bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral lymphangiectasia and gastrointestinal Crohn disease
Authors: Lenskaya Volha , Panji Parin , de Moll Ellen H. , Christian Kaci , Phelps Robert G.
Published: August 2020

Lip edema with non‐caseating granulomas or lymphangiectasia pose a clinical and pathological challenge. These findings can be attributed to cheilitis granulomatosa (CG), Melkersson‐Rosenthal syndrome (MRS), or Crohn disease (CD) depending on the appropriate clinical context. Lymphangiectasis, in particular, is a common pathological finding in CD due to lymphatic obstruction by granulomas and intralymphatic granulomas. Because oral symptoms can precede gastrointestinal symptoms of CD or be seen in patients with asymptomatic gastrointestinal disease, the identification of lymphangiectasia should raise the possibility of underlying CD. We present a case of a young woman with several years of lip swelling, with notable lymphangiectasia and subtle granulomas on pathological evaluation. The patient was diagnosed with MRS at an outside institution and treated with systemic steroids, without further systemic evaluation. We believe that early recognition of lymphangiectasia and consideration of CD early in the work‐up are critical for early diagnosis and appropriate management. Neither clinical nor histopathological findings should be used in isolation to diagnose GC, MRS, or CD as there is significant debate as to the etiology and overlapping findings of these conditions. We highlight the importance of lymphangiectasia in diagnosing underlying CD in the appropriate clinical context.
Toward Assessment in the Service of Learning
Authors: Gordon Edmund W.
Published: August 2020

Drawing upon his experience, more than 60 years ago, as a psychometric support person to a very special teacher of brain damaged children, the author of this article reflects on the productive use of educational assessments and data from them to educate ‐ assessment in the service of learning. Findings from the Gordon Commission on the Future of Assessment are referenced to advocate for the position that educational assessments can and should be used to inform and improve teaching and learning processes and outcomes. The author argues for this counter intuitive claim, educational assessments and the data that are produced by them can be used in the service of teaching and learning. The argument draws on logic and emerging existence proofs. The second part of this article is devoted to brief descriptions of those existence proofs, half dozen emerging and established models of educational assessment transactions that are embedded in teaching and learning programs with the intention to improve both the teaching and the learning. This article does not include empirical evidence that either of these ends is achieved.
Nitrous oxide emissions from grass–clover swards as influenced by sward age and biological nitrogen fixation
Authors: Reinsch Thorsten , Malisch Carsten , Loges Ralf , Taube Friedhelm
Published: August 2020

Grassland renovation by cultivation and reseeding has been shown to increase short‐term emissions of N2O, but there is uncertainty about long‐term effects, despite the potential impacts of reseeding on sward composition and soil functions. A field experiment was therefore carried out to determine how N2O emissions from previously renovated grasslands varied in the intermediate to long‐term, compared with an undisturbed permanent grassland (PG). Plots on the PG site were renovated, either two (G2) or five (G5) years prior to the two experimental years. In each sward age and experimental year, annual N2O‐measurements were conducted on a weekly basis and compared with the undisturbed PG. Plots were either unfertilized or were fertilized with slurry (240 kg N ha−1 year−1). On average, annual N2O emissions were 0.39 kg N/ha for the unfertilized swards, and 0.91 kg N/ha for slurry‐fertilized swards. Sward age had no effect on N2O emissions. With increasing sward age the proportion of legumes in the sward was reduced, but a minimum biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of 88 kg N/ha was maintained even in the fertilized PG. Both sward age and BNF were of limited importance for the annual N2O emissions compared with the effects of soil carbon content and nitrogen surplus levels. However, measured N2O emissions were low in all sward age treatments, with a low risk of additional N2O emissions when BNF is taken into account in fertilizer planning.
Evaluation of a community dental clinic providing care to people experiencing homelessness: A mixed methods approach
Authors: Paisi Martha , Baines Rebecca , Worle Christina , Withers Lyndsey , Witton Robert
Published: August 2020

Background

People who experience homelessness have higher dental treatment needs compared to the general population. However, their utilization of dental services and levels of treatment completion are low. Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, a not‐for‐profit organization in the United Kingdom, established a community dental clinic to improve access to dental care for this population.

Objectives

To evaluate the impact and acceptability of the community dental service for patients and examine the barriers and enablers to using and providing the service.

Methods

The evaluation included a retrospective assessment of anonymous patient data and thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with patients, support staff and service providers. The interviews were thematically analysed. A cost analysis of the dental service was also conducted.

Results

By 18 February 2020, 89 patients had attended the clinic. These included 62 males (70%) and 27 females (30%), aged 38.43 years on average (SD ± 11.07). Of these, 42 (47%) patients have completed their treatment, 23 (26%) are in active treatment and 24 (27%) left treatment. In total, 684 appointments (541.5 hours clinical time) were given. Of these, 82% (562) of appointments were attended (452.5 hours clinical time). The 22 interviews that were conducted identified flexibility, close collaboration with support services and health‐care team attitudes as key factors influencing service utilization and continuity of care.

Conclusions

This study provides details of a highly acceptable and accessible dental care model for people experiencing homelessness, with recommendations at research, practice and commissioning levels.
Impact of COVID‐19 on an Australian intensive care unit: lessons learned from South Australia
Authors: Nadkarni Aniket , Alderson Steven , Collett Luke , Maiden Matthew , Reddi Benjamin , Sundararajan Krishnaswamy
Published: August 2020

The scale of the COVID‐19 pandemic represents unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems. We describe a cohort of 18 critically ill COVID‐19 patients – to our knowledge the highest number, in a single intensive care unit in Australia. We discuss the complex challenges and dynamic solutions that concern an intensive care unit pandemic response. Acting as the State's COVID‐19 referral hospital, we provide local insights to consider alongside national guidelines.
Licence required: French lesbian parents confront the obligation to marry in order to establish kinship
Authors: Stambolis‐Ruhstorfer Michael , Descoutures Virginie
Published: August 2020

Before 2013, French children could not have two parents of the same sex. For example, non‐biologically related mothers in lesbian couples were legally invisible and prohibited to use second‐parent adoption. A 2013 bill legalising same‐sex marriage and adoption authorised that option. However, this reform requires same‐sex couples – but not heterosexual couples – to marry before establishing parental rights. Given this inequality, we ask: compared to their heterosexual peers, do French same‐sex couples with children marry more often? What do they think about same‐sex marriage in general and their own marriages in particular? To answer these questions, we draw on survey responses and interviews from the first national cohort study of French same‐sex couples, most of whom are lesbian, raising children born between 2011 and 2013 (n = 162). We find significantly higher marriage rates among same‐sex parents compared to different‐sex parents. What may appear at first glance to be an unvarnished attachment to marriage is belied by discriminatory logics requiring couples to go against their stated ambivalence towards the institution of marriage in order to safeguard their parental rights. We argue that this burden is a form of legal violence that enforces heterosexist norms through legislation that was ostensibly enacted in the name of equality.
A closer examination of the ‘abundant centre’ hypothesis for reef fishes
Authors: Yancovitch Shalom Hagar , Granot Itai , Blowes Shane A. , Friedlander Alan , Mellin Camille , Ferreira Carlos Eduardo Leite , Arias‐González Jesús Ernesto , Kulbicki Michel , Floeter Sergio R. , Chabanet Pascale , Parravicini Valeriano , Belmaker Jonathan
Published: August 2020

Aim

The ‘abundant centre’ hypothesis states that species are more abundant at the centre of their range. However, several recent large‐scale studies have failed to find evidence for such a pattern. Here we used extensive global data of reef fishes to test the ‘abundant centre’ pattern, and to examine variation in the abundance patterns across species using life history and ecological traits.

Location

Marine habitat at a global extent: from Indo‐Pacific to Atlantic reefs.

Methods

We used underwater visual estimates of fish abundance, containing 22,963 transects and 1,215 species. For each species we calculated the slope between abundance and distance to the range centre, with the range centre estimated using four different methods. We tested whether abundance patterns differ between the range core and margins using segmented regression. Meta‐analytic methods were used to synthesize results across species, and to test whether species traits can explain variation in the fit to the pattern among species.

Results

The method used to define the range centre had a large effect on the results. Nevertheless, in all cases we found large variation between species. Results of the segmented regression revealed that changes in abundance across the range core are very small and that steep declines in abundance happen only towards the range margins. Body size and mean abundance were the main traits affecting the fit to the pattern across species.

Main conclusions

We find large variation across species in the fit to the abundance centre pattern. Nevertheless, we do find support for a general pattern of a range core with high, but variable, abundance and steep decline in abundance towards the range periphery. Thus, species do tend to be rare at the range margins, making them sensitive to extirpation due to both natural and anthropogenic impacts.
IL‐27 Rα+ cells promoted allorejection via enhancing STAT1/3/5 phosphorylation
Authors: Zhao Shanshan , Liang Ting , Zhang Chao , Shi Dai , Jiang Wen , Su Chen , Hou Guihua
Published: August 2020

Recently, emerging evidence strongly suggested that the activation of interleukin‐27 Receptor α (IL‐27Rα) could modulate different inflammatory diseases. However, whether IL‐27Rα affects allotransplantation rejection is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of IL‐27Rα on allorejection both in vivo and in vitro. The skin allotransplantation mice models were established, and the dynamic IL‐27Rα/IL‐27 expression was detected, and IL‐27Rα+ spleen cells adoptive transfer was performed. STAT1/3/5 phosphorylation, proliferation and apoptosis were investigated in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with recombinant IL‐27 (rIL‐27) stimulation. Finally, IFN‐γ/ IL‐10 in graft/serum from model mice was detected. Results showed higher IL‐27Rα/IL‐27 expression in allografted group compared that syngrafted group on day 10 (top point of allorejection). IL‐27Rα+ spleen cells accelerated allograft rejection in vivo. rIL‐27 significantly promoted proliferation, inhibited apoptosis and increased STAT1/3/5 phosphorylation of alloreactive splenocytes, and these effects of rIL‐27 could be almost totally blocked by JAK/ STAT inhibitor and anti‐IL‐27 p28 Ab. Finally, higher IL‐27Rα+IFN‐γ+ cells and lower IL‐27Rα+IL‐10+ cells within allografts, and high IFN‐γ/low IL‐10 in serum of allorejecting mice were detected. In conclusion, these data suggested that IL‐27Rα+ cells apparently promoted allograft rejection through enhancing alloreactive proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis and up‐regulating IFN‐γ via enhancing STAT pathway. Blocking IL‐27 pathway may favour to prevent allorejection, and IL‐27Rα may be as a high selective molecule for targeting diagnosis and therapy for allotransplantation rejection.
Differences in human papilloma virus vaccination prevalence, testing, knowledge on vaccination, cancer awareness and sexual activities between male and female medical and non‐medical students
Authors: Chernyshov P.V. , Semushyna T.
Published: August 2020

Background

Although most European countries experienced a decrease in cervical cancer mortality, Ukraine, Latvia and Belarus have experienced an increase in mortality. There is no national vaccination programme against human papilloma virus (HPV) in Ukraine, and vaccination rates are low.

Objectives

To study the knowledge of HPV‐related cancers and vaccination amongst medical and non‐medical students with a view to a better organization of educational interventions.

Methods

Male and female students of the Bogomolets National Medical University and non‐medical students of other universities from Kiev were asked to fill in an anonymous survey of HPV vaccination prevalence, testing, knowledge on vaccination, HPV‐related cancer awareness and sexual activities.

Results

Medical students showed better knowledge, higher prevalence of HPV testing and later sexual debut when compared to non‐medical students. Female students showed higher awareness of HPV‐related cancers except oral and rectal cancers and better knowledge of vaccination. The highest vaccination rate was in female medical students (6.56%) but the difference was not significant. First‐ to third‐year students reported the lowest knowledge of all related aspects.

Conclusions

Despite the absence of a national HPV vaccination programme, all students should be informed that HPV vaccination is available and recommended for all young persons. They should also be informed that it is possible to buy the vaccine and that there is evidence of clear benefit of vaccination. Factors limiting vaccine uptake (other than high vaccine cost) should be addressed by educational interventions. Information campaigns for students in their 1st and 2nd years of studies are especially important.
Shared decision making for adults with severe mental illness: A concept analysis
Authors: Aoki Yumi
Published: August 2020

Aim

Shared decision making for adults with severe mental illness has increasingly attracted attention. However, this concept has not been comprehensively clarified. This review aimed to clarify a concept of shared decision making for adults with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder, and propose an adequate definition.

Methods

Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis was used. MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and CINAHL were searched for articles written in English and published between 2010 and November 2019. The search terms were “psychiatr*” or “mental” or “schizophren*” or “depression” or “bipolar disorder”, combined with “shared decision making”. In total, 70 articles met the inclusion criteria. An inductive approach was used to identify themes and sub‐themes related to shared decision making for adults with severe mental illness. Surrogate terms and a definition of the concept were also described.

Results

Four key attributes were identified: user–professional relationship, communication process, user‐friendly visualization, and broader stakeholder approach. Communication process was the densest attribute, which consisted of five phases: goal sharing, information sharing, deliberation, mutual agreement, and follow‐up. The antecedents as prominent predisposing factors were long‐term complex illness, power imbalance, global trend, users' desire, concerns, and stigma. The consequences included decision‐related outcomes, users' changes, professionals' changes, and enhanced relationship.

Conclusions

Shared decision making for adults with severe mental illness is a communication process, involving both user‐friendly visualization techniques and broader stakeholders. The process may overcome traditional power imbalance and encourage changes among both users and professionals that could enhance the dyadic relationship.
Conservative management for retained products of conception after less than 22 weeks of gestation
Authors: Shitanaka Shimpei , Chigusa Yoshitsugu , Kawahara Shunsuke , Kawasaki Kaoru , Mogami Haruta , Mandai Masaki , Kondoh Eiji
Published: August 2020

Aim

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of conservative treatment in cases of retained products of conception (RPOC) with a preceding pregnancy of less than 22 weeks and to assess whether serum beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels could be a useful index to monitor the progress of treatment.

Methods

This is a case series of patients with RPOC developed after less than 22 weeks of gestation and managed expectantly with serial serum hCG measurement between 2011 and 2017. The clinical data of subjects were reviewed retrospectively. Cases that did not require invasive treatment such as surgery were designated as conservative management success.

Results

A total of 19 cases were eligible: 14 miscarriages and 5 induced abortions. Eleven patients underwent dilatation and curettage. The diagnosis of RPOC was made 35 (8–80) days after abortion. All patients were successfully treated with conservative management. Serum hCG levels at diagnosis were 29.6 (3.2–1585) mIU/mL. Serial measurement of serum hCG was continued until the levels became lower than the cutoff value, and the mean duration to hCG disappearance was 67.5 (6–183) days. In all cases, RPOC vanished spontaneously 77 (27–184) days after diagnosis. The disappearance of RPOC in the uterine cavity was subsequent to a significant decrease in serum hCG. Once serum hCG levels reached the cutoff value, no bleeding episodes were observed.

Conclusion

Conservative management for RPOC might be acceptable and effective. Furthermore, serial serum hCG levels reflect the activity of RPOC, and hCG may be a reliable index to monitor the progress of treatment.
Outcome of the fetuses with severely increased nuchal translucency thickness in the first trimester
Authors: Nakamura Yasushi , Fujita Satoko , Yamada Kenji , Song Mihyon , Tajima Atsushi , Matsumoto Junko , Kihira Chikara , Kurata Yoshie , Arakawa Hiromi , Tamura Chieko
Published: August 2020

Aim

To study the outcome of pregnancies with severely increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness at the 11–13‐week scan.

Methods

This study included 162 singleton pregnancies whose fetuses had increased NT thickness ≥ 5.5 mm between September 2013 and August 2018. The cases were divided into two groups: NT ≥ 6.5 mm (n = 112) (group A); and 6.5 mm > NT ≥ 5.5 mm (n = 50) (group B). Fetal (amniotic fluid) or placental (chorionic villous) chromosome analyses were conducted. Subsequent ultrasound findings, pregnancy outcome and structural defects in the neonates were recorded and analyzed.

Results

Abnormal karyotype was found in 71% (60/84) (group A) and 57% (21/37) (group B) of the cases respectively. In group A, 15 cases out of 24 with normal karyotype were born. Among these 15 cases, one case died soon after birth and 5 cases had associated abnormalities. In group B, 13 cases out of 18 with normal karyotype or negative noninvasive prenatal testing results and 1 case out of 2 cases with 47,XXY were born. All of them survived with no major anomaly.

Conclusion

Incidence of chromosomal aberrations was high in the cases with severely increased NT thickness. But favorable outcome could be expected if the fetus had no chromosomal abnormality and no abnormal findings were found in second trimester ultrasound scan especially in a fetus with increased NT < 6.5 mm.
Geofencing: Mobile Technology as a Health Promotion Tool to Raise Awareness of a Dental Clinic in Rural North Carolina
Authors: Wright Wanda G. , Rafferty Ann P. , Winterbauer Nancy , Locklear Kayla , Tucker‐McLaughlin Mary
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the use of geofence technology to raise awareness of a dental clinic in rural North Carolina.

Methods

The catchment area of the dental clinic was defined by ZIP Codes. A geofence was identified, and cell phones within the perimeter were targeted for oral health message drops to occur over 3 months from April to June 2017. Surveys conducted twice, pre‐ and postintervention (message drop), evaluated change in community awareness of services available at the dental clinic. A cross‐sectional analysis was used to measure the effect of the exposure to the geofence technology in survey respondents.

Findings

The survey included 200 participants (100 pre‐ and 100 postintervention). There were no significant differences in race or age for pre‐ and postintervention survey groups. The majority of respondents were American Indians (47.0% pre, 58.6% post) or black (28.8% pre, 25.5% post). There was a statistically significant improvement in awareness of the dental clinic (P = .045) from pre‐ to postintervention. A significant increase was also observed in the question related to dental visits by the respondent or family member of the respondent (from 6.5% to 15.0%, P = .04). A more modest improvement was found in questions related to the cost of dental care, type of insurance accepted, and services provided.

Conclusion

Geofencing has the potential to increase awareness of health care services and ultimately increase the number of patients receiving care.
Incidence of severe acute malnutrition after treatment: A prospective matched cohort study in Sokoto, Nigeria
Authors: Adegoke Olufemi , Arif Shafique , Bahwere Paluku , Harb Jana , Hug Julia , Jasper Paul , Mudzongo Paul , Nanama Simeon , Olisenekwu Gloria , Visram Aly
Published: August 2020

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children in Nigeria is tackled through the outpatient therapeutic programme (OTP) of the Community‐based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme. CMAM is evidently effective in resolving SAM, but little evidence exists on the remaining risk of SAM relapse for children discharged as cured from the OTP. We aimed to measure and compare the 6‐month incidence of SAM among OTP‐cured and community control children and identify factors associated with SAM relapse. We conducted a prospective matched cohort study that tracked 553 OTP‐cured and 526 control children in Sokoto State, Northern Nigeria. Outcomes and covariates were measured fortnightly in up to 12 home visits. We used multivariate Cox and accelerated failure time models to identify significant risk correlates, where the covariates to be tested for correlation with relapse were selected using domain knowledge and automatic feature selection methods. SAM incidence rates were 52 times higher in the OTP‐cured cohort (0.204/100 child‐days) than in the community control cohort (0.004/100 child‐days). Children with lower mid‐upper arm circumference at OTP admission, with lower height/length‐for‐age z‐scores, whose household head did not work over the full year, who lived in an area previously affected by environmental shocks, who were female and who had diarrhoea before the visit had a significantly higher relapse risk. Our study shows that OTP‐cured children remain at a significantly excess risk of SAM. To improve long‐term health outcomes of these children, programmes adopting a CMAM approach should strengthen follow‐up care and be integrated with other preventive services.
Maternal diets matter for children's dietary quality: Seasonal dietary diversity and animal‐source foods consumption in rural Timor‐Leste
Authors: Bonis‐Profumo Gianna , Stacey Natasha , Brimblecombe Julie
Published: August 2020

Improving the dietary quality of women and children is essential to reduce all forms of malnutrition. In this study, we assessed seasonal child and maternal dietary diversity and consumption of animal‐source foods (ASF), using 1,236 observations from combined data collected among 167 mother–child dyads in rural Timor‐Leste. We used generalized linear and logistic mixed‐effects models to examine the dietary differentials of mothers and children in two agricultural livelihood zones and across the seasons, as well as to identify household and agroecological characteristics associated with children's dietary quality in relation to their mothers'. We found dietary quality to be marginally better in coastal than in mid‐altitude zones. However, women's diets were strikingly poor, and their intake of ASF was lower than among children. Mothers exhibited preferential allocation patterns of specific ASF, dairy products and eggs, to children. The intake of ASF was predicted by seasonality. Flesh foods and red meat were much more likely to be consumed during the dry season, when cultural ceremonies are often performed. We found a positive and strongly significant association between children's dietary indicators—dietary diversity score, minimum dietary diversity and ASF consumption, and those of their mothers'. Maternal dietary quality and educational attainment, more so than agroecological characteristics, were explanatory factors of children's diet. Our study highlights that addressing the dietary quality of children in Timor‐Leste would benefit from improving women's diets through better access to nutritious foods and to secondary education.
Mycorrhizal and environmental controls over root trait–decomposition linkage of woody trees
Authors: Jiang Lei , Wang Huimin , Li Shenggong , Fu Xiaoli , Dai Xiaoqin , Yan Han , Kou Liang
Published: August 2020

Traits are critical in predicting decomposition that fuels carbon and nutrient cycling in ecosystems. However, our understanding of root trait–decomposition linkage, and especially its dependence on mycorrhizal type and environmental context, remains limited.

We explored the control of morphological and chemical (carbon‐ and nutrient‐related) traits over decomposition of absorptive roots in 30 tree species associated with either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in temperate and subtropical forests in China.

Carbon‐related traits (acid‐unhydrolysable residue (AUR) and cellulose concentrations) had predominant control of root decomposition in AM species while nutrient‐related traits (magnesium concentration) predominately controlled that in ECM species. Thicker absorptive roots decomposed faster in AM species as a result of their lower AUR concentrations, but more slowly in ECM angiosperm species potentially as a result of their higher magnesium concentrations. Root decomposition was linked to root nutrient economy in both forests while root diameter–decomposition coordination emerged only in the subtropical forest where root diameter and decomposition presented similar cross‐species variations.

Our findings suggest that root trait–decomposition linkages differ strongly with mycorrhizal type and environment, and that root diameter can predict decomposition but in opposing directions and with contrasting mechanisms for AM and ECM species.
Effects of lifestyle intervention on long‐term risk of diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Ninghua , Yang Yingzi , Cui Dingyu , Li Changping , Ma Ronald C.W. , Li Jing , Yang Xilin
Published: August 2020

We performed two meta‐analyses to estimate the effects of lifestyle intervention during pregnancy and after delivery on the risk of postpartum diabetes among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We searched the major databases to retrieve articles published in English or Chinese before 15 December 2019. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of diet, physical activity or both, conducted during or after pregnancy among women with GDM. The exclusion criteria were (1) having type 1 or type 2 diabetes before the intervention and (2) without postpartum diabetes documented. Fixed‐effects model analysis was used to obtain the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lifestyle intervention for diabetes in women with GDM. Four RCTs were identified to have implemented the intervention during pregnancy (n = 2883) and 10 to have conducted it within 3 years after delivery (n = 1733). Lifestyle intervention during pregnancy was not effective at reducing the risk of postpartum diabetes (RR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.66–1.25). However, lifestyle intervention initiated within 3 years after delivery was highly effective in reducing the risk of postpartum diabetes (pooled RR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.42–0.78). In conclusion, our findings support the early initiation of lifestyle intervention in women with GDM for the prevention of diabetes.
Antihypertensives and melanoma: An updated review
Authors: Williams Natalie M. , Vincent Louis T. , Rodriguez Gregor A. , Nouri Keyvan
Published: August 2020

Antihypertensive medications are commonly prescribed and well‐studied. Given the widespread use and potential side effects, various theories have been made about the relationship between antihypertensives and malignancy, including melanoma. This review describes the current understanding of the most commonly prescribed antihypertensives and their associations with melanoma. The literature demonstrates that diuretics, specifically hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide, may increase the risk of melanoma. While there is no evidence that antihypertensives have a role in melanoma prevention, non‐selective β‐blocker therapy has been associated with a decreased risk of disease progression and recurrence and may also improve outcomes in patients undergoing immunotherapy. In addition, experimental studies reveal that angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers have anti‐tumor effects, meriting further study.
3D reconstruction of internal wood decay using photogrammetry and sonic tomography
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Khoshelham Kourosh
Published: August 2020

Knowledge of deteriorations within tree trunks is critical for arborists to conduct individual tree health assessments. Sonic tree tomography, a non‐destructive technique using sound waves, has been widely used to estimate the size and shape of internal decay based on sound wave velocity variations. However, it has commonly been applied to 2D horizontal or vertical cross sections and its accuracy is questionable due to the poor approximation of the shape of the cross section. This paper proposes an integration of close‐range photogrammetry and sonic tomography to enable accurate reconstruction of the exterior and interior of the tree trunk in 3D. The internal wood quality is represented by the spatially interpolated sound wave velocities, using the time of flight of the sound waves and the coordinates of the acoustic sensors obtained from the photogrammetric model. Experimental results show that the proposed approach provides a realistic 3D visualisation of the size, shape and location of the internal deteriorations.
Helping and Happiness: A Review and Guide for Public Policy
Authors: Aknin Lara B. , Whillans Ashley V.
Published: August 2020

Perhaps one of the most reaffirming findings to emerge over the past several decades is that humans not only engage in generous behavior, they also appear to experience pleasure from doing so. Yet not all acts of helping lead to greater happiness. Here, we review the growing body of evidence showing that people engage in a wide array of prosocial behaviors (e.g., charitable giving, volunteering, blood/organ donation, offering advice, food sharing) which can promote positive emotions. Then, using self‐determination theory, a foundational theory of human motivation, we consider when and how generous actions are most likely to boost the helper's happiness—and when they are not. Finally, we leverage these insights to consider how public policy and organizations can apply this information to make prosocial action more emotionally rewarding for citizens and employees alike.
Decolonizing Benjamin in the Tropics: The long history of Guayaquil's arcades
Authors: Fenton Robert Priessman
Published: August 2020

This essay interrogates the long historical development of Guayaquil's arcades, or soportales, by analysing their historical development and relation to global commerce through littoral Ecuador's experience of cacao capitalism (1700–1925). I do so by employing and referencing Walter Benjamin's now paradigmatic texts concerning commodity culture and modernity in Paris' arcades. My work critically and synthetically examines archival and historical sources that catalogue Guayaquil's urban and architectural development in that tropical city‐region. I explore how environmental factors, indigenous architectural techniques, globalizing commercial culture, cacao exports, and liberal ideologies form historical constellations expressing the multi‐layered influences contributing to the growth and modification of Guayaquil's arcades. This transnational history of the particular attempts to recast understandings of urban space, architecture, and the tropical as dynamic edges of capitalist cultural modernity. This essay both deepens and decolonizes Benjamin's work by analysing the importance of the ‘coloniality of power’ on the formation of Guayaquil's arcades and their afterlives as aura. Whereas the arcades of Benjamin's Paris presented him with the primary form of capitalism's cultural modernity, I argue that Guayaquil's soportales serve as constellations for reading an alternative (tropical) modernity predicated on plantation agriculture, Eurocentrism, and cultural hybridization as an expression of political economy.
The Solidary Relationship’s Consequences for the Ebb and Flow of Activism: Collaborative Evidence from Life‐History Interviews and Social Media Event Analysis,
Authors: Carlsen Hjalmar Bang , Ralund Snorre , Toubøl Jonas
Published: August 2020

Acting in solidarity with deprived others has become a central topic in social movement research. The explanations of solidarity activism or political altruism are few. However, social movement researchers have claimed that solidarity with out‐of‐group others is a by‐product of in‐group interaction. In contrast, we argue that out‐group interaction with the deprived other and the formation of a solidary relationship is central to the ebb and flow of solidarity activism. We investigate the Danish refugee solidarity movement and show that the meeting with the deprived other 1) brings about an interaction order which makes an ethical demand on the activists to care for the other both within the bounds of the situations and in the future; 2) enacts and amplifies activists’ values and beliefs because the deprived other becomes an exemplar of the injustice and the need to help the broader group of people in the same fragile situation. We develop and test this theory drawing on 42 life‐history interviews and a social media dataset containing a panel of 87,455 activists participating in refugee solidarity groups.
Xeno‐regenerative medicine: A novel concept for donor kidney fabrication
Authors: Yokoo Takashi , Yamanaka Shuichiro , Kobayashi Eiji
Published: August 2020

Allogeneic kidney transplantation not only dramatically improves the prognosis and quality of life of patients with end‐stage renal disease who require dialysis, but also provides significant medical economic benefits. However, due to chronic shortage of donor organs, patients have to continue to undergo dialysis, which can be stressful and expensive. To overcome such circumstances, xenotransplantation and kidney regeneration are being studied as the ultimate treatment options that can be a replacement for allogenic donor organs. A complete organ with vascular pedicles can be xenotransplanted; however, the control of immune response against a xenoantigen is one consideration. Conversely, regenerative medicine may be used to generate a self‐organ or at least an allo‐organ from iPS cells, but completion of a whole organ is another story. The creation of a hybrid organ that can compensate for the shortcomings of both xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine may be advocated. Here, we propose what we may call “xenogenerative medicine.” The present review extracts the current limitations of each strategy, especially in Japan, and discusses how the combination of both the strategies may lead to dramatic progress in the development of a new organ creation method.
Constant Force Spring System With a Spiral
Authors: Hetnarski Richard B.
Published: August 2020

The paper is devoted to the theory of a mechanism called constant force spring system. The system consists of a linear helical spring, a spiral drum, a take-up pulley, and two cords. The spiral drum and the take-up pulley are attached rigidly to each other. One of the cords connects the spring with the spiral drum, and at the initial position of the system fills the entire spiral groove on the drum. During the operation of the system, the spiral drum may rotate about its center, and the cord may gradually unwind from the spiral and wind again. The process of winding/unwinding causes the spring to change its length and change the force it exerts on the spiral drum. Due to the shape of the spiral, the distance of the cord from the center of the drum changes, so that the force in the other cord which is wound on the take-up pulley remains constant. Creation of that constant force is the goal of the system. The heart of the system is a specially designed spiral. The solution to the associated differential equation is provided. The system may allow to eliminate weight towers in exercise machines; eliminate counterweights in elevators, as well as in windows that open by moving upwards. The landing path of fighter planes’ landing on aircraft carriers may be reduced. The spiral of the system exhibits an important property which may interest mathematicians; its behavior is compared with that of the Archimedes’ and logarithmic spirals. Because of this property, the spiral may find other applications.
Kinematic Modeling and Analysis of a Novel Bio-Inspired and Cable-Driven Hybrid Shoulder Mechanism
Authors: Niyetkaliyev A. S. , Sariyildiz E. , Alici G.
Published: August 2020

The robotic shoulder rehabilitation exoskeletons that do not take into consideration all shoulder degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) lead to undesirable interaction forces and cause discomfort to the patient due to the joint axes misalignments between the exoskeleton and shoulder joints. In order to contribute to the solution of this human–robot compatibility issue, we present the kinematic modeling and analysis of a novel bio-inspired 5-DOFs hybrid human–robot mechanism (HRM). The human limbs are regarded as the inner passive restrained links in the proposed hybrid constrained anthropomorphic mechanism. The proposed hybrid mechanism combines serial and parallel manipulators with rigid and cable links enabling a match between human and exoskeleton joint axes. It is designed to cover the whole range of motion of the human shoulder with the workspace free of singularities. The numerical and simulation results from the computer-aided drawing model of the mechanism are presented to demonstrate the validity of the kinematic model, and the kinematic and singularity merits of the proposed mechanism. A three-dimensional printed prototype of the hybrid mechanism was fabricated to further validate the kinematic model and its overall advantages.
System Kinematic Reliability Analysis for Robotic Manipulators Under Rectangular and Spherical Tolerant Boundaries
Authors: Zhao Qiangqiang , Guo Junkang , Hong Jun
Published: August 2020

Kinematic reliability is an essential index assessing the work performance of robotic manipulators. In general, the kinematic reliability of robotic manipulators is defined as the probability of the pose or position error falling into a specified tolerant region. Therefore, this work proposes an efficient method to conduct kinematic reliability analysis for robotic manipulators under rectangular and spherical allowable safe boundaries in terms of dimension and input uncertainties. First, based on the Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff formula and Lie group theory, the mean and covariance matrix of the distribution of the pose error are analytically determined. Then, the expectation propagation of the multivariate Gaussian and saddlepoint approximation method are employed to calculate the probabilities of kinematic reliability under the rectangular and spherical safe boundaries, respectively. The proposed method takes into account the boundness of the random error variable and is available for arbitrarily distributed errors. Finally, a spatial six degrees-of-freedom industrial robot is used as an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by comparison with other methods. The comparison results indicate that the proposed method has higher accuracy and efficiency.
Development of Robotic Ankle–Foot Orthosis With Series Elastic Actuator and Magneto-Rheological Brake
Authors: Chen Bing , Zi Bin , Wang Zhengyu , Li Yuan , Qian Jun
Published: August 2020

This paper illustrates the development and experimental validation of a robotic ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) with a series elastic actuator (SEA) and a magneto-rheological (MR) brake. First, the biomechanics of a human ankle joint during walking is explained. Next, the hardware design of the robotic AFO is introduced, including its mechanical structure, actuator design and configuration, and electronic system. The SEA is primarily composed of an electric motor, a planetary gearbox, a torsion spring, and a pair of bevel gears. The MR brake can modulate the viscosity of the robotic AFO and generate a large braking torque of 21.8 Nm with a low power of 8.8 W. Additionally, the modeling of the robotic AFO is presented, followed by an introduction to its control; several gait evaluation indices are proposed as well. Finally, a pilot study is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the developed robotic AFO. The experimental results demonstrate that the robotic AFO has the potential to provide dorsiflexion assistance, thus preventing foot slap and toe drag, in addition to plantarflexion assistance for the forward propulsion of the body. During a gait cycle, an average power of 0.23 W is harvested, and an 8% improvement in the system energy efficiency is achieved.
Deformation Modeling of Compliant Robotic Fingers Grasping Soft Objects
Authors: Mouazé Nicolas , Birglen Lionel
Published: August 2020

In this paper, a model is shown to predict the simultaneous deformations occurring when compliant robotic fingers are grasping soft objects. This model aims at providing an accurate estimation of the penetration, internal forces, and deformed shapes of both these fingers and the objects. A particular emphasis is placed on the case when the finger is underactuated but the methodology discussed in this paper is general. Usually in the literature, underactuated fingers are modeled and designed considering their grasps of rigid object because of the complexity associated with deforming objects. This limitation severely hinders the usability of underactuated grippers and either restricts them to a narrow range of applications or requires extensive experimental testing. Furthermore, classical models of underactuated fingers in contact with objects are typically applicable with a maximum of one contact per phalanx only. The model proposed in this paper demonstrates a simple algorithm to compute a virtual subdivision of the phalanges which can be used to estimate the contact pressure arising when there are contacts at many locations simultaneously. This model also proposes a computationally efficient approximation of isotropic soft objects. Numerical simulations of the proposed model are compared here with dynamic simulations, finite element analyses, and experimental measurements which all shows its effectiveness and accuracy. Finally, the extension of the model to other types of underactuated fingers, standard grippers, and fully actuated robotic fingers as well as potential applications is discussed and illustrated.
Feasible Regions of Bioink Composition, Extrusion Pressure, and Needle Size for Continuous Extrusion-Based Bioprinting
Authors: Thakare Ketan , Wei Xingjian , Jerpseth Laura , Bhardwaj Abhinav , Qin Hongmin , Pei Zhijian
Published: August 2020

Bioprinting has many potential applications in drug screening, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. In extrusion-based bioprinting, the extruded strand is the fundamental building block for printed constructs and needs to be of good quality and continuous in structure. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on extrusion-based bioprinting. However, values of process parameters leading to continuous extrusion of strands have rarely been reported. In this paper, feasible regions of bioink composition, extrusion pressure, and needle size for continuous strand extrusion have been evaluated. The information on feasible regions for extruding continuous strands, provided in this paper, can be useful in deciding appropriate extrusion pressure and needle size for the bioink of different compositions (ratios of alginate:methylcellulose) in extrusion-based bioprinting.
A Review on United States Patents to Prevent Mechanical Failures in Foldable Smartphones
Authors: Nematollahisarvestani Ali , Lee Yung-Cheng “Y. C.”
Published: August 2020

A foldable smartphone is an exciting new approach for future mobile systems. With some early models being introduced to the market, research and development is being performed to increase the reliability of future systems. Mechanical failure of the display is the major source of foldable smartphone's reliability issues. The display is a laminate structure including an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer (emission layer and pixel electrode layer), a touch panel, a polarizer, and multiple protective layers in addition to multiple functional coatings and supporting structures. The display is exposed to repeated folding, finger touch, and the impact of external sharp objects. In addition, mechanical behavior changes through the thickness of the display; which adds extra challenges in preventing damage to vital components of the display. This review covers more than 100 U.S. patents about the mechanical failures in foldable smartphones published or filed after 2015. Different inventions reviewed are to design a foldable configuration to prevent mechanical failures resulting from the following four mechanisms: (1) plastic deformation (yielding, creep, and fatigue); (2) fracture; (3) delamination; and (4) buckling (warping, buckling, wrinkling, and creasing).
Dimensional Data on Vulva Vaginal Anatomy: Medical Device Design Barrier
Authors: Smith Avery , Short Ada-Rhodes
Published: August 2020

An accurate understanding of anatomy allows designers and scientists to create medical devices that work well for their market. However, reliable descriptions of vulva vaginal dimensions are not currently available for reference. This literature review attempts to survey the existing data collected on vulva vaginal dimensions and report the findings. We located scholarly journal articles and cross-sectional studies via academic databases and online search engines. To pinpoint the data that would be helpful in dimensional analysis of vulva vaginal measurements, key search terms included: “vulva dimensions”, “vulva measurements”, “vaginal dimensions”, “vaginal measurements”, “labia dimensions”, “labia measurements”, “clitoral dimensions”, “clitoral measurements”, and “vulva cross-sectional study”.