bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Language of Derogation and Hate: Functions, Consequences, and Reappropriation
Authors: Cervone Carmen , Augoustinos Martha , Maass Anne
Published: December 2020

Over the last decades, the use of explicit derogatory language (e.g., hate speech, slurs, micro-insults) has risen in many countries. We provide an overview on blatant language discrimination, including its psychological antecedents and consequences. After presenting a working definition of derogatory language and describing its prevalence, we discuss the social functions it serves and the role it plays in identity protection, in legitimizing group hierarchies, and in establishing and enforcing group norms. Drawing from both the socio-cognitive and discursive traditions in social psychology, it is argued that the language people are exposed to and the language they employ, shape the way they think and construct reality. We also consider two ways in which targeted groups may respond to derogatory language, specifically confrontation and reappropriation. Finally, we address challenges for future research, in particular the need for more cross disciplinary research to ebb the growing proliferation of hate speech on digital media which has become a global international concern.
Do Body-Worn Cameras Change Law Enforcement Arrest Behavior? A National Study of Local Police Departments
Authors: Pyo Sunyoung
Published: December 2020

Controlling police officers’ discretionary behavior during public encounters has been an important issue in U.S. policing, especially following several high-profile police-involved deaths of racial minorities. In response, body-worn cameras (BWCs) were introduced to enhance police accountability by providing police managers an opportunity to monitor police–public encounters. Although many U.S. local police departments have now implemented BWC programs, evidence of program effects on daily police behavior has been limited. This study therefore focuses on whether officers’ arrest behavior changes when they perceive that BWCs are recording their interactions with the public. By conducting a difference-in-differences analysis using 142 police departments, I found that BWCs have negative and small treatment effects on arrest rates and null effects on the racial disparity between numbers of Black and White arrests. These findings imply that officers may become slightly more cautious in the use of arrests after wearing BWCs, but BWCs do not change their overall disparate treatment of Black versus White suspects. The results further indicate that the effects of BWCs on arrests are prominent in municipalities with high crime rates or a high proportion of non-White residents, which suggests that BWC programs demonstrate different effects according to the characteristics of communities served.
Canadian Adverse Driving Conditions dataset
Authors: Pitropov Matthew , Garcia Danson Evan , Rebello Jason , Smart Michael , Wang Carlos , Czarnecki Krzysztof , Waslander Steven
Published: December 2020

The Canadian Adverse Driving Conditions (CADC) dataset was collected with the Autonomoose autonomous vehicle platform, based on a modified Lincoln MKZ. The dataset, collected during winter within the Region of Waterloo, Canada, is the first autonomous driving dataset that focuses on adverse driving conditions specifically. It contains 7,000 frames of annotated data from 8 cameras (Ximea MQ013CG-E2), lidar (VLP-32C), and a GNSS+INS system (Novatel OEM638), collected through a variety of winter weather conditions. The sensors are time synchronized and calibrated with the intrinsic and extrinsic calibrations included in the dataset. Lidar frame annotations that represent ground truth for 3D object detection and tracking have been provided by Scale AI.
Effects of repetitive magnetic stimulation on motor function and GAP43 and 5-HT expression in rats with spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Hao , Xiong Deqi , Pang Rizhao , Deng Qian , Sun Nianyi , Zheng Jinqi , Liu Jiancheng , Xiang Wu , Chen Zhesi , Lu Jiachun , Wang Wenchun , Zhang Anren
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling central nervous system disorder. This study aimed to explore the effects of repetitive trans-spinal magnetic stimulation (rTSMS) of different spinal cord segments on movement function and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) expression in rats after acute SCI and to preliminarily discuss the optimal rTSMS treatment site to provide a theoretical foundation and experimental evidence for clinical application of rTSMS in SCI.

Methods

A rat T10 laminectomy SCI model produced by transient application of an aneurysm clip was used in the study. The rats were divided into group A (sham surgery), group B (acute SCI without stimulation), group C (T6 segment stimulation), group D (T10 segment stimulation), and group E (L2 segment stimulation).

Results

In vivo magnetic stimulation protected motor function, alleviated myelin sheath damage, decreased NgR and Nogo-A expression levels, increased GAP43 and 5-HT expression levels, and inhibited terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells and apoptosis-related protein expression in rats at 8 weeks after the surgery.

Conclusions

This study suggests that rTSMS can promote GAP43 and 5-HT expression and axonal regeneration in the spinal cord, which is beneficial to motor function recovery after acute SCI.
Naturally Occurring Animal Coronaviruses as Models for Studying Highly Pathogenic Human Coronaviral Disease
Authors: Kenney Scott P. , Wang Qiuhong , Vlasova Anastasia , Jung Kwonil , Saif Linda
Published: December 2020

Coronaviruses (CoVs) comprise a large group of positive stranded RNA viruses that infect a diverse host range including birds and mammals. Infection with CoVs typically presents as mild to severe respiratory or enteric disease, but CoVs have the potential to cause significant morbidity or mortality in highly susceptible age groups. CoVs have exhibited a penchant for jumping species barriers throughout history with devastating effects. The emergence of highly pathogenic or infectious CoVs in humans over the past 20 years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and most recently severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), underscores the significant threat that CoV spillovers pose to humans. Similar to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, CoVs have been devastating to commercial animal production over the past century, including infectious bronchitis virus in poultry and bovine CoV, as well as the emergence and reemergence of multiple CoVs in swine including transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, and porcine deltacoronavirus. These naturally occurring animal CoV infections provide important examples for understanding CoV disease as many animal CoVs have complex pathogenesis similar to SARS-CoV-2 and can shed light on the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. We provide an overview and update regarding selected existing animal CoVs and their primary host species, diseases caused by CoVs, how CoVs jump species, whether these CoVs pose an outbreak risk or risk to humans, and how we can mitigate these risks.
A New Scale of Readiness for Health Care Students to Encounter Partner Abuse
Authors: Sawyer Simon , Melvin Glenn , Williams Angela , Williams Brett
Published: December 2020

Partner abuse (PA) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Health care practitioners regularly encounter patients experiencing PA and require comprehensive education on how to respond. This study describes the creation and validation of a new measure of readiness to encounter patients experiencing PA for health care practitioners and students.

Initial item development and content validation were informed by expert feedback. Psychometric properties were assessed using data collected from Australian health care students, using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Internal consistency, inter-scale correlations, and test–retest analysis were performed.

An initial pool of 67 items was reduced to 48 following content validation by 5 experts as a measure of construct validity. A total of n = 926 responses were collected, which were randomly split into two groups to perform a PCA and CFA. The PCA resulted in a 31-item version, which was further reduced to a 27-item version following the CFA, containing four factors. Internal consistency and test–retest analyses demonstrated good reliability.

The produced scale is a 27-item measure of readiness to encounter patients experiencing PA, which has demonstrated good psychometric properties with a sample of Australian health care students. Results indicate that self-efficacy and Emotional-readiness are a large component of readiness. The scale may be used to measure the readiness of a cohort, or as a pre and post-intervention measure, and results may provide insight into the educational needs of a cohort.
Willingness of Black and White Adults to Accept Vaccines in Development: An Exploratory Study Using National Survey Data
Authors: Quinn Sandra Crouse , Lama Yuki , Jamison Amelia , Freimuth Vicki , Shah Veeraj
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

Explore acceptability of vaccines in development: cancer, Type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Lyme disease, Ebola, and obesity. Research questions: To what extent does acceptability vary by vaccine type? To what extent does acceptability of vaccines in development vary by race and other key demographics? To what extent are general vaccine hesitancy and key demographics associated with acceptability of vaccines in development?

Design:

Cross-sectional online survey administered through GfK’s KnowledgePanel in 2015. Analysis completed in 2020.

Subjects:

Nationally representative sample of Black and White American adults (n = 1,643).

Measures:

Willingness to accept a novel vaccine was measured on a 4-point Likert scale. Independent variables included demographics (e.g. age, race, gender) and measures of vaccine hesitancy, trust, and the “Three C’s” of vaccine confidence, complacency, and convenience.

Analysis:

Exploratory analysis including descriptive statistics and regression modeling.

Results:

Acceptability varied from 77% for a cancer vaccine to 55% for an obesity vaccine. White race, male gender, older age, having a chronic health condition, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with higher acceptability. Higher vaccine confidence and lower vaccine hesitancy were predictors for acceptability.

Conclusion:

The success of a vaccine depends on widespread public acceptance. Vaccine hesitancy may hinder acceptance of future vaccines, with significant differences by demographics. Future social science research is necessary to better understand and address vaccine hesitancy.
Effects of anti-striping agents on performance of binder and stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixtures containing polyphosphoric acid/styrene-butadiene rubber composite polymer blends and warm mixture additives
Authors: Ameli Alireza , Naeini Ali Foroutan , Babagoli Rezvan , Akbari Ali
Published: December 2020

This work evaluated the effect of Anti-Stripping Agents (ASAs) on performance behavior of bitumen and high and intermediate temperature performance of SMA mixtures modified by Poly Phosphoric Acid (PPA), Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) additive. Through this paper, the AC-60/70 and AC-85/100 penetration grade bitumens were used as base bitumen. Moreover, three liquid ASAs (ASA (1), ASA (2), ASA (3)), PPA (1% by weight of bitumen), SBR (2% by weight of binder), and two types of warm mix additives (3% Sasobit and 0.3% Zycotherm) were used as a mixture modifier. For evaluating the performance behavior of bitumen, the rotational viscosity, Dynamic Shear Rheometer, and Bending Beam Rheometer, Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), and linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) tests were implemented. Moreover, Resilient Modulus (Mr), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), dynamic creep, wheel track, and Four-Point Beam Fatigue (FPB) tests were performed to investigate the performance of mixture samples. Based on the outcomes of the MSCR test, the utilization of SBR/PPA additive and ASAs decreased the Jnr value. Among modified binders, the binders modified by ASA (2) have the lowest Jnr value followed by binders modified by ASA (1) and ASA (3). According to the outcomes of LAS test, the utilization of ASAs leads to increase in the fatigue life of the original binder. According to the outcomes, the utilization of WMA additives and ASAs caused the Mr, ITS, rutting resistance, and fatigue life to increase. Among ASAs, the ASA (2) has the greatest influence on enhancing the performance of mixtures. Based on results, Sasobit additive has a better effect than Zycotherm on enhancing the properties of samples.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of impact in hydraulic cylinders
Authors: Gad Osama
Published: December 2020

In this paper, modeling impact dynamics of a piston and its cylinder body in a hydraulic cylinder is investigated. The studied system consists of two identical hydraulic cylinders controlled by a pressure sequence valve. The impact is assumed as a linear one dimensional and purely translational viscoelastic impact of rigid bodies. Four impact models, the Kelvin-Voigt, the Maxwell, the standard-solid, and the Hunt-Crossley, are considered. Measurements of the transient variations of the cylinders operating pressures and both pistons strokes, at different loading conditions, are conducted. A comprehensive dynamic model of the studied system, considering the four models, is deduced. The Kelvin-Voigt model produced tensile forces by the end of the contact period and it resulted in discontinuities in the contact force during its steady state period. Both results are physically impossible in rigid bodies impacting. In the Maxwell model, large amount of discontinuities appeared in the contact force, which causes the piston to make an infinite number of rebounds during the contact period. In the standard-solid model, the discontinuities in the contact force were found to be much less than those of the Maxwell model. As a result, when the impact occurs, the cylinder pressure gets an overshoot accompanied with large oscillations when the Maxwell model is applied, however, these oscillations do not approximately appear when the standard-solid model is applied. The simulation results showed also that the Hunt-Crossley nonlinear model presented very high penetration depth, which is certainly unrealistic in rigid bodies impacting. The validation of the proposed dynamic models showed that the standard-solid is the most suitable model that may represent the impact in the studied cylinders.
Information landscapes as contexts of information practices
Authors: Savolainen Reijo
Published: December 2020

The article examines the strengths and limitations of the analogy of information landscapes proposed by Annemaree Lloyd. The analogy offers a novel approach to the conceptualization of the spatial contexts of information practices. Drawing on the ideas of metaphor analysis, the analogy is scrutinized by comparing the similarities between its source domain, that is, natural landscape, and target domain, that is, information landscape. The study identified three main aspects of the analogy: (1) information landscapes as spaces affording the accomplishment of information practices, (2) information landscapes as spaces entwining physical and imaginary qualities and (3) information landscapes as socially constructed spatial contexts of information practices. The findings suggest that the construct of information landscapes represents a spatial analogy in which the properties of the source domain partially elucidate the nature of the contexts of information practices. The analogy works best with regard to similarities between affordances offered by natural landscapes and information landscapes. The major limitation of the analogy deals with difficulties to map physical features of the source domain onto the cognitive and social qualifiers of the target domain.
Influence of filler hybridization on thermomechanical properties of hemp/silver epoxy composite
Authors: Siva Kumar Munjula , Kumar Santosh , Gouda Krushna , Bhowmik Sumit
Published: December 2020

The polymer composite material’s thermomechanical properties with fiber as reinforcement material have been widely studied in the last few decades. However, these fiber-based polymer composites exhibit problems such as fiber orientation, delamination, fiber defect along the length and bonding are the matter of serious concern in order to improve the thermomechanical properties and obtain isotropic material behavior. In the present investigation filler-based composite material is developed using natural hemp and high thermal conductive silver nanoparticles (SNP) and combination of dual fillers in neat epoxy polymer to investigate the synergetic influence. Among various organic natural fillers hemp filler depicts good crystallinity characteristics, so selected as a biocompatible filler along with SNP conductive filler. For enhancing their thermal conductivity and mechanical properties, hybridization of hemp filler along with silver nanoparticles are conducted. The composites samples are prepared with three different combinations such as sole SNP, sole hemp and hybrid (SNP and hemp) are prepared to understand their solo and hybrid combination. From results it is examined that, chemical treated hemp filler has to maximized its relative properties and showed, 40% weight % of silver nanoparticles composites have highest thermal conductivity 1.00 W/mK followed with hemp filler 0.55 W/mK and hybrid 0.76 W/mK composites at 7.5% of weight fraction and 47.5% of weight fraction respectively. The highest tensile strength is obtained for SNP composite 32.03 MPa and highest young’s modulus is obtained for hybrid composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis is conducted to find their respective storage modulus and glass transition temperature and that, the recorded maximum for SNP composites with 3.23 GPa and 90°C respectively. Scanning electron microscopy examinations clearly illustrated that formation of thermal conductivity chain is significant with nano and micro fillers incorporation.
Buddhist Business and Benevolence in Leh, Ladakh
Authors: Williams-Oerberg Elizabeth
Published: December 2020

Due to a burgeoning tourism industry in the Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh, Buddhist monasteries now have lucrative means for generating income through tourism-related business and financial support from international sponsors and local business owners. Where previously Buddhist monasteries were dependent on the donations and labour of the lay community, currently, with the accumulation of surplus wealth, many Buddhist leaders of prominent monasteries have begun flipping this donor system around. Throughout this article, I look at how Buddhist monastic leaders have invested surplus economic resources into philanthropic projects as a way to ‘give back’ to the wider community. I argue that the philanthropic initiatives by Buddhist leaders in Ladakh help to position Buddhist monastics as taking a leading role in the social and economic transformation of the region, thus working to push back against processes of secularization that threaten to decrease the influence of Buddhist monastic institutions.
Evolution of a Virtual Multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Team Clinic During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Children’s Hospital Colorado Experience
Authors: Andrews Maureen , Allen Greg , Alexander Allyson , French Brooke , Wilkinson Corbett , Mason Aaron
Published: December 2020

Multidisciplinary care in the era of COVID mitigation presented a unique opportunity to evolve a multidisciplinary Telehealth experience at the Children’s Hospital Colorado. We describe our experience in developing unique programming to remain in compliance with an experience as recommended by the Parameters of Care while integrating information technology accessible via the electronic health record, multimedia adjuncts, and the integration of multiple institutional participants in creating a platform to offer care via Telehealth. Visit structure, planning, implementation, and advantages and disadvantages of the programming are discussed.
Imageries of Self: Guilty Plea Statements in Sexual Violence Cases at the ICTY
Authors: Houge Anette Bringedal
Published: December 2020

Focusing on the guilty plea statements in sex crimes cases at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, this article investigates the ways that defendants re-present themselves, their agencies, and their offenses in response to the legal framework within which they talk. While their acts are at the core of international criminal justice (ICJ), defendants are more often spectators than participants when their guilt is negotiated and judged. They have for the most part also been absent in research on ICJ. As defendants’ voices are rarely heard during proceedings, their guilty plea statements produce rare access to war criminal’s staging of self and individual agency. At international criminal tribunals, defendants have wide audiences beyond the courtroom, and when they do speak, their stories potentially influence not only the court proceedings but also wider cultural and societal narratives about wartime agency and sexual violence. After identifying a guilty plea script, this article draws attention to a consistent and intriguing silencing of sexual crimes in the past and to how the defendants’ imageries of present and future selves align with the ICJ effect narratives about the individually disciplining and rehabilitative character of criminal justice and its general deterrent effects.
Breast-Conserving Therapy Versus Mastectomy in Young Breast Cancer Patients Concerning Molecular Subtypes: A SEER Population-Based Study
Authors: Yu Ping , Tang Hailin , Zou Yutian , Liu Peng , Tian Wenwen , Zhang Kaiming , Xie Xiaoming , Ye Feng
Published: December 2020

Breast-conserving therapy was once a contraindication in young breast cancer patients (aged ≤40 years). Emerging studies suggest that breast-conserving therapy and mastectomy could achieve similar prognosis in this population. However, the effect of molecular subtype disparity on surgical strategy in these patients remains unclear. Data from 8656 young patients (aged ≤40 years) diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between in 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate subtype-dependent relationships between the surgical method and survival. Of the 8656 patients, 4132 (47.7%) underwent breast-conserving therapy and 4524 (52.3%) underwent mastectomy. The median follow-up period was 30.0 months. Patients in the breast-conserving therapy group demonstrated better overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival than those in the mastectomy group (both p < 0.05). Patients with different molecular subtypes exhibited significant differences in overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival ( p < 0.001). Patients with luminal subtypes experienced better overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival than those with the triple-negative subtype. Multivariate analysis revealed that overall mortality risk of the breast-conserving therapy group was lower than that of the mastectomy group among HR(+)HER-2(-) and HR(-)HER-2(-) patients (overall mortality risk of 36.3% [adjusted hazard ratio = 0.637 {95% confidence interval = 0.448–0.905}, p = 0.012] and 36.0% [adjusted hazard ratio = 0.640 {95% confidence interval = 0.455–0.901}, p = 0.010] respectively.) The breast cancer-specific mortality risk was also lower by a percentage similar to that of the overall mortality risk. In the HR(+)HER-2(+) group, the surgical method was an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer-specific survival (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.275 [95% confidence interval = 0.089–0.849], p = 0.025), while there was a trend that patients with breast-conserving therapy had better overall survival than those with mastectomy ( p = 0.056). In the HR(-)HER-2(+) group, no significant difference was observed in overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival ( p = 0.791 and p = 0.262, respectively). Breast-conserving therapy resulted in significantly better prognosis in patients with luminal and triple-negative subtypes, while no significant difference was observed in patients with the HER-2 enriched subtype. These results may be helpful in informing clinically precise decision-making for surgery in this population.
Lance and Other Gifted and Talented Students of Color Matter: Five Models and Theories to Guide Early Childhood Educators in Advancing Equity
Authors: Ford Donna Y. , Wright Brian L. , Tyson Cynthia A.
Published: December 2020

This article focuses on essential models and theories to help early childhood educators (ECE) in understanding and teaching non-White gifted and talented (GATE) students. The focus is on minoritized students who have been formally identified and those who should be identified (i.e., are underrepresented). These models and theories are crucial in the recruitment and retention process as well as preventing and reversing underachievement.
A new approach to curvature measures in linear shell theories
Authors: Šilhavý Miroslav
Published: December 2020

The paper presents a coordinate-free analysis of deformation measures for shells modeled as 2D surfaces. These measures are represented by second-order tensors. As is well-known, two types are needed in general: the surface strain measure (deformations in tangential directions), and the bending strain measure (warping). Our approach first determines the 3D strain tensor E of a shear deformation of a 3D shell-like body and then linearizes E in two smallness parameters: the displacement and the distance of a point from the middle surface. The linearized expression is an affine function of the signed distance from the middle surface: the absolute term is the surface strain measure and the coefficient of the linear term is the bending strain measure. The main result of the paper determines these two tensors explicitly for general shear deformations and for the subcase of Kirchhoff-Love deformations. The derived surface strain measures are the classical ones: Naghdi’s surface strain measure generally and its well-known particular case for the Kirchhoff-Love deformations. With the bending strain measures comes a surprise: they are different from the traditional ones. For shear deformations our analysis provides a new tensor [Formula: see text], which is different from the widely used Naghdi’s bending strain tensor [Formula: see text]. In the particular case of Kirchhoff–Love deformations, the tensor [Formula: see text] reduces to a tensor [Formula: see text] introduced earlier by Anicic and Léger (Formulation bidimensionnelle exacte du modéle de coque 3D de Kirchhoff–Love. C R Acad Sci Paris I 1999; 329: 741–746). Again, [Formula: see text] is different from Koiter’s bending strain tensor [Formula: see text] (frequently used in this context).

AMS 2010 classification: 74B99
Point-block incomplete LU preconditioning with asynchronous iterations on GPU for multiphysics problems
Authors: Ma Wenpeng , Cai Xiao-Chuan
Published: December 2020

Point-block matrices arise naturally in multiphysics problems when all variables associated with a mesh point are ordered together, and are different from the general block matrices since the sizes of the blocks are so small one can often invert some of the diagonal blocks explicitly. Motivated by the recent works of Chow and Patel and Chow et al., we propose an efficient incomplete LU (ILU) preconditioner for point-block matrices targeting applications on GPU. The construction of the preconditioner involves two critical steps: (1) the initial guessing of values for the lower and upper triangular matrices; and (2) several sweeps of asynchronous updating of the triangular matrices. Three representative problems are studied to show the advantage of the proposed point-block approach over the standard point-wise approach in terms of the number of GMRES iterations and also the total compute time. Moreover, we compare the proposed algorithm with the level-scheduling based parallel algorithm employed in NVIDIA’s cuSPARSE library as well as the serial method implemented in Intel MKL library, and the experiments show that a 2×–5× speedup can be achieved over the block-based ILU( p) factorizations from the cuSPARSE library.
The efficacy of dexamethasone implants following anti-VEGF failure for macular oedema in retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Yap Timothy E , Husein Salman , Miralles de Imperial-Ollero Juan Antonio , Colizzi Benedetta , Cordeiro Maria Francesca , Younis Saad
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implants (DEX) after anti-VEGF failure in retinal vein occlusion macular oedema.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study of DEX implant (0.7 mg) given after anti-VEGF ‘failure’. Switch to DEX occurred if a ⩽ +5 ETDRS letter gain and ⩽20% reduction in central subfield thickness was present following ⩾6 consecutive anti-VEGF injections. The primary endpoint was VA change 30 days after DEX. Secondary outcomes were peak VA change, VA change at monthly timepoints, percentage achieving 15-letter gain, central subfield thickness (CST) and intraocular pressure (IOP).

Results:

Sixty-two injections in 62 patients associated with 26% central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 74% branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) were eligible. There was a modest, significant improvement in mean VA change at 30 days compared to baseline (+6 letters, 95% CI +2.2 to +9.1 letters, p < 0.01). DEX implant significantly improved mean peak VA change compared to preceding anti-VEGF by +18.1 letters in CRVO ( p = 0.002) and +13.2 letters in BRVO ( p < 0.0001). IOP peaked between 30 and 60 days following injection, with 31% of CRVO and 11% of BRVO patients experiencing an IOP ⩾ 25 mmHg.

Conclusion:

DEX implant provides useful rescue therapy in cases of anti-VEGF ‘failure’ for macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion, resulting in improved functional outcomes at 30 days.
Localization of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-1 and Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-2 at the Human Maternal-Fetal Interface
Authors: Kudo Yoshiki , Koh Iemasa , Sugimoto Jun
Published: December 2020

Immunohistochemical localization of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2, the first and rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine pathway, has been studied in order to better understand the physiological significance of these enzymes at the maternal-fetal interface of human pregnancy with a gestational age of 7 weeks (n = 1) and term placentas (37-40 weeks of gestation, n = 5). Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 protein immunoreactivity was found in glandular epithelium of the decidua and the endothelium of the fetal blood vessels in the villous stroma with some additional positive cells in the villous core and in the decidua. The syncytiotrophoblast stained strongly for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2. Immunoreactivity of kynurenine, the immediate downstream product of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated tryptophan metabolism, showed the same localization as that of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-2, suggesting these are functional enzymes. Interferon-γ added to placental villous explant culture markedly stimulated expression level of both mRNA and immunoreactivity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1. The different cellular expression and interferon-γ sensitivity of these enzymes at the maternal-fetal interface suggests distinct physiological roles for each enzyme in normal human viviparity.
Evolution of Lung Cancer in the Context of Immunotherapy
Authors: Yu Sheng , Wang Ruilin , Tang Hong , Wang Lili , Zhang Zhe , Yang Sen , Jiao Shuyue , Wu Xuan , Wang Shuai , Wang Mingyue , Xu Cong , Wang Qiming , Wu Yufeng
Published: December 2020

Immunotherapy, as a novel treatment, has brought new hope to many patients with cancer, including patients with lung cancer. However, the overall cure rate and survival rate of lung cancer are still not satisfactory. The process of evolution has improved the ability of tumors to adapt to immunotherapy, which induces drug resistance. Many studies have focused on immunoresistance and achieved meaningful results. Therefore, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the current research progress in immunoresistance, which will help to achieve good clinical results more efficiently.
Numerical investigation on the static performance of aerostatic journal bearings with different pocket shapes by the finite-element method
Authors: Chen Xinglong , Mills James K , Shi Kai , Bao Gang
Published: December 2020

In this work, to improve the static behavior of aerostatic journal bearings, we examine the effect of pockets with different shapes, including the square, rectangular 1, rectangular 2, and circular, manufactured on the surface of the aerostatic journal bearing. The effects of the pocket shapes, pocket area [Formula: see text], eccentricity ratio ɛ, orifice diameter df, average gas film thickness h0, and misalignment angles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] on the static performance are investigated using simulations. The Reynolds equation is solved by the finite-element method in this work. Simulations reveal that the pocket area [Formula: see text], eccentricity ratio ɛ, gas film thickness h0, orifice diameter df, and misalignment angles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have a significant influence on the load force F and the stiffness K. In general, rectangular 2 pocket bearings are found to perform somewhat better than bearings with other pocket shapes, with the pocket depth set to one-half of h0, when the pocket area [Formula: see text] varies from one-twelfth to one. The pocket area [Formula: see text] should be set according to the average gas film thickness h0 and the orifice diameter df to achieve a better static performance for the bearings. For bearings operated with misalignment angles [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], different pocket areas [Formula: see text] should be set according to the pocket shapes for the optimal design.
Discursive tensions: Outcomes and rights in educators’ accounts of children’s relaxation
Authors: Cooke Emma , Zheng Zhaoxi , Houen Sandy , Thorpe Karen , Clarke Andrew , Oakes Candice , Staton Sally
Published: December 2020

In early childhood education and care policy, there are two dominant discourses: ‘investment and outcomes’ and ‘children’s rights’. There is little research on how these discourses play out in educators’ accounts. In this article, the authors examine the case of discourse pertaining to children’s relaxation in early childhood education and care. They demonstrate that Australian relaxation policy for children in early childhood education and care constructs children as passive and incompetent subjects. Some educators reproduce early childhood education and care policy tensions by vacillating between investment-outcomes and children’s rights discourse in their accounts, while other educators deviate from the policy constructions and adopt children’s rights discourse.
An alternative dynamics of research dissemination? The case of the g word tour
Authors: Thomas Kate Carruthers
Published: December 2020

This article discusses my experience of developing and presenting a multi-media research dissemination programme comprising presentations, workshops, a visual exhibit and a poetry performance collectively referred to as the g word tour. Programme elements were presented, exhibited and performed between November 2018 and July 2019 to audiences in 25 universities and research centres in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Each element of the programme was based on data collected for a research project: Gender(s) at Work, which investigated the impact of gender on workplace experiences and career trajectories among staff in a UK university. The article argues that this active approach to research dissemination involved dynamics of contraflow and diffraction and that rather than completing or closing the research process created new spaces for dialogue and engagement.
SLC6A8 Knockdown Suppresses the Invasion and Migration of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Huh-7 and Hep3B Cells
Authors: Yuan Lu , Wu Xian Jian , Li Wen Chuan , Zhuo Chenyi , Xu ZuoMing , Tan Chuan , Ma RiHai , Wang JianChu , Pu Jian
Published: December 2020

Liver cancer is considered the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Currently, there is no specific and effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against hepatocellular carcinoma is of paramount importance. Solute carrier family 6 member 8 (SLC6A8) encodes the solute carrier family 6-8 to transport creatine into cells in a Na+ and Cl-- dependent manner. SLC6A8 deficiency is characterized by intellectual disabilities, loss of speech, and behavioral abnormalities. Of concern, the association of SLC6A8 with hepatocellular carcinoma remains elusive. In this study, we revealed that SLC6A8 knockdown significantly induced apoptosis and suppressed the migration and invasion of Hep3B and Huh-7 cells. These findings depicted the vital role of SLC6A8 in the initiation and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma.
Prediction of Prognostic Biomarkers and Construction of an Autophagy Prognostic Model for Colorectal Cancer Using Bioinformatics
Authors: Liu Ting-ting , Liu Shu-min
Published: December 2020

Objective:

The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing every year, and autophagy may be related closely to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Autophagy is a natural catabolic mechanism that allows the degradation of cellular components in eukaryotic cells. However, autophagy plays a dual role in tumorigenesis. It not only promotes normal cell survival and tumor growth but also induces cell death and suppresses tumors survival. In addition, the pathogenesis of various conditions, including inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, or tumors, is associated with abnormal autophagy. The present work aimed to examine the significance of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in prognosis prediction, to construct an autophagy prognostic model, and to identify independent prognostic factors for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods:

This study discovered a total of 36 ARGs in CRC cases using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Autophagy-dedicated (HADd) databases along with functional enrichment analysis. Then, an autophagy prognostic model was constructed using univariate Cox regression analysis, and the key prognostic genes were screened. Finally, independent prognostic markers were determined through independent prognostic analysis and clinical correlation analysis of key genes.

Results:

Of the 36 differentially expressed ARGs, 13 were related to prognosis, as determined by univariate Cox regression analysis. A total of 6 key genes were obtained by a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Independent prognostic values were shown by 3 genes, namely, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP1LC3C), small GTPase superfamily and Rab family (RAB7A), and WD-repeat domain phosphoinositide-interacting protein 2 (WIPI2) by independent prognostic analysis and clinical correlation.

Conclusions:

In this study, molecular bioinformatics technology was employed to determine and construct a prognostic model of autophagy for colon cancer patients, which revealed 3 autophagy-related features, namely, MAP1LC3C, WIPI2, and RAB7A.
Clinical Application of Combined EEG-qEEG Functional Neuroimaging in the Practice of Pediatric Neuroscience: A Personal Perspective
Authors: Turner Robert P.
Published: December 2020

This brief article is an overview of my personal experience over the past almost 10 years of the clinical use of EEG and quantitative EEG (qEEG) functional neuroimaging in a busy pediatric neurology practice. The concomitant use of surface EEG and functional electromagnetic EEG neuroimaging/qEEG in clinical practice provides significant additional clinical and neurophysiologic information. The qEEG is a noninvasive, inexpensive, portable technique with high temporal resolution (milliseconds) and improving spatial resolution (down to 3 mm3) and is an appropriate and validated tool for investigation of abnormal brain dynamics and connectivity of neuronal networks in clinical disorders of the brain. This article describes the daily applicability and utility of this modality in assisting diagnosis and clinical management of patients with a wide variety of presenting symptoms, including headaches, tics, autism spectrum disorder, inattention, sleep dysregulation, anxiety, and depression. The ease of data acquisition and analysis in clinical practices, coupled with skilled interpretation and clinical application, makes this tool one of the most valuable clinical tools to complement a thorough history and examination process.
Objective Assessments in Diagnoses and Treatment: A Proposed Change in Paradigm
Authors: Konopka Lukasz M. , Glowacki Alice , Konopka Christian J. , Wuest Ronald
Published: December 2020

For patients with psychiatric disorders, current diagnostic and treatment approaches are far from optimal. The clinical interview drives the standard approach—matching symptoms to diagnostic criteria—and results in standardized pharmacological and behavioral treatments, often, with inadequate outcome; but now, recent imaging advances can correlate behavioral assessments with brain function and measure them against normative databases to provide data critical for the reevaluation of patient diagnosis and treatment. This article addresses the data that support a redefinition of our current paradigm. We believe a neurobehavioral approach provides for more personalized treatment approaches unbound from classically defined diagnostic biases.
Temperature stratification using an air-cooled heat pump system with a mixing valve
Authors: Han Wang Kook , Kim Jin Man , Lim Tae Hun , Song Hae Eun , Ahn Young Chull
Published: December 2020

The main factor determining the performance of a thermal storage method is the temperature stratification in the storage tank. At the ideal stratification, the energy efficiency of the storage tank is extremely high. However, when the heat pump is applied, the stratification is disrupted by heat exchange between the layers of the heat medium, and consequent convection in the tank. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of stratification-related design factors in the water-piping facility area outside a tank heated by a heat pump. In particular, it assessed the thermal stratification and energy efficiency in the storage tank installed with a mixing valve. In the system using the mixing valve, hot water of constant temperature was supplied to the top of the storage tank, reducing the mixing effect of the hot and cold waters; consequently, the stratification index was maximized at 0.42. Comparing the times at which the temperature of the uppermost part reached 70°C in the systems with and without the mixing valve (30 and 75 min, respectively), we find that the mixing valve reduced the time of obtaining effectively hot water by approximately 60%.
Airborne Algal growth on roofs of membrane-structured residences in cold area of Japan
Authors: Nakajima Makiko , Masueda Daisuke , Hokoi Shuichi , Matsushita Takayuki
Published: December 2020

The discoloration of building facades due to airborne algae is observed in our surroundings. The growth conditions of these algae are not yet fully understood, and efficient measures for preventing the growth of the algae are not presently available. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the ambient environment and building structure on algal growth. A residential building in a cold region of Japan was surveyed. The roof was a multi-layered structure comprising a semi-transparent film, an air layer, and a layer of insulation from the outside, supported by rafters. The soiled state was visually observed by taking photographs. On the northeast (NE) and northwest (NW) roofs, several black stripes appeared 4 months after cleaning. The soiling increased in the spring and autumn. The soiling first appeared on the film backed by the rafter and then extended to the film backed by the air layer. The condensation time during the day in the rafter part was longer than that in the air-layer part. Condensation occurred during the night, but its frequency exhibited no dependence on the orientation of the roof. Algae tend to die when exposed to an environment with a temperature higher than 45°C. The NE roof had the shortest period with a surface temperature of >45°C. These measurements agreed well with the survey results, which indicated that the soiling mainly occurred on the NE and NW sides of the roofs. The time for algal growth was estimated under the assumption that algae can grow at surface temperatures ranging from 0 to 45°C, in agreement with the observed soiling. The observed soiling changes were well explained by the algal population calculated via a growth predictive model according to the algal temperature and relative humidity.
Peripheral EphrinB1/EphB1 signalling attenuates muscle hyperalgesia in MPS patients and a rat model of taut band-associated persistent muscle pain
Authors: Jin Feihong , Zhao Lianying , Hu Qiya , Qi Feng
Published: December 2020

Background

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is an important clinical condition that is characterized by chronic muscle pain and a myofascial trigger point (MTrP) located in a taut band (TB). Previous studies showed that EphrinB1 was involved in the regulation of pathological pain via EphB1 signalling, but whether EphrinB1-EphB1 plays a role in MTrP is not clear.

Methods

The present study analysed the levels of p-EphB1/p-EphB2/p-EphB3 in biopsies of MTrPs in the trapezius muscle of 11 MPS patients and seven healthy controls using a protein microarray kit. EphrinB1-Fc was injected intramuscularly to detect EphrinB1s/EphB1s signalling in peripheral sensitization. We applied a blunt strike to the left gastrocnemius muscles (GM) and eccentric exercise for 8 weeks with 4 weeks of recovery to analyse the function of EphrinB1/EphB1 in the muscle pain model.

Results

P-EphB1, p-EphB2, and p-EphB3 expression was highly increased in human muscles with MTrPs compared to healthy muscle. EphB1 (r = 0.723, n = 11, P < 0.05), EphB2 (r = 0.610, n = 11, P < 0.05), and EphB3 levels (r = 0.670, n = 11, P < 0.05) in the MPS group were significantly correlated with the numerical rating scale (NRS) in the MTrPs. Intramuscular injection of EphrinB1-Fc produces hyperalgesia, which can be partially prevented by pre-treatment with EphB1-Fc. The p-EphB1 contents in MTrPs of MPS animals were significantly higher than that among control animals (P < 0.01). Intramuscular administration of the EphB1 inhibitor EphB1-Fr significantly suppressed mechanical hyperalgesia.

Conclusions

The present study showed that the increased expression of p-EphB1/p-EphB2/p-EphB3 was related to MTrPs in patients with MPS. This report is the first study to examine the function of EphrinB1-EphB1 signalling in primary muscle afferent neurons in MPS patients and a rat animal model. This pathway may be one of the most important and promising targets for MPS.