bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ankyloglossia: Update on Trends in Diagnosis and Management in the United States, 2012‐2016
Authors: Wei Eric X. , Tunkel David , Boss Emily , Walsh Jonathan
Published: May 2020

Ankyloglossia, or “tongue‐tie,” refers to limited tongue mobility caused by a restrictive lingual frenulum. Previous studies have demonstrated rapid increases in diagnosis and treatment of ankyloglossia in the United States up to 2012. We performed an updated retrospective review of data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to evaluate trends in diagnosis of ankyloglossia and use of lingual frenotomy in the hospital setting. From 2012 to 2016, there was an 110.4% increase in reported diagnosis of ankyloglossia in the inpatient setting with similar increases in lingual frenotomy procedures. As seen previously, sex, type of insurance, median income ZIP code, and geographic region were associated with diagnosis of ankyloglossia. The observed trends from prior to 2012 have continued to increase, while unanswered questions about diagnostic criteria and about which infants should undergo frenotomy remain.
Euthyroid sick syndrome in paediatric and adult patients requiring extracorporeal circulatory support and the role of thyroid hormone supplementation: a review
Authors: Nistal-Nuño Beatriz
Published: May 2020

Non-thyroid disorders may modify thyroid hormone metabolism, resulting in an ‘euthyroid sick syndrome’. Studies determining the association of cardiopulmonary bypass to thyroid function showed changes in line with this euthyroid sick syndrome. In some cases, cardiovascular dysfunction after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is comparable to that noticed in hypothyroidism associated with low cardiac output and elevated systemic vascular resistance. Numerous lines of research have proposed that triiodothyronine can behave acutely as a positive inotropic and vasodilator agent. The aim of this review is to present an update on the current literature about in what clinical situations the use of thyroid supplementation during the perioperative period of extracorporeal circulation in the adult and paediatric populations may impact outcome to any appreciable degree. The contribution of thyroid function in patients undergoing a ventricular assist device implantation is additionally reviewed and future study directions are proposed. This is a narrative review, where the search strategy consisted on retrieving the articles through an extensive literature search performed using electronic databases from January 1978 up to September 2019. All controlled trials randomly allocating to perioperative thyroid hormone administration in children and adults undergoing extracorporeal circulation for cardiac surgery were considered. Thyroid hormone supplementation may be recommended particularly in selected paediatric sub-populations. There is currently no firm evidence regarding the benefits of routine use of thyroid hormone administration in cardiac adult patients. Further studies are required to assess the beneficial effect of thyroid hormone on patients with end-stage heart failure supported by ventricular assist devices.
Hypoxia induces de novo formation of cerebral collaterals and lessens the severity of ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhang Hua , Rzechorzek Wojciech , Aghajanian Amir , Faber James E
Published: May 2020

Pial collaterals provide protection in stroke. Evidence suggests their formation late during gestation (collaterogenesis) is driven by reduced oxygen levels in the cerebral watersheds. The purpose of this study was to determine if collaterogenesis can be re-activated in the adult to induce formation of additional collaterals (“neo-collateral formation”, NCF). Mice were gradually acclimated to reduced inspired oxygen (FIO2) and maintained at 12, 10, 8.5 or 7% for two-to-eight weeks. Hypoxemia induced “dose”-dependent NCF and remodeling of native collaterals, and decreased infarct volume after permanent MCA occlusion. In contrast, no formation occurred of addition collateral-like intra-tree anastomoses, PComs, or branches within the MCA tree. Hypoxic NCF, remodeling and infarct protection were durable, i.e. retained for at least six weeks after return to normoxia. Hypoxia increased expression of Hif2α, Vegfa, Rabep2, Angpt2, Tie2 and Cxcr4. Neo-collateral formation was abolished in mice lacking Rabep2, a novel gene involved in VEGFA→Flk1 signaling and required for formation of collaterals during development, and inhibited by knockdown of Vegfa, Flk1 and Cxcr4. Rabep2-dependent NCF was also induced by permanent MCA occlusion. This is the first report that hypoxia induces new pial collaterals to form. Hypoxia- and occlusion-induced neo-collateral formation provide models to study collaterogenesis in the adult.
Social Anxiety-Impulsivity Subgroups and Links to Later Emotional Adjustment in Adolescence: A Latent Transition Analysis
Authors: Van Zalk Nejra , Tillfors Maria , Mörtberg Ewa
Published: May 2020

A growing body of research has acknowledged the heterogeneity of subclinical social anxiety, identifying a subgroup of individuals who exhibit high levels of impulsivity. In a sample of Swedish early adolescents ( N = 2,509, Mage = 13.64; 52.8% girls), we conducted latent transition analyses (LTA) to identify four classes of subclinical social anxiety-impulsivity across three time points. We identified a Low Social Anxiety-Low Impulsivity class, as well as a High Anxiety-High Impulsivity class for girls and boys, which had high levels of Time-4 internalizing problems. The latter class was less stable but larger for boys. There was also a more typical High Anxiety-Low Impulsivity class for both genders. Nevertheless, Low Anxiety-High Impulsivity girls and boys fared the worst in terms of both internalizing and externalizing problems later on. To our knowledge, this is the first study to adopt an LTA framework to investigate trajectories of early adolescent social anxiety-impulsivity over time.
Patient and Cardiologist Perspectives on Shared Decision Making in the Treatment of Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Grant Eleonore V. , Summapund Jenny , Matlock Daniel D. , Vaughan Dickson Victoria , Iqbal Sohah , Patel Sonal , Katz Stuart D. , Chaudhry Sarwat I. , Dodson John A.
Published: May 2020

Background. Medical and interventional therapies for older adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) reduce mortality and improve outcomes in selected patients, but there are also risks associated with treatments. Shared decision making (SDM) may be useful in the management of such patients, but to date, patients’ and cardiologists’ perspectives on SDM in the setting of AMI remain poorly understood. Accordingly, we performed a qualitative study eliciting patients’ and cardiologists’ perceptions of SDM in this scenario. Methods. We conducted 20 in-depth, semistructured interviews with older patients (age ≥70) post-AMI and 20 interviews with cardiologists. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using ATLAS.ti. Two investigators independently coded transcripts using the constant comparative method, and an integrative, team-based process was used to identify themes. Results. Six major themes emerged: 1) patients felt their only choice was to undergo an invasive procedure; 2) patients placed a high level of trust and gratitude toward physicians; 3) patients wanted to be more informed about the procedures they underwent; 4) for cardiologists, patients’ age was not a major contraindication to intervention, while cognitive impairment and functional limitation were; 5) while cardiologists intuitively understood the concept of SDM, interpretations varied; and 6) cardiologists considered SDM to be useful in the setting of non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) but not ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Conclusions. Patients viewed intervention as “the only choice,” whereas cardiologists saw a need for balancing risks and benefits in treating older adults post-NSTEMI. This discrepancy implies there is room to improve communication of risks and benefits to older patients. A decision aid informed by the needs of older adults could help to better convey patient-specific risk and increase choice awareness.
Decision Aid Implementation among Left Ventricular Assist Device Programs Participating in the DECIDE-LVAD Stepped-Wedge Trial
Authors: Matlock Daniel D. , McIlvennan Colleen K. , Thompson Jocelyn S. , Morris Megan A. , Venechuk Grace , Dunlay Shannon M. , LaRue Shane J. , Lewis Eldrin F. , Patel Chetan B. , Blue Laura , Chaussee Erin L. , Glasgow Russell E. , Walsh Mary Norine , Allen Larry A.
Published: May 2020

Background. Despite demonstrated efficacy, patient decision aids (DAs) are rarely used in clinical practice in the absence of coverage mandates. Deciding whether to pursue a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a major, preference-sensitive decision—ideal for exploring implementation of a DA. Methods. We conducted a type II effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial at 6 LVAD programs using a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized design. Using the RE-AIM framework, we collected both quantitative and qualitative outcomes, including a checklist collected by study staff for each enrolled patient regarding DA use and interviews with LVAD program clinicians preintervention, 6 months postintervention, and at the conclusion of the study. Results. From June 2015 to January 2017, 248 patients and their caregivers were enrolled. A total of 69 interviews were conducted with 48 clinicians at 3 time points. The DA reached 95% of eligible patients. Adoption was 100%, as all sites approached agreed to participate in the trial. Interviews revealed several themes related to the implementation of the DA: clinicians had a strong desire to ensure patients were informed and embraced the DA. Despite this, they reported communication challenges among their team that impeded implementation. Five of the 6 sites have maintained use of the DA following the trial; 1 site reported concerns about decreased procedural volume with use of the DA as a reason for discontinuation. Conclusions. In this hybrid trial, a DA for patients considering LVADs and their caregivers demonstrated high reach. Adoption and implementation were facilitated by a strong desire to ensure that patients were well informed. Future dissemination research and practice should attend to concerns about procedure volume and coverage mandates and facilitate ongoing communication at sites using the DA.
Effect of vertical cut on coronal coverage and rotation of tibial component in Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Authors: Gao Guanghan , Li Zheng , Wang Yannong , Yang Guangzhong , Huang Jiang , An Shuai , Qiao Junjie , Cao Guanglei
Published: May 2020

Objective

This study was performed to investigate the influence of a standard Oxford vertical cut on the coronal coverage and rotation of the tibial component and determine whether a relationship exists between coverage and rotation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 71 patients with anteromedial osteoarthritis of the knee treated by Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in one center from October 2016 to October 2017. The distance of coronal coverage was measured on a postoperative anteroposterior view of the tibial component. Two different reference lines between the lateral wall of the tibial component were defined as rotation angle α and β, respectively, on a computed tomography scan.

Results

The mean distance was 0.3 ± 1.1 mm. The mean angle α and β were 5.7° ± 4.6° and 8.4° ± 4.6°, respectively. There were no significant differences in the distance according to the tibial component rotation or in the α and β angles according to the coronal coverage. No significant correlation was found between the α and β angles and the distance.

Conclusion

A standard tibial vertical cut caused various changes in coronal coverage and rotation of the tibial component. The rotation of the tibial component did not affect coverage within a certain range.
Clinical features and prognostic factors in patients with bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wu Xiao-Tian , Zhou Jian-Wei , Pan Long-Ci , Ge Ting
Published: May 2020

Objective

To investigate the clinical features and evaluate the prognostic factors in patients with bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 356 patients with NSCLC with bone metastases from January 2012 to December 2017. The overall survival (OS) and 1-year survival rate were calculated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared by univariate analysis using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

A total of 694 sites of bone metastases were determined among the 356 patients. The most common site of bone metastases was the ribs. The median OS was 12.5 months and the 1-year survival was 50.8% in the overall population. Univariate analysis revealed that histological type, number of bone metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), bisphosphonate therapy, and serum calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified multiple bone metastases, ECOG PS ≥2, lactate dehydrogenase ≥225 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase ≥140 U/L as independent negative prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Multiple bone metastases, high ECOG PS, and high serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase are independent negative prognostic factors for bone metastases from NSCLC.
Assembling airspace: The Single European Sky and contested transnationalities of European air traffic management
Authors: Lawless Christopher
Published: May 2020

The Single European Sky (SES) encompasses a series of legislative and regulatory measures reflecting a vision for reforming Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Europe to ultimately transcend national control of airspace. This article considers SES via the conceptual framing of the sociotechnical imaginary, and finds that the embedded, distributed and interpretive character of European ATM invites further conceptualization around how actors may need to engage with infrastructural imaginaries. How is an imaginary perceived and interpreted across its spatial reach? How do the standpoints, interests and interpretations of different groups embedded within infrastructural space play a role in the construction of that spatiality and envisioned territorial assemblages? Do these standpoints and interpretations extend to the perceived imaginings of others, and what might this imply for how sociotechnical imaginaries and spatialities are co-produced? The article outlines the history of European ATM through to the current status of SES. By describing contested negotiations involving the European Union, Eurocontrol, state bodies and organized labour, SES is used as a case study to demonstrate how relations between national sovereignty and transnational governance can be imagined in different ways through ATM. The article identifies a series of interactions and tensions between interpretations of SES, involving instances of perceived appropriation by some stakeholders on the part of others and concerns over emergent risks and uncertainties. The study identifies how relations and interpretations between stakeholders, states and transnational bodies shape and are shaped by the discursive and material projection of assemblages of technology, data, space and political rationality. These projections map European airspace in different ways. Negotiating the SES imaginary has entailed a politics of suspicion and risk that reflects a certain instantiation of interpretive flexibility, involving concerns over how SES is imagined by others.
A Qualitative Approach to Understanding the Relationship Between Mothers’ and Daughters’ Body Image and Physical Activity Levels
Authors: Walters Kellie , Chard Christine , Anderson Denise
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the physical activity behaviors and body image of adolescent girls and their mothers. Adolescent girls ( N = 44) and their mothers ( N = 19) were recruited from three middle schools (two Colorado and one South Carolina). Girls qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches comprised 53% (South Carolina), 32% (Colorado), and 39% (Colorado) of participants. Focus groups with questions pertaining to body image and physical activity were conducted with daughters and mothers. The study was approved by the first author’s Institutional Review Board. Data were assessed using the five-step framework analysis. A thematic framework was identified, quotes were divided under the thematic content, and results were then interpreted by analyzing links among the whole data set. Four themes and eight subthemes emerged: (1) complex communication, with subthemes of daughter’s frustration and mother’s confusion, (2) societal expectations of women, with subthemes of social networks and women’s bodies, (3) high prevalence of social comparison, with subthemes of mother/daughter comparison and peer comparison, and (4) daughters’ awareness of mother’s health behaviors, with subthemes of weight loss and physical activity. Interventions aimed at improving adolescent girls’ health should include support for mothers as well as a psychosocial health and a mother’s educational component.
An improved method for assessing environmental impacts caused by chemical pollutants: A case study in textiles production
Authors: Tian Zejun , Yang Yiduo , Wang Laili
Published: May 2020

The use of chemicals in the textile industry has been widely investigated. This study used an improved method with the USEtox model to assess the environmental impacts of chemical pollutants discharged by the textile industry. The environmental impacts attributed to the discharged chemical pollutants were ranked using a quantity analysis method and a toxicity analysis method. The rankings of the two methods were compared by calculating Spearman’s correlation coefficients and outliers. The results showed that the human health and ecological hazards potential were mainly caused by heavy metals. The rankings of the environmental impacts calculated with the quantity analysis method were different from those calculated with the toxicity analysis method. Cadmium, hexachlorobenzene and mercury caused severe human and ecological hazards with a small volume of emissions. Zinc and hexavalent chromium were highly toxic chemical pollutants, which could cause severe human health and ecological hazards potential. These five kinds of chemical pollutants should be preferentially controlled to mitigate the environmental impacts caused by chemical pollutants discharged from the textile industry.
Application of rare earth-doped nanoparticles in biological imaging and tumor treatment
Authors: Fan Qi , Cui Xiaoxia , Guo Haitao , Xu Yantao , Zhang Guangwei , Peng Bo
Published: May 2020

Rare earth-doped nanoparticles have been widely used in disease diagnosis, drug delivery, tumor therapy, and bioimaging. Among various bioimaging methods, the fluorescence imaging technology based on the rare earth-doped nanoparticles can visually display the cell activity and lesion evolution in living animals, which is a powerful tool in biological technology and has being widely applied in medical and biological fields. Especially in the band of near infrared (700–1700 nm), the emissions show the characteristics of deep penetration due to low absorption, low photon scattering, and low autofluorescence interference. Furthermore, the rare earth-doped nanoparticles can be endowed with the water solubility, biocompatibility, drug-loading ability, and the targeting ability for different tumors by surface functionalization. This confirms its potential in the cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in the application of rare earth-doped nanoparticles in the field of bioimaging and tumor treatment. The luminescent mechanism, properties, and structure design were also discussed.
Explaining Support for Muslim Feminism in the Arab Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Glas Saskia , Alexander Amy
Published: May 2020

Public debates depict Arabs as opposed to gender equality because of Islam. However, there may be substantial numbers of Arab Muslims who do support feminist issues and who do so while being highly attached to Islam. This study explains why certain Arabs support feminism while remaining strongly religious (“Muslim feminists”). We propose that some Arab citizens are more likely to subvert patriarchal norms, especially in societies that construct Islam and feminism as more compatible. Empirically, we apply three-level multinomial analyses to 51 Arab Barometer and World Values Surveys, which include 57,000 Arab Muslims. Our results show that one in four Arab Muslims supports Muslim feminism—far more than those who support a more secularist version of feminism. Employed women, single people, people who distrust institutions, and more highly educated people support Muslim feminism more than do others—especially in societies that construct feminism and Islam as less contradictory, such as those with strong feminist movements. The presumption that Islam and feminism are necessarily opposed may hinder feminism. A more effective way to boost gender equality in the Arab region may be to embolden emancipatory religious interpretations.
Single-dwell treatment with a low-sodium solution in hypertensive peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Davies Simon , Haraldsson Börje , Vrtovsnik François , Schwenger Vedat , Fan Stanley , Klein Alexandre , Atiye Saynab , Gauly Adelheid
Published: May 2020

Background:

Patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) may suffer from sodium (Na) and fluid overload, hypertension and increased cardiovascular risk. Low-Na dialysis solution, by increasing the diffusive removal of Na, might improve blood pressure (BP) management.

Methods:

A glucose-compensated, low-Na PD solution (112 mmol/L Na and 2% glucose) was compared to a standard-Na solution (133 mmol/L Na and 1.5% glucose) in a prospective, randomised, single-blind study in hypertensive patients on PD. One daily exchange of the standard dialysis regimen was substituted by either of the study solutions for 6 months. The primary outcome (response) was defined as either a decrease of 24-h systolic BP (SBP) by ≥6 mmHg or a fall in BP requiring a medical intervention (e.g. a reduction of antihypertensive medication) at 8 weeks.

Results:

One hundred twenty-three patients were assessed for efficacy. Response criteria were achieved in 34.5% and 29.1% of patients using low- and standard-Na solutions, respectively ( p = 0.51). Small reductions in 24 h, office, and self-measured BP were observed, more marked with low-Na than with standard-Na solution, but only the between-group difference for self-measured SBP and diastolic BP was significant ( p = 0.002 and p = 0.003). Total body water decreased in the low-Na group and increased in the control group, but between-group differences were not significant. Hypotension and dizziness occurred in 27.0% and in 11.1% of patients in the low-Na group and in 16.9% and 4.6% in the control group, respectively.

Conclusions:

Superiority of low-Na PD solution over standard-Na solution for control of BP could not be shown. The once daily use of a low-Na PD solution was associated with more hypotensive episodes, suggesting the need to reassess the overall concept of how Na-reduced solutions might be incorporated within the treatment schedule.
Salvation of peritoneal dialysis catheter potency by using an angiographic guidewire
Authors: Kimura Takahide , Yokoyama Takeshi , Yamada Seiki , Tanemoto Masayuki
Published: May 2020

Catheter obstruction is a major cause of dialysate flow problems in peritoneal dialysis (PD). It will lead to PD technique failure, when its conservative management such as vigorous instillation of dialysate occasionally fails to salvage the catheter potency. In this report, we present two cases of catheter obstruction caused by intraluminal clots of PD catheter. The clots, which could not be removed by the conservative management, were removed by a new technique using an angiographic guidewire. The technique could be an option to resolve PD catheter obstruction.
A methodology for calculating limit deceleration of flexible hoisting system: A case study of mine hoist
Authors: Huang Jiahai , Luo Caixiu , Yu Pei , Hao Huimin
Published: May 2020

Mine hoist is a typical flexible lifting system. Due to the cable flexibility, the system is prone to severe shocks and even slippage during emergency braking. To establish a safe emergency braking operation for mine hoist, retarded velocity should be less than the limit deceleration value. The simplified mathematical model shows that the system dynamic response along the longitudinal axis of the wire rope (longitudinal dynamics) is a typical second-order underdamped one. Due to the inherent characteristics of the flexible lifting system, the longitudinal dynamic response under slippage condition exhibits the following characteristics: the response curve deviates from the input signal, that is, the retarded velocities of cable and pulley at their contact points are no longer equal. Based on this finding, deceleration deviation coefficient is defined to normalize the longitudinal response curves, which can help us to determine the extent to which the output signal deviates from the input one; and the sudden increase in the deceleration deviation coefficient is considered as an indicator of rope slippage during emergency braking. The proposed scheme is verified and evaluated by means of simulation model. Subsequent results indicate that the limit deceleration valves obtained by the proposed approach have the same trend and magnitude as those obtained by conventional one, which illustrates that the proposed methodology is feasible. The advantage of the proposed approach is that the solution for each set of operating parameter is unique and certain. As for the conventional approach, the solution is not unique because of the introduction of safety factor, which will cause some trouble to the user. In subsequent work, a test bench will be set up to verify and optimize the proposed scheme.
Coupled dynamic analysis of low and medium speed maglev vehicle-bridge interaction using SIMPACK
Authors: Hu Junxiong , Ma Weihua , Luo Shihui
Published: May 2020

The low- and medium-speed maglev vehicle generally operates on elevated bridges with a levitation gap of only 8--10 mm, which makes it very sensitive to the vehicle--bridge coupled vibration. To conduct the corresponding modeling and simulation with common dynamics tools, an equivalent processing of the levitation system is required. Using the dynamics software SIMPACK, this paper first introduces the methods of building the multi-body vehicle system, levitation control system and the elastic bridge, respectively, in the SIMPACK railway module, levitation control module and SIMBEAM elastomer module, thus providing a modeling idea for the simulation of the active levitation and operation of low- and medium-speed maglev vehicles through multi-span bridges. It then goes on to simulate and analyze the coupled vibration of a 160 km/h low- and medium-speed maglev vehicle passing through 25 m + 25 m double-span continuous bridges. The research results show that the modeling method introduced in this paper can simulate the low- and medium-speed maglev vehicle--bridge coupled vibration phenomenon, which can be affected significantly by the low-order frequency of the elastic bridge, and can also be intensified under the bridge end impact when the vehicle enters and leaves the bridge. As the running speed of the vehicle increases and the dynamic force increases, the vertical vibration amplitudes of the elastic bridge mid-span, the car body as well as the levitation frame approximate a linear fitting with the vehicle speed. The variation amplitudes of the levitation gap and of the electromagnet current approximate a quadratic fitting with the vehicle speed.
Performance evaluation of bilayer oxidized regenerated cellulose/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composites for dural substitution
Authors: Hemstapat Ruedee , Suvannapruk Waraporn , Thammarakcharoen Faungchat , Chumnanvej Sorayouth , Suwanprateeb Jintamai
Published: May 2020

Ideally, alloplastic dural substitute should have functional properties resembling human dura mater and retain a watertight closure to prevent cerebrospinal leakage. Therefore, functional properties for successful dural closure application of newly developed bilayer oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composites were studied and compared with human cadaveric dura mater and three commercial dural substitutes including two collagen matrices and one synthetic poly-L-lactide patch. It was found that oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composites uniquely contained a bilayer structure consisting of micropores distributed within the relatively dense microstructure. Density, tensile properties and stitch tear strength of oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composites were found to be closed to human cadaveric dura mater than those of dense-type and porous-type dural substitutes. Water tightness performance in both sutured and non-sutured forms of oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composites was slightly inferior to human cadaveric dura mater, but still better than those of commercial dural substitutes. This study revealed that oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composite showed better functional properties than typical dural substitutes and was found to be a good candidate for being employed as a dural substitute. The role and relationship of both microstructure and the type of materials on the functional properties and water tightness of the dural substitutes were also elucidated.
Study on statics and fatigue analysis of dental implants in the descending process of alveolar bone level
Authors: Zhang Xuetao , Mao Jian , Zhou Yufeng , Ji Fangqiu , Chen Xianshuai
Published: May 2020

Alveolar bone atrophy can directly cause a decrease in bone level. The effect of this process on the service life of dental implants is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the failure forms of the two-piece dental implants in the descending process of alveolar bone level, and the specific states of the components during the failure process. The CAD software SolidWorks was used to establish the model of alveolar bone and dental implants in this article. The finite element analysis was used to analyze the statics of the dental implants in the host oral model. The finite element analysis results showed that the stress concentration point of the implant and abutment in the implant system has changed greatly during the descending process of alveolar bone level, and indirectly increased the fatigue life of the same fatigue risk point. At the same time, the dental implants were tested in vitro in the descending process of alveolar bone level. Then, the fracture of the implant system was scanned by scanning electron microscope. The fatigue test results proved the finite element analysis hypothesis the central screw first fractured under fatigue and then caused an overload break of the implant and abutment.
Recontextualisation of Beijing’s voice: A critical discourse analysis of hegemony and resistance in Hong Kong political discourse
Authors: Wing-Chun Ng Toby
Published: May 2020

This study adopts critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine the recontextualisation of Beijing’s voice in Hong Kong’s governance. Using Beijing’s interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law in 2016, which triggered a by-election in 2018, as the case, this article analyses two texts produced by two social actors: the press conference in response to Beijing’s interpretation by the Hong Kong government and an election flyer by a pro-democracy candidate, complemented by a corpus analysis of pro-Beijing newspapers reporting the incident. The findings show that the local government drew upon Beijing’s voice to help create a dominant representation of the Beijing–Hong Kong relations and thus hegemonised Hong Kong political discourse which influenced other social domains, such as newspapers and elections. The pro-democracy camp, as the resistance to the hegemony, drew upon Beijing’s voice to create an alternative representation to secure votes during the by-election. This article then proposes a model which could comprehend Beijing’s role in Hong Kong’s political events, of creating and perpetuating the tension between the hegemony and resistance in Hong Kong.
A first empirical analysis of population stability in North America using radiocarbon records
Authors: Bird Darcy , Freeman Jacob , Robinson Erick , Maughan Gideon , Finley Judson Byrd , Lambert Patricia M , Kelly Robert L
Published: May 2020

Questions regarding population stability among animals and plants are fundamental to population ecology, yet this has not been a topic studied by archeologists focusing on prehistoric human populations. This is an important knowledge gap. The fluctuation of human populations over decades to centuries – population instability – may constrain the expansion of human economies. A first step toward describing basic patterns of population stability would be to identify sizes of fluctuations through time, since smaller fluctuations are more stable than larger fluctuations. We conduct a biogeographic analysis of the long-term stability of human societies in North America using a continental scale radiocarbon dataset. Our analysis compares the stability of summed calibrated radiocarbon date probability distributions (SPDs) with subsistence strategies and modeled climate stability between 6000 and 300 BP. This coarse-grained analysis reveals general trends regarding the stability of human systems in North America that future studies may build upon. Our results demonstrate that agricultural sequences have more stable SPDs than hunter-gatherer sequences in general, but agricultural sequences also experience rare, extreme increases and decreases in SPDs not seen among hunter-gatherers. We propose that the adoption of agriculture has the unintended consequence of increasing population density and stability over most time scales, but also increases the vulnerability of populations to large, rare changes. Conversely, hunter-gatherer systems remain flexible and less vulnerable to large population changes. Climate stability may have an indirect effect on long-term population stability, and climate shocks may be buffered by other aspects of subsistence strategies prior to affecting human demography.
Evaluation of Strategies Aimed at Improving Liver Progenitor Cell Rolling and Subsequent Adhesion to the Endothelium
Authors: Dollet Pierre Edouard , Hsu Mei Ju , Ambroise Jérôme , Rozzi Milena , Ravau Joachim , André Floriane , Evraerts Jonathan , Najimi Mustapha , Sokal Etienne , Lombard Catherine
Published: May 2020

Adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells (ADHLSCs) are a promising alternative to orthotopic liver transplantation in the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism. However, as is the case with many mesenchymal stromal cells, ADHLSCs have shown a low level of engraftment, which could be explained by the fact that they lack expression of selectin ligand and LFA-1 and only slightly express VLA- 4, molecules that have been shown to be involved in cell adhesion to the endothelium. In this paper, we have investigated strategies to increase their rolling and adhesion during the homing process by (1) adding a selectin ligand (Sialyl Lewis X) to their surface using biotinyl- N-hydroxy-succinimide–streptavidin bridges, and (2) protecting the adhesion proteins from trypsinization-induced damage using a thermosensitive polymer for cell culture and a nonenzymatic cell dissociation solution (CDS) for harvest. Despite increasing adhesion of ADHLSCs to E-selectin during an adhesion test in vitro performed under shear stress, the addition of Sialyl Lewis X did not increase adhesion to endothelial cells under the same conditions. Cultivating cells on a thermosensitive polymer and harvesting them with CDS increased their adhesion to endothelial cells under noninflammatory conditions, compared to the use of trypsin. However, we were not able to demonstrate any improvement in cell adhesion to the endothelium following culture on polymer and harvest with CDS, suggesting that alternative methods of improving engraftment still need to be evaluated.
Emotion Goals in Psychopathology: A New Perspective on Dysfunctional Emotion Regulation
Authors: Millgram Yael , Huppert Jonathan D. , Tamir Maya
Published: May 2020

Emotion-regulation deficits characterize many psychiatric disorders. To understand such deficits, researchers have focused on emotion-regulation strategies. Building on a motivational approach to emotion regulation, we suggest that to understand emotion regulation in psychopathology, it is necessary to also focus on emotion goals (i.e., what people want to feel). Emotion goals shape whether, when, and how people regulate emotions. Therefore, emotion-regulation deficits might emerge as a function of the emotion goals pursued. Initial research suggests that individuals struggling with psychopathology differ from individuals without psychopathology in how much they want to feel certain emotions and that such differences carry implications for emotion regulation and mental health. In this article, we review this empirical evidence, discuss how research on emotion goals can inform clinical theories and practice, and highlight promising future directions.
A developed understanding of the beneficiary’s interest in commercial trusts through a comparative study of Chinese law
Authors: Zhang Ruiqiao
Published: May 2020

Trusts have existed for centuries, while societies and economies have developed in the intervening years. This requires renovations, or new judicial interpretations, of what a trust is in order to adapt it to modern circumstances. Based on a discussion about the theoretical basis for the research – the new role of trusts in a commercial context and the essence of the trust – the author provides a developed understanding of the beneficiary’s interest to adjust the traditional trust notions to meet the demands of commercial practices. She argues that, based on a case study of Chinese law, a beneficiary’s right can be explained as a special personal claim consisting of three parts: the main claim (personal claims), appurtenant rights (rights of supervision) and security rights (rights of revocation). The theory of beneficiary’s special personal claim provides a more unified and comprehensive understanding of the nature of the beneficiary’s interest, particularly in newly developed commercial trusts.
The Role of Suppressing Inflammation in the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Roman Yuani M. , Hernandez Adrian V. , White C. Michael
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To review the 3 anti-inflammatory drugs, canakinumab, colchicine, and methotrexate, that have been investigated in major clinical trials for treating patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Data Sources:

An Ovid MEDLINE literature search (1946 to February 2, 2020) was performed using search strategy [( C-reactive protein OR ASCVD OR cardiac disease OR cardiovascular disease) AND (canakinumab OR methotrexate OR Colchicine)]. Additional references were identified from the citations.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

English-language studies assessing the impact of these 3 drugs on inflammation as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) or the association with reducing ASCVD events were included.

Data Synthesis:

Canakinumab and colchicine significantly reduced ASCVD events in high-risk patients with median baseline hs-CRP levels of ~4.0 mg/L. Methotrexate was ineffective at reducing ASCVD events in high-risk patients, but their baseline hs-CRP concentrations were a median of <2 mg/L. In subgroup analyses of the Canakinumab Antiinflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study (CANTOS), patients whose baseline hs-CRP was 2 to 4 mg/L had benefits from canakinumab therapy similar to those with baseline levels exceeding 4.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

Even with the best current drug therapies, patients with underlying inflammation can benefit from the addition of both colchicine and canakinumab to further lower CV events. Given its cost, colchicine is a more attractive option.

Conclusions:

Patients at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease events with an hs-CRP of 2 mg/L or greater can reduce the occurrence of ASCVD events with canakinumab or colchicine therapy. Colchicine is the preferable option, in particular for those with myocardial infarction, given its more reasonable cost.
Private Contracting and Citizen Attitudes Toward Local Government
Authors: Dawkins Ryan
Published: May 2020

Lawmakers use privatized service delivery to simultaneously maintain low taxes while also satisfying citizen demands for high-quality public goods and services. However, what effect does private contracting have on people’s attitudes toward local government? I design a survey experiment that tests how public–private collaborations alter how people attribute responsibility to government for the successes and failures of the delivery of goods and services. I show that private contracting makes it less likely that people will connect public services to government, which erodes their evaluations of government performance and the feeling that local government represents their interests. Moreover, I show that citizens are also more likely to blame local government for private service delivery failures than they are to praise it for private service delivery successes. This asymmetry in responsibility attribution makes it difficult for local governments to build support among its citizens when it relies on private contracting.
Clinical course of COVID-19 infection in elderly patient with melanoma on nivolumab
Authors: Yekedüz Emre , Dursun Bengü , Aydın Güle Ç , Yazgan Satı C , Öztürk Halis H , Azap Alpay , Utkan Güngör , Ürün Yüksel
Published: May 2020

Outbreak of the new type coronavirus infection, known as coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), has begun in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. As of today, 3 April 2020, 972,640 people affected and 50,325 people died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2. There is not any standard treatment for coronavirus infection 2019; however, there are promising data for hydroxychloroquine and some anti-retroviral drugs. Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PDL-1) pathway is an important target for the cancer immunotherapy. However, there is a robust pre-clinical and clinical data regarding inhibitor effect of this pathway on the acute or chronic viral infections. Thus, blockade of this pathway may lead to an anti-viral effect and decrease viral load. Here, we report the clinical course of coronavirus infection 2019 infection of a patient in whom older aged, having multiple co-morbidities, and taking nivolumab for metastatic malignant melanoma. In contrast to her older age, comorbidities, and cancer diagnosis, she was in a good condition, and there was also no pneumonia finding. We think that this good clinical course of coronavirus infection 2019 infection may be related to blockade of PD-1/PDL-1 pathway with nivolumab. It is impossible to say that blockade of PD-1/PDL-1pathway is a treatment option for COVID-19; however, we want to share our experience.
Comparative effectiveness of second-line ipilimumab vs. nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma who received frontline anti-PD-1 antibodies
Authors: Baron Kelsey , Moser Justin C , Patel Shiven , Grossmann Kenneth F , Colonna Sarah V , Hyngstrom John R
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Anti-PD-1 antibodies are commonly used as frontline therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma. Although these medications can cause long term responses, a significant number of patients will not respond or will lose response. Optimal second-line therapy after losing response to anti-PD-1 antibodies is not well established. Therefore, we retrospectively compared the overall survival of patients who lost response to anti-PD1 antibodies between patients treated with single agent ipilimumab or ipilimumab and nivolumab.

Methods

A de-identified U.S. nationwide electronic health record-derived database was reviewed for patients with advanced melanoma treated with single agent anti-PD1 antibodies in the frontline setting and who subsequently received second-line ipilimumab or combination ipilimumab and nivolumab. Overall survival from initiation of second-line therapy was compared using Kaplan Meier curves and log-rank analysis. Other known prognostic markers for melanoma were analyzed for correlation with survival in a similar fashion. Disease characteristics between the two groups were compared using chi-square analysis.

Results

A total of 842 patients with advanced melanoma who received frontline anti-PD-1 antibodies were included for analysis. Of these, 57 received either ipilimumab ( n = 22) or ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab ( n = 35) in the second-line setting. Median survival from second-line therapy initiation for those treated with ipilimumab alone was 6 months and was 5.6 months for those treated with combination ipilimumab and anti-PD-1 antibodies, p = 0.81.

Conclusions

In this small, retrospective analysis, for patients who lost response to frontline anti-PD-1 therapy, patients treated with ipilimumab had similar survival to those who received ipilimumab in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies.
Enabling Legal Environment for Meeting the Rational Nexus Principle: Insights From the Use of Development Charges in India
Authors: Mathur Shishir
Published: May 2020

Globally, governments at all levels—national to local—are fiscally constrained, especially in the developing countries of the Global South (Africa, Latin and Central America, and the developing countries of Asia). One such country is India, which is also experiencing rapid growth in urban populations and is seeking additional revenues from public finance sources, such as development charges. In India, these charges need to meet the rational nexus principle to be legally robust. Through a review of India’s state-level enabling legislation, this article seeks to identify ways in which the enabling legal framework for development charges can promote or hamper the rational nexus principle. Finally, this article provides insights that can help jurisdictions in India, and potentially in other Global South countries, craft or amend enabling legislation so that such legislation can withstand rational nexus principle–related legal challenges.