bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser shock peening and its effects on microstructure and properties of additively manufactured metal alloys: a review
Authors: Munther Michael , Martin Tyler , Tajyar Ali , Hackel Lloyd , Beheshti Ali , Davami Keivan
Published: June 2020

This review paper discusses the recent progress in laser shock peening (LSP) of additively manufactured (AM) parts. LSP is an advanced post-processing technique that optimizes the service lives of critical components for various applications by inducing severe plastic deformation accompanied by the enhancement of surface properties in treated materials. Material improvement is enabled through the generation of high-density dislocations, grain refinement, and beneficial phase transformations. These mechanisms produce high magnitude compressive residual stresses which harden treated regions to depths exceeding 1 mm. However, a major roadblock for AM parts stems from the various fabrication processes themselves where detrimental tensile residual stresses are introduced during part manufacturing, along with near-surface voids and cracks, all of which severely limit their applications. In addition to post-fabrication heat treatment that is typically required to homogenize the microstructure and relieve the residual stresses of AM parts, post-processing surface treatments have also been developed to manipulate the residual stresses of AM materials. Tensile residual stresses generated during manufacturing affect the fatigue life of AM material negatively and could potentially surpass the material’s yield strength, resulting in acute geometric distortion. Recent studies have shown the potential of LSP to mitigate these stresses, modify the mechanical properties of the AM parts, and to close near-surface voids and cracks. Furthermore, the thermal stability of favorable microstructural modifications in laser peened AM parts, which allows for its use in high temperature environments, is not well understood and is currently limiting its effective utilization in these scenarios. The main goal of this review is to provide the detailed insight needed for widespread acceptance of this technique as a post-processing method for AM materials.
Fabrication and characterization of the blend of Polyurethane (PU) and Phase Change Materials (PCM) for energy storage and release
Authors: Tariq Asra , Shakir M Fayzan , Afzal Ayesha , Abdul Rashid Iqra , Iqbal M Azfar , Rauf Ammar
Published: June 2020

Utilizing thermal energy storage (TES) system having phase change material (PCM) in it is an effective technique for energy conservation and reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Fatty acids have the highest energy storage capacity and easy to process in comparison to all other PCM. Eutectic mixture of palmitic acid (PA) and capric acid (CA) was prepared and thermal analysis was done to confirm its latent heat storage capacity for energy storage and release. This eutectic mixture of fatty acids was physically blended in PMMA to avoid leakage. Fatty acid blended PMMA (F-PMMA) was blended with polyurethane (PU) foam. 10% F-PMMA added as an additive in PU offered highest compressive strength with improved energy absorption.
Accidental Magnetic Resonance Imaging Activation of Carbon Dioxide Tissue Expanders
Authors: Patete Carissa L , Plastini Michael , Mathew Prakash J , Yoo Jason J , Panthaki Zubin
Published: June 2020

Implant-based reconstruction is the most common form of breast reconstruction following mastectomy. It is most often performed in 2 stages using saline-based tissue expanders, which are then exchanged for permanent implants. Serial expansions are performed by accessing a port in the office, an inconvenient and sometimes painful process. A carbon dioxide tissue expander is a device that provides a needle-free, patient-controlled expansion utilizing a remote-controlled CO2 canister. While a patient-controlled expansion offers convenience, given that the CO2 reservoir holds approximately 1500 mL of gas, the potential for malfunction resulting in an uncontrolled expansion in unique to this device. The authors present a case report of a patient with bilateral pre-pectoral tissue expanders who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, resulting in uncontrolled expansion.

Level of Evidence: 5
Improved design and analysis of practical minimizers
Authors: Zheng Hongyu , Kingsford Carl , Marçais Guillaume
Published: June 2020

Motivation

Minimizers are methods to sample k-mers from a string, with the guarantee that similar set of k-mers will be chosen on similar strings. It is parameterized by the k-mer length k, a window length w and an order on the k-mers. Minimizers are used in a large number of softwares and pipelines to improve computation efficiency and decrease memory usage. Despite the method’s popularity, many theoretical questions regarding its performance remain open. The core metric for measuring performance of a minimizer is the density, which measures the sparsity of sampled k-mers. The theoretical optimal density for a minimizer is 1/w, provably not achievable in general. For given k and w, little is known about asymptotically optimal minimizers, that is minimizers with density O(1/w).

Results

We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for existence of asymptotically optimal minimizers. We also provide a randomized algorithm, called the Miniception, to design minimizers with the best theoretical guarantee to date on density in practical scenarios. Constructing and using the Miniception is as easy as constructing and using a random minimizer, which allows the design of efficient minimizers that scale to the values of k and w used in current bioinformatics software programs.

Availability and implementation

Reference implementation of the Miniception and the codes for analysis can be found at https://github.com/kingsford-group/miniception.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Gender, Parenting and Practices in Child Welfare Social Work? A Comparative Study from England, Ireland, Norway and Sweden
Authors: Nygren Karina , Walsh Julie C , Ellingsen Ingunn T , Christie Alastair
Published: June 2020

This article explores ways in which gender equality, family policy and child welfare social work intersect in four countries: England, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Over time, conditions for gender equality in parenting have improved, partly due to family policy developments removing structural barriers. These changes, however, vary between countries; Sweden and Norway are considered more progressive as compared with the UK and Ireland. Here, we draw on focus group data collected from child welfare social workers in England, Ireland, Norway and Sweden to compare these different contextual changes and how these are reflected in related social work practice decisions. The focus group discussions were based on a vignette, and thematic analysis was applied. Overall, welfare social workers are aware of the need to support gender equality in parenting, there is a heavy focus on mothers in child welfare practice decisions, and fathers are largely absent. Uniquely, we show that this is influenced by both a strong child-centred perspective, and a gendered risk perspective, in which fathers are seen to pose more risk to the children than mothers.
Metal chelation reduces skin epithelial inflammation and rescues epithelial cells from toxicity due to thermal injury in a rat model
Authors: El Ayadi Amina , Wang Cheng Z , Zhang Min , Wetzel Michael , Prasai Anesh , Finnerty Celeste C , Enkhbaatar Perenlei , Herndon David N , Ansari Naseem H
Published: June 2020

Background

One of the most pervasive complications of burn injury is wound progression, characterized by continuous tissue destruction in untreated wounds, which leads to wound infection, inflammation, oxidative stress and excessive scar formation. We determined whether additional tissue destruction could be attenuated with Livionex formulation (LF) lotion, which contains a metal-chelating agent and reduces inflammation in burn wounds.

Methods

We subjected male Sprague Dawley rats to a 2% total body surface area (TBSA) burn using a brass comb model and topically applied LF lotion (containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and methyl sulfonyl methane) to the affected area every 8 hours over 3 days. Inflammatory cytokine levels, cell apoptosis and wound healing were compared in LF lotion-treated and untreated rats. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance in conjunction with Tukey’s post-hoc test.

Results

Serum inflammatory cytokines were not detectable after 3 days, suggesting that small burn wounds induce only an immediate, localized inflammatory response. Microscopy revealed that LF lotion improved burn site pathology. Deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-d-UTP nick-end labeling staining showed reduced cell death in the LF-treated samples. LF lotion prevented the spread of tissue damage, as seen by increased amounts of Ki-67-positive nuclei in the adjacent epidermis and hair follicles. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels in LF-treated skin sections from burned rats were comparable to the levels observed in unburned control sections, indicating that LF lotion reduces inflammation in and around the burn site.

Conclusions

These results establish LF lotion as a therapeutic agent for reducing inflammatory stress, cell death and tissue destruction when applied immediately after a burn injury. Further studies of LF lotion on large TBSA burns will determine its efficacy as an emergency treatment for reducing long-term morbidity and scarring.
IL-23R in laryngeal cancer: a cancer immunoediting process that facilitates tumor cell proliferation and results in cisplatin resistance
Authors: Tao Ye , Shen Hailong , Liu Yujie , Li Guojun , Huang Zhigang , Liu Yehai
Published: June 2020

Oncogenic pathogens can disturb tissue homeostasis and initiate immune responses for oncogenicity clearance and homeostasis restoration, while failed clearance and chronic inflammation may result in tumorigenesis. The primary tumor development will undergo a cancer immunoediting process, including three phases, termed elimination, equilibrium and escape. Importantly, immune-edited tumor cells can not only reduce immunogenic molecular expression but also manipulate cytokines within the tumor environment (TME) for immune evasion and tumor proliferation. Many studies have revealed that IL-23R performed an essential role in mucous inflammation and tumorigenesis, and the role of IL-23R, either in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or within immune-edited tumor cells, remained largely unknown in laryngeal cancer (LC). Here, we separately analyzed the IL-23R expression in LC TILs and tumor cells and found that high IL-23R expression in tumor cells was associated with moderate and poor tumor differentiation and an unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that human LC tissues overexpress signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), and the relevance analysis found this STAT3 overexpression had a significant correlation with IL-23R expression. Besides, we isolated and cultured IL-23R+ human tumor cells from the postoperation tumor sample of three LC patients, and found that rhIL-23 could phosphorylate STAT3 (pSTAT3, residue Y705), which resulted in cancer cell proliferation and cisplatin resistance. These results indicate that IL-23R was a Hallmark of cancer immunoediting process, and targeting IL-23 should be considered as a therapeutic option for laryngeal function preservation and survival improvement.
KORGAN: An Efficient PKI Architecture Based on PBFT Through Dynamic Threshold Signatures
Authors: Yasin Kubilay Murat , Sabir Kiraz Mehmet , Ali Mantar Haci
Published: June 2020

During the past decade, several misbehaving certificate authorities (CAs) have issued fraudulent TLS certificates allowing man-in-the-middle (MITM) kinds of attacks that result in serious security incidents. In order to avoid such incidents, Yakubov et al. ((2018) A blockchain-based PKI management framework. NOMS 2018 - 2018 IEEE/IFIP Network Operations and Management Symposium, Taipei, Taiwan, April, pp. 16. IEEE) recently proposed a new public key infrastructure (PKI) architecture where CAs issue, revoke and validate X.509 certificates on a public blockchain. However, in their proposal TLS clients are subject to MITM kinds of attacks, and certificate transparency is not fully provided. In this paper, we eliminate the issues of the Yakubov et al.’s scheme and propose a new PKI architecture based on permissioned blockchain with PBFT consensus mechanism where the consensus nodes utilize a dynamic threshold signature scheme to generate signed blocks. In this way, the trust to the intermediary entities can be completely eliminated during certificate validation. Our scheme enjoys the dynamic property of the threshold signature because TLS clients do not have to change the verification key even if the validator set is dynamic. We implement our proposal on private Ethereum network to demonstrate the experimental results. The results show that our proposal has negligible overhead during TLS handshake. The certificate validation duration is less than the duration in the conventional PKI and Yakubov et al.’s scheme.
Auxotrophic interactions: a stabilizing attribute of aquatic microbial communities?
Authors: Johnson Winifred M , Alexander Harriet , Bier Raven L , Miller Dan R , Muscarella Mario E , Pitz Kathleen J , Smith Heidi
Published: June 2020

Auxotrophy, or an organism's requirement for an exogenous source of an organic molecule, is widespread throughout species and ecosystems. Auxotrophy can result in obligate interactions between organisms, influencing ecosystem structure and community composition. We explore how auxotrophy-induced interactions between aquatic microorganisms affect microbial community structure and stability. While some studies have documented auxotrophy in aquatic microorganisms, these studies are not widespread, and we therefore do not know the full extent of auxotrophic interactions in aquatic environments. Current theoretical and experimental work suggests that auxotrophy links microbial community members through a complex web of metabolic dependencies. We discuss the proposed ways in which auxotrophy may enhance or undermine the stability of aquatic microbial communities, highlighting areas where our limited understanding of these interactions prevents us from being able to predict the ecological implications of auxotrophy. Finally, we examine an example of auxotrophy in harmful algal blooms to place this often theoretical discussion in a field context where auxotrophy may have implications for the development and robustness of algal bloom communities. We seek to draw attention to the relationship between auxotrophy and community stability in an effort to encourage further field and theoretical work that explores the underlying principles of microbial interactions.
Rayleigh-wave multicomponent crosscorrelation-based source strength distribution inversions. Part 2: a workflow for field seismic data
Authors: Xu Zongbo , Mikesell T Dylan , Umlauft Josefine , Gribler Gabriel
Published: June 2020

Estimation of ambient seismic source distributions (e.g. location and strength) can aid studies of seismic source mechanisms and subsurface structure investigations. One can invert for the ambient seismic (noise) source distribution by applying full-waveform inversion (FWI) theory to seismic (noise) crosscorrelations. This estimation method is especially applicable for seismic recordings without obvious body-wave arrivals. Data pre-processing procedures are needed before the inversion, but some pre-processing procedures commonly used in ambient noise tomography can bias the ambient (noise) source distribution estimation and should not be used in FWI. Taking this into account, we propose a complete workflow from the raw seismic noise recording through pre-processing procedures to the inversion. We present the workflow with a field data example in Hartoušov, Czech Republic, where the seismic sources are CO2 degassing areas at Earth’s surface (i.e. a fumarole or mofette). We discuss factors in the processing and inversion that can bias the estimations, such as inaccurate velocity model, anelasticity and array sensitivity. The proposed workflow can work for multicomponent data across different scales of field data.
Beware, commercial chondroitinases vary in activity and substrate specificity
Authors: Spliid Charlotte B , Toledo Alejandro Gomez , Salanti Ali , Esko Jeffrey D , Clausen Thomas Mandel
Published: June 2020

Chondroitin sulfate (CS)and dermatan sulfate (DS) are negatively charged polysaccharides found abundantly in animal tissue and have been extensively described to play key roles in health and disease. The most common method to analyze their structure is by digestion into disaccharides with bacterial chondroitinases, followed by chromatography and/or mass spectrometry. While studying the structure of oncofetal CS, we noted a large variation in the activity and specificity of commercially available chondroitinases. Here studied the kinetics of the enzymes and used high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine the di- and oligosaccharide products resulting from the digestion of commercially available bovine CS A, shark CS C and porcine DS, focusing on chondroitinases ABC, AC and B from different vendors. Application of a standardized assay setup demonstrated large variations in the enzyme-specific activity compared to the values provided by vendors, large variation in enzyme specific activity of similar enzymes from different vendors and differences in the extent of cleavage of the substrates and the generated products. The high variability of different chondroitinases highlights the importance of testing enzyme activity and monitoring product formation in assessing the content and composition of chondroitin and DSs in cells and tissues.
Between the bear and the dragon: multivectorism in Kazakhstan as a model strategy for secondary powers
Authors: Vanderhill Rachel , Joireman Sandra F , Tulepbayeva Roza
Published: June 2020

Kazakhstan has followed a foreign policy of multivector diplomacy since its independence from the former Soviet Union. While multivectorism was a strategy of necessity in its early years, it has evolved to empower Kazakhstan to effectively protect its independence and negotiate its relationship with the great powers on its borders and further afield. After the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea it is noteworthy that Kazakhstan has maintained positive relations with Russia while asserting its sovereignty and independent foreign policy. In this article we investigate how Kazakhstan has negotiated the rise of China, taking advantage of the economic opportunities it presents. We trace the foreign policy of Kazakhstan from independence forward, examining its relationships with its Great Power neighbours and its role in international organizations and negotiations. We posit that multivectorism is similar to the strategy of omni-enmeshment and complex balancing seen in south-east Asia. Both are effective methods for secondary powers to protect their sovereignty and to coexist with Great Powers without becoming their client states. Kazakhstan's approach to foreign policy is an exemplar for secondary states. This article contributes to the literature on the strategic decision-making of secondary powers and to the theoretical analysis of the foreign policy of Kazakhstan during a critical moment of transition from the long-time rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev to the presidency of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Morphological and Transcriptional Changes in Human Bone Marrow During Natural Plasmodium vivax Malaria Infections
Authors: Brito Marcelo A M , Baro Bàrbara , Raiol Tainá C , Ayllon-Hermida Alberto , Safe Izabella P , Deroost Katrien , Figueiredo Erick F G , Costa Allyson G , Armengol Maria del P , Sumoy Lauro , Almeida Anne C G , Hounkpe Bidossessi W , De Paula Erich V , Fernandez-Becerra Cármen , Monteiro Wuelton M , del Portillo Hernando A , Lacerda Marcus V G
Published: June 2020

Background

The presence of Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites in the human bone marrow (BM) is still controversial. However, recent data from a clinical case and experimental infections in splenectomized nonhuman primates unequivocally demonstrated the presence of parasites in this tissue.

Methods

In the current study, we analyzed BM aspirates of 7 patients during the acute attack and 42 days after drug treatment. RNA extracted from CD71+ cell suspensions was used for sequencing and transcriptomic analysis.

Results

We demonstrated the presence of parasites in all patients during acute infections. To provide further insights, we purified CD71+ BM cells and demonstrated dyserythropoiesis and inefficient erythropoiesis in all patients. In addition, RNA sequencing from 3 patients showed that genes related to erythroid maturation were down-regulated during acute infections, whereas immune response genes were up-regulated.

Conclusions

This study thus shows that during P. vivax infections, parasites are always present in the BM and that such infections induced dyserythropoiesis and ineffective erythropoiesis. Moreover, infections induce transcriptional changes associated with such altered erythropoietic response, thus highlighting the importance of this hidden niche during natural infections.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Myocardial Diastolic Dysfunction and Soluble ST2 Concentration in Tanzanian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kingery Justin R , Goyal Parag , Hosalli Rahul , Lee Myung Hee , Desderius Bernard , Kalokola Fredrick , Makubi Abel , Fadhil Salama , Kapiga Saidi , Karmali Dipan , Kaminstein Daniel , Devereux Richard , McNairy Margaret , Johnson Warren , Fitzgerald Daniel , Peck Robert
Published: June 2020

Background

The aims of this study were (1) to compare the prevalence of myocardial diastolic dysfunction (DD) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)–naive people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–uninfected adults in East Africa and (2) to determine the association between serum concentration of the cardiac biomarkers ST2 and DD.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled PLWH and uninfected adults at a referral HIV clinic in Mwanza, Tanzania. Standardized history, echocardiography, and serum were obtained. Regression models were used to quantify associations.

Results

We enrolled 388 ART-naive PLWH and 461 HIV-uninfected adults with an average age of 36.0 ± 10.2 years. Of PLWH in the third, fourth, and fifth decades of life, 5.0%, 12.5%, and 32.7%, respectively, had DD. PLWH had a higher prevalence of DD (adjusted odds ratio, 2.71 [95% confidence interval, 1.62–4.55]; P < .0001). PLWH also had a higher probability of dysfunction with one or fewer traditional risk factors present. Serum ST2 concentration was associated with dysfunction in PLWH but not uninfected participants (P = .04 and P = .90, respectively).

Conclusions

In a large population of young adults in sub-Saharan Africa, DD prevalence increased starting in the third decade of life. HIV was independently associated with dysfunction. Serum ST2 concentration was associated with DD in PLWH but not HIV-uninfected participants. This pathway may provide insight into the mechanisms of HIV-associated dysfunction.
Achievement of clinical isavuconazole blood concentrations in transplant recipients with isavuconazonium sulphate capsules administered via enteral feeding tube
Authors: McCreary Erin K , Nguyen M Hong , Davis Matthew R , Borlagdan Jared , Shields Ryan K , Anderson Anthony D , Rivosecchi Ryan M , Marini Rachel V , Sacha Lauren M , Silveira Fernanda P , Andes David R , Lepak Alexander J
Published: June 2020

Background

Isavuconazole is a triazole antifungal available in IV and capsule formulation. Prescribing information states that capsules should not be chewed, crushed, dissolved or opened because the drug was not studied in this manner. However, considering the pharmacokinetics of the capsules, we theorized opening and sprinkling the contents into an enteral feeding tube (EFT) would result in adequate absorption and systemic concentrations of isavuconazole.

Objectives

To determine whether patients receiving isavuconazonium sulphate capsules via EFT would achieve clinical blood concentrations of isavuconazole.

Methods

Nineteen solid organ and HCT recipients receiving isavuconazole via EFT for prevention or treatment of invasive fungal infection (IFI) were prospectively identified at four academic medical centres in the USA. Patients were included in this evaluation if they received isavuconazole via EFT for at least 5 days and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) was performed.

Results

TDM was performed after a median of 7 days (range 6–17) following EFT administration and 15 days (range 7–174) of isavuconazole therapy overall. Median isavuconazole concentration was 1.8 μg/mL (range 0.3–5.2). Median isavuconazole concentrations in patients with or without prior IV administration were 1.8 μg/mL (range 0.3–5.2) and 2.2 μg/mL (range 0.8–3.6; P = 0.896), respectively. Concentrations achieved with the EFT route were similar to or greater than the corresponding concentrations via the IV route in six patients who had TDM performed during both routes of administration.

Conclusions

It is reasonable to consider opening isavuconazonium sulphate capsules and administering the contents enterally for prevention and treatment of IFI.
Addressing health disparities in the Food and Drug Administration’s artificial intelligence and machine learning regulatory framework
Authors: Ferryman Kadija
Published: June 2020

The exponential growth of health data from devices, health applications, and electronic health records coupled with the development of data analysis tools such as machine learning offer opportunities to leverage these data to mitigate health disparities. However, these tools have also been shown to exacerbate inequities faced by marginalized groups. Focusing on health disparities should be part of good machine learning practice and regulatory oversight of software as medical devices. Using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s proposed framework for regulating machine learning tools in medicine, I show that addressing health disparities during the premarket and postmarket stages of review can help anticipate and mitigate group harms.
Disappearing expertise in clinical automation: Barcode medication administration and nurse autonomy
Authors: Hong Jennifer Y , Ivory Catherine H , VanHouten Courtney B , Simpson Christopher L , Novak Laurie Lovett
Published: June 2020

Objective

Using the case of barcode medication administration (BCMA), our objective is to describe the challenges nurses face when informatics tools are not designed to accommodate the full complexity of their work.

Materials and Methods

Autonomy is associated with nurse satisfaction and quality of care. BCMA organizes patient information and verifies medication administration. However, it presents challenges to nurse autonomy. Qualitative fieldwork, including observations of everyday work and interviews, was conducted during the implementation of BCMA in a large academic medical center. Fieldnotes and interview transcripts were coded and analyzed to describe nurses’ perspectives on medication safety.

Results

Nurses adopt orienting frames to structure work routines and require autonomy to ensure safe task completion. Nurses exerted agency by trusting their own judgment over system information when the system did not consider workload complexity. Our results indicate that the system’s rigidity clashed with adaptive needs embodied by nurses’ orienting frames.

Discussion

Despite the fact that the concept of nurse as knowledge worker is foundational to informatics, nurses may be perceived as doers, rather than knowledge workers. In practice, nurses not only make decisions, but also engage in highly complex task-related work that is not well supported by process-oriented information technology tools.

Conclusions

Information technology developers and healthcare organization managers should engage and better understand nursing work in order to develop technological and social systems to support it.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Chronic Ulcers of Scalp Transforming Into Marjolin’s Ulcer: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Chen Baoguo , Yue Xiaotong , Zha Weiguang , Xu Minghuo , Gao Quanwen , Wang Fang , Wang Jue , Wu Jiang
Published: June 2020

The Marjolin’s ulcer (MU) is a rare malignant lesion, which is characterized by primary, chronic wound initially and formation of cancer after a certain incubation period eventually. Though few reports or a small case series about MU on the scalp have been published, special risk factors are still unknown about the formation of malignancy on the scalp with chronic ulcer. The aim of the article is to explore the risk factors. Seventy-four patients with the chronic ulcer were included in the study. In between, the chronic ulcer transformed into the MU on the scalp (tumor group) in 42 cases, while the chronic ulcer did not transform into the MU on the scalp (tumor-free group) in 32 cases as controlled group. We made a comparative study between the above two groups so as to find which risk factors were critical for cancer development. In tumor group, lymph node dissection was implemented if the lymph node metastasis was found. Artificial dura was used in eight cases when the dura was removed. Seven cases died. Two patients are currently undergoing follow-up. Other cases were without tumor detection from 1 to 7 years. When the comparative study between the above two groups, there is statistical significance about the influential factor: scar adherence to the skull (F = 5.602 P = .018). Scar adherence to the skull may be the most critical risk factor for cancer development for the scalp with chronic ulcer.
Employment Outcomes Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: Implications for Cancer Care Delivery
Authors: de Moor Janet S , Kent Erin E , McNeel Timothy S , Virgo Katherine S , Swanberg Jennifer , Tracy J Kathleen , Banegas Matthew P , Han Xuesong , Qin Jin , Yabroff K Robin
Published: June 2020

The national prevalence of employment changes after a cancer diagnosis has not been fully documented. Cancer survivors who worked for pay at or since diagnosis (n = 1490) were identified from the 2011, 2016, and 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and Experiences with Cancer supplement. Analyses characterized employment changes due to cancer and identified correlates of those employment changes. Employment changes were made by 41.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 38.0% to 44.6%) of cancer survivors, representing more than 3.5 million adults in the United States. Of these, 75.4% (95% CI = 71.3% to 79.2%) took extended paid time off and 46.1% (95% CI = 41.6% to 50.7%) made other changes, including switching to part-time or to a less demanding job. Cancer survivors who were younger, female, non-White, or multiple races and ethnicities, and younger than age 20 years since last cancer treatment were more likely to make employment changes. Findings highlight the need for patient-provider communication about the effects of cancer and its treatment on employment.
The Carryover Effects of Preceding Interviewer–Respondent Interaction on Responses in Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI)
Authors: Sun Hanyu , Conrad Frederick G , Kreuter Frauke
Published: June 2020

Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) has been widely used to collect sensitive information from respondents in face-to-face interviews. Interviewers ask questions that are not sensitive or only moderately sensitive and then allow respondents to self-administer more sensitive questions, listening to audio recordings of the questions and typically entering their responses directly into the same device that the interviewer has used. According to the conventional thinking, ACASI is taken as independent of the face-to-face interaction that almost always precedes it. Presumably as a result of this presumed independence, the respondents’ prior interaction with the interviewer is rarely considered when assessing the quality of ACASI responses. There is no body of existing research that has experimentally investigated how the preceding interviewer–respondent interaction may create sufficient social presence to affect responses in the subsequent ACASI module. The study reported here, a laboratory experiment with eight professional interviewers and 125 respondents, explores the carryover effects of preceding interactions between interviewer and respondent on responses in the subsequent ACASI. We evaluated the impact of the similarity of the live and recorded interviewer’s voice for each respondent as well as respondents’ rapport with interviewers in the preceding interview. We did not find significant main effects of vocal similarity on disclosure in ACASI. However, we found significant interaction effects between vocal similarity and respondents’ rapport ratings in the preceding interview on disclosure in ACASI. When the ACASI voice was similar to the interviewer’s voice in the preceding interaction, respondent-rated rapport led to more disclosure but, when the ACASI voice is clearly different from the interviewer’s voice, respondent-rated rapport in the prior interaction did not affect disclosure.
Intense Light Pretreatment Improves Hemodynamics, Barrier Function and Inflammation in a Murine Model of Hemorrhagic Shock Lung
Authors: Oyama Yoshimasa , Shuff Sydney , Maddry Joseph K , Schauer Steven G , Bebarta Vikhyat S , Eckle Tobias
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Hemorrhagic shock is a primary injury amongst combat casualties. Hemorrhagic shock can lead to acute lung injury, which has a high mortality rate. Based on studies showing the role of intense light for organ-protection, we sought to evaluate if intense light pretreatment would be protective in a murine model of hemorrhagic shock lung.

Materials and Methods

After exposure to standard room light or to intense light (10 000 LUX), mice were hemorrhaged for 90 minutes to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 30–35 mmHg. Mice were then resuscitated with their blood and a NaCl infusion at a rate of 0.2 ml/h over a 3-hour period. During resuscitation, blood pressure was recorded. At the end of resuscitation, bronchoalveolar lavage was analyzed for alveolar epithelial barrier function and inflammation. To get insight into the relevance of intense light for humans, we performed a proteomics screen for lung injury biomarkers in plasma from healthy volunteers following intense light therapy.

Results

We found that intense light pretreated mice had improved hemodynamics and significantly lower albumin, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in their bronchoalveolar lavage than controls. We further discovered that intense light therapy in humans significantly downregulated proinflammatory plasma proteins that are known to cause acute lung injury.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that mice exposed to intense light before hemorrhagic shock lung have less lung inflammation and improved alveolar epithelial barrier function. We further show that intense light therapy downregulates lung injury promoting proteins in human plasma. Together, these data suggest intense light as a possible strategy to ameliorate the consequences of a hemorrhagic shock on lung injury.
A new pleosporalean fungus isolated from superficial to deep human clinical specimens
Authors: Valenzuela-Lopez Nicomedes , Martin-Gomez M Teresa , Los-Arcos Ibai , Stchigel Alberto M , Guarro Josep , Cano-Lira José F
Published: June 2020

Human infections by pleosporalean fungi (class Dothideomycetes, phylum Ascomycota) are rarely reported. Because their identification is challenging using morphological characterization, several phylogenetic markers must be sequenced for an accurate identification and taxonomical placement of the isolates. Three isolates of clinical origin were phenotypically characterized, but due to the absence of relevant morphological traits, D1-D2 domains of the 28S nrRNA gene (LSU), the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the nrRNA, and fragments of the RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes were sequenced to allow a phylogenetic analysis that would solve their phylogenetic placement. That analysis revealed that these isolates did not match any previously known pleosporalean genera, and they are proposed here as the new fungal genus, Gambiomyces. Unfortunately, the isolates remained sterile, which, consequently, made the morphological description of the reproductive structures impossible. Future studies should try to understand the behaviour of this fungus in nature as well as its characteristics as an opportunistic fungal pathogen. Molecular identification is becoming an essential tool for proper identification of Dothideomycetes of clinical origin.

Lay Abstract

We describe a new pleosporalen pathogenic fungus, Gambiomyces profunda, found in superficial to deep samples from a human patient. Because all strains remained sterile, the fungus was finally identified following a phylogenetic analysis by using four different molecular markers.
WD1032 + 011, an inflated brown dwarf in an old eclipsing binary with a white dwarf
Authors: Casewell S L , Belardi C , Parsons S G , Littlefair S P , Braker I P , Hermes J J , Debes J , Vanderbosch Z , Burleigh M R , Gänsicke B T , Dhillon V S , Marsh T R , Winget D E , Winget K I
Published: June 2020

We present the discovery of only the third brown dwarf known to eclipse a non-accreting white dwarf. Gaia parallax information and multicolour photometry confirm that the white dwarf is cool (9950 ± 150 K) and has a low mass (0.45 ± 0.05 M⊙), and spectra and light curves suggest the brown dwarf has a mass of 0.067 ± 0.006 M⊙ (70MJup) and a spectral type of L5 ± 1. The kinematics of the system show that the binary is likely to be a member of the thick disc and therefore at least 5-Gyr old. The high-cadence light curves show that the brown dwarf is inflated, making it the first brown dwarf in an eclipsing white dwarf-brown dwarf binary to be so.
Confirmation of water emission in the dayside spectrum of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121b
Authors: Mikal-Evans Thomas , Sing David K , Kataria Tiffany , Wakeford Hannah R , Mayne Nathan J , Lewis Nikole K , Barstow Joanna K , Spake Jessica J
Published: June 2020

We present four new secondary eclipse observations for the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121b acquired using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. The eclipse depth is measured to a median precision of 60 ppm across 28 spectroscopic channels spanning the 1.12–$1.64\, \mu {\rm m}$ wavelength range. This is a considerable improvement to the 90 ppm precision we achieved previously for a single eclipse observation using the same observing set-up. Combining these data with those reported at other wavelengths, a blackbody spectrum for WASP-121b is ruled out at >6σ confidence and we confirm the interpretation of previous retrieval analyses that found the data are best explained by a dayside thermal inversion. The updated spectrum clearly resolves the water emission band at 1.3–$1.6\, \mu {\rm m}$, with higher signal-to-noise than before. It also fails to reproduce a bump in the spectrum at $1.25\, \mu {\rm m}$ derived from the first eclipse observation, which had tentatively been attributed to VO emission. We conclude that the latter was either a statistical fluctuation or a systematic artefact specific to the first eclipse data set.
The final fate of supermassive M ∼ 5 × 104 M⊙ Pop III stars: explosion or collapse?
Authors: Nagele Chris , Umeda Hideyuki , Takahashi Koh , Yoshida Takashi , Sumiyoshi Kohsuke
Published: June 2020

We investigate the possibility of a supernova in supermassive (5 × 104 M⊙) population III stars induced by a general relativistic instability occurring in the helium burning phase. This explosion could occur via rapid helium burning during an early contraction of the isentropic core. Such an explosion would be visible to future telescopes and could disrupt the proposed direct collapse formation channel for early Universe supermassive black holes. We simulate first the stellar evolution from hydrogen burning using a 1D stellar evolution code with a post-Newtonian approximation; at the point of dynamical collapse, we switch to a 1D (general relativistic) hydrodynamic code with the Misner-Sharpe metric. In opposition to a previous study, we do not find an explosion in the non-rotating case, although our model is close to exploding for a similar mass to the explosion in the previous study. When we include slow rotation, we find one exploding model, and we conclude that there likely exist additional exploding models, though they may be rare.
The tensile strength of dust aggregates consisting of small elastic grains: constraints on the size of condensates in protoplanetary discs
Authors: Kimura Hiroshi , Wada Koji , Yoshida Fumi , Hong Peng K , Senshu Hiroki , Arai Tomoko , Hirai Takayuki , Kobayashi Masanori , Ishibashi Ko , Yamada Manabu
Published: June 2020

A consensus view on the formation of planetesimals is now exposed to a threat, since recent numerical studies on the mechanical properties of dust aggregates tend to dispute the conceptual picture that submicrometer-sized grains conglomerate into planetesimals in protoplanetary discs. With the advent of precise laboratory experiments and extensive computer simulations on the interaction between elastic spheres comprising dust aggregates, we revisit a model for the tensile strength of dust aggregates consisting of small elastic grains. In the framework of contact mechanics and fracture mechanics, we examine outcomes of computer simulations and laboratory experiments on the tensile strength of dust aggregates. We provide a novel analytical formula that explicitly incorporates the volume effect on the tensile strength, namely, the dependence of tensile strength on the volume of dust aggregates. We find that our model for the tensile strength of dust aggregates well reproduces results of computer simulations and laboratory experiments, if appropriate values are adopted for the elastic parameters used in the model. Moreover, the model with dust aggregates of submicrometer-sized grains is in good harmony with the tensile strength of cometary dust and meteoroids derived from astronomical observations. Therefore, we reaffirm the commonly believed idea that the formation of planetesimals begins with conglomeration of submicrometer-sized grains condensed in protoplanetary discs.
Inferring the population properties of binary black holes from unresolved gravitational waves
Authors: Smith Rory J E , Talbot Colm , Hernandez Vivanco Francisco , Thrane Eric
Published: June 2020

The vast majority of compact binary mergers in the Universe produce gravitational waves that are too weak to yield unambiguous detections; they are unresolved. We present a method to infer the population properties of compact binaries – such as their merger rates, mass spectrum, and spin distribution – using both resolved and unresolved gravitational waves. By eliminating entirely the distinction between resolved and unresolved signals, we eliminate bias from selection effects. To demonstrate this method, we carry out a Monte Carlo study using an astrophysically motivated population of binary black holes. We show that some population properties of compact binaries are well constrained by unresolved signals after about one week of observation with Advanced LIGO at design sensitivity.
Italian Political Parties and Their Organisation beyond National Borders
Authors: Piccio Daniela R
Published: June 2020

According to the most recent statistics, 8.8% of the Italian population is registered as living abroad. This figure has increased considerably following the 2007 global economic crisis, with the number of Italians abroad rising from 3.1 million in 2006 to over 5 million in 2018 (+70% in only 12 years). Additionally, legislation on voting from abroad was amended to allow for postal voting and established 18 reserved seats for Italians abroad. These conditions seem to offer strong incentives for political parties to engage with potential supporters abroad in a structured and stable way. Yet, the analysis revealed significant variation among parties. By undertaking a close analysis of the organisational rules for the Italian party abroad as contained in party Statutes, the article suggests that variation among parties can be explained by their individual history of diaspora representation and by the organisational model established at the national level.
Spermine Regulates Water Balance Associated with Ca2+-Dependent Aquaporin (TrTIP2-1, TrTIP2-2 and TrPIP2-7) Expression in Plants under Water Stress
Authors: Li Zhou , Hou Jieru , Zhang Yan , Zeng Weihang , Cheng Bizhen , Hassan Muhammad Jawad , Zhang Youzhi , Pu Qi , Peng Yan
Published: June 2020

Spermine (Spm) regulates water balance involved in water channel proteins, aquaporins (AQPs), in plants. An increase in endogenous Spm content via exogenous Spm application significantly improved cell membrane stability, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment (OA) and water use efficiency (WUE) contributing to enhanced tolerance to water stress in white clover. Spm upregulated TrTIP2-1, TrTIP2-2 and TrPIP2-7 expressions and also increased the abundance of TIP2 and PIP2-7 proteins in white clover under water stress. Spm quickly activated intracellular Ca2+ signaling and Spm-induced TrTIP2-2 and TrPIP2-7 expressions could be blocked by Ca2+ channel blockers and the inhibitor of Ca2+-dependent protein kinase in leaves of white clover. TrSAMS in relation to Spm biosynthesis was first cloned from white clover and the TrSAMS was located in the nucleus. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing the TrSAMS had significantly higher endogenous Spm content and improved cell membrane stability, photosynthesis, OA, WUE and transcript levels of AtSIP1-1, AtSIP1-2, AtTIP2-1, AtTIP2-2, AtPIP1-2, AtPIP2-1 and AtNIP2-1 than wild type in response to water stress. Current findings indicate that Spm regulates water balance via an enhancement in OA, WUE and water transport related to Ca2+-dependent AQP expression in plants under water stress.
How to Teach Medical Students About Pain and Dementia: E-Learning, Experiential Learning, or Both?
Authors: Moehl Keelin , Wright Rollin M , Shega Joseph , Malec Monica , Kelley Fitzgerald G , Robbins-Welty Gregg , Zoberi Kimberly , Tait Raymond , Perera Subashan , Deverts Denise , Horvath Zsuzsa , Weiner Debra K
Published: June 2020

Objective

Pain management in persons with mild to moderate dementia poses unique challenges because of altered pain modulation and the tendency of some individuals to perseverate. We aimed to test the impact of an e-learning module about pain in communicative people with dementia on third-year medical students who had or had not completed an experiential geriatrics course.

Design

Analysis of pre- to postlearning changes and comparison of the same across the student group.

Setting

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Subjects

One hundred four University of Pittsburgh and 57 Saint Louis University medical students.

Methods

University of Pittsburgh students were randomized to view either the pain and dementia module or a control module on pain during a five-day geriatrics course. Saint Louis University students were asked to complete either of the two modules without the context of a geriatrics course. A 10-item multiple choice knowledge test and three-item attitudes and confidence questionnaires were administered before viewing the module and up to seven days later.

Results

Knowledge increase was significantly greater among students who viewed the dementia module while participating in the geriatrics course than among students who viewed the module without engaging in the course (P < 0.001). The modules did not improve attitudes in any group, while student confidence improved in all groups.

Conclusions

Medical students exposed to e-learning or experiential learning demonstrated improved confidence in evaluating and managing pain in patients with dementia. Those exposed to both educational methods also significantly improved their knowledge.