bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soft Body Armor for Law Enforcement Applications
Authors: Purushothaman Arvind , Coimbatore Gopal , Ramkumar Seshadri S.
Published: November 2018

This paper focuses on the development of a novel ballistic protection composite which can provide both cut resistance and impact protection. The ballistic shield is made by sandwiching high strength, impact resistant, multi-layered woven fabrics between a leather strike face layer and a needlepunched fabric layer that offers protection upto Level IIIA and cut resistance. The needlepunched fabric when punched into the ballistic layer(s) pushes the fibers in the Z direction providing enhanced structural coherence and strength. Three different high performance fibers (Kevlar®, Spectra® and Twaron®) were used to make the composite. Ballistic tests were performed using V50 ballistic requirement based on NIJ standard. The availability of leather layer reduces the velocity of the impact and aides with the blunting of the bullet. A new phenomenon, “mushrooming” of the bullet has been observed. Results on the ballistic protection capabilities of different strike and impact resistant composite chest shields are presented in this paper.
Method of Mesh Fabric Defect Inspection Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Sun Guodong , Li Huan , Dai Xin , Zhao Daxing , Feng Wei
Published: November 2018

An appearance defect online inspection system of mesh fabric has been developed based on machine vision. The mean filter method is adopted to eliminate noise. An adaptive threshold method based on brightness is presented to eliminate the effects of uneven illumination and separate the foreground and background. By analyzing the texture characteristics and defect features of mesh fabric, the mesh fabric defect identification method based on texture features is proposed. The results have shown when the online inspection speed reaches 60m/min, the defect recognition rate can reach 95% or more and the online inspection system can meet the automation requirements of enterprises quite well.
Analyzing the Effect of Fiber, Yarn and Fabric Variables on Bagging Behavior of Single Jersey Weft Knitted Fabrics
Authors: Karimian Mitra , Hasani Hossein , Ajeli Saeed
Published: November 2018

This research investigates the effect of fiber, yarn and fabric variables on the bagging behavior of single jersey weft knitted fabrics interpreted in terms of bagging fatigue percentage. In order to estimate the optimum process conditions and to examine the individual effects of each controllable factor on a particular response, Taguchi's experimental design was used. The controllable factors considered in this research are blending ratio, yarn twist and count, fabric structure and fabric density. The findings show that fabric structure has the largest effect on the fabric bagging. Factor yarn twist is second and is followed by fabric density, blend ratio and yarn count. The optimum conditions to achieve the least bagging fatigue ratio were determined.
Wicking Phenomenon in Nanofiber-Coated Filament Yarns
Authors: Ravandi Seyed Abdolkarim Hosseini , Sanatgar Razieh Hashemi , Dabirian Farzad
Published: November 2018

Wicking phenomenon has been investigated in filaments and spun yarns in different studies. In comparison with conventional structures, nanofibrous structures have unique characteristics such as higher surface-to-volume ratios, smaller pores, and higher porosity. For many nanofiber applications, a good understanding of the liquid absorption and wettability of nanofibrous is crucial.

In this article, a modified electrospinning process for yarn coating with nanofiber is presented. In this method, fiber direction was controlled by manipulating the conventional system of electrospining and embedded nanofibers on yarn surface. Nylon66 filament was coated with nylon 66 nanofiber. The coating morphology and capillary phenomenon were examined in different concentrations of polymer solution. The kinetics of capillary flow of colored liquid in coated yarns with nanofiber follows the Lucas-Washburn equation.

Results show that coating with nanofibers increases equilibrium wicking height. In a nanofiber coating process, with a constant feeding rate, increasing the solution concentration increases the capillary rise rate.
Preparation of Superhydrophobic Teflon® AF 1600 Sub-Micron Fibers and Yarns Using the Forcespinningtm Technique
Authors: Rane Yatinkumar , Altecor Aleksey , Bell Nelson S. , Lozano Karen
Published: November 2018

Superhydrophobic materials combined with manufacturing processes that can increase surface roughness of the material, offer an opportunity to effectively control wetting properties. Rapid formation of Teflon® AF (TAF) fibrous mats with sub-micron fiber diameter using the Forcespinning™ technique is presented. The fiber formation technique is based on the use of centrifugal forces. SEM analysis shows uniform formation of TAF 1600 fibers with average diameter of 362±58nm. Contact angle measurement confirms the superhydrophobic nature of the mats with contact angles as high as 169° ± 3° and rolling angles of 2°. TAF 1600 mats were forcespun at a rate of 1gr/min. The relationship between the contact angle and hierarchical surface roughness of the TAF mat is also discussed. TAF yarns were also manufactured and characterized. Yarns with diameters of 156 microns withstood 17.5 MPa of engineering stress with a Young's modulus of 348 MPa in the elastic region and excellent thermal stability.
Impact of Weft Laid-in Structural Knitting Design on Fabric Tension Behavior and Interfacial Pressure Performance of Circular Knits
Authors: Liu Rong , Lao Terence T. , Wang S.X.
Published: November 2018

Inlay yarn and laid-in stitches as important technical knitting elements have been commonly applied in the structural design and pressure control of compression textiles for certain healthcare and therapeutic purposes. In this study, complex weft laid-in stitches design changed the configurations of the studied elastic hoses and exerted significant impact on tension properties and pressure performance. The elastic hoses with laid-in structure involving more tuck loops generated lower tensile energy and elastic hysteresis in stretch. The resulting interfacial pressure thus generated showed a significantly increasing trend and better linear relationship with the raising of tension ratios. The hoses with longer floated inlay yarn increased the fabric extensibility but reduced tensile recovery. The geometric and morphologic deformations in stitches structure may impact the loop densities and compressive forces, thus varying the interfacial pressure generated during stretching. Laplace's law verified the interactive relations among pressure, tension, and curvature radius; however, its accuracy in the evaluation of pressure magnitudes of compression textiles needs to be further studied.
Development of Multi-Layer Fabric on a Flat Knitting Machine
Authors: Kanakaraj P. , R. Ramachandran R. , Dasaradan B.S.
Published: November 2018

The loop transfer technique was used to develop the a splitable multi layer knit fabric on a computerized multi gauge flat knitting machine. The fabric consists of three layers: inner-single jersey, middle-1×1 purl and, outer-single jersey. By varying the loop length the multi layer knit fabric samples were produced, namely CCC-1, CCC-2 and CCC-3. The above multi layer fabrics were knitted using 24s Ne cotton of combined yarn feed in feeders 3, 4, and 4 respectively. The influence of loop length on wpc, cpc and tightness factor was studied using linear regression. The water vapor and air permeability properties of the produced multi layer knit fabrics were studied using ANOVA. The change of raw material in three individual layers could be useful for the production of fabric for functional, technical, and industrial applications.
Photostability and Durability Properties of Photochromic Organosilica Coating on Fabric
Authors: Parhizkar Marzieh , Zhao Yan , Wang Xunagi , Lin Tong
Published: November 2018

Photochromic fabrics were prepared by a dip-coating method using a silica sol-gel solution containing photochromic dyes. The coated fabric showed a rapid photochromic response. Three methods; incorporating a UV stabilizer in the coating layer, hydrophobic treatment of the porous surface, and covering the coating layer with an additional silica layer; were used to improve the photostability and durability. All three treatments improved the photostability without noticeably changing the photochromic response/fading speeds. Most of the treatments reduced the washing and abrasion durability. The extra coating layer increased the fabric rigidity.
Study of Fluorescent Dyeing Process and Influence of Mixture Dyes on High-visibility
Authors: Hamdaoui Mohamed , Lanouar Ahlem , Halaoua Sabri
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we present the results of an investigation and analysis of an experimental study of fluorescent disperse dyes used for dyeing polyester fabrics to high-visibility colors. This paper describes the results of spectrophotometric color measurements for yellow luminous, red luminous and orange luminous fluorescent dyes and their matching with the requirements of the EN 471 standard. The results of this study showed that the adsorption isotherms of polyester dyeing with fluorescent disperse luminous dyes follow the Nernst equation; the Nernst constants were determined and interpreted. The adsorption kinetics of fluorescent disperse dyes on polyester is studied by using the peudo-first-order model, the pseudo-second-order equation and the intraparticle diffusion equation. The results show that pseudo-second-order models fit well the experimental data with higher average regression coefficients (R2 > 0.98). They also show that high-visibility is influenced by the dye concentration, and that the dye mixtures can affect the high-visibility.
Dyeing Procedures of Polyester Fiber in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using a Special Dyeing Frame
Authors: Zheng Laijiu , Zheng Huanda , Du Bing , Wei Ju , Gao Shihui , Zhang Juan
Published: November 2018

Supercritical CO2 fluid dyeing, a new type of anhydrous dyeing technology, has the advantage of high uptake rate, short dyeing process, recycling of dyes and CO2, and zero discharge. This study investigated a dyeing technique of loose fibers using supercritical CO2 as solvent to replace water. Based on the existing characteristics of the self-developed supercritical CO2 dyeing equipment, a special dyeing frame of loose fibers was designed. Using the dyeing frame and inner and outer dyeing processes, polyester fibers were dyed with disperse red 153# maternal dyes at temperatures of 80–140?, pressures of 17–29MPa and time of 20–80min, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the dyeing performance of fibers was good on the dyeing frame, as well as with a favorably increased temperature, pressure and time. Dyeing temperature had a strong influence on the color yield. The dyeing results were compared with those of polyester fibers dyed with disperse red 153# dyes. With the special dyeing frame of loose fibers, color fastness to washing and artificial light was generally similar to conventional aqueous medium methods.
Motion control of valve-controlled hydraulic actuators with input saturation and modelling uncertainties
Authors: Dong Zhenle , Ma Dawei , Liu Qi , Yue Xin
Published: November 2018

This article mainly concerns the high-performance motion control of valve-controlled hydraulic actuators with input saturation and modelling uncertainties. The nonlinear mathematic model including a continuously differentiable static friction model is constructed, and then adaptive robust design framework is adopted to cope with the modelling uncertainties, which always impede the progress of high-performance motion controller. Input saturation, which frequently exists in most physical systems, has been found to be prone to performance decay. To address this specific issue, an embedded anti-windup block containing two adjusting mechanisms is properly designed to improve the motion controller to ensure the stability and performance preservation in circumstance of input saturation, which is proved via rigorous Lyapunov analysis. Typical simulation is implemented to illustrate the availability of the proposed control method.
Ontology based social life cycle assessment for product development
Authors: Shang Zhen , Wang Meidan , Su Daizhong , Liu Qinhui , Zhu Shifan
Published: November 2018

Social life cycle assessment is an important method to assess products’ social impacts throughout their life cycles. There are already some indicators and software to assist conducting social life cycle assessment. However, it is hard for users to share or reuse assessment results because of different application data structures. To resolve this problem, a knowledge-based social life cycle assessment–aided design method is developed in this research. With this method, all elements in the social life cycle assessment process are analyzed and represented as classes, their relationships are described as object properties, and the data structure is represented as data properties to construct an ontology system for social life cycle assessment. Based on the ontology, a social life cycle assessment–aided product development web is developed. According to the data property structure, a bidirectional mapping between database and ontology is realized using JENA and ontology-based data access, which enables the result data to be automatically inputted into ontology individuals. Thus, the result data can be accumulated, shared, and reused among users. A case study with a floor product as well as a user test is carried out to prove the feasibility and usability of the web. The ontology-based social life cycle assessment–aided design method provides users with a new high-efficiency approach, setting the foundation for the intellectualization of life cycle assessment.
Spotlighting Stigma and Barriers: Examining Secondary Students’ Attitudes Toward School Counseling Services
Authors: Auger Richard W. , Abel Nicholas R. , Oliver Brandie M.
Published: November 2018

Student attitudes toward accessing school counseling services were the focus of a survey of 3,584 middle school and high school students. Respondents identified barriers to seeking help from school counselors, including stigma, a desire to manage problems themselves, a lack of a positive relationship with their school counselor, and a concern that the counselor would not keep disclosures confidential. This study also examined the impact of gender, age, and race/ethnicity on students’ willingness to seek help from their school counselor. We present implications for practice and future research.
Evaluating Cervical Sagittal Alignment in Cervical Myelopathy: Are Sitting Cervical Radiographs and Standing Whole-Spine Radiographs Equally Useful?
Authors: Morimoto Yasuhiko , Shigematsu Hideki , Iwata Eiichiro , Tanaka Masato , Okuda Akinori , Masuda Keisuke , Yamamoto Yusuke , Takeshima Toshichika , Nakagawa Yoshiyuki , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: November 2018

Study Design:

Retrospective review of medical charts and radiographic data.

Objectives:

We aimed to clarify the differences in cervical alignment findings between sitting cervical lateral radiographs and standing whole-spine lateral radiographs with clavicle positioning in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients.

Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated the radiographs of 50 consecutive patients who underwent cervical surgery for CSM in our hospital. Cervical sagittal alignment was evaluated based on the C0-2 angles and C2-7 Gore and Cobb angles. Head position was evaluated in terms of the center of gravity of the head to C7 (CGH-C7) angle and the McGregor angle (ie, the angle between the McGregor line and a horizontal line). The T1-slope was also evaluated.

Results:

The mean values of the CGH-C7 angle and T1-slope were significantly lower, while the mean value of the McGregor angle was significantly higher on whole-spine lateral radiographs with clavicle positioning than on sitting cervical lateral radiographs. The mean values of the C0-2 and C2-7 angles did not differ significantly between the 2 radiographic positioning approaches.

Conclusions:

Using whole-spine lateral radiographs with clavicle positioning may result in a significantly lower T1-slope and a posterior tilt of the head. In the absence of a compensatory change in cervical alignment, clavicle positioning may force patients to adopt an upward gazing position of the head. These compensatory mechanisms should be considered while evaluating cervical alignment on whole-spine lateral radiographs with clavicle positioning. Surgical planning should take into account the effect of posture on the radiographic appearance of cervical alignment.
A Rare Case of Macrophage Activation Syndrome Presenting as the First Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Poudel Pooja , Swe Thein , Rayancha Sheetal
Published: November 2018

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) itself is a rare, potentially life-threatening complication of a rheumatic disease, mostly seen in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It infrequently occurs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and it is extremely rare to be the first presentation of SLE. In a study of 511 patients with SLE, 7 cases (1.4%) of MAS were identified. In all the cases, MAS was simultaneous to the presentation of SLE in this article, we report a case of a patient with MAS who presented with fever, rash, and high ferritin level up to 16911 ng/mL. A high degree of suspicion is required that high fever and rash can be clues to MAS. Early diagnosis is necessary since mortality rates remain high for untreated cases.
The adverse kidney effects of cancer immunotherapies
Authors: Saly Danielle L , Perazella Mark A
Published: November 2018

Cancer therapies are a common cause of acute and chronic kidney disease, which are increasingly being seen by nephrologists in clinical practice. Conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and novel targeted agents are effective cancer therapies but their use is complicated by nephrotoxicity. Cancer immunotherapies exploit various properties of immune cells to enhance immune-mediated tumor killing. Interferon and high-dose interleukin-2 are older immunotherapies first employed clinically in the 1980s and 1990s to treat a number of different cancers. While effective, these two therapies have well-known systemic toxicities, which include acute kidney disease. The emergence of the new cancer immunotherapies over the past decade brings more effective treatment options. The immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells are exciting additions to the cancer treatment armamentarium. These agents effectively treat a several and a growing list of cancers that have otherwise failed other therapies. However, as with the conventional and targeted cancer agents, drug-induced acute and chronic kidney disease is an untoward effect of this group of drugs. We will undertake a case-based review: the newer immunotherapies followed by the older therapies, interferon and interleukin-2.
Planarity and street network representation in urban form analysis
Authors: Boeing Geoff
Published: November 2018

Models of street networks underlie research in urban travel behavior, accessibility, design patterns, and morphology. These models are commonly defined as planar, meaning they can be represented in two dimensions without any underpasses or overpasses. However, real-world urban street networks exist in three-dimensional space and frequently feature grade separation such as bridges and tunnels: planar simplifications can be useful but they also impact the results of real-world street network analysis. This study measures the nonplanarity of drivable and walkable street networks in the centers of 50 cities worldwide and then examines the variation of nonplanarity across a single city. It develops two new indicators—the Spatial Planarity Ratio and the Edge Length Ratio—to measure planarity and describe infrastructure and urbanization. While some street networks are approximately planar, we empirically quantify how planar models can inconsistently but drastically misrepresent intersection density, street lengths, routing, and connectivity.
Defining Risk Factors for Chemotherapeutic Intervention in Infants With Stage 4S Neuroblastoma: A Report From Children’s Oncology Group Study ANBL0531
Authors: Twist Clare J. , Naranjo Arlene , Schmidt Mary Lou , Tenney Sheena C. , Cohn Susan L. , Meany Holly J. , Mattei Peter , Adkins E. Stanton , Shimada Hiroyuki , London Wendy B. , Park Julie R. , Matthay Katherine K. , Maris John M.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Infants with stage 4S neuroblastoma usually have favorable outcomes with observation or minimal chemotherapy. However, young infants with symptoms secondary to massive hepatomegaly or with unfavorable tumor biology are at high risk of death. Our aim was to improve outcomes for patients with symptomatic and/or unfavorable biology 4S neuroblastoma with a uniform treatment approach using a biology- and response-based algorithm.

Patients and Methods

The subset of patients with 4S disease with MYCN-not amplified tumors with impaired or impending organ dysfunction, or with unfavorable histology and/or diploid DNA index, were eligible. Patients were assigned to receive two, four, or eight cycles of chemotherapy on the basis of histology, diploid DNA index, chromosome arm 1p or 11q loss of heterozygosity (LOH) status, and symptoms.

Results

Forty-nine eligible patients were enrolled: 41 were symptomatic and 28 had unfavorable biology. Seventeen patients (symptomatic, favorable biology) were assigned two cycles, 21 patients (any unfavorable biologic feature without 1p or 11q LOH) were assigned four cycles, and 11 patients (unfavorable biology including 1p and/or 11q LOH [n = 7] or symptomatic with unknown biology [n = 4]), were assigned eight cycles. The 3-year overall survival was 81.4% ± 5.8%. Eight of nine deaths were in patients younger than 2 months of age at diagnosis (median, 9 days [range, 1 to 68 days]): five acute deaths were a result of hepatomegaly and associated toxicities; two were a result of late relapse in patients with unfavorable biology; and two were a result of treatment complications. No deaths occurred after protocol-mandated pre-emptive treatment of infants younger than 2 months with hepatomegaly, regardless of symptoms. A new scoring algorithm for emergent chemotherapy in patients with 4S disease was developed on the basis of this experience.

Conclusion

The outcome for 4S neuroblastoma can be improved with pre-emptive chemotherapy for evolving hepatomegaly or other baseline comorbidities in infants younger than 2 months of age.
Perspectives of Health Care Payer Organizations on Cancer Care Delivery Redesign: A National Study
Authors: Patel Manali I. , Moore David , Bhattacharya Jay , Milstein Arnold , Coker Tumaini R.
Published: November 2018

INTRODUCTION:

Despite advancements in cancer care, persistent gaps remain in the delivery of high-value end-of-life cancer care. The aim of this study was to examine views of health care payer organization stakeholders on approaches to the redesign of end-of-life cancer care delivery strategies to improve care.

METHODS:

We conducted semistructured interviews with 34 key stakeholders (eg, chief medical officers, medical directors) in 12 health plans and 22 medical group organizations across the United States. We recorded, transcribed, and analyzed interviews using the constant comparative method of qualitative analysis.

RESULTS:

Participants endorsed strategies to redesign end-of-life cancer care delivery to improve end-of-life care. Participants supported the use of nonprofessionals to deliver some cancer services through alternative formats (eg, telephone, Internet) and delivery of services in nonclinical settings. Participants reported that using nonprofessional providers to offer some services, such as goals of care discussions and symptom assessments, via telephone in community-based settings or in patients’ homes, may be more effective and efficient ways to deliver high-value cancer care services. Participants described challenges to redesign, including coordination with and acceptance by oncology providers and payment models required to financially support clinical changes. Some participants suggested solutions, including providing funding and logistic support to encourage implementation of care delivery innovations and to financially reward practices for delivery of high-value end-of-life cancer care services.

CONCLUSION:

Stakeholders from payer organizations endorsed opportunities to redesign cancer care delivery, and some are willing to provide logistic, design, and financial support to practices interested in improving end-of-life cancer care.
Juvenile murine models of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes develop neuropathy
Authors: O'Brien Phillipe D. , Hinder Lucy M. , Rumora Amy E. , Hayes John M. , Dauch Jacqueline R. , Backus Carey , Mendelson Faye E. , Feldman Eva L.
Published: November 2018

Peripheral neuropathy (neuropathy) is a common complication of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. To model this complication in mice, 5-week old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet to induce diet-induced obesity (DIO), a model of prediabetes, and a cohort of these animals was injected with low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) at 12 weeks of age to induce hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes. Neuropathy assessments at 16, 24, and 36 weeks demonstrated that DIO and DIO-STZ mice displayed decreased motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities as early as 16 weeks, hypoalgesia by 24 weeks, and cutaneous nerve fiber loss by 36 weeks, relative to control mice fed a standard diet. Interestingly, neuropathy severity was similar in DIO and DIO-STZ mice at all time-points despite significantly higher fasting glucose levels in the DIO-STZ mice. These mouse models provide critical tools to better understand the underlying pathogenesis of prediabetic and diabetic neuropathy from youth to adulthood, and support the idea that hyperglycemia alone does not drive early neuropathy.
Age related responses to injury and repair in insect cuticle
Authors: O'Neill M. , DeLandro D. , Taylor D.
Published: November 2018

The ability of female adult desert locusts (Schistocerca Gregaria) to repair injuries to their exoskeletons and restore mechanical strength over the course of their natural life was evaluated. It was discovered that younger insects are more capable of repairing injuries, displaying no significant decreases in failure strength, stiffness or bending moment to failure after 3 weeks of repair. Older insects in contrast were only capable of repairing to ≈ 70% of their original strength. Both older and younger insects carry out targeted deposition to repair injuries. Different mechanisms of failure were also examined and it was discovered that the cuticle of older insects is more susceptible to crack growth due to a large decrease in fracture toughness with age, making them more sensitive to scalpel cuts and punctures. The biological mechanisms that drive these changes are still under investigation.
Development and Application of New Iridium Catalysts for Efficient Dehydrogenative Reactions of Organic Molecules
Authors: Fujita Ken-ichi
Published: November 2018

In this paper, development and application of iridium catalysts for dehydrogenative reactions including (1) dehydrogenative oxidation of alcohols into carbonyl compounds, (2) hydrogen storage systems based on the reversible interconversion between saturated N-heterocycles and unsaturated aromatic N-heterocycles by catalytic dehydrogenation and hydrogenation, and (3) efficient hydrogen production from methanol-water solution under very mild conditions, are reported. The key point of the study described in this paper is designing a series of catalysts based on the cooperation of a metal center and a functional ligand, which is based on reversible transformation of two catalytically active species (an iridium species bearing α-pyridonate-based functional ligand and an iridium species bearing α-hydroxypyridine-based functional ligand). Various novel iridium catalysts have been synthesized and a number of catalytic dehydrogenative reactions have been developed. In addition to providing new methods for organic synthetic chemistry, these investigations would contribute to the fields of environmental chemistry and sustainable energy research.
Anticipated Task Difficulty Provokes Pace Conservation and Slower Running Performance
Authors: BRICK NOEL E. , FITZPATRICK BEN L. , TURKINGTON ROBIN , MALLETT JOHN C.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Models of self-paced endurance performance suggest that accurate knowledge of the exercise end-point influences pace-related decision making. No studies have examined the effects of anticipated task difficulty during equidistant endurance activities. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anticipated task difficulty on pacing, psychological, and physiological responses during running time trials.

Methods

Twenty-eight trained runners completed three self-paced 3000-m time trials. The first was a baseline time trial completed on a 0% treadmill gradient. Time trials 2 and 3 were counterbalanced. Before a known incline time trial, anticipated to be more difficult, subjects were accurately informed that the gradient would increase to 7% for the final 800 m. Before an equivalent, unknown incline (UI) time trial subjects were deceptively informed that the gradient would remain at 0% throughout.

Results

Expressed relative to baseline, running speed was 2.44% slower (d = −0.47) over the first 2200 m during known incline (KI) time trial than UI time trial. Effort perception, affective valence, heart rate, and blood lactate did not differ between time trials. Initial running speed during KI was related to pretrial motivation, pretrial vigor, perceived effort, and affective valence (all r ≥ 0.382). No such relationships existed during UI. More subjects also reported a conscious focus on pacing during KI.

Conclusions

An anticipated increase in task difficulty provoked pace conservation during 3000 m running time trials. The reduced pace may have resulted from greater task uncertainty and consciously aware, effort- and affect-based decisions to conserve energy and maintain hedonic state during KI. The findings add to theoretical understandings of factors that influence pacing during endurance activity. Consequently, recommendations to minimize the potentially deleterious effects of anticipated increases in task difficulty are provided.
Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Use of Antistaphylococcal Therapy in Children Hospitalized with Pneumonia
Authors: Frush Jennifer M. , Zhu Yuwei , Edwards Kathryn M. , Grijalva Carlos G. , Thomsen Isaac P. , Self Wesley H. , Jain Seema , Anderson Evan J. , Ampofo Krow , Pavia Andrew T. , Arnold Sandra R. , McCullers Jonathan A. , Williams Derek J.
Published: November 2018

Within a cohort of >2,000 children hospitalized with community‐acquired pneumonia, staphylococcal pneumonia was rare (1%) but associated with adverse in‐hospital outcomes. Despite this low prevalence, use of antistaphylococcal antibiotics was common (24%). Efforts are needed to minimize overuse of antistaphylococcal antibiotics while also ensuring adequate treatment for pathogen‐specific diseases.
Declining racial and ethnic representation in clinical academic medicine: A longitudinal study of 16 US medical specialties
Authors: Lett Elle , Orji Whitney U. , Sebro Ronnie
Published: November 2018

Objective

To evaluate trends in racial, ethnic, and sex representation at US medical schools across 16 specialties: internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, radiology, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, family practice, pathology, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and dermatology. Using a novel, Census-derived statistical measure of diversity, the S-score, we quantified the degree of underrepresentation for racial minority groups and female faculty by rank for assistant, associate, and full professors from 1990–2016.

Methods

This longitudinal study of faculty diversity uses data obtained from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Roster from US allopathic medical schools. The proportion of professors of racial minority groups and female faculty by rank was compared to the US population based on data from the US Census Bureau. The Roster includes data on 52,939 clinical medical faculty in 1990, and 129,545 in 2016, at the assistant professor level or higher.

The primary measure used in this study was the S-score, a measure of representation based on the probability of the observed frequency of faculty from a racial/ethnic group and sex, given the racial and ethnic distribution of the US. Pearson correlations and 95% confidence intervals for S-score with time were used to measure trends.

Results

Blacks and Hispanics showed statistically significant trends (p<0.05) towards increasing underrepresentation in most specialties and are more underrepresented in 2016 than in 1990 across all ranks and specialties analyzed, except for Black females in obstetrics & gynecology. White females were also underrepresented in many specialties and in a subset of specialties trended toward greater underrepresentation.

Conclusions

Current efforts to improve faculty diversity are inadequate in generating an academic physician workforce that represents the diversity of the US. More aggressive measures for faculty recruitment, retention, and promotion are necessary to reach equity in academia and healthcare.
Jia Zhangke and Chinese painting
Authors: Rist Peter
Published: November 2018

This essay begins by reflecting on earlier research and writing conducted by the author on the relationship between Song (Sung) Dynasty landscape paintings and Chinese films, including the Fifth Generation work of Chen Kaige. Rist argues that one can also find echoes of ancient Chinese landscape painting in the films of ‘Sixth Generation’ director Jia Zhangke, including Platform (2000), Still Life (2006) and Mountains May Depart (2015), while one can also find visual connections between Jia’s films and more contemporary art, including propaganda posters and the large mural painting of his friend, Liu Xiaodong. Rist asks the reader to also recognize that Jia was an art student before he studied film, when he became enamoured with ‘realism’. In recent years Jia has become extremely interested in ecological issues that can be aligned with his cinematic treatment of the landscape.
Mejora de la calidad de la energía con sistemas fotovoltaicos en las zonas rurales
Authors: Rodríguez Gámez Maria , Vázquez Pérez Antonio , Velez Quiroz Alcira Magdalena , Saltos Arauz Wilber Manuel
Published: November 2018

Se expone un análisis vinculado a una de las alternativas energéticas sostenibles que en la actualidad se está adoptando con éxito a nivel mundial con el fin de lograr el mejoramiento de la calidad del servicio eléctrico, ahorrar recursos naturales, reducir las pérdidas y contribuir en la disminución de las emisiones de CO2 a la atmósfera. Se muestran los resultados de un estudio relacionado con el uso de una innovación tecnológica para mejorar la calidad del servicio eléctrico en una comunidad aislada, mediante la introducción de tecnología fotovoltaica conectada a la red de baja tensión de un grupo de 20 viviendas que fueron estudiadas. Se muestran los resultados del estudio de carga y consumo horario de energía de las viviendas y se despliega una metodología propia para el diseño de la tecnología fotovoltaica conectada a la red de baja tensión de las viviendas estudiadas; este tiene el potencial de evitar el consumo de energía de la red convencional y la posibilidad de mejorar la calidad del servicio eléctrico, al tiempo que se reducen el monto de la factura eléctrica y las pérdidas.
Affective Diffusion Between Migrants and Inhabitants. Art Based on Migrant Movement
Authors: Dauksza Agnieszka
Published: November 2018

The main objective of this essay is to consider Polish perception of the 21st-century European movement of migration and analyse the literary and artistic representations of this experience through the examples of Jarosław Mikołajewski’s A Great Surge, Krzysztof Wodiczko’s Guests, Anna Konik’s In the Same City, Under the Same Sky and Margot Sputo’s Who Where?. I relate these works to the latest international art, including projects by Ai Weiwei, E. B. Itso, Giacomo Sferlazzo, and look for common denominators. I claim that the common feature of many artistic projects is the creation of a substitute for contact between the viewer and refugees, appealing to other senses than sight, especially to the sense of touch. These works do not attempt to represent the experience of migrants as individuals, but point to the experience of migration in its elemental aspect-matter and physical contact, exposure to destruction, dependence, intimacy, confrontation with others. What’s more, art based on migrant movement-referring to the imagined experience of direct contact with migrants or their belongings-bypasses the process of identification and empathy. Instead, it relies on affective transmission. I propose a category of affective diffusion as a process that can occur not only between sentient individuals but also as a result of the material aspect of art and the contact with the viewer. The inspiration to create the concept of affective diffusion is the relationship between migrants and inhabitants described by Jarosław Mikołajewski in his essay Wielki Przypływ [A Great Surge] which shows aspects of migration through Lampedusa Island. Many inhabitants who are asked about migrants show intensive emotions like anger, fear and xenophobia. But the testimonies of people who see the living and the dead day after day suggest that these emotions get weaker under the influence of physical contact. It seems that the moment of two bodies getting in touch undermines the frozen system of ideas and emotions, stimulates feelings, opens up a new, ambiguous potential for understanding. This is because expressive emotions lose their importance with the activation of affective transmission. This physical contact gives rise to changes in the economy of feeling, thinking and judging.
Insulin resistance in children with familial hyperlipidemia
Authors: Terlemez Semiha , Bozdemir Erkin , Kalkan Uçar Sema , Kabaroğlu Ceyda , Habif Sara , Kayıkçıoğlu Meral , Çoker Mahmut
Published: November 2018

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is insulin resistance in children with familial hyperlipidemia (FHL) and to determine the factors affecting insulin resistance.

Methods

Hyperlipidemic children aged between 4 and 18 years and followed up with an FHL diagnosis were included in the study. The children of adults followed up with an FHL diagnosis were also recruited after the screening period. The scanned children were divided into two groups as hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic. A total of 77 patients of whom 52 were hyperlipidemic and 25 were normolipidemic were assessed in the study. Insulin resistance was evaluated (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) by performing the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Results

Of the patients, 36 were male and 41 were female; the average age was 11.6±3.9 years, and the body mass index (BMI) was established to be 20.3±4.4. In hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic patients, the following were determined: fasting insulin: 10.6 (±0.89) μU/mL, 4.9 (±0.45) μU/mL (p=0.000); 2-h insulin: 28.7 (±12.7) μU/mL, 18.9 (±10.5) μU/mL (p=0.000); and HOMA-IR: 1.9 (±0.17), 0.86 (±0.7) (p=0.000). No relationship was identified between lipid profiles and insulin resistance. Nevertheless, there was a positive correlation between insulin resistance and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels (0.52), and a negative correlation was determined in carnitine levels (−0.64).

Conclusions

Insulin resistance was established to be higher in children with FHL compared to normolipidemic children. Insulin resistance was not related to lipid phenotypes, but to Apo B levels and carnitine levels. Insulin resistance should be a routine method of evaluation in the follow-up of children with FHL.
Doppler evaluation of the fetal pulmonary artery pressure
Authors: Sosa-Olavarria Alberto , Zurita-Peralta Jesús , Schenone Claudio V. , Schenone Mauro H. , Prieto Fernando
Published: November 2018

Background

The Doppler effect has allowed the characterization of several vessels in maternal-fetal circulation that have been used for practical purposes. Our review of the literature showed a paucity of information about fetal pulmonary artery pressure (FMPAP) and its behavior in regard to gestational age (GA). The objectives of the study were to evaluate a formula to calculate the main FMPAP and its correlation with GA.

Methods

A total of 337 fetuses without obvious pathology were studied prospectively using Doppler evaluation of the FMPAP. Using the fetal main pulmonary artery Doppler acceleration time (FMPAT), we obtained the FMPAP using the following formula: FMPAP=90 – (0.62×FMPAT). Regression analyses, Pearson’s bivariate correlation and paired sample t-test were used when appropriate.

Results

FMPAT increases while FMPAP decreases with GA. Pearson’s correlation coefficient for FMPAP and GA was −0.544 (P-value<0.001) and for FMPAT and GA was 0.556 (P-value<0.001). FMPAP and FMPAT were highly correlated (R=−0.972; P<0.001).

Conclusion

Pulmonary artery pressure in the fetus decreases with GA.
Chemogenetic Manipulations of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Reveal Multifaceted Roles in Cocaine Abuse
Authors: Mahler Stephen V. , Brodnik Zachary D. , Cox Brittney M. , Buchta William C. , Bentzley Brandon S. , Quintanilla Julian , Cope Zackary A. , Lin Edwin C. , Riedy Matthew D. , Scofield Michael D. , Messinger Justin , Ruiz Christina M. , Riegel Arthur C. , España Rodrigo A. , Aston-Jones Gary
Published: November 2018

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine (DA) neurons perform diverse functions in motivation and cognition, but their precise roles in addiction-related behaviors are still debated. Here, we targeted VTA DA neurons for bidirectional chemogenetic modulation during specific tests of cocaine reinforcement, demand, and relapse-related behaviors in male rats, querying the roles of DA neuron inhibitory and excitatory G-protein signaling in these processes. Designer receptor stimulation of Gqsignaling, but not Gssignaling, in DA neurons enhanced cocaine seeking via functionally distinct projections to forebrain limbic regions. In contrast, engaging inhibitory Gi/osignaling in DA neurons blunted the reinforcing and priming effects of cocaine, reduced stress-potentiated reinstatement, and altered behavioral strategies for cocaine seeking and taking. Results demonstrate that DA neurons play several distinct roles in cocaine seeking, depending on behavioral context, G-protein-signaling cascades, and DA neuron efferent targets, highlighting their multifaceted roles in addiction.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTG-protein-coupled receptors are crucial modulators of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neuron activity, but how this metabotropic signaling impacts the complex roles of dopamine in reward and addiction is poorly understood. Here, we bidirectionally modulate dopamine neuron G-protein signaling with DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) during a variety of cocaine-seeking behaviors, revealing nuanced, pathway-specific roles in cocaine reward, effortful seeking, and relapse-like behaviors. Gqand Gsstimulation activated dopamine neurons, but only Gqstimulation robustly enhanced cocaine seeking. Gi/oinhibitory signaling reduced some, but not all, types of cocaine seeking. Results show that VTA dopamine neurons modulate numerous distinct aspects of cocaine addiction- and relapse-related behaviors, and point to potential new approaches for intervening in these processes to treat addiction.
Individual Differences in Dopamine Are Associated with Reward Discounting in Clinical Groups But Not in Healthy Adults
Authors: Castrellon Jaime J. , Seaman Kendra L. , Crawford Jennifer L. , Young Jacob S. , Smith Christopher T. , Dang Linh C. , Hsu Ming , Cowan Ronald L. , Zald David H. , Samanez-Larkin Gregory R.
Published: November 2018

Some people are more willing to make immediate, risky, or costly reward-focused choices than others, which has been hypothesized to be associated with individual differences in dopamine (DA) function. In two studies using PET imaging, one empirical (Study 1:N= 144 males and females across 3 samples) and one meta-analytic (Study 2:N= 307 across 12 samples), we sought to characterize associations between individual differences in DA and time, probability, and physical effort discounting in human adults. Study 1 demonstrated that individual differences in DA D2-like receptors were not associated with time or probability discounting of monetary rewards in healthy humans, and associations with physical effort discounting were inconsistent across adults of different ages. Meta-analytic results for temporal discounting corroborated our empirical finding for minimal effect of DA measures on discounting in healthy individuals but suggested that associations between individual differences in DA and reward discounting depend on clinical features. Addictions were characterized by negative correlations between DA and discounting, but other clinical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, obesity, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, were characterized by positive correlations between DA and discounting. Together, the results suggest that trait differences in discounting in healthy adults do not appear to be strongly associated with individual differences in D2-like receptors. The difference in meta-analytic correlation effects between healthy controls and individuals with psychopathology suggests that individual difference findings related to DA and reward discounting in clinical samples may not be reliably generalized to healthy controls, and vice versa.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDecisions to forgo large rewards for smaller ones due to increasing time delays, uncertainty, or physical effort have been linked to differences in dopamine (DA) function, which is disrupted in some forms of psychopathology. It remains unclear whether alterations in DA function associated with psychopathology also extend to explaining associations between DA function and decision making in healthy individuals. We show that individual differences in DA D2 receptor availability are not consistently related to monetary discounting of time, probability, or physical effort in healthy individuals across a broad age range. By contrast, we suggest that psychopathology accounts for observed inconsistencies in the relationship between measures of DA function and reward discounting behavior.