bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Four new combinations in Isotrema (Aristolochiaceae)

Authors: WANG JUN , MA JIN-SHUANG , ZHU XIN-XIN
Published: March 2020

Back to history, the systematic position of these 3-lobed gynostemium species in Aristolochia has been controversial. They have successively been recognized to be different genera by different authors, i.e., Isotrema Rafinesque (1819a: 195) (Rafinesque 1819b, Huber 1960, 1985, 1993, Wu et al. 2003, 2006, 2011, Eberhard et al. 2015, Liu et al. 2015), Hocquartia Dumortier (1822: 30) or Siphisia Rafinesque (1828: 62) (Rafinesque 1836, Klotzsch 1859). On the other side, the species having 3-lobed gynostemium were also ascribed to Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia (Duchartre 1854: 29) Schmidt (1935: 236) by many researchers (Duchartre 1854, 1864, Bentham & Hooker 1880, Solereder 1889, Schmidt 1935, Hwang 1988, Ma 1989, González 1999, González & Stevenson 2000, Murata et al. 2001, Adams et al. 2005, Xu et al. 2011, Do et al. 2015a, 2015b, Wu et al. 2015, Zhu et al. 2018). Recently, Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia was re-instated as an independent genus Isotrema, which is characterized by the following set of characters: such as a strongly curved perianth with a 3-lobed limb, and especially the 3-lobed gynostemium, anthers paired on the outer surface of each gynostemium segment (Zhu et al. 2019a). It has been adopted when some new species are described (Li et al. 2019, Zhou et al. 2019, Zhu et al. 2019b, Cai et al. 2020a). Most species described under Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia have been transferred to Isotrema (Zhu et al. 2019a), but four new species published after that (Peng et al. 2019, Zhu et al. 2019c, Cai et al. 2020b) have not been transferred to Isotrema and new combinations are still necessary.
The Interaction between Moist Convection and the Atmospheric Circulation in the Tropics
Authors: Tomassini Lorenzo
Published: March 2020

Theories of the interaction between moist convection and the atmospheric circulation in the tropics are reviewed. Two main schools of thought are highlighted: (i) one that emphasizes the lower-level control of convection through moisture convergence and variations in convective inhibition, and (ii) one that sees convection as an adjustment process in reaction to larger-scale instabilities, referred to as convective quasi-equilibrium theory. Conceptually the two views consider moist convection to have fundamentally different roles in the tropical circulation. In one case the presence of low-level inhibition and the conditional nature of the atmospheric instability allows for convective vertical motion and latent heating to drive and reinforce synoptic-scale disturbances and overturning circulations; in the other case, because low-level inhibition is not acknowledged to be a widespread controlling barrier, convection is believed to balance and dampen vertical instabilities at the rate they are created by larger-scale processes over the vertical extent of the atmosphere. More recently, investigations of the moisture dynamics surrounding organized convective structures have led to an emerging consensus on the theory of convection–circulation coupling in the tropics that acknowledges the important role of lower- to midtropospheric moisture variations, and the significance of moist convection and convective clouds for initiating and establishing circulations. However, the implementation of these new insights in numerical models lags behind. This is exemplified by the apparent inadequacy of climate models to correctly represent decadal variability in the tropical Pacific, a fact that potentially has implications for the confidence in climate change projections based on such models.
Asymptotic Models for Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillations and Geostrophic Balance
Authors: Stechmann Samuel N. , Hottovy Scott
Published: March 2020

In the tropics, rainfall is coupled with waves in the form of, for example, convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs) and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). In perhaps the simplest viewpoint of CCEWs, the effects of moisture and convective adjustment can predict the basic aspects of their propagation and structure: reduced propagation speeds and reduced meridional length scales. Here, a similar simple viewpoint is investigated for the MJO’s propagation and structure. To do this investigation, budget analyses of a model MJO are first presented to illustrate and motivate the asymptotic scaling assumptions. Asymptotic models are then derived for the MJO. In brief, the structure of the asymptotic MJO is described by a tropical geostrophic balance, and the slow propagation arises from the dynamics of moist static energy. To be specific, if the moist static energy has a background vertical gradient that is asymptotically weak (i.e., a moist stability that is nearly neutral), then it supports a slowly propagating wave. Beyond these main aspects, other processes also have an influence, such as eddy diffusion of moisture. In comparing the simple viewpoints of CCEWs and the MJO, one main difference is in the propagation speeds: relative to a dry wave speed of 50 m s−1, the MJO has a speed of 5 m s−1, resulting from a reduction factor of 0.1 related to moist stability, whereas the basic CCEW speed is 15 m s−1, resulting from a reduction factor of the square root of 0.1, related to the square root of the moist stability.
Reasons for the Weakening of Tropical Depressions in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhong Rui , Xu Shibin , Huang Fei , Wu Xin
Published: March 2020

The frequency and location distribution of tropical depressions (TDs) from 1979 to 2017 in the South China Sea (SCS) are statistically analyzed based on the best track data of tropical cyclones (TCs) from the Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration (CMA-STI). ECMWF interim reanalysis data (ERA-Interim) are used to investigate the reasons for the weakening of TDs in this study. The results show that there are 4.8 TDs formed in the SCS per year, and these TDs can be separated into 3.2 developing cases (DTDs) and 1.6 nondeveloping cases (NTDs) according to whether they intensify into tropical storms. Further objective classification by the multivariable-time empirical orthogonal function (MVT-EOF) method finds that the weakening cases in the positive-PC1 (the first principle component) mode occur in May–September, with the reason for weakening being a shortage of moisture. The decrease of westerly wind south of the NTDs reduces the water vapor transportation from the Indian Ocean. Binary TCs in the northwestern Pacific acquire water vapor from the eastern boundary of the SCS NTDs. Meanwhile, the weak high-level divergence and low-level convergence are not enough for the accumulation of local moisture and maintaining local convections inside the NTDs. The weakening cases in negative-PC1 mode occur in October–December with the reason for weakening being the invasion of cold air from the north. Strong cold air advection in the lower troposphere increases the vertical wind shear in front of the NTDs, and sharply reduce sensible and latent heat flux as well. Seasonal dependence exists in the causes of the SCS NTDs weakening.
Testimonianze e chiose sul futurismo: Nino Pino Balotta e Umberto Boccioni
Authors: Zumbo Nino Sottile
Published: March 2020

L’avanguardia futurista ha compiuto la rivoluzione copernicana delle arti; la sua grammatica, che ha innovato la lingua italiana, è stata un modello per la letteratura del tempo. Specchio della modernità, ha creato il mito dell’industrializzazione, della civiltà delle macchine, della tecnologia, del dinamismo universale, del vitalismo titanico, del bellicismo, del riscatto sociale, dell’italianismo, contro ogni nostalgia passatista. Come non si può staccare un fiore dalle radici, così nel movimento futurista non è possibile scindere nettamente il momento estetico dal contesto politico in cui è fermentato. La sua ideologia politica ha guardato a destra e a sinistra. Con gli occhi di Nino Pino Balotta, poeta e scienziato siciliano, personaggio controverso, ispirato dall’ideologia socialista, seguace e coscienza critica del movimento, viene qui letta una prima parte della vicenda futurista. Per la seconda, vale il racconto critico dalla genesi ai felici, odierni, esiti della poetica futurista, incluse le vicende storiche del futurismo di sinistra e di destra, con le posizioni non monolitiche di Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Irrompe, nella terza, il vulcanico Umberto Boccioni, anch’egli socialista eterodosso.
Reviving Australia’s system of enterprise bargaining
Authors: Hamberger Jonathan
Published: March 2020

This article deals with the development of enterprise bargaining in Australia and considers whether the goals set out in 1992 by the then Prime Minister, Paul Keating, have been realised. The article focuses in particular on the evolution of the no disadvantage test and the better off overall test, in terms of both the statutory provisions themselves and how they have been applied in practice. The article describes the decline of enterprise bargaining in recent years, from both a quantitative and a qualitative perspective, and the failure to achieve the goals set out by Mr Keating. The article concludes with a number of proposed legislative changes designed to revive enterprise bargaining in Australia.
Prediction of coal and gas outbursts by a novel model based on multisource information fusion
Authors: Li Yingjie , Yang Yongguo , Jiang Bo
Published: March 2020

As one type of geologic disaster, coal and gas outbursts seriously threaten safe production in coal mines, restricting the sustainable development of the mining industry. However, coal and gas outbursts are difficult to forecast due to their uncertainty and the limitation of sample size, which affect the accuracy of the traditional prediction methods to some extent. Therefore, this study developed a novel model based on multisource information fusion to realize the predictive progress of coal and gas outburst disasters. Through the application of Dempster-Shafer theory, a method of multisource information fusion, the proposed model combined the results of different forecasting approaches, including conventional techniques and an emerging method based on artificial intelligence. To enhance the performance of the established model, this study improved Dempster-Shafer theory and verified its effectiveness in dealing with highly conflicting information. We then applied this model to the No. 3 coal seam of the Xinjing coal mine, Shanxi Province, China. The fused prediction accurately reflected the situation of outburst hazards and showed good compensation for false prediction. An analysis of the results concluded that the model based on multisource information fusion increases the credibility of the forecast, which might provide technical support for safe coal mine production.
Assistive technologies to access print resources for students with visual impairment: Implications for accommodations in high stakes assessments
Authors: Nisbet Paul D
Published: March 2020

Access or assessment accommodations and arrangements exist to enable students with disabilities to be included in high stakes examinations, and to comply with Equality legislation and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This article explores the accessibility of digital versions of Question Papers offered by UK awarding bodies for high stakes externally assessed examinations. It raises concerns that question papers from five out of six providers are not adequately accessible for candidates with visual impairment who use screen reader technologies and so asks broader questions about ways in which, even in high income countries with a strong espoused commitment to equality, disadvantage can be compounded rather than addressed. Access arrangements offered by awarding bodies should reflect candidates’ ‘normal way of working’; this article presents original and unique data from a survey of Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired in respect of technologies and strategies used by 325 students with visual impairment and finds that up to 16% of these learners are using screen reader tools in school. These candidates may, therefore, be disadvantaged in examinations because the technology they use to access learning resources cannot be successfully utilised to access assessments. The article concludes with recommendations for regulators and providers of assessments.
A survey of social media use in emergency situations: A literature review
Authors: Abdulhamid Najeeb Gambo , Ayoung Daniel Azerikatoa , Kashefi Armin , Sigweni Boyce
Published: March 2020

This study reviews literature on the use of Social Media (SM) in emergency response operations while identifying gaps in this research stream that need attention from Information Systems (IS) researchers. The research is grounded in past works and attempts to build on research on the application of SM in emergencies. It focuses on understanding the role of SM in the prevention, management and response to emergencies. The review contains a detailed literature exposition of IS and disasters journals. The appraisal of such research stream led the review to focus on the concept of digital volunteerism as an offshoot of crowdsourcing initiatives. Findings from the review reveal that previous studies overlooked the interfacing challenges between formal and traditional aid agencies on one hand and digital humanitarians on the other. Consequently, we identify gaps in the extant literature and propose areas of interest for future research.
Peripheral bronchial luminal conspicuity on dynamic-ventilation computed tomography: association with radiation doses and temporal resolution by using an ex vivo porcine lung phantom
Authors: Nagatani Yukihiro , Yoshigoe Makoto , Tsukagoshi Shinsuke , Ushio Noritoshi , Ohashi Kohei , Nitta Norihisa , Kimoto Tatsuya , Uranishi Ayumi , Sato Shigetaka , Mayumi Masayuki , Yamashiro Tsuneo , Moriya Hiroshi , Murata Kiyoshi , Watanabe Yoshiyuki ,   for the investigators of ACTIve study group
Published: March 2020

Background

It is still unclear which image reconstruction algorithm is appropriate for peripheral bronchial luminal conspicuity (PBLC) on dynamic-ventilation computed tomography (DVCT).

Purpose

To assess the influence of radiation doses and temporal resolution (TR) on the association between movement velocity (MV) and PBLC on DVCT.

Material and Methods

An ex vivo porcine lung phantom with simulated respiratory movement was scanned by 320-row CT at 240 mA and 10 mA. Peak and dip CT density and luminal area adjusted by values at end-inspiration (CTDpeak and CTDdip, luminal area ratio [LAR]) for PBLC and MVs were measured and visual scores (VS) were obtained at 12 measurement points on 13 frame images obtained at half and full reconstructions (TR 340 and 190 ms) during expiration. Size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) was applied to presume radiation dose. VS, CTDpeak, CTDdip, LAR, and their cross-correlation coefficients with MV (CCC) were compared among four methods with combinations of two reconstruction algorithms and two doses.

Results

The dose at 10 mA was presumed as 26 mA by SSDE for standard proportion adults. VS, CTDdip, CTDpeak, and LAR with half reconstruction at 10 mA (2.52 ± 0.59, 1.016 ± 0.221, 0.948 ± 0.103, and 0.990 ± 0.527) were similar to those at 240 mA except for VS, and different from those with full reconstruction at both doses (2.24 ± 0.85, 0.830 ± 0.209, 0.986 ± 0.065, and 1.012 ± 0.438 at 240 mA) ( P < 0.05). CCC for CTDdip with half reconstruction (–0.024 ± 0.552) at 10 mA was higher compared with full reconstruction (–0.503 ± 0.291) ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion

PBLC with half reconstruction at 10 mA was comparable to that at 240 mA and better than those with full reconstruction on DVCT.
Feasibility of the acromion index as a reference of severity of stratified supraspinatus tendon injury: a secondary analysis
Authors: Kim Hyoung Seop , Joo Seung Ho , Lim Hyun Sun , Kim Hye Won
Published: March 2020

Background

The acromion index (AI) is the acromial lateral extension above the head of the humerus. Some researchers have advocated that the AI indicates the severity of the tear size of the full-thickness supraspinatus tendon.

Purpose

To validate the reproducibility of the AI between shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and standard X-ray and to verify whether the AI is a useful index for stratifying the severity of supraspinatus tendon injuries, as well as full-thickness tears.

Material and Methods

We enrolled 200 patients with impingement syndrome who were subsequently evaluated with standard X-ray of the shoulder in the anteroposterior view, as well as an MRI. We performed a pilot study to validate the reproducibility of the AI using standard X-ray and MRI, and to compare the AI between these imaging modalities. The severity of supraspinatus tendon injury was classified into four groups (0 = no evidence of injury, 1 = partial tear, 2 = full-thickness tear, and 3 = complete rupture) based on an official reading of the shoulder MRI. We compared the AIs of both modalities between the groups.

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients of the AIs between the two examiners were 0.819 for MRI and 0.808 for plain X-ray. The mean AI from standard X-ray was greater than that from MRI ( P<0.0001). There was no statistical correlation between the AI and the severity of supraspinatus tendon injury.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that the AI cannot be generally used as a predictive reference for the stratified severities of supraspinatus tendon injury.
Research on theoretical modeling and numerical simulation of viscoelastic-plastic bending neutral layer in T-welding stiffened panels-based aged stress relaxation forming
Authors: Zuo Duquan , Cao Zengqiang , Cao Yuejie , Zheng Guo
Published: March 2020

A new mathematical model-based on aging-stress relaxation forming for heterogeneous stiffened panel that is T-welded together is developed. The corresponding theoretical method for calculating its neutral layer positions and forming die shapes in viscous-elastic-plastic bending is obtained by gradually deriving the modeling process of age forming of T-section beam, and comparisons of the theoretical data and simulated solutions are presented. It is found that the hot form solutions can be obtained for cylindrical die shapes, and the actual neutral layer position of stiffened panel can be accurately determined by the established theoretical model. Meanwhile, for the elastic bending and plastic bending stages, the neutral layer positions of stiffened panel are greatly different. The neutral axis of the former passes through its section centroid, while the latter does not, but it gradually, but significantly shifts to the outer layer of thin plate as the bending radius of die decreases.
Exergy-based tool path evaluation method of material and energy flows to support the sustainable-oriented intelligent manufacturing
Authors: Li Lin , Guo Chaozhong , Yan Jihong , Zhao Fu , Sutherland John W
Published: March 2020

The environmental performance of machining processes is of extreme importance in the field of sustainable manufacturing. The development of an environmental impact assessment method is a crucial strategy to realize energy and material efficient manufacturing, yet few studies have addressed energy and material flows using a common perspective. In principle, to realize the minimum environmental impact, energy and material flows must be viewed using the same metric; this is required to avoid impact shifting from energy to material or vice versa. In this paper, an environmental evaluation method for milling tool path strategies is proposed to support intelligent manufacturing, which considers energy flow (electricity provided to the machine tool and air compressor) and material flows (associated with the cutting tool, workpiece, and cutting fluid) for a milling process. The proposed method provides a quantitative calculation to characterize the total exergy loss in terms of energy and material flows. It is envisioned that total exergy loss can support quantitative decisions related to electricity consumption, tool wear, metal chips recycling, and cutting fluid loss. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, a case study is considered in which a milling tool path is selected to minimize exergy loss. The proposed method will be integrated into an intelligent control system for evaluating the total exergy loss of a milling process, which can assist manufacturers to make reliable decisions to reduce the environmental impact during machining stage in the industry 4.0 era.
Analysis of anisotropy in the upsetting process of AA2014 cast alloy embedded with fly ash
Authors: Krishna Ch Hari , Dumpala Ravikumar , Davidson MJ , Srinivasaraju P , Srinivasarao G
Published: March 2020

Developing new metal matrix composites for a wide variety of applications and analyzing the formability aspects are challenging in the area of manufacturing. In the current study, solid cylindrical samples with AA2014 as matrix material and fly ash as reinforcement were used for the investigation. AA2014 was heated to a pouring temperature of 750 ℃ and the preheated fly ash was added to the molten AA2014 in different compositions. The whole mixture was stirred to prepare composite rods of AA2014, AA2014 + 3% fly ash and AA2014 + 6% fly ash. Each set of cylindrical samples were compressed between a set of dies till fracture by employing grease, white grease and no lubrication conditions. The varying friction conditions and composition influence the anisotropy of the billets at fracture. Empirical equations were modeled to investigate the effect of anisotropy on the stress trixiality and fracture strain at the onset of fracture. The developed equation is useful in estimating critical damage constants for any material and for any lubrication condition. A correlation between damage anisotropy factor, damage constant and fracture strain was established to understand the formability limits for different anisotropy coefficients.
Numerical simulation and experimental research on hot extrusion of 5B70 aluminum alloy complex end frame part
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Jingxuan , Li Zhibo , Liu Qi , Wang Guofeng
Published: March 2020

5B70 aluminium alloy is strengthened by Sc and Zr. It has higher strength and plasticity than common aluminum alloy. Meanwhile, 5B70 aluminum alloy which is widely used as a structural material also presents some advantages, such as corrosion resistance, excellent formability, and weldability. In this study, the high-temperature deformation behavior of 5B70 aluminum alloy and the hot extrusion process of the complex end frame part were studied, and the deformation property of 5B70 aluminum alloy at elevated temperature was analyzed by the high-temperature compression test. The numerical simulation of hot extrusion of complex end frame part was carried out. Moreover, the optimal hot extrusion parameters of 5B70 aluminum alloy were obtained, and the hot extrusion property and microstructure evolution of 5B70 aluminum alloy were investigated.
Tunable yo-yo energy harvester with oblique springs
Authors: Kim In-Ho , Jang Seon-Jun , Park Shi-Baek , Jung Hyung-Jo , Kim Young-Cheol
Published: March 2020

In this study, a yo-yo vibrational energy harvesting device that can adjust its resonant frequency to the desired excitation frequency using geometrical control is proposed and investigated. The device employs a spring system, suspended proof mass, and set of reels and gears to convert translational input into rotational motion to power its generator. The spring system is composed of two symmetrical oblique springs, and its stiffness and the resonant frequency of the proposed harvester varies with the oblique angle between these springs. The characteristics of the oblique spring system are investigated accordingly, and it is shown that there exists a lower limit of stiffness; therefore, the achievable frequency bandwidth of the harvester can be determined. The method used to design the proposed tunable energy harvester so that it satisfies the desired frequency bandwidth is then provided. A prototype of the device was built and tested on a vibration table, and its performance is illustrated via a comparison with the results of numerical calculations. The results indicate that the proposed device is capable of harnessing the kinetic energy of the ocean waves.
New laboratory methodologies to analyse the top of rail friction modifier performance across different test scales
Authors: Harmon M , Lewis R
Published: March 2020

Test methodologies originally developed for greases have been adapted to be used for top of rail friction modifiers (TORFMs). This has included: a small-scale benchtop tribometer to measure the tackiness of different TORFMs, attaching an applicator bar to a section of rail and rolling a scaled-wheel through the TORFM applied to the rail head to analyse the effect of different variables on pick-up, and applying TORFM to a full-scale test facility to analyse the scaling effects and the effect of slip, load and speed on pick-up. These methods can be used to measure the relative performance of different TORFMs with respect to how much product is picked up by the wheel. The results have shown that the relative ranking of different TORFMs is the same across the three test scales. This shows that these small-scale test methods that are more suitable for inclusion in test standards could be used to reduce the need for the more time-consuming and expensive larger scale tests, as the relative performance is the same.
“The utmost strength I can bear”: Strategies and psychological costs of mothering within political violence
Authors: Sousa Cindy , el-Zuhairi Mona , Siddiqi Manahil
Published: March 2020

Though certainly not women's only site of identity or set of responsibilities in conflict settings, motherhood represents a distinct challenge within political violence. Yet, given the paucity of research on the topic, we still are operating without a clear understanding of how political violence jeopardizes maternal well-being and care-taking practices. Drawing on feminist perspectives on mothering, in the analyses presented here, the authors use content analysis to explore mothering and political violence from five focus groups with women in Palestine. Results demonstrate the considerable suffering mothers and children endure in war; the work mothers do to promote children’s well-being in this context; and how these efforts exhaust the psychological resources of mothers. Findings enhance a relatively small body of knowledge about the lived experiences of mothers within conflict settings, and point to the importance of tending to the strategies and needs of mothers who navigate political violence with and for their children.
Transnational Feminist Edutainment Television in Pakistan: Udaari as Case Study
Authors: Malik Aisha
Published: March 2020

First created in the context of state-controlled broadcast television of the 1960s, the Urdu serial drama form has proven enduringly popular in Pakistan. This article examines how institutional changes, including the appearance of nongovernmental organisations in this space, have altered the production and reception of these serial dramas and their thematic content, which has recently included such highly charged topics as sexual abuse, harassment and rape. First, I look at how transnationally funded content has impacted modes of production in a liberalised and deregulated Pakistani television industry. Second, I give a case study of the internationally funded drama serial Udaari as an example of agenda setting television intended to create public dialogue and galvanise change, to which I give the name feminist edutainment (FE) that intentionally recalls the form of entertainment education (EE) associated with the work of Miguel Sabido. Finally, I draw on my ethnographic research to argue that contemporary serial dramas, while engaging a domestic reception space primarily occupied by women, have expanded into the online space through the social media activism of feminist influencers.
African same-sex sexualities and gender diversity: A framing note
Authors: Reddy Vasu , Sandfort Theo
Published: March 2020

This article introduces the concept of African same-sex sexualities and gender diversity which refers to variation pertinent to gender expressions and identities, sexual expression and sexual orientation. The article describes the emerging and evolving African scholarly production evident in the last two decades and explains key underlying themes that bring together this special issue.
Dynamic analysis of the flexible hub-beam system based on rigid-flexible coupling mechanism
Authors: Guo Xiaowei , Yang Xin , Liu Fuqiang , Liu Zhangfang , Tang Xiaolin
Published: March 2020

The flexible hub-beam system is a typical structure of the rigid-flexible coupling dynamic system. In this paper, the dynamic property of the flexible hub-beam system is investigated. First, based on the dynamic analysis of the flexible beam in the flexible hub-beam system, the dynamic model of a flexible hub-beam-tip mass system is established and researched. Second, the dynamic response of the flexible beam under different external loads, including end concentrated load, end sinusoidal load, and uniform load, is analyzed and calculated. Finally, the influence of magnitude, direction, and type of load on the dynamic response of the flexible beam is also discussed. This research can provide a novel strategy for controlling the maximum stress of the structural components to be lower than the yield stress of the material, and flexible components remain in the linear elastic range even under the condition of high-speed rotation.
“No! I Can’t!”: Noise and silence as everyday resistance at a Chinese suburban middle school
Authors: Zhang Min
Published: March 2020

Student resistance is one of the central themes in the study of schooling and inequality. This article used sound as a means of inquiry to investigate how China’s suburban teenagers—a segment largely overlooked in prior scholarly writing—resist the school values amid the exaltation of success and widening stratification in contemporary Chinese society. Drawing on fieldwork in a suburban middle school in Northwest China, I demonstrated that students utilize a wide range of sound acts—burlesqued shouts, subdued murmurs, and sometimes pervasive silence—to resist educators’ moralized lectures on the seriousness of schoolwork and the prospects of education success. Lodged in the liminal space within China’s socioeconomic and spatial hierarchy, suburban youths expressed their disbelief and disillusion—both in and through sound—in an environment that offers few avenues for social mobility.
Cytoplasmic mislocalization and mitochondrial colocalization of TDP-43 are common features between normal aged and young mice
Authors: Termsarasab Pichet , Thammongkolchai Thananan , Gao Ju , Wang Luwen , Liang Jingjing , Wang Xinglong
Published: March 2020

Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathologies have been well recognized in various neurodegenerative disorders including frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, there have been limited studies on whether there are any TDP-43 alterations in normal aging. We investigated TDP-43 distribution in different brain regions in normal aged ( n =  3 for 26- or 36-month-old) compared to young ( n =  3 for 6- or 12-month-old) mice. In both normal aged and young mice, TDP-43 and phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) demonstrated a unique pattern of distribution in neurons in some specific brain regions including the pontine nuclei, thalamus, CA3 region of the hippocampus, and orbital cortex. This pattern was demonstrated on higher magnification of high-resolution double fluorescence images and confocal microscopy as mislocalization of TDP-43 and pTDP-43, characterized by neuronal nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation in these brain regions, as well as colocalization between TDP-43 or pTDP-43 and mitochondria, similar to what has been described previously in neurodegenerative disorders. All these findings were identical in both normal aged and young mice. In summary, TDP-43 and pTDP-43 mislocalization from nucleus to cytoplasm and their colocalization with mitochondria in the specific brain regions are present not only in aging, but also in young healthy states. Our findings provide a new insight for the role of TDP-43 proteinopathy in health and diseases, and that aging may not be a critical factor for the development of TDP-43 proteinopathy in subpopulations of neurons.

Impact statement

Despite increasing evidence implicating the important role of TDP-43 in the pathogenesis of a wide range of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, there is limited study of TDP-43 proteinopathy and its association with mitochondria during normal aging. Our findings of cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 that is highly colocalized with mitochondria in neurons in selective brain regions in young animals in the absence of neuronal loss provide a novel insight into the development of TDP-43 proteinopathy and its contribution to neuronal loss.
Find Out A New Method to Study Abductive Reasoning in Empirical Research
Authors: Żelechowska Dorota , Żyluk Natalia , Urbański Mariusz
Published: March 2020

This article presents a new tool that provides a methodological context to observe and analyze, both qualitatively and quantitatively, manifestations of abductive reasoning in empirical research. Abduction is a form of a complex reasoning carried out to make sense of surprising or ambiguous phenomena or fill the gaps in our beliefs. Despite the ubiquity of abduction in professional and everyday problem-solving processes, little empirical research was dedicated to investigate this type of reasoning, and most of them focused on products of abduction—abductive hypotheses. Our instrument, Find Out, catches abduction as a real-life form of reasoning consisting of two phases—generation and evaluation of hypotheses. It offers the possibility to account on abduction from both product and process perspective and enables both qualitative and quantitative analyses on gathered data to be conducted. In this article, the task and examples of qualitative analyses of the data are presented.
Are cardiovascular function and habitual physical activity levels similar in patients with classic and atypical claudication symptoms? A cross-sectional study
Authors: Longano Paulo , Kanegusuku Hélcio , Correia Marilia A. , Puech-Leao Pedro , Wolosker Nelson , Cucato Gabriel G , Ritti-Dias Raphael M.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To analyze the impact of the different types of exertional leg pain on cardiovascular function, functional capacity, and habitual physical activity levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 124 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were included. Exertional leg pain was evaluated using the San Diego Claudication Questionnaire. Subsequently, patients were categorized into two groups according to their exertional leg pain: atypical leg pain (non-calf pain and atypical calf pain, n = 31) and intermittent claudication (classic intermittent claudication symptoms, n = 93). Cardiovascular function (blood pressure, heart rate, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability), functional capacity (6-min walk distance, handgrip strength, and short physical performance battery), and habitual physical activity levels were measured.

Results

Functional capacity and physical activity levels were similar between patients with atypical leg pain and symptoms of intermittent claudication. However, patients with classic intermittent claudication symptoms presented higher central systolic blood pressure ( P = 0.028) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index and pulse pressure; P ≤ 0.001 and 0.019, respectively) compared to patients with atypical leg pain.

Conclusion

The type of exertional leg pain does not influence functional capacity and habitual physical activity levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease. However, patients with classic intermittent claudication symptoms present impaired cardiovascular function compared to patients with atypical leg pain.
Emotional intelligence and school leaders: Evidence from Abu Dhabi
Authors: Blaik Hourani Rida , Litz David , Parkman Scott
Published: March 2020

This is a qualitative exploratory study that focuses on emotional intelligence attributes of public-school leaders in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The research questions endorsed the emotional intelligence school leaders exhibit along five dimensions: (a) self-awareness; (b) managing emotions; (c) motivation; (d) empathy; and (e) social skills. Furthermore, the study focused on how school leaders and managers utilise their emotional intelligence attributes professionally. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative research methodology was employed, which involved the use of interactive and participatory data collection in the form of semi-structured interviews with various categories of school leaders and managers. Furthermore, thematic data analysis was conducted, in order to reveal Abu Dhabi school leaders’ exhibition and utilisation of emotional intelligence attributes within their professional roles and responsibilities. While the study was limited to school leaders and managers in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the findings implied the need for school leaders and managers to develop and nurture their professional emotional intelligence attributes, as many job-embedded constraints and challenges require the demonstration of essential emotional intelligence skills and traits. Hence, professional learning opportunities within the perspective of emotional intelligence need to be considered and developed to enable, facilitate and enhance school changes.
Environment in stone chamber of an unexcavated tumulus and preservation of buried relics: Part 1. Environmental monitoring for simulated tumulus
Authors: Xie Huarong , Ogura Daisuke , Yasui Hiroyuki , Takatori Nobumitsu , Hokoi Shuichi , Wakiya Soichiro , Yanagida Akinobu , Kohdzuma Yohsei
Published: March 2020

Japan has many unexcavated tumuli, most of which were buried along with artifacts of precious cultural heritage. For such a tumulus, it is essential to understand how changes in its exterior environment affect its interior environment, and how those interior changes affect the deterioration of the relics buried in the stone chamber. In this study, an underground space was constructed in the forest of the Katsura Campus of Kyoto University to simulate the environment of an unexcavated tumulus, and long-term monitoring was implemented in the simulated stone chamber, including the temperature, humidity, water potential, wetness, and oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, along with metal corrosion tests. This article is focused on environmental monitoring, and the results demonstrate that the simulated tumulus has the general characteristics of the hygrothermal environments of an unexcavated tumulus that has small temperature fluctuation and near-saturation humidity. The ceiling of the simulated chamber condensed significantly from October to April, which is related to the variations of the ceiling and floor temperatures. Also, the wetness of the walls in the simulated chamber was affected by rainfall. The oxygen concentration in the simulated stone chamber varied in the range of 13%–19% in 2015, and the variation of carbon dioxide concentration in the simulated stone chamber was contrary to the oxygen concentration and varied in the range of 3%–9% in 2016. The oxygen concentration in the stone chamber was similar to that in the surrounding soil that decreased at times of rainfall, contrary to the fluctuations in the soil water content.
Ten Representative Saponins on Tissue Factor Expression in Human Monocytes: Structure–Activity Relationships and Molecular Docking
Authors: Zeng Yongjiang , He Xuhua , Jiang Wenwen , Kou Junping , Yu Boyang
Published: March 2020

Saponins have significant bioactivities in treating cardiovascular disease. Whereas there is a lack of in-depth knowledge about how saponins prevent cardiovascular disease. Tissue factor (TF) is the major initiator of the coagulation cascade and plays an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis. However structure–activity relationships (SARs) of saponins inhibiting TF activity have not been discussed in detail at present. To further clarify the relationships between saponins and TF, in this study, 10 representative saponins were selected to study the inhibitory effect on TF procoagulant activity of monocytes by an improved chromogenic substrate method, and the possible SARs were preliminarily analyzed. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis suggested that 4 representative saponins had a good affinity with TF/FVIIa. In addition, a representative saponin, ruscogenin, decreased both messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels of TF in human monocytes partly due to its downregulation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathways. In conclusion, this study provides further explanation for the cardiovascular protection of saponins, and the analysis of SARs between inhibiting TF activity and saponins will be helpful to explore the therapeutic TF inhibitors.
Rare Facial Cleft: Surgical Treatment and Middle-Term Follow-up During Charity Operation
Authors: Budihardja Andi Setiawan , Lutfianto Bakhrul , Liman Nataly Putri , Hiesmantjaja Hiensen , Wolff Klaus-Dietrich
Published: March 2020

Facial cleft is a rare and challenging craniofacial malformation. Treatment of rare facial cleft is complex, and the evaluation of its long-term results is challenging because of the low incidence. In this article, we would like to present middle-term follow-up of 6 patients with facial cleft Tessier number 4, number 5, and number 7 who were treated in our center during charity surgical mission. We will discuss surgical option, difficulties, and complication that may arise in this surgery.
Comparison of Maxillofacial Trauma Patterns in the Urban Versus Suburban Environment: A Pilot Study
Authors: Cohn Jason E. , Licata Jordan J. , Othman Sammy , Shokri Tom , Zwillenberg Seth
Published: March 2020

Introduction:

Assault appears to be the most frequent cause of facial fractures in certain urban trauma centers, possibly due to the ease of acquiring weapons and increasingly aggressive behavior. The objectives of this study were to identify specific demographic, socioeconomic, maxillofacial fracture, and assault patterns in urban versus suburban communities.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of patients who sustained maxillofacial fractures from August 2014 through August 2016 at one urban campus, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, and two suburban campuses, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery and Elkins Park. The χ2 testing was used to compare the categorical variables between the 2 groups.

Results:

A total of 259 maxillofacial trauma patients were identified, with 204 (79%) in the urban and 55 (21%) in the suburban environment. Patients in the urban population were more likely to be African American (70% vs 33%) and Hispanic (15% vs 6%) but less likely to be Caucasian (12% vs 55%, P < .0001). Urban patients were more likely to be single (70% vs 47%, P < .01), unemployed (64% vs 44%, P < .001), and receive Medicaid coverage (58% vs 26%, P < .001). Urban patients were more likely to be victims of assault (63% vs 44%), whereas suburban patients were more likely to sustain accidental injuries (16% vs 2%, P < .0001). Urban victims were more likely to be assaulted with an object (30% vs 12%) or gun (7% vs 0%, P = .05).

Conclusion:

Maxillofacial trauma patterns were shown to be significantly different in the urban versus suburban environment.
Effects of rumination on unwanted intrusive thoughts: A replication and extension
Authors: Kollárik Martin , van den Hout Marcel , Heinzel Carlotta V. , Hofer Patrizia D. , Lieb Roselind , Wahl Karina
Published: March 2020

Studies indicate that rumination might play a role in obsessive–compulsive disorder. In a previous experimental study, rumination about an unwanted intrusive thought (UIT) maintained the urge to neutralize this thought. We sought to replicate and extend these findings with measures of behavioral and mental neutralizing. Additionally, we investigated possible mechanisms that might be involved in the effects of rumination on the UIT. We activated a UIT by asking students ( N = 105) to write down a sentence stating that they wished a loved person would die in a car accident. Participants were randomly allocated to rumination about the UIT, rumination about negative mood, or distraction. As predicted, rumination about the UIT maintained the urge to neutralize the UIT, relative to rumination about negative mood and distraction. In addition, rumination about the UIT also maintained distress associated with the UIT compared to rumination about negative mood and distraction. The effects of rumination did not extend to behavioral or mental neutralizing. UIT frequency and vividness were unaffected by rumination. The present findings strengthen the confidence that rumination contributes to the maintenance of UITs.
Socioeconomic disparities in the management of coronary heart disease in 438 general practices in Australia
Authors: Mnatzaganian George , Lee Crystal Man Ying , Robinson Suzanne , Sitas Freddy , Chow Clara K , Woodward Mark , Huxley Rachel R
Published: March 2020

Background

This population-based cross-stional and panel study investigated disparities in the management of coronary heart disease (CHD) by level of socioeconomic status.

Methods

CHD patients (aged ≥18 years), treated in 438 general practices in Australia, with ≥3 recent encounters with their general practitioners, with last encounter being during 2016–2018, were included. Secondary prevention prescriptions and number of treatment targets achieved were each modelled using a Poisson regression adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic indicators, remoteness of patient’s residence, comorbidities, lifetime follow-up, number of patient–general practitioner encounters and cluster effect within the general practices. The latter model was constructed using the Generalised Estimating Equations approach. Sensitivity analysis was run by comorbidity.

Results

Of 137,408 patients (47% women), approximately 48% were prescribed ≥3 secondary prevention medications. However, only 44% were screened for CHD-associated risk factors. Of the latter, 45% achieved ≥5 treatment targets. Compared with patients from the highest socioeconomic status fifth, those from the lowest socioeconomic status fifth were 8% more likely to be prescribed more medications for secondary prevention (incidence rate ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.08 (1.04–1.12)) but 4% less likely to achieve treatment targets (incidence rate ratio: 0.96 (0.95–0.98)). These disparities were also observed when stratified by comorbidities.

Conclusion

Despite being more likely to be prescribed medications for secondary prevention, those who are most socioeconomically disadvantaged are less likely to achieve treatment targets. It remains to be determined whether barriers such as low adherence to treatment, failure to fill prescriptions, low income, low level of education or other barriers may explain these findings.