bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving user specifications for robot behavior through active preference learning: Framework and evaluation
Authors: Wilde Nils , Blidaru Alexandru , Smith Stephen L , Kulić Dana
Published: March 2020

An important challenge in human–robot interaction (HRI) is enabling non-expert users to specify complex tasks for autonomous robots. Recently, active preference learning has been applied in HRI to interactively shape a robot’s behavior. We study a framework where users specify constraints on allowable robot movements on a graphical interface, yielding a robot task specification. However, users may not be able to accurately assess the impact of such constraints on the performance of a robot. Thus, we revise the specification by iteratively presenting users with alternative solutions where some constraints might be violated, and learn about the importance of the constraints from the users’ choices between these alternatives. We demonstrate our framework in a user study with a material transport task in an industrial facility. We show that nearly all users accept alternative solutions and thus obtain a revised specification through the learning process, and that the revision leads to a substantial improvement in robot performance. Further, the learning process reduces the variances between the specifications from different users and, thus, makes the specifications more similar. As a result, the users whose initial specifications had the largest impact on performance benefit the most from the interactive learning.
A solution to reduce overheating and increase wind turbine systems availability
Authors: Singh Gopal , Sundaram Kalpathy , Matuonto Marco
Published: March 2020

The ever-increasing demand for electrical power and the tremendous growth of renewable energy sources in the past decade has led designers to design wind turbine system components for optimal performance. Cost optimization, weight reduction, higher performances, and lower non-conformance cost are a few expectations that components are expected to meet in the present market condition. Wind turbine system unavailability impacts the annual energy production of the wind turbine. Overheating of the wind turbine system components is one of the main challenges to overcome. For the heating analysis, we discuss the wind turbine generator as a specific example in this article. This approach is equally valid for other components of wind turbine systems, with heat exchanger. Windings and bearings are the two main components susceptible to failure in the generator for wind turbine applications. The root cause may vary from case to case, but overheating accelerates the generator’s windings and bearing failure and in many cases is the prime reason behind. Running the components at higher load points is one of the reasons for components to overheat. The article presents a solution to improve the performance of the wind turbine system and at the same time making it a commercially attractive choice. This can be achieved by reducing generator windings and bearings operating temperature, and also reducing its cost and weight at the same time. The proposed solution to reduce overheating is achieved and verified through results. The achieved results also explain how one solution is advantageous over the other.
Effect of surface contamination on the wind turbine performance
Authors: ElMessiry Youssef , Kandil Hamdy A. , Abd-Elhady M.S.
Published: March 2020

The performance of wind turbines installed in the Middle East and North Africa region is affected by dust accumulation on airfoil surface leading to change in the geometry. The objective of this work is to study the effect of particulate deposition on the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines. Flows past clean and fouled airfoil sections were simulated using a computational fluid dynamics model at various angles of attack at a constant wind speed. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are used along with shear stress transport k–ω model to investigate the flow. The sliding ratio of clean and fouled airfoils was calculated to examine the influence of deposits on the aerodynamics of the airfoil. It has been found that the percentage drop in sliding ratios ranges from 17% to 75%, and NACA 63-215 is the least sensitive to particulate accumulation and is recommended to be used in the blade design of wind turbines operating in dusty environment.
Public Transit Service Reliability Assessment using Two-Fluid Model
Authors: Yang Seungho , Ahmad Afnan , Park Peter Y , Sohn Gunho , Krygsman Jeremy
Published: March 2020

This study introduces a traffic flow theory-based reliability indicator to evaluate the inter-city public transit service. The two-fluid theory parameter n that measures the road networks’ resilience to changing traffic is used as a new reliability indicator of public bus service. We compared the performance of the new indicator with the three existing reliability indicators, including on-time performance, with a total of 52 different GO Bus routes to ascertain the usability of the new indicator. The GO Bus service is an inter-city bus service operated by Metrolinx in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas in Ontario, Canada. We used 1 month of GO Bus GPS data collected in July 2017 to estimate various public transit reliability indictors. We also investigated the relationship between reliability indicators and selected roadway network characteristics, such as route length, freeway ratio, intersection density along a route, and so forth. The study applied a series of statistical analyses, including principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and z-test using Fisher’s z transformation. The results showed that the proposed two-fluid indicator n can be used as a supplementary reliability indicator for assessing road networks’ resilience in regards to changing traffic flow conditions. The new indicator provided additional insights for inter-city bus service operators for initiating communication with roadway governing agencies for the purpose of improving road networks to further improve public transit service reliability.
Incorporating Calibrated Numerical Models in Estimating Moduli of Compacted Geomaterials from Integrated Intelligent Compaction Measurements and Laboratory Testing
Authors: Fathi Aria , Tirado Cesar , Rocha Sergio , Mazari Mehran , Nazarian Soheil
Published: March 2020

Proof rolling after completion of compaction of earthwork using intelligent compaction (IC) technology can be used to assess the uniformity of the compacted geomaterials and to identify less stiff compacted areas. To better understand the process of quality management using IC technology, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed to document the theoretical limitations and the sensitivity of IC technology. The model can also be used for setting the target values, and can be part of a methodology to extract the moduli of geomaterials in more rigorous and defensible specifications. Different levels of complexity in relation to linear versus nonlinear behavior of geomaterial and different levels of roller operating conditions (static versus dynamic, moving versus stationary) can be assigned to the model. Such model can only be used with confidence if it is calibrated and validated with experimental field data. Five test sites including single-layer (subgrade only) and two-layer (subgrade and base) geosystems were instrumented using in-ground sensors for calibrating the model. Different vibratory IC rollers from different manufacturers were used to implement IC tests at vibratory stationary as well as moving conditions at the test sites. In all scenarios, a locally calibrated transfer function was necessary to accommodate the differences in the numerical models and vibration data obtained from the IC measurements on test sections with distinct geomaterial conditions. The study also concluded that the predictive power of the numerical models improves if the field measurements and laboratory data are integrated, and more importantly the variability of the materials is incoprorated.
Academics Know Better (?): Scholars and Politics in Major Opinion Dailies During the 2015 Presidential Campaign in Poland
Authors: Chmielewska-Szlajfer Helena
Published: March 2020

What is the role of scholars when discussing activities of politicians during an election campaign? The article offers a study of articles and interviews conducted with academics in major opinion dailies Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna in the final weeks of the 2015 presidential campaign in Poland. Pielke’s categories of scientists – Honest Brokers of Policy Alternatives, Pure Scientists, Science Arbiters and Stealth Issue Advocates – are used as a point of departure to ask about the part played by scholars in media, to ‘enlighten’ and admonish readers they deem uninformed about what is good for them, or to serve a role closer to Burawoy’s Public Sociologist, who engages in dialogue with others. I conclude that given the election results, which surprised and disappointed most of these scholars, adopting the latter stance may prove a better strategy in convincing voters about the usefulness of scholarly expertise in their political choices.
Civil society organizations in China: Navigating the local government for more inclusive environmental governance
Authors: Gao Xiang , Teets Jessica
Published: March 2020

This article examines how civil society organizations navigate local government to secure more inclusive environmental governance. Based on an in-depth case study of water governance in Zhejiang Province between 2012 and 2018, we find that Green Zhejiang, a civil society organization, exercised informal power to hold the local government accountable based on two strategies: mobilizing citizens to collect information on water pollution and strategically leveraging the authority of provincial government to find citizen-focused solutions. Most existing studies foreground one stage of the policy process – advocacy in the agenda-setting phase, policy entrepreneurship during the design phase, or monitoring during the implementation phase; however, we examine strategies of civil society organizations throughout this policy lifecycle. With this approach, we are able to analyse the strategic interactions between different levels of the government and civil society organizations and locate the positive outcomes and limits under the current governance system. Despite policy successes, Green Zhejiang still acts informally, which limits long-term effectiveness. However, incorporating citizens into public administration in a meaningful way requires sharing policymaking power formally, and thus far, local governments are only willing to share power in an ad hoc and informal way. More institutionalized citizen participation is necessary to develop innovative solutions to the severe environmental degradation in China.
Advanced analytics of elastic adhesive bonds by means of in situ computed tomography
Authors: Philipp Jens , Stammen Elisabeth , Dilger Klaus
Published: March 2020

This paper addresses optimization of parameters and measuring setups for in situ computed tomography measurements on marker particle-filled adhesives. The focus of this work was to increase the detail detectability and discriminability between used marker particles and surrounding adhesive compound even for materials with a high X-ray attenuation. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the effects of artifacts like scattered X-rays and beam hardening, respectively. A key benefit of being able to distinguish different materials clearly improves the correct interpretation of the reconstructed three-dimensional volume significantly, while a reduction of artificial disturbances enhances the possibility to visualize previously overlaid undetected details, e.g. air voids. Performing in situ computed tomography measurements by applying the optimized parameter setups, cavitation formation was observed investigating the particle behavior of specimens modified with glass beads as marker particles under applied load. An achieved bonding enhancement by using a coupling agent as pre-treatment for glass beads was also proven by means of in situ computed tomography. Furthermore, the parameter setups optimized for bulk specimen could be adapted on material combinations, e.g. single-lap shear specimen, by adjusting a few parameters. Additional experiments demonstrate that computed tomography measurements can also be used for analytical purposes, for instance to evaluate the mixing quality of the so-called QUADRO™ or 2C mixers for two-component adhesives.
K-sample omnibus non-proportional hazards tests based on right-censored data
Authors: Gorfine Malka , Schlesinger Matan , Hsu Li
Published: March 2020

This work presents novel and powerful tests for comparing non-proportional hazard functions, based on sample–space partitions. Right censoring introduces two major difficulties, which make the existing sample–space partition tests for uncensored data non-applicable: (i) the actual event times of censored observations are unknown and (ii) the standard permutation procedure is invalid in case the censoring distributions of the groups are unequal. We overcome these two obstacles, introduce invariant tests, and prove their consistency. Extensive simulations reveal that under non-proportional alternatives, the proposed tests are often of higher power compared with existing popular tests for non-proportional hazards. Efficient implementation of our tests is available in the R package KONPsurv, which can be freely downloaded from CRAN.
Natural rubber composites containing low and high dielectric constant fillers and their application as substrates for compact flexible antennas
Authors: Al-Sehemi Abdullah G , Al-Ghamdi Ahmed A , Dishovsky Nikolay T , Malinova P , Atanasov Nikolay T , Atanasova Gabriela L
Published: March 2020

The vulcanization properties, physicochemical, dielectric, and electrical properties of natural rubber-based composites were investigated and compared. The composites contain 30–70 phr functional fillers having low (silicon dioxide (SiO2)) and high (titanium dioxide (TiO2)) dielectric constant values. The possibilities of using the composites as substrates in compact flexible antennas have been evaluated. Fillers are also characterized. It has been shown that they have a noticeable but different influence on all the properties of the composites studied. That is primarily due to the different structure and specific properties of SiO2 and TiO2, thereby determining the different “filler–filler” and “rubber–filler” interactions. The composite filled with TiO2 at 70 phr has a better capacity to act as a substrate in body area network antennas than the SiO2-filled composites. An antenna with such a substrate has features that meet all the requirements of the industrial, science, and medical spectrum. TiO2 composites do not change their resistance to pressure or deflection within certain limits, having a self-cleaning and antibacterial effect, which is also beneficial for their usage in antennas that are left on or near the human body.
Development and psychometric evaluation of triage questionnaire (QTrix): Exploratory factor analysis and item response theory analysis
Authors: Abd Rahman Nurul Fateha , Tuan Kamauzaman Tuan Hairulnizam , Nor Arifin Wan , Md Noh Abu Yazid
Published: March 2020

Introduction:

Triage errors can occur in all emergency departments, regardless of the type of triage system being used. One way to minimize triaging errors is by enhancing the triage officers’ knowledge and attitude on triage. The assessment of knowledge and attitude can be carried out by questionnaire assessment. This study aims to perform content, face, and construct validation on a newly developed triage questionnaire, QTrix, which is designed for healthcare personnel in a tertiary teaching hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia, that uses the three‐tier Malaysian Triage Category system.

Methods:

This study consisted of two phases: the first phase was the questionnaire development phase, which included the content validity with the expert panel and the face validity using 30 respondents; and the second phase was the psychometric assessment phase, which included the item response theory and the exploratory factor analysis using 139 respondents.

Results:

The knowledge section with 12 remaining items was considered unidimensional by item response theory after removing items with extreme difficulty coefficients (outside the range of −3 to +3) and items with very low discrimination values (<0.35). After exploratory factor analysis, two items in the attitude section were removed due to low factor loadings (<0.3) and high item complexity. The reliability of the remaining 13 items in the attitude section was very good as shown by Cronbach's alpha values of more than 0.8.

Conclusion:

The QTrix questionnaire is a well‐validated and reliable tool to assess the knowledge and the attitude on triage. Its use among healthcare personnel can help minimize triaging errors in emergency departments that utilize the Malaysian Triage Category system.
Traumatic shock and altered mentality following motor vehicle accident
Authors: Park Youngeun , Yu Byungchul , Lee Giljae , Lee Jungnam
Published: March 2020

Traumatic atlanto‐occipital dislocation is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. We present an 18‐year‐old female who visited the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. A cervical spine computed tomography scan showed the postero‐inferior atlanto‐occipital dissociation and several diagnostic methods coincided with the diagnosis of atlanto‐occipital dislocation.
The APA Publication Manual: Changes in the Seventh Edition
Authors: Bradley Loretta , Noble Nicole , Hendricks Bret
Published: March 2020

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association ( APA Publication Manual, Manual) is a challenge for many counselors. The seventh edition (latest edition) of the Manual, published in October, 2019, has several changes. To demystify the changes, this article describes the major changes between the sixth and seventh editions of the Manual. The authors first describe the changes and then follow the changes with a table that highlights and contrasts the changes. The major premise of this article is that regardless of whether the counselor is a writer or reader of articles and books, the counselor should be familiar with the APA Publication Manual.
Impact and compression-after-impact behavior of sandwich panel comprised of foam core and wire nets/glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid facesheets
Authors: Wan Yun , Yang Bin , Jin Pengcheng , Zheng Zhiqiu , Huang Yonghu
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we manufactured a novel sandwich panel that comprised of the foam core and the hybrid facesheets by vacuum-assisted resin infusion process. In the hybrid facesheets, the reinforcing phases are made of woven glass fabric cloth in company with wire nets, while the matrix is epoxy resin. Four categories of specimens with different wire nets contents are designed. To investigate the impact resistance ability of the designed sandwich panel, low-velocity impact tests are performed with respect to the contact load, absorbed energy, and failure mode. Compression-after-impact test is conducted to determine the residual mechanical properties of the postimpact sandwich panels. Digital image correlation technology is adopted to measure the strain distribution in the panels in compression-after-impact test. Results show that wire nets in the facesheet of the sandwich panel could enhance the energy absorb ability as well as the compression-after-impact strength significantly. Fiber/wire nets breaking, delamination, and foam core cracking are the main damage modes formed in the impact event, while the incident energy is mainly absorbed by wire nets breaking. In compression-after-impact test, bucking and delamination are the main damage modes, and the compressive stability is enhanced by the wire nets.
Styloidogenic compression of the internal jugular vein, a new venous entrapment syndrome?
Authors: Pokeerbux Mohammad Ryadh , Delmaire Christine , Morell-dubois Sandrine , Demondion Xavier , Lambert Marc
Published: March 2020

Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is mainly related to central venous catheter, malignancy, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. We report a case of IJV thrombosis possibly related to IJV compression between the styloid process and the first cervical vertebra (C1) transverse process. To support this hypothesis, we perform radiological assessment of the IJV and examine its relationship with the styloid process and C1 transverse process in 34 controls. Our results showed a strong correlation between IJV diameter and styloid process–C1 transverse process distance. Compared to control subjects, our patient had a short styloid process–C1 transverse process distance, which suggests its involvement in IJV thrombosis.
News media stories about cancer on Facebook: How does story framing influence response framing, tone and attributions of responsibility?
Authors: Starr Tegan S , Oxlad Melissa
Published: March 2020

This content analysis explored associations between the framing of cancer-related health news stories on Facebook and their corresponding comments. It was found that regardless of story framing the majority of responses involved users engaging in debate and discussion rather than sharing personal experiences. Furthermore, stories framed episodically had a greater proportion of both supportive and unsupportive comments than stories framed thematically. As predicted, episodic stories were associated with more attributions of responsibility directed towards the individual whereas thematic stories lead to more societal-level attributions of blame. Contrary to predictions, responses did not contribute towards the stigmatisation of lung cancer, instead more responses were aimed at reducing stigma for this illness. Within the findings strong beliefs about cancer treatment and management were also identified, which raises concern over the spread of misinformation. Overall, this research provided insight into the framing of cancer news and highlighted potential implications of Facebook comments.
Bilingual verbs in three Spanish/English code-switching communities
Authors: Balam Osmer , Parafita Couto María del Carmen , Stadthagen-González Hans
Published: March 2020

Objectives/research questions:

We investigate two understudied bilingual compound verbs that have been attested in Spanish/English code-switching; namely, ‘ hacer + VInf’ and ‘ estar + VProg’. Specifically, we examined speakers’ intuitions vis-à-vis the acceptability and preferential use of non-canonical and canonical hacer ‘to do’ or estar ‘to be’ bilingual constructions among bilinguals from Northern Belize, New Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Methodology:

Speakers from Northern Belize ( n = 44), New Mexico ( n = 32) and Puerto Rico ( n = 30) completed a two-alternative forced-choice acceptability task and a language background questionnaire.

Data and analysis:

The data were examined using an analysis of variance and Thurstone’s Law of Comparative Judgment.

Conclusions:

Whereas Northern Belizean bilinguals gave the highest ratings to ‘ hacer + VInf’, both groups of US bilinguals gave preferential ratings to ‘ estar + VProg’ bilingual constructions. On the other hand, Puerto Rican bilinguals gave the highest preferential ratings to the canonical estar bilingual compound verbs (i.e. estar + an English progressive verb) but rejected hacer bilingual compound verbs. While ‘ hacer + VInf’ and ‘ estar + VProg’ may represent variants that are available to Spanish/English bilinguals, the present findings suggest a community-specific distribution, in which hacer bilingual compound verbs are consistently preferred over estar bilingual compound verbs in Northern Belize, whereas estar bilingual constructions are preferred among US bilinguals.

Originality:

This is the first cross-community examination of these bilingual compound verbs in Northern Belize (Central America/Caribbean), New Mexico (Southwest US) and Puerto Rico (US/Caribbean), three contexts in the Spanish-speaking world characterized by long-standing Spanish/English language contact and the use of bilingual language practices.

Implications:

Findings underscore the importance of bilingual language experience in modulating linguistic competence and the necessity to study code-switching from a language ecological perspective, as subtle context-specific patterns in code-switching varieties may be manifested not only in bilingual speakers’ oral production but in intuition as well. A more fine-grained understanding of speakers’ judgments is vital to experimental studies that seek to investigate code-switching grammars both within and across communities where code-switching varieties of the same language pair are spoken.
Constructing a conceptual framework for professional identity development in international social work students: A meta-ethnographic review
Authors: Yao Hui-Yu
Published: March 2020

There has been a significant increase of international students in Australian social work education over the past decade. Issues around international students’ language skills, cultural capital or competence, special needs and field education experiences have been explored in social work literature. However, the literature to date has a tendency to focus on international students’ deficits, or the strategies implemented to address the identified deficits. Professional identity, a critical aspect of social work education, remains an under-researched topic in international students. Professional identity development in social work is often considered a complex process which is influenced by interacting internal or external factors. For example, personal or cultural identities can contribute to professional identity development in social work students in general, while discrimination or institutional oppression is found to negatively affect professional identity development in social work students. Intersectionality sees a person’s identity as fluid and multifold, and offers a useful framework for understanding identity issues in international students. Applying the concept of intersectionality, this meta-ethnography reviews six qualitative studies, guided by the seven phrases established by Noblit and Hare. The findings show professional identity development in international students can be influenced by interacting personal, linguistic, professional, academic, cultural and social factors. An intersecting model incorporating the six identified key themes was developed to provide a conceptual framework for professional identity development in international social work students.
Can the prevailing description of educational reality be considered complete? On the Parks-Eichmann paradox, spooky action at a distance and a missing dimension in the theory of education
Authors: Biesta Gert
Published: March 2020

The question I address in this paper is to what extent the prevailing description of educational reality that can be found in contemporary research, policy and practice can be considered complete. The motivation for asking this question stems from an educational paradox to which I refer as the Parks-Eichmann paradox. This paradox has to do with the fact that what appears as educational success from one perspective is problematic when viewed differently, whereas what appears as educational failure may actually reveal something that is of crucial importance educationally. The paradox thus leads to the suggestion that the prevailing description of educational reality – to which I will refer as the ‘paradigm’ of education as cultivation – is insufficient or incomplete. I use the work of John Dewey to highlight key characteristics and key shortcomings of this ‘paradigm’ and argue that it needs to be supplemented by what I will refer to as an existential educational ‘paradigm’. I highlight the distinction between the two paradigms through the question whether it is possible to educate ‘directly’ – an option which Dewey explicitly denies. I turn to the German notions of Bildung and Erziehung in order to explore to what extent they provide us with a set of concepts for articulating the distinction between the two educational paradigms. I will show that this is not as straightforward as it may seem, as there is no agreement about the exact definitions of the terms. However, having two terms rather than just the word ‘education’ is important in order to be able to make the distinction I am after, and here the terms Bildung and Erziehung are helpful. I conclude the paper with a brief sketch of the ‘existential work’ of education in order to outline what the existential paradigm implies for educational practice.
Pulping as Poetic Inquiry: On Upcycling “Upset” to Reckon Anew With Rape Culture, Rejection, and (Re)Turning to Trauma Texts
Authors: Moore Amber
Published: March 2020

This article explores an experience of “pulping,” a rejected poetry inquiry; that is, the author describes revisiting and rewriting a micro poetry cluster about rape culture and teaching trauma texts nixed by reviewers for being too “upsetting.” This project aims to (a) demonstrate the potential of poetic inquiry for “pulping” refused art, (b) resist silencing of sexual violence, and to (c) call for creative “upcycling” of upset. The author returns to her rejected poems and engages in a new poetic inquiry which she conceptualizes as a kind of feminist “pulping” process where she “upcycles” her troubling writing in search of newfound fecundity. As such, by reworking the refusal, reckoning with unpublished refuse, and staying with the trouble in re/fusing new art, she engages in poetic inquiry as a pulping process to (re)make meaning from an experience of academic silencing of art that addresses sexual assault and rape culture.
A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety of the Herbal Medicine SH003 in Patients With Solid Cancer
Authors: Cheon Chunhoo , Ko Seong-Gyu
Published: March 2020

Background: Cancer is a major health problem worldwide and the leading cause of death in many countries. Preclinical studies have shown the therapeutic anticancer effects of SH003, a novel herbal medicine containing Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas, and Trichosanthes kirilowii. The present study investigated the maximum tolerated dose of SH003 in patients with solid cancers. Methods: This open-label, dose-escalation trial used the traditional 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Patients with solid cancers were recruited and administered 1 to 4 tablets of SH003 thrice daily for 3 weeks according to the dose level. Adverse events were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as Grade 3 or higher adverse events based on CTCAE. The maximum tolerated dose was defined as the highest dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients experienced DLT. Results: The present study enrolled 11 patients. A total of 31 adverse events occurred. According to the CTCAE, all the observed adverse events were grade 2 or less and no adverse events of grade 3 or more corresponding to DLT occurred. Conclusion: The study results indicated that the maximum tolerated dose of SH003 was 4800 mg/day. A Phase 2 study is required to determine the efficacy of SH003 in patients with cancer at a dose of 4800 mg/day or less.
Serum Neurosteroid Levels Are Associated With Cortical Thickness in Individuals Diagnosed With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kinzel Philipp , Marx Christine E. , Sollmann Nico , Hartl Elisabeth , Guenette Jeffrey P. , Kaufmann David , Bouix Sylvain , Pasternak Ofer , Rathi Yogesh , Coleman Michael J. , van der Kouwe Andre , Helmer Karl , Kilts Jason D. , Naylor Jennifer C. , Morey Rajendra A. , Shutter Lori , Andaluz Norberto , Coimbra Raul , Lang Ariel J. , George Mark S. , McAllister Thomas W. , Zafonte Ross , Stein Murray B. , Shenton Martha E. , Koerte Inga K.
Published: March 2020

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) co-occurring with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common in veterans. Worse clinical outcome in those with PTSD has been associated with decreased serum neurosteroid levels. Furthermore, decreased cortical thickness has been associated with both PTSD and mTBI. However, it is not known whether decreased neurosteroids are associated with decreased cortical thickness in PTSD co-occurring with mTBI. This study included 141 individuals divided into the following groups: ( a) mTBI group (n = 32 [10 female, 22 male] veterans with a history of mTBI); ( b) PTSD + mTBI group (n = 41 [6 female, 35 male] veterans with current PTSD with a history of mTBI); and ( c) control group (n = 68 [35 female, 33 male] control participants), which were acquired through the Injury and Traumatic Stress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium. Subjects underwent clinical assessment, magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T, and serum neurosteroid quantifications of allopregnanolone (ALLO) and pregnenolone (PREGN). Group differences in cortical thickness and associations between serum neurosteroid levels and cortical thickness were investigated. Cortical thickness was decreased in the PTSD + mTBI group compared with the other groups. In the PTSD + mTBI group, decreased cortical thickness was also associated with lower serum ALLO (right superior frontal cortex) and lower serum PREGN (left middle temporal and right orbitofrontal cortex). Cortical thickness in the middle temporal and orbitofrontal cortex was associated with PTSD symptom severity. There were no significant associations between neurosteroids and cortical thickness in the mTBI or control groups. Decreased cortical thickness in individuals with PTSD + mTBI is associated with decreased serum neurosteroid levels and greater PTSD symptom severity. Causality is unclear. However, future studies might investigate whether treatment with neurosteroids could counteract stress-induced neural atrophy in PTSD + mTBI by potentially preserving cortical thickness.
Temperature drift modeling and compensation of micro-electro-mechanical system gyroscope based on improved support vector machine algorithms
Authors: Wang Xinwang , Cao Huiliang
Published: March 2020

This article suggested two methods to compensate for the temperature drift of the micro-electro-mechanical system gyroscopes, which are support vector machine method and C-means support vector machine. The output of X axis which was ranged from −40°C to 60°C based on the micro-electro-mechanical system gyroscope is reduced and analyzed in this article. The results showed the correctness of the two methods. The final results indicate that when the temperature is ranged from −40°C to 60°C, the factor of B is reduced from 0.424 [Formula: see text] to 0.02194 [Formula: see text], and when the temperature is ranged from 60°C to −40°C, the factor of B is reduced from 0.1056 [Formula: see text] to 0.0329 [Formula: see text], and the temperature drift trend and noise characteristics are improved clearly.
Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke in patients with recurrent intracranial large vessel occlusion
Authors: Klepanec Andrej , Harsany Jan , Haring Jozef , Mako Miroslav , Hoferica Matus , Rusina Matej , Cisar Juraj , Krastev Georgi
Published: March 2020

Background

Data on the treatment with recurrent mechanical thrombectomy of patients with acute ischemic stroke with recurrent large vessel occlusion are limited. We report our experience with recurrent mechanical thrombectomy for recurrent large vessel occlusion.

Methods

During the period between May 2013 and August 2018, data on patients with recurrent large vessel occlusion were collected. Baseline clinical characteristics, recanalization technique, recanalization rates and clinical outcomes of patients with recurrent large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy were analyzed. Patients with recurrent large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy were compared with patients who underwent single mechanical thrombectomy.

Results

During the study period, 7 of 474 patients (1.5%) were treated with mechanical thrombectomy for recurrent large vessel occlusion. The mean age of these patients was 64.4 (±7.9) years, and the mean time interval between thrombectomies was 47 (±48) h. The median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 12 (range 5–24) before the first and 20 (range 3–34) before the second procedure; the mean NIHSS at discharge was 5 (range 2–25). Good clinical outcome after repeated mechanical thrombectomy defined as modified Rankin scale of 0–2 was achieved in 29% of patients at three months of follow-up.

Conclusions

Repeat mechanical thrombectomy is a rare procedure, but appears to be a feasible, safe and effective treatment option in patients with acute ischemic stroke and early recurrent large vessel occlusion.
Internationalisation perspectives of Kenyan universities: A consideration of stakeholders’ understanding and motivations, and the implications for the provision of quality academic programmes
Authors: Muyaka Jafred , Wawire Violet Khalayi , Munene Ishmael Irungu
Published: March 2020

University administrators, academic staff and students are key agents of internationalisation of higher education, particularly at the institutional level. The growing volume of literature on internationalisation has looked at the role that these stakeholders play. However, few studies in Kenya have examined these stakeholders’ conception of the internationalisation process. The current study explored Kenyan universities’ understanding of the process of internationalisation and how their perceptions influenced the provision of quality academic programmes. The focus was on the conception of the process and the rationales pushing universities in Kenya to internationalise. The targets were the university administrators, academics and students in two public and two private universities in Kenya. The study used institutional theory as a theoretical framework in examining the implications of stakeholders’ understanding of the internationalisation process on the provision of quality academic programmes. The study noted a failure on the part of universities in Kenya to utilise internationalisation as a tool for improving the quality of their education. There was a lack of shared understanding of the process among the stakeholders. In both public and private universities, academic rationales were identified as the main reason for supporting the internationalisation process. The lack of a comprehensive and shared understanding of the internationalisation process among the institutional stakeholders in Kenyan universities had compromised their capacity to utilise the process to advance the quality of their academic programmes. The study recommends investment in training on internationalisation to ensure that there is clarity on what constitutes the process, its rationale and its underlying values within the unique context of Kenyan universities.
Multilingual two-digit number naming: The influence of composition rules on language switching
Authors: Contreras-Saavedra Carla E , Willmes Klaus , Koch Iring , Schuch Stefanie , Benini Elena , Philipp Andrea M
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to examine language switching in a two-digit number naming task. In contrast to single digits, two-digit numbers have a composition rule (i.e., morphological configuration) that may differ between languages. For example, the Arabic number 21 is read with an inverted composition rule in German (unit before decade) and a non-inverted composition rule in English (decade before unit). In the present experiment, one group of German native speakers and one group of Spanish native speakers had to name two-digit numbers in German, English, or Spanish. The results demonstrate a language-switch cost, revealing better performance in language repetition than in language-switch trials. This switch cost was further modulated by repeating or switching the composition rule, since the language repetition benefit (i.e., the switch cost) was reduced in trials with composition-rule switches compared with trials with composition-rule repetitions. This finding indicates that the language in which the number word has to be produced and its composition rule are not switched independently but rather may be integrated into one language schema.
Portuguese Soap Operas: A case study on the emergence of an original production culture
Authors: Damásio Manuel José , Paixão da Costa Jorge
Published: March 2020

In a context of ever greater circulation of televisual content of all genres and formats, this article focuses on the intersections between the global and the local to understand how a specific genre – soap opera – was localised in a specific cultural and geographical setting giving origin to a specific local production model. Our general argument draws on the empirical findings of original research on the moulding of the televisual genre called ‘telenovela’ in Portugal, the specific production mode associated with it, and reflects on its historical emergence and the contingencies of such a process. Our goal is to identify the variables that allowed this genre to gain local dominance and later achieve international circulation. Based on the results of quantitative and qualitative research, we argue that the closed networked structure of the local production and distribution structures and the dominant ideology of the associated production culture promoted the emergence of a resilient local production culture with high levels of bonding social capital that allowed for its sustainability until today.
Efficacy and safety of thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Miao , Wang Guiyue , Li Yuhang , Wang Hongliang , Liu Haitao , Guo Nana , Han Ci , Peng Yahui , Yang Mengyuan , Liu Yansong , Ma Xiaohui , Yu Kaijiang , Wang Changsong
Published: March 2020

Background:

Thrombosis is a common complication in patients with cancer. Whether thromboprophylaxis could benefit patients with cancer is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy and safety of thromboprophylaxis in patients with cancer undergoing surgery or chemotherapy.

Methods:

We searched the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science for studies published before May 2018 to investigate whether thromboprophylaxis measures were more effective than a placebo in patients with cancer.

Results:

In total, 33 trials with 11,942 patients with cancer were identified. In patients with cancer undergoing surgery, the administration of thromboprophylaxis was associated with decreasing trends in venous thromboembolism (VTE) [relative risk (RR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.81] and DVT (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.87). In patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, the administration of thromboprophylaxis reduced the incidences of VTE, DVT, and pulmonary embolism compared with no thromboprophylaxis (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40–0.73; RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.31–0.73; RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32–0.81, respectively). The pooled results regarding major bleeding showed no significant difference between prophylaxis and no prophylaxis in either the surgical or the chemotherapy groups (RR 2.35, 95% CI 0.74–7.52, p = 0.1482, I2 = 0%; RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.93–1.83, p = 0.1274, I2 = 0%, respectively).

Conclusion:

Thromboprophylaxis did not increase major bleeding events or the incidence of thrombocytopenia. All-cause mortality was not significantly different between those who received thromboprophylaxis and those who did not. This meta-analysis provides evidence that thromboprophylaxis can reduce the number of VTE and DVT events, with no apparent increase in the incidence of major bleeding in patients with cancer.
Multivariate Data Analysis Guided Identification of Anticancer Constituents of Spina Gleditsiae for Human Hepatoma Cells
Authors: Hu Jiangxia , Gao Jiayu , Chen Lan , Yang Xiao
Published: March 2020

Spina Gleditsia has been traditionally used as a lead ingredient of many formulas for cancer treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This work aimed to reveal the phytochemical foundation of Spina Gleditsiae and underpin a fundamental understanding of its anticancer activities. The growth inhibition activities were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay of 7 solvent extracts of Spina Gleditsia in the human liver cancer cell line HepG2. The activities were then mapped onto the secondary metabolite profile of crude extracts by principal components analysis (PCA) of High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) data. The top 5 PCA components of the map discriminated extract activities, mainly based on the differential content of 3 compounds. The identified compounds were then tested individually using cytotoxic assay on cancer cells in vitro. Principal components analysis constructed secondary metabolite mapping quickly identified functional compounds from the crude herbal extracts. (2 R,3 R)-7,3′,4′-Trihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanonol, (2 R,3 R)-5,7,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-flavanonol, and isovitexin inhibited the growth of human liver cancer cell line growth with activities of 38.6 ± 1.9, 40.7 ± 0.9, and 41.5 ± 3.1 μg/mL, respectively, comparable with that of cisplatin (IC50: 41.6 ± 2.9 μg/mL). (2 R,3 R)-7,3′,4′-Trihydroxy-5-methoxy-flavanonol, (2 R,3 R)-5,7,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxy-flavanonol, and isovitexin are, for the first time, identified as the anticancer constituents of Spina Gleditsia. It thus strongly underpins a fundamental understanding of the anticancer activities of Spina Gleditsia and supports its ongoing clinical uses in China.
Education around medication review and deprescribing: a survey of medical and pharmacy students’ perspectives
Authors: Poots Alan J. , Jubraj Barry , Ward Emily , Wycoco Amante , Barnett Nina
Published: March 2020

Research into the practice of medication review is developing across the world in response to the ever-increasing burden of inappropriate polypharmacy. Education, training and support of undergraduates and novice practitioners to equip them to participate in the medication review process could lead to long-term shifts in practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of pharmacy and medical undergraduates about medication review, deprescribing and polypharmacy, in order to inform improvement strategies. In November 2016, all final-year medical and pharmacy students at a London (UK) university were invited to complete a short questionnaire survey. Qualitative analysis inductively themed free-text comments and quantitative analysis used descriptive statistics to summarize responses, with chi-square tests used to indicate differences between the groups. The overall response rate was 34% (171/500). The terms ‘medication review’ and ‘polypharmacy’ were known to the students, whilst the term ‘deprescribing’ was unfamiliar with no difference between the groups. The term ‘medication review’ meant different things to the groups: pharmacy students suggested a focus on adherence and patient understanding, whilst medical students focused on interactions and whether medicines were still indicated. The groups differed in their perceptions of who they thought undertook reviews, who identifies potentially inappropriate medicines, who makes the final decision to deprescribe and the frequency of medication reviews. Both groups reported that on qualification they would not be comfortable stopping a medicine without discussion with a senior colleague, but would be comfortable prompting a senior colleague to review. Both groups had some awareness of medication review tools. The meaning of the term ‘medication review’ differed between the student groups. While medical students focused on clinical aspects, pharmacy students emphasized patient experience. Both groups anticipated a lack of confidence in deprescribing without senior support, highlighting the need for alignment between education and professional development syllabi in a way that combines the variety of professional perspectives. Prompts by juniors could lead to more medication reviews within existing practice, and may give them invaluable experience in reviewing medicines in their future careers as seniors.