bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Typhlodromini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: UECKERMANN EDWARD A. , ZANNOU IGNACE D. , DE MORAES GILBERTO J. , OLIVEIRA ANIBAL R. , HANNA RACHID , YANINEK JOHN S.
Published: June 2019

This is the ninth publication in a series on the taxonomy of phytoseiid mites of sub-Saharan Africa. Sixty-five phytoseiid species of the tribe Typhlodromini Wainstein, all of which are in the genus Typhlodromus Scheuten are reported in this paper (62 in the subgenus Anthoseius DeLeon and 3 in the subgenus Typhlodromus Scheuten). They refer to all species of this tribe known to occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Fifteen new species are described and 41 species are redescribed. Most of the reported species were collected in various habitats in southern Africa and in cassava habitats in tropical Africa. A key is included for the separation of these species.
Additions to the aphid fauna of Wrangel Island due to climate change with
redescription of the oviparous female of Pterocomma groenlandicum Hille Ris Lambers, 1952 (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea)
Authors: KHRULEVA OLGA A. , STEKOLSHCHIKOV ANDREY V.
Published: June 2019

The article contains new data on the Aphidoidea of Wrangel Island collected in 2015. Previously, at least four species were known. Two of them, Aphis polaris Stekolshchikov et Khruleva, 2014 and Metopolophium sabihae Prior, 1976, were regularly observed on the island in the 1980s and 1990s. Pterocomma groenlandicum Hille Ris Lambers, 1952 and Myzus (Nectarosiphon) polaris Hille Ris Lambers, 1952, were first collected in 2006. In 2015 three more species were found: Brachycaudus (Mordvilkomemor) rumexicolens (Patch, 1917), Cavariella aegopodii (Scopoli, 1763), and Pemphigus saliciradicis (Börner, 1950). This last species represents a first record for the territory of Russia whereas C. aegopodii had not previously been collected in tundra landscapes. In 2015, a total of seven aphid species were collected. For one of the four previously noted species, M. sabihae, a sharp increase in its abundance is recorded. We propose that the increase in aphid species diversity is due to climate warming in the Russian High Arctic. A detailed redescription of the oviparous female of P. groenlandicum is also provided.
Tumor Environment-Responsive Degradable Branched Glycopolymer Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent and Its Tumor-Targeted Imaging
Authors: Wang Yang , Dai Yan , Luo Qiang , Wei Xiaoli , Xiao Xueyang , Li Haonan , Hu Jiani , Gong Qiyong , Wu Jianlin , Luo Kui
Published: June 2019

Branched macromolecules have been used as carriers for imaging probes and drug delivery systems because of their tunable molecular structures, as well as their regular nanoscale structures and dimensions. We designed and synthesized two tumor environment-responsive branched and gadolinium
(Gd)-based glycopolymer conjugates and investigated their potency as highly effective and safe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. These branched macromolecules were prepared by one-pot reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and conjugating chemistry.
A biodegradable GFLG oligopeptide was used to successfully link the branch-chains of the branched macromolecules, finally a conjugate of this branched macromolecule and DOTA-Gd (HB-pGAEMA-Gd) with a molecular weight (MW) of 124 kDa was produced. Meanwhile, to improve the ability of tumor-targeting,
we conjugated a tumor-targeting cRGDyK cyclic peptide to the branched molecule to prepare a tumor-targeted branched macromoleculeDOTA-Gd conjugate (HB-pGAEMA-RGD-Gd) with a MW of 136 kDa. The prepared branched macromolecules had a nanoscale hydrodynamic particle size and could be degraded
into lower MW fragments with the cathepsin B. The aqueous phase relaxation efficiency of HB-pGAEMA-RGD-Gd (12.3 mM–1s–1 and HB-pGAEMA-Gd (13.2 mM–1s–1 was four times higher than that of DTPA-Gd (2.9 mM–1s–1),
a clinically used contrast agent. In comparison with DTPA-Gd, the branched macromolecular contrast agents significantly enhanced the MRI signal intensity at the tumor site in vivo, and the enhancement of MRI signal intensity was up to 6 times that of the DTPA-Gd owing to their high
relaxation efficiencies and accumulation at the tumor site. In addition, in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies indicated that the degradable macromolecular contrast agents had no significant toxicity.
A Novel Enzyme-Free Biosensor Based on Porous Core–Shell Metal Organic Frame Nanocomposites Modified Electrode for Highly Sensitive Detection of Uric Acid and Dopamine
Authors: Qiu Ruiqi , Xu Qiu , Jiang Hui , Wang Xuemei
Published: June 2019

A novel enzyme-free biosensor based on porous metal organic frame nanocomposites, i.e., core–shell structured Au@NC@GC nanocomposites, has been constructed for simultaneous determination of uric acid (UA) and dopamine (DA). Au@ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was prepared through a seed-mediated
growth method and carbonized in nitrogen atmosphere to synthesize a nanoporous hybrid carbon materials (Au@NC@GC). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies demonstrate that the as-prepared Au@NC@GC modified glassy carbon electrode (Au@NC@GC-GCE) possesses a
high selectivity and sensitivity for simultaneous detections of UA and DA. It exhibited wide linear responses for UA and DA in the range from 10 μM to 600 μM and 10 μM to 150 μM, with the detection limits of 0.773 nM and 0.746 nM, respectively (S/N =
3). Moreover, this novel electrochemical biosensor could be further utilized in biological analysis (i.e., human serum), and the satisfactory recovery results of UA and DA could be readily obtained. These afore-mentioned results further manifest that the as-prepared biosensors are capable
for quantitatively monitoring UA and DA in serum, verifying the possibility for its future promising applications in real biological or clinic samples analysis.
Red Jujube-Incorporated Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA) Hydrogels with Anti-Oxidation and Immunoregulation Activity for Wound Healing
Authors: Huang Jun , Chen Long , Gu Zhipeng , Wu Jun
Published: June 2019

Red jujube has a long history of consumption for its excellent antioxidant activity and immunoregulation. In this study, red jujube-incorporated gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels were developed using a programmed mixing method for wound healing. A series of evaluations, including
structural characterization, antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo, immunoregulation, and wound healing effects, were conducted. The results indicated that the introduction of red jujube equipped the GelMA hydrogel with antioxidation ability and light immune-stimulation.
The wound healing results further confirmed that red jujube hybrid hydrogel could be a promising wound dressing material.
Improving Lake-Breeze Simulation with WRF Nested LES and Lake Model over a Large Shallow Lake
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Huang Jianping , Li Gang , Wang Yongwei , Liu Cheng , Zhao Kaihui , Tao Xinyu , Hu Xiao-Ming , Lee Xuhui
Published: June 2019

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is used in large-eddy simulation (LES) mode to investigate a lake-breeze case occurring on 12 June 2012 over the Lake Taihu region of China. Observational data from 15 locations, wind profiler radar, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are used to evaluate the WRF nested-LES performance in simulating lake breezes. Results indicate that the simulated temporal and spatial variations of the lake breeze by WRF nested LES are consistent with observations. The simulations with high-resolution grid spacing and the LES scheme have a high correlation coefficient and low mean bias when evaluated against 2-m temperature, 10-m wind, and horizontal and vertical lake-breeze circulations. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) remains stable over the lake throughout the lake-breeze event, and the stability becomes even stronger as the lake breeze reaches its mature stage. The improved ABL simulation with LES at a grid spacing of 150 m indicates that the non-LES planetary boundary layer parameterization scheme does not adequately represent subgrid-scale turbulent motions. Running WRF fully coupled to a lake model improves lake-surface temperature and consequently the lake-breeze simulations. Allowing for additional model spinup results in a positive impact on lake-surface temperature prediction but is a heavy computational burden. Refinement of a water-property parameter used in the Community Land Model, version 4.5, within WRF and constraining the lake-surface temperature with observational data would further improve lake-breeze representation.
How Does Latent Cooling Affect Baroclinic Development in an Idealized Framework?
Authors: Haualand Kristine F. , Spengler Thomas
Published: June 2019

Latent cooling by evaporating or melting hydrometeors has recently been shown to contribute to the positive low-level potential vorticity (PV) anomaly below the layer of latent heating in midlatitude cyclones. While the low-level PV anomaly might be intensified by latent cooling, the influence on the overall baroclinic development remains unclear. Including both latent heating and cooling in the Eady model, this study finds that latent cooling reduces baroclinic growth. While the PV anomaly between the layers of latent cooling and heating increases for realistic heating intensities, the PV anomaly at the top of the heating layer decreases, as latent heating is weakened because of reduced vertical motion within the cyclone. Consequently, the relative contribution from diabatic heating to the generation of eddy available potential energy decreases when latent cooling is included. Thus, despite the recently emphasized role of evaporation for the low-level PV anomaly in developing cyclones, the overall effect of latent cooling is detrimental to baroclinic growth.
Interdecadal Change in the Intensity of Interannual Variation of Spring Precipitation over Southern China and Possible Reasons
Authors: Xu Chao , Qiao Yunting , Jian Maoqiu
Published: June 2019

The intensity of interannual variation of spring precipitation over southern China during 1979–2014 and possible reasons for it are investigated in this paper. There is a significant interdecadal change in the intensity of interannual variation of spring precipitation over southern China around 1995/96. The intensity of interannual variation of spring rainfall over South China is stronger during 1979–95 than that during 1996–2014. The possible reason may be the larger amplitude of the sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the western Pacific Ocean (WP) before 1995/96. The cooler (warmer) SSTA in WP may trigger an abnormal local anticyclone (cyclone) at lower levels. The anomalous southwesterly (northeasterly) flow at the northwestern flank of the WP anticyclone (cyclone) covers South China, transporting more (less) moisture to South China. Meanwhile, the anomalous winds converge (diverge) in South China at lower levels and diverge (converge) at upper levels, which causes the anomalous ascent (descent) to enhance (reduce) the precipitation over there. However, during 1996–2014, the intensity of interannual variation of spring rainfall over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley becomes much stronger than that during 1979–95, which is related to the intensified interannual variation of the atmospheric circulation in the middle and high latitudes over Eurasia. The weak (strong) Siberian high and East Asian trough may reduce (enhance) the northerly wind from the middle and high latitudes. As a result, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley are subjected to the anomalous southerly wind, favoring more (less) precipitation over there.
Projected Slowdown of Antarctic Bottom Water Formation in Response to Amplified Meltwater Contributions
Authors: Lago Véronique , England Matthew H.
Published: June 2019

The sinking and recirculation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) are a major regulator of the storage of heat, carbon, and nutrients in the ocean. This sinking is sensitive to changes in surface buoyancy, in particular because of freshening since salinity plays a greater role in determining density at cold temperatures. Acceleration in Antarctic ice-shelf and land-ice melt could thus significantly impact the ventilation of the world’s oceans, yet future projections do not usually include this effect in models. Here we use an ocean–sea ice model to investigate the potential long-term impact of Antarctic meltwater on ocean circulation and heat storage. The freshwater forcing is derived from present-day estimates of meltwater input from drifting icebergs and basal melt, combined with RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios of projected amplification of Antarctic meltwater. We find that the additional freshwater induces a substantial slowdown in the formation rate of AABW, reducing ventilation of the abyssal ocean. Under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 meltwater scenarios, there is a near-complete shutdown of AABW formation within just 50 years, something that is not captured by climate model projections. The abyssal overturning at ~30°S also weakens, with an ~20-yr delay relative to the onset of AABW slowdown. After 200 years, up to ~50% of the original volume of AABW has disappeared as a result of abyssal warming, induced by vertical mixing in the absence of AABW ventilation. This result suggests that climate change could induce the disappearance of present-day abyssal water masses, with implications for the global distribution of heat, carbon, and nutrients.
Separating the Impact of Individual Land Surface Properties on the Terrestrial Surface Energy Budget in both the Coupled and Uncoupled Land–Atmosphere System
Authors: Laguë Marysa M. , Bonan Gordon B. , Swann Abigail L. S.
Published: June 2019

Changes in the land surface can drive large responses in the atmosphere on local, regional, and global scales. Surface properties control the partitioning of energy within the surface energy budget to fluxes of shortwave and longwave radiation, sensible and latent heat, and ground heat storage. Changes in surface energy fluxes can impact the atmosphere across scales through changes in temperature, cloud cover, and large-scale atmospheric circulation. We test the sensitivity of the atmosphere to global changes in three land surface properties: albedo, evaporative resistance, and surface roughness. We show the impact of changing these surface properties differs drastically between simulations run with an offline land model, compared to coupled land–atmosphere simulations that allow for atmospheric feedbacks associated with land–atmosphere coupling. Atmospheric feedbacks play a critical role in defining the temperature response to changes in albedo and evaporative resistance, particularly in the extratropics. More than 50% of the surface temperature response to changing albedo comes from atmospheric feedbacks in over 80% of land areas. In some regions, cloud feedbacks in response to increased evaporative resistance result in nearly 1 K of additional surface warming. In contrast, the magnitude of surface temperature responses to changes in vegetation height are comparable between offline and coupled simulations. We improve our fundamental understanding of how and why changes in vegetation cover drive responses in the atmosphere, and develop understanding of the role of individual land surface properties in controlling climate across spatial scales—critical to understanding the effects of land-use change on Earth’s climate.
Evaluative Spillovers from Technological Change: The Effects of “DNA Envy” on Occupational Practices in Forensic Science
Authors: Bechky Beth A.
Published: June 2019

Most studies of technologies’ impact on occupational change focus on occupational groups’ adoption and use of particular technologies in a field or workplace. Drawing on an 18-month ethnographic study of a crime laboratory, I focus instead on “evaluative spillovers”: the comparisons that occupations encounter when technologies change the work of neighboring occupations in their field. I explore what happened when DNA profiling was held up as the “gold standard” of forensic evidence, resulting in scientific, public, and legal scrutiny of other forensic science occupational groups. Comparisons with DNA profiling challenged the working techniques and the values of firearms examiners, toxicologists, and narcotics analysts, but each group responded differently, either embracing or resisting changes to their work practices. Their responses were predicated on the institutional pathways that evaluative spillovers traveled through the field in locales such as professional association meetings and court proceedings. These three aspects of the occupational system—technique, values, and institutional pathways—influenced how workers negotiated the impact of technological change in the field of forensic science.
What Is Our Research For? Responsibility, Humility and the Production of Knowledge about Burundi
Authors: Curtis Devon E. A.
Published: June 2019

Political space in Burundi underwent a remarkable opening during the Burundian peace process and its immediate aftermath, which led to a rise in social science scholarship in Burundi. This space has increasingly narrowed, particularly since the crisis in 2015, presenting important challenges for social science scholars of Burundi. This changing political environment has consequences for the production of knowledge on Burundi. It is therefore timely to ask what purposes does research on Burundi serve. This article reflects upon different motivations and goals for social science research in Burundi and how these affect the types of research questions that are asked and the formats for knowledge dissemination. It argues that both the opening and closing of the Burundian political landscape bring into sharp relief the need for greater scholarly reflexivity. The article argues that in contexts of structural inequality and increased political control such as Burundi, we need to be particularly attentive to the need for scholarly responsibility and humility, as well as an awareness of the dynamics that have led to calls for the decolonisation of knowledge within the social sciences.
Our Future With Democratization of Health Requires Health Literacy to Succeed
Authors: Parker Ruth M. , Ratzan Scott
Published: June 2019

This article argues for the importance of health literacy to improve health decision making. With growing connectivity at the level of individuals, communities, populations, and people across geographies, we have exciting opportunities to advance health. Health literacy is fundamental for democratization of health. The complexities and demands of what is needed for health and healthcare must align with the skills and abilites of people to access, navigate, understand, and use needed information. Content must be clear, transparent, accurate, and useful in meeting the needs of people seeking solutions. Health literacy occurs when this happens, and is foundational for reaching the exciting potential of democratizing health.
Feasibility RCT protocol evaluating a powered-wheelchair training program for older adults
Authors: Smith Emma M. , Miller William C. , Mortenson W. Ben , Mihailidis Alex
Published: June 2019

Background.

Powered-wheelchair use improves participation for people with mobility limitations; however, many individuals do not receive powered-wheelchair skills training that meets their learning needs.

Purpose.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of a powered-wheelchair training program for older adults with cognitive impairment, using errorless learning strategies facilitated by shared control technology.

Method.

A feasibility 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial will recruit 32 older adults in residential care with mild to moderate cognitive impairment who are new powered-wheelchair use. The intervention consists of six or 12 training sessions, facilitated by shared control technology, using errorless learning techniques. Control participants will receive six or 12 training sessions using trial-and-error methods. Feasibility and clinical outcomes data (primary outcome: powered-wheelchair skills) will be collected.

Implications.

Errorless learning facilitated by shared control technology may be an alternative to meet the powered-wheelchair learning needs of older adults with cognitive impairments.
Correlates of Self-Care Behaviors in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbid Heart Failure
Authors: Aga Fekadu B. , Dunbar Sandra B. , Kebede Tedla , Higgins Melinda Kay , Gary Rebecca A.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial correlates of diabetes self-care behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and comorbid heart failure (HF).

Method

Baseline data of 180 participants from a clinical trial that tested a 6-month integrated self-care intervention for persons with comorbid HF and T2D were analyzed. Correlational bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine correlates of diabetes self-care behaviors.

Result

Participants had a mean age of 58 ± 11years; the majority were male (n = 118, 66%) and African American (n = 119, 66%). Number of comorbidities >2 ( P < .001), having more than a high school education ( P < .05), and African American ethnicity ( P < .05) predicted better exercise, self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG), and foot care behaviors, respectively. The use of an aldosterone inhibitor ( P < .05) predicted worse exercise performance, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores ( P < .01) predicted worse SMBG, and treatment with diet plus medication ( P < .05) and dyslipidemia ( P < .001) predicted worse foot care.

Conclusion

Findings from this study provide new insights into the complex self-care requirements for T2D patients with comorbid HF. Integrated self-care interventions are clearly warranted in persons living with multiple chronic conditions for optimal health outcomes and the prevention of complications. Our sample of predominately African American men showed they had better T2D self-care behaviors than whites than previously reported. Additional research is needed to determine racial and gender differences on health outcomes in persons with T2D and comorbid HF.
Universality without consensus: Jean-François Lyotard on politics in postmodernity
Authors: Burdman Javier
Published: June 2019

Lyotard’s diagnosis of a ‘postmodern condition’ has been repeatedly interpreted as a disavowal of the universal aspiration of political action and judgment. This article challenges this interpretation by showing that postmodernity involves an attempt to reconsider universality in such a way that it involves dissensus rather than consensus. I proceed by reconstructing Lyotard’s critique of the idea of consensus as a ground of political action and judgment, which in his view is based on a certain model of production of scientific knowledge. Then, I analyse Lyotard’s turn to Kant’s judgment of the sublime as an alternative to a consensus-based conception of universal judgments. In the judgment of the sublime, universality stems from the disagreement between the faculties, which arouses respect for universal ideas. Analogously, political judgments stem from the disagreement between heterogeneous discourses, which produces a universal call to invent new languages that make communication possible.
Ewing sarcoma of the rib presenting with hemothorax
Authors: Shafi Ahmed Mohamed Abdel , Fendius Sarah , Awad Wael Ibrahim
Published: June 2019

Ewing sarcoma is a malignant primitive neuroectodermal tumor, primarily affecting the long bones in young children and adolescents. It is a rare disease but is the most common malignancy of the chest wall, accounting for 6%–16% of chest wall cancers. We report a case of Ewing sarcoma of the rib presenting with massive hemothorax in a teenage boy, with rapid disease progression.
Design, Construction, and Preliminary Investigations of Otta Seal in Iowa
Authors: Gushgari Sharif Y. , Zhang Yang , Nahvi Ali , Ceylan Halil , Kim Sunghwan , Arabzadeh Ali , Jahren Charles T. , Øverby Charles
Published: June 2019

Faced with limited financial resources, pavement engineers constantly seek more durable and economical technologies for road preservations and rehabilitations. Consequently, there have been many efforts to study resurfacing strategies, including various types of sealing for local roads. Among different sealing methodologies, Otta seal is a technique that has not yet been sufficiently studied in the U.S.A. For this investigation, the first Otta seal site in the state of Iowa was constructed using a double-layer Otta seal design over 6.4 km of cracked asphalt pavement. Otta seal design and construction details are documented and discussed, and test sections using various aggregates are compared for performance. The key lesson learned was that proper aggregate selection within gradation limits and aggregate spread rates were critical factors for Otta seal performance. Otta seal capability for holding loose aggregate particles and for dust control were examined, and there were indications that excessive proportion of fine aggregate particles could lead to diminished performance associated with fugitive dust emissions and unbound aggregate particles. Although the Otta seal provided a smooth surface satisfying road user and agency requirements, it did not significantly add structural capacity to the existing asphalt pavement. The findings from this study will benefit road officials and other decision makers who need to consider alternatives for resurfacing distressed low-volume asphalt roads.
Moving Just Enough Deep Sequencing Data to Get the Job Done
Authors: Mills Nicholas , Bensman Ethan M , Poehlman William L , Ligon Walter B , Feltus F Alex
Published: June 2019

Motivation:

As the size of high-throughput DNA sequence datasets continues to grow, the cost of transferring and storing the datasets may prevent their processing in all but the largest data centers or commercial cloud providers. To lower this cost, it should be possible to process only a subset of the original data while still preserving the biological information of interest.

Results:

Using 4 high-throughput DNA sequence datasets of differing sequencing depth from 2 species as use cases, we demonstrate the effect of processing partial datasets on the number of detected RNA transcripts using an RNA-Seq workflow. We used transcript detection to decide on a cutoff point. We then physically transferred the minimal partial dataset and compared with the transfer of the full dataset, which showed a reduction of approximately 25% in the total transfer time. These results suggest that as sequencing datasets get larger, one way to speed up analysis is to simply transfer the minimal amount of data that still sufficiently detects biological signal.

Availability:

All results were generated using public datasets from NCBI and publicly available open source software.
Predicting Neonatal Skin Injury: The First Step to Reducing Skin Injuries in Neonates
Authors: Broom Margaret , Dunk Ann Marie , E Mohamed Abdel-Latif
Published: June 2019

Background:

Skin injuries remain common in neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units. While predicting neonates at risk of skin injury may assist in reducing the incidence of injury, currently there is limited evidence on which tool may be superior.

Methods:

A prospective study was completed during November-December 2016 to evaluate the predictive value of the Skin Risk Assessment and Management Tool (SRAMT). Comparisons were made between SRAMT and Neonatal/Infant Braden-Q Scale (BQS) as well as staff’s capacity to predict a neonate’s risk of skin injury. Data collected included gestation, weight, day of assessment, injury types, causation, medical devices in situ and risk scores.

Results:

In total, 248 assessments were completed with 38% (93) recorded skin injuries. Median (interquartile range) gestation and weight at assessment were 36.7 (26.86-56.86) weeks and 2.44 (0.99-4.06) kg, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the SRAMT had AUC ( SE) of 0.94 (0.02) compared with 0.82 (0.03) for BQS (0.011, P < .001). The SRAMT and BQS had sensitivity of [(90.0 (80.5-95.9), 72.86 (60.9-82.8)] and specificity [(88.46 (81.7-93.4), 79.23 (71.2-85.8)], respectively.

Conclusion:

In this study, the SRAMT’s capacity to predict neonates at risk of injury was higher than the Neonatal BQS and staff. Predicting injuries remains complex and often multifactorial.
Life after armed group involvement in Nepal: A clinical ethnography of psychological well-being of former “child soldiers” over time
Authors: Medeiros Emilie , Shrestha Prabin Nanicha , Gaire Himal , Orr David M. R.
Published: June 2019

Little is known about the longitudinal effects of early age involvement of young people in armed groups and their well-being as they return to strongly affected, politicised communities. Current research and policy are often driven by the assumption of a causal relationship between participation in this war experience and psychological damage. This article explores the role of young people’s armed group experience during the Nepal People’s War, compared with post-conflict stressors, in shaping intra-psychic impact and distress, and which processes enable well-being and resilient functioning. Findings are reported from an 18-month clinical ethnography of a cohort of 17 Nepalese young subjects, where participant-observation methods were used to explore their daily lives after exiting the armed group and follow-up research conducted six years later. The findings highlighted limited evidence for on-going intra-psychic impact and distress related directly to their armed group experience; when such distress occurred, it appeared to be generated more by the structural violence of their environments. The key constituents determining their well-being included: a sense of closeness through emotional connectedness with their family, ideological proximity with the values of the armed group, closeness in their bond with the community, and the social-emotional-economic capital available to them to navigate the harsh structural constraints of post-conflict life. These data further challenge the prevailing assumption that this war experience inevitably leads to psychological damage, and the article argues that structural violence often plays a predominant role in cases where psychological distress does arise.
Contamination assessment of orthodontic bands after different pre-cleaning methods at a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Irfan Sarah , Irfan Seema , Fida Mubassar , Ahmad Israr
Published: June 2019

Introduction:

Infection control in dentistry is a major concern due to risk of transmission of communicable diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of various pre-cleaning methods for the tried-in orthodontic bands.

Material and methods:

An in-vitro experimental study was conducted at the Central Sterilization Services Department (Dental Clinic) and the Microbiology lab at our university hospital. A total of 130 bands were included in our study which comprised 10 controls and the rest were equally divided into three groups according to the pre-cleaning methods, i.e. manual scrubbing, enzymatic solution and a combination of both. The orthodontic bands were incubated in the brain heart infusion broth at 37 °C for five days after pre-cleaning and sterilisation in a steam autoclave and were assessed for any bacterial growth. The chi-square test was applied to determine any significant association between the various pre-cleaning methods and the frequency of bands that showed growth. Effect size was calculated using the phi coefficient.

Results:

The enzyme method revealed 5% of the sample to exhibit bacterial growth, whereas manual scrubbing and the combination of both showed no growth. There was no statistically significant difference among the three methods ( P = 0.131). Further investigations showed the presence of Staphylococcus non-aureus bacterial species in contaminated bands from group II.

Conclusions:

All pre-cleaning methods were found to be equally effective in the decontamination of bands. Hence, the tried-in bands can be safely reused after pre-cleaning and sterilisation.
Prediction of surface quality and optimization of process parameters in drilling of Delrin using neural network
Authors: Kaviarasan V , Venkatesan R , Natarajan Elango
Published: June 2019

The high-temperature polymers like Acetal homopolymer (Delrin) currently have a wide variety of use. They are quite often utilized in traditional components to reduce weight, cost or meet a specific application requirement, and so on. Some of preferred uses of such polymers include aircraft interiors, wire insulation, wire couplings and fixtures, and so on, particularly at high-temperature applications. The machining process like drilling may affect the near net shape of the final product. This experimental study is done through modeling and optimization for identifying the suitable tool and optimum parameters for drilling of Delrin polymer under dry conditions to achieve high surface finish. The three levels of parameters such as spindle speed ( N), feed rate ( f), and tool point angle ( Θ) are taken as control parameters of the response variable. Two different commercially available tool materials namely high-speed steel drill tool and solid carbide tool are accounted in experiments. L27 orthogonal array is initially taken for the experimentation in CNC turning center with horizontal drilling setup. Artificial neural network is employed to sample, train, and test the input parameters in order to lessen the experimental error and measurement error of response variables. Response surface models are developed and optimal parameters toward the surface quality of the hole are determined through the desirability function approach. It is found that the surface generated under dry mode with speed of 1026 r/min, feed of 0.1 mm/min, point angle of 118° recorded the surface roughness of 0.699 µm, which is considered to be the best for drilling Delrin material.
Memory within and without the photographic frame: Wadad Halwani’s The Last Picture… While Crossing
Authors: Nikro Norman Saadi
Published: June 2019

Wadad Halwani’s short documentary film, The Last Picture…While Crossing (2009), is in the main about the late Odette Salem, whose two children were disappeared in September 1985, during the civil war in Lebanon (1975-1990). This essay discusses how Halwani adapts photographs and previously made video footage to situate Salem as a site of memory. While the film constitutes a memorial practice to tell a story of Salem and her activist milieu, it works to situate memory of her plight as an ethical modality of address and response. In doing so, the film exposes a public audience, both actual and potential, to Salem’s and Halwani’s circumstances and their arduous efforts in engaging their circumstances. The argument foregrounds memory as a circumstantial tension between the significance and resonance of photographs, in respect to circulations of photographic reproductions and exhibitions as modalities of public exposure.
Targeting mucosal healing in Crohn’s disease: what the clinician needs to know
Authors: Klenske Entcho , Bojarski Christian , Waldner Maximilian , Rath Timo , Neurath Markus F. , Atreya Raja
Published: June 2019

In recent years, mucosal healing has emerged as a key therapeutic goal in the clinical management of patients with Crohn’s disease, as it has been associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes. With the vast improvements in endoscopic imaging techniques and the increase in available treatment options, which reportedly are able to induce mucosal healing, the practising physician is left to wonder: how is endoscopic mucosal healing exactly defined in Crohn’s disease, and how can it effectively be achieved and monitored in daily clinical practice? Within this review, we will give an overview of the ongoing debate about the definition of mucosal healing and the modalities to monitor inflammation, and finally present available therapies with the capacity to induce mucosal healing.
Cost awareness in urology: A nationwide survey
Authors: Phan Yih Chyn , Hadjipavlou Marios , Abdalla Omer , Sriprasad Seshadri , Rane Abhay
Published: June 2019

Introduction:

In the current economic climate with continuous expenditure reviews and financial constraints, clinicians should remain conscious of making cost-effective choices on consumables and medications. In this survey, we evaluated the cost awareness amongst UK urologists. This is an observational study in which urology clinicians were asked to estimate the cost of 10 commonly used medications and consumables in urology by completing a questionnaire.

Methodology:

The survey was primarily conducted at the BAUS Annual Meeting 2017 with subsequent responders at local hospitals and urological courses. The costs of consumables and medications were verified with the relevant companies and the 73rd edition of the British National Formulary.

Result:

There were 139 responders from across the UK (46 consultants, 64 training registrars, 13 trust grades doctors and 16 senior house officers (SHOs)). In total, 16 and 60% of all estimates were within ± 25% and ± 100% of the true cost of the items respectively. Approximately 97.1, 95.7 and 97.1% overestimated the cost of a 14Ch urethral catheter, Ciprofloxacin and Sildenafil, respectively; while 78.4 and 84.9% of responders underestimated the cost of a JJ ureteric stent and Solifenacin, respectively. On multivariate analysis, SHOs significantly overestimated the cost of urethral catheters, suprapubic catheterization kits and JJ ureteric stents compared to other clinician grades.

Conclusion:

Cost awareness among UK urologists is poor. Expensive items (e.g. JJ ureteric stent, Solifenacin) tend to be underestimated while inexpensive items (e.g. catheter, Ciprofloxacin, Sildenafil) tend to be overestimated. This lack of appreciation of value may have an impact on drug and consumable expenditure.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3
Oral contraceptive use and its association with symptomatology in migraine patients
Authors: Peng Kuan-Po , May Arne
Published: June 2019

Background:

Hormonal changes in natural menstrual cycles are known to modulate and even worsen headache symptoms in migraineurs; however, the impact of oral contraceptive pills (OCP), including combined oral contraceptive (COC) and progestogen-only pills on migraine symptomatology, is little investigated.

Method:

In this retrospective cohort study of 1758 migraine patients, data from 1032 female patients aged 15–45 years were accessed and their contraceptive methods, if any, were analyzed. Further comparisons were conducted between patients with OCP use and those without OCP use regarding the demographics, headache symptoms, and associated symptoms. Most OCP users in this study were assumed to have used COC, but information of individual hormone content of OCP was not collected. Patients with nonoral hormonal contraceptives were excluded for further comparison.

Results:

The use of OCP was common (47.8%) among the study cohort. Compared to those without OCP use ( n = 410), patients with OCP use ( n = 493) were younger (27.4 ± 7.0 vs. 32.8 ± 7.9, p < 0.001), had lower headache frequency (days per month, 11.1 ± 7.5 vs. 12.3 ± 8.8, p = 0.03), were less likely to have osmophobia (47.3 vs. 54.4%, p = 0.033) or cranial autonomic symptoms (44.8 vs. 53.2%, p = 0.013), and more commonly reported menstrually-related worsening of headache (52.3 vs. 42.4%, p = 0.012). The proportion of migraine with aura or other headache characteristics including severity, unilaterality, and pulsatile characteristic showed no differences between groups.

Conclusion:

Our data provide real-life information about contraceptive use among patients with migraine. The use of OCP is associated with differences in migraine symptomatology. Further studies are needed to determine whether this relationship is causal and any possible underlying mechanism.
Clozapine: why wait to start a laxative?
Authors: Attard Azizah , Iles Andrew , Attard Stephen , Atkinson Nathan , Patel Anita
Published: June 2019

Clozapine, the antipsychotic of choice for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, has a number of side-effects, some of which are potentially life-threatening. Historically viewed as a relatively minor side-effect, there is increasing awareness of the potentially severe sequalae of constipation secondary to clozapine-induced gastrointestinal hypomotility (CIGH). These include ileus, intestinal obstruction, bowel ischaemia, gastrointestinal necrosis, toxic megacolon and death. CIGH is significantly more common than clozapine-induced blood dyscrasias and has a higher mortality rate. Although strict criteria must be followed to assertively monitor, detect and treat blood dyscrasias in patients taking clozapine, no such framework exists for CIGH. We recommend that prescribing guidelines, regulatory agencies and information from manufacturers should more clearly highlight the risks identified in the literature. Furthermore, we recommend that, in people taking clozapine, constipation should be prevented by prophylactic treatment with laxatives rather than treated only when clinically identified.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

After reading this article you will be able to:

•

understand the mechanism of gastrointestinal hypomotility in those taking clozapine

•

improve the monitoring of clozapine-induced constipation

•

understand prophylactic laxative treatment and the use of less commonly prescribed laxatives in patients who experience clozapine-induced constipation.
The challenge of cost-effectiveness research on first-episode psychosis
Authors: Rosenheck Robert
Published: June 2019

Early intervention in psychosis has generated hope. Cost-effectiveness studies, to determine whether benefits exceed costs, thus far conclude only that early intervention ‘might be’ worth its costs. It is a testament to the importance of the question: even in the absence of conclusive data, a synthesis should be attempted.

Declaration of interest

None.
The Trump Effect: Postinauguration Changes in Marketplace Enrollment
Authors: Anderson David , Shafer Paul
Published: June 2019

Context: On January 20, 2017, President Donald Trump penned his first executive order, which aimed to “minimiz[e] the economic burden” of the Affordable Care Act, signaling his intent to make good on promises to repeal and replace the law. This executive order, along with concurrent changes in political messaging associated with the transition in power and reductions in HealthCare.gov advertising, lowered Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment at the end of the 2017 open enrollment period.

Methods: The authors used difference-in-differences and event-study models with weekly county-level Marketplace application data from 1,476 counties in 37 states to estimate the incremental enrollment loss in the postinauguration period.

Findings: Estimates indicate a population-weighted decline of over 700 applications per county-week during the final 2 weeks of the 2017 open enrollment period relative to 2016, corresponding to a nearly 30% decline in applications submitted. A more flexible event-study approach that better accounts for time shifting of enrollment across open enrollment periods found a similar decline of approximately 660 applications per county-week associated with the postinauguration period (−24%).

Conclusions: The lack of political support for the law by the incoming administration seemingly had an immediate and significant downward effect on Marketplace enrollment nationwide.
A cellular atlas of Pitx2-dependent cardiac development
Authors: Hill Matthew C. , Kadow Zachary A. , Li Lele , Tran Tien T. , Wythe Joshua D. , Martin James F.
Published: June 2019

The Pitx2 gene encodes a homeobox transcription factor that is required for mammalian development. Disruption of PITX2 expression in humans causes congenital heart diseases and is associated with atrial fibrillation; however, the cellular and molecular processes dictated by Pitx2 during cardiac ontogeny remain unclear. To characterize the role of Pitx2 during murine heart development we sequenced over 75,000 single cardiac cell transcriptomes between two key developmental timepoints in control and Pitx2 null embryos. We found that cardiac cell composition was dramatically altered in mutants at both E10.5 and E13.5. Interestingly, the differentiation dynamics of both anterior and posterior second heart field-derived progenitor cells were disrupted in Pitx2 mutants. We also uncovered evidence for defects in left-right asymmetry within atrial cardiomyocyte populations. Furthermore, we were able to detail defects in cardiac outflow tract and valve development associated with Pitx2. Our findings offer insight into Pitx2 function and provide a compilation of gene expression signatures for further detailing the complexities of heart development that will serve as the foundation for future studies of cardiac morphogenesis, congenital heart disease and arrhythmogenesis.
Mitochondrial NCKX5 regulates melanosomal biogenesis and pigment production
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Gong Juanjuan , Sviderskaya Elena V. , Wei Aihua , Li Wei
Published: June 2019

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a heterogeneous and autosomal recessive hypopigmentation disorder, which is caused by mutations of genes involved in pigment biosynthesis or melanosome biogenesis. We have previously identified NCKX5 (also known as SLC24A5) as a causative gene for OCA type 6 (OCA6). However, the pathogenesis of OCA6 is unknown. We found that NCKX5 is localized to mitochondria, not to melanosomes. Pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial function or NCKX exchanger activity reduced pigment production. Loss of NCKX5 attenuated Ca2+ enrichment in melanosomes, which compromised PMEL fibril formation, melanosome maturation and pigment production. Thus, we have defined a new class of hypopigmentation attributable to dysfunctional mitochondria and an impairment of mitochondrial Ca2+ transfer into melanosomes. Thus, it is possible that mitochondrial function could have a role in the graying of hair in older people and formation of hypopigmented lesions in vitiligo patients.
Switching of Fluorescence Wavelength Caused by Phase Separation of Pyrene in Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Gel
Authors: Hamasaki Atom , Sato Naoya , Kubo Kei , Katsuki Akio , Ozeki Sumio
Published: June 2019

Pyrene (Py) contained in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel (NIPA gel) that is swollen by water emits excimer-like derived fluorescence. However, as dehydration proceeded with increasing temperature, the luminescence changed to the monomer-derived one. Changes of it occurred continuously and reversibly around the lower critical solution temperature of NIPA gel. Because the gel interior becomes a hydrophobic environment in the shrunken state, the Py molecules can diffuse. However, it gathers like an oil droplet in the swollen gel by water. Reversible change of fluorescence wavelength with phase separation of Py according to hydration of NIPA gel represents an unprecedented type of chromism.