , Saccardi Riccardo , Sormani Maria Pia
Published: June 2020

Background:

The concept of improvement of disability recently emerged as a new target in multiple sclerosis (MS) studies since the approval of new potent drugs and for testing drugs for neuroprotection and repair.

Objective:

To propose a simple estimator for assessing and comparing the prevalence of improvement over time between groups.

Methods:

The prevalence of a transient condition takes into account the incidence and the duration of such condition. We propose here the application of a modified Kaplan–Meier estimator to evaluate and compare between groups the prevalence of improvement over time in a cohort of 121 patients treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Results:

The prevalence of improvement after 5 years from transplant was 50.3% (95%CI: [38.0–63.0]) in relapsing–remitting patients and 6.5% (95%CI: [0–17.8]) in secondary-progressive patients ( p < 0.001). Such a difference wouldn’t be evident considering the traditional cumulative probability of improvement at 5 years (55.5% in relapsing–remitting vs 33.4% in secondary-progressive patients, p = 0.10).

Conclusion:

This study shows the relevance of a new estimator of prevalence of improvement in MS. This estimator gives simple information on whether a drug can induce a durable improvement in disability and can be considered a potential outcome for trials assessing drugs for neuroprotection or repair.
Anti-fat bias in secondary school teachers: Are physical education teachers more biased than mathematics teachers?
Authors: Carmona-Márquez José , Sierra-Robles Ángela , Sánchez-García Manuel , García-Rodríguez Pilar , Muñoz-Silva Alicia , Arbinaga Félix , Tornero-Quiñones Inmaculada
Published: June 2020

It has been suggested that physical education (PE) teachers hold strong anti-fat attitudes and that these can have an impact on the health of their students. In this study, we compare the attitudes and stereotypes towards obesity of PE teachers with those of their colleagues who teach mathematics. In addition, we evaluated the association between the teachers’ anti-fat biases and the level of physical activity (PA) of their students. The sample consisted of 81 PE teachers and 75 mathematics teachers. The adolescent sample consisted of 1792 secondary school students. The assessment of attitudes and stereotypes was conducted with the Implicit Association Test and the Anti-Fat Attitudes questionnaire. The PA level of the adolescents was determined by a self-administered instrument. PE and mathematics teachers showed similar biases, except for the automatic obesity–laziness association, which was stronger for PE teachers than for mathematics teachers. These distinctive implicit stereotypes of PE teachers were also significant predictors of the lack of PA in adolescents. We recommend the use of interventions aimed at reducing non-traditional forms of prejudice in teachers.
Early shifts in the heritage language strength: A comparison of lexical access and accuracy in bilingual and monolingual children
Authors: Dubiel Bozena , Guilfoyle Eithne
Published: June 2020

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

This study examines the characteristics of the child heritage language during the period of its relative dominance in early sequential bilinguals. Our objectives are twofold: to compare lexical accuracy and access in heritage and monolingual speakers across the primary school years, and to examine whether the results point to any early shifts in the heritage language strength.

Design/methodology/approach:

The participants are 38 Polish–English early sequential bilinguals and 24 Polish monolinguals aged 4;7–13;2, divided into four age groups. We use a new psycholinguistic tool, the Child HALA, to measure shifts in language strength by comparing lexical accuracy and access between the heritage and monolingual Polish. This picture-naming test is based on the HALA tool.

Data and analysis:

The data consists of accuracy and response time scores. The results are compared between the age groups and between the heritage and monolingual speakers to document any changes as a function of age and type of acquisition.

Findings/conclusions:

The heritage speakers achieve similar accuracy scores as the monolinguals; however, their rate of acquisition is slower. Their response time scores are lower across all age spans, which points to a slower language access. The results may suggest that the heritage language displays early shifts in its strength before a switch to a more dominant L2 between the mean age of 8–11;5.

Originality:

We document early changes in the heritage language strength that occur during a period of its relative dominance in bilingual children. The study employs a new psycholinguistic test applicable in the assessments of language maintenance in children.

Significance/implications:

The study provides insights into the heritage language maintenance during the early years of exposure to the majority language. The results may offer a greater understanding of the characteristics of the heritage language development in bilingual children.
A framework combining pseudo-excitation method and two-and-a-half-dimensional finite element method for random ground vibrations induced by high-speed trains
Authors: Wang Lidong , Zhu Zhihui , Costa Pedro Alves , Bai Yu , Yu Zhiwu , Han Yan
Published: June 2020

A framework is developed in this article to predict the nonstationary random ground vibrations induced by high-speed trains, by combining the pseudo-excitation method with the two-and-a-half-dimensional finite element method. This development contains two steps. First, the power spectral density of the wheel–rail dynamic force is accurately obtained through the combination of the pseudo-excitation method and a vehicle–slab-track–ground theoretical model. Second, the nonstationary random ground vibrations are efficiently solved by combining the pseudo-excitation method and the two-and-a-half-dimensional finite element method, where the power spectral density of the wheel–rail dynamic force obtained in the former step is used to constitute the pseudo-loads. In the numerical examples, the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach are validated through the comparison to the fast three-dimensional random method for train–track–soil system developed previously. The results show that the proposed approach can predict the train-induced random ground vibrations with sufficient accuracy and has three-to-five times increase in efficiency in comparison to the fast three-dimensional random method.
Joint association of physical and psychosocial working conditions with risk of long-term sickness absence: Prospective cohort study with register follow-up
Authors: Sundstrup Emil , Andersen Lars Louis
Published: June 2020

Aims: The interplay between physical and psychosocial working conditions for the risk of developing poor health is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the joint association of physical and psychosocial working conditions with risk of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in the general working population. Methods: Based on questionnaire responses about physical working conditions and psychosocial working conditions (influence at work, emotional demands, support from colleagues and support from managers) and two-year prospective follow-up in a national register on social transfer payments, we estimated the risk of incident LTSA of >30 days among 9544 employees without previous LTSA from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study. The analyses were censored for all events of permanent labour market drop-out (retirement, disability pension, immigration or death) and controlled for potential confounders. Results: In the total cohort, more demanding physical working conditions were associated with risk of LTSA in a dose–response fashion (trend test, p<0.0001). The combination of poor overall psychosocial working conditions (index measure of influence at work, emotional demands, support from managers and support from colleagues) and hard physical working conditions showed the highest risk of LTSA. However, poor overall psychosocial working conditions did not interact with physical working conditions in the risk of LTSA ( p=0.9677). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that workplaces should strive to improve both psychosocial and physical work factors in order to ensure the health of workers.
Small-scale Mining and Livelihood Dynamics in North-eastern Ghana: Sustaining Rural Livelihoods in a Changing Environment
Authors: Osumanu Issaka Kanton
Published: June 2020

This article examines the dynamics of rural livelihoods in north-eastern Ghana within the context of a changing environment using evidence from the artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) sector. It employs both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study shows that the challenges which confront rural subsistence farmers, including production risks of land degradation and encroachment on farmlands by ASM operations, are the main drivers of livelihood transformation by rural farmers. The study underscores that many rural farmers are pushed into ASM out of necessity, rather than being pulled by other reasons including a ‘get rich quick’ expectation. Drawing on the prevailing trend of livelihood diversification in rural communities, the study recommends incorporation of ASM activities into a broader rural livelihood framework through the development of supplementary livelihood programmes. This can provide opportunities for sustaining rural livelihoods. Although there has been recent literature on the dangers and contributions of ASM, this study makes a contribution to development studies thinking about ASM by underscoring the vulnerabilities as well as the resiliency of ASM households and communities.
Turbocharged spark-ignition engine performance prediction in various inlet charged air temperatures fueled with gasoline–ethanol blends
Authors: Farzam Reza , Jafari Bahram , Kalaki Fateme
Published: June 2020

In this research, the effect of alternative fuels and the inlet charged air temperature is numerically investigated on the performance of a turbocharged spark-ignition engine. For this purpose, a one-dimensional engine and turbocharger model is created in an engine simulation and performance analysis software and validated with former experimental results. Then, the model is run with four fuel types, including two gasoline types with different octane numbers and two ethanol–gasoline blend fuels—E25 and E85. In each case, the inlet charged air temperature is changed from cold to hot condition and performance characteristics such as the spark advance timing, brake torque, brake-specific fuel consumption and thermal efficiency, emissions and the ignition delay and combustion duration are obtained from simulation results. The results illustrate that by decreasing the inlet charged air temperature, the spark timing is more advanced due to less knock and the brake torque increases. Also, the brake-specific fuel consumption and the brake NOx and CO2 decrease and thermal efficiency increases in all fuel types. The results also demonstrate that in higher ethanol percent in blend fuels, all engine performance characteristics improve except brake-specific fuel consumption; as changing the fuel at constant fuel-to-air equivalence ratio from E25 to E85 in various revolutions per minute causes a 5.8% increase in the brake torque, 1.06% increase in the thermal efficiency, 43% and 3.9% decrease in the brake NOx and CO2 and 5.8 °CA decrease in the combustion duration, on average; while the brake-specific fuel consumption and the peak pressure increase 29% and 20%, respectively.
Peer Mediators’ Use of Prompting to Increase Social Communication in Students with Disabilities
Authors: Ackerman Kera B. , Spriggs Amy D. , Rhodes Alice L.
Published: June 2020

Social communication is a key component in building and maintaining friendships. However, students with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability often exhibit deficits in communication behaviors. Peer-mediated interventions are an evidence-based practice in increasing social communication skills for elementary and middle school students. Systematic instruction has been used as an intervention for both academic and functional skills. This study utilized a multiple probe design across students to assess the effectiveness of training two high school aged peer mediators to implement a system of least prompts strategy during a leisure activity to elicit social communication behaviors from four same age peers with disabilities. Results showed increases in initiations and independent responses when system of least prompts was used effectively by peer mediators. Future implications are discussed.
A Canadian Survey on Adverse Symptoms Experienced by Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Aladwan Shirin , Harrison Jennifer J. , Blackburn David F. , Taylor Jeff , Blydt-Hansen Tom D. , Mansell Holly
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Adverse symptoms experienced by solid organ transplant recipients remain largely unexplored despite their purported frequency.

Objective:

To characterize patient perspectives on adverse symptoms, identifying the most problematic symptoms and the perceived cause and treatability, and to evaluate their impact on quality of life (QoL) and medication adherence.

Methods:

An electronic survey was distributed to members of the Canadian Transplant Association, to characterize perceptions on symptom experience (Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Distress Scale), and QoL (Short Form-12), medication adherence (Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale), demographics, and clinical situation.

Results:

The questionnaire was distributed to 249 solid organ transplant recipients and achieved a 51% response rate (N = 127). Respondents reported a mean of 25 (standard deviation 10) adverse symptoms each. In women, the most prevalent and distressing symptoms were tiredness, lack of energy, sleep difficulties, difficulty concentrating or memory problems, diarrhea, joint pain, and depression. In men, they were tiredness, flatulence, lack of energy, sleep difficulties, and erectile problems. With the exception of flatulence, these symptoms were more often perceived to be caused by medical conditions rather than by immunosuppressants or other medications. Quality of life was similar to the general public, with mean physical and mental component scores of 47.4 (9.9) and 52.1 (8.2), respectively (relative to a US average of 50 [10]). However, QoL scores inversely correlated to the number of symptoms reported and were higher in patients who perceived all symptoms to be treatable.

Conclusion:

Adverse symptoms may impact patient well-being. Perceived cause and treatability should be further explored.
Policy Change and Public Opinion: Measuring Shifting Political Sentiment With Social Media Data
Authors: Adams-Cohen Nicholas Joseph
Published: June 2020

This article uses Twitter data and machine-learning methods to analyze the causal impact of the Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage at the federal level in the United States on political sentiment and discourse toward gay rights. In relying on social media text data, this project constructs a large data set of expressed political opinions in the short time frame before and after the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Due to the variation in state laws regarding the legality of same-sex marriage prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, I use a difference-in-difference estimator to show that, in those states where the Court’s ruling produced a policy change, there was relatively more negative movement in public opinion toward same-sex marriage and gay rights issues as compared with other states. This confirms previous studies that show Supreme Court decisions polarize public opinion in the short term, extends previous results by demonstrating opinion becomes relatively more negative in states where policy is overturned, and demonstrates how to use social media data to engage in causal analyses.
Limb Salvage in Patients With Severe Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) After Referral for a Second Opinion to a Dedicated CLI Center
Authors: Bisdas Theodosios , Patelis Nikolaos , Argyrakopoulou Georgia , Tsiachris Dimitrios , Kurtis Aristotelis , Gargalianos-Kakoliris Panagiotis , Stefanadis Christodoulos
Published: June 2020

The complexity of critical limb ischemia (CLI) requires dedicated multidisciplinary teams of different care providers, who will supervise the full cycle of CLI care. Until CLI treatment is fully centralized, such dedicated teams may work as second-opinion tools before major amputation is undertaken in CLI patients. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of a well-timed referral to a dedicated CLI-center of patients scheduled to major amputation elsewhere. A retrospective analysis of all CLI-patients treated in our department between January 2019 and March 2020 was conducted. Only patients scheduled for a major amputation elsewhere and referred to our clinic were included. Primary endpoint was amputation-free survival, whereas technical success, limb salvage, minor amputation rate, re-admission at 30 days, and frequency of medication change from other disciplines were the secondary endpoints. Sixteen patients with 19 treated limbs were identified and included in this analysis. The WIfI (wound, infection and foot ischemia) clinical stage on admission was 2 in 4 limbs (21%), 3 in 5 limbs (26%), and 4 in 10 limbs (53%). All patients underwent advanced endovascular revascularization. Minor amputation was performed in 8 patients (42%). Amputation-free survival at 6 months was 93% with limb salvage rate of 100%. Technical success and re-admission rates at 30 days was 95% and 6%, respectively. There was a medication adjustment from other specialties in 13 (81%) patients. Patients in severe stages of CLI scheduled to major amputation reached high limb salvage and survival rate, since they are referred for a second opinion to a dedicated multidisciplinary CLI team.
Estimation of cyber network risk using rare event simulation
Authors: Krall Alexander L , Kuhl Michael E , Yang Shanchieh J
Published: June 2020

Inherent vulnerabilities in a cyber network’s constituent machine services can be exploited by malicious agents. As a result, the machines on any network are at risk. Security specialists seek to mitigate the risk of intrusion events through network reconfiguration and defense. When dealing with rare cyber events, high-quality risk estimates using standard simulation approaches may be unattainable, or have significant attached uncertainty, even with a large computational simulation budget. To address this issue, an efficient rare event simulation modeling and analysis technique, namely, importance sampling for cyber networks, is developed. The importance sampling method parametrically amplifies certain aspects of the network in order to cause a rare event to happen more frequently. Output collected under these amplified conditions is then scaled back into the context of the original network to provide meaningful statistical inferences. The importance sampling methodology is tailored to cyber network attacks and takes the attacker’s successes and failures as well as the attacker’s targeting choices into account. The methodology is shown to produce estimates of higher quality than standard simulation with greater computational efficiency.
Analysis of high-rise building safety detection methods based on big data and artificial intelligence
Authors: Xu Jiaojiao , Yan Chuanjie , Su Yangyang , Liu Yong
Published: June 2020

With rapid industrialization, the construction of high-rise buildings is a good and effective solution to the rational and effective use of land resources and alleviation of existing land resource tensions. Especially in the construction process, if there is a problem with the pile foundation, the building will inevitably be tilted, which will directly affect the personal safety of the construction workers and resident users. The experiments in this article use the concept of big data to divide the system into modules such as data collection, data preprocessing, feature extraction, prediction model building, and model application in order to provide massive data storage and parallel computing services to form a security test system. The experimental data show that wireless sensor technology is applied to the inclination monitoring of buildings, and a monitoring system based on wireless inclination sensors is designed to enable real-time dynamic monitoring of buildings to ensure human safety. When the experimental model frame is stable under normal environmental conditions, a nonstationary vibration is artificially produced for a period of time from the outside world, which is about 60 s higher than the traditional method, and the efficiency is also increased by about 80%, a situation where a building has a reversible tilt change.
The probabilistic modeling and reliability analysis of brake shoes for hoist disc brake with correlated failure modes
Authors: Ren Fengbin , Chen Guoan , Lu Hao , Cao Shuang
Published: June 2020

In view of the lack of reliability research with correlated failure modes of the hoist disk shoes, the stochastic finite element method was used to analyze the reliability of multi-failure mode under emergency braking condition of disk shoe for deep well hoist. First, the finite element model of friction pair of brake disk and brake shoe was established based on the theory of heat conduction, the stress of brake shoe was simulated, and the influence of different initial braking speeds on friction pair temperature and thermal stress is analyzed. Second, the Latin hypercube sampling method was used to perform the design of experiment and the data of the random experiment are obtained. The Kriging model was used to establish the functional relationship between the random variables and the stress and temperature of the brake shoe. Then, based on the method of saddlepoint approximation, the reliability evaluation was carried out considering stress and temperature failure. Finally, the system reliability evaluation of brake shoe considering the correlation of the two failure modes is carried out based on Frank copula.
Integrated navigation approaches of vehicle aided by the strapdown celestial angles
Authors: Chen Hongmei , Gao Hongbo , Zhang Huijuan
Published: June 2020

The integrated navigation method based on star sensor celestial angles (altitude angle and azimuth angle) is proposed to serve the need for rapidly responsive, reliable, and precise of a hypersonic vehicle under a sophisticated environment. An integrated navigation algorithm suitable for large azimuth misalignment is established under launching point inertial coordinate and local geographical coordinate system based on altitude angle and azimuth angles. Meanwhile, a Bayesian method for data dropouts aided by the strapdown celestial angles is presented for the rapid variability in the celestial star angle with active galaxies. A nonlinear Bayesian filter is applied to implement the simulation on account of the nonlinear feature of the state and measurement equations. The simulation results showed that the Bayesian method for integrated navigation data dropouts could be accomplished by altitude angle and azimuth angle aiding in both launching point inertial coordinate and local geographical coordinate systems, which converge to 1′ in 10 s. The method indicated that the integrated navigation significant errors derived from initial localization and initial attitude alignment could be modified by the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) supported by the star sensor’s celestial angle in the local geographic coordinate system in the early launch stage. For the seconds of the flight phase, the integrated navigation aided by celestial angles in the launching point inertial coordinate system was guaranteed for the feasibility and validity. During the flight, the feasibility and validity of integrated navigation were guaranteed aided by celestial angles in launching point inertial coordinate system.
Comparison of survival distributions in clinical trials: A practical guidance
Authors: Chen Xiaotian , Wang Xin , Chen Kun , Zheng Yeya , Chappell Richard J , Dey Jyotirmoy
Published: June 2020

Background

In randomized clinical trials with censored time-to-event outcomes, the logrank test is known to have substantial statistical power under the proportional hazards assumption and is widely adopted as a tool to compare two survival distributions. However, the proportional hazards assumption is impossible to validate in practice until the data are unblinded. However, the statistical analysis plan of a randomized clinical trial and in particular its primary analysis method must be pre-specified before any unblinded information may be reviewed.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to guide applied biostatisticians in the prespecification of a desired primary analysis method when a treatment effect with nonproportional hazards is anticipated. While articles proposing alternate statistical tests are aplenty, to the best of our knowledge, there is no article available that attempts to simplify the choice and prespecification of a primary statistical test under specific expected patterns on nonproportional hazards. We provide such guidance by reviewing various tests proposed as more powerful alternatives to the standard logrank test under nonproportional hazards and simultaneously comparing their performance under a wide variety of nonproportional hazards scenarios to elucidate their advantages and disadvantages.

Method

In order to select the most preferable test for detecting specific differences between survival distributions of interest while controlling false positive rates, we review and assess the performance of weighted and adaptively weighted logrank tests, weighted and adaptively weighted Kaplan–Meier tests and versatile tests under various patterns of nonproportional hazards treatment effects through simulation.

Conclusion

We validate some of the claimed properties of the proposed extensions and identify tests that may be more preferable under specific expected pattern of nonproportional hazards when such knowledge is available. We show that versatile tests, while achieving robustness to departures from proportional hazards, may lose interpretation of directionality (superiority or inferiority) and can only be seen to test departures from equality. Detailed summary and discussion of the performance of each test in terms of type I error rate and power are provided to formulate specific guidance about their applicability and use.
Robust H∞ filtering for Markovian jumping static neural networks with time-varying delays
Authors: Zhao Aodong , Zhang Nan , Xi Maolong , Sun Jun , Dong Meiyan
Published: June 2020

The problem of robust H∞ filtering for Markovian jumping static neural networks with time-varying delays is considered in this paper. The effect of the activation function on the time delays is comprehensively considered. Based on Wirtinger inequality, a new inequality is quoted to solve the Lyapunov functions with the double-integral terms. Then, a less conservative result on the robust H∞ filtering is obtained, which guarantees the resulting error systems stochastically stable and satisfies a prescribed H∞ performance index. The effectiveness of the developed results is finally demonstrated by numerical examples.
Queering desistance: Chrononormativity, afterwardsness and young men’s sexual intimate partner violence
Authors: Berggren Kalle , Gottzén Lucas , Bornäs Hanna
Published: June 2020

Queer criminology has primarily focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people as victims and perpetrators of crime, as well as on the criminalization of non-heterosexual practices. In this article, we contribute to the emerging discussions on how queer theory can be used in relation to criminological research by exploring desistance processes from a queer temporality perspective. Desistance research emphasizes how and why individuals cease offending and is often guided by a teleology in which individuals are expected to mature and develop new, non-criminal identities. Work on queer temporality, in contrast, has developed thinking that destabilizes chronology and troubles normative life trajectories. In this article, we draw on queer temporality perspectives, particularly the concepts of chrononormativity and afterwardsness, in analysing narratives of young men who have used sexual violence against women partners in Sweden. We demonstrate how criminal identities may develop in retrospect, after desisting, and that identity and behaviour may not necessarily go together.
After Practice? Material Semiotic Approaches to Consumption and Economy
Authors: Evans David M.
Published: June 2020

The ‘turn’ to practice in social theory is proving influential in the sociological study of consumption (following Warde, 2005). This article joins current debates that appraise the contributions of this growing body of work, specifically its relationship with – and possible mode of succession to – cultural studies of consumption. It considers two claims about the impact and status of practice theoretic repertoires in consumption scholarship (Warde, 2014). First, that they invite greater attention than the cultural turn to objects and technologies as material forces. Second, that they have not yet found ways to locate consumption in the context of wider economic processes. My central argument is that theories of practice offer a partial reading of materiality, and that engagement with a greater range of material semiotic approaches can help in making better links between consumption and economy. This argument is illustrated through reference to market agencements, the social life of things, and ontological politics. I suggest these perspectives are compatible with practice theoretic approaches and that taken together, they represent some promising responses to a suite of fundamental challenges confronting consumption studies. I conclude that theories of practice – plural – have not yet run their course as an approach to consumption and economy. The parameters of consumption scholarship are also considered alongside the relationships between political economy and cultural analysis.
Clinical outcomes of patients with HER2-mutant advanced lung cancer: chemotherapies versusHER2-directed therapies
Authors: Zhou Jiebai , Ding Ning , Xu Xiaobo , Zhang Yong , Ye Maosong , Li Chun , Hu Jie
Published: June 2020

Background:

Lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide for both men and women. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), matching a specifically targeted drug to the identified driver mutation in each patient resulted in dramatically improved therapeutic efficacy, often in conjunction with decreased toxicity. Mutations in HER2 have been identified as an oncogenic driver gene for NSCLC. This retrospective study was conducted to better understand the clinical outcomes of advanced lung cancer patients harboring HER2 mutations treated with chemotherapies and HER2-targeted agents, as well as the optimal clinical choice.

Methods:

Patients who were diagnosed with advanced lung cancer (stage IIIB/IV) and had undergone molecular testing at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China from April 2016 to December 2018 were reviewed. For patients that had HER2 mutant advanced lung cancer, we analyzed their clinical and molecular features and clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR).

Results:

We identified 44 patients harboring HER2 mutations. Their median age was 56 years, with the majority being women ( n = 24), never smokers ( n = 32), and having the adenocarcinoma genotype ( n = 42). Amongst the HER2 mutations present, a 12 base pair in-frame insertion in exon 20 with p.771insAYVM was the most common subtype in patients with known detail variants of HER2 mutation (9/27). The median OS from the date of advanced disease diagnosis was 9.9 months with 24 deaths, and a median follow-up of 12.7 months for survivors. For patients with a known HER2 exon 20 insertion mutation, OS tended to be superior (though not statistically) in the first-line HER2-TKI group to that in the group receiving chemotherapy (10.8 versus 9.8 months, p = 0.40). However, patients that received first-line chemotherapy had a median PFS of 5.9 months, numerically longer than that of the HER2-TKI group (4.6 months, p = 0.63). Patients who received HER2-targeted therapy as first-line therapy had an improved OS (10.8 versus 10.1 months, p = 0.30) and PFS (4.6 versus 2.8 months, p = 0.36) relative to those who received HER2-targeted therapy as subsequent-line therapy, although they did not meet the threshold for statistical significance. Furthermore, patients with AYVM mutation were associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Conclusion:

Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy remains an important component of care for patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC. HER2-TKI given as an initial therapy may bring more clinical benefits than when given as a subsequent-line therapy. Refining the patient population based on patterns of HER2 variants may help improve the efficacy of anti- HER2 treatment in lung cancer. Developing highly effective and tolerable HER2-targeted agents is urgently needed for this population.
Acute Effects of Weighted Baseball Throwing Programs on Shoulder Range of Motion
Authors: Reinold Michael M. , Macrina Leonard C. , Fleisig Glenn S. , Drogosz Monika , Andrews James R.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Baseball pitching injuries are increasing at an alarming rate. While weighted ball throwing programs may be effective at increasing pitching velocity, previous research has identified a 24% injury rate and a 3.3° increase in shoulder external rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM) after performing a 6-week program. However, previous research has not investigated, separately, the immediate effects of throwing underloaded and overloaded balls on ROM. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of throwing differently weighted baseballs on shoulder ROM. By analyzing these differences, it may be possible to determine the specific weight range that may lead to the greatest increase in ROM and potential injury risk.

Hypothesis:

Throwing with weighted balls will result in an increase in shoulder ER ROM.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2.

Methods:

A total of 16 male high school baseball pitchers agreed to participate in this study. The participants were (mean ± SD) 17.1 ± 1.0 years of age, 1.81 ± 0.09 m tall, and had a mass of 79.2 ± 11.1 kg. Each participant was tested on 3 different days, 1 week apart, with 3 different conditions in random order: (1) underload throwing, using regulation 5-oz baseballs and 4- and 2-oz balls; (2) overload throwing, using 5-, 6-, and 9-oz balls; and (3) extreme overload throwing, using 5-, 16-, and 32-oz balls. Each testing session began by measuring passive shoulder ROM (external rotation and internal rotation) using standard goniometric measurements. Participants then performed 3 throws with each weighted ball from 3 different positions (kneeling, rocker, and run-and-gun) for a total of 27 throws each test session. ROM measurements were repeated at the end of each test session. The effect of each throwing condition on ROM was compared from pre- to posttraining using a paired t test ( P ≤ 0.05).

Results:

There was no significant difference in ER after throwing at underloaded weights. The overload condition showed a statistically significant increase of 3.3° in external rotation ( P = 0.05). The extreme overload condition showed a statistically significant increase in ER of 8.4° ( P < 0.001). There were no differences in internal rotation for any group.

Conclusion:

A significant increase in shoulder ER was observed immediately after throwing overload weighted balls. This effect increased as the weights of the balls increased.

Clinical Relevance:

Throwing with overload weighted baseballs causes an immediate increase in shoulder ER ROM. It is unknown why these changes occur; however, the results may explain both the increase in velocity and injury rates previously observed from throwing weighted balls. The current study results may be used to develop more scientifically validated weighted ball programs. Heavier balls should be used with caution, and ROM should be monitored during implementation of these programs.
Two cases of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related hypophysitis diagnosed without pituitary biopsy
Authors: Ma Wanlu , Wang Xi , Nie Min , Fu Junling , Mao Jiangfeng , Wu Xueyan
Published: June 2020

Background:

Immunoglobulin G4-related hypophysitis (IgG4-RH) is a rare disease, diagnosis of which typically depends on histopathology following an invasive pituitary biopsy, possibly leading to permanent hypopituitarism. Herein, we report two cases of IgG4-RH with favorable responses to glucocorticoids. One of them was multiple organs involved and treated with glucocorticoids and methotrexate.

Methods:

We retrospectively review clinical features, radiological images, and treatment of two cases with IgG4-RH. In addition, literature on IgG4-RH was comprehensively reviewed and a new therapeutic strategy for IgG4-RH was provided.

Results:

A 45-year-old man presented with diabetes insipidus for 6 months. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated thickening of pituitary stalk. His serum IgG4 was 13,500 mg/l and hormonal evaluation revealed isolated growth hormone deficiency. Pituitary biopsy was denied by the patient due to fears of permanent pituitary damage. Treatment with prednisone and methotrexate (MTX) for 1 week led to improvement in sellar images and reduction in IgG4 level. His IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) recovered after a 4-month treatment. The second case is a 43-year-old woman presenting with diabetes insipidus and amenorrhea for 20 months. Her pituitary MRI was similar to the patient above. Her serum IgG4 level was 5980 mg/l and hormonal measurement confirmed isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. After 2 weeks of prednisone, the sellar images improved. After 3 months of treatment, her pituitary MRI was normal, IgG4 level had decreased to near normal range, and menstruation resumed. Literature review found additional patients with IgG4-RH, who were treated successfully without invasive pituitary biopsy in a manner similar to our cases. Therefore, we discuss the necessity of invasive pituitary biopsy for IgG4-RH.

Conclusion:

For suspected IgG4-RH with pituitary hormone deficiency, biopsy-induced hypopituitarism may be avoided by using diagnostic glucocorticoid treatment. Impaired pituitary hormone secretion may be recovered in response to steroid therapy. Improved pituitary MRI after 1–2 weeks of glucocorticoid treatment may provide diagnostic evidence of IgG4-RH.
The articulation of ‘agency’: How can public relations scholarship and institutional theory enrich each other?
Authors: Hou Jenny Zhengye
Published: June 2020

A recent critical turn to both public relations and institutional studies has highlighted ‘agency’ as a shared important theme. While public relations scholars call to bring back ‘agency’ into analysis of practice and process of public relations, neo-institutionalists use ‘agency’ to explain heterogeneity and innovation in institutional outcomes. In this context, this article proposes to use ‘agency’ as a meeting ground to explore how the two disciplines could engage in a dialogue that improves mutual understanding and theoretical enrichment of each other. It argues that institutional thoughts such as ‘embedded agency’, ‘institutional entrepreneurship’ and ‘institutional work’ advance understandings of the downplayed issues of power, diversity and activism in the public relations literature. In turn, the multi-paradigmatic public relations scholarship provides useful tools for analysing institutional agency. Also, this article discusses future research agenda to advance fruitful collaboration between the two domains.
Intellectual property rights in the EU pre-commercial procurement for innovation
Authors: Dimitri Nicola
Published: June 2020

In 2007 the EC introduced pre-commercial procurement (PCP) to endow the EU public sector with a legal instrument for procuring innovative solutions, unavailable in the market. To induce firms to participate in a PCP, the EC suggests contracting authorities to leave the intellectual property rights (IPR) of the new solution with the firms. Based on the perspective of a possible commercial success, the IPR should work as a major incentive for companies to engage in a PCP. As important as the EC seems to consider the IPR, for a successful PCP, so far no guidelines have been provided on how to estimate their economic value. This paper proposes a methodology for such evaluation, discussing its advantages and limitations. A main message of the paper is that IPR economic value should be based on the expected profits coming from commercialisation of the would-be innovative solution. Moreover, the value should change across the different development phases of the PCP. The findings could be useful for a broad audience of PCP potential participants, contracting authorities intending to promote a PCP and third parties interested in buying the IPR.
In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of Mayan propolis
Authors: Xool-Tamayo Jorge , Chan-Zapata Ivan , Arana-Argaez Víctor Ermilo , Villa-de la Torre Fabiola , Torres-Romero Julio César , Araujo-Leon Jesus Alfredo , Aguilar-Ayala Fernando J , Rejón-Peraza Marina E , Castro-Linares Nelly C , Vargas-Coronado Rossana F , Cauich-Rodríguez Juan V
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Propolis has been used traditionally for different human diseases and even recently as dental biomaterials because of its antibacterial, antimycotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, a proper correlation between in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties has not been clearly established.

Methods

The composition of propolis was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-MS). Viability of ethanolic propolis solution was evaluated by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on murine macrophages. The anti-inflammatory properties were assessed both in vitro through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantification of various cytokines and in vivo by induced edemas.

Results

Chemical analysis showed pinocembrin, pinobanksin-3-O-acetate, and pinobanksin-3-O-propionate as the main components of propolis. Macrophage viability was high (106%) when propolis was used up to 50 µg/mL. ELISA studies showed a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) up to 145 pg/mL, 350 pg/mL, and 210 pg/mL, respectively, while the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) were increased up to 833 pg/mL and 446 pg/mL. Finally, edema was reduced on paw and ear mice by 9% and 22%, respectively.

Conclusion

Mayan propolis has strong in vitro anti-inflammatory properties without compromising macrophage viability, resulting in a low-to-mild in vivo anti-inflammatory response.
The hidden complexity of measuring number of chronic conditions using administrative and self-report data: A short report
Authors: Griffith Lauren E , Gruneir Andrea , Fisher Kathryn A , Upshur Ross , Patterson Christopher , Perez Richard , Favotto Lindsay , Markle-Reid Maureen , Ploeg Jenny
Published: June 2020

Objective:

To examine agreement between administrative and self-reported data on the number of and constituent chronic conditions (CCs) used to measure multimorbidity.

Study Design and Setting:

Cross-sectional self-reported survey data from four Canadian Community Health Survey waves were linked to administrative data for residents of Ontario, Canada. Agreement for each of 12 CCs was assessed using kappa ( κ) statistics. For the overall number of CCs, perfect agreement was defined as agreement on both the number and constituent CCs. Jackknife methods were used to assess the impact of individual CCs on perfect agreement.

Results:

The level of chance-adjusted agreement between self-report and administrative data for individual CCs varied widely, from κ = 5.5% (inflammatory bowel disease) to κ = 77.5% (diabetes), and there was no clear pattern on whether using administrative data or self-reported data led to higher prevalence estimates. Only 26.9% of participants had perfect agreement on the number and constituent CCs; 10.6% agreed on the number but not constituent CCs. The impact of each CC on perfect agreement depended on both the level of agreement and the prevalence of the individual CC.

Conclusion:

Our results show that measuring agreement on multimorbidity is more complex than for individual CCs and that even small levels of individual condition disagreement can have a large impact on the agreement on the number of CCs.
Unravelling the Relationship Between High-involvement Work Practices and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour: A Sequential Mediation Approach
Authors: Gahlawat Neha , Kundu Subhash C.
Published: June 2020

Using primary data from 575 employees of 209 organizations, the current study progresses the research between high-involvement work practices (HIWP) and organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in the Indian context. The results have revealed that the employees’ perceptions of HIWP including contingent appraisal and compensation, extensive training, self-managed teams, flexible work arrangements and empowerment result in enhanced work motivation (WM), improved job satisfaction (JS), heightened organizational commitment and higher degree of engagement in citizenship behaviour among employees. With establishment of a multi-step partial mediation model, the findings further reveal that the relationship between HIWP and OCB is individually and serially mediated by WM, JS and affective commitment (AC). The implications of these results for theory and practice of progressive HR practices in the Indian context are discussed.