bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balint Groups for Foundation and GP Trainees
Authors: Sargeant Rhona , Au‐Yong Amy
Published: May 2020

Balint groups are increasingly offered to doctors in training, both to give support to the doctors and to develop a deeper empathic understanding of their patients, the family and the clinical team. We describe Balint groups; the history of such groups and current applications. Using material from groups we ran over a three‐year period, we consider practical and theoretical aspects of setting up short‐term, contemporary Balint groups for doctors working in four‐month psychiatric placements as part of their foundation or GP training in medicine. Current medical and psychiatric practice is gradually moving away from the dyadic doctor–patient relationship, with the use of wider team members and family as an integral part of patient care. In addition to the doctor–patient dyad traditionally explored in a Balint group we consider ways in which group analytic ideas have an important role to play. We consider that group analytic concepts enhance the Balint groups and add to the experience of those leading the groups. We describe how these can be used to illuminate unconscious factors within Balint and supervision groups. We use clinical vignettes to demonstrate some of our experiences, using both group analytic and Balint ideas.
Pandemics and Supply Chain Management Research: Toward a Theoretical Toolbox*
Authors: Craighead Christopher W. , Ketchen David J. , Darby Jessica L.
Published: May 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic paralyzed the world and revealed the critical importance of supply chain management—perhaps more so than any other event in modern history—in navigating crises. The extensive scope of disruption, massive spillover of effects across countries and industries, and extreme shifts in demand and supply that occurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic illustrate that pandemics are qualitatively different from typical disruptions. As such, pandemics require scholars to take a fresh look at what lenses offer understanding of supply chain phenomena in order to help supply chain managers better prepare for the next pandemic and foster transiliency (i.e., the ability to simultaneously restore some processes and change—often radically—others). To help scholars and managers achieve these aims, we offer an agenda for supply chain management research on pandemics by considering how the key tenets of well‐known and emergent theories can illuminate challenges and potential solutions. Specifically, we consider how resource dependence theory, institutional theory, resource orchestration theory, structural inertia, game theory, real options theory, event systems theory, awareness–motivation–capability framework, prospect theory, and tournament theory offer ideas that can help scholars build knowledge about pandemics’ effects on supply chains as well as help managers formulate responses.
Leaf size of woody dicots predicts ecosystem primary productivity
Authors: Li Yaoqi , Reich Peter B. , Schmid Bernhard , Shrestha Nawal , Feng Xiao , Lyu Tong , Maitner Brian S. , Xu Xiaoting , Li Yichao , Zou Dongting , Tan Zheng‐Hong , Su Xiangyan , Tang Zhiyao , Guo Qinghua , Feng Xiaojuan , Enquist Brian J. , Wang Zhiheng
Published: May 2020

A key challenge in ecology is to understand the relationships between organismal traits and ecosystem processes. Here, with a novel dataset of leaf length and width for 10 480 woody dicots in China and 2374 in North America, we show that the variation in community mean leaf size is highly correlated with the variation in climate and ecosystem primary productivity, independent of plant life form. These relationships likely reflect how natural selection modifies leaf size across varying climates in conjunction with how climate influences canopy total leaf area. We find that the leaf size‒primary productivity functions based on the Chinese dataset can predict productivity in North America and vice‐versa. In addition to advancing understanding of the relationship between a climate‐driven trait and ecosystem functioning, our findings suggest that leaf size can also be a promising tool in palaeoecology for scaling from fossil leaves to palaeo‐primary productivity of woody ecosystems.
Experimental tests of a seasonally changing visual preference for habitat in a long‐distance migratory shorebird
Authors: Kok Eva M. A. , Hogan Jerry A. , Piersma Theunis
Published: May 2020

Migratory shorebirds show highly organized seasonal cycles in physiological and morphological traits (body mass and composition, plumage, hormone levels, etc.), which in captivity is accompanied by restless behaviour at times when free‐living birds would start migration. We introduce the idea that seasonally changing preference for habitat could motivate migrants to embark on migration and that this cognitive process could also guide them to seasonally appropriate places. We explored this by testing whether red knots (Calidris canutus), which also in captivity maintain marked circannual phenotypic rhythms, show evidence of seasonal change in preference for pictures of seasonally appropriate habitats. We first developed a method to verify whether red knots are able to memorize and discriminate contrasting pictures projected by LCD projectors. This was followed by two different experiments in which we tested for a seasonally changing preference for breeding or non‐breeding habitat. When carried out during the pre‐breeding season, the red knots are expected to prefer pictures of mudflats, their non‐breeding habitat. At the start of the breeding season, they should prefer pictures of the tundra breeding habitat. We established that knots are able to distinguish and memorize projected images. We failed to demonstrate the predicted change in vision‐based habitat preference, but for reasons of test design we do not interpret this as a strong rejection of the hypothesis. Instead, we suggest that experiments with greater numbers of individuals tested once, perhaps in combination with the provision of additional cues such as smells and sounds, will help the development of these ideas further.
Targeting evolution to inhibit antibiotic resistance
Authors: Merrikh Houra , Kohli Rahul M.
Published: May 2020

Drug‐resistant bacterial infections have led to a global health crisis. Although much effort is placed on the development of new antibiotics or variants that are less subject to existing resistance mechanisms, history shows that this strategy by itself is unlikely to solve the problem of drug resistance. Here, we discuss inhibiting evolution as a strategy that, in combination with antibiotics, may resolve the problem. Although mutagenesis is the main driver of drug resistance development, attacking the drivers of genetic diversification in pathogens has not been well explored. Bacteria possess active mechanisms that increase the rate of mutagenesis, especially at times of stress, such as during replication within eukaryotic host cells, or exposure to antibiotics. We highlight how the existence of these promutagenic proteins (evolvability factors) presents an opportunity that can be capitalized upon for the effective inhibition of drug resistance development. To help move this idea from concept to execution, we first describe a set of criteria that an ‘optimal’ evolvability factor would likely have to meet to be a viable therapeutic target. We then discuss the intricacies of some of the known mutagenic mechanisms and evaluate their potential as drug targets to inhibit evolution. In principle, and as suggested by recent studies, we argue that the inhibition of these and other evolvability factors should reduce resistance development. Finally, we discuss the challenges of transitioning anti‐evolution drugs from the laboratory to the clinic.
Grazing by large herbivores improves soil microbial metabolic activity in a meadow steppe
Authors: Qu Tongbao , Guo Weiqiang , Yang Chengxi , Zhang Jianfeng , Yang Yurong , Wang Deli
Published: May 2020

Large herbivores grazing is a major disturbance that can cause significant changes of soil environment in grassland ecosystems. However, it remains unclear how soil microbial metabolic activity responses to different grazing intensities. We analyzed the relationships between soil microbial carbon source utilization and grazing intensity, and further assessed the main factors determining soil microbial metabolic activity in a meadow steppe. Soil samples were analyzed along different grazing intensities (no grazing, light grazing and heavy grazing) with community‐level physiological profiles (CLPP) using Biolog Eco‐plates incubation to estimate soil microbial carbon source utilization patterns. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was performed to explore the major factors influencing soil microbial metabolic activity in a five‐year grazing grassland in northeast of China. Grazing significantly improved soil microbial community carbon utilization and increased utilization of carbohydrates, amino acids, phenolic acids and amines, while significantly decreased utilization of carboxylic acids. Among edaphic properties and plant traits, plant density, total biomass (TB), soil water content (SW) and C:N ratio (C/N) were main driving forces contributing to the carbon source utilization structure of the soil microbial communities. Soil microbial metabolic activity was promoted by grazing through altering plant traits and abiotic soil properties, and soil‐related factors were primary and direct driving force for soil microbial metabolic activity in grasslands of northeast China. The present study demonstrated differential soil microbial responses along grazing intensities and has important applications for better management practices in the grassland ecosystem.
Use of human amniotic membrane repair of anterior urethral defect: First clinical report
Authors: Razzaghi Mohammadreza , Rahavian Amirhossein , Fallah Karkan Morteza , Allameh Farzad , Ghiasy Saleh , Javanmard Babak
Published: May 2020

Objective

To evaluate the use of human amniotic membrane allograft to prevent urethrocutaneous fistula after tubularized incised plate repair for redo‐hypospadias and anterior urethral defects.

Methods

This pilot study included 28 patients (mean age 25.3 ± 11 years) with a history of previous failed hypospadia repair, who underwent tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in one session by the same surgical team from April 2016 to April 2019. After the reconstruction of a neourethra and proper hemostasis, a human amniotic membrane allograft – Grafting Scaffold – was used to cover the suture lines.

Results

The mean follow‐up time was 13.3 ± 4.5 months. Two urethrocutaneous fistulas occurred within the first 2 weeks after the surgery, one of which was caused by the infection of the surgical site. No penile torsion, urethral diverticula, meatal stenosis or glans dehiscence was reported.

Conclusions

Amniotic membrane graft provides an applicable, low‐cost, feasible, biodegradable and safe second cover in redo‐hypospadias repairs by tubularized incised plate technique. Its use is technically easy; it has satisfactory cosmetic outcomes and might decrease urethrocutaneous fistula formation.
Aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal disorders in rural and remote Australia: the need for improved access to specialist advice
Authors: Gardiner Fergus W. , Bishop Lara , McMahon Kathryn , Nwose Ezekiel U. , Connor Susan , Begun Jakob , Andrews Jane M.
Published: May 2020

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) provides medical care to populations without access to traditional health‐care services. From 2014 to 2018 the RFDS conducted 6007 (≈1201/year) aeromedical retrievals for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. More detailed research is needed to determine specific GI disorders that contributed to this caseload, and in particular inform whether the establishment of a GI specialist service is justified.
Real story behind transvaginal mesh
Authors: King Jenny
Published: May 2020

Much of the debate over the use of transvaginal mesh for incontinence and prolapse has been conducted on social media, in the tabloid press and through a very public Senate inquiry. It has been a very emotionally charged debate with surgeons variously accused of scandalous behavior, financial impropriety, surgical experimentation and misogyny. What really happened, how did we get here and what can we learn from these complex events?
Olmesartan‐associated duodenal villous atrophy, an emerging clinical issue
Authors: Shukla Nupur , Moore Kylies , Gabb Genevieve M.
Published: May 2020

Duodenal villous atrophy with olmesartan was described in 2012, 10 years following registration of olmesartan. Clinical features are severe watery diarrhoea, usually occurring in association with weight loss. Onset is delayed, with a mean duration of prior exposure to olmesartan of 3 years. Diagnosis may be delayed. Symptoms resolve over weeks following cessation of olmesartan. Epidemiological studies suggest increased risk with olmesartan, rather than a class effect of all angiotensin receptor blockers. Post‐marketing surveillance for drug safety remains important.
Reduced glycemic variability and flexible graft function after islet transplantation: A case report
Authors: Nakamura Toshihiro , Fujikura Junji , Anazawa Takayuki , Ito Ryo , Ogura Masahito , Okajima Hideaki , Noguchi Hirofumi , Uemoto Shinji , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: May 2020

To date, studies of patients with islet transplantation addressing intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring profile and the flexibility of the graft islet function under different doses of insulin administration, both of which reflect the real daily life of patients, are quite limited. Here, we report a case of a 46‐year‐old woman who received islet transplantation after kidney transplantation. The patient was followed up over a period of 2 years after initial islet transplantation. Our results show that intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring can be useful for monitoring the reduction of glycemic variability, and suggest the appropriate regulation of insulin secretion from graft islets during mixed‐meal test by using different doses of exogenous insulin administration. Additionally, during the 2‐year observational period, glucagon elevation was detected only at hypoglycemia, whereas the level was within the normal range at normoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Effect of fat substitution using long‐chain inulin and fortification with microencapsulated calcium in the rheological and sensory properties of yogurt mousse
Authors: Gomez‐Betancur Ana M. , Carmona‐Tamayo Raquel , Martínez‐Álvarez Olga L. , Casanova‐Yepes Herley , Torres‐Oquendo Juan D.
Published: May 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fat substitution using long‐chain inulin and fortification with microencapsulated calcium carbonate in the overrun, rheological, and sensory properties of yogurt mousse by applying the response surface methodology. Large and small deformations, rheological tests, and sensory profiles by a multidimensional approach were performed to 19 experimental runs. Fat (0.0–8.0%), inulin (0.0–4.8%), and calcium (0.0–1.0%) were the independent variables; whereas overrun, rheological parameters, and sensory texture attributes were the response variables. The results indicated that inulin had a significant influence over all the rheological responses and creaminess of yogurt mousses; fat had important effects in the overrun and sensory texture, and calcium positively influenced the viscoelasticity and flow behavior of the product. The chalky texture was not affected by microencapsulated calcium. Finally, a formulation containing 2.8% fat, 4.8% inulin, and 1.0% microencapsulated calcium met rheological and sensory characteristics comparable to a full‐fat, non‐fortified yogurt mousse.

Practical Application

Fat substitution using long‐chain inulin and fortification with microencapsulated calcium carbonate in yogurt mousse could facilitate the development of dairy products with improved nutritional value, texture, and sensory quality. Inulin and microencapsulated calcium carbonate are functional ingredients that could increase the crosslinking interactions of the milk proteins in yogurt, enhancing yogurt texture. Moreover, inulin is a prebiotic polysaccharide that favors calcium bioavailability. Therefore, the knowledge of yogurt mousse rheological and sensory properties through varying the fat, inulin, and calcium content would provide valuable information in the manufacturing process of this product. The evidence presented in this study would be useful for the dairy industry in the development of reduced‐fat and mineral‐fortified products and predicting aerated desserts' texture.
Natural history of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in hemodialysis patients: A dual‐center long‐term cohort study
Authors: Niikura Ryota , Aoki Tomonori , Kojima Tetsu , Kawahara Takuya , Yamada Atsuo , Nakamura Hideyo , Inoue Kenji , Morikoshi Eita , Migita Raita , Shimizu Toshiko , Kojima Takeshi , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: May 2020

Background and Aim

Knowledge on the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in hemodialysis patients is limited. We evaluated the risk of GI bleeding in hemodialysis patients compared with non‐hemodialysis patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study from 1996 to 2017 at the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, and Horinouchi Hospital. We analyzed patients on hemodialysis for chronic renal failure and controls not on hemodialysis. The primary endpoint was GI bleeding. A survival analysis was performed to estimate the cumulative incidence and hazard ratio of GI bleeding.

Results

A total of 14 451 patients were analyzed (417 hemodialysis and 14 034 non‐hemodialysis patients). In total, 524 GI bleeding events occurred. Upper and lower GI bleeding occurred in 432 and 92 patients in the hemodialysis and non‐hemodialysis groups, respectively. The most frequent source of upper and lower GI bleeding was gastric ulcer and colonic diverticular bleeding, respectively. The cumulative incidence of GI bleeding was 4.44% at 1 year, 7.15% at 3 years, and 10.40% at 5 years in hemodialysis patients; the respective rates were 2.35%, 2.98%, and 3.79% in non‐hemodialysis patients during a mean follow‐up period of 3.5 years. Hemodialysis was significantly associated with an increased risk of GI bleeding after adjustment (hazard ratio 1.67, P = 0.01, 95% confidence interval 1.13–2.50).

Conclusions

Hemodialysis patients had a GI bleeding rate of 10% over 5 years, and hemodialysis was a risk factor for GI bleeding.
Expressions of glutathione S‐transferase alpha, mu, pi, and theta in the skin samples of patients with acne rosacea
Authors: Takci Zennure , Gunes Bilgili Serap , Kilic Murat , Oguztuzun Serpil , Bozer Busra , Guler Simsek Gulcin , Akbayrak Atiye , Yıldız Seckin Havva , Karadag Ayse Serap
Published: May 2020

Background

Data point to the importance of oxidative stress in rosacea. Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) have substantial roles in a wide variety of oxidative stress‐related conditions.

Aim

To evaluate the immunohistochemical staining characteristics of GST alpha (GSTA), mu (GSTM), pi (GSTP), and theta (GSTT) in patients with rosacea.

Patients/Methods

The study included 23 women and 7 men with rosacea (mean ± SD age 49 ± 11 year) and 15 healthy control subjects (10 women, 5 men; mean ± SD age 47.86 ± 10.88 year). For each patient, the average disease duration, disease subtype, ocular involvement, and severity score were recorded. A 3‐mm punch biopsy was taken from the facial skin of each patient and control. Expression of GST isoenzymes was analyzed immunohistochemically.

Results

Expressions of GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1 were significantly elevated in patients with rosacea compared to those in the control group (P = .0001, P = .0002, P < .0001, respectively). In the rosacea group, GSTT1 expression was significantly stronger than GSTP1 and GSTA1 expressions (P = .019, P < .0001, respectively). There were no significant associations between expressions of GST isoenzymes and gender, age, average duration of illness, disease subtype, ocular involvement, or severity score in the patient group (all P > .05).

Conclusions

In rosacea, the significant increase of GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTM1 expressions might result from activation of GST as an outcome of extreme free radical generation from triggered neutrophils or ultraviolet vulnerability. These findings support the relevance of oxidant stress in the pathogenesis of rosacea.
Modulation of skin androgenesis and sebum production by a dermocosmetic formulation
Authors: Crocco Elisete Isabel , Bonifácio Evellin Barbosa , Facchini Gustavo , da Silva Gustavo Henrique , da Silva Michelle Sabrina , Pinheiro Ana Lucia Tabarini Alves , Avelar Paula Voltarelli Franco , Eberlin Samara
Published: May 2020

Background

Excessive androgenesis in the skin promotes sebaceous hyperproduction which is the onset of acne vulgaris pathogenesis. Free fatty acids and lipid accumulation in the glandular infundibulum culminates in microbiota imbalance, triggering inflammatory response and follicular hyperkeratinization.

Aims

The purpose of this work was to present an alternative cosmetic treatment for acne skin care, focusing on the prevention of sebaceous gland dysregulation.

Methods

Insulin‐stimulated human sebocytes were treated with noncytotoxic concentrations of a DTRW cosmetic formulation. After 6 days of incubation, cell lysates were collected for testosterone, 5α‐reductase, and dyhidrotestosterone (DHT) quantitation. In parallel, cells were stained with Oil Red O to measure sebum production.

Results

Human sebocytes were incubated with insulin to mimic a seborrheic microenvironment with overproduction of intracellular lipids and fatty acids. Concomitant incubation of cell cultures with DRTW was able to promote a 52.97% reduction in intracellular lipid content. The anti‐androgenic properties of DRTW had been proved by the reductions of testosterone (↓59.90%), 5α reductase (↓59.34%), and DHT (↓55.98%) levels in sebocyte cultures also stimulated with insulin.

Conclusion

The results indicate a promising action of DRTW cosmetic formulation in preventing the development of acne lesions by mechanisms involving the modulation of cutaneous androgenesis and consequently the control of sebum overproduction, considered one of the leading causes of acne.
Açaí berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) dried extract improves ethanol-induced ulcer in rats
Authors: Cury Benhur Judah , Boeing Thaise , Somensi Lincon Bordignon , Mariano Luisa Nathália Bolda , de Andrade Sergio Faloni , Breviglieri Eduardo , Klein-Junior Luiz Carlos , de Souza Priscila , da Silva Luisa Mota
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) is widely consumed in Brazil and known for its numerous health-beneficial properties. This study investigated the gastroprotective potential of the dried açaí berries extract (DAE).

Methods

Dried açaí berries extract effect was evaluated against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Its ability to regulate antioxidant defenses and reduce inflammatory parameters was evaluated in the ulcerated tissues. The scavenger capability of DAE was assessed by DPPH assay, and phytochemical composition was accessed by UHPLC.

Key findings

The extract showed radical scavenger activity in vitro (IC50 = 210 µg/ml) and gastroprotective effect in vivo, reducing the ulcerated area by 83%, 67% and 48% at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg (p.o) and 3 mg/kg (i.p), respectively, compared with vehicle group. Besides, DAE (100 mg/kg, p.o) increased the GSH content and GST activity in ulcerated mucosa. Animals treated with DAE showed normalized levels of SOD activity, elevated CAT activity and decreased MPO activity, as well as reduced TNF-α levels, compared with vehicle group. Peonidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-rutinoside, cyanidin-3,5-hexoside-pentoside, cyaniding-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-rutinoside were identified in DAE.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that DAE reduces the inflammation and maintains the oxidative balance of gastric mucosa, therefore being a promising natural resource or useful nutraceutical to protect gastric mucosa.
Mound‐building ants increase the proportion of Gramineae in above‐ground vegetation and the soil seed bank in alpine meadows
Authors: Zhao Min , Yu Yingwen , Shi Ying , Mou Xiaoming , Degen Allan
Published: May 2020

Question

The impact of ants on the vegetation and soil seed bank of alpine meadows on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau is largely unknown. We questioned how the mound‐building ant, Camponotus herculeanus, affects the above‐ground vegetation, the soil seed bank and physico‐chemical properties of the soil.

Location

An alpine meadow in the northeast margin of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (37°40′ N, 102°32′ E), China.

Methods

We used field and greenhouse studies to determine the above‐ground vegetation parameters and soil physico‐chemical properties, and the soil seed bank composition under the mound (UM), the herbage circle at about 10 cm width around the outside of the mound (mound edge, ME) and the area 1 m from the center of the mound (control).

Results

(a) The mound edge had higher vegetation height, greater above‐ground biomass, lower vegetation coverage and lower plant richness than controls; (b) Gramineae had a higher total importance value, which was based on the height, coverage and biomass of each plant species, and composed a higher biomass proportion in the mound edge than in controls (68% vs. 38%), while most of the perennial dicotyledons were restricted to the controls; (c) dicotyledons were the main seed group in the 0–8 cm layer of soilUM (43%), soilME (51%) and soilcontrol (60%), while Gramineae had a significantly higher seed density and percentage of total seeds in the soilUM (16,507 ± 2,882.7 seeds/m3, 28.1%) than in the soilcontrol (4,200 ± 799.5 seeds/m3, 10.2%); and (d) soil in the 0–8 cm layer under the mound had lower water content and lower bulk density than soil on the mound edge and in controls.

Conclusions

Mound‐building activity of Camponotus herculeanus increased the proportion of Gramineae and decreased the proportion of dicotyledons at the site of the study indicating, that mound building could enhance the transformation of a grass and sedges community to mainly a grass community in the alpine meadow.
The Multiple Voices of the United Nations on the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan Crises: A Sociological Approach of International Organizations
Authors: Brun Élodie , Parthenay Kevin
Published: May 2020

Various United Nations organizations and representatives have released declarations about the deterioration of the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan situations since 2017. The United Nations Security Council, the General‐Secretary, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have been particularly active on these issues. The positions of the selected institutions and their representatives were diverse, and sometimes contradictory, and the polarized contexts in which such declarations have been made emphasized diversity. Based on a sociological approach of international organizations, this article demonstrates that the United Nations as an actor is not a coherent and unique entity. To understand the difficulties the organization faces in dealing with the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan crises, it seems indispensable to go beyond the traditional dichotomy between states and institutions, and power politics. Indeed, institutions are plural—the United Nations through states is conservative and cautious, whereas the United Nations through the individuals and staff is more assertive and critical of the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan governments.
Development and Human Rights in Bolivia: Advances, Contradictions, and Challenges
Authors: Bohoslavsky Juan Pablo
Published: May 2020

This article analyzes the economic and social policies implemented during the Evo Morales governments in Bolivia, which many scholars and social activists consider as a unique case of heterodox economic development. It seeks to contribute to the understanding of Bolivia’s development and economic process over the last decade from a human‐rights perspective, including challenges and contradictions. The questions covered include if there was social and economic inclusion during Evo Morales’ governments, and if so, to what extent; which main economic and social policies were implemented by the government to reduce poverty and inequality; and whether the socioeconomic model implemented was sustainable economically, financially, and environmentally. The article shows that from 2006 to 2019, Bolivia was successful in turning itself into a thriving economy in the region while reducing significantly poverty and inequality. Yet there has been an emerging need to reassess the economic and environmental sustainability of the prevailing model in view of the fiscal imbalance caused by the fall in oil commodity prices in 2014, the rapid loss of international reserves, increased public debt, high dependency on extractivism and limited economic diversification, a regressive tax system, and the large degree of informality in the economy. The discussion includes state agents’ brutal acts of repression against the population in the aftermath of the 2019 presidential elections.
The effect of green kiwifruit on gas transit and tolerance in healthy humans
Authors: Caballero Noemi , Benslaiman Bouchra , Ansell Juliet , Serra Jordi
Published: May 2020

Background

Green kiwifruit is a fiber‐rich fruit that has been shown effective for treatment of constipation. However, fermentation of fibers by colonic bacteria may worsen commonly associated gas‐related abdominal symptoms. Aim: To determine the effect of green kiwifruit on transit and tolerance to intestinal gas in humans.

Methods

In 11 healthy individuals, two gas challenge tests were performed (a) after 2 weeks on a low‐flatulogenic diet and daily intake of 2 green kiwifruits and (b) after 2 weeks on a similar diet without intake of kiwifruits. The gas challenge test consisted in continuous infusion of a mixture of gases into the jejunum at 12 mL/min for 2 hours while measuring rectal gas evacuation, abdominal symptoms, and abdominal distension. During the 2 weeks prior to each gas challenge test (on‐kiwifruit and off‐kiwifruit), the number and consistency of stools, and abdominal symptoms were registered.

Key Results

Intake of kiwifruits was associated with more bowel movements per day (1.8 ± 0.1 vs 1.5 ± 0.1 off‐kiwifruit; P = .001) and somewhat looser stools (Bristol score 3.3 ± 0.2 vs 2.8 ± 0.1 off‐kiwifruit; P = .072) without relevant abdominal symptoms. Gas infusion produced similar gas evacuation (1238 ± 254 mL and 1172 ± 290 mL; P = .4355), perception of symptoms (score 1.2 ± 0.2 and 1.3 ± 0.3; P = .2367), and abdominal distension (17 ± 7 mm and 17 ± 6 mm; P = .4704) while on‐kiwifruit or off‐kiwifruit.

Conclusions and Inferences

In healthy subjects, green kiwifruit increases stool frequency without relevant effects on intestinal gas transit and tolerance. If confirmed in patients, these fruits may provide a natural and well‐tolerated treatment alternative for constipation.
On Moderate Pluralism About Truth and Logic
Authors: Pedersen Nikolaj Jang Lee Linding
Published: May 2020

According to moderate truth pluralism, truth is both One and Many. There is a single truth property that applies across all truth‐apt domains of discourse, but instances of this property are grounded in different ways. Propositions concerning medium‐sized dry goods might be true in virtue of corresponding with reality while propositions pertaining to the law might be true in virtue of cohering with the body of law. Moderate truth pluralists must answer two questions concerning logic: (Q1) Which logic governs inferences concerning each truth‐apt domain considered separately? (Q2) Which logic governs inferences that involve several truth‐apt domains? This paper has three objectives. The first objective is to present and explain the moderate pluralist’s answers to (Q1) and (Q2). The second objective is to argue that there is a tension between these answers. The answer to (Q1) involves a commitment to a form of logical pluralism. However, reflection on the moderate truth pluralist’s answer to (Q2) shows that they are committed to taking logic to be topic neutrality. This, in turn, forces a commitment to logical monism. It would seem that the moderate truth pluralist cannot have it both ways. The third objective is constructive in nature. I offer an account of what moderate truth pluralists should say about logic and how they might resolve the tension in their view. I suggest that, just like moderate truth pluralists distinguish truth proper and “quasi‐truth,” they should endorse a distinction between logic proper and “quasi‐logic.” Quasi‐truth is truth‐like in the sense that instances of quasi‐truth ground instances of truth. Quasi‐logic is logic‐like in the sense that it concerns arguments that are necessarily truth‐preserving but are not generally so in a topic neutral way. I suggest that moderate truth pluralists should be monists about truth proper and logic proper but pluralists about quasi‐truth and quasi‐logic. This allows them to say that logic proper is topic neutral while still accommodating the idea that, for different domains, different arguments may be necessarily truth‐preserving.
The expression of opsins in the human skin and its implications for photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Suh Susie , Choi Elliot H. , Atanaskova Mesinkovska Natasha
Published: May 2020

Background

Skin is the organ most extensively exposed to light of a broad range of wavelengths. Several studies have reported that skin expresses photoreceptive molecules called opsins. However, the identity and functional role of opsins in the human skin remain elusive. We aim to summarize current scientific evidence on the types of opsins expressed in the skin and their biological functions.

Methods

A primary literature search was conducted using PubMed to identify articles on dermal opsins found in nonhuman animals and humans.

Results

Twenty‐two articles, representing, however, a non‐exhaustive selection of the scientific papers published in this specific field, met the inclusion criteria. In nonhuman animals, opsins and opsin‐like structures have been detected in the skin of fruit fly, zebrafish, frog, octopus, sea urchin, hogfish, and mouse, and they mediate skin color change, light avoidance, shadow reflex, and circadian photoentrainment. In humans, opsins are present in various skin cell types, including keratinocytes, melanocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and hair follicle cells. They have been shown to mediate wound healing, melanogenesis, hair growth, and skin photoaging.

Conclusion

Dermal opsins have been identified across many nonhuman animals and humans. Current evidence suggests that opsins have biological significance beyond light reception. In nonhuman animals, opsins are involved in behaviors that are critical for survival. In humans, opsins are involved in various functions of the skin although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Future investigation on elucidating the mechanism of dermal opsins will be crucial to expand the therapeutic benefits of photobiomodulation for various skin disorders.
BrandversusGeneric: Addressing Non-Adherence, Secular Trends and Non-Overlap
Authors: Hunt Lamar , Murimi Irene B. , Segal Jodi B. , Seamans Marissa J. , Scharfstein Daniel O. , Varadhan and Ravi
Published: May 2020

Whereas generic drugs offer a cost-effective alternative to brand name drugs, regulators need a method to assess therapeutic equivalence in a post-market setting. We develop such a method in the context of assessing the therapeutic equivalence of immediate release venlafaxine, based on a large insurance claims data set provided by OptumLabs\circledR. To address this question properly, our methodology must deal with issues of non-adherence, secular trends in health outcomes and lack of treatment overlap due to sharp uptake of the generic drug once it becomes available. We define, identify (under assumptions) and estimate (using G-computation) a causal effect for a time-to-event outcome by extending regression discontinuity to survival curves. We do not find evidence for a lack of therapeutic equivalence of brand and generic immediate release venlafaxine.
Searching for the “Sleeping Giant”: Racialized News Coverage of Latinos Pre‐2020 Elections
Authors: Gonzalez‐Sobrino Bianca
Published: May 2020

Latinos are often thought as potential game changers in the political world in the United States. As the media discusses and analyzes the 2016 election and the path to the 2020 elections, narratives on the role of Latinos leading up to the 2020 election have started to emerge. In this article, I seek to examine how U.S. daily newspapers frame the role of Latinos in the 2016 election and leading up to the 2020 elections. Previous literature has focused on the racialized media coverage of African American politicians and the effects of racial priming; however, extant literature has not explored how Latinos are framed in U.S. media when it comes to electoral politics. Using a sample of newspaper articles from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal, I found that newspapers largely focus on the demographic changes while operating under various assumptions about those changes. First, newspapers frame Latinos as more likely to vote for a politician if they are Latino. Second, they construct Latinos as a monolithic ethnoracial group that has simplistic interests in immigration. Third, Latino voters and African American voters are often lumped into the same category when discussing mobilization. These narratives continue a tradition of framing Latinos in monolithic ways, while also showing slight departures from previous narratives.
Genome‐wide analysis of polymorphisms identified domestication‐associated long low‐diversity region carrying important rice grain size/weight quantitative trait loci
Authors: Kumar Angad , Daware Anurag , Kumar Arvind , Kumar Vinay , Gopala Krishnan S , Mondal Subhasish , Patra Bhaskar C. , Singh Ashok K. , Tyagi Akhilesh K. , Parida Swarup K. , Thakur Jitendra K.
Published: May 2020

Rice grain size and weight are major determinants of grain quality and yield and so have been under rigorous selection since domestication. However, the genetic basis for contrasting grain size/weight trait among Indian germplasms and their association with domestication‐driven evolution is not well understood. In this study, two long (LGG) and two short grain (SGG) genotypes were resequenced. LGG (LGR and PB 1121) differentiated from SGG (Sonasal and Bindli) by 504 439 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 78 166 insertion‐and‐deletion polymorphisms. The LRK gene cluster was different and a truncation mutation in the LRK8 kinase domain was associated with LGG. Phylogeny with 3000 diverse rice accessions revealed that the four sequenced genotypes belonged to the japonica group and were at the edge of the clades indicating them to be the potential source of genetic diversity available in Indian rice germplasm. Six SNPs were significantly associated with grain size/weight and the top four of these could be validated in mapping a population, suggesting this study as a valuable resource for high‐throughput genotyping. A contiguous long low‐diversity region (LDR) of approximately 6 Mb carrying a major grain weight quantitative trait loci (harbouring OsTOR gene) was identified on Chromosome 5. This LDR was identified as an evolutionary important site with significant positive selection and multiple selection sweeps, and showed association with many domestication‐related traits, including grain size/weight. The aus population retained more allelic variations in the LDR than the japonica and indica populations, suggesting it to be one of the divergence loci. All the data and analyses can be accessed from the RiceSzWtBase database.
Design of Teacher Training Curricula in the Area of Didactic Technological Competences: Results of the Pilot Research
Authors: Záhorec Ján
Published: May 2020

The author in the contribution presents a conceptual and methodological background of a research aimed at improving pre-graduate teacher training in the area of didactic technological competences. The main goal of the prepared research is to modernize and optimize relevant parts of study programs of teacher trainees at Slovak higher education institutions, i.e. to optimize inclusion of the relevant subjects into the study programs, as to both their content and time allocation. Following this goal, in the first phase of the research, there has been prepared a questionnaire survey of the current state and perspectives of the continuing professional development of primary and secondary school teachers contributing to their didactic technological competences improvement and development. In the paper, there are summarized main results of the pilot test of the created questionnaire, the purpose of which was to verify the questionnaire reliability. The data gathered in the pilot test were processed and the reliability of the created questionnaire was approved by means of reliability/item analysis. The total reliability of the questionnaire was calculated through the Cronbach alpha coefficient. The obtained results show a high level of the internal consistency of the created research tool and ensure a reliability of the broader research data collection which will follow.
Hydrogen Production From Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Authors: Shinoki Toshio , Kamizono Masaaki , Katagiri Koshi , Kusumi Masaki , Takeda Yasuyoshi , Tanigawa Hirochika , Hirata Katsuya
Published: May 2020

The authors develop a small and simple steam-reforming reactor in a home-use size for such various heavy-hydrocarbons fuels as n-octane, n-decane, n-tetradecane, and n-hexadecane in addition to n-dodecane and measure the inside-temperature profile and the molar fractions of main-gas components such as H2, CH4, CO, and CO2. This reactor is designed only for laboratory-test use, not for a commercial product. As a result, the authors successfully achieve suitable inside-temperature profiles, namely, temperature almost linearly increases in the downstream direction along a reactor, under two conditions such as 600–950 K at the upstream end of the catalyst-layer bed in the reactor and less than 1070 K everywhere in the reactor. And, the authors reveal the effects of the liquid-hourly space velocity (LHSV) upon the molar fractions, a conversion ratio and reforming efficiencies for various heavy-hydrocarbons fuels. All the molar fractions, which agree well with thermochemical-equilibrium theory, are approximately independent of LHSV. The conversion ratio is about 90% for LHSV ≤ 0.6 h−1 and monotonically decreases with increasing LHSV for LHSV > 0.6 h−1. Then, each reforming efficiency always attains the maximum for LHSV ≈ 0.6 h−1 being independent of fuels. This suggests the common upper limit of LHSV for practically suitable operation.
An Efficient Galerkin Averaging-Incremental Harmonic Balance Method Based on the Fast Fourier Transform and Tensor Contraction
Authors: Ju Ren , Fan Wei , Zhu Weidong
Published: May 2020

An efficient Galerkin averaging-incremental harmonic balance (EGA-IHB) method is developed based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and tensor contraction to increase efficiency and robustness of the IHB method when calculating periodic responses of complex nonlinear systems with non-polynomial nonlinearities. As a semi-analytical method, derivation of formulae and programming are significantly simplified in the EGA-IHB method. The residual vector and Jacobian matrix corresponding to nonlinear terms in the EGA-IHB method are expressed using truncated Fourier series. After calculating Fourier coefficient vectors using the FFT, tensor contraction is used to calculate the Jacobian matrix, which can significantly improve numerical efficiency. Since inaccurate results may be obtained from discrete Fourier transform-based methods when aliasing occurs, the minimal non-aliasing sampling rate is determined for the EGA-IHB method. Performances of the EGA-IHB method are analyzed using several benchmark examples; its accuracy, efficiency, convergence, and robustness are analyzed and compared with several widely used semi-analytical methods. The EGA-IHB method has high efficiency and good robustness for both polynomial and non-polynomial nonlinearities, and it has considerable advantages over the other methods.
Nonlinear Response Identification of an Asymmetric Bistable Harvester Excited at Different Bias Angles by Multiscale Entropy and Recurrence Plot
Authors: Wang Wei , Cao Junyi , Bowen Chris R. , Litak Grzegorz
Published: May 2020

Due to their high sensitivity to excitations with low intensity, bistable energy harvesting systems have received significant attention. In practical applications, it is difficult to achieve a bistable energy harvester (BEH) with a perfectly symmetric potential energy function. Moreover, gravity acts to exert a significant influence on the output response of a BEH oscillator when excited at different bias angles. Therefore, the experimental output voltage time-series of an asymmetric potential BEH are examined in this paper. The BEH studied here was composed of a cantilever beam, two piezo-electric layers at the root and two magnets at the end, and was subjected to harmonic excitations at different bias angles. The energy harvesting system exhibited intrawell, periodic, and chaotic snap-through vibrational patterns under different excitation frequencies at different bias angles explored. To better understand the multiple dynamic behaviors of the system corresponding to different power outputs, we identify the output voltage response by the methods of multiscale entropy (MSE) and recurrence plots. Results indicate that periodic and chaotic vibrational patterns can be readily distinguished by the methods employed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the bias angle had a significant influence on the output power of the asymmetric potential BEH.
Role of organic molecules in enabling modern technology
Authors: Caroca Eric , Sandoval Tania
Published: May 2020

The adsorption of organic molecules on surfaces has played an important role in the development of key technologies available today. These molecules provide unique functionalities and properties to the surface that will not exist otherwise. This article will focus on identifying the role of small organic molecules in applications related to energy, sensing, and electronics. Specifically, the authors explore the use of these molecules in improving biocompatibility, stability, conductivity, and passivation properties of surfaces. The authors aim to provide an understanding of how organic molecules have enabled and promoted modern technologies, and to elucidate the connection that exists between fundamental understanding of molecular adsorption and current applications.
Ferroelectret-based flexible transducers: A strategy for acoustic levitation and manipulation of particles
Authors: Xue Yuan , Zhang Xiaoqing , Chadda Romol , Sessler Gerhard M. , Kupnik Mario
Published: May 2020

Advanced acoustic levitation devices featuring flexible, lightweight, wide bandwidth, and film-like transducers based on ferroelectrets are designed and fabricated for sophisticated manipulation of particles in a simple way. Owing to the unique properties of ferroelectret films, such as high piezoelectric activity, very small acoustic impedance, a relatively large damping ratio, flexibility, a large area, and small density, the levitator reported features a wider bandwidth compared to ceramic-based levitators. The transportation of levitated particles is achieved by deformation of the film transducer, which represents a different and promising concept for this task.