bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When Death Is Not the End: Continuing Somatic Care during Postmortem Pregnancy
Authors: Barr Jennifer J.
Published: September 2019

Brain death during the second trimester of pregnancy creates a unique situation in which the mother is deceased, but life of the developing fetus still depends on somatic functions in the mother’s body. In this article, I show that when a pregnant woman becomes brain dead during the second trimester, it is morally licit, though not morally obligatory, to continue somatic support while the fetus develops. The interventions on the mother’s body are justified for the life of the fetus, especially in light of the unique mother–child dyad and the responsibilities the mother has for her child. However, this therapy is not frequently employed, and its success is unpredictable. In many cases, the expense and uncertain nature of the therapy may make it disproportionate. In such cases, somatic support of the mother’s body may be discontinued.

When brain death is diagnosed during pregnancy, it is a challenging decision whether to use artificial ventilation and other heroic measures to support the developing fetus. This paper demonstrates that while these interventions are acceptable, they are not obligatory.
Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Childhood Misfortune: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Mustillo Sarah , Li Miao , Ferraro Kenneth F.
Published: September 2019

Most studies of the early origins of adult health rely on summing dichotomously measured negative exposures to measure childhood misfortune (CM), neglect, adversity, or trauma. There are several limitations to this approach, including that it assumes each exposure carries the same level of risk for a particular outcome. Further, it often leads researchers to dichotomize continuous measures for the sake of creating an additive variable from similar indicators. We propose an alternative approach within the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework that allows differential weighting of the negative exposures and can incorporate dichotomous and continuous observed variables as well as latent variables. Using the Health and Retirement Study data, our analyses compare the traditional approach (i.e., adding indicators) with alternative models and assess their prognostic validity on adult depressive symptoms. Results reveal that parameter estimates using the conventional model likely underestimate the effects of CM on adult health outcomes. Additionally, while the conventional approach inhibits testing for mediation, our model enables testing mediation of both individual CM variables and the cumulative variable. Further, we test whether cumulative CM is moderated by the accumulation of protective factors, which facilitates theoretical advances in life course and social inequality research. The approach presented here is one way to examine the cumulative effects of early exposures while attending to diversity in the types of exposures experienced. Using the SEM framework, this versatile approach could be used to model the accumulation of risk or reward in many other areas of sociology and the social sciences beyond health.
Silica/GO hybrids reinforced NR: Better interface interaction and dynamic behavior
Authors: Liu Kaikai , Shang Yuanyuan , Yang Liu , Du Aihua
Published: September 2019

With silica firstly modified by 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APES), graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummer’s method. APES-silica/GO (AsGO) hybrids were fabricated through hydrogen bond to reduce the polarity of silica and GO and increase the compatibility between natural rubber (NR) and AsGO. Subsequently, AsGO was incorporated into NR latex. The interaction between GO and silica in AsGO was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman, and Zeta potential. It was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy that the silica was uniformly dispersed on the surface of the GO. The filler–rubber interfacial interaction was thoroughly investigated. The amount of constrained region was quantified through differential scanning calorimetry results, and it showed that the high volume fraction of constrained region is responsible for the strong interfacial interaction. Besides, the mechanical performance, dynamic property, and electrical and thermal conductivity of NR-AsG x were studied. The results showed that the overall performance of NR-AsG x has an optimum value when the GO loading is 1.5 phr, which is due to the good filler dispersion and strong interface interaction.
Mindfulness and Interoceptive Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Sensitivity in Atrial Fibrillation: A Pilot Study
Authors: Oser Megan , Khan Amanda , Kolodziej Meghan , Gruner Gabriel , Barsky Arthur J. , Epstein Laurence
Published: September 2019

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and symptoms overlap with physiological sensations of anxiety. Patients with atrial fibrillation can demonstrate anxiety sensitivity even in the absence of actual atrial fibrillation symptoms. Interoceptive exposure is effective in treating anxiety sensitivity, and recently, mindfulness has been proposed as an enhancement strategy to facilitating inhibitory learning in exposure therapy. This pragmatic study piloted a brief mindfulness and interoceptive exposure treatment for anxiety sensitivity in atrial fibrillation. Eight participants with atrial fibrillation and elevated anxiety sensitivity from a hospital cardiology department participated in the treatment. Anxiety sensitivity significantly decreased during the course of the intervention. These initial findings show proof of concept for this brief intervention in a cardiac-specific behavioral medicine setting.
Evaluation of Diffusional Characteristics and Microstructure in Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Authors: Cai Jie , Klein Logan , Wu Pinhong , Wilson Azure , Xu Xinlin , Scholp Austin , Bao Huijing , Wang Xi , Jiang Jack J. , Liu Ting , Zhuang Peiyun
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To investigate the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the evaluation of vocal fold tissue microstructure after recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury.

Methods:

Six canines were divided into 2 groups: a unilateral vocal fold paralysis group (n = 4) and a control group (n = 2). The RLN was cut in the unilateral vocal fold paralysis group, and no intervention was applied in the control group. After 4 months, the canines’ larynges were removed and placed in a small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (9.4T BioSpec MRI; Bruker, Germany). After scanning, the vocal folds were isolated, sectioned, and stained. The slides were then analyzed for the cross-sectional area and muscle fiber density through feature extraction technology. Pearson correlation analysis was performed on the DTI scan and histological section extraction results.

Results:

In the vocal fold muscle layer, the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the unilateral RLN injury group was higher than that of the control group, and the Tensor Trace was lower than that of the control group. This difference was statistically significant, P < .05. In the lamina propria, the FA of the unilateral RLN injury group was lower than that of the control group, P > .05, and the Tensor Trace was lower than that of the control group, P < .05. The muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the RLN injury group was significantly smaller than the control group with statistical significance, P < .05, and the density of muscle fibers was lower, P < .05. The correlation coefficient between FA and the cross-sectional area was −0.838, P = .002, and .726; P = .017 between Tensor Trace and the cross-sectional area.

Conclusion:

Diffusion tensor imaging is an effective method to assess the changes in the microstructure of atrophic vocal fold muscle tissue after RLN injury.
Digital learning in mathematics for students with severe visual impairment: A systematic review
Authors: Klingenberg Oliv G , Holkesvik Anne H , Augestad Liv Berit
Published: September 2019

Mathematical education is currently undergoing significant changes that are driven by technology and digital-based learning. Students with visual impairments (VI) may face different challenges in mathematical education due to a lack of accessible materials designed to support the development of conceptual understanding in mathematics. The aim of the study was to summarize current evidence-based knowledge about e-learning in mathematics among students with severe VI. A systematic review was conducted of articles published from January 2000 to November 2017. A total of 13 publications met the inclusion criteria, of which 12 reported studies with an intervention or an experimental design and one had a cross-sectional design. The number of students with VI varied from three to 16 ( Mage = 19 years). Four publications reported either ophthalmic diagnoses or World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of vision loss. The mathematical training was reported as lasting from one session to 18 weeks of training. Eight papers reported the use of audio-based applications as learning aids. The authors conclude that interactive e-learning with audio and tactile learning programmes may be a useful resource for students with VI to enhance their mathematical skills. However, there is lack of evidence for how digital technologies improve inclusion potentials and learning in mathematics for students with VI, and hence, there is a need for additional research and more reflection on the subject.
Odontomas in Frogs
Authors: LaDouceur Elise E. B. , Hauck Amanda M. , Garner Michael M. , Cartoceti Andrew N. , Murphy Brian G.
Published: September 2019

Odontomas are variably differentiated, hamartoma-like proliferations of odontogenic epithelium, pulp ectomesenchyme (odontoblasts), and dental matrix. Frogs are polyphyodont and homodont. Their teeth also differ from mammals in that they are restricted to the upper jaw in adults and lack a periodontal ligament and cementum, attaching directly to the underlying bone. Odontomas were identified in an African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis), a false tomato frog ( Dyscophus guineti), and a tomato frog of unknown species ( Dyscophus sp.). All of the examined odontomas were composed of numerous tooth-like structures comprising an arc of dentinal matrix lined on the convex surface by ameloblasts and on the concave surface by odontoblasts. Masson’s trichrome and immunohistochemistry with pan-cytokeratin supported these findings. The pathogenesis of these lesions may be displacement of the dental lamina, which has been shown in research studies to lead to de novo proliferation of dental elements in frogs.
Implicit Theories of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offenders: Cross-Cultural Validation of Interview Findings
Authors: Soldino Virginia , Merdian Hannah L. , Bartels Ross M. , Bradshaw Hannah K.
Published: September 2019

Offense-supportive cognitions are thought to result from underlying implicit theories (ITs). As child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) users are a distinct type of sex offender, Bartels and Merdian proposed that CSEM offenders hold five different ITs from those endorsed by contact sex offenders (i.e., Unhappy World, Self as Uncontrollable, Child as Sexual Object, Nature of Harm [CSEM variant], and Self as Collector), linked by an assumption about the Reinforcing Nature of the Internet. This article reports a conceptual content analysis of 23 interviews conducted with CSEM offenders in the United Kingdom and Spain. Support for all CSEM-specific ITs was found across both samples, providing an empirical validation of this conceptualization. Finally, four ITs originally identified for contact sex offenders were also identified, namely, Uncontrollability, Child as Sexual Being, Dangerous World, and Nature of Harm. Further validation of CSEM-related ITs is encouraged.
Preliminary Evidence That Resting State Heart Rate Variability Predicts Reactivity to Tactile Stimuli in Rett Syndrome
Authors: Merbler Alyssa M. , Byiers Breanne J. , Hoch John , Dimian Adele C. , Barney Chantel C. , Feyma Timothy J. , Beisang Arthur A. , Bartolomucci Alessandro , Symons Frank J.
Published: September 2019

Patients with Rett syndrome may manifest altered pain perception/experience and are vulnerable to conditions associated with chronic pain. Pain response is difficult to measure, however, because of severe communicative impairment. There is also documented autonomic dysfunction, including decreased heart rate variability. Given the relation between pain and the autonomic nervous system, we tested the feasibility of using resting heart rate variability to predict nonverbal pain/discomfort behavior during a standardized modified quantitative sensory test in Rett syndrome. All stimulus applications resulted in increased behavioral reactivity compared to baseline, with repeated von Frey significantly greater than all other stimuli. Resting heart rate variability predicted behavioral reactivity to repeated von Frey. These preliminary findings provide feasibility evidence for an integrated autonomic-sensory measurement approach and are consistent at a construct level with preclinical evidence in Rett syndrome. Further work is needed to determine how heart rate variability changes during stimulus application.
A review of biomaterials scaffold fabrication in additive manufacturing for tissue engineering
Authors: Shick Tang Mei , Abdul Kadir Aini Zuhra , Ngadiman Nor Hasrul Akhmal , Ma’aram Azanizawati
Published: September 2019

The current developments in three-dimensional printing also referred as “additive manufacturing” have transformed the scenarios for modern manufacturing and engineering design processes which show greatest advantages for the fabrication of complex structures such as scaffold for tissue engineering. This review aims to introduce additive manufacturing techniques in tissue engineering, types of biomaterials used in scaffold fabrication, as well as in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Biomaterials and fabrication methods could critically affect the outcomes of scaffold mechanical properties, design architectures, and cell proliferations. In addition, an ideal scaffold aids the efficiency of cell proliferation and allows the movements of cell nutrient inside the human body with their specific material properties. This article provides comprehensive review that covers broad range of all the biomaterial types using various additive manufacturing technologies. The data were extracted from 2008 to 2018 mostly from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus using keywords such as “Additive Manufacturing,” “3D Printing,” “Tissue Engineering,” “Biomaterial” and “Scaffold.” A 10 years research in this area was found to be mostly focused toward obtaining an ideal scaffold by investigating the fabrication strategies, biomaterials compatibility, scaffold design effectiveness through computer-aided design modeling, and optimum printing machine parameters identification. As a conclusion, this ideal scaffold fabrication can be obtained with the combination of different materials that could enhance the material properties which performed well in optimum additive manufacturing condition. Yet, there are still many challenges from the printing methods, bioprinting and cell culturing that needs to be discovered and investigated in the future.
Are we teaching what employers want? Identifying and remedying gaps between employer needs, accreditor prescriptions, and undergraduate curricular priorities
Authors: Rhew Nicholas D. , Black Janice A. , Keels J. Kay
Published: September 2019

Employers and policy makers have criticized higher education institutions for the perceived knowledge and skills deficiencies of their graduates. This article seeks to identify the gaps between employer needs, curricular priorities, and accrediting standards, specifically in the management domain. To this end, the authors content analyzed 200 job announcements for entry-level management positions in the 10 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States and the learning goals of 51 business programs, comparing both to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business’s Standard 9. While the findings demonstrate considerable overlap between employers’ stated needs, business programs’ curricular focus, and accrediting standards, notable gaps emerged, especially in the area of self-management. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for both business programs and accrediting bodies.
Degree apprenticeships: Reflecting on university–employer partnership practice to improve workforce development in the United Kingdom
Authors: Welbourn Jane , Devins David , Reynolds Martin
Published: September 2019

This article offers an early assessment of the extent and scope of participation by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Degree Apprenticeship (DA) provision for meeting the broader workforce development objectives of the UK Government. While the take-up of DAs by HEIs and businesses has been undeniably lower than the publicly declared Government targets, the issues seem to be related to matters of institutional ‘stickiness’ in HEIs and implementation practicalities for businesses. The article reflects on the institutional dynamics involved in HEIs’ collective shifting of their practice in response to Government intervention to associate funding with HE–business collaboration. The authors’ observations are drawn from the experience of one HEI; they adopt an auto-ethnographic perspective to reflect on the role of the DA model as one way of stimulating how HEIs can work with businesses to co-design workforce development initiatives and offer ideas for future development.
Dust deposition drives microbial metabolism in a remote, high-elevation catchment
Authors: Bigelow Amy , Mladenov Natalie , Lipson David , Williams Mark
Published: September 2019

In barren alpine catchments of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, microorganisms are typically carbon (C)-limited, and C-limitation can influence critical heterotrophic processes, such as denitrification. In these remote locations, organic matter deposited during dust intrusion events and other forms of aerosol deposition may be an important C source for heterotrophs; however, little is known regarding the biodegradability of atmospherically deposited organic matter. This study evaluated the extent to which organic matter in Holocene dust and other types of atmospheric deposition in the Colorado Rocky Mountains could support metabolic activity and be biodegraded by alpine bacteria. Microplate bioassays revealed that all atmospheric deposition samples were able to activate microbial metabolism. Decreases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations over time in biodegradability incubations reflect the presence of two pools of dissolved organic matter (DOM), a rapidly decaying pool with rate constants in the range of 0.0130–0.039 d–1 and a slowly decaying pool with rate constants in the range of 0.0008–0.009 d–1. Changes in the fluorescence excitation-emission matrix of solutions evaluated over time indicated a transformation of organic matter by bacteria resulting in a more humic-like fluorescence signature. Fluorescence spectroscopic analyses, therefore, suggest that the degradation of non-fluorescent DOM in glutamate and dust-derived C sources by bacteria results in the production of fluorescent DOM.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with rheumatic diseases: a real-world observational study in Japan
Authors: Sugawara E , Kato M , Fujieda Y , Oku K , Bohgaki T , Yasuda S , Umazume T , Morikawa M , Watari H , Atsumi T
Published: September 2019

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the obstetric complications and the risk factors for these events in pregnant women with rheumatic diseases (RDs).

Methods

A single-center retrospective study of women with RDs at Hokkaido University Hospital between 2007 and 2016 was conducted. Clinical features and maternal and fetal outcomes were retrospectively collected. The rate of pregnancy complications was compared with the general obstetric population (GOP) in Japan.

Results

Overall, 132 pregnancies in 95 women with RDs were recorded. Underlying RDs were systemic erythematosus (SLE) ( n = 57), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) ( n = 35), rheumatoid arthritis ( n = 9), and other RDs ( n = 31). Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were detected in 44 pregnancies (32%). Glucocorticoid was used in 82 pregnancies (62%), and tacrolimus in 20 pregnancies (15%). There were 24 disease flares (18%), but no RD-related death was documented. We recorded 112 live births, 6 abortions, 8 miscarriages, and 6 stillbirths. Pregnancies with RDs appeared to have frequent, emergency cesarean sections and preterm deliveries compared with GOP (30% vs 15% and 21% vs 14%, respectively). The median [interquartile range] birthweight in SLE and APS was lower than GOP (2591 [2231–2958] g and 2600 [2276–2920] g vs 2950 [2650–3250] g, respectively). In pregnancies with SLE, low complement levels presented the risk of maternal complications (odds ratio [95% CI]; 3.9 [1.0–14.9], p = 0.046) and anti-DNA antibody positivity was significantly correlated with the risk of fetal complications (3.5 [1.1–11.2], p = 0.036). In pregnancies with APS, maternal age over 35 years and duration of disease longer than 9 years (7.4 [1.3–40.8], p = 0.021, and 11.16 [1.1–118.8], p = 0.046, respectively) were significantly correlated with the risk of fetal complications.

Conclusion

Pregnancies with RDs were at increased risk of having both maternal complications and adverse neonatal outcomes, indicating these pregnancies should be closely monitored.
Not All People Are Cut Out for Strategic Criterion Shifting
Authors: Miller Michael B. , Kantner Justin
Published: September 2019

Decisions are often based on memory, but memories are often vague and ambiguous. Therefore, one must establish some standard for how strong a memory must feel before it is accepted as part of one’s past. This standard of evidence, called a decision criterion, should be adapted to the demands of a given situation: Sometimes it is critical to accept only strong memories as legitimate, whereas at other times it is more appropriate to act on the basis of relatively weak memory evidence. The ability to shift between these two standards as circumstances warrant is a critical element of successful decision making. We review recent work examining criterion shifting in recognition memory and argue that the true nature of criterion shifting may be seen only at the individual level: Whereas some people shift their criterion quite adaptively, others do not shift at all.
Application of SiOx-coated poly (ε-caprolactone) film for preservation of cherry tomato
Authors: Yun Xueyan , Qi Xiaojing , Zhang Yuqin , Song Shuxin , Dong Tungalag
Published: September 2019

The poly( ε-caprolactone)/silicon oxide (PCL/SiO x)-coated film was prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of SiO x. The result showed that the PCL/SiO x film presented increased elongation at break and appropriate gas permeability and CO2/O2 permselectivity. The PCL/SiO x film was further used for window packing container of equilibrium-modified atmosphere packaging of fresh cherry tomato. The gas composition within containers depended on the permeability of PCL/SiO x film and respiration of cherry tomato, which finally reached steady states that 4–6% CO2 and 11–13% O2 at room temperature and 2–3% CO2 and 17–19% O2 at 5°C, respectively. High sensory score, firmness, soluble solid concentration, ascorbic acid content, lower weight loss, and retarded respiration climacteric could be found for the cherry tomato packaged by PCL/SiO x film, indicating that delayed ripening, higher nutrient content, and extended shelf life were achieved.
Identification of the environmental source of infection for a domestic ferret with cryptococcosis
Authors: Schmertmann Laura J. , Wardman Alison , Setyo Laura , Kan Alex , Meyer Wieland , Malik Richard , Krockenberger Mark B.
Published: September 2019

Cryptococcosis, caused by the Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans species complexes, is an environmentally acquired mycosis affecting a broad range of host species. Among 9 communally housed ferrets, a 5-y-old castrated male ferret domiciled in an outdoor enclosure in Sydney, Australia was diagnosed with sinonasal cryptococcosis. Clinical signs resolved during 18 mo of itraconazole therapy, but the ferret was eventually euthanized because of splenic hemangiosarcoma. At postmortem, microscopic foci of persistent cryptococcosis were detected. The diagnosis raised concerns that the owners and other ferrets were exposed to a common environmental source of infection, thus prompting an investigation. Soil samples, swabs of a hollow eucalypt log (used for behavioral enrichment), and nasal swabs from 8 asymptomatic ferrets were collected. Nasal exudate (obtained at diagnosis) and tissues (collected at postmortem) were available from the clinical case. Bird seed agar culture resulted in a heavy growth of Cryptococcus spp. from one environmental site (the log), one nasal swab, and nasal exudate and tissues from the clinical case. All other samples were culture-negative. Sub-cultured isolates from the log were a mixture of C. gattii molecular type VGI and C. neoformans molecular type VNI. Ferret isolates were a similar mixture of C. gattii VGI (all disease isolates) and C. neoformans VNI (nasal-colonizing isolate). Multilocus sequence typing further revealed the ferret isolates as identical to environmental isolates collected from the log, confirming the log as the source of clinical disease and nasal colonization. The log was removed to prevent further exposure to a high environmental load of Cryptococcus spp.
Edgewise vibration reduction of small size wind turbine blades using shunt damping
Authors: Biglari Hamed , Fakhari Vahid
Published: September 2019

Edgewise vibration in wind turbine blades is one of the important factors that results in reducing the performance of wind turbines. Therefore, control or reduction of the mentioned vibrations can be of great help in increasing the efficiency of wind turbines. In this paper, the shunt damping method is proposed to reduce the edgewise blade vibration of horizontal axis wind turbines. For this purpose, partial differential equations governing dynamics of the system are derived using the Lagrange method. These equations are completely nonlinear and linearization is not performed to avoid possible errors in the analysis. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed shunt damping method in vibration reduction of the wind turbine blade, obtained results by applying shunt damping method are compared with corresponding results obtained by employing a conventional method known as a tuned mass damper (TMD). For better comparison, by considering proper cost functions, the shunt damper and TMD parameters are optimized using a genetic algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of optimized shunt damper in vibration reduction of the blade is compared with optimized TMD by presenting simulation results.
Gender and Racial Disparities in Survival After Surgery Among Papillary and Patients With Follicular Thyroid Cancer: A 45-Year Experience
Authors: Asban Ammar , Chung Sebastian K , Xie Rongbing , Lindeman Brenessa M , Balentine Courtney J , Kirklin James K , Chen Herbert
Published: September 2019

Background:

Demographic disparities have been described for survival after thyroid cancer surgery using national registries and databases. At the institution level, we hypothesized that assessing survival after thyroid cancer surgery in a long-term cohort with diverse gender and racial groups would reveal disparities in survival.

Methods:

We examined medical records of patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer undergoing thyroidectomy, lobectomy, and other surgical procedures from 1971 to 2016 at a tertiary referral center. We obtained information on demographics, cancer stage, procedure, and radioactive iodine (RAI). We measured survival using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results:

A total of 1440 (91%) patients with papillary cancer and 144 (9%) patients with follicular thyroid cancer underwent total thyroidectomy (1297, 82%), lobectomy (261, 16.5%), and other surgical procedures (26, 1.5%). Most patients (1131, 71%) were woman, and 909 (57%) were older than 45 years. Race/ethnicity included 805 (51%) white, 161 (10%) African Americans, and 618 (39%) other race/ethnicities. Both 10- and 20-year survival rates in nonwhite males were worse compared with nonwhite females ( P < .0001). After controlling for age, cancer type, stage, surgical procedure, RAI, and year of surgery, nonwhite males had a higher mortality risk compared with nonwhite females ( P = .0376, confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.43), white males ( P < .0001, CI: 1.88-6.54), and white females ( P < .0001, CI: 3.31-9.90).

Conclusions:

Our diverse cohort demonstrates significant gender and racial disparities in survival after thyroid cancer surgery. To improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities among nonwhite males, interventions and long-term care management should target potentially modifiable causes of worse outcomes in this group.
Numerical study and parameter optimization of partial journal bearing using MOPSO algorithm
Authors: Mikaeeli SZ , Aghanajafi C , Akbarzadeh P
Published: September 2019

In this paper, multi-objective particle swarm optimization method is developed for optimizing thermo-hydrodynamic journal bearings. This paper focuses on the use of multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm with a combination of the thermal hydrodynamic governing equations of the fluid film (i.e. momentum and energy equations) to optimize hydrodynamic partial pad journal bearings and compare with other articles. The governing equations are solved by the central difference method with a successive over-relaxation scheme and the backward difference with an iterative technique. In the paper, the lubricant viscosity changes with the temperature variation in whole fluid film. In this optimization, the bearing power loss, the minimum oil film thickness, and the maximum oil temperature are considered as objective functions and the radial clearance and length to diameter ratio are selected as design variables. The results of the objective functions are compared to other articles. Also, this study discusses the entropy and availability of two concentric cylinders with low curvature and constant wall temperature. Calculations showed that by increasing the Eckert number, the availability increases.
Using ePortfolios in early childhood education: Recalling, reconnecting, restarting and learning
Authors: Hooker Tracey
Published: September 2019

Portfolios are widely used in New Zealand for documenting children’s learning; there is now an increasing move to online ePortfolios. This article presents findings from a doctoral study which investigated the impact of the introduction of ePortfolios in an early childhood education setting where traditional paper-based portfolios were previously used as the formative assessment tool for children’s learning. The findings demonstrate that a significant benefit of the ePortfolio system used in this study was the ways in which they could support children to revisit their learning and become involved in their own formative assessment. This is described as recalling, reconnecting and restarting. Through participating in these processes, children become active contributors to their own learning journeys which is a significant factor of formative assessment.
Investigation of a Novel Decision Support Metric for Head and Neck Adaptive Radiation Therapy Using a Real-Time In Vivo Portal Dosimetry System
Authors: Lim S. B. , Tsai C. J. , Yu Y. , Greer P. , Fuangrod T. , Hwang K. , Fontenla S. , Coffman F. , Lee N. , Lovelock D. M.
Published: September 2019

In adaptive radiation therapy of head and neck cancer, any significant anatomical changes observed are used to adapt the treatment plan to maintain target coverage without elevating the risk of xerostomia. However, the additional resources required for adaptive radiation therapy pose a challenge for broad-based implementation. It is hypothesized that a change in transit fluence is associated with volumetric change in the vicinity of the target and therefore can be used as a decision support metric for adaptive radiation therapy. This was evaluated by comparing the fluence with volumetric changes in 12 patients. Transit fluence was measured by an in vivo portal dosimetry system. Weekly cone beam computed tomography was used to determine volume change in the rectangular region of interest from condyloid process to C6. The integrated transit fluence through the region of interest on the day of the cone beam computed tomography scan was calculated with the first treatment as the baseline. The correlation between fluence change and volume change was determined. A logistic regression model was also used to associate the 5% region of interest volume reduction replanning trigger point and the fluence change. The model was assessed by a chi-square test. The area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve was also determined. A total of 46 pairs of measurements were obtained. The correlation between fluence and volumetric changes was found to be −0.776 ( P value <.001). The negative correlation is attributed to the increase in the photon fluence transport resulting from the volume reduction. The chi-square of the logistic regression was found to be 17.4 ( P value <.001). The area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve was found to be 0.88. Results indicate the change in transit fluence, which can be measured without consuming clinical resources or requiring additional time in the treatment room, can be used as a decision support metric for adaptive therapy.
Predicting Alzheimer Disease From Mild Cognitive Impairment With a Deep Belief Network Based on 18F-FDG-PET Images
Authors: Shen Ting , Jiang Jiehui , Lu Jiaying , Wang Min , Zuo Chuantao , Yu Zhihua , Yan Zhuangzhi
Published: September 2019

Objective:

Accurate diagnosis of early Alzheimer disease (AD) plays a critical role in preventing the progression of memory impairment. We aimed to develop a new deep belief network (DBN) framework using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) metabolic imaging to identify patients at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage with presymptomatic AD and to discriminate them from other patients with MCI.

Methods:

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET images of 109 patients recruited in the ongoing longitudinal Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study were included in this analysis. Patients were grouped into 2 classes: (1) stable mild cognitive impairment (n = 62) or (2) progressive mild cognitive impairment (n = 47). Our framework is composed of 4 steps: (1) image preprocessing: normalization and smoothing; (2) identification of regions of interest (ROIs); (3) feature learning using deep neural networks; and (4) classification by support vector machine with 3 kernels. All classification experiments were performed with a 5-fold cross-validation. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to validate the results.

Result:

A total of 1103 ROIs were obtained. One hundred features were learned from ROIs using the DBN. The classification accuracy using linear, polynomial, and RBF kernels was 83.9%, 79.2%, and 86.6%, respectively. This method may be a powerful tool for personalized precision medicine in the population with prediction of early AD progression.
Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation–Induced Changes in Effective Connectivity in Patients With Stroke as Assessed With Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Huo Congcong , Li Xinglou , Jing Jing , Ma Yanping , Li Wenhao , Wang Yanqin , Liu Wanlin , Fan Yubo , Yue Shouwei , Wang Yonghui , Li Zengyong
Published: September 2019

Background. The cortical plastic changes in response to median nerve electrical stimulation (MNES) in stroke patients have not been entirely illustrated. Objective. This study aimed to investigate MNES-related changes in effective connectivity (EC) within a cortical network after stroke by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods. The cerebral oxygenation signals in the bilateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC/RPFC), motor cortex (LMC/RMC), and occipital lobe (LOL/ROL) of 20 stroke patients with right hemiplegia were measured by fNIRS in 2 conditions: (1) resting state and (2) MNES applied to the right wrist. Coupling function together with dynamical Bayesian inference was used to assess MNES-related changes in EC among the cerebral low-frequency fluctuations. Results. Compared with the resting state, EC from LPFC and RPFC to LOL was significantly increased during the MNES state in stroke patients. Additionally, MNES triggered significantly higher coupling strengths from LMC and LOL to RPFC. The interregional main coupling direction was observed from LPFC to bilateral motor and occipital areas in responding to MNES, suggesting that MNES could promote the regulation function of ipsilesional prefrontal areas in the functional network. MNES can induce muscle twitch of the stroke-affected hand involving a decreased neural coupling of the contralesional motor area on the ipsilesional MC. Conclusions. MNES can trigger sensorimotor stimulations of the affected hand that sequentially involved functional reorganization of distant cortical areas after stroke. Investigating MNES-related changes in EC after stroke may help further our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying MNES.
The Divergence of Objective and Subjective Situation Awareness: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Endsley Mica R.
Published: September 2019

A review of 37 studies that included both objective and subjective measures of situation awareness (SA) was conducted. Objective and subjective measures of SA were found to diverge across a wide range of measurement techniques. Reasons for these differences include a lack of meta-awareness about one’s own SA, poor SA/confidence calibration, and confounds with workload among some measures. A model that shows how objective and subjective SA combine to affect performance is presented.
Teaching Machines to Recognize Neurodynamic Correlates of Team and Team Member Uncertainty
Authors: Stevens Ronald H. , Galloway Trysha L.
Published: September 2019

We describe efforts to make humans more transparent to machines by focusing on uncertainty, a concept with roots in neuronal populations that scales through social interactions. To be effective team partners, machines will need to learn why uncertainty happens, how it happens, how long it will last, and possible mitigations the machine can supply. Electroencephalography-derived measures of team neurodynamic organization were used to identify times of uncertainty in military, health care, and high school problem-solving teams. A set of neurodynamic sequences was assembled that differed in the magnitudes and durations of uncertainty with the goal of training machines to detect the onset of prolonged periods of high level uncertainty, that is, when a team might require support. Variations in uncertainty onset were identified by classifying the first 70 s of the exemplars using self-organizing maps (SOM), a machine architecture that develops a topology during training that separates closely related from desperate data. Clusters developed during training that distinguished patterns of no uncertainty, low-level and quickly resolved uncertainty, and prolonged high-level uncertainty, creating opportunities for neurodynamic-based systems that can interpret the ebbs and flows in team uncertainty and provide recommendations to the trainer or team in near real time when needed.
Functional characterisation of Holothuria leucospilota Fas-associated death domain in the innate immune-related signalling pathways
Authors: Li Haipeng , Chen Ting , Sun Hongyan , Wu Xiaofen , Jiang Xiao , Ren Chunhua
Published: September 2019

In this study, the functions of Holothuria leucospilota Fas-associated death domain (HLFADD) in the innate immune-related signalling pathways were investigated. The results showed that over-expression of HLFADD in HEK293T cells could activate the transcription factors NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1), and induce the secretion of downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18, suggesting the involvement of the sea cucumber FADD in activating the NF-κB and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-dependent pathways. On the other hand, HLFADD could down-regulate the activations of NF-κB and AP-1 that induced by over-expression of H. leucospilota myeloid differentiation factor 88 (HLMyD88), which is supposed to be mediated through its interaction with HLMyD88 to keep the MyD88-dependent TLR signalling at a proper magnitude. The interaction of HLFADD and HLMyD88 were further supported by a co-immunoprecipitation assay. Moreover, HLFADD could activate transcription factor IFN regulatory factor-3 and induced the secretion of downstream IFN-α and IFN-β, indicating that the sea cucumber FADD may also activate the antiviral IFN signalling pathway. In summary, our study may give new insights on the functions of sea cucumber FADD in the innate immune-related signalling pathways.
Effects of probiotics on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tang Yao , Huang Juan , Zhang Wen yue , Qin Si , Yang Yi xuan , Ren Hong , Yang Qin-bing , Hu Huaidong
Published: September 2019

Background:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become prevalent in recent decades, especially in developed countries, and approaches for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD are not clear. The aim of this research was to analyze and summarize randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of probiotics on NAFLD.

Methods:

Seven databases (PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, and VIP Database) were searched. Then, eligible studies were identified. Finally, proper data extraction, synthesis and analysis were performed by trained researchers.

Results:

Anthropometric parameters: with use of probiotics weight was reduced by 2.31 kg, and body mass index (BMI) was reduced by 1.08 kg/m2. Liver function: probiotic treatment reduced the alanine aminotransferase level by 7.22 U/l, the aspartate aminotransferase level by 7.22 U/l, the alkaline phosphatase level by 25.87 U/l, and the glutamyl transpeptidase level by −5.76 U/l. Lipid profiles: total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly decreased after probiotic treatment. Their overall effects (shown as standard mean difference) were −0.73, −0.54, and −0.36, respectively. Plasma glucose: probiotics reduced the plasma glucose level by 4.45 mg/dl and the insulin level by 0.63. Cytokines: probiotic treatment decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha by 0.62 and leptin by 1.14. Degree of liver fat infiltration (DFI): the related risk of probiotics for restoring DFI was 2.47 (95% confidence interval, 1.61–3.81, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Probiotic treatment or supplementation is a promising therapeutic method for NAFLD.
Progressive multiple sclerosis: latest therapeutic developments and future directions
Authors: Faissner Simon , Gold Ralf
Published: September 2019

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the central nervous system leading to demyelination and neurodegeneration. While the initial presentation is mostly characterized by a relapsing–remitting disease, patients often progress naturally after 10–15 years to a secondary-progressive disease course. Another 10–15% present with an initial, primary-progressive MS course. Pathogenic mechanisms possibly driving progression include continued compartmentalized inflammation by T- and B-lymphocytes and cells of innate immunity, oxidative stress, iron accumulation, and consecutive mitochondrial damage, altogether leading to neurodegeneration with accumulation of disability. Increasing knowledge about pathogenic mechanisms involved in progressive MS helps to design more specific and precise therapeutic approaches. Successful examples are the B-cell targeting monoclonal antibody ocrelizumab, effective in primary progressive MS, and the sphingosine-1-receptor modulator siponimod, effective in active forms of secondary-progressive MS. Apart from that, other medications such as the B-cell targeted antibody ofatumumab, cladribine due to T- and B-cell depletion, and other sphingosine-1-receptor modulators such as ozanimod and ponesimod are under development. Moreover, some therapeutic approaches in preclinical stages are under development. In this review, we will summarize the newest therapeutic development in the field of progressive MS of the last 3 years, and shed light on auspicious substances with similar mechanisms and new developments in the therapeutic pipeline, presumably supporting a bright future for progressive MS treatment.
HBV vaccination status among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Garzillo Elpidio Maria , Arnese Antonio , Coppola Nicola , Corvino AnnaRita , Feola Daniela , Monaco Maria Grazia Lourdes , Signoriello Giuseppe , Marsella Luigi Tonino , Arena Paola , Lamberti Monica
Published: September 2019

Objective:

The development of a vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the improvements in strategy prevention during the last decades.

Aim:

To evaluate HBV-related vaccine status in healthcare workers (HCW) exposed to biological risk.

Methods:

The serum markers for HBV were collected from HCWs in two tertiary care hospitals in Naples (Italy). Multivariate statistical analysis was then performed to identify associated factors linked to the long-term immunogenicity of the HCWs.

Results:

All HBV vaccinated individuals were screened for whole marker patterns; all were HBsAg/anti-HBc negative. Of individuals, 20% had an anti-HB antibody titre < 10 IU/L. Multivariate statistical analysis highlighted that women were more protected than men (73.6% vs. 26.4%, P < 0.05). Additionally, nurses seem to maintain a higher antibody titre than doctors and other staff, such as auxiliary technicians ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Our data support the evidence of a strong immunogenicity against HBV, assessed through the circulating antibody titre, when prophylactic vaccination is conducted in non-infantile age, particularly for women. The outcome of the study supports the central role of occupational physicians within the hospital districts in terms of primary prevention and maximum protection of HCWs.
An update on treatment options for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lambert Aurélien , Schwarz Lilian , Borbath Ivan , Henry Aline , Van Laethem Jean-Luc , Malka David , Ducreux Michel , Conroy Thierry
Published: September 2019

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid organ tumors. Due to the rising incidence, late diagnosis, and limited treatment options, it is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths in high income countries in the next decade. The multidisciplinary treatment of this disease depends on the stage of cancer at diagnosis (resectable, borderline, locally advanced, and metastatic disease), and combines surgery, chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and supportive care. The landscape of multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer treatment is changing rapidly, especially in locally advanced disease, and the number of treatment options in metastatic disease, including personalized medicine, innovative targets, immunotherapy, therapeutic vaccines, adoptive T-cell transfer, or stemness inhibitors, will probably expand in the near future. This review summarizes the current literature and provides an overview of how new therapies or new therapeutic strategies (neoadjuvant therapies, conversion surgery) will guide multidisciplinary disease management, future clinical trials, and, hopefully, will increase overall survival.