bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Report of a Delphi exercise to inform the design of a research programme on screening for thoracic aortic disease
Authors: Abbasciano R. G. , Barwell J. , Sayers R. , Bown M. , Milewicz D. , Cooper G. , Mariscalco G. , Wheeldon N. , Fowler C. , Owens G. , Murphy G. J. ,   on behalf of the Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK 2019 Working Group, Cooper Graham , Fowler Catherine , Callaway Mark , Chelliah Rajesh , Deshpande Aparna , Khoo Jeffrey , McCann Gerry , Rao Praveen , Bown Matthew , Milewicz Dianna , Dorkins Huw , Field Mark , Fletcher-Francis Catherine , Grover Cliff , Mariscalco Giovanni , Suzuki Toru , Yasbeck Amy , Barwell Julian , English Karen , Robertson Noelle , Cotton Anne , Gunn Sarah , McKay Victoria , Oo Aung , Osio Deborah , Shannon Nora , Sharif Saba , Wheeldon Nigel , Sayers Rob , Owens Gareth , Sweeting Michael , Brookes Cassandra , Kumar Tracy , Lai Florence , Murphy Gavin
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To inform the design of a clinical trial of a targeted screening programme for relatives of individuals affected by thoracic aortic disease, we performed a consensus exercise as to the acceptability of screening, the optimal sequence and choice of tests, long-term patient management, and choice of trial design.

Methods

Working with the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland patient association, we performed a Delphi exercise with clinical experts, patients, and carers, consisting of three rounds of consultation followed by a final multi-stakeholder face-to-face workshop.

Results

Thirty-five experts and 84 members of the public took part in the surveys, with 164 patients and clinicians attending the final workshop. There was substantial agreement on the need for a targeted screening pathway that would employ a combined approach (imaging + genetic testing). The target population would include the first- and second-degree adult (> 15 years) relatives, with no upper age limit of affected patients. Disagreement persisted about the screening process, sequence, personnel, the imaging method to adopt, computed tomography (CT) scan vs magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the specifics of a potential trial, including willingness to undergo randomisation, and measures of effectiveness and acceptability.

Conclusion

A Delphi process, initiated by patients, identified areas of uncertainty with respect to behaviour, process, and the design of a targeted screening programme for thoracic aortic disease that requires further research prior to any future trial.
Meniscal and ligament modifications in spontaneous and post-traumatic mouse models of osteoarthritis
Authors: Ramos-Mucci Lorenzo , Javaheri Behzad , van ‘t Hof Rob , Bou-Gharios George , Pitsillides Andrew A. , Comerford Eithne , Poulet Blandine
Published: July 2020

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole joint disease that affects all joint tissues, with changes in the articular cartilage (AC), subchondral bone and synovium. Pathologies in menisci and ligaments, however, are rarely analysed, although both are known to play vital roles in the mechanical stability of the joint. The aim of our study was to describe the pathological changes in menisci and ligament during disease development in murine spontaneous and post-traumatic surgically induced OA and to quantify tissue mineralisation in the joint space using micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging during OA progression.

Methods

Knees of Str/ort mice (spontaneous OA model; 26–40 weeks) and C57CBA F1 mice following destabilisation of medial meniscus (DMM) surgery (post-traumatic OA model; 8 weeks after DMM), were used to assess histological meniscal and ligament pathologies. Joint space mineralised tissue volume was quantified by μCT.

Results

Meniscal pathological changes in Str/ort mouse knees were associated with articular cartilage lesion severity. These meniscal changes included ossification, hyperplasia, cell hypertrophy, collagen type II deposition and Sox9 expression in the fibrous region near the attachment to the knee joint capsule. Anterior cruciate ligaments exhibited extracellular matrix changes and chondrogenesis particularly at the tibial attachment site, and ossification was seen in collateral ligaments. Similar changes were confirmed in the post-traumatic DMM model. μCT analysis showed increased joint space mineralised tissue volume with OA progression in both the post-traumatic and spontaneous OA models.

Conclusions

Modifications in meniscal and ligament mineralisation and chondrogenesis are seen with overt AC degeneration in murine OA. Although the aetiology and the consequences of such changes remain unknown, they will influence stability and load transmission of the joint and may therefore contribute to OA progression. In addition, these changes may have important roles in movement restriction and pain, which represent major human clinical symptoms of OA. Description of such soft tissue changes, in addition to AC degradation, should be an important aspect of future studies in mouse models in order to furnish a more complete understanding of OA pathogenesis.
The role of interleukin-33 in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Liang Chih-Sung , Su Kuan-Pin , Tsai Chia-Lin , Lee Jiunn-Tay , Chu Che-Sheng , Yeh Ta-Chuan , Su Ming-Wei , Lin Guan-Yu , Lin Yu-Kai , Chu Hsuan-Te , Tsai Chia-Kuang , Yang Fu-Chi
Published: July 2020

Background

The neuroprotective role of interleukin (IL)-33 is supported by numerous preclinical studies, but it remains uninvestigated in clinical studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We aimed to examine the association between human blood levels of IL-33 and cognitive preservation in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD.

Methods

A total of 100 participants (26 controls, 35 aMCI patients, and 39 AD patients) completed two Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSEs) over a 1-year interval. In all 100 participants at the second MMSE, we examined the plasma levels of IL-33, IL-β, IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-1RA), beta amyloid (Aβ), and tau and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotyping; we also performed Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test, forward and backward digit span, and Clinical Dementia Rating.

Results

IL-33 expression showed a positive trend among controls (1/26 = 3.8%), aMCI (9/35 = 25.7%), and AD (17/39 = 43.6%) (trend analysis: P < 0.001). Patients expressing IL-33 preserved their cognitive function compared with IL-33 non-expressing patients (1-year ΔMMSE, 0.16 ± 1.6 vs − 1.5 ± 2.6; P = 0.006). The cognitive preservation was not associated with the lower levels of Aβ, tau, and ApoE ε4, while higher levels of ApoE ε4 and phosphorylated tau were indeed associated with cognitive decline. The aMCI patients with AD conversion during study period had higher proportion of IL-33(−) than non-AD converters (90.9% vs 53.3%, P = 0.04).

Conclusions

IL-33 or its associated signaling pathways may represent a new treatment paradigm for aMCI and AD.
Imaging findings and clinical features of atypical retroperitoneal abscess caused by duodenal perforation: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Mao Xijin , Yu Ning , Jia Xingfang , Fan Wanfeng
Published: July 2020

Introduction

A retroperitoneal abscess caused by duodenal perforation is a relatively rare disease clinically. We report the case of a patient with a local high-density shadow at the head of the retroperitoneal pancreas.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old Chinese man presented with fever and abdominal pain after overeating and heavy drinking. On physical examination, he had mild tenderness in his upper abdomen. Laboratory examination results showed a white blood cell count of 24.06 109/L and a neutrophil absolute value of 18.81 109/L, and a computed tomography scan showed an irregular soft tissue mass with uneven enhancement of the cystic wall in the retroperitoneal space. Gastroscopy showed that there was a fistula in the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb. Endoscopic anastomosis clip system (over-the-scope clip) of the duodenal fistula was performed successfully. After the operation, nasal feeding was provided with a nutrition tube, and empiric anti-infection, acid-inhibiting, and stomach-protecting treatments were administered. Our patient’s body temperature gradually returned to normal, and his abdominal pain decreased.

Conclusions

A retroperitoneal abscess caused by duodenal perforation can be diagnosed by clinical symptoms and abdominal computed tomography imaging. The choice of treatment should be based on accurate and timely clinical and imaging data.
The safety and effectiveness of genetically corrected iPSCs derived from β-thalassaemia patients in nonmyeloablative β-thalassaemic mice
Authors: Xian Yexing , Xie Yingjun , Song Bing , Ou Zhanhui , Ouyang Shuming , Xie Yuhuan , Yang Yi , Xiong Zeyu , Li Haoxian , Sun Xiaofang
Published: July 2020

Background

β-Thalassaemia is a clinically common cause of hereditary haemolytic anaemia stemming from mutations in important functional regions of the β-globin gene. The rapid development of gene editing technology and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation has provided new methods for curing this disease.

Methods

Genetically corrected β-thalassaemia (homozygous 41/42 deletion) iPSCs that were previously established in our laboratory were induced to differentiate into HSCs, which were transplanted into a mouse model of IVS2–654 β-thalassaemia (B6;129P2-Hbbtm2Unc/J mice) after administration of an appropriate nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen. We also investigated the safety of this method by detecting the incidence of tumour formation in these mice after transplantation.

Results

The combination of 25 mg/kg busulfan and 50 mg/(kg day) cyclophosphamide is an ideal nonmyeloablative protocol before transplantation. Genetically corrected β-thalassaemic HSCs survived and differentiated in nonmyeloablated thalassaemia mice. No tumour formation was observed in the mice for 10 weeks after transplantation.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence that the transplantation of genetically corrected, patient-specific iPSCs could be used to cure genetic diseases, such as β-thalassaemia major.
Advanced organ support (ADVOS) in the critically ill: first clinical experience in patients with multiple organ failure
Authors: Fuhrmann Valentin , Weber Theresa , Roedl Kevin , Motaabbed Jasmin , Tariparast Adel , Jarczak Dominik , de Garibay Aritz Perez Ruiz , Kluwe Johannes , Boenisch Olaf , Herkner Harald , Kellum John A. , Kluge Stefan
Published: July 2020

Background

Prevalence of multiple organ failure (MOF) in critically ill patients is increasing and associated mortality remains high. Extracorporeal organ support is a cornerstone in the management of MOF. We report data of an advanced hemodialysis system based on albumin dialysis (ADVOS multi device) that can regulate acid–base balance in addition to the established properties of renal replacement therapy and albumin dialysis systems in critically ill patients with MOF.

Methods

34 critically ill patients with MOF received 102 ADVOS treatment sessions in the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Markers of metabolic detoxification and acid–base regulation were collected and blood gas analyses were performed. A subgroup analyses were performed in patients with severe acidemia (pH < 7.2).

Results

Median number of treatment sessions was 2 (range 1–9) per patient. Median duration of treatment was 17.5 (IQR 11–23) hours per session. Treatment with the ADVOS multi-albumin dialysis device caused a significant decrease in bilirubin levels, serum creatinine, BUN and ammonia levels. The relative elimination rate of bilirubin was concentration dependent. Furthermore, a significant improvement in blood pH, HCO3− and PaCO2, was achieved during ADVOS treatment including six patients that suffered from severe metabolic acidosis refractory to continuous renal replacement therapy. Delta pH, HCO3− and PaCO2 were significantly affected by the ADVOS blood flow rate and pH settings. This improvement in the clinical course during ADVOS treatments allowed a reduction in norepinephrine during ADVOS therapy. Treatments were well tolerated. Mortality rates were 50% and 62% for 28 and 90 days, respectively.

Conclusions

In this case series in patients with MOF, ADVOS was able to eliminate water-soluble and albumin-bound substances. Furthermore, the device corrected severe metabolic and respiratory acid–base disequilibrium. No major adverse events associated with the ADVOS treatments were observed.
Research on robot boxing movement simulation based on kinect sensor
Authors: Li Peicong
Published: July 2020

In the process of continuous development, robot technology has been widely used in aerospace, medical, education, and service industries, and the relationship between robots and people is getting closer and closer. The improvement of robot intelligence is a process of continuous learning of external knowledge. Since the introduction of human-computer interaction technology, it has provided more and more technical support for human research robots. This paper firstly takes Tai Chi as an example, analyzes and deconstructs its standard Tai Chi putter movements, and obtains the corresponding movement parameter information. Then, the human body depth image and bone structure are obtained through the kinect sensor, and the human joint position data is recorded, and then the coordinate data is sent to the brain robot, thereby realizing the imitation learning of the robot’s push movements in Tai Chi. The experimental results show that the proposed method can simulate the practice process of inversion of Tai Chi, can well analyze the shortcomings in the practice process, and can then promote the development of the sport.
Integral inequalities for a fractional operator of a function with respect to another function with nonsingular kernel
Authors: Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Abdeljawad Thabet
Published: July 2020

At first, we construct a connection between the Atangana–Baleanu and the Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals of a function with respect to a monotone function with nonsingular kernel. By examining this relationship and the iterated form of Prabhakar fractional model, we are able to find some new Hermite–Hadamard inequalities and related results on integral inequalities for the two models of fractional calculus which are defined using monotone functions with nonsingular kernels.
Box-scheme as alternative food network—the economic integration between consumers and producers
Authors: de Souza Ronaldo Tavares
Published: July 2020

As a growing option for small farmers, alternative food networks (AFN) have attracted the attention of researchers around the world. Nevertheless, not much focus is given to box-schemes as a format itself. The nomenclature is often associated with community-supported agriculture (CSA) and solidarity purchase groups (SPG), but many companies have reduced geographic and informational distances without demanding such a narrow relationship between collaborators. The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between companies and their customers. A theoretical framework was built based on thoughts about economic integration and the relationship in the retail environment to examine the possibility of reciprocity and redistribution. The fieldwork was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. Technology is found to be fundamental to the rise of such companies, but the Internet is not the only key, the telephone is also important for a warmer and closer relationship. The interviews revealed different signals of reciprocity supporting a trusting relationship while the occasional buyers demonstrate more opportunistic behaviors. Of the cases studied, one successful company demonstrated signs of reciprocity between companies and customers, as well as customer integration based on redistribution characteristics. This confirmed the possibility of the box-scheme contributing to rural sustainability, related to customers who have built a broader perspective, going beyond price and quality. The article concludes defending that this format of commerce should be further studied to confirm its capacity to support rural development and continue to deepen the understanding of the conditions that can make it successful.
Development and validation of an ELISA for a biomarker of thyroid dysfunction, thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO-Ab), in dried blood spots
Authors: Eick Geeta N. , Cepon-Robins Tara J. , Devlin Maureen J. , Kowal Paul , Sugiyama Larry S. , Snodgrass J. Josh
Published: July 2020

Background

The prevalence of allergic and autoimmune conditions has been steadily increasing in wealthy nations over the past century. One hypothesis put forward to explain this is the Old Friends Hypothesis, which posits that increased hygiene, urbanization, and lifestyle changes have reduced our exposure to parasites and microbes that we co-evolved with, resulting in immune dysregulation. However, research in traditionally living populations, who are exposed to greater parasite and pathogen loads such as those encountered during our evolution, is limited, in part due to a lack of minimally invasive, field-friendly biomarkers of autoimmune disorders. We therefore developed an ELISA to assess positivity for thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPO-Ab), an indicator of autoimmune thyroid disease, based on dried blood spot (DBS) samples.

Results

We used the Accubind anti-thyroid peroxidase test system to screen our validation samples comprising matched fingerprick DBS, venous DBS, and plasma samples from 182 adults. After confirming that we had TPO-Ab-positive individuals in our validation sample (n = 12), we developed an indirect ELISA to measure TPO-Ab levels from one 3-mm DBS punch. The sensitivity and specificity of our assay for DBS samples ranged from 91.7–100% and 98.2–98.8%, respectively, using a cut-off value of ≥ 26 IU/mL. Intra-assay reliability for duplicate quality control DBS punches was 5.2%, while inter-assay reliability ranged from 11.5–24.4% for high, medium, and low DBS controls. Dilutional linearity ranged from 80 to 120%, and spike and recovery experiments indicated that the DBS matrix does not interfere with the detection of TPO-Ab. TPO-Ab levels remained stable in DBS samples stored at − 28 °C or − 80 °C, but decreased over time in DBS samples kept at 22 °C or at 37 °C.

Conclusions

We developed an in-house, kit-independent indirect ELISA assay to determine individuals’ TPO-Ab positivity based on dried blood spots, representing a cost-effective method with potential applications in a range of research settings.
Influence of particle aggregation on the tephra dispersal and sedimentation from the October 8, 2016, eruption of Aso volcano
Authors: Tsuji Tomohiro , Nishizaka Naoki , Ohnishi Kozo
Published: July 2020

The phreatomagmatic eruption at Aso volcano on October 8, 2016, released PDC and fallout up to 320 km from the vent, providing an opportunity to study the dispersal and sedimentation of tephra bearing wet and dry aggregates. We investigated fresh air-fall tephra and conducted both dry- and wet-sieving to assess the size distribution of both aggregate-bearing deposits on the ground and particles in the plume prior to aggregation. The tephra was asymmetrically distributed in the ENE direction, with a relatively wide distribution and small maximum grain sizes north of the depositional axis, reflecting different wind directions at each altitude. The secondary accumulation maxima at 4–8 km NE from the vent was characterized by the segregation of lapilli followed by accretionary pellets that were rapidly created by aggregation in the wet plume, thereby enhancing the removal of airborne ash. Coalesced aggregates possibly arose from salt precipitation processes. For dry aggregates fallen in medial-to-distal regions, observed deposition duration and fall velocity calculations concluded that fine ash was deposited not as individual particles but as aggregates. Most grain-size distributions along the dispersal axis based on the two sieving methods used were multimodal, with the coarser mode fining according to distance from the vent and the finer mode stabilizing at around 4ϕ; this is interpreted as resulting from the mixture of grain-size distributions with different origins, i.e., the normal settling of individual clasts and particle aggregation. The wet-sieved total grain-size distribution included 20.4 wt% fine ash compared with only 2.4 wt% fine ash in the dry-sieved distribution, suggesting that aggregated particles accounted for 18 wt% of the deposit. Total grain-size distributions based on wet-sieving showed extremely poor sorting that could be explained by the following causes: the release of coarse-grained ejecta originating from the host rock of the crater, fine particles due to fragmentation from a phreatomagmatic eruption, the supply of water and salt from the crater to the plume, and aggregation enhancement of the fine ash on the ground, reflecting the effect of the crater lake as external water source.
Reproductive performance of laying snails (Archachatina marginata) fed on roughages and different concentrate mixes
Authors: Jimoh Olatunji Abubakar , Akinola Micheal Olawale
Published: July 2020

Background

This study aims to investigate the reproduction output of Archachatina marginata fed on roughage and concentrate feed with leaf meal-inclusive diets. One hundred fifty points of lay snails weighing between 150 and 170 g were randomly allotted to 5 treatment diets with three replicates, ten snails per replicate, designated as treatment 2 (GNCD) which has groundnut cake, treatment 3 (GLLM) has Gliricidia sepium, treatment 4 (MOLM) has Moringa oleifera, and treatment 5 (LLLM) has Leucaena leucocephala leaf meals as protein source in snail diet and a control (treatment 1) (UPWP) fed on roughage (unripe pawpaw and watermelon peel) in a 12-week feed trial. Feed intake, weight gain, egg lay, egg fertility, hatchability, and gonadosomatic index were measured.

Results

The result revealed snails fed with UPWP had the least final weight and weight gain which was accompanied by the highest feed intake across the treatments. Average egg laid, hatchability, fertility, embryo mortality, and average juvenile produced by snails on roughage-based diet were significantly the least across the treatments. High gonadosomatic index of snails on leaf meal-based diet accompanied with better reproductive output in laying snails was recorded.

Conclusion

Snails fed with Leucaena leucocephala-inclusive diet had better egg production, fertility, hatchability, and juvenile snails accompanied with gonadosomatic index across the treatments. Concentrate ration is essential for optimal reproductive output in snails.
The effects of COVID-19 on self-harm in UK prisons
Authors: Hewson Thomas , Green Russell , Shepherd Andrew , Hard Jake , Shaw Jennifer
Published: July 2020

Self-harm is a major international public health concern and is especially prevalent among prisoners. In this editorial, we explore recent trends in prisoner self-harm during the coronavirus lockdown, and consider strategies for improving the prevention and management of self-harm in prisons as we emerge from the pandemic.
Pregnancy After Breast Cancer in Patients With Germline BRCA Mutations
Authors: Lambertini Matteo , Ameye Lieveke , Hamy Anne-Sophie , Zingarello Anna , Poorvu Philip D. , Carrasco Estela , Grinshpun Albert , Han Sileny , Rousset-Jablonski Christine , Ferrari Alberta , Paluch-Shimon Shani , Cortesi Laura , Senechal Claire , Miolo Gianmaria , Pogoda Katarzyna , Pérez-Fidalgo Jose Alejandro , De Marchis Laura , Ponzone Riccardo , Livraghi Luca , Estevez-Diz Maria Del Pilar , Villarreal-Garza Cynthia , Dieci Maria Vittoria , Clatot Florian , Berlière Martine , Graffeo Rossella , Teixeira Luis , Córdoba Octavi , Sonnenblick Amir , Luna Pais Helena , Ignatiadis Michail , Paesmans Marianne , Partridge Ann H. , Caron Olivier , Saule Claire , Del Mastro Lucia , Peccatori Fedro A. , Azim Hatem A.
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE

Young women with germline BRCA mutations have unique reproductive challenges. Pregnancy after breast cancer does not increase the risk of recurrence; however, very limited data are available in patients with BRCA mutations. This study investigated the impact of pregnancy on breast cancer outcomes in patients with germline BRCA mutations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is an international, multicenter, hospital-based, retrospective cohort study. Eligible patients were diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2012 with invasive early breast cancer at age ≤ 40 years and harbored deleterious germline BRCA mutations. Primary end points were pregnancy rate, and disease-free survival (DFS) between patients with and without a pregnancy after breast cancer. Pregnancy outcomes and overall survival (OS) were secondary end points. Survival analyses were adjusted for guarantee-time bias controlling for known prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Of 1,252 patients with germline BRCA mutations ( BRCA1, 811 patients; BRCA2, 430 patients; BRCA1/2, 11 patients) included, 195 had at least 1 pregnancy after breast cancer (pregnancy rate at 10 years, 19%; 95% CI, 17% to 22%). Induced abortions and miscarriages occurred in 16 (8.2%) and 20 (10.3%) patients, respectively. Among the 150 patients who gave birth (76.9%; 170 babies), pregnancy complications and congenital anomalies occurred in 13 (11.6%) and 2 (1.8%) cases, respectively. Median follow-up from breast cancer diagnosis was 8.3 years. No differences in DFS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.23; P = .41) or OS (adjusted HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.56; P = .66) were observed between the pregnancy and nonpregnancy cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy after breast cancer in patients with germline BRCA mutations is safe without apparent worsening of maternal prognosis and is associated with favorable fetal outcomes. These results provide reassurance to patients with BRCA-mutated breast cancer interested in future fertility.
From Pattern Recognition to Economic Disequilibrium
Authors: Kirtchik Olessia
Published: July 2020

This article is focused on the economic works of the Soviet machinelearning pioneer Emmanuil Braverman, who published, during the 1970s, a series of papers introducing disequilibrium fixed-price models of the Soviet economy. This highly original theory, developed independently from the Western analyses of disequilibria, proposed rationing mechanisms capable, under some conditions, of bringing a system to the state of equilibrium. However, in a fixed-price economy, equilibria are not necessarily optimal or effective; therefore specific observational and analytic procedures aiming at bringing a system to a better state had to be invented. Braverman interpreted this analytic framework as a “qualitative system of control” of the Soviet economy representing a sort of a third-way solution between neoclassical models of spontaneous coordination of autonomous agents and theories of optimal planning. This innovative approach, very different from the styles of reasoning in mathematical economics of his time, was grounded in his work on pattern recognition and informed by a cybernetic vision of control as information processing and communication in complex systems.
Playing against Type: The Moral Merchant on the Early Qing Stage
Authors: Fox Ariel
Published: July 2020

This article explores the changing depiction of the merchant and the mercantile in the early Qing. A figure of much anxiety and mistrust in the late imperial imagination, the traveling merchant moves things out of their proper place—through both his movement of goods across space and his own mobility across social strata. In the early Qing play Shiwu guan 十五貫 (Fifteen Strings of Cash), however, the merchant's facilitation of the circulation of money and man does not trouble the social whole as much as constitute it. The merchant-hero breaks through narrative and economic impasses, directing capital away from the dead ends of hoarding and incest and toward the creation of productive marriages. In recuperating the merchant as a moral subject and his circulation of money as a moral act, Shiwu guan offers new possibilities for the construction of selfhood both onstage and off.
The Ancient Chinese Arts of the Ear: Etymology, Meteorology, Musicology
Authors: Xiaodun Wang , Schoenberger Casey
Published: July 2020

This article draws on historical linguistic evidence, archeological finds, and written accounts of ancient practices to argue that, in the pre-Qin and Han periods of Chinese history, an important stratum of knowledge related to earthly energies, vibrations, pitch, tonality, music, memory, and recitation existed in conceptual parallel to systems of visual knowledge of heavenly bodies, light, color, and the written record. Masters of the former set of skills were frequently blind and entrusted with a distinct set of ritual and advisory functions, including ushering in the seasons, pronouncing on elements of the calendar, predicting military fortunes, and performing official policy admonishments. Of particular importance to this group of experts was the concept of “winds” or “airs” (fēng) and a closely related verb for “sing,” “chant,” or “remonstrate” (fĕng). The etymological relationship of these words, along with words for listening, smell, sounds, and fragrance, led to a conceptual blending whereby the “energy” (qi) of wise words and “fragrant” virtue could carry on “winds” of oral transmission to correct public morality and governance. This led to an etiological hierarchy, in some ways inverted by current standards, in which the purpose of studying pitch and tonality was not, first and foremost, analysis of music qua art but, rather, the encoding, transmission, and influence of natural energies and social harmony.
Tao Yuanming in Recently Unearthed Epitaphs from the Sui and Tang
Authors: Kexian Hu , Zhang Yuan
Published: July 2020

A recently discovered collection of epitaphs (muzhi 墓誌) reveals copious references to Tao Yuanming (Tao Qian 陶潛, 365–427), a writer of pervasive influence on Chinese culture. In recent decades, both English and Chinese scholarship has focused on Tao's literary and historical reception, with little attention paid to his representation in epitaph writing. This article, through an examination of these newly unearthed documents, presents forty-seven epitaph fragments with direct mention of Tao's name. Most were written in the Tang dynasty, when Tao was ardently appreciated as a poet, and his literary vocabulary was widely borrowed and imitated. However, a close reading of epitaphs illustrates that Tao's image as a moral exemplar was perhaps even more prominent than his role as esteemed poet. He was invoked to suggest the comparable personal traits of the tomb owner (muzhu 墓主), his name frequently juxtaposed with various historical figures renowned for their virtue. His name is also used as an adjective to modify carefully selected images to further characterize him as a moral exemplar. In Tang epitaphs, moral concerns together with philosophical contemplation on the motives of reclusion play a significant role, laying the foundation for the complexity of Tao's image in the Song period. Current research seeks to increase our understanding of the process behind the construction of Tao as a cultural icon.
Mitochondrial dynamics during spermatogenesis
Authors: Varuzhanyan Grigor , Chan David C.
Published: July 2020

Mitochondrial fusion and fission (mitochondrial dynamics) are homeostatic processes that safeguard normal cellular function. This relationship is especially strong in tissues with constitutively high energy demands, such as brain, heart and skeletal muscle. Less is known about the role of mitochondrial dynamics in developmental systems that involve changes in metabolic function. One such system is spermatogenesis. The first mitochondrial dynamics gene, Fuzzy onions (Fzo), was discovered in 1997 to mediate mitochondrial fusion during Drosophila spermatogenesis. In mammals, however, the role of mitochondrial fusion during spermatogenesis remained unknown for nearly two decades after discovery of Fzo. Mammalian spermatogenesis is one of the most complex and lengthy differentiation processes in biology, transforming spermatogonial stem cells into highly specialized sperm cells over a 5-week period. This elaborate differentiation process requires several developmentally regulated mitochondrial and metabolic transitions, making it an attractive model system for studying mitochondrial dynamics in vivo. We review the emerging role of mitochondrial biology, and especially its dynamics, during the development of the male germ line.
Cling performance and surface area of attachment in plethodontid salamanders
Authors: O'Donnell Mary Kate , Deban Stephen M.
Published: July 2020

Plethodontid salamanders inhabit terrestrial, scansorial, arboreal, and troglodytic habitats in which clinging and climbing allow them access to additional food and shelter as well as escape from unfavorable temperature and moisture conditions and ground-dwelling predators. Although salamanders lack claws and toe pads found on other taxa, they successfully cling to and climb on inclined, vertical, and inverted substrates in nature. Maximum cling angle was tested on smooth acrylic, and the relationship between cling angle, body mass, and surface area of attachment (contact area) was investigated. This study found that many salamander species can cling fully inverted using only a portion of their ventral surface area to attach. Salamanders fall into three functional groups based on mass and maximum cling angle: (1) high performing, very small salamanders, (2) moderately high performing small and medium-sized salamanders, and (3) low performing large salamanders. They show significant differences in maximum cling angle, even between species of similar mass. In species of similar mass experiencing significantly different detachment stress (resulting from significantly different contact area), differences in morphology or behavior affect how much body surface is attached to the substrate. High performance in some species, such as Desmognathus quadramaculatus, is attributable to large contact area; low performance in a similarly sized species, Ensatina eschscholtzii, is due to behavior which negatively impacts contact area. There was not clear evidence of scaling of adhesive strength with increasing body size. Salamander maximum cling angle is the result of morphology and behavior impacting the detachment stresses experienced during clinging.
High Sensitive Electrochemical Nitrite Sensor Using Fe2O3/MoS2 Nanocomposites Synthesized by Facile Method
Authors: Arunbalaji Subramanian , Ismail Mohamed Abubakkar Mohamed , Arivanandhan Mukannan , Alsalme Ali , Alghamdi Abdulaziz , Jayavel Ramasamy
Published: July 2020

An amperometric nitrite sensor is fabricated using Fe2O3/MoS2 (FM) nanocomposites synthesized by solution mixing process. Structural properties of the nanocomposite are studied by XRD analysis. Morphological studies by HRTEM analysis reveal the formation of nanocomposite comprising Fe2O3 nanoplates on MoS2 nanosheets. The composition of the nanocomposite has been studied by EDX analysis. The fabricated amperometric sensor can be used for a wide range of sensing from 10 µM–10 mM with a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 µM. The high sensitivity (310 µA mM−1 cm−2), high stability and low interference of FM nanocomposites demonstrate that the prepared composite is a promising material for nitrite sensing in drinking water.
Direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on perinatal outcomes in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Ratu Felisita Tupou , Ryan Kathleen , Gidi Netsanet Workneh , Vereti Ilisapeci , Girma Tsinuel , Oats Jeremy , Bucens Ingrid , Robinson Alexandra , von Mollendorf Claire , Russell Fiona M.
Published: July 2020

Similar to previous outbreaks, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will have both direct and indirect effects on perinatal outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Limited data on the direct impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy shows women who are Black, obese and with co-morbidities are at higher risk of hospitalisation due to COVID-19. Younger age groups in Africa and South Asia have shown increased COVID-19 mortality. Indigenous pregnant women in Pacific Island countries are likely to be high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 due to high rates of diabetes and obesity. It is important to involve pregnant women in research, especially with regards to vaccine development and therapeutics.
Increasing Retailer Loyalty Through the Use of Cash Back Rebate Sites
Authors: Qiu Ye , Rao Ram C.
Published: July 2020

Make retailer sites sticky by using cash back sites that reduce consumer search profitably.
Proteomic Studies: Contribution to Understanding Plant Salinity Stress Response
Authors: Hossain Md. Sanower
Published: July 2020

Salinity stress significantly abridged the productivity of global crops. Developing and improving the salinity stress-tolerant species is urgent to continue the food supply in the coming decades; otherwise many individuals might die due to hunger or food insecurity. The genome of plants under saline conditions represents physiological alterations; however, it does not represent the change of protein level reflected by corresponding gene expression at the transcriptome level. While proteins are more reliable determinant since they are directly involved in shaping salinity stress-adapted novel phenotype of physiological traits. Moreover, protein profiles display greater changes then the transcript levels. Therefore, exploring the protein complement of the genome would be naturalistic to elucidate the mechanism of salt tolerance in plants. In this review, an attempt is made to present the role and implementation of proteomic studies in response to plant salinity stress and its significant contributions so far made for better understanding the complex mechanism of the plant under salinity stress. Moreover, brief characteristics of plants in saline conditions and the limitation of proteomic studies are further discussed.
Oyunlaştırılmış Robot Etkinliklerinin Ortaokul Öğrencilerinin Problem Çözme ve Bilgi İşlemsel Düşünme Becerilerine Etkisi
Authors: KAYA Mahmure , KORKMAZ Özgen , ÇAKIR Recep
Published: July 2020

Bu araştırmanın amacı, oyunlaştırılmış eğitsel robot etkinliklerinin, ortaokul öğrencilerinin problem çözmeye yönelik yansıtıcı düşünme becerilerine ve bilgi işlemsel düşünme beceri düzeylerine etkisini belirlemektir. Araştırmada öntest sontest kontrol gruplu yarı deneysel desen kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın deney grubunu, 2018-2019 Eğitim-Öğretim Yılı’nda Bilişim Teknolojileri ve Yazılım Dersi 2. Dönem Destekleme ve Yetiştirme Kursuna kayıtlı 27 kişiden oluşan 6. sınıf öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Kontrol grubunu ise yine aynı kursta kayıtlı bulunan 24 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırma verileri, Problem Çözmeye Yönelik Yansıtıcı Düşünme Becerisi Ölçeği ve Bilgi İşlemsel Düşünme Beceri Düzeyleri Ölçeği (Ortaokullar için) kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Problem Çözmeye Yönelik Yansıtıcı Düşünme Becerisi Ölçeği beşli likert tipinde olup 14 maddedir. Ölçeğin iç tutarlık katsayısı α = 0.83 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bilgi İşlemsel Düşünme Beceri Düzeyleri Ölçeği de beşli likert tipinde ve 22 maddedir. Ölçeğin iç tutarlık katsayısı α = 0.81 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma, karma ANOVA kullanılarak analiz edilmiş ve şu sonuçlara erişilmiştir: Oyunlaştırılmış eğitsel robot etkinlikleri öğrencilerin problem çözmeye yönelik yansıtıcı düşünme becerilerine ve bilgi işlemsel düşünme beceri düzeylerine anlamlı bir katkı sağlamaktadır.
Digitalized analyses of intraoperative acetabular component position using image-matching technique in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Kawahara Shinya , Hara Toshihiko , Sato Taishi , Kitade Kazuki , Shimoto Takeshi , Nakamura Tetsuro , Mawatari Taro , Higaki Hidehiko , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: July 2020

Aims

Appropriate acetabular component placement has been proposed for prevention of postoperative dislocation in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Manual placements often cause outliers in spite of attempts to insert the component within the intended safe zone; therefore, some surgeons routinely evaluate intraoperative pelvic radiographs to exclude excessive acetabular component malposition. However, their evaluation is often ambiguous in case of the tilted or rotated pelvic position. The purpose of this study was to develop the computational analysis to digitalize the acetabular component orientation regardless of the pelvic tilt or rotation.

Methods

Intraoperative pelvic radiographs of 50 patients who underwent THA were collected retrospectively. The 3D pelvic bone model and the acetabular component were image-matched to the intraoperative pelvic radiograph. The radiological anteversion (RA) and radiological inclination (RI) of the acetabular component were calculated and those measurement errors from the postoperative CT data were compared relative to those of the 2D measurements. In addition, the intra- and interobserver differences of the image-matching analysis were evaluated.

Results

Mean measurement errors of the image-matching analyses were significantly small (2.5° (SD 1.4°) and 0.1° (SD 0.9°) in the RA and RI, respectively) relative to those of the 2D measurements. Intra- and interobserver differences were similarly small from the clinical perspective.

Conclusion

We have developed a computational analysis of acetabular component orientation using an image-matching technique with small measurement errors compared to visual evaluations regardless of the pelvic tilt or rotation. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):360–367.
Mr Slop does the write thing
Authors: Slop
Published: July 2020

Our columnist's professional envy leads him to conclude that he has an anger management problem.
High-precision long-distance measurement with an intensity-modulated frequency comb
Authors: Li Guicun , Fang Yami , Zhang Hao , Sun Jun , Liu Zongming , Song Ting , Ji Rongyi , Wang Yishan
Published: July 2020

We describe an improved synthetic wavelength method for high-precision
long-distance measurement with a repetition-rate-locked femtosecond
laser modulated by a fiber Mach–Zehnder electro-optic intensity
modulator. Harmonics of the repetition rate accompanied with
modulating sidebands will be generated via intermode beating, which
will be utilized for high-precision ranging. The nonambiguity range is
significantly extended with a relatively low modulation frequency, and
the ambiguous distance is unwrapped by synchronous phase-shift
measurements of a synthetic wavelength chain without any auxiliary
measurement operation. Our experiment shows a precision better than
20 µm at 46 m range, and a high-precision translation stage is applied
for preliminary test and proof-of-principle demonstration. The
demonstrated system is simple and can be easily integrated, and it
will find widespread applications in large-scale metrology such as
large-volume manufacturing and precision formation flying.
Investigation of the noise figure in a degenerate dual-pump phase-sensitive amplifier using a multi-wave model
Authors: Bouasria Yousra , Chatterjee Debanuj , Xie Weilin , Fsaifes Ihsan , Goldfarb Fabienne , Hassouni Yassine , Bretenaker Fabien
Published: July 2020

A semi-classical seven-wave model is developed to investigate the noise performances of a degenerate dual-pump phase-sensitive amplifier. This approach takes into account the transfer to the signal, through multiple four-wave mixing processes, of the vacuum fluctuations injected into high-order waves. This effect leads to a degradation of the noise figure of the amplifier with respect to the 0 dB value predicted by the usual three-wave model. However, it is proved that a careful choice of the fiber dispersion allows us to use high-order waves to enhance the signal gain without degrading the noise figure above 1 dB.
CCTV in Africa: Constructive approach to manufacturing consent
Authors: Xiang Yu , Zhang Xiaoxing
Published: July 2020

China Central Television (CCTV) launched its first media centre in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2012 and is one of the main actors in the ‘China’s media go global’ campaign. CCTV-Africa’s reporting style has previously been engaged by media practitioners and academics in terms of its discursive practices. In 2014, a new paradigm studying the journalistic practice of Chinese media in Africa emerged. It has been argued that the journalistic approach deployed by Chinese media in Africa, especially CCTV-Africa, is more constructive than simply positive. This article aims to provide a structural analysis on the role of international news in mediating and reinforcing the ‘harmony of interest’ of transnational elite groups with empirical findings from the case study of CCTV-Africa and its constructive approach of journalism. The findings of this research show that the ‘constructiveness’ of CCTV-Africa is marked with the ‘non-interference’ diplomatic strategy of China in Africa which minimalizes the political involvement of China in local conflicts by reducing investigation on causes and emphasizing solutions. Simultaneously, it also produces an apolitical context which encourages economic development in African societies to cater to the grander politics of China in Africa.
Beyond fandom: Outlander Facebook fan groups and the guardianship of an imagined Scotland
Authors: Garrison Stephanie
Published: July 2020

With the release of the novelOutlander(1991) by American author Diana Gabaldon and the subsequent television adaptation in 2014, Scotland has experienced an exponential rise in screen tourism which is being dubbed the ‘Outlandereffect’. While the steady influx ofOutlanderfans is mostly perceived as an economic boon, media outlets and heritage agencies have begun reporting damages to Scottish heritage sites due to increasedOutlander-related tourism. The media coverage of these damages depicts the actions of ‘rampaging’, ‘loutish’, ‘crack-pot’, ‘selfie-mad’Outlanderfans which is proving to be a troubling colouration ofOutlanderfans in the media. This article examines the relationship between an onlineOutlanderFacebook fan community called OutlandishUK and tourism to Scotland. Drawing from ethnographic and netnographic research, this article examines how online Facebook fan groups are embracing the role of being proactive online communities that engage fluidly with members of the media and regional interest groups to promote proper care of heritage sites in Scotland by the widerOutlanderfandom. In contrast to the negative colouration of fans as vandals, the article suggests that it is through these collaborative efforts these fan groups are looking beyond fandom to act as guardians of Scottish heritage and facilitate regional tourism in Scotland.
La chica danesa / The Danish Girl (2015), el derecho de decidir nuestra identidad de género
Authors: Moreta Velayos Francisco Ignacio , Moreta Montero Carolina , Velasco Guijarro Olga , De La Fuente Hermosín Inés , Montero Sánchez Nieves , Ramírez Orive Carmen
Published: July 2020

Aunque el derecho a decidir nuestra propia identidad de género está reconocido como Derecho Humano Universal, las personas trans en nuestro medio siguen siendo objeto de rechazo y discriminación, lo que hace necesario el desarrollo de leyes y normas que garanticen todos nuestros derechos. En estas leyes se desarrollan múltiples aspectos relacionados con la sanidad y que los profesionales debemos integrar en nuestra actividad cotidiana en los Centros de Salud de Atención Primaria. Partiendo desde una perspectiva histórica y el recurso de un estreno cinematográfico, fomentamos en el equipo el debate en torno a la identidad sexual, el fenómeno trans y la legislación que ampara a las personas.