bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lightning Data Assimilation Scheme in a 4DVAR System and Its Impact on Very Short-Term Convective Forecasting
Authors: Xiao Xian , Sun Juanzhen , Qie Xiushu , Ying Zhuming , Ji Lei , Chen Mingxuan , Zhang Lina
Published: November 2020

A proof-of-concept method for the assimilation of total lightning observations in the 4DVAR framework is proposed and implemented into the Variational Doppler Radar Analysis System (VDRAS). Its performance is evaluated for the very short-term precipitation forecasts of a localized convective event over northeastern China. The lightning DA scheme assimilated pseudo-observations for vertical velocity fields derived from observed total lightning rates and statistically computed vertical velocity profile from VDRAS analysis data. To reduce representative errors of the derived vertical velocity, a distance-weighted horizontal interpolation is applied to the input data prior to the DA. The case study reveals that although 0–2-h precipitation nowcasts are improved by assimilating lightning data alone compared to CTRL (no radar or lightning) and RAD (radar only), better results are obtained when the lightning data are assimilated with radar data simultaneously. The assimilation of both data sources results in improved dynamical consistency with enhanced updraft and latent heat as well as improved moisture distributions. Additional experiments are conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of the combined DA scheme to varied vertical velocity profiles, radii of horizontal interpolation, binning time intervals, and relationships used to estimate the maximum vertical velocity from lightning flash rates. It is shown that the scheme is robust to these variations with both radar and lightning assimilated data.
Impact of Increasing Horizontal and Vertical Resolution during the HWRF Hybrid EnVar Data Assimilation on the Analysis and Prediction of Hurricane Patricia (2015)
Authors: Feng Jie , Wang Xuguang
Published: November 2020

Although numerous studies have demonstrated that increasing model spatial resolution in free forecasts can potentially improve tropical cyclone (TC) intensity forecasts, studies on the impact of model resolution during data assimilation (DA) on TC prediction are lacking. In this study, using the ensemble-variational DA system for the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Model, we investigated the individual impact of increasing the model resolution of first guess (FG) and background ensemble (BE) forecasts during DA on initial analyses and subsequent forecasts of Hurricane Patricia (2015). The impacts were compared between horizontal and vertical resolutions and also between the tropical storm (TS) and hurricane assimilation during Patricia. The results show that increasing the horizontal or vertical resolution in FG has a larger impact than increasing the resolution in BE on improving the analyzed TC intensity and structure for the hurricane stage. The result is reversed for the TS stage. These results are attributed to the effectiveness of increasing the FG resolution in intensifying the background vortex for the hurricane stage relative to the TS stage. Increasing the BE resolution contributes to improving the analyzed intensity through the better-resolved background correlation structure for both the hurricane and TS stages. Increasing horizontal resolution has an overall larger effect than increasing vertical resolution in improving the analysis at the hurricane stage and their effects are close for the analysis at the TS stage. Additionally, the more accurately analyzed primary circulation, secondary circulation, and warm-core structures via the increased resolution in DA lead to improved TC intensity forecasts.
The Reassertion of the Regulatory Welfare State: A Preface
Authors: Benish Avishai , Levi-Faur David
Published: November 2020

The preface presents the main themes of this special issue. It starts by presenting the argument that the welfare state and the regulatory state are not dichotomies, arguing that both regulation and fiscal transfers for social purposes are increasing, particularly after the financial crisis of 2007, the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 crisis. Then it moves to introduce the articles that compose this special issue, their arguments, and their theoretical and empirical contributions.
Quiet Politics of Employment Protection Legislation? Partisan Politics, Electoral Competition, and the Regulatory Welfare State
Authors: Voigt Linda , Zohlnhöfer Reimut
Published: November 2020

Political parties and party competition have been important factors in the expansion and retrenchment of the fiscal welfare state, but researchers have argued that regulatory welfare is not part of political debate among parties. We explore this claim theoretically, and then empirically examine it in the case of employment protection legislation (EPL) in twenty-one established democracies since 1985. EPL is a mature and potentially salient instrument of the regulatory welfare state that has experienced substantial retrenchment. We test three prominent mechanisms of how electoral competition conditions partisan effects: the composition of Left parties’ electorates, the strength of pro-EPL parties, and the emphasis put on social justice by pro-EPL parties. We find that the partisan politics of EPL is conditioned by electoral competition under only very specific circumstances, namely when blame sharing becomes possible in coalitions between EPL supporters.
“Bloody Wonder Woman!”: Identity performances of elite women entrepreneurs on Instagram
Authors: Heizmann Helena , Liu Helena
Published: November 2020

Critical scholarship has challenged traditional assumptions of entrepreneurship as a ‘neutral’ economic activity, demonstrating instead how entrepreneurship is a cultural phenomenon. In particular, enterprise culture has been exposed as fundamentally masculinist, so that women entrepreneurs are said to be measured against gendered values and ideals. What remains relatively unexplored, however, are the ways the identity performances of women entrepreneurs on social media reflect and reproduce inequalities that extend beyond gender. In this article, we examine how highly privileged Australian women entrepreneurs perform their identities on Instagram. In applying intersectionality theory, our study finds that the entrepreneurs produced idealised feminine identities by leveraging the intersections of white, elite-class, heteronormative, able-bodied power within a broader neoliberal discourse. In doing so, our analysis points to how romanticised ideals of women’s economic empowerment in digital spaces may obscure the perpetuation of systemic and structural oppression.
On Leadership: Superintendents must be willing to take the heat
Authors: Starr Joshua P.
Published: November 2020

A superintendent’s role is often less about doing the work of educating all students than about creating conditions that enable others to do that work. This is especially true when it comes to potentially controversial efforts, such as initiatives to improve equity. In those cases, the superintendent must often serve as a buffer, protecting the principals and teachers who are implementing the agenda from those who are likely to object. PDK CEO Joshua Starr explains how superintendents can serve as buffers in the areas of teaching and learning, community engagement, policy, and resource allocation.
Influence of boundary conditions on three-dimensional vibration characteristics of thick rectangular plates
Authors: Zhang Yufei , Du Jingtao
Published: November 2020

Vibration analysis of the classical elastic structures is not only essential for the study of vibration reduction by predicting the dynamic behavior, but also important to ensure a reliable, safe, and lasting structural performance through the proper design procedure. In this paper, the influence of boundary conditions on the free and forced three-dimensional vibration analysis of thick rectangular plates has been performed using the improved Fourier series method. For the elastically restrained thick rectangular plate, the three-dimensional improved Fourier series displacement forms are used to model the vibration field. The energy formula is employed to describe the three-dimensional dynamics of the plate. All the unknown Fourier series coefficients are then solved by the Rayleigh-Ritz method. In order to validate the proposed model, several numerical examples are provided and compared against the results from the literature and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In addition, the effects of the boundary restraining spring stiffness and the thickness ratios of thick rectangular plates are analyzed under elastically restrained boundary conditions to develop an in-depth understanding of the three-dimensional vibration characteristics of thick rectangular plates.
Study on the velocity characteristics of spiral flow in pipeline with different numbers of guide bars installed on the surface of the piped vehicle body
Authors: Li Yongye , Yuan Gao , Tao Zhang , Sun Xihuan , Zhang Xuelan
Published: November 2020

The piped hydraulic transportation of tube-contained raw material is a new low-carbon and environmental protection technique for transporting materials. The velocity characteristics of the spiral flow in the pipe with different numbers of guide bars installed on the surface of the piped vehicle body during piped hydraulic transportation of tube-contained raw material were studied by the theoretical analysis and model test. In the test, the numbers of guide bars placed on the surface of the piped vehicle body was respectively 3, 4, 5, and 6, and the studied sections were the section of the piped vehicle body and its rear section, and the flow discharge was 40 m3/h. The results showed that as the number of guide bars increased, the axial velocity of the section of the piped vehicle body increased gradually, while the axial velocity of the rear section of the piped vehicle reduced first and then increased. The section circumferential and radial flow velocity of the piped vehicle body and its rear section both increased first and then reduced. When the number of guide bars installed on the surface of the piped vehicle body was 4, the section circumferential flow velocity of the piped vehicle body and its rear section reached the maximum value, and their distributions were relatively uniform. The results offer theoretical basis so that we can optimize the structure of the piped vehicle and further popularize the piped hydraulic transportation technique of tube-contained raw material.
The virtual stages of hate: Using Goffman’s work to conceptualise the motivations for online hate
Authors: Kilvington Daniel
Published: November 2020

Cyber hate is increasing. Every 30 seconds, a woman, somewhere, receives an abusive comment on Twitter (Amnesty International). And, it is estimated that around 20% of college students in the United States have been cyber-bullied. This article explores the motivational factors encouraging online hate and abuse. It will draw on Goffman’s seminal work, The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life, to critically understand online communication, interaction and behaviour. It will define virtual frontstages and virtual backstages. By critically understanding the different characteristics of online and offline communication, it will help us comprehend how Goffman’s dramaturgical model is compromised when applied to online communication. Therefore, the work attempts to update this model, illustrating that virtual stages have blurred which affects behaviours, and exacerbates performances of hate online. As a result, many online platforms have become Virtual Stages of Hate.
Media Rituals and Memory: Exploring the Historical Phenomenology of American Local Television
Authors: Hutchison Phillip J.
Published: November 2020

For more than two decades during the mid-20th century, local entertainment television shaped daily experience across the United States. Although often viewed as trivial by historians, these extinct television genres offer valuable insights into the relationship among media technology, historical consciousness, and cultural memory. Emergent theories of historical phenomenology help facilitate and expand such insights. The phenomenological perspective, which focuses on the sensory experience of media technology in historical settings, illustrates how audience memories inform the historical significance of this programming. The present study utilizes insights from ethnographic data and historical recordings to fortify its findings.
The Clinically Important Difference and Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State for Commonly Used Patient-Reported Outcomes After Knee Cartilage Repair
Authors: Chahal Jaskarndip , Lansdown Drew A. , Davey Annabelle , Davis Aileen M. , Cole Brian J.
Published: November 2020

Background:

In patients undergoing cartilage restoration of the knee, limited information is available regarding clinically important difference (CID) and Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) estimates for commonly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to determine the CID and PASS in the population with knee cartilage restoration for the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) score, and the Lysholm score.

Study Design:

Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Between 2012 and 2017, patients who underwent a cartilage restoration procedure were prospectively enrolled. Patients completed the KOOS, IKDC, and Lysholm, all of which were scored from 0 to 100, and completed relevant anchor questions at baseline and 1 year postoperatively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to determine CID and PASS cutoff points. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to determine the effect of age, sex, and baseline score on likelihood of achieving CID and PASS.

Results:

Of the 113 patients enrolled, 53 (47%) were male, and the mean age was 36 years. The CID values for the PROMs were 10.7 for KOOS Symptoms, 8.3 for KOOS Pain, 8.8 for KOOS Activities of Daily Living (ADL), 30.0 for KOOS Sports and Recreation, 18.8 for KOOS Quality of Life (QOL), 9.2 for IKDC, and 13.0 for Lysholm. The PASS values were 71.5 for KOOS Symptoms, 72.2 for KOOS Pain, 86.8 for KOOS ADL, 43.8 for KOOS Sports and Recreation, 50.0 for KOOS QOL, 62.1 for IKDC, and 70.0 for Lysholm. Patients with higher baseline scores were more likely to achieve PASS for the IKDC (odds ratio, 2.28; P = .03). Baseline score did not have an effect on the likelihood of achieving CID. Younger age was an independent predictor of achieving PASS and CID across all outcomes ( P < .05), but sex did not have such an effect.

Conclusion:

This study determined CID and PASS values for the KOOS, IKDC, and Lysholm scores among patients treated with knee cartilage restoration. Younger age was a positive prognostic variable, and higher baseline scores implied achieving PASS for the IKDC. The information in this study can be used in designing randomized controlled trials, counseling individual patients as to anticipated outcomes, and conducting responder analyses when evaluating new cartilage technology from a regulatory perspective.
Decellularization of porcine carotid arteries using low-concentration sodium dodecyl sulfate
Authors: Cheng Jin , Li Ji , Cai Zhiwen , Xing Yuehao , Wang Cong , Guo Lianrui , Gu Yongquan
Published: November 2020

Background:

The decellularized scaffold is a promising material for producing tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) because of its complex, native-like three-dimensional structure and mechanical properties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), one of the most commonly used decellularization reagents, appears to be more effective than other detergents for removing cells from dense tissues. The concentrations of SDS used in previous studies and their effects on decellularization are not consistent.

Methods:

In this study, porcine carotid arteries were decellularized using detergent-based protocols using Triton X-100 followed by SDS at different concentrations and exposing time. Cell removal efficiency and composition were evaluated by histological analysis, and DNA and collagen quantification. Ultrastructure, mechanical properties, pore size distribution, and in vivo biocompatibility of decellularized arteries were also evaluated.

Results:

The DNA content of decellularized scaffolds treated with 0.3% SDS for 72 h or 0.5% SDS for 48 h was significantly less than that treated with 1% SDS for 30 h. There was a significant loss of soluble collagen after treatment with 1% SDS relative to native arteries. The extensive loss of elastin and glycosaminoglycans was observed in decellularized arteries treated with 0.5% SDS or 1% SDS. The basement membrane and biomechanics were also damaged by these two protocols. Moreover, decellularized scaffolds became more porous with many large pores after treatment with 0.3% SDS.

Conclusion:

Low-concentration SDS could be a suitable choice for artery decellularization. Decellularized porcine carotid arteries, prepared using Triton X-100 followed by 0.3% SDS, may be a promising biological scaffold for TEVGs.
Chatter stability analysis of variable speed milling with helix angled cutters
Authors: Xiong Bin , Wei Yuan , Gu Dan , Zhao Dongfang , Wang Baoqiang , Liu Shulin
Published: November 2020

The number of factors considered in the establishing of chatter model for regenerative chatter would directly affect the accuracy of numerical analysis. In this paper, considering the helix angle of cutter, the establishment method of three degrees of freedom complex model is investigated synthetically. An improved semi-discretization method is adopted for the prediction of milling stability of variable speed milling with helix angle. The influences of milling cutter helix angle, radial immersion rate and variable speed modulation coefficient on chatter suppression in milling process are studied. The results show that the selection of milling cutters with different helix angles has a certain influence on the overall chatter stability, especially the effect cannot be ignored under local special machining conditions. Excessive radial immersion rate will increase the probability of chatter. Compared with constant speed milling, the chatter can be suppressed obviously by variable speed milling, and the selection of variable speed modulation coefficient will directly affect the suppression effect of chatter.
Driving-behavior-oriented trajectory planning for autonomous vehicle driving on urban structural road
Authors: Zeng Dequan , Yu Zhuoping , Xiong Lu , Zhao Junqiao , Zhang Peizhi , Li Yishan , Xia Lang , Wei Ye , Li Zhiqiang , Fu Zhiqiang
Published: November 2020

A novel driving-behavior-oriented method is proposed in this paper for improving trajectory planning performance of autonomous vehicle driving on urban structural road. Differ from the irregularity and unpredictability of escaping a maze or travelling on off-road, the driving on road emphasizes more on the compliance of road traffic rules and the satisfaction of passenger comfort rather than purely pursuing the shortest route or the shortest time. Therefore, the driving-behavior-oriented framework is employed in trajectory planning, which divides trajectory into lane change, turn and U-turn, according to the basic traffic rules and the daily behaviors of drivers. The presented approach mainly includes basic path planning, fast-bias RRT path planning and velocity planning. The basic path planning consists of lane change, turn and U-turn behaviors, which generates smooth path with continuous curvature. In order to ensure the completeness of the programming algorithm, a fast-bias RRT (FB-RRT) algorithm is embedded. As guiding by the driving behavior, normal random, goal-bias and Gaussian sampling strategies are fused to form FB-RRT, which could make the best use of the basic path planning and reduce the randomness of node’s extension to save the computation time. After collision-free path generating, cubic polynomial curve is employed to schedule velocity profile for coping with vehicle stability requirements, actuator constraints and comfort conditions. The planner has been tested in simulation and a real vehicle in various typical scenarios. Test results illustrate that the presented method could generate a trajectory with controllable extrema of curvature as well as with continuous and smooth enough curvature. Besides, generated trajectory has short length, high success rate (no less than 80% average success rate in complex environment) and real time (the average period is less than 100 ms). Moreover, the velocity profile meets the vehicle stability requirements, actuator constraints, and comfort conditions.
An adaptive prediction method based on data stream mining for future driving cycle of vehicle
Authors: Liu Cong , Chen Yong , Zhao Li
Published: November 2020

Due to complex and changeable driving cycles in urban roads, it is a challenging task for most of the current control strategies utilized in vehicles to adapt to the driving environment. At the same time, hardware requirements for storing and processing a massive amount of streaming data are increasing, which lead to excessive accumulated errors and high computational cost. To deal with this problem, an innovative prediction method, which is based on Markov chain and data stream mining, is proposed to predict the future driving cycle of vehicles. State transition probability matrix is updated in real time with data stream mining technology, and every time a new record arrives, the expired record is replaced by the new arrived one in the memory, and both state division and the sizes of the sliding window can be adjusted adaptively based on prediction accuracy for the changing driving cycles. The results show that the proposed method is more suitable for predicting changing driving cycles, which is able to maintain better prediction accuracy than the traditional method. In addition, based on the proposed method, the memory space utilized for storing temporary records were saved largely, and the calculation resource required was reduce.
Getting Indonesia’s HIV epidemic to zero? One size does not fit all
Authors: Gedela Keerti , Wirawan Dewa Nyoman , Wignall Frank Stephen , Luis Hendry , Merati Tuti Parwati , Sukmaningrum Evi , Irwanto Irwanto
Published: November 2020

Indonesia has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world. AIDS related deaths in Indonesia have not fallen and have increased significantly since 2010. HIV infection rates remain high and rising in key affected populations. We provide an on the ground, evidence-based perspective of the challenges Indonesia faces. We discuss what is required to adopt tailored public health approaches that address context specific challenges, confront structural barriers and the heterogeneity of the current evolving HIV epidemic.
The Truth Is Out There: Accuracy in Recall of Verifiable Real-World Events
Authors: Diamond Nicholas B. , Armson Michael J. , Levine Brian
Published: November 2020

How accurate is memory? Although people implicitly assume that their memories faithfully represent past events, the prevailing view in research is that memories are error prone and constructive. Yet little is known about the frequency of errors, particularly in memories for naturalistic experiences. Here, younger and older adults underwent complex real-world experiences that were nonetheless controlled and verifiable, freely recalling these experiences after days to years. As expected, memory quantity and the richness of episodic detail declined with increasing age and retention interval. Details that participants did recall, however, were highly accurate (93%–95%) across age and time. This level of accuracy far exceeded comparatively low estimations among memory scientists and other academics in a survey. These findings suggest that details freely recalled from one-time real-world experiences can retain high correspondence to the ground truth despite significant forgetting, with higher accuracy than expected given the emphasis on fallibility in the field of memory research.
Personality Changes Predict Early Career Outcomes: Discovery and Replication in 12-Year Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Hoff Kevin A. , Einarsdóttir Sif , Chu Chu , Briley Daniel A. , Rounds James
Published: November 2020

In this research, we examined whether personality changes from adolescence to young adulthood predicted five early career outcomes: degree attainment, income, occupational prestige, career satisfaction, and job satisfaction. The study used two representative samples of Icelandic youth (Sample 1: n = 485, Sample 2: n = 1,290) and measured personality traits over 12 years (ages ~17 to 29 years). Results revealed that certain patterns of personality growth predicted career outcomes over and above adolescent trait levels and crystallized ability. Across both samples, the strongest effects were found for growth in emotional stability (income and career satisfaction), conscientiousness (career satisfaction), and extraversion (career satisfaction and job satisfaction). Initial trait levels also predicted career success, highlighting the long-term predictive power of personality. Overall, our findings show that personality has important effects on early career outcomes—both through stable trait levels and how people change over time. We discuss implications for public policy, for theoretical principles of personality development, and for young people making career decisions.
The state of the study of the market in political economy: China’s rise shines light on conceptual shortcomings
Authors: Massot Pascale
Published: November 2020

The minimalist, atomistic classical liberal definition of markets is dominant in the global political economy literature, if often implicitly so. But major shifts are occurring in the 21st century, including China’s rise, which highlight the deficiencies of this definition and challenge us to develop fresh tools to conceptualize global markets. There are three ways in which China’s emergence challenges established market conceptualizations: the continued resilience of China’s authoritarian state-led capitalist economic model, China’s positioning around notions of power and fairness in the global economy, and China’s mixed preferences regarding global markets. The study of China’s rise, far from only impressing upon us how different China is, shines a light on dynamics that are prevalent everywhere, yet suffer from a lack of attention. This paper argues that the political economy literature is limiting the development of richer conceptualizations of the market because it operates within three conceptual ‘straitjackets’: the notion of the pure market as ideal- type, the state-market dichotomy and the notion of a sequential progression towards a market economy. The fact that markets are an underdefined concept deprives us of useful tools for elucidating important questions about markets in the global economy and limits our capacity to evaluate China’s impact on global markets. Drawing from diverse literatures, from comparative politics, to classical political economy and economic sociology, this paper develops an institutionally grounded set of tools, including a list of characteristics and a typology, to define, evaluate and compare markets, and inspire others to contribute to the endeavour.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in emergency department: How to treat?
Authors: Gulen Muge , Satar Salim , Acehan Selen , Avci Akkan , Kaya Adem , Sener Kemal , Isikber Cem
Published: November 2020

Background:

The treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has not been well studied. Many clinicians are indifferent about canalith reposition maneuvers and frequently prefer medical treatments.

Objectives:

We aimed to detect efficacy of Epley maneuver in relieving symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients diagnosed in emergency department and if medical treatments are useful in patients whose symptoms were not relieved.

Methods:

The study was conducted as a prospective cohort study in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Patients who were over 18 years of age and presented to emergency department with complaints of vertigo symptoms and nausea and had a positive Dix–Hallpike test were included in the study. Patients’ demographic data, possible etiological factors, affected ear, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis in the history were recorded on the study data form. The European Evaluation of Vertigo scale and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of nausea and vertigo symptoms were graded and recorded for each patient before and after treatment.

Results:

Ninety patients were included in the study in total. Epley maneuver was carried out to all patients. Vertigo symptoms VAS (VASd) score (p < 0.001), nausea and vomiting VAS (VASnv) score (p < 0.001), and European Evaluation of Vertigo scale score (p < 0.001) of all patients showed a statistically significant decrease after Epley maneuver. A combination of dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide helped to reduce VASd (p = 0.048), VASnv (p = 0.031), and European Evaluation of Vertigo scale scores (p = 0.001) at a statistically significant level more than dimenhydrinate treatment alone.

Conclusions:

Epley maneuver may be applied to every patient with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Dimenhydrinate and/or metoclopramide helps to control patients’ symptoms whose symptoms remain despite Epley maneuver.
Looking Backward to Charter Schools
Authors: Tanner Daniel
Published: November 2020

Charter schools are promoted as a contemporary American invention. But the documented history reveals that charter schools actually evolved over the centuries in England, structured to reflect the highly stratified British class system. The last stand to hold onto the charter-school system in England was waged by Margaret Thatcher under the banner of “parental choice.” But her campaign went down to defeat as the British public opted for the American-style, inclusive and comprehensive secondary school. The charter-school movement raises the clear and present danger of splitting up the American unitary, comprehensive school system at cost to the American democratic experience.
Therapeutic Intervention for Couples Experiencing Infertility: An Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Approach
Authors: Brigance Clayton A. , Brown Emily C. , Cottone R. Rocco
Published: November 2020

The psychological and societal intersectionalities of infertility may give way to a complicated pattern of grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma for couples. Current literature on specific interventions for mixed gender couples undergoing infertility treatments notes significant improvements for couples who enact meaning-based coping mechanisms and who have more effective dyadic communication. Emotionally focused couples therapy provides an avenue to engage meaning-based coping strategies proposed by current research while also expressing the partners’ unique emotional experiences through their own stories. This article presents a specific, emotionally focused counseling approach for couples experiencing infertility; it also lists general implications for practice and makes recommendations for future research.
Vγ9γδ T Cell Induction by Human Umbilical Cord Blood Monocytes-Derived, Interferon-α-Stimulated Dendritic Cells
Authors: Anh Bui Viet , Thao Chu Thi , Cuong Pham Thi , Thuy Nguyen Thi Thu , Diem Hoang Huong , Van Khanh Bui Thi , Hue Bui Thi Hong , Uyen Than Thi Trang , Tu Nguyen Dac , Hoai Tran Thi Ton , Thanh Nguyen Lai , Liem Nguyen Thanh , Nhung Hoang Thi My
Published: November 2020

Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells that activate T cells to kill cancer cells. The extracellular products of DCs have also been reported to perform the same function. In this study, we examined the in vitro differentiation of umbilical cord blood monocytes into DCs in the presence of GM-CSF, and interferon (IFN)-α. The resulting DC population (called IFN-DCs) were then matured in the presence of TNF-α, and pulsed with total protein extracted from A549 cancer cell line. The pulsed DCs and their conditioned medium were then used to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes (alloLym). The proliferation and cytotoxicity of alloLym were then determined. The results showed that after 5 days of differentiation, the stimulated monocytes had the typical morphology and characteristic surface markers of DCs. Both unpulsed and pulsed IFN-DCs can induce the proliferation of alloLym, especially Vγ9γδ T cells. The conditioned medium from pulsed and unpulsed IFN-DCs culture also prompted the growth of Vγ9γδ T cells. Moreover, alloLym stimulated with pulsed DCs and their conditioned medium had a greater cytotoxic effect on A549 cells than the ones that were not stimulated. Our results indicated that IFN-DCs and their conditioned medium could induce the anti-tumor immunity in vitro, providing evidence for application of cord blood monocytes-derived, interferon-α- stimulated dendritic cells and their extracellular products in anti-cancer therapy.
Modeling of tool vibration and its effect on roundness and surface roughness of hole in helical milling of Inconel 718
Authors: Rao K Venkata , Ramesh Chappa
Published: November 2020

Relative vibration between the cutter and workpiece has an influence on the surface generation and dimensional accuracy. In the present work, prediction models were developed for roundness and surface roughness of hole in terms of amplitude and frequency of tool vibration. The proposed methodology carried out a theoretical investigation on the effect of tool vibration components in X- and Y-directions on the mill cutter end point to estimate hole roundness and surface roughness. Series of helical milling experiments were conducted at different levels of spindle rotational speed, cutter orbital speed, and axial depth of cuts using 10- mm and 8- mm diameter mill cutters on Inconel 718. Predicted values of the roundness and surface roughness of hole were compared with predicted values and verified accuracy of the proposed prediction models. The experimental results indicate a good agreement with the predicted value. At spindle rotational speed of 2000 r/min and cutter orbital speed of 50 r/min, the measured and predicted values of the roundness were found to be almost same as the required roundness. The surface roughness was found to be very less at 50 r/min of cutter orbital speed.
Solving the Muni Puzzle: Who Benefits from Tax Exemption of Government Debt?
Authors: Riegel Konul Amrahova
Published: November 2020

I provide a new approach to measuring interest savings associated with issuing tax-exempt municipal bonds (munis) and present empirical evidence offering a solution to the long-standing “muni puzzle.” I show that the tax policy is effective and consistent with theory once I account for idiosyncratic issuer risk and investor preferences. I match tax-exempt munis to near-identical taxable munis issued by the same government at the same time with the same security characteristics to identify the slope of and the trend in implied marginal tax rates. Results of the random coefficients model, which mitigates issuer- and issuance-level unobserved effects, predict the slope of the marginal tax rate to be consistent with asset pricing theory and the tax profile of the typical muni investor. Findings also imply cyclicality over time and heterogeneity in implied marginal tax rates across issuers due to variations in idiosyncratic risk.
An Updated Guideline for Assessing Discriminant Validity
Authors: Rönkkö Mikko , Cho Eunseong
Published: November 2020

Discriminant validity was originally presented as a set of empirical criteria that can be assessed from multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrices. Because datasets used by applied researchers rarely lend themselves to MTMM analysis, the need to assess discriminant validity in empirical research has led to the introduction of numerous techniques, some of which have been introduced in an ad hoc manner and without rigorous methodological support. We review various definitions of and techniques for assessing discriminant validity and provide a generalized definition of discriminant validity based on the correlation between two measures after measurement error has been considered. We then review techniques that have been proposed for discriminant validity assessment, demonstrating some problems and equivalencies of these techniques that have gone unnoticed by prior research. After conducting Monte Carlo simulations that compare the techniques, we present techniques called CICFA(sys) and [Formula: see text](sys) that applied researchers can use to assess discriminant validity.
Text Preprocessing for Text Mining in Organizational Research: Review and Recommendations
Authors: Hickman Louis , Thapa Stuti , Tay Louis , Cao Mengyang , Srinivasan Padmini
Published: November 2020

Recent advances in text mining have provided new methods for capitalizing on the voluminous natural language text data created by organizations, their employees, and their customers. Although often overlooked, decisions made during text preprocessing affect whether the content and/or style of language are captured, the statistical power of subsequent analyses, and the validity of insights derived from text mining. Past methodological articles have described the general process of obtaining and analyzing text data, but recommendations for preprocessing text data were inconsistent. Furthermore, primary studies use and report different preprocessing techniques. To address this, we conduct two complementary reviews of computational linguistics and organizational text mining research to provide empirically grounded text preprocessing decision-making recommendations that account for the type of text mining conducted (i.e., open or closed vocabulary), the research question under investigation, and the data set’s characteristics (i.e., corpus size and average document length). Notably, deviations from these recommendations will be appropriate and, at times, necessary due to the unique characteristics of one’s text data. We also provide recommendations for reporting text mining to promote transparency and reproducibility.
Revisiting the Age Construct: Implications for Service Research
Authors: Kuppelwieser Volker G. , Klaus Philipp
Published: November 2020

People in the older consumer segment spend more money on services than those in other segments, making them a desired target for service providers. This universal trend has led researchers to start discussing this trend’s implications for service research and marketing practice. These discussions’ results are ambiguous because service researchers and managers face the problem of having to choose between three main age constructs: chronological age, cognitive age, and future time perspective (FTP). Unfortunately, current age-related research lacks an understanding of their real value, as only a few studies have combined them to discuss their specific impact. Recognizing this gap in the literature, this article compares the three age constructs in behavioral and perceptional settings. We highlight each age construct’s merits and weaknesses as well as exploring which construct delivers the best results in which service context. Bayesian analyses of our data reveal that chronological age has its merits as a control variable but does not sufficiently discriminate between age groups’ behavior and perceptions. Cognitive age is useful if customers’ own age perceptions are included but only identifies age differences in specific service settings. FTP consistently detects age-related differences in customers’ perceptions and in their behavior in all contexts.
Peribulbar anesthesia for strabismus surgery in adult patients
Authors: Vagge Aldo , Simonetti Franco , Marenco Maria , Burtolo Carmen , Musolino Maria , Traverso Carlo Enrico
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of peribulbar anesthesia during strabismus surgery.

Methods:

Medical records of patients undergoing strabismus surgery and peribulbar anesthesia were reviewed. The overall efficacy of peribulbar anesthesia was evaluated as requirement of supplemental peribulbar anesthesia, impossibility to perform eye muscles surgery due to inadequate efficacy of the block and peribulbar block complications that occurred up to 6 weeks postoperatively. Presence of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) and presence of decreased visual acuity and afferent pupillary defect postoperatively were reported.

Results:

A total of 510 patients comprised our study group. The total amount of peribulbar injections was 717. Four patients (0.7%) required supplemental injection in the superonasal quadrant. Five of 510 (0.9%) required an anesthesiologic intervention with intravenous atropine. Eighty patients of 510 (15.6%) complained about transitory complete ptosis and/or amaurosis postoperatively. No complications were observed up to 6 weeks postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Peribulbar anesthesia was an effective and safe option during strabismus surgery in adult patients.
The past and the future of vascular access surgery: Creation of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula using Ellipsys vascular access system in a patient with previous ipsilateral Scribner-shunt
Authors: Shahverdyan Robert , Konner Klaus , Matoussevitch Vladimir
Published: November 2020

Background:

Sixty years after the first description of Scribner-shunt, and 54 years after publication of the first radio-cephalic arterio-venous fistula (AVF), endovascular percutaneous AVF (pAVF) was introduced. We report a successful case of Ellipsys-pAVF creation and use for hemodialysis in a patient with a previous ipsilateral Scribner-shunt.

Case:

A 72-year old female patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD), previous right-sided Scribner-shunt and kidney transplant, underwent a successful creation of right-sided Ellipsys-pAVF. The procedure time was 12 min with intraoperative brachial artery volume flow of 720 ml/min. At 39 days, an ultrasound-guided balloon-angioplasty of the outflow cephalic vein stenosis was performed. Cannulations were started 41 days after the creation of pAVF. No additional interventions were required during the follow-up of 258 days with last follow-up volume flow of 1400 ml/min.

Conclusions:

This is the first report of the creation of pAVF in a patient with previous “traumatic” ipsilateral placement of a Scribner-shunt. It allows the creation of a small anastomosis in very short time, which can be successfully used for hemodialysis treatment on the same day, if necessary, and reduces the expected risk of high-flow AVF with associated peripheral steal and cardiac outcomes (especially in a patient with cardiomyopathy such this one).
Alteration of the Gut Microbiome in Normal and Overweight School Children from Selangor with Lactobacillus Fermented Milk Administration
Authors: Joseph Narcisse , Clayton Jonathan B , Hoops Susan L , Linhardt Carter A , Mohd Hashim Amalia , Mohd Yusof Barakatun Nisak , Kumar Suresh , Amin Nordin Syafinaz
Published: November 2020

Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem worldwide. Perturbations in the gut microbiota composition have been associated with the development of obesity in both children and adults. Probiotics, on the other hand, are proven to restore the composition of the gut microbiome which helps reduce the development of obesity. However, data on the effect of probiotics on gut microbiota and its association with childhood obesity is limited. This study aims to determine the effect of probiotics supplement intervention on gut microbiota profiles in obese and normal-weight children. A total of 37 children, 17 normal weight, and 20 overweight school children from a government school in Selangor were selected to participate in this study. Participants were further divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention groups received daily probiotic drinks while the control groups continued eating their typical diet. Fecal samples were collected from the participants for DNA extraction. The hypervariable V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. No significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between normal weight and obese children in terms of the Shannon Index for evenness or species richness. However, a higher intervention effect on alpha diversity was observed among normal-weight participants compared to obese. The participants’ microbiome was found to fluctuate throughout the study. Analysis of the taxa at species level showed an increase in Bacteroides ovatus among the normal weight cohort. Genus-level comparison revealed a rise in genus Lachnospira and Ruminococcus in the overweight participants after intervention, compared to the normal-weight participants. The probiotics intervention causes an alteration in gut microbiota composition in both normal and overweight children. Though the association could not be defined statistically, this study has provided an improved understanding of the intervention effect of probiotics on gut microbiome dysbiosis in an underrepresented population.
Association of Adipose Tissue Distribution With Type 2 Diabetes in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Qi Jia , Hu Hui , Yaghjyan Lusine , An Lejun , Kalim Harris A , Cooke Erinn O , Cheng Ting-Yuan David
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

We examined the association of adipose tissue distribution with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in breast cancer patients.

Methods:

Participants (N = 238) diagnosed with breast cancer at 20-75 years old who received breast cancer treatment at a major hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017, with at least one completed and identifiable abdominal or pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and data regarding race and ethnicity were included. Thirty-two breast cancer patients were identified as T2D patients after their breast cancer diagnoses. The adipose tissue distribution (visceral fat area [VFA], subcutaneous fat area [SFA], and the ratio of VFA to SFA [VFA/SFA]) was quantified on CT images of the third lumbar vertebra. T2D status was retrieved from patients’ electronic medical records. The association of adipose tissue distribution with T2D in women with breast cancer was examined using multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

Participants with T2D had significantly smaller SFA compared to those without T2D (odds ratio [OR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.81-0.96, per 10 cm2 SFA). A positive association of VFA/SFA ratio with T2D was observed (OR = 19.57, 95% CI = 3.26-117.42, per unit VFA/SFA), although the estimate was imprecise.

Conclusions:

The amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with T2D, and the ratio of the amount of visceral adipose tissue to the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue was positively associated with T2D in breast cancer patients.