bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Analysis of Train–Bridge System Using the Karhunen–Loéve Expansion and the Point Estimate Method
Authors: Liu Xiang , Xiang Ping , Jiang Lizhong , Lai Zhipeng , Zhou Tuo , Chen Yuanjun
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a new method for analyzing the dynamic behavior of train–bridge systems with random rail irregularity aimed at its simplicity, efficiency and accuracy. A vertical train–bridge system is considered, in which the bridge is regarded as a series of simply supported beams, and the train is regarded as a multibody system with suspensions. The Karhunen–Loéve expansion (KLE) is used to simulate the stochastic vertical rail irregularities, and the mean and standard deviation of the system response are calculated by the point estimate method (PEM), based on the Gaussian integration and the dimension reduction method. The proposed KLE–PEM method, which combines the key features of the KLE and PEM, is validated by comparing the results obtained with existing ones. The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is used to verify the rationality of the results obtained by the KLE–PEM approach. The results show that the KLE–PEM approach can accurately calculate the response of the vertical train–bridge interaction system with random irregularity. This paper further discusses the responses of the train and bridge system with different speeds for the train.
On the supersolubility of a group with some tcc-subgroups
Authors: trofimuk Alexander
Published: November 2019

A subgroup [Formula: see text] of a group [Formula: see text] is called tcc-subgroup in [Formula: see text], if there is a subgroup [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and for any [Formula: see text] and for any [Formula: see text], there exists an element [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text]. The notation [Formula: see text] means that [Formula: see text] is a subgroup of a group [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we proved the supersolubility of a group [Formula: see text] in the following cases: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are supersoluble tcc-subgroups in [Formula: see text]; all Sylow subgroups of [Formula: see text] and of [Formula: see text] are tcc-subgroups in [Formula: see text]; all maximal subgroups of [Formula: see text] and of [Formula: see text] are tcc-subgroups in [Formula: see text]. Besides, the supersolubility of a group [Formula: see text] is obtained in each of the following cases: all maximal subgroups of every Sylow subgroup of [Formula: see text] are tcc-subgroups in [Formula: see text]; every subgroup of prime order or 4 is a tcc-subgroup in [Formula: see text]; all 2-maximal subgroups of [Formula: see text] are tcc-subgroups in [Formula: see text].
MoRFPred_en: Sequence-based prediction of MoRFs using an ensemble learning strategy
Authors: Fang Chun , Moriwaki Yoshitaka , Li Caihong , Shimizu Kentaro
Published: November 2019

Molecular recognition features (MoRFs) usually act as “hub” sites in the interaction networks of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Because an increasing number of serious diseases have been found to be associated with disordered proteins, identifying MoRFs has become increasingly important. In this study, we propose an ensemble learning strategy, named MoRFPred_en, to predict MoRFs from protein sequences. This approach combines four submodels that utilize different sequence-derived features for the prediction, including a multichannel one-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN_1D multichannel) based model, two deep two-dimensional convolutional neural network (DCNN_2D) based models, and a support vector machine (SVM) based model. When compared with other methods on the same datasets, the MoRFPred_en approach produced better results than existing state-of-the-art MoRF prediction methods, achieving an AUC of 0.762 on the VALIDATION419 dataset, 0.795 on the TEST45 dataset, and 0.776 on the TEST49 dataset. Availability: http://vivace.bi.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp:8008/fang/MoRFPred_en.php .
PVsiRNAPred: Prediction of plant exclusive virus-derived small interfering RNAs by deep convolutional neural network
Authors: He Bifang , Huang Jian , Chen Heng
Published: November 2019

Plant exclusive virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) regulate various biological processes, especially important in antiviral immunity. The identification of plant vsiRNAs is important for understanding the biogenesis and function mechanisms of vsiRNAs and further developing anti-viral plants. In this study, we extracted plant vsiRNA sequences from the PVsiRNAdb database. We then utilized deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to develop a deep learning algorithm for predicting plant vsiRNAs based on vsiRNA sequence composition, known as PVsiRNAPred. The key part of PVsiRNAPred is the CNN module, which automatically learns hierarchical representations of vsiRNA sequences related to vsiRNA profiles in plants. When evaluated using an independent testing dataset, the accuracy of the model was 65.70%, which was higher than those of five conventional machine learning method-based classifiers. In addition, PVsiRNAPred obtained a sensitivity of 67.11%, specificity of 64.26% and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.31, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of PVsiRNAPred was 0.71 in the independent test. The permutation test with 1000 shuffles resulted in a [Formula: see text] value [Formula: see text]. The above results reveal that PVsiRNAPred has favorable generalization capabilities. We hope PVsiRNAPred, the first bioinformatics algorithm for predicting plant vsiRNAs, will allow efficient discovery of new vsiRNAs.
Reactivation of Endogenous Retroelements in Cancer Development and Therapy
Authors: Ishak Charles A. , De Carvalho Daniel D.
Published: November 2019

Domesticated retroelements contribute extensively as regulatory elements within host gene networks. Upon germline integration, retroelement mobilization is restricted through epigenetic silencing, mutational degradation, and innate immune defenses described as the viral mimicry response. Recent discoveries reveal how early events in tumorigenesis reactivate retroelements to facilitate onco-exaptation, replication stress, retrotransposition, mitotic errors, and sterile inflammation, which collectively disrupt genome integrity. The characterization of altered epigenetic homeostasis at retroelements in cancer cells also reveals new epigenetic targets whose inactivation can bolster responses to cancer therapies. Recent discoveries reviewed here frame reactivated retroelements as both drivers of tumorigenesis and therapy responses, where their reactivation by emerging epigenetic therapies can potentiate immune checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, and other standard therapies.
Sox6 as a new modulator of renin expression in the kidney
Authors: Saleem Mohammad , Hodgkinson Conrad P. , Xiao Liang , Gimenez-Bastida Juan A. , Rasmussen Megan L. , Foss Jason , Payne Alan J. , Mirotsou Maria , Gama Vivian , Dzau Victor J. , Gomez Jose A.
Published: November 2019

Juxtaglomerular (JG) cells, major sources of renin, differentiate from metanephric mesenchymal cells that give rise to JG cells or a subset of smooth muscle cells of the renal afferent arteriole. During periods of dehydration and salt deprivation, renal mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) differentiate from JG cells. JG cells undergo expansion and smooth muscle cells redifferentiate to express renin along the afferent arteriole. Gene expression profiling comparing resident renal MSCs with JG cells indicates that the transcription factor Sox6 is highly expressed in JG cells in the adult kidney. In vitro, loss of Sox6 expression reduces differentiation of renal MSCs to renin-producing cells. In vivo, Sox6 expression is upregulated after a low-Na+ diet and furosemide. Importantly, knockout of Sox6 in Ren1d+ cells halts the increase in renin-expressing cells normally seen during a low-Na+ diet and furosemide as well as the typical increase in renin. Furthermore, Sox6 ablation in renin-expressing cells halts the recruitment of smooth muscle cells along the afferent arteriole, which normally express renin under these conditions. These results support a previously undefined role for Sox6 in renin expression.
Angiotensin II-induced superoxide and decreased glutathione in proximal tubules: effect of dietary fructose
Authors: Yang Nianxin , Gonzalez-Vicente Agustin , Garvin Jeffrey L.
Published: November 2019

Angiotensin II exacerbates oxidative stress in part by increasing superoxide ([Formula: see text]) production by many renal tissues. However, whether it does so in proximal tubules and the source of [Formula: see text] in this segment are unknown. Dietary fructose enhances the stimulatory effect of angiotensin II on proximal tubule Na+reabsorption, but whether this is true for oxidative stress is unknown. We hypothesized that angiotensin II causes proximal nephron oxidative stress in part by stimulating NADPH oxidase (NOX)4-dependent [Formula: see text] production and decreasing the amount of the antioxidant glutathione, and this is exacerbated by dietary fructose. We measured basal and angiotensin II-stimulated [Formula: see text] production with and without inhibitors, NOX1 and NOX4 expression, and total and reduced glutathione (GSH) in proximal tubules from rats drinking either tap water (control) or 20% fructose. Angiotensin II (10 nM) increased [Formula: see text] production by 113 ± 42 relative light units·mg protein−1·s−1in controls and 401 ± 74 relative light units·mg protein−1·s−1with 20% fructose ( n = 11 for each group, P < 0.05 vs. control). Apocynin and the Nox1/4 inhibitor GKT136901 prevented angiotensin II-induced increases in both groups. NOX4 expression was not different between groups. NOX1 expression was undetectable. Angiotensin II decreased GSH by 1.8 ± 0.8 nmol/mg protein in controls and by 4.2 ± 0.9 nmol/mg protein with 20% fructose ( n = 18 for each group, P < 0.047 vs. control). We conclude that 1) angiotensin II causes oxidative stress in proximal tubules by increasing [Formula: see text] production by NOX4 and decreasing GSH and 2) dietary fructose enhances the ability of angiotensin II to stimulate [Formula: see text] and diminish GSH, thereby exacerbating oxidative stress in this segment.
Research on Classification Method of Maize Seed Defect Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Huang Sheng , Fan Xiaofei , Sun Lei , Shen Yanlu , Suo Xuesong
Published: November 2019

Traditionally, the classification of seed defects mainly relies on the characteristics of color, shape, and texture. This method requires repeated extraction of a large amount of feature information, which is not efficiently used in detection. In recent years, deep learning has performed well in the field of image recognition. We introduced convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transfer learning into the quality classification of seeds and compared them with traditional machine learning algorithms. Experiments showed that deep learning algorithm was significantly better than the machine learning algorithm with an accuracy of 95% (GoogLeNet) vs. 79.2% (SURF+SVM). We used three classifiers in GoogLeNet to demonstrate that network accuracy increases as the depth of the network increases. We used the visualization technology to obtain the feature map of each layer of the network in CNNs and used the heat map to represent the probability distribution of the inference results. As an end-to-end network, CNNs can be easily applied for automated seed manufacturing.
Implant Treatment with 12-Year Follow-Up in a Patient with Severe Chronic Periodontitis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Seki Keisuke , Hagiwara Yoshiyuki
Published: November 2019

Tooth loss among adults is associated with progressive periodontitis. Implant prosthetic treatment has long been utilized in periodontal patients. Even when the implants are applied, ongoing management of periodontal disease and control of inflammation is necessary to maintain a healthy oral cavity. Lack of appropriate periodontal treatment can result in recurrence of periodontal disease during a maintenance period; loss of the supportive capacity of the periodontal tissues will increase the susceptibility of residual teeth to traumatic force. For this reason, it is worthwhile to improve oral function by applying implants as a fixed device. Here, we report that implant treatment in a patient with generalized severe chronic periodontitis helped maintain the periodontal and peri-implant tissue for a long term. We propose that initial periodontal treatment and ongoing supportive therapy can help maintain implants in patients with severe periodontitis. In addition, we reviewed case reports in the English literature so far.
Design and Assessment of a Robust and Generalizable ANN-Based Classifier for the Prediction of Premature Birth by means of Multichannel Electrohysterographic Records
Authors: Mas-Cabo J. , Prats-Boluda G. , Garcia-Casado J. , Alberola-Rubio J. , Perales A. , Ye-Lin Y.
Published: November 2019

Preterm labor is one of the major causes of neonatal deaths and also the cause of significant health and development impairments in those who survive. However, there are still no reliable and accurate tools for preterm labor prediction in clinical settings. Electrohysterography (EHG) has been proven to provide relevant information on the labor time horizon. Many studies focused on predicting preterm labor by using temporal, spectral, and nonlinear parameters extracted from single EHG recordings. However, multichannel analysis, which includes information from the whole uterus and about coupling between the recording areas, may provide better results. The cross validation method is often used to design classifiers and evaluate their performance. However, when the validation dataset is used to tune the classifier hyperparameters, the performance metrics of this dataset may not properly assess its generalization capacity. In this work, we developed and compared different classifiers, based on artificial neural networks, for predicting preterm labor using EHG features from single and multichannel recordings. A set of temporal, spectral, nonlinear, and synchronization parameters computed from EHG recordings was used as the input features. All the classifiers were evaluated on independent test datasets, which were never “seen” by the models, to determine their generalization capacity. Classifiers’ performance was also evaluated when obstetrical data were included. The experimental results show that the classifier performance metrics were significantly lower in the test dataset (AUC range 76-91%) than in the train and validation sets (AUC range 90-99%). The multichannel classifiers outperformed the single-channel classifiers, especially when information was combined into mean efficiency indexes and included coupling information between channels. Including obstetrical data slightly improved the classifier metrics and reached an AUC of 91.1±2.5% for the test dataset. These results show promise for the transfer of the EHG technique to preterm labor prediction in clinical practice.
Path Optimization of Mobile Sink Node in Wireless Sensor Network Water Monitoring System
Authors: Chao Fan , He Zhiqin , Pang Aiping , Zhou Hongbo , Ge Junjie
Published: November 2019

In the water area monitoring of the traditional wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the monitoring data are mostly transmitted to the base station through multihop. However, there are many problems in multihop transmission in traditional wireless sensor networks, such as energy hole, uneven energy consumption, unreliable data transmission, and so on. Based on the high maneuverability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a mobile data collection scheme is proposed, which uses UAV as a mobile sink node in WSN water monitoring and transmits data wirelessly to collect monitoring node data efficiently and flexibly. In order to further reduce the energy consumption of UAV, the terminal nodes are grouped according to the dynamic clustering algorithm and the nodes with high residual energy in the cluster are selected as cluster head nodes. Then, according to the characteristics of sensor nodes with a certain range of wireless signal coverage, the angular bisection method is introduced on the basis of the traditional ant colony algorithm to plan the path of UAV, which further shortens the length of the mobile path. Finally, the effectiveness and correctness of the method are proved by simulation and experimental tests.
Antibacterial Activity of Visible Light-Activated TiO2 Thin Films with Low Level of Fe Doping
Authors: Meng Dan , Liu Xiuhua , Xie Yun , Du Yang , Yang Yong , Xiao Chao
Published: November 2019

Development of effective antibacterial visible light-activated photocatalytic materials in industries including wastewater treatment and food industry has attracted increasing attention. In this work, Fe-doped TiO2 thin films with different doping levels on a glass substrate were prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating method. The as-prepared films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscope (AFM). Raman spectroscopy and XRD results show the crystalline phase of titanium dioxide was anatase, and the range of the crystal size for the films was 19.24–22.24 nm. XPS results indicate that iron was in the form of Fe3+ in Fe-doped TiO2 films. Regarding the antibacterial properties of TiO2 films, the order of antibacterial activity of TiO2 films was 0.1 at% Fe > 0.5 at% Fe > 1.0 at% TiO2 > bare TiO2 > 2.0 at% Fe > 3.45 at% Fe. 0.1 at% of Fe is the optimum dopant ratio related to antibacterial activity. 0.1 at% Fe-doped TiO2 film is highly efficient in inactivating E. coli under 3 h of visible light irradiation, and it remains efficient even in real dye waste water.
Sesamin, a Naturally Occurring Lignan, Inhibits Ligand-Induced Lipogenesis through Interaction with Liver X Receptor Alpha (LXRα) and Pregnane X Receptor (PXR)
Authors: Tai Tsai-Sung , Tien Ni , Shen Hsin-Yi , Chu Fang-Yi , Wang Charles C. N. , Lu Chieh-Hsiang , Yu Hui-I , Kung Fang-Ping , Chuang Hsiang-Hsun , Lee Ying-Ray , Chang Hsiao-Yun , Lim Yun-Ping
Published: November 2019

Liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear receptor that regulates various biological processes, including de novo lipogenesis, cholesterol metabolism, and inflammation. Selective inhibition of LXR may aid the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Sesamin is a naturally occurring lignan in many dietary plants and has a wide range of beneficial effects on metabolism. The mechanism underlying sesamin action especially on the regulation of LXR remains elusive. Reporter assays, mRNA and protein expression, and in silico modeling were used to identify sesamin as an antagonist of LXRα. Sesamin was applied to the hepatic HepaRG and intestinal LS174T cells and showed that it markedly ameliorated lipid accumulation in the HepaRG cells, by reducing LXRα transactivation, inhibiting the expression of downstream target genes. This effect was associated with the stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, followed by decreased T0901317-LXRα-induced expression of SREBP-1c and its downstream target genes. Mechanistically, sesamin reduced the recruitment of SRC-1 but enhanced that of SMILE to the SREBP-1c promoter region under T0901317 treatment. It regulated the transcriptional control exerted by LXRα by influencing its interaction with coregulators and thus decreased mRNA and protein levels of genes downstream of LXRα and reduced lipid accumulation in hepatic cells. Additionally, sesamin reduced valproate- and rifampin-induced LXRα and pregnane X receptor (PXR) transactivation. This was associated with reduced expression of target genes and decreased lipid accumulation. Thus, sesamin is an antagonist of LXRα and PXR and suggests that it may alleviate drug-induced lipogenesis via the suppression of LXRα and PXR signaling.
O caso bug-jargal: tradução,transposição e hipertextualidade no romantismo brasileiro
Authors: Pamboukian Mateus Roman
Published: November 2019

Este artigo pretende discutir derivações textuais do romance de Victor Hugo Bug-Jargal, especialmente as traduções parciais em verso feitas por Gonçalves Dias e Castro Alves. Também é discutida a influência do romance em outros poemas dos dois autores, notadamente “Canção do exílio” (Gonçalves Dias) e “Cachoeira de Paulo Afonso” (Castro Alves). Por fim, discute-se o papel da literatura traduzida na elaboração do repertório poético da literatura brasileira em seus anos de formação. Para tanto, lançamos mão das contribuições teóricas de Gérard Genette, Haroldo de Campos e Itamar Even-Zohar.

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Recepção da literatura hebraica no Brasil
Authors: Kirschbaum Saul , Waldman Berta
Published: November 2019

A moderna literatura hebraica nasceu no século XIX na Europa, como um instrumento de divulgação das ideias de um movimento que buscava elevar o nível cultural das massas judaicas, que viviam então em pleno atraso medieval. Em seguida, esta literatura acomp anhou a grande migração que assinalou o início da colonização da Palestina, assumindo características étnicas, nacionalistas e coletivistas, a serviço da formação de uma nova identidade judaica e da construção de um E stado nacional. Criado o Estado de Isra el, o idioma evoluiu de seu estágio inicial, com vocabulário precário e estrutura artificial, para uma língua de expressão plena e dinâmica; esta literatura, agora melhor referida como “israelense contemporânea”, supera suas limitações particularistas, pas sando a expressar o modo de vida de um povo vivendo em território nacional e produzindo em seu idioma cotidiano. Quanto a sua recepção no Brasil, essa literatura no início é consumida pela coletividade judaica como uma espécie de propriedade comum da etnia ; nas últimas três décadas, amplia - se o público leitor, como resultado, talvez, de dois fenômenos: o ingresso dos Estudos Judaicos em programas de pós - graduação das principais universidades e o investimento de editoras em tradução, produção e divulgação da s obras de seus principais expoentes.
Power and Charity in New York City during the Progressive Era: A Network Analysis
Authors: Topalov Christian
Published: November 2019

The New York Charities Directory compiled by the Charity Organization Society enumerates 1,000 charities and the 2,500 persons who ran them. Examination of this vast and complex network, using a combination of macro- and micro-sociological methods, enables the drawing of a global map of the charitable world and its various interconnected regions. Multiple-component analysis helps to correlate the positions of individuals in that world with their social and economic characteristics. Focusing on 200 charity leaders who interlocked several charities and controlled or connected various portions of the network, these procedures bring to the foreground famous philanthropists and activists, as well as people not so well known.
Dexamethasone Use in the Treatment of Pediatric Deep Neck Space Infections
Authors: Tansey James B. , Hamblin John , Mamidala Madhu , Thompson Jerome , Mclevy Jennifer , Wood Joshua , Sheyn Anthony
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

Assess the outcome of Intravenous (IV) dexamethasone in the treatment of pediatric deep neck space infections (DNSI) in combination with IV antibiotics.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients admitted for a DNSI from March 2014 to June 2016. Patient characteristics including demographics, abscess type, antibiotic, dexamethasone, surgery, culture, and length of stay (LOS) were obtained. Patients treated with antibiotics alone versus antibiotics and dexamethasone were compared. Primary outcome measures were rate of surgical drainage and LOS.

Results:

Overall 153 patients with DNSI were identified, including 62 lateral neck, 18 parapharyngeal, 40 peritonsillar, 32 retropharyngeal, and 1 submandibular. All patients received antibiotics. Dexamethasone was used in 35% of patients. The rate of surgical drainage in the dexamethasone and non-dexamethasone group was 36% and 53% respectively ( P = .043). LOS was shorter for the dexamethasone group (2.9 days) compared to the non-dexamethasone group (3.8 days) but was non-significant, P-value-.09. The most common microorganisms cultured were MRSA (25), MSSA (11), and Streptococcus pyogenes (10).

Conclusion:

Dexamethasone use was associated with a decreased rate of surgical drainage in pediatric patients with DNSI. Further prospective study is needed to determine the role of dexamethasone in treatment.
Theorizing dramaturgical resistance leadership from the leadership campaigns of Jeremy Corbyn
Authors: Sinha Paresha , Smolović Jones Owain , Carroll Brigid
Published: November 2019

What are the practices through which resistance leadership transitions from marginality to power? We present a framework of dramaturgical resistance leadership, paying particular attention to the relational dynamics between leaders, internal factions and external stakeholders. In doing so, we draw on an ‘expanded’ social drama analysis framework informed by the work of social anthropologist Victor Turner, incorporating insights from the resistance and critical leadership studies literatures. We develop our framework through a narrative case analysis of the British Labour Party’s 2015 and 2016 internal elections of its current leader Jeremy Corbyn where we identify a space between the phases of relational crisis and redress that offers possibilities for the enhancement and growth of resistance leadership. Within this space, we identify three practices of dramaturgical resistance leadership: ‘anti-establishment leadering’, ‘organizational redrawing’, and a ‘trifold focus’. These offer a means of rethinking the purpose and role of leaders within resistance movements alongside the co-constituted relations and generative practices that enable resisting groups to gain traction.
Anthropological and Methodical Differences of Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness–based Methods
Authors: Obelenienė Birutė , Narbekovas Andrius , Juškevičius Jonas
Published: November 2019

The term natural family planning (NFP), both in the scientific terminology and in the practical language of health policy, is often referred to as natural contraception or fertility awareness–based methods (FABM). “NFP. A guide to providing services,” issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, presents NFP as a method inconsistent with any other contraceptive method but later published “Family Planning, a Global Handbook for Providers,” wherein NFP is not presented as a stand-alone method group but is grouped with FAB methods, which are combined with barrier contraception active during the fertile phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle if there is a desire to postpone pregnancy. In other words, the WHO family planning recommendations present FABM as one group of contraceptive methods. The WHO is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. For these obvious reasons, the article mostly concentrates on WHO definition of FAMB. This article presents the anthropological and methodological differences between NFP (including and modern NFP methods that employ urinary hormone metabolite detection) and FABM and, through comparative analysis, determines that NFP is synonymous with neither FABM nor any of the methods of this group but is rather a distinct group of family planning methods.

The term natural family planning (NFP), both in the scientific terminology and in the practical language of health policy, is often referred to as natural contraception or fertility awareness-based methods (FABM). The World Health Organization’s (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. WHO family planning recommendations present FABM as one group of contraceptive methods For these obvious reasons the article mostly concentrates on the WHO definition of FAMB. The article presents the anthropological and methodological differences between NFP and FABM and, through comparative analysis, determines that NFP is synonymous with neither FABM nor any of the methods of this group but is rather a distinct group of family planning methods.
Existentialism and Instagram
Authors: Housiaux Andrew
Published: November 2019

Parents and teachers alike express concern about how much time teenagers spend on their cell phones today, but what do the teenagers themselves think? Andrew Housiaux, a philosophy teacher at a boarding school in Massachusetts, asked his students to give up their cell phones for three days and write about the experience. Their reflections showed them grappling with issues of anxiety, identity, and humanity that they encountered in the work of the existentialist philosophers they were studying in class. The experiment brought the work of those thinkers to life and showed that students are interested in thinking deeply about their inner lives.
Clarifying the Interrelations of Residents’ Perceived Tourism-Related Stress, Stressors, and Impacts
Authors: Jordan Evan J. , Lesar Laura , Spencer Daniel M.
Published: November 2019

While stress has recently been documented as an adverse impact of tourism, it has not been examined alongside traditional tourism impacts to determine their similarities and differences. To clarify the interrelations of these phenomena, we explored whether tourism-related stressors were similar to well-known tourism impacts, and whether perceived tourism impacts increased the likelihood of experiencing tourism-related stress. Residents of O’ahu, Hawai’i, were asked how much tourism impacted them on 36 variables, whether tourism caused them stress, and if so, how. Study findings reveal that tourism-related stressors often correspond with what have been traditionally considered tourism impacts. Moreover, only five of the tourism impact variables predicted the experience of tourism-related stress, and of these only one was a frequently cited stressor. Connecting impacts to stressors expands the possibility that certain tourism impacts could have consequences that go beyond mere opinions and attitudes, as stress has many health and wellness consequences.
Can Mobile Technology Improve Weight Loss in Overweight Adults? A Systematic Review
Authors: Wang Elizabeth , Abrahamson Kathleen , Liu Pi Ju , Ahmed Azza
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify evidence concerning the effectiveness of mobile applications and wearable devices for weight loss in overweight adults. A database search of PubMed and CINAHL yielded 12 eligible articles following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies primarily pertaining to obesity, inclusion of adult population only (18 years and older), use of experimental study designs only, use of mobile apps or wearable devices as intervention(s), and primary outcome of weight loss. Overall, the research evidence suggests that mobile apps and wearables are effective self-regulating tools for weight loss. Although study design concerns, such as lack of non-intervention comparator groups, prevent a definitive conclusion regarding the relative power of mobile apps and wearables over other self-monitoring methods, evidence indicates that mobile technology can be used as integral tools within overarching weight loss strategies recommended in the primary care setting.
Prevention of dental caries by grape seed extract supplementation: A systematic review
Authors: Delimont Nicole M , Carlson Brandi N
Published: November 2019

Background:

Dental caries are the most prominent chronic disease of children and adults worldwide, and facilitating evidence-based, preventative care for their prevention is critical. Caries are traditionally and successfully prevented by regular fluoride use, but there are opportunities to halt and restore caries with alternative agents in addition to fluoride use. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a readily available plant-based supplement that, due to its concentrated levels of proanthocyanidins, has promising characteristics that may assist in dental caries prevention.

Aim:

The goal of this review was to investigate whether current research supports use of grape seed extract to prevent dental caries formation.

Methods:

A systematic review of articles related to grape seed extract, prevention of dental caries, inhibition of Streptococcus mutans, and remineralization was conducted. Articles were first chosen by inclusion of dental models that used grape seed extract as an intervention, and then by strength of study design.

Results:

Twenty articles were reviewed. Studies overall supported three unique grape seed extract properties facilitating dental caries prevention. In the first articles reviewed, grape seed extract inhibited proliferation of bacterial biofilms on tooth surfaces. In addition, studies reviewed indicated that grape seed extract promoted dental remineralization.

Conclusions:

Caries prevention by grape seed extract may be unique compared with fluoride, and is linked to grape seed extract’s bacteriostatic and collagen crosslinking properties. Future research should investigate potential delivery methods, and benefits of combined grape seed extract use with known caries preventative agents, in human participants.
Aberrant Mesenteric Migration of Spirocerca lupi Larvae Causing Necrotizing Eosinophilic Arteritis, Thrombosis, and Intestinal Infarction in Dogs
Authors: Brenner Ori Jacob , Botero-Anug Ana Maria , Rojas Alicia , Hahn Shelley , Baneth Gad
Published: November 2019

This report presents a novel canine condition in 32 dogs in which aberrant migration of Spirocerca lupi larvae through mesenteric arteries, instead of gastric arteries, led to small or large intestinal infarction. This form of spirocercosis was first recognized in Israel in 2013 and is currently ongoing. Typical clinical signs were anorexia and weakness of 3 to 4 days and, less frequently, vomiting and diarrhea, followed by collapse, bloody diarrhea, and severe vomiting. Exploratory laparotomy showed 1 or more infarcted and often perforated intestinal segments in all cases. Microscopically, there was intestinal mucosal to transmural coagulative necrosis and mesenteric multifocal necrotizing eosinophilic arteritis, thrombosis, hemorrhage, and early fibroplasia. Third-stage S. lupi larvae were identified by morphologic features in 9 of 32 (28%) cases, and the species was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in 4 cases. Nearly 50% of the dogs had been receiving prophylactic therapy, which did not prevent this form of spirocercosis.
Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition With Doxycycline Affects the Progression of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: Evaluation in a New Nonsurgical Murine ACL Rupture Model
Authors: Zhang Xueying , Deng Xiang-Hua , Song Zhe , Croen Brett , Carballo Camila B. , Album Zoe , Zhang Ying , Bhandari Reyna , Rodeo Scott A.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Doxycycline has broad-spectrum activity as a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor and thus could reduce the progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture.

Hypothesis:

Doxycycline would inhibit progression of PTOA in a murine ACL rupture model.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

For the in vitro study, cadaveric C57BL/6 male mice knees (N = 108) were used for the development of a nonsurgical ACL rupture model. For the in vivo study, 24 C57BL/6 male mice then underwent ACL rupture with our manual procedure and were divided into 4 groups: untreated control; doxycycline, 10 mg/kg/d; doxycycline, 50 mg/kg/d; and doxycycline, 100 mg/kg/d. Doxycycline was administered in drinking water beginning immediately after ACL rupture. Radiographic imaging and paw prints were evaluated at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The foot length and toe spread were analyzed as measures of function. Histology and MMP-13 immunohistochemistry were done at 4 weeks.

Results:

Radiographs demonstrated anterior tibial subluxation and meniscal extrusion after ACL rupture, confirming knee joint instability without fractures. Statistically significant differences in gait were found between the intact and experimental groups. Histologic examination demonstrated cartilage damage, meniscal tears, and mild osteoarthritis after ACL rupture, similar to what occurs in human patients. Hypertrophy of the posterior horn of the medial and lateral meniscus was found, and tears of the posterior horn of the menisci were common. All doxycycline groups had a lower score than the untreated control group, indicating less cartilage damage. The posterior tibia of the untreated group had the most cartilage damage as compared with the 3 doxycycline groups, with a significant difference between the untreated and 50-mg/kg/d doxycycline groups, suggesting that the latter dose may protect against proteoglycan loss and decrease the progression of osteoarthritis. The nondoxycycline group had the highest synovial inflammation score among all groups, indicating that doxycycline has an inhibitory effect on synovitis. There was significantly lower MMP-13 expression on the tibia in the doxycycline-treated groups, with a positive correlation between doxycycline concentration and MMP-13 inhibition.

Conclusion:

Modulation of MMP-13 activity by doxycycline treatment may offer a novel biological pathway to decrease the progression of PTOA after ACL rupture.

Clinical Relevance:

Doxycycline is an approved, readily available drug with infrequent side effects of photosensitivity and gastrointestinal symptoms. Future clinical trials could evaluate doxycycline to reduce or prevent progressive cartilage damage after ACL rupture.
Pathways to Recovery among Homeless People with Mental Illness: Is Impulsiveness Getting in the Way?
Authors: Leclair Marichelle C. , Lemieux Ashley J. , Roy Laurence , Martin Michael S. , Latimer Eric A. , Crocker Anne G.
Published: November 2019

Objective:

This study investigates the association between impulsiveness and six dimensions of recovery among homeless people with mental illness.

Method:

The sample was composed of 418 participants of a randomized controlled trial of Housing First, a recovery-oriented program that provides immediate access to permanent housing. The reliable change index method was used to provide an estimate of the statistical and clinical significance of the change from baseline to 24 months (i.e., clinically meaningful improvement), on outcomes that pertain to recovery dimensions: psychiatric symptoms (clinical), physical health and substance use problems (physical), residential stability (functional), arrests (criminological), community integration (social), and hope and personal confidence (existential). We tested for the effect of impulsiveness, assessed with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11, on clinically meaningful improvement on each specific outcome, adjusting for age, gender and intervention assignment, as both intervention arms were included in the analysis.

Results:

For every increase in total impulsiveness score by one standard deviation, the odds of experiencing clinically meaningful improvement decreased by 29% ( OR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.91) on the clinical dimension and by 53% ( OR = 0.47, 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.68) on the existential dimension. However, changes in outcomes pertaining to physical, functional, criminological, and social dimensions were not significantly influenced by impulsiveness.

Conclusions:

Findings highlight the importance of addressing impulsiveness in the context of recovery-oriented interventions for homeless people with mental illness. Further research may be required to improve interventions that are responsive to unique needs of impulsive individuals to support clinical and existential recovery.
Developing and Validating a Capacity Instrument for Chinese and U.S. NGOs
Authors: Fu Jiawei Sophia , Shumate Michelle
Published: November 2019

Capacity-building initiatives are popular among nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. In response to a lack of valid and reliable capacity measures for NGOs working on various social issues, Shumate and colleagues developed an 8-dimension, 45-item NGO capacities instrument, based on data from U.S. NGOs. However, the proliferation of international research on NGO capacity raises questions about the degree to which such an instrument equally applies in other countries. To allow meaningful comparisons of NGO capacities across countries, we examine the measurement equivalence of this NGO capacity instrument across a matched sample of Chinese ( N = 119) and U.S. ( N = 150) NGOs. Findings suggest a new NGO capacity instrument, which comprises seven factors and 28 items and better accounts for the capacity of both Chinese and U.S. NGOs. Based on the new instrument, a series of comparative analyses highlight the influence of institutional factors on NGO capacities.
Carrier deck launching of adapted land-based airplanes
Authors: Hernando JL , Martínez-Val R
Published: November 2019

VTOL Harrier aircraft has been the basic combat airplane for many Navies, but it will soon be retired from service. Three main alternatives appear: to incorporate another, already existing or under development airplane; to design a completely new aircraft; or to modify an existing land-based airplane to achieve carrier suitability. The present paper is part of a study to assess the feasibility of the third option. In former papers, the authors have addressed, firstly, the compatibility criteria of land-based airplanes with aircraft carriers and, secondly, the details of the approach guidance and the recovery manoeuvre, which showed the need of major modifications in wing structure and landing gear. The research proposed here studies the airplane performance during the take-off manoeuvre from mid-size carriers, formed by a flat deck take-off run followed by a ski-jump and the subsequent flyaway.
The institutional logic of giving migrants access to social benefits and services
Authors: Albrekt Larsen Christian
Published: November 2019

The article analyses how the programmatic structure of welfare schemes in Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany shape public perceptions of and preferences for migrants’ entitlement to social benefits and services. First, the article finds that despite high complexity and the presence of some severe misconceptions, the entitlement criteria of migrants within existing social benefits and services do shape public perceptions of reality. Second, the article finds that these institutional shaped perceptions of reality strongly influence preferences for how migrants’ entitlement criteria should be. This status quo effect is more moderate among populist right-wing voters, in general, and in the critical case of attitudes to non-EU migrants’ entitlement to social assistance in Denmark. However, in all segments, one finds strong correlations between ‘are’ and ‘should be’, which is taken as indications of clear and sizeable institutional effects.
Engaged Listening Experiences: A World Music Sampler
Authors: Yoo Hyesoo , Kang Sangmi , Leal Camilo I. , Chokera Abbey
Published: November 2019

As the U.S. population has become significantly more culturally diverse, many music educators have acknowledged the necessity to implement culturally diverse musics in music curricula. One of the challenges in teaching culturally diverse musics is designing a balance between performing-based activities and other activities such as listening, improvising, and composing activities. Despite the importance of developing students’ listening skills, listening lessons are still relatively deficient within the context of world musics. Therefore, we provide general music teachers with engaged listening strategies for implementing world music lessons in music classrooms. The lessons provided in this article are appropriate for upper elementary and secondary general music classrooms.
Does Perceived Social Pressure Play a Vital Role in Emerging Adults’ Future Multiple Role Balance? Evidence From Sri Lanka
Authors: Samaranayake Sanjee Udari , Takemura Toshihiko
Published: November 2019

This study examines the role of perceived social pressure (PSP) in anticipated multiple role balance (AMRB) for emerging adults in Sri Lanka and variance across genders. Data were collected from a questionnaire with a sample size of 725 undergraduates at a major state university. Structural equation modeling with multigroup analysis was employed to investigate the relationships among constructs. The findings indicate that there is a positive and significant effect of PSP on AMRB both directly and indirectly through multiple role balance self-efficacy (SE) and positive outcome expectations (OE). Further, the results reveal that the effect of PSP on SE and anticipated multiple balance is statistically different across genders. This study contributes to the existing literature by applying social cognitive career theory’s self-management model to multiple role planning for the first time in Sri Lanka and filling the gaps in research on sources of SE and OE.
A hybrid method of multi-objective particle swarm optimization and k-means clustering and its application to modal parameter estimation in the time–frequency domain
Authors: Yang Kai , Yu Kaiping , Wang Hui
Published: November 2019

Modal parameters provide an insight into the dynamical properties of structures. In the time–frequency domain–based methods, time–frequency ridges contain crucial information on the characteristics of multicomponent signals, and manually extracting time–frequency ridges is a huge burden, especially when long-time time-varying modal parameters are focused on. In this study, time–frequency ridge extraction is converted into a multi-objective optimization problem, and a new hybrid method of multi-objective particle swarm optimization and k-means clustering is proposed to solve such a multi-objective optimization problem. In the hybrid method, the particle swarm is partitioned into sub-swarms by k-means clustering, and the sub-swarms are used to search new solutions for updating a finite-sized external archive, which is used as the exclusive centroids of the k-means clustering. Simultaneously, the finite-sized external archive serves as global best positions of sub-swarms. Both simulated and experimental cases are applied to validate the hybrid method. With the aid of the hybrid method, the influence of varying temperatures on modal parameters of a column beam is experimentally analyzed in detail.