bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different scalar terms are affected by face differently
Authors: Terkourafi Marina , Weissman Benjamin , Roy Joseph
Published: February 2020

Research on the effect of face-orientation on scalar implicatures has claimed that face-threatening contexts are one type of context in which scalar implicatures are not warranted. However, that research has been based on the two staples of scalar implicature research, some and or. Given research on scalar diversity has shown that these terms are rather exceptional in inducing high rates of scalar implicatures, we believe it is time for a reassessment. We explored the relationship between scalar implicatures and face concerns by means of an experiment involving eight types of scalar terms in face-boosting and face-threatening contexts. While our results showed that some and or reliably tended to induce scalar implicatures in both types of contexts, confirming the findings of scalar diversity research in this respect, we failed to replicate previous findings that face-threatening contexts do not induce scalar implicatures. We discuss reasons for these findings and how face concerns should be implemented for future experimentation in this vein.
The Evolution of National Security at the Interface Between Domestic and International Investment Law and Policy: The Role of China
Authors: Knight Lizzie , Voon Tania
Published: February 2020

As China’s economy grows and the global economy increasingly digitalises, security takes on heightened significance. Security exceptions exist in numerous investment agreements and domestic regulatory frameworks for reviewing foreign investments. These reviews have shifted to focus on China, particularly for investments involving data. Continued expansion of security as a basis for rejecting investment applications threatens economic integration, while allowing international tribunals to review these decisions by ruling on this exception may be counterproductive. Alternatives exist at domestic and international levels. Domestically, a focus on evidence-based assessments and the imposition of conditions may mitigate security concerns. International guidelines and principles are already established to assist investors and investment agencies. Further international rule reform may allow agreed solutions to data concerns in place of security as a catch-all response to perceived threats of foreign investment.
Athanasius Kircher and Terrestrial Magnetism: The Magnetic Map
Authors: Udías, S.J. Agustín
Published: February 2020

Athanasius Kircher paid special attention to magnetism, more specifically terrestrial one, in his work Magnes sive de arte magnetica. Other Jesuits of his time, such as Garzoni and Cabeo, also wrote on this subject. Kircher studied in particular magnetic declination and its possible use to determine geographical longitudes. At his time, this was an important subject for long sea journeys. First, he collected a large number of observations of magnetic declination from different sources in three tables and two lists with a total of 518 values, among them forty-three made by Jesuits. Kircher proposed that a magnetic map could be made based on these observations, but he did not do it. From Kircher’s observations a map of magnetic declination has been drawn and it is presented here. Kircher discussed the causes of declination and presented a model for the origin of the magnetic field of the Earth, which differed from that proposed by Gilbert. Kircher finally considered magnetism as a cosmic force with its origin in God.
The Jesuit Roots of Spanish Naval Education: Juan José Navarro’s Translation of Paul Hoste for the Academia de Guardias Marinas
Authors: Aranda Marcelo
Published: February 2020

From its origins in 1540 to its final expulsion in 1767, the far-flung Jesuit network of schools and scholars influenced the development of scientific and mathematical pedagogy in the Spanish Empire. The most important of these schools was the Colegio Imperial of Madrid where young noblemen and members of the Spanish court learned mathematics. Therefore, when Juan José Navarro, an early eighteenth-century Spanish naval officer and reformer, began to teach at the newly founded Academia de Guardias Marinas, he translated French Jesuit Paul Hoste’s L’Art des armées navales into a Spanish manuscript to serve as the basis of a curriculum on contemporary naval tactics. Navarro’s efforts highlight the continuity between the Jesuit science and mathematics of the seventeenth century and the emerging scientific institutions of the Spanish Enlightenment.
Jesuits and Western Clock in Japan’s “Christian Century” (1549–c.1650)
Authors: Hiraoka Ryuji
Published: February 2020

This paper explores how the Jesuits in Japan’s “Christian Century (1549–c.1650)” used Western mechanical clocks in missionary activities and how this new technology was received and transformed in the country. Sources show that it was a common practice for the missionaries to present clocks as unusual gifts to gain access to the ruling class. This policy eventually led to the production of mechanical clocks by local craftsmen by around 1600. Although Christianity was strictly prohibited after 1614, the technology survived and found its way into the secular world.
Two new Noronhia species (Oleaceae) from the Guineo-Congolian forests in Africa

Authors: JONGKIND CAREL C.H.
Published: February 2020

A recent re-evaluation of the Noronhia species from the Guineo-Congolian forests resulted in a much more restricted circumscription of N. mannii. A part of the specimens excluded from N. mannii represents the two new species described here. Both new species, N. silvatica from Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana, and N. cameroonensis from Cameroon, have red fruits, while N. mannii has dark purplish fruits. Both new species are small trees or shrubs found in the undergrowth of evergreen forest.
New names in Myrcia sect. Calyptranthes (Myrtaceae)

Authors: LIMA DUANE F. , LUCAS EVE J. , LIMA LOURENÇO ANA RAQUEL , MAZINE FIORELLA F.
Published: February 2020

After extensive molecular (Staggemeier et al. 2015; Santos et al. 2017; Wilson et al. 2016) and revisionary (e.g. Lima et al. 2018; Lourenço et al. 2018) work to maintain a manageable and monophyletic genus, Myrcia De Candolle (1827: 406) currently includes the previously recognized genera Calyptranthes Swartz (1788: 79), Gomidesia O.Berg (1855: 5) and Marlierea Cambessèdes (1832–1833: 373) (see Lucas et al. 2018). The majority of Calyptranthes species are now considered part of Myrcia sect. Calyptranthes (Sw.) A.R.Lourenço & E.Lucas (in Lucas et al. 2018: 3). As a result, Lourenço et al. (2018) recently transferred the continental species of Calyptranthes to Myrcia. Among these new names, two were subsequently found to be illegitimate and are herein corrected. The remaining species of Calyptranthes, mostly from the islands of the Caribbean, were transferred by Campbell et al. (2019).
Deep-water, offshore, and new records of Schindler’s fishes, Schindleria (Teleostei, Gobiidae), from the Indo-west Pacific collected during the Dana-Expedition, 1928–1930
Authors: AHNELT HARALD , SAUBERER MICHAEL
Published: February 2020

Schindleria (Giltay (1934), Schindler’s fishes (or infantfishes), is a genus of small (< 22 mm) paedomorphic species of the family Gobiidae which mature extremely fast. These fishes occur from the eastern Pacific (Cocos Islands off Costa Rica, seamounts Nazca and Sala y Gómez) to the southwestern Indian Ocean (southeast Africa). Nevertheless, there is a large gap in the distributional area between the Philippines (western Pacific) and India/Sri Lanka (Central Indian Ocean) which spans nearly 5000 km. We present the first comprehensive documentation of published records of Schindleria together with samples collected during the Dana-Expedition, between 1928 and 1930 at 44 stations from Polynesia to southeast Africa, with 8 records from the western Pacific to the Central Indian Ocean. We present three first records, 18 new records and the southernmost record for the Indian Ocean. Although Schindler’s fishes were generally documented from or close to islands and reefs, we present 23 offshore records (at least 30 km distant to a shore or reef) and 27 deep-water records (at least 65 m deep). Records between 320 and 360 km offshore are the most extreme offshore records of Schindleria ever documented. The records from about 500- and 1000-m depths are the deepest ever documented for Schindler’s fishes.
Patient Satisfaction and Efficiency Benefits of a Novel Multidisciplinary Rhinology and Allergy Clinic
Authors: Li Kevin L. , Fang Christina H. , Ferastraoaru Denisa , Akbar Nadeem A. , Jerschow Elina , Abuzeid Waleed M.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sinonasal mucosa and with strong associations to other immune-mediated comorbidities. Patients often require referral to both an otolaryngologist and an allergist/immunologist. This study is the first in the literature to describe a multidisciplinary clinic that offers patient care by subspecialists in rhinology and in allergy/immunology.

Methods:

One hundred twenty-nine patients were seen in the Comprehensive Sinus and Allergy Clinic (CSAC) between January 2016 and June 2017 and 43 selected patients were seen in both the standalone allergy and rhinology clinics over the same time period. Patient satisfaction was retrospectively assessed using a modified Press-Ganey satisfaction survey. Time to evaluation and time to follow up appointment were compared between the CSAC and both the standalone rhinology and allergy/immunology clinics.

Results:

Patients seen in the CSAC reported high satisfaction with the amount of time spent with the physicians (98.3%), quality of medical care (9.3 ± 1.0), and most importantly, the convenience of seeing two physicians in one day (9.5 ± 1.2). Time from referral placement to clinic evaluation ( P ≤ .02) and time to follow up appointment ( P ≤ .002) was significantly shorter for the CSAC than for the standalone Rhinology or Allergy clinics.

Conclusion:

Patients reported high satisfaction with the medical care provided and were also seen much faster in our multidisciplinary clinic as compared to standalone rhinology or allergy/immunology clinics. Overall, a multidisciplinary approach may be beneficial to patients presenting to tertiary referral centers with CRS and atopic conditions.
Evaluating Factors Associated With Blood Pressure Control in the Early Post–Kidney Transplant Period
Authors: Zuziela Matthew A. , Vidal Jennifer , Knorr John P.
Published: February 2020

Background: Shortened allograft survival, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are consequences of inadequate control of hypertension for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Literature suggests the risk is multifactorial, although few studies have evaluated risk factors in relation to guideline recommended blood pressure (BP) goals in the early post–kidney transplant period. This study will elucidate factors associated with controlled BP in KTRs. Methods: Adult KTRs who were transplanted between January 1, 2013, and October 31, 2018, were evaluated. Coprimary outcomes included the proportion of patients who had controlled BP at postoperative day (POD) 30 and identification of the covariates associated with controlled BP at POD 30. Additional outcomes included the proportion of patients who had controlled BP at POD 60 and 90; the difference in the average number of antihypertensive medications taken pretransplant vs POD 30, 60, and 90 for patients with controlled BP at POD 30; antihypertensive use rates pretransplant vs POD 30 and 90; and class of antihypertensive used pretransplant vs POD 30 and 90. Results: At POD 30, 44% (100/226) of patients had controlled BP. The proportion of patients with controlled BP at POD 60 and 90 were 37% (82/220) and 40% (79/196), respectively. In bivariate analyses, lack of recipient hypertension (75% vs 42.5%, P = .04); fewer days on dialysis (1684 vs 2189 days, P = .005); absence of delayed graft function (51.2% vs 35.6%, P = .02); younger donor age (30 vs 40 years, P < .001); absence of donor hypertension (46.9% vs 29.3%, P = .004); and a lower median kidney donor profile index (29% vs 40%, P = .03) were associated with controlled BP at POD 30. In a multivariate analysis, donor age was independently associated with controlled BP at POD 30 ( P = .03). Conclusions: This study suggests that younger donor age is associated with controlled BP, and conversely, older donor age is associated with uncontrolled BP in KTRs in the early post–kidney transplant period. Patients receiving a graft from older donors should have their BP closely monitored.
Navigating emotions in child welfare: Immigrant parents’ experiences and perceptions of involvement with child welfare services in Norway
Authors: Tembo Memory Jayne
Published: February 2020

This study explores immigrant parents’ emotional experiences in child welfare services as well as parents’ emotional management and their interpretations of the role of emotions in the child welfare system. The analysis revealed that strong negative emotions dominate parents’ experiences and correspond to immigrant-related challenges and factors associated with child welfare involvement. The study suggests that parents perceive that the way child welfare workers interpret their emotions affects the decisions the workers make and how the parents are perceived during the case. The study further highlights ways that parents manage their emotions during cases to prompt favourable outcomes.
A Coaching Culture Definition: An Industry-Based Perspective From Managers as Coaches
Authors: Milner Julia , Milner Trenton , McCarthy Grace
Published: February 2020

Despite increasingly common references to “coaching cultures,” little empirical research has been conducted to understand the nature of coaching cultures. Our study aims to address this gap with a study of Australian managers. In their responses to open-ended questions, managers gave us insight into their experiences of coaching cultures. The elements needed to create a coaching culture are consistent use of different types of coaching across the organization, a formalized process, provision of appropriate training and resources, the involvement of top management, transparency of benefits, and the alignment with organizational values such as ownership, empowerment, collaboration, and respect. Managers should take a proactive role in the creation of coaching cultures within their organizations, including acting as coaching role models, actively engaging in training themselves, and promoting the benefits of such a culture.
Association of religiosity with mental health and quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain
Authors: Nunes-Reis Aline R , Da Luz Rosa A , de Deus José M , Martinez Edson Z , Conde Délio M
Published: February 2020

Objective

This study evaluated religiosity and its association with mental health, quality of life, and the intensity of pelvic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 women with chronic pelvic pain. Religiosity was investigated using the Duke University Religion Index. Quality of life was evaluated using the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization’s quality of life instrument. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, while pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale.

Results

Almost half the participants attended religious services at least once a week and 62% prayed, meditated, or studied the Bible at least once a day. There was no association between religiosity and anxiety or depression. The intrinsic religiosity score was lower for women with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder compared to those without mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. There was a positive association between intrinsic religiosity and the psychological health domain of the quality of life instrument. There was no association between religiosity and pain intensity.

Conclusions

Women with chronic pelvic pain were strongly religious. Women with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder had lower levels of intrinsic religiosity. On the other hand, intrinsic religiosity was positively associated with quality of life in women with chronic pelvic pain. Religiosity was not associated with the intensity of pelvic pain. These data suggest that health-care professionals should take religiosity into account when treating women with chronic pelvic pain.
A Cultural Perspective on Functional Limitations and Well-Being
Authors: Choi Jeong Ha , Miyamoto Yuri , Ryff Carol D.
Published: February 2020

Functional limitations—difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living—have been linked to poorer well-being in Western cultures. This might be partly due to the lower personal control associated with functional limitations. However, compared with the West, in Asian cultural contexts (e.g., Japan) where agency and control are based less predominantly on individual attributes, the link between functional limitations and well-being may be weaker. Using cross-sectional probability samples from the United States and Japan (Study 1), functional limitations were associated with lower well-being in both cultures, though the association was weaker in Japan than in the United States and personal control played a mediating role. Furthermore, analyses of longitudinal data (Study 2) showed the cross-cultural patterns generally consistent with the cross-sectional analyses of Study 1, though the cultural moderation was found for fewer well-being measures. Such findings enrich our understanding of how health status and well-being are related across cultures.
Big Ideas from Little People: What Research with Children Contributes to Social Psychology
Authors: Corsaro William A.
Published: February 2020

Beginning in the 1970s, research in childhood studies led to the reevaluation of children’s agency and their contributions to society. In my work on children’s interactions with peers and adults in schools and families, I challenged traditional views of socialization offering the alternative view of interpretive reproduction and associated concepts of peer culture and priming events. I review the development of these concepts and the importance of longitudinal comparative ethnography and audiovisual recording for capturing how research with children contributes both to rigorous reexamination of socialization theory and the field of social psychology more generally. In particular, I focus on the expansion of two theoretical concepts in my work related to the general notion of interpretive reproduction: (1) nonlinear and collective reproductive versus linear stage views of socialization and human development and (2) micro dramas in collective routines in peer culture. In the review of my methods and theory and in the expansion of my theoretical concepts, I continually raise issues regarding reexamination of Mead’s play and game stage and for the need to radically alter or even abandon the traditional concept of socialization.
Assessing the Mental Health of Refugees Using the Refugee Health Screener-15
Authors: Baird Martha B. , Cates Rebecca , Bott Marjorie J. , Buller Carol
Published: February 2020

In 2017, 352 refugees were relocated to the Kansas City, Kansas area. As part of the relocation process, newly arrived refugees receive physical and mental health screenings. This study is a retrospective analysis of the results of 92 Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) surveys collected from February to December 2017 and interviews with the healthcare providers who administered the surveys in a primary care clinic.

The most commonly reported mental health symptoms included the following: too much thinking or too many thoughts; muscle, bone, or joint pain; and crying easily. Thirty-seven refugee surveys (40%) indicated the need for follow-up mental health screening. A significant small correlation ( r = .22, p = .03) was found between female gender and the depression subscale of mental health symptoms. Provider interviews revealed challenges associated with conducting mental health screening of newly arrived refugees in a primary care setting.
Optimal tuning of proportional–integral controller using particle swarm optimization algorithm for control of permanent magnet synchronous generator based wind turbine with tip speed ratio for maximum power point tracking
Authors: Hannachi Marwa , Elbeji Omessaad , Benhamed Mouna , Sbita Lassaad
Published: February 2020

This article deals with the study of the particle swarm optimization algorithm and its variants. After modeling the global system, a comparative study is carried out about the algorithms described in order to choose the best of those to be used thereafter. Then, the perturbed particle swarm optimization is presented to determine the optimal parameters of the proportional–integral controller for speed control to certify the tip speed ratio for maximum power point tracking of a wind energy conversion system. A numerical simulation is used in conjunction with the particle swarm optimization algorithm to determine the proportional–integral controller optimal parameters. From the simulations results, we observe that the proportional–integral controller designed with particle swarm optimization gives better results compared to the traditional method (proportional–integral manually) in terms of the performance index.
Experimental Investigation of Rubber Swelling in Bitumen
Authors: Wang Haopeng , Liu Xueyan , Apostolidis Panos , Erkens Sandra , Skarpas Athanasios
Published: February 2020

Rubber swelling in bitumen, which is a diffusion-induced volume expansion process, plays a dominant role in the design of crumb rubber modified bitumen binders and their properties development. This study aims to investigate the kinetics of bitumen diffusion into truck tire rubber, the equilibrium swelling characteristics of rubber, and the mechanical properties of rubber before and after swelling at different high temperatures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicate that no rubber dissolution happens during the interaction in the temperature range from 160°C to 200°C. Aliphatic compounds from bitumen preferentially diffused into rubber during the swelling process. The diffusion coefficients of bitumen into rubber were determined by the sorption test using the gravimetric method. The diffusion coefficient increases with the increase of temperature in an Arrhenius form. The volume expansion of rubber during swelling was captured by the X-ray computed tomography scan images. Rubber swells faster at the earlier stages, then the expansion rate slows down. The swelling ratio of rubber increased from 1.97 at 160°C to 3.03 at 200°C after 36 h interaction. Mechanical tests by dynamic shear rheometer reveal that swollen rubber becomes softer compared with the dry rubber and exhibits obvious viscoelastic behaviors. With the increase of temperature, the softening and viscous effect are more significant. The obtained parameters can be implemented to swelling and micromechanical models to better predict the binder properties.
Childhood Abuse and Adult Sociocognitive Skills: Distinguishing Between Self and Other Following Early Trauma
Authors: Hudson Anna R. , De Coster Lize , Spoormans Hanne , Verbeke Sylvia , Van der Jeught Kaat , Brass Marcel , Mueller Sven C.
Published: February 2020

Experience of childhood abuse (CA) impairs complex social functioning in children; however, much less is known about its effects on basic sociocognitive processes and even fewer studies have investigated these in adult survivors. Using two behavioral tasks, this study investigated spontaneous theory of mind (ToM) and imitative behavior in 41 women with CA and 26 unaffected comparison (UC) women. In the spontaneous ToM task, UCs showed a larger ToM index than CAs, indicating more facilitation by knowledge of another’s false belief. In the imitation–inhibition task, CAs experienced less interference than UCs when observing another’s incongruent movements. After controlling for depression, differences in ToM became marginally significant, yet remained highly significant for inhibiting imitative behavior. The findings suggest CA survivors have altered perspective-taking and are less influenced by others’ perspectives, potentially due to changes in self-other distinction. Clinical implications regarding therapeutic practice with survivors of CA are discussed.
Numerical study of the transition characteristics and related degradation at the flange bearing frog
Authors: Gao Yuan , Xu Jingmang , Wang Ping , Dong Zhiguo , Liu Yibin , Wang Kai
Published: February 2020

Wheel-load transition process of the flange bearing frog is so complex: the wheel-load transits from the tread to the flange, and then back to the tread. To improve the understanding of the frictional rolling contact behavior and the related degradation at the flange bearing frog in the divergent direction, an explicit 3D finite element model simulating the interaction between the frog and the wheel is established; the precise distribution and evolution of contact pressure, micro-slip as well as the shear stress along the longitudinal axle of the frog can be derived through the transient rolling contact calculations. The results show that the contact patch located at the flange will be shifted forward compared to the contact patch at the tread due to the structural irregularities, and the flange bearing mode can significantly increase the value of stress; both the plastic strain and the frictional work reach a maximum at the bearing flangeway. Therefore, the bearing flangeway is susceptible to severe damage. The explicit finite element method is able to effectively analyze the degradation mechanism of the flange bearing frog.
Financial Access and Business Performance of Urban Unorganised Sector Enterprises: A Study of Assam in Northeast India
Authors: Baruah Prasenjit Bujar , Bezbaruah M. P.
Published: February 2020

The urban unorganised sector has been a dominant characteristic feature of the developing countries providing livelihood to a disproportionately large number of households for prolonged period. However, enterprises in this sector are often stunted by myriads of problems among which meagre access to formal financial services is a crucial constraint, as access to other enabling conditions often hinges upon access to finance. This article is based on a study of such enterprises in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, where access to finance is relatively limited in general. Using inputs from a customised survey, the article explores the extent to which the accessibility of financial services influences the growth and financial performance of the unorganised sector enterprises in Assam. Tools employed include a customised financial access index, a generalised linear model and an ordered LOGIT regression. The results show that the financial performance of the enterprises is not significantly associated with the extent of their financial access, but their growth is critically dependent on it.
Consumer Confidence and Consumer Spending in Brazil: A Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model Analysis
Authors: Ghosh Sudeshna
Published: February 2020

The study explores the relationship between consumer confidence, household private consumer expenditure and other related macroeconomic financial variables for Brazil, a major, upper middle, income, Latin American country. It is widely discussed in the literature that the consumer confidence is an initial guide to the future behaviour of the economy based on the consumption path. Thus, a rise in the confidence of the consumer would lead to rising household consumption behaviour, which would percolate to accelerate economic growth. The study uses the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model (NARDL) to measure the effects of changes in consumer sentiment on private consumer spending, taking into consideration the significance of other financial variables, namely the rate of interest, stock market index, the exchange rate, inflation and unemployment trends. The study employs monthly data from the 4th month of 1995 to the 10th month of 2018. The bounds test of the NARDL suggests the presence of a cointegrating relationship among the variables. The model estimation affirms the presence of asymmetries in the behaviour of the major explanatory variables. In the short run, there are both positive and negative asymmetric impacts of consumer confidence index (CCI) on consumer expenditure, while the rate of interest has only negative asymmetries. In the long run, unemployment changes, stock market fluctuations, interest rate variation and alterations in the CCI shape the behaviour of consumer spending at the household level in Brazil. So, the consumers are able to perceive the signalling of the future behaviour of the market and contribute through consumption spending.

JEL: C22, D12, E21, O54
Detection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus–neutralizing antibody using high-throughput imaging cytometry
Authors: Sarmento Luciana V. , Poonsuk Korakrit , Tian Liying , Mora-Díaz Juan C. , Main Rodger G. , Baum David H. , Zimmerman Jeffrey J. , Giménez-Lirola Luis G.
Published: February 2020

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an emerging porcine coronavirus that causes a tremendous economic burden on the swine industry. The assessment of PEDV-neutralizing antibody levels provides a valuable tool to assess and predict herd immunity. We evaluated the performance of a PEDV imaging cytometry–based high-throughput neutralization test (HTNT) and compared the HTNT to a fluorescent focus neutralization (FFN) assay using serum samples from pigs of known PEDV infection status ( n = 159). Estimates of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for HTNT and FFN assays derived from receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses showed that both PEDV FFN and HTNT provided excellent diagnostic performance. However, in the laboratory, imaging cytometry provided an objective and semi-automated approach that removed human subjectivity from the testing process and reduced the read-time of a 96-well plate to < 4 min. In addition, imaging cytometry facilitated the rapid collection and long-term storage of test images and data for further evaluation or client consultation. For PEDV and other pathogens, imaging cytometry could provide distinct advantages over classic virus neutralization or FFN assays for the detection and quantitation of neutralizing antibody.
Metatranscriptomics reveals that the death of a Mongolian wild ass was caused by Clostridium botulinum in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Shao Jian-Wei , Ruan Xiang-Dong , Qin Xin-Cheng , Yan Jie , Zhang Yong-Zhen
Published: February 2020

Clostridium botulinum is an important pathogen that causes botulism in humans and animals worldwide. C. botulinum group III strains, which produce a single toxin of type C or D or a chimeric toxin of type C/D or D/C, are responsible for botulism in a wide range of animal species including cattle and birds. We used unbiased high-throughput RNA sequencing (i.e., metatranscriptomics) to identify a strain of group III C. botulinum from a deceased Mongolian wild ass ( Equus hemionus). The strain was closely related to some European strains. Genetic analysis of the recovered bacterial sequences showed that the C. botulinum strain identified might represent a type C/D strain of group III. Infection by C. botulinum producing the mosaic toxin of type C/D is the most likely cause of the death of the wild ass.
The Cascading Effects of CEO Dark Triad Personality on Subordinate Behavior and Firm Performance: A Multilevel Theoretical Model
Authors: Palmer Joshua C. , Holmes R. Michael , Perrewé Pamela L.
Published: February 2020

Chief executive officer (CEO) personality has emerged as a key predictor of firm performance. A burgeoning literature rooted in psychology has shown that leaders with the dark triad personality traits (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) can have harmful effects on organizations. However, scholars have not fully illuminated the “black box” of processes that explain how and why CEO dark personality matters. Specifically, we know little about the microfoundations of CEOs’ influence: how and why do the effects of CEO dark personality cascade down to affect employees and outcomes throughout the different levels of the firm. Therefore, we explore how CEOs’ personalities shape their relationships with other top management team (TMT) members and how these relationships affect other employees in the organization. Specifically, drawing on upper echelons theory and social exchange theory, we provide a multilevel theoretical model examining how distinct CEO dark triad traits shape CEO–TMT exchange quality, TMT destructive leadership, TMT behavioral integration, subordinates’ counterproductive work behaviors, and ultimately firm performance. Implications for theory, future research, and practice also are discussed.
The Revised Starling Equation: The Debate of Albumin Versus Crystalloids Continues
Authors: Erstad Brian L.
Published: February 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this critical narrative review is to discuss the revised Starling equation for microvascular fluid exchange and the associated implications for intravenous fluid administration. Data Sources: PubMed (1946 to December 2019) and EMBASE (1947 to December 2019) were used, and bibliographies of retrieved articles were searched for additional articles. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles pertaining to the revised Starling equation and microvascular fluid exchange. Additionally, prospective human studies involving the disposition and oncotic action of radiolabeled albumin and large randomized trials comparing fluid requirements associated with isotonic crystalloid and albumin administration were included. Data Synthesis: In the revised Starling equation, oncotic forces act across the endothelial cell layer, more specifically between the fluid in the vessel lumen and the protein-sparse subglycocalyx space. The revised Starling equation and radiolabeled investigations of albumin necessitate a reconsideration of conventional views of the plasma-expanding properties of exogenous albumin. Large clinical trials demonstrate that the administration of iso-oncotic or hyper-oncotic albumin solutions in patients undergoing resuscitation does not have the reductions in fluid requirements anticipated from a traditional understanding of the oncotic actions of albumin. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: When used as a resuscitation fluid, albumin does not have the degree of plasma expansion or intravascular retention commonly used to justify its use. Conclusions: The principles underlying the revised Starling equation in conjunction with data from radiolabeled studies of albumin and large clinical trials demonstrate that albumin does not have the perceived degree of plasma expansion or duration of intravascular retention beyond crystalloid solutions predicted by the classic Starling equation.
Executive Turnover and the Investigation of Former Leaders in New Democracies
Authors: Bahry Donna , Kim Young Hun
Published: February 2020

What prompts governments in new democracies to investigate elected leaders once they leave office? Theorizing about democratic regimes suggests that leadership turnover by constitutional means should generate few such cases: democratic entry to and exit from office are thought to prompt benign treatment from successor administrations. Yet over a third of democratically elected presidents and prime ministers who left office between 1970 and 2011 have faced investigations for malfeasance. This study analyzes the conditions that generate such cases. We find that the odds of investigation rise when there is strong evidence of former leaders’ personal culpability; but also when the executive regime is presidential, and the judiciary lacks independence from other branches. Partisanship has a more limited impact: co-partisanship with the incumbent reduces the odds of investigation for ex-prime ministers, but sharing a party label with an incumbent offers no such protection to a former president.
Evaluation of mobilization efficacy with an extended interval following plerixafor administration
Authors: Stump Sarah E , Trepte Morgan , Shaw J Ryan , Grgic Tatjana , Ptachcinski Jonathan R , Sharf Andrew , Riches Marcie , Shea Thomas C , Park Yara A , Alexander Maurice D
Published: February 2020

Plerixafor is a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizing agent used in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to improve collection for autologous stem cell transplantation. Despite a recommendation for administration 11 h prior to apheresis per package labeling, logistical challenges lead many institutions to administer plerixafor at an extended interval. The purpose of this study was to determine if plerixafor effectively and efficiently mobilizes CD34+ cells when given at an extended interval prior to apheresis. This was a retrospective evaluation of adult patients who received plerixafor based on an algorithm reserving daily plerixafor only for patients with a pre-apheresis CD34+ count of < 20 cells/µL (pre-apheresis plerixafor) or with a low CD34+ yield after the first apheresis session (rescue plerixafor). The primary outcome was achievement of a disease-specific collection goal of ≥ 6 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg for multiple myeloma and ≥ 4 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg for lymphoma. The mean interval between plerixafor administration and apheresis was 17 h in this study. Despite this extended interval, 64% of patients met their disease-specific collection goal. A minimum collection goal of ≥ 2 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg was achieved by 95% of patients. Mobilization remained efficient with a median of two days to complete collection. Based on this data, plerixafor effectively and efficiently mobilizes CD34+ cells when given at an extended interval prior to apheresis.
Efficacy of eye drops containing crosslinked hyaluronic acid and CoQ10 in restoring ocular health exposed to chlorinated water
Authors: Tredici Costanza , Fasciani Romina , Villano Antonio , Gambini Gloria , Caporossi Aldo
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

A prospective, open-label study in 20 professional swimmers evaluated the efficacy and safety of an ophthalmic solution containing crosslinked hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin E TPGS in releasing eye irritation and restoring ocular surface damages after prolonged exposure to chlorinated water.

Methods:

Individually, one eye was instilled with the ophthalmic solution and the other used as a comparator. Eye drops were self-administered three times a day for 2 months. Tear film breakup time (primary endpoint), Schirmer I test, beating of eyelashes/min, tear osmolarity, corneal and conjunctival staining with fluorescein, Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, subject satisfaction, visual acuity (secondary endpoints), and Efron Grading Scale were evaluated at screening/baseline (V1), week 1 (V2), week 2 (V3), week 4 (V4), and week 8 (V5).

Results:

After 2 months, breakup time test significantly improved in the treated eyes (+1.67 s) compared to control (−3.00 s) ( p = 0.0002). Corneal and conjunctival surfaces of treated eyes recovered significantly compared to control eyes when assessed by fluorescein staining ( p < 0.0001), Ocular Surface Disease Index ( p < 0.05), and visual analog scale ( p = 0.0348) scores. Improvements were also observed with Schirmer I test, beating of eyelashes, and tear osmolarity, despite without statistical significance. Efron Grading Scale was consistent with the other tests. The ocular tolerability was excellent.

Conclusion:

The adequate combination of crosslinked hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, and vitamin E TPGS, contained in the ophthalmic solution VisuXL®, has been shown to protect ocular surface from potential damages originating from prolonged exposure to chlorinated water. VisuXL may represent a compelling treatment in other situations beyond dry eye syndrome.
Methoxsalen-induced advanced bull’s eye maculopathy
Authors: Ranjan Ratnesh , Manayath George J , Salian Romit , Narendran Venkatapathy
Published: February 2020

A number of systemic medications are known to cause macular toxicity, and bull’s eye maculopathy is caused by some of them like hydroxychloroquine and clofazimine. A 55-year-old female, known case of vitiligo with history of undergoing methoxsalen–ultraviolet A therapy, presented with painless defective vision in both eyes. Fundus examination and autofluorescence showed macular degeneration with bull’s eye configuration. Optical coherence tomography showed perifoveal loss of photoreceptors and outer retinal thinning with foveal sparing appearing as ‘flying saucer’. Multifocal electroretinogram showed pan-macular suppression of waveforms. Patient was diagnosed as case of methoxsalen-induced advanced macular toxicity. This is the first reported case of methoxsalen-induced advanced bull’s eye maculopathy.
Perspectives of Adults With Autism on Social Communication Intervention
Authors: Santhanam Siva priya , Hewitt Lynne E.
Published: February 2020

Social communication difficulties are part of the core difficulties experienced by individuals with autism. Speech-language pathologists provide intervention and supports for these difficulties. Little is known about the own experiences and views of adults with autism about these services. Using semi-structured ethnographic interviewing, perspectives of eight adults (six currently attending college) with autism on social communication intervention were investigated. Participants articulated strengths and weaknesses in social communication, offering frank views of interventions received. Five themes regarding social communication intervention emerged: belief that intervention was ineffective and unnecessary; preference for one-on-one intervention; need for more real-world practice; friend and peer challenges and successes; and desire for more neurotypical understanding. Participants additionally offered general views on social functioning as well as advice for communication partners and other people with autism. In designing interventions for social communication impairments, the experiences and beliefs of those receiving the interventions should be a central element.
Psychological Assessments in Legal Contexts: Are Courts Keeping “Junk Science” Out of the Courtroom?
Authors: Neal Tess M. S. , Slobogin Christopher , Saks Michael J. , Faigman David L. , Geisinger Kurt F.
Published: February 2020

In this article, we report the results of a two-part investigation of psychological assessments by psychologists in legal contexts. The first part involves a systematic review of the 364 psychological assessment tools psychologists report having used in legal cases across 22 surveys of experienced forensic mental health practitioners, focusing on legal standards and scientific and psychometric theory. The second part is a legal analysis of admissibility challenges with regard to psychological assessments. Results from the first part reveal that, consistent with their roots in psychological science, nearly all of the assessment tools used by psychologists and offered as expert evidence in legal settings have been subjected to empirical testing (90%). However, we were able to clearly identify only about 67% as generally accepted in the field and only about 40% have generally favorable reviews of their psychometric and technical properties in authorities such as the Mental Measurements Yearbook. Furthermore, there is a weak relationship between general acceptance and favorability of tools’ psychometric properties. Results from the second part show that legal challenges to the admission of this evidence are infrequent: Legal challenges to the assessment evidence for any reason occurred in only 5.1% of cases in the sample (a little more than half of these involved challenges to validity). When challenges were raised, they succeeded only about a third of the time. Challenges to the most scientifically suspect tools are almost nonexistent. Attorneys rarely challenge psychological expert assessment evidence, and when they do, judges often fail to exercise the scrutiny required by law.
Most Experts Agree … But What About Other EEG Readers?
Authors: Noe Katherine
Published: February 2020

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Content-based dynamic superframe adaptation for Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Zia Yousaf , Farhad Arshad , Bashir Faisal , Qureshi Kashif Naseer , Ahmed Ghufran
Published: February 2020

IEEE 802.15.4 standard is widely used as a communication protocol by low-powered devices, including Internet of Medical Things–enabled technologies. These low-powered technologies have the ability to integrate several communicating and interacting devices for the purpose of wide range applications such as Smart homes and healthcare applications. However, the fixed superframe structure of IEEE 802.15.4 results in the unequal resource utilization among these low-powered heterogeneous Internet of Things devices. The low resource utilization degrades the network performance. In order to improve the network performance and optimum resource utilization, dynamic superframe approach is recommended. This article presents a content-based dynamic superframe adaptation algorithm for the low-powered Internet of Medical Things devices to address the resource utilization challenges. In the content-based dynamic superframe adaptation, the network coordinator dynamically adjusts the superframe along with the backoff exponent. It uses five Quality of Service metrics simultaneously: the application defined data traffic, receive ratio, Personal Area Network source nodes in numbers, number of collisions, and observed delay to achieve the optimal solution. A detailed analysis of the simulations shows that the content-based dynamic superframe adaptation is able to behave more intelligently to adjust superframe dynamic allocations according to the application’s content requirements. Moreover, it outperforms the other existing schemes in achieving the better resource utilization in IEEE 802.15.4 framework.
Culturally Responsive Assessments of Mathematical Skills and Abilities: Development, Field Testing, and Implementation
Authors: Bahar A. Kadir , Maker C. June
Published: February 2020

A persistent problem in education is underrepresentation of certain cultural and linguistic groups such as American Indian, African American, and Hispanic, in special programs for exceptionally talented students, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). An assessment with demonstrated reliability and validity as an instrument to identify exceptionally talented students was included with new instruments created in the X project. A continuum of problems, including closed, semi-open, and open-ended, was an important component of the assessment, enabling the assessment of creativity as well as understanding of mathematics concepts. The math assessment was field tested in five high schools in high poverty areas that also had high percentages of American Indian or Hispanic students. It was implemented as part of a battery of instruments to identify students to participate in a special internship program. The test–retest reliability and construct, concurrent, and predictive validity need to be investigated in future studies.