bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the skeletal muscle injury recovery using in vivo contrast-enhanced micro-CT: a proof-of-concept study in a rat model
Authors: Paun Bruno , Leon Daniel García , Cabello Alex Claveria , Pages Roso Mares , de la Calle Vargas Elena , Muñoz Paola Contreras , Garcia Vanessa Venegas , Castell-Conesa Joan , Baleriola Mario Marotta , Camacho Jose Raul Herance
Published: June 2020

Background

Skeletal muscle injury characterisation during healing supports trauma prognosis. Given the potential interest of computed tomography (CT) in muscle diseases and lack of in vivo CT methodology to image skeletal muscle wound healing, we tracked skeletal muscle injury recovery using in vivo micro-CT in a rat model to obtain a predictive model.

Methods

Skeletal muscle injury was performed in 23 rats. Twenty animals were sorted into five groups to image lesion recovery at 2, 4, 7, 10, or 14 days after injury using contrast-enhanced micro-CT. Injury volumes were quantified using a semiautomatic image processing, and these values were used to build a prediction model. The remaining 3 rats were imaged at all monitoring time points as validation. Predictions were compared with Bland-Altman analysis.

Results

Optimal contrast agent dose was found to be 20 mL/kg injected at 400 μL/min. Injury volumes showed a decreasing tendency from day 0 (32.3 ± 12.0mm3, mean ± standard deviation) to day 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 after injury (19.6 ± 12.6, 11.0 ± 6.7, 8.2 ± 7.7, 5.7 ± 3.9, and 4.5 ± 4.8 mm3, respectively). Groups with single monitoring time point did not yield significant differences with the validation group lesions. Further exponential model training with single follow-up data (R2 = 0.968) to predict injury recovery in the validation cohort gave a predictions root mean squared error of 6.8 ± 5.4 mm3. Further prediction analysis yielded a bias of 2.327.

Conclusion

Contrast-enhanced CT allowed in vivo tracking of skeletal muscle injury recovery in rat.
The first-line management of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in adults in the emergency: a practical approach
Authors: Toffa Dènahin Hinnoutondji , Poirier Laurence , Nguyen Dang Khoa
Published: June 2020

Distinguishing non-epileptic events, especially psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), from epileptic seizures (ES) constitutes a diagnostic challenge. Misdiagnoses are frequent, especially when video-EEG recording, the gold-standard for PNES confirmation, cannot be completed. The issue is further complicated in cases of combined PNES with ES. In emergency units, a misdiagnosis can lead to extreme antiepileptic drug escalade, unnecessary resuscitation measures (intubation, catheterization, etc.), as well as needless biologic and imaging investigations. Outside of the acute window, an incorrect diagnosis can lead to prolonged hospitalization or increase of unhelpful antiepileptic drug therapy. Early recognition is thus desirable to initiate adequate treatment and improve prognosis. Considering experience-based strategies and a thorough review of the literature, we aimed to present the main clinical clues for physicians facing PNES in non-specialized units, before management is transferred to epileptologists and neuropsychiatrists. In such conditions, patient recall or witness-report provide the first orientation for the diagnosis, recognizing that collected information may be inaccurate. Thorough analysis of an event (live or based on home-video) may lead to a clinical diagnosis of PNES with a high confidence level. Indeed, a fluctuating course, crying with gestures of frustration, pelvic thrusting, eye closure during the episode, and the absence of postictal confusion and/or amnesia are highly suggestive of PNES. Moreover, induction and/or inhibition tests of PNES have a good diagnostic value when positive. Prolactinemia may also be a useful biomarker to distinguish PNES from epileptic seizures, especially following bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Finally, regardless the level of certainty in the diagnosis of the PNES, it is important to subsequently refer the patient for epileptological and neuropsychiatric follow-up.
Women’s enlightenment and early antenatal care initiation are determining factors for the use of eight or more antenatal visits in Benin: further analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Ekholuenetale Michael , Nzoputam Chimezie Igwegbe , Barrow Amadou , Onikan Adeyinka
Published: June 2020

Background

Within the continuum of reproductive health care, antenatal care (ANC) provides a platform for vital health care functions, such as disease prevention, health promotion, screening, and diagnosis. It has been widely confirmed that by implementing appropriate evidence-based practices, ANC can save lives. Previous studies investigated the utilization of ANC based on the four visits model. The new guidelines set by the World Health Organization 2016 recommended increasing contacts with health providers from four to eight contacts. The present study aims to determine the frequency, determinants, and socioeconomic inequalities of ANC utilization based on the eight or more contacts in Benin. This will provide information for policy makers to improve ANC utilization.

Methods

We used a population-based cross-sectional data from Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS)—2017–2018. The outcome variable considered for this study was coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. About 1094 women of reproductive age who became pregnant after the new guideline of ≥ 8 ANC contacts was endorsed were included in this study. The determinants for ≥ 8 ANC contacts were measured using multivariable logistic regression. Concentration (Conc.) Index and Lorenz curves were used to estimate the socioeconomic inequalities of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

The coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts was 8.0%; 95%CI 6.5%, 9.7%. The results of timing of antenatal care initiation showed that women who had late booking (after 1st trimester) had 97% reduction in ≥ 8 ANC contacts compared with women who initiated ANC contacts within the first trimester (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.03; 95% CI 0.00, 0.21). In addition, women with medium or high enlightenment were 4.55 and 5.49 as more likely to have ≥ 8 ANC contacts, compared with women having low enlightenment (AOR = 4.55; 95% CI 1.41, 14.69 and AOR = 5.49; 95% CI 1.77, 17.00, respectively). Conc. Index for the household wealth-related factor was 0.33; p < 0.001 for urban women and 0.37; p < 0.001 for the total sample. Similarly, Conc. Index for maternal education was 0.18; p = 0.006 for urban women and 0.21; p < 0.001 for the total sample.

Conclusion

Secondary analysis of the BDHS showed low coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts in Benin. In addition, women’s enlightenment, early ANC initiation, and socioeconomic inequalities determined the coverage of ≥ 8 ANC contacts. The findings bring to limelight the need to enhance women’s enlightenment through formal education, exposure to mass media, and other channels of behavior change communication. Health care programs which encourage early antenatal care initiation should be designed or strengthened to enhance the coverage of ANC contacts in Benin.
Microbial environment shapes immune function and cloacal microbiota dynamics in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata
Authors: van Veelen H. Pieter J. , Falcão Salles Joana , Matson Kevin D. , van der Velde Marco , Tieleman B. Irene
Published: June 2020

Background

The relevance of the host microbiota to host ecology and evolution is well acknowledged. However, the effect of the microbial environment on host immune function and host microbiota dynamics is understudied in terrestrial vertebrates. Using a novel experimental approach centered on the manipulation of the microbial environment of zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata, we carried out a study to investigate effects of the host’s microbial environment on: 1) constitutive immune function, 2) the resilience of the host cloacal microbiota; and 3) the degree to which immune function and host microbiota covary in microbial environments that differ in diversity.

Results

We explored immune indices (hemagglutination, hemolysis, IgY levels and haptoglobin concentration) and host-associated microbiota (diversity and composition) in birds exposed to two experimental microbial environments differing in microbial diversity. According to our expectations, exposure to experimental microbial environments led to differences related to specific antibodies: IgY levels were elevated in the high diversity treatment, whereas we found no effects for the other immune indices. Furthermore, according to predictions, we found significantly increased richness of dominant OTUs for cloacal microbiota of birds of the high diversity compared with the low diversity group. In addition, cloacal microbiota of individual females approached their baseline state sooner in the low diversity environment than females in the high diversity environment. This result supported a direct phenotypically plastic response of host microbiota, and suggests that its resilience depends on environmental microbial diversity. Finally, immune indices and cloacal microbiota composition tend to covary within treatment groups, while at the same time, individuals exhibited consistent differences of immune indices and microbiota characteristics.

Conclusion

We show that microbes in the surroundings of terrestrial vertebrates can influence immune function and host-associated microbiota dynamics over relatively short time scales. We suggest that covariation between immune indices and cloacal microbiota, in addition to large and consistent differences among individuals, provides potential for evolutionary adaptation. Ultimately, our study highlights that linking environmental and host microbiotas may help unravelling immunological variation within and potentially among species, and together these efforts will advance the integration of microbial ecology and ecological immunology.
Impact of the left anterior descending artery wrapping around the left ventricular apex on cardiac mechanics in patients with normal coronary angiography
Authors: Badran Hala Mahfouz , Ibrahim Waleed Abdou , Alaksher Tamer , Soltan Ghada
Published: June 2020

Background

We examined the impact of left anterior descending (LAD) wrapping on left ventricular (LV) mechanics in patients with normal coronary angiography. Seventy-one patients with evidence of normal coronary angiography (LAD wrapping: n = 52, 73%) and LAD non-wrapping (n = 19, 27%) were included in the study. Using 2D-strain imaging, we measured LV longitudinal and circumferential (circ) strain (εsys), systolic strain rate (SRsys), early (SRe) and atrial (SRa) diastolic SR, LV electromechanical dyssynchrony (TTP-SD), and LV twist and torsion in study groups.

Results

No significant difference in age, gender, body surface area (BSA), or ejection fraction (EF%) between groups. LAD-wrapping group showed higher deceleration time (DT) (P < 0.0001), global longitudinal εsys % (P < 0.02), circ SRa at the basal segments (P < .02), circ SRsys and SRe, and SRa (P < 0.0001) at the apical segments and apical rotation compared with the non-wrapped group. LV twist was correlated negatively with LV electromechanical dyssynchrony (r = .25, P < 0.03) and positively with longitudinal εsys (r = .47, P < .0001), circ εsys% (r = .55, P < .0001), circ SRsys (r = .23, P < .05), and circ SRe (r = .55, P < .0001). Using multivariate regression analysis, DT: OR 0.932, CI 0.877–0.991, and P < 0.02 and circ at atrial diastole (SRa): OR 0.000, CI .000–.271, and P < 0.03 were independent predictors of LAD wrapping around LV apex.

Conclusion

Wrapped LAD is associated with better myocardial relaxation and rotational mechanics in patients with normal coronary angiography. This could explain the worse prognosis in such population when LAD occlusion acutely emerges.
Satisfaction and revisit intentions at fast food restaurants
Authors: Rajput Amer , Gahfoor Raja Zohaib
Published: June 2020

This study is to identify the positive association of food quality, restaurant service quality, physical environment quality, and customer satisfaction with revisit intention of customers at fast food restaurants. Additionally, word of mouth is investigated as moderator on the relationship of customer satisfaction with revisit intentions of customers at fast food restaurants. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 433 customers of fast food restaurants through convenience sampling. Hypotheses of proposed model were tested using structural equation modeling with partial least squares SEM-PLS in SMART PLS 3. The results confirmed the positive association of food quality, restaurant service quality, physical environment quality, and customer satisfaction with revisit intentions of customers at fast food restaurants. However, word of mouth does not positively moderate the relationship of customer satisfaction with revisit intentions of customers at fast food restaurants. This study emphasizes the importance of revisit intention as a vital behavioral reaction in fast food restaurants. This study reveals revisit intention’s positive association with food quality, restaurant service quality, physical environment quality, and customer satisfaction based on stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory. Furthermore, it is identified that social conformity theory does not hold its assumption when consumers experience quality and they are satisfied because word of mouth does not moderate the relationship of customer satisfaction with revisit intention of customer.
Identification of potent natural compounds in targeting Leishmania major CYP51 and GP63 proteins using a high-throughput computationally enhanced screening
Authors: Yaraguppi Deepak A. , Deshpande Sanjay H. , Bagewadi Zabin K. , Muddapur Uday , Anand Sushil , Patil Santosh B.
Published: June 2020

Background

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan forms called Leishmania which infect animals and humans. The drugs have been in use since half a century due to which there have been mutations in the microbe-facilitating drug resistance. So this provides a reason for searching for effective drugs for the disease. In the current work, an effort has been to find such drugs that act on disease-relevant receptors by similarity indexing method, molecular docking, and dynamics studies. The study focused on the rapid expansion of potential anti-leishmanial compounds that could function as novel natural compound structures for future drug

Results

Similarity indexing of existing drugs with natural compounds using Tanimoto clustering resulted in 4 compounds with similarity index of greater than 0.7 (70% similarity). The molecular docking of the resulted compounds was carried out with therapeutic targets CYP51 and GP63 proteins. N-methyltyrosyl-N-methyltyrosyl-leucyl-alanine from Streptomyces griseus showed higher binding affinity in comparison to inhibitor and other selected natural compounds. Simulation studies revealed that the binding configuration of the compound with targets was highly stable all through 10 ns of simulation time with intact hydrogen bonding.

Conclusions

The molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies for the selected natural bioactive compound N-methyltyrosyl-N-methyltyrosyl-leucyl-alanine from Streptomyces griseus showed better binding affinity with the selected therapeutics targets and can be further considered for in vitro and in vivo studies which may lead to a possible new drug for the treatment of Leishmaniasis.
Moving Beyond Chemotherapy for Pancreaticobiliary Tumors: Targeted and Immunotherapy Strategies
Authors: Allen Rebecca , Halpern Naama , Algaze Sandra , Golan Talia , El-Khoueiry Anthony B. , Shroff Rachna T.
Published: June 2020

Pancreaticobiliary cancers are a group of malignancies affecting the pancreas and biliary tract and are often associated with poor prognosis. Existing treatment strategies for these malignancies are limited. However, with the development of more advanced genomic analysis techniques, several mutations have been identified that may be targeted for the development of novel treatments. Key targets of interest include DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways for both pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC) as well as isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) in BTC and mismatch repair (MMR) genes and germline mutations in PDAC. Additionally, a better understanding of the immune microenvironment of pancreatic and biliary cancers has revealed cell types and signaling pathways that may be leveraged for treatment. This includes PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoints, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and dendritic cells (DCs). Together, targeted agents and immunotherapy strategies have the potential to significantly improve the existing treatment landscape for pancreaticobiliary cancers.
Microtubule assembly and pole coalescence: early steps in C. elegans oocyte meiosis I spindle assembly
Authors: Chuang Chien-Hui , Schlientz Aleesa J. , Yang Jie , Bowerman Bruce
Published: June 2020

How oocytes assemble bipolar meiotic spindles in the absence of centrosomes as microtubule organizing centers remains poorly understood. We have used live cell imaging in C. elegans to investigate requirements for the nuclear lamina and for conserved regulators of microtubule dynamics during oocyte meiosis I spindle assembly, assessing these requirements with respect to recently identified spindle assembly steps. We show that the nuclear lamina is required for microtubule bundles to form a peripheral cage-like structure that appears shortly after oocyte nuclear envelope breakdown and surrounds the oocyte chromosomes, although bipolar spindles still assembled in its absence. Although two conserved regulators of microtubule nucleation, RAN-1 and γ-tubulin, are not required for bipolar spindle assembly, both contribute to normal levels of spindle-associated microtubules and spindle assembly dynamics. Finally, the XMAP215 ortholog ZYG-9 and the nearly identical minus-end directed kinesins KLP-15/16 are required for proper assembly of the early cage-like structure of microtubule bundles, and for early spindle pole foci to coalesce into a bipolar structure. Our results provide a framework for assigning molecular mechanisms to recently described steps in C. elegans oocyte meiosis I spindle assembly.
Effect of computer-assisted-learning and simulation clinics on dental students’ cognitive and performance skills: panoramic image errors related to patient’s head position
Authors: Wenzel Ann , Matzen Louise Hauge , Spin-Neto Rubens , Schropp Lars
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

To assess dental students’ ability to recognize head positioning errors in panoramic (PAN) images after individual learning via computer-assisted-learning (CAL) and in a simulation clinic (SIM). Both cognitive skills and performance in patient examination were assessed.

Methods and materials:

60 students (mean age 23.25 years) participated in lectures on the relation between PAN-image errors and patient’s head position. Immediately after they took a test, based on which they were randomized to three groups: control (CON) group, CAL group, and SIM group (both CAL and training in a simulation clinic with a phantom). 4–5 weeks after intervention/no intervention, all students individually examined a patient with PAN-exposure. A blinded rater, not knowing group allocation, supervised patient exposure and assessed student’s performance (correct/incorrect head position in three planes). 1–2 weeks after, the students scored positioning errors in 40 PAN-images. Differences in cognitive test scores between groups were evaluated by ANOVA and in patient examination by χ2 tests, and within-group differences by sign-tests.

Results:

No statistically significant difference in cognitive test scores was seen between the SIM and CAL group, while the CON group scored lower (p < 0.003). In all groups, several students positioned the patient incorrectly in the Frankfort horizontal plane. All students performed well in the sagittal plane. Students in SIM group positioned the patient more correctly in the coronal plane.

Conclusions:

Training with CAL increased students’ cognitive skills compared with a control group. Simulated patient exposure with a phantom increased to some extent their performance skills in examination of patients.
OS LIMITES E AS POSSIBILIDADES DO ESTADO-NAÇÃO NA PROMOÇÃO DO TRABALHO DECENTE NO MARCO DA AGENDA 2030 DA ORGANIZAÇÃO DAS NAÇÕES UNIDAS
Authors: Olsson Giovanni , Lavall Tuana Paula
Published: June 2020

A Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU), em seu mais recente projeto de governança global, vislumbra, na realização equilibrada de objetivos sociais, econômicos, ambientais e políticos, a chave para o desenvolvimento planetário em condições de sustentabilidade. O trabalho decente, pelo potencial emancipatório e afirmador da dignidade humana que apresenta, desempenha papel estratégico nesse processo, merecendo menção no oitavo Objetivo de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). Nesse sentido, o presente artigo verifica quais são os limites e as possibilidades do Estado-nação na efetivação do trabalho decente no âmbito da Agenda 2030 das Nações Unidas, o que se dá por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, adotando o método dedutivo. Os resultados indicam que, embora o Estado-nação possa avançar na efetivação do trabalho decente mediante a adoção de políticas públicas amplas, fortalecimento de pequenas empresas, apoio às iniciativas de economia solidária, reformas legislativas e potencialização da fiscalização do trabalho, tal êxito condiciona-se à atuação convergente de outros atores, mormente os que representam interesses econômicos, como as corporações transnacionais.
CUMPRIMENTO DE SENTENÇAS INTERNACIONAIS EM MATÉRIA DE JUSTIÇA DE TRANSIÇÃO NO BRASIL
Authors: Souza Nevitton Vieira
Published: June 2020

O presente artigo tem o escopo de analisar o cumprimento de sentenças internacionais em matéria de direitos humanos na ordem jurídica brasileira, com foco nas condenações impostas ao Brasil em matéria de justiça de transição pela Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos. O assunto é urgente, na medida em que o descumprimento de sentença internacional resulta em novo ilícito internacional, passível de nova responsabilização. O trabalho está dividido em três partes. Na primeira, realiza-se análise sobre a sentença internacional e suas características. Na segunda, apresenta-se um panorama sobre as dificuldades institucionais para o cumprimento de sentenças internacionais em matéria de direitos humanos no Brasil. Na terceira parte são analisadas as medidas constantes no Caso Gomes Lund (Guerrilha do Araguaia), julgado em 2010, e no Caso Herzog, julgado em março de 2018. As conclusões finais, por sua vez, trazem ponderações sobre as insuficiências das propostas legislativas na temática. Foi empregado o método dedutivo-comparativo, a partir de fontes bibliográficas e documentais indiretas.
Standardized approaches for clinical sampling and endpoint ascertainment in tuberculous meningitis studies
Authors: Rohlwink Ursula K , Chow Felicia C , Wasserman Sean , Dian Sofiati , Lai Rachel PJ , Chaidir Lidya , Hamers Raph L , Wilkinson Robert J , Boulware David R , Cresswell Fiona V , van Laarhoven Arjan ,   Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium
Published: June 2020

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the most severe manifestation of tuberculosis, has poorly understood immunopathology and high mortality and morbidity despite antituberculous therapy. This calls for accelerated clinical and basic science research in this field. As TBM disproportionally affects poorer communities, studies are often performed in resource-limited environments, creating challenges for data collection and harmonisation. Comparison of TBM studies has been hampered by variation in sampling strategies, study design and choice of study endpoints. 

Based on literature review and expert consensus, this paper provides firstly, practical recommendations to enable thorough diagnostic, pathophysiological and pharmacokinetic studies using clinical samples, and facilitates better data aggregation and comparisons across populations and settings. Secondly, we discuss clinically relevant study endpoints, including neuroimaging, functional outcome, and cause of death, with suggestions of how these could be applied in different designs for future TBM studies.
Do Bond Issuers Shop for Favorable Credit Ratings?
Authors: Kronlund Mathias
Published: June 2020

This paper provides evidence of ratings shopping in the corporate bond market. By estimating systematic differences in agencies’ biases about any given firm’s bonds, I show that new bonds are more likely to be rated by agencies that are positively biased toward the firm—a pattern that is strongest among bonds that have only one rating. The paper also shows that issuers often delay less favorable ratings until after a bond is sold. Consistent with theoretical models of ratings shopping, these effects are strongest among more complex bonds that are more difficult to rate. Bonds with upward-biased ratings are more likely to be downgraded and default, but investors account for this bias and demand higher yields when buying these bonds.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
We Are on the Way: Analysis of On-Demand Ride-Hailing Systems
Authors: Feng Guiyun , Kong Guangwen , Wang Zizhuo
Published: June 2020

Problem definition : Recently, there has been a rapid rise of on-demand ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber and Didi, which allow passengers with smartphones to submit trip requests and match them to drivers based on their locations and drivers’ availability. This increased demand has raised questions about how such a new matching mechanism will affect the efficiency of the transportation system—in particular, whether it will help reduce passengers’ average waiting time compared with traditional street-hailing systems. Academic/practical relevance : The on-demand ride-hailing problem has gained much academic interest recently. The results we find in the ride-hailing system have a significant deviation from classic queueing theory where en route time does not play a role. Methodology : In this paper, we shed light on this question by building a stylized model of a circular road and comparing the average waiting times of passengers under various matching mechanisms. Results : We discover the inefficiency in the on-demand ride-hailing system when the en route time is long, which may result in nonmonotonicity of passengers’ average waiting time as the passenger arrival rate increases. After identifying key trade-offs between different mechanisms, we find that the on-demand matching mechanism could result in lower efficiency than the traditional street-hailing mechanism when the system utilization level is medium and the road length is long. Managerial implications : To overcome the disadvantage of both systems, we further propose adding response caps to the on-demand ride-hailing mechanism and develop a heuristic method to calculate a near-optimal cap. We also examine the impact of passenger abandonments, idle time strategies of taxis, and traffic congestion on the performance of the ride-hailing systems. The results of this research would be instrumental for understanding the trade-offs of the new service paradigm and thus enable policy makers to make more informed decisions when enacting regulations for this emerging service paradigm.
The Airlift Planning Problem
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Chang Allison , Mišić Velibor V. , Mundru Nishanth
Published: June 2020

The U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is responsible for planning and executing the transportation of U.S. military personnel and cargo by air, land, and sea. The airlift planning problem faced by the air component of USTRANSCOM is to decide how requirements (passengers and cargo) will be assigned to the available aircraft fleet and the sequence of pickups and drop-offs that each aircraft will perform to ensure that the requirements are delivered with minimal delay and with maximum utilization of the available aircraft. This problem is of significant interest to USTRANSCOM because of the highly time-sensitive nature of the requirements that are typically designated for delivery by airlift, as well as the very high cost of airlift operations. At the same time, the airlift planning problem is extremely difficult to solve because of the combinatorial nature of the problem and the numerous constraints present in the problem (such as weight restrictions and crew rest requirements). In this paper, we propose an approach for solving the airlift planning problem faced by USTRANSCOM based on modern, large-scale optimization. Our approach relies on solving a large-scale mixed-integer programming model that disentangles the assignment decision (which aircraft will pickup and deliver which requirement) from the sequencing decision (in what order the aircraft will pickup and deliver its assigned requirements), using a combination of heuristics and column generation. Through computational experiments with both a simulated data set and a planning data set provided by USTRANSCOM, we show that our approach leads to high-quality solutions for realistic instances (e.g., 100 aircraft and 100 requirements) within operationally feasible time frames. Compared with a baseline approach that emulates current practice at USTRANSCOM, our approach leads to reductions in total delay and aircraft time of 8%–12% in simulated data instances and 16%–40% in USTRANSCOM’s planning instances.
Obesity in pregnancy
Authors: Kerelo Sydney
Published: June 2020

Obesity is a problem faced worldwide, causing numerous health conditions for both men and women. Sydney Kerelo takes a closer look at how it can affect pregnancy
From graduation to practice
Authors: Marsh Anna
Published: June 2020

What happens after graduation? What happens during the first week on the job? Midwife Anna Marsh answers these questions
‘We feel appreciated’
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: June 2020

Sarah Presswood, manager and owner of the outstanding George Perkins Day Nursery in Edgbaston, says that while life in Covid lockdown has been hard work, her family-focused ethos is bringing more rewards than ever.
‘We need a debate’
Authors: Tanuku Purnima
Published: June 2020

Providers are being treated like publicly funded bodies when it comes to the demands placed on them but at the same time are expected to foot the bill for managing the risks of reopening as lockdown eases. This must be addressed.
Creepy crawlies
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: June 2020

Bug hunts can be a focus for indoors as well as outdoors. Tap into children's fascinations, with cues to count, categorise and respect these tiny creatures.
Going walkabout
Authors: Davies Sarah
Published: June 2020

Taking children out on nearby walks and providing ways for them to record and explore their observations is a great way to support learning and conversation skills.
On a clear day
Authors: White Hilary
Published: June 2020

One positive of lockdown is that the atmosphere is noticeably clearer. Make a date with Clean Air Day on 17 June to explore the importance of reducing air pollution.
COVID-19 and rheumatology: is shielding really necessary?
Authors: Amani Lisa , Warraich Rabia , Patel Nishil , Tahir Hasan
Published: June 2020

Rheumatology patients who are taking immunosuppressants are considered to be at ‘high risk’ from COVID-19, hence have been self-isolating or shielding. However, they may be protected from the features of hyperinflammation driven by a ‘cytokine storm’, so may have better clinical outcomes if infected. This editorial discusses whether it may not be necessary to advise these patients to shield.
Contextual Character Education for Students in the Senior High School
Authors: Hermino Agustinus , Arifin Imron
Published: June 2020

This research has the purpose to explore implementation contextual character education in Senior High School in Buli village, East Halmahera Regency, Eastern Indonesia, and Remote Indigenous Community (RIC) role in addressing student behavior to improve education quality in that area. Sources of data from this qualitative research are teachers, students, village leader, and religious leaders Focus of the research: (1) socioeconomic conditions in families who live in the remote areas regarding adolescent character; (2) the influence of mobile phones and the internet; (3) the role of customary leader in the control of norms in adolescents; (4) good habits in schools as an effort to implement the character education program of adolescents in schools. The results of this study are: (1) the economic condition of the family causes the child does not get the quality of attention and quality of time. Parents are preoccupied with working to sustain life, so schools are considered a burden because of school fees; (2) social media causes everyone to access all information in their own way and the lack of social control causes the use of social media to influence the pattern of relations and communication patterns; (3) the role of RIC can be optimal if supported by members who have better education, and awareness to promote education in their village; (4) good habituation can arise if the school implements positive discipline and commitment to carry out character education in accordance with local wisdom and local culture.
Five-Year Declining Performance of Private and Public Schools in the Philippine Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination
Authors: Laguador Jake M. , Refozar Rey Fernan G.
Published: June 2020

There is a national trend on the declining percentage of school performance in the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination in the Philippines. This report aims to present the result of this licensure exam in regional level between private and public schools. Quantitative descriptive type of research was utilized in the study using documentary analysis from the result of the Licensure Examination including almost 415 accountancy schools in the country with first takers. Results showed that large number of examinees did not contribute much to increase the record of passing percentage of a certain region but instead it pulls down the passing rate. Public schools in eight (8) regions of the country have significantly higher passing rate than private HEIs. Private HEIs had been consistent in terms of having higher percentage of institutions with zero percent performance rating among first takers. However, private universities produced more top performing examinees than other private colleges and public schools in the country. Findings of the study may provide insights to educational leaders in ensuring the quality on the delivery of instruction through maintaining qualified teachers with relevant knowledge and competencies necessary to prepare the accountancy graduates for licensure examination.
Expanding Inclusive Educational Opportunities for Students With the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities Through Personalized Supports
Authors: Thompson James R. , Walker Virginia L. , Shogren Karrie A. , Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: June 2020

Progress in including students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in general education environments has been unquestionably slow during the past quarter century. Systematic approaches to identifying and arranging supports are needed to accelerate this outcome. In this article, we propose an approach to understanding students by their support needs in relation to curricular demands, instructional strategies, and participation requirements as a means to enhance the capacities of schools and general education classrooms to educate all students.
Predictors of Inclusive Course Enrollments in Higher Education by Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Papay Clare , Grigal Meg , Hart Debra , Kwan Ngai , Smith Frank A.
Published: June 2020

Higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) offer opportunities to engage in college experiences including access to typical college courses. The purpose of the present study was to examine data from federally funded programs in order to describe and identify predictors of inclusive course enrollments. Data on 672 first-year students with IDD who enrolled in 3,233 inclusive college courses were analyzed. Significant predictors were the age of the student, whether the student attended a program that offered access to regular student advising or provided an official transcript, whether the student took any specialized courses, and whether the student had a paid job or participated in particular career development experiences. Implications for higher education programs are discussed.
Recommendations of the Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy Strand From the National Goals 2015 Conference
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Abery Brian , Antosh Anthony , Broussard Ricky , Coppens Barbara , Finn Chester , Goodman Amy , Harris Cheryl , Knapp Jennifer , Martinis Jonathan , Ne'eman Ari , Nelis Tia , Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: June 2020

This article reports the recommendations of the Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy Strand from the National Goals 2015 conference. The recommendations provide direction on research goals to advance policy and practice related to self-advocacy and self-determination over the next 10 years. Seven recommendations and multiple subrecommendations were developed over a 2-day meeting by leaders in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The recommended goals provide direction for research initiatives related to collective self-advocacy and personal self-determination. Implications for the field are discussed.
National Goals for Supporting Families Across the Life Course
Authors: Reynolds Michelle C. , Gotto George S. , Arnold Catherine , Boehm Thomas L. , Magaña Sandra , Dinora Parthenia , Fay Mary Lee , Shaffert Robin
Published: June 2020

As a core unit of our society, the family provides support for all its members. Due to the nature of their disabilities, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often receive emotional, physical, and material support from their families across the life course. During the National Goals 2015 Conference, three goals were identified that will lead to a better understanding of families and maximize their capacity, strengths, and unique abilities to support, nurture, and facilitate opportunities for family members who have a disability. The three goals are to (1) develop a better understanding of the complex family structures in the United States and the best practices for supporting them; (2) extend our knowledge on how families are or might be supported by their natural communities, outside the purview of IDD systems; and (3) synthesize support practices, implementation strategies, and outcomes for supporting families. This article describes these three goals related to supporting families across the life course and provides a rationale, areas of research to address the goals, and implications for policy and practice for each goal.
Ensuring Quality Education to Promote Transition: A Summary of Existing Studies
Authors: Agran Martin , Spooner Fred , Robertson Colleen
Published: June 2020

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) hosted the National Goals in Research, Policy, and Practice working meeting in August, 2015, to identify key national policies, priorities, and practices to serve and support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at the secondary level. The purpose of this article is to extend the discussion of several topics discussed at the meeting and suggest future research areas in the areas of: academic instruction; social skills training; balancing/aligning academic, functional, and transition education skills; importance of health and safety skills; extending common core standards to include functional and transition skills; teaching and realizing self-determination skills; preparing students with IDD for postsecondary educational opportunities; weighing the respective benefits of inclusive and community-based instructional activities; and promoting citizenship (teaching voting skills). To ensure quality secondary-level programs for students with IDD, the authors recommend that the above content areas be considered.
Barriers With Implementing a Universal Design for Learning Framework
Authors: Scott LaRon A.
Published: June 2020

Inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings is often contingent on teachers' liberties to use inclusive instructional strategies. The current qualitative investigation used focus group, observation, and interviews of 9 special education teachers to understand their attitudes and beliefs concerning challenges with implementing the universal design for learning (UDL) framework to meet the needs of students with and without disabilities. A constant comparative analysis method was used to categorize the data into the following themes that emerged as barriers for implementing the UDL framework: (a) general education teacher support for inclusion, (b) need for administrative support, (c) need for improving general education teacher knowledge of UDL, (d) additional preservice field-based training on UDL, and (e) additional in-service training on UDL. Although the teachers in the study continued to indicate a passion for implementing the UDL framework, the need to address the barriers faced by teachers, and future research and implications significant to moving UDL forward as an inclusive teaching framework are underlined for discussion in the study.
Preparation of 3D ZnTiO3/Ag NPs composite as the photocatalytic SERS-active substrate with well reusability
Authors: Lu Jiajun , Du Xuejian , Li Zhen , Song Yuzhi , Zhang Chao , Yu Jing , Peng Qianqian
Published: June 2020

A three-dimensional (3D) perovskite

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nanoparticles (NPs) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate with ultra-sensitivity and high homogeneity is designed and prepared in this paper. The lowest detectable concentration for rhodamine (R6G) dye is down to

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. In addition, the proposed substrate is demonstrated with good photocatalytic activity. The electromagnetic enhancement mechanism induced by the Ag NPs, chemical enhancement mechanism brought by

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, and the 3D structure jointly endow the substrate with good SERS performance, which has been demonstrated experimentally and theoretically. Our work indicates that perovskite materials show extensive application prospect in SERS and photocatalysis.
Void and micro-crack generation in transparent materials with high-energy first-order vector Bessel beam
Authors: Baltrukonis Justas , Ulčinas Orestas , Orlov Sergej , Jukna Vytautas
Published: June 2020

In this work, we present efficient generation of a high-quality vector Bessel beam using an S-wave plate (radial/azimuth polarization converter) together with an ordinary glass axicon. We examine laser-induced modifications in glass with different pulse durations. We achieve material cracking and observe dominant crack propagation directions caused by the generated beam’s intensity asymmetry. By translating the beam, we demonstrate potential application of vector Bessel beams and their transverse polarization components for microprocessing of transparent materials using ultra-short pulses.
El eclipse de la fraternidad. Una revisión republicana de la tradición socialista, Antoni Domènech (2019)
Authors: Cella Paul
Published: June 2020

Review of: El eclipse de la fraternidad. Una revisión republicana de la tradición socialista, Antoni Domènech (2019)

Madrid: Akal, 383 pp.,

ISBN 978-8-44604-782-7, h/bk, €34.00
Anthropomorphizing nature through costume design
Authors: Keeley Adele
Published: June 2020

Abstract The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15 outline a broad concern for us to take better care for our lands and oceans and act on the negative anthropogenic impact that we, as humans, are having on this planet. However, I propose that many of us see
ourselves as separate from nature and lack a connection with it. This, in turn, affects the way we treat it. In this research I explore how we can frame our futures by telling visual stories about the land and sea and the geological foundation of the world we live in. This is achieved by exploring
the relationship between natural landscapes, earth sciences and the 'bodily' canvas. By presenting examples of costume and textile design in response to a specific brief this visual essay introduces the notion that by anthropomorphizing nature through costume design a sense of connectivity
between humans and nature can be bridged. Although there are many examples of how nature has been used as a springboard for garment design this article draws attention to theories explored in social science that claim if we attribute human characteristics to natural forms we feel greater connectivity
towards it. I present ideas that use the visual detail of the landscape and by exploring the opportunities of how these can be embedded into costume design we can create a playful public engagement performance tool. This approach has the potential to, not only investigate new ways of interpreting
landscape and geology through a costume-design-led performance model, but also challenge the way people think about the natural world with the potential to foster pro-environmental behaviour.
Ecoscenography in action: Bridging stage design with Nature connection to shape sustainable communities and well-being
Authors: Kastell Mona , Myers Hannah
Published: June 2020

Abstract In the midst of the climate crisis, both in terms of ecological and social issues, creatives must seek innovative ways to trigger and support active change. Interrogating our ways of working has become essential: How can we support the whole ecosystem? How can we
deeply engage people? How can we be more accountable for our actions?Responding to these concerns, this paper reflects on the benefits of applying ecoscenography in 'Glimpsing Air Pockets' creative process. It results in an immersive, multi-sensory dance theatre production which aim is
collective wellbeing through active engagement and Nature connection. Original to Native American culture and recently recognized by New Zealand and India governments, I refer in my writing to terms such as Nature or Earth with a capital letter, granting them their personhood status with equal
rights to human beings.Written as a deep artistic reflection, this paper demonstrates the importance of linking the Arts and Nature connection to create positive social and environmental change for a more connected and resilient future of our society and the planet.