bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of organisation and specialist service delivery on lung cancer outcomes
Authors: Adizie Jana Bhavani , Khakwani Aamir , Beckett Paul , Hubbard Richard , Navani Neal , Harden Susan V , Woolhouse Ian
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Data from the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA) often show variation in outcomes between lung cancer units which are not entirely explained by case mix. We explore the association between the organisation of services and patient outcome.

Methods

Details of service provision were collected via an electronic survey in June 2017. An overall organisational score derived from eleven key service factors from national lung cancer commissioning guidance was calculated for each organisation. The results for each hospital were linked to their patient outcome results from the 2015 NLCA cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to link the organisational score to patient outcomes.

Results

Lung cancer unit organisational audit scores varied from 0 to 11. Thirty-eight (29%) units had a score of 0–4, 64 (50%) had a score of 5–7 and 27 (21%) had a score of 8–11. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that, compared with an organisational score of 0–4, patients seen at units with a score of 8–11 had higher 1-year survival (adjusted OR (95% CI)=2.30 (1.04 to 5.08), p<0.001), higher curative-intent treatment rate (adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.62 (1.26 to 2.09), p<0.001) and greater likelihood of receiving treatment within 62 days (adjusted OR (95% CI)=1.49 (1.20 to 1.86), p<0.001).

Conclusion

National variation in the provision of services and workforce remain. We provide evidence that adherence to the national lung commissioning guidance has the potential to improve patient outcomes within the current service structure.
Protein kinase A mediates novel serine-584 phosphorylation of HDAC4
Authors: Doddi Shanmukha K. , Kummari Githavani , M.V. Jagannadham , Kalle Arunasree M.
Published: January 2019

Given the well-established diversified signaling pathways for histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and the regulation of HDAC4 by several post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, sumoylation, and ubiquitination, an unbiased and detailed analysis of HDAC4 PTMs is needed. In this study, we used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) to describe phosphorylation at serine 584 (Ser584) along with already-known dual phosphorylation at serines 265 and 266 (Ser265/266), that together regulate HDAC4 activity. Overexpression of site-specific HDAC4 mutants (S584A, S265/266A) in HEK 293T cells, followed by HDAC activity assays, revealed the mutants to be less active than the wild-type protein. In vitro kinase assays have established that Ser584 and Ser265/266 are phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA). Luciferase assays driven by the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) promoter and real-time PCR analysis of the MEF2 target genes show that the S584A and S265/266A mutants are less repressive than the wild-type. Furthermore, treatment with PKA activators such as 8-Bromo-cAMP and forskolin, and silencing either by shRNA or its inhibitor H-89 in a mouse myoblast cell line (C2C12) and in a non-muscle human cell line (K562), confirmed in vivo phosphorylation of HDAC4 in C2C12 but not in K562 cells, indicating the specific functional significance of HDAC4 phosphorylation in muscle cells. Thus, we identified PKA-induced Ser584 phosphorylation of HDAC4 as a yet unknown regulatory mechanism of the HDAC4–MEF2 axis.
Cyclooxygenase inhibitors for treating preterm labour: What is the molecular evidence?
Authors: Urrego Daniela , Liwa Anthony C. , Cole William C. , Wood Stephen L. , Slater Donna M.
Published: January 2019

Preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) significantly increases the risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. As many as half of all preterm births occur following spontaneous preterm labour. Since in such cases there are no known reasons for the initiation of labour, treatment of preterm labour (tocolysis) has sought to stop labour contractions and delay delivery. Despite some success, the use of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors is associated with maternal/fetal side effects, and possibly increased risk of preterm birth. Clinical use of these drugs predates the collection of molecular and biochemical evidence in vitro, examining the expression and activity of COX enzymes in pregnant uterine tissues with and without labour. Such evidence is important to the rationale that COX enzymes are, or are not, appropriate targets for the tocolysis. The current study systematically searched existing scientific evidence to address the hypothesis that COX expression/activity is increased with the onset of human labour, in an effort to determine whether there is a rationale for the use of COX inhibitors as tocolytics. Our review identified 44 studies, but determined that there is insufficient evidence to support or refute a role of COX-1/-2 in the onset of preterm labour that supports COX-targeted tocolysis.
Prenatal determinants of childhood obesity: a review of risk factors
Authors: Liao Xiang-Peng , Yu Yamei , Marc Isabelle , Dubois Lise , Abdelouahab Nadia , Bouchard Luigi , Wu Yan-Ting , Ouyang Fengxiu , Huang Heng-Feng , Fraser William D.
Published: January 2019

Childhood obesity is a predictor of adult obesity and has its roots in the pre-pregnancy or pregnancy period. This review presents an overview of the prenatal risk factors for childhood obesity, which were categorized into 2 groups: biological risk factors (maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, diabetes in pregnancy, and caesarean section), and environmental and behavioural risk factors (maternal smoking and exposure to obesogens, maternal dietary patterns, maternal intestinal microbiome and antibiotics exposure, and maternal psychosocial stress). Identifying modifiable predisposing prenatal factors for obesity will inform further development of inventions to prevent obesity over the life course, and future directions for research and intervention are discussed.
Caffeine attenuates contraction-induced diminutions of the intracellular calcium transient in mouse lumbrical muscle ex vivo
Authors: Smith Ian C. , Vandenboom Rene , Tupling A. Russell
Published: January 2019

The amount of calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle rapidly declines during repeated twitch contractions. In this study, we test the hypothesis that caffeine can mitigate these contraction-induced declines in calcium release. Lumbrical muscles were isolated from male C57BL/6 mice and loaded with the calcium-sensitive indicator, AM-furaptra. Muscles were then stimulated at 8 Hz for 2.0 s in the presence or absence of 0.5 mM caffeine, at either 30 °C or 37 °C. The amplitude and area of the furaptra-based intracellular calcium transients and force produced during twitch contractions were calculated. For each of these measures, the values for twitch 16 relative to twitch 1 were higher in the presence of caffeine than in the absence of caffeine at both temperatures. We conclude that caffeine can attenuate contraction-induced diminutions of calcium release during repeated twitch contractions, thereby contributing to the inotropic effects of caffeine.
Stellar hydrostatic equilibrium compact structures in f(𝒢,T) gravity
Authors: Shamir M. Farasat , Ahmad Mushtaq
Published: January 2019

In this paper, stellar hydrostatic equilibrium configuration of the compact stars (neutron stars and strange stars) has been studied for [Formula: see text] gravity model, with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] being the Gauss–Bonnet invariant and the trace of energy–momentum tensor, respectively. After deriving the hydrostatic equilibrium equations for [Formula: see text] gravity, the fluid pressure for the neutron stars and the strange stars has been computed by implying two equation of state models corresponding to two different compact stars. For the [Formula: see text] gravity model, with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] being some specific parameters, substantial change in the behavior of the physical attributes of the compact stars like the energy density, pressure, stellar mass, and total radius has been noted with the corresponding change in [Formula: see text] values. Meanwhile, it has been shown that for some fixed central energy density and with increasing values of [Formula: see text], the stellar mass both for the neutron stars and the strange stars increases, while the total stellar radius [Formula: see text] exhibits the opposite behavior for both of the compact stars. It is concluded that for this [Formula: see text] stellar model, the maximum stellar mass can be boosted above the observational limits.
Low energy supergravity revisited (I)
Authors: Moultaka Gilbert , Rausch de Traubenberg Michel , Tant Damien
Published: January 2019

General forms of the Kähler and superpotenials that lead to consistent low energy broken Supersymmetry originating from N[Formula: see text]=[Formula: see text]1 Supergravity have been classified and used for model building since more than three decades. We point out the incompleteness of this classification when hidden sector vacuum expectation values are of the order of the Planck mass. Focusing in this paper mainly on the case of minimal Kähler potential, we adopt a rigorous approach that retrieves on the one hand the known forms, and demonstrate on the other hand the existence of a whole set of new forms for the superpotential of which we give a complete classification. The latter forms involve a new type of chiral superfields having the unusual property of belonging neither to the hidden sector nor to the conventional observable sector. Comparing the obtained forms with the conventional ones, we argue how new possibilities for model building can arise, and discuss the gravity mediation of soft as well as additional hard (but parametrically small) Supersymmetry breaking, in the presence of the new type of chiral superfields. In the simplest case, we study the vacuum structure, characterize the masses and couplings of the scalar components to the hidden and observable sectors and discuss briefly the physical role they could play. In the generic case, we estimate the magnitude and possible consequences of the hard breaking of Supersymmetry in terms of the interplay between hidden and visible sector mass scales.
Coupled Thermal–Electrical–Mechanical Inhomogeneous Cell-Based Smoothed Finite Element Method for Transient Responses of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Structures to Dynamic Loadings
Authors: Meng Guangwei , Wang Liheng , Zhang Qixun , Ren Shuhui , Li Xiaolin , Zhou Liming
Published: January 2019

A coupled thermal–electrical–mechanical inhomogeneous cell-based smoothed finite element method (CICS-FEM) is presented for the multi-physics coupling problems, the displacements, the electrical potential and the temperature are obtained by combining the modified Wilson-[Formula: see text] method. By introducing the gradient smoothing technique into the FE model, the system stiffness of the model is reduced. In addition, due to the absence of mapping, CICS-FEM is insensitive to mesh distortion. Curves and contour plots of displacements, electrical potential and temperature of three FGP structures are given in the article. The results shows that CICS-FEM possesses several advantages: (i) insensitive to mesh distortion; (ii) reduce the system stiffness; (iii) convergent and accuracy; (iv) efficient than FEM when the results are at the same accuracy.
Interacting vacuum at infinity
Authors: Kittou G.
Published: January 2019

We apply the central extension technique of Poincaré to dynamics involving an interacting mixture of pressureless matter and vacuum near a finite-time singularity. We show that the only attractor solution on the circle of infinity is the one describing a vanishing matter-vacuum model at early times.
Global determinism of ternary semilattices
Authors: Kar S. , Dutta I.
Published: January 2019

The global determinism of a ternary semigroup [Formula: see text] is the set of all nonempty subsets of [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text] equipped with the naturally defined multiplication. A class [Formula: see text] of ternary semigroups is said to be globally determined if any two members [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] with isomorphic globals are themselves isomorphic i.e. [Formula: see text] implies that [Formula: see text] for any two ternary semigroups [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in the class [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we mainly discuss that the class of all ternary semilattices are globally determined.
Meir–Keeler type contractive mappings in modular and partial modular metric spaces
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Hasan , Parvaneh Vahid
Published: January 2019

In this paper, first, we introduce the class of [Formula: see text]-Meir–Keeler contractive mappings and establish some fixed point results. Next, we introduce the notion of partial modular metric space and establish some fixed point results in this new spaces. As consequences of these results, we deduce some fixed point theorems in modular metric spaces endowed with a graph and in partially ordered metric spaces. Some examples are furnished to demonstrate the validity of the obtained results.
Emergency Consent: Patients’ and Surrogates’ Perspectives on Consent for Clinical Trials in Acute Stroke and Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Dickert Neal W. , Scicluna Victoria M. , Adeoye Opeolu , Angiolillo Dominick J. , Blankenship James C. , Devireddy Chandan M. , Frankel Michael R. , Goldkind Sara F. , Kumar Gautam , Ko Yi‐An , Mitchell Andrea R. , Nogueria Raul G. , Parker Ruth M. , Patel Manesh R. , Riedford Michele , Silbergleit Robert , Speight Candace D. , Spokoyny Ilana , Weinfurt Kevin P. , Pentz Rebecca D.
Published: January 2019

Background

Emergent informed consent for clinical trials in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke is challenging. The role and value of consent are controversial, and insufficient data exist regarding patients’ and surrogates’ experiences.

Methods and Results

We conducted structured interviews with patients (or surrogates) enrolled in AMI or acute stroke trials at 6 sites between 2011 and 2016. Primary domains included trial recall, consent experiences, and preferences regarding involvement. Descriptive and test statistics were used to characterize responses and explore relationships between key domains and characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between key covariates and consent preferences. There were 176 (84 stroke, 92 AMI) completed interviews. Most stroke respondents (82%) were surrogates; all AMI respondents were patients. Average time from trial enrollment to interview was 1.9 years (stroke) and 2.8 years (AMI); 89% of stroke and 62% of AMI respondents remembered being in the trial, and among these respondents, 80% (stroke) and 44% (AMI) remembered reading some of the consent form. Over 90% reported not feeling pressure to enroll, being treated in a caring way, and being treated with dignity. A minority (16% stroke and 26% AMI) reported they would have preferred not to be asked for consent. Just over half (61% stroke and 53% AMI) recalled a postenrollment conversation about the study.

Conclusions

Most respondents felt they were treated respectfully and were glad they had been asked for consent. Trial recall was relatively low, and many respondents recalled little postenrollment discussion. Further development of context‐sensitive approaches to consent is important.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Young Population: Not So Unpredictable
Authors: Atkins Dianne L.
Published: January 2019

See Article by
Allan et al
Is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Becoming the Standard of Care in Octogenarians?
Authors: Himbert Dominique , Urena Marina , Ducrocq Gregory
Published: January 2019

See Article by
Sheng et al
Morphological assessment of the North Eurasian interspecific hybrid forms of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig, 1860 (Crustacea: Cladocera: Cercopagididae)
Authors: KOROVCHINSKY NIKOLAI M.
Published: January 2019

The North Eurasian interspecific hybrid forms of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig, 1860 are described morphologically in detail with consideration of the previous data on their allozyme analysis and brief morphological examination. In total, three hybrid forms have been encountered, among which B. brevimanus x B. cederströmii appear to be most common and widespread whereas two others, one of which is new to science, are known from single localities. The high morphological variability of the former hybrid form is analyzed and its diagnostic features, distinguishing their representatives from those of parental species are determined. Within their vast range, the hybrids B. brevimanus x B. cederströmii seem to be one of the most common and numerous members of the genus. For instance, they dominate in all reservoirs of the Volga River where their biology was investigated in some detail. The hybrids are distributed widely being known from Sweden, Finland, and north-west of European Russia to Central Yakutia in Eastern Siberia. The southern borders of their range extend to the south of Eastern Siberia and Eastern Kazakhstan. Further more detailed investigations of hybrids, both genetic and morphological, are highly desirable.
Social marginalization and chronic illness: A critical analysis of the role of labour-market exclusion
Authors: Nørup Iben
Published: January 2019

Since the 1990s, most European countries have implemented activation policies targeting the unemployed. During the past decade, the target group for activation policies expanded and currently also includes persons with limitations in their ability to work due to long-term or chronic illness and disabilities. The argument underlying these policies is that labour-market exclusion is the main cause for social marginalization because participation in paid work provides important social and psychological functions that cannot be found elsewhere. Based on an extensive set of quantitative data that combines register data and survey data, and using structural equation modelling, this paper analyses the relationship between chronic illness and social marginalization, and in particular which role labour-market exclusion plays in this relationship. Is labour-market exclusion a crucial factor in explaining why individuals with chronic illnesses face a higher risk of social marginalization if factors such as income and education are also taken into account? From the statistical results, the paper states that individuals with chronic illnesses face a far higher risk of social marginalization, but that this risk is caused by their health limitations and not by their lack of labour-market participation. Contrary to the policies’ logic and the theoretical argument of psycho-social theories originating from the deprivation perspective, no direct, indirect or mediating effects of labour-market exclusion on social marginalization were identified.
Economic evaluation of stepped care for the management of childhood anxiety disorders: Results from a randomised trial
Authors: Chatterton Mary Lou , Rapee Ronald M , Catchpool Max , Lyneham Heidi J , Wuthrich Viviana , Hudson Jennifer L , Kangas Maria , Mihalopoulos Cathrine
Published: January 2019

Background:

Stepped care has been promoted for the management of mental disorders; however, there is no empirical evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of this approach for the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth.

Method:

This economic evaluation was conducted within a randomised controlled trial comparing stepped care to a validated, manualised treatment in 281 young people, aged 7–17, with a diagnosed anxiety disorder. Intervention costs were determined from therapist records. Administrative data on medication and medical service use were used to determine additional health care costs during the study period. Parents also completed a resource use questionnaire to collect medications, services not captured in administrative data and parental lost productivity. Outcomes included participant-completed quality of life, Child Health Utility – nine-dimension and parent-completed Assessment of Quality of Life – eight-dimension to calculate quality-adjusted life years. Mean costs and quality-adjusted life years were compared between groups at 12-month follow-up.

Results:

Intervention delivery costs were significantly less for stepped care from the societal perspective (mean difference −$198, 95% confidence interval −$353 to −$19). Total combined costs were less for stepped care from both societal (−$1334, 95% confidence interval −$2386 to $510) and health sector (−$563, 95% confidence interval −$1353 to $643) perspectives but did not differ significantly from the manualised treatment. Youth and parental quality-adjusted life years were not significantly different between groups. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were robust.

Conclusion:

For youth with anxiety, this three-step model provided comparable outcomes and total health sector costs to a validated face-to-face programme. However, it was less costly to deliver from a societal perspective, making it an attractive option for some parents. Future economic evaluations comparing various models of stepped care to treatment as usual are recommended.
Novel approach for silane treatment of flax fiber to improve the interfacial adhesion in flax/bio epoxy composites
Authors: Fathi Babak , Foruzanmehr Mohammadreza , Elkoun Saïd , Robert Mathieu
Published: January 2019

Natural fibers have been approved as an excellent alternative for traditional reinforcements in polymer composites. However, the main disadvantage of natural fibers as reinforcements is their poor interaction with polymeric matrices due to their hydrophilic nature. In order to improve their compatibility as composite reinforcement, surface treatments are required. Silane treatment has been widely used to modify hygroscopic properties of natural fibers. In this study, a new method of silane treatment has been developed without the prehydrolysis and curing/dehydration of silanol groups. To do so, flax fibers were modified through 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation followed by direct application of the amino-silane. The fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion was examined by measuring interlaminar shear strength. Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to study the thermal resistance and thermomechanical properties of the composites. The results revealed that fiber/matrix adhesion was improved in the oxidized silanized fiber composite. In addition, water absorption was significantly reduced (20%) in the oxidized silanized fiber reinforced composite compared with the as-received one.
Cut Short? United Nations Peacekeeping and Civil War Duration to Negotiated Settlements
Authors: Kathman Jacob , Benson Michelle
Published: January 2019

While much literature on peacekeeping seeks to determine the effect of United Nations (UN) intervention on post-conflict peace processes, most peacekeeping operations (PKOs) are deployed to active conflicts. The limited research on peacekeeping in active civil conflicts suggests that robust PKOs reduce hostilities. Yet, if PKOs serve to extend conflict duration, even lowered hostilities can yield greater destruction over time. We thus explore the effect of peacekeeping on conflict duration. We argue that PKOs with larger troop deployments are better able to increase the cost of combat, improve information sharing between belligerents, and provide security guarantees, thus reducing the time to negotiated resolutions. Using fine-grained data on monthly peacekeeping personnel commitments and observations of ongoing conflict between combatants, we examine how variations in mission deployments affect the success of UN peacekeeping in ending civil conflicts. As expected, our findings indicate that larger troop deployments shorten war duration to negotiated resolution.
The Intonation and Pragmatics of Greek wh-Questions
Authors: Baltazani Mary , Gryllia Stella , Arvaniti Amalia
Published: January 2019

We experimentally tested three hypotheses regarding the pragmatics of two tunes (one high-ending, one flat-ending) used with Greek wh-questions: (a) the high-ending tune is associated with information-seeking questions, while the flat-ending tune is also appropriate when wh-questions are not information-seeking, in which case their function can instead be akin to that of a statement; (b) the high-ending tune is more polite, and (c) more appropriate for contexts leading to information-seeking questions. The wh-questions used as experimental stimuli were elicited from four speakers in contexts likely to lead to either information-seeking or non-information-seeking uses. The speakers produced distinct tunes in response to the contexts; acoustic analysis indicates these are best analysed as L*+H L-!H% (rising), and L+H* L-L% (flat). In a perception experiment where participants heard the questions out of context, they chose answers providing information significantly more frequently after high-ending than flat-ending questions, confirming hypothesis (a). In a second experiment testing hypotheses (b) and (c), participants evaluated wh-questions for appropriateness and politeness in information- and non-information-seeking contexts. High-ending questions were rated more appropriate in information-seeking contexts, and more polite independently of context relative to their flat-ending counterparts. Finally, two follow-up experiments showed that the interpretation of the two tunes was not affected by voice characteristics of individual speakers, and confirmed a participant preference for the high-ending tune. Overall, the results support our hypotheses and lead to a compositional analysis of the meaning of the two tunes, while also showing that intonational meaning is determined by both tune and pragmatic context.
The development and status of forensic anthropology in India: A review of the literature and future directions
Authors: Baryah Neha , Krishan Kewal , Kanchan Tanuj
Published: January 2019

Forensic anthropology deals with the identification of human remains in a legal setting. The primary role of a forensic anthropologist is to evaluate human skeletal remains and ascertain the biological profile of the deceased. Forensic anthropologists thus use their expertise to assist medical examiners, as well as law enforcement agencies. Forensic anthropology was not recognised as a subject specialty of much significance in most parts of the world for a long time. However, now its status has changed, mostly in the USA and parts of Europe. The scope of the subject ranges from evaluation of human skeletal remains to the identification of the living. In the new millennium, the role of forensic anthropologists includes disaster victim identification, photographic superimposition, facial image reconstruction in CCTV footage, gait pattern analysis from video surveillance, ascertaining the age of an individual in absence of legal documents and paedo-pornographic materials. Despite its relevance in human identification, the development of forensic anthropology in India is not very encouraging. Only a few institutions in India include forensic anthropology as a part of the forensic science degree programme, and there are no certified courses in anthropology either. Likewise, there are limited employment opportunities for forensic anthropologists in medical institutes/organisations/universities. This comprehensive review focuses on the status and development of forensic anthropology in India and emphasises the need for its recognition as a specialty of significance. The article also throws light on the comparison of its status in the Indian context vis a vis developed nations.
Digital Storytelling as an Intervention for Bereaved Family Members
Authors: Rolbiecki Abigail J. , Washington Karla T. , Bitsicas Katina
Published: January 2019

Fourteen ( N = 14) bereaved family members participated in an exploratory study of Digital Storytelling as a bereavement intervention. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of this approach and to qualitatively assess potential impacts. Qualitative data revealed that for some, participation in Digital Storytelling facilitated growth and meaning-making. Themes from the data also revealed that participation in Digital Storytelling affected participants in these ways: (a) the writing and verbalization of the script helped participants organize their thoughts and emotions about the loss, (b) having the space to share with a collective group encouraged confidence in their ability to discuss their feelings with others, and (c) the final product served as a source of closure for participants. Although this was a small exploratory study, results were promising and suggest the clinical applicability of Digital Storytelling as a tool for facilitating meaning-making among bereaved family members.
Experimentally Induced Single and Repeated Personal Name Confusions: The Impact of Phonological and Semantic Similarity
Authors: Dupont Manuel
Published: January 2019

Three experiments investigated a common but intriguing phenomenon, that is, repeated personal name confusion, a phenomenon at the border between language and memory. The purpose of those experiments was to evaluate the impact of the semantic and phonological similarities on name confusion and to compare repeated naming confusions (i.e., repeatedly confounding two names) with single confusions (i.e., confounding two names only once) in a same experimental paradigm. In all experiments, participants (64 middle-aged participants for each experiment) were asked to memorize the association between 16 names and 16 faces (face-name learning task). In Experiments 1 and 2, the two studied variables were the phonological similarity between the confused names and the semantic similarity between the two bearers of the confused names (using a visually derived semantic code in Experiment 1 and an identity-specific semantic code in Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, the impact of those two semantic similarities between the bearers of the confused names was taken into account, whereas the phonological similarity was not taken into account. First, results showed a main effect of the phonological and semantic similarity on name confusion (more confusions when the names were phonologically related or when the bearers of the names were semantically related). Second, we found that (1) the combination of the phonological and the semantic similarity and (2) the combination of the two semantic similarities led to an increase of name confusions. Third, in the three experiments, we found that the semantic and phonological similarities had a similar impact on repeated and single confusions. Finally, results showed that participants always made more single than repeated confusions, except in the case when the bearers of the confused names shared two semantic features.
Application of biomimicry for sustainable functionalization of textiles: review of current status and prospectus
Authors: Weerasinghe DU , Perera Srimala , Dissanayake DGK
Published: January 2019

With the increasing complexity of human lifestyles, the demand for functionalized or high-performance textile materials has seen a steep rise. However, the methods of producing thereof are still creating a negative impact on the environment. Although biomimicry is a possible means of catering for this demand, most of the emerging biomimetic technologies follow an unsustainable path, accentuated only on transferring functionalities of nature, by using chemical-intensive applications. Nevertheless, biomimicry holds promise in sustainable manufacturing, if toxic chemical usage can be reduced while structural applications are increased. This study reviews the possibilities of existing and futuristic textile technologies that could facilitate conscious biomimicking of functional textiles, rather than intense application of chemicals. A total of 283 research articles were initially obtained and screened to review the possibilities of combining biomimetic technologies with textile manufacturing technologies. Prospects of innovative textile technologies and additive manufacturing on the futuristic possibilities of structural mimicking of biological functionalities into textile materials are discussed comprehensively. Possible construction methods, including additive manufacturing and weaving in the micro/nano scale, are suggested for structural mimicking. It is also recommended to unfold the potential of biomimicry in producing functional textiles in order to alleviate the harmful impact already caused to the environment by the textile industry.
Development of multifunctional warming fabric part II: Multi-quality process parameter optimization of hygroscopic heating and antistatic function yarn
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Lan Wei-Lun
Published: January 2019

This series study develops a multifunctional poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric with far-infrared function and moisture absorption heating properties for warming clothing. In Part I, the far-infrared function yarn was made by a PET and nano-germanium composite to improve the properties of far-infrared emissivity and far-infrared heating. The moisture absorption heating PET yarn includes hygroscopic heating and antistatic properties. In Part II, this moisture absorption heating PET yarn is made by the hydrophilic PET, and the process parameters optimization for melt spinning is presented. First, in order to improve the hydrophilicity of PET, the modified PET is polymerized by terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol oligomers, and sodium-5-sulfo-bis-(hydroxyethyl)-isophthalate. Then, the hydrophilic PET is made into a moisture absorption heating PET yarn, specified to a 75d/72f fully drawn yarn by melt spinning. The properties of this yarn, including hygroscopic heating, surface resistance, tensile strength, elongation at break and yarn count, are presented. In order to improve the properties of this yarn, the Taguchi method combined with grey relational analysis is used to obtain the optimal multi-quality process parameters for melt spinning. According to experiment results, this modified yarn has excellent hygroscopic heating, surface resistance and elongation at break. At the same time, it is shown that the warming fabric forms from Part I and this modified yarn can achieve far-infrared emission of 89%, far-infrared heating of 6.3 ℃, hygroscopic heating of 1.8 ℃ and surface resistance of 107Ω.
Novel composite siro-spinning with forced migrations of filaments
Authors: Xia Zhigang , Wang Cancan , Fu Chiyu , Wei Jiang , Xu Weilin
Published: January 2019

In this study, a novel composite siro-spinning method with cyclically migrating filaments was developed as a simple and safe way to enhance filament-staple-fiber coherence. The novel composite siro-spinning method was theoretically demonstrated to produce a yarn with migrated filaments clasping both internal and external fibers. It was predicted that migrated filaments of the novel composite sirospun yarn were not straight enough to resist yarn tensile drawing as the filament parallelism with the yarn axis decreased. However, migrated filaments could clasp the staple fibers firmly to enhance filament-staple-fiber coherence, contributing an excellent frictional resistance of the novel composite yarn. Experiments were then conducted to validate the demonstration. Experimental results proved that the novel composite sirospun yarn had cyclic filament immersion and exposure appearance, resulting in medium hairiness and yarn imperfection after comparison with corefil sirospun and siro corefil yarns. The novel composite sirospun yarn with severe filament migrations had poor filament straightness, but filament deformations that were effective in clamping staple fibers. Therefore, the novel composite sirospun yarn had less strength, but greater frictional resistance than corefil sirospun and siro corefil yarns.
Counternarratives of Youth Participation Among Black Girls
Authors: Garcia Patricia , Fernández Cecilia Henríquez , Jackson Ashley
Published: January 2019

In this article, we examine diverse forms of youth participation among Black girls through an analysis of 390 application responses for a leadership and empowerment conference. Using a counternarrative methodological approach and intersectional analytical lens, we illustrate how Black girls (a) view participation as an empowering avenue for countering harmful stereotypes that have individual and collective impacts, (b) utilize participation as an intervention for effecting change in their communities, and (c) draw upon their present participation experiences to imagine future selves and life trajectories. We contribute an expanded understanding of “youth participation” grounded in the lives of Black girls that draws from how they describe their daily lives across a diverse range of learning, religious, familial, and geographic contexts. Ultimately, we argue for studies of youth participation that are grounded in lived realities and extend beyond the limited forms of youth participation legible to society.
Notes from the Field: Evaluating a Budget-Based Approach to Peer Assessment for Measuring Collaboration Among Learners on Interprofessional Teams
Authors: Lockeman Kelly S. , Dow Alan W. , Randell Autumn L.
Published: January 2019

Assessing interprofessional skills poses challenges for health professions educators. While competency frameworks define the skills graduating students should possess, they do not provide guidance for assessment. This brief report explores validity evidence for use of peer assessment to assess learners and provide feedback for improvement. The context was an online learning experience for 477 fourth-year students from medicine, nursing, and pharmacy who worked together on small interprofessional teams to care for a virtual geriatric patient. At the end of each case unit, students were given a budget of points to allocate among teammates to assess their communication and interprofessional collaboration. Ratings were averaged to provide learners with feedback about their performance. Scores were normally distributed, did not demonstrate a leniency effect, were moderately correlated with ratings that preceptors assigned to students, and had smaller correlations with knowledge scores and other case activity measures. Findings support budget-based peer assessment as a valid and feasible approach for differentiating between students with high interprofessional competency and those who may be deficient. Further exploration should focus on the longitudinal effect of peer assessment, how it may influence individual learning and team dynamics, and whether it could be used for other assessment purposes.
Correlates of Tobacco Use and Consumption Among Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Okoli Chizimuzo T. C. , Seng Sarret
Published: January 2019

Using a cross-sectional analysis, we assessed correlates of tobacco use and tobacco consumption from inpatient records ( N = 2,060) from a state psychiatric hospital. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine correlates of tobacco use in the total sample and multivariate linear regression to examine correlates of tobacco consumption among tobacco users. Tobacco-use associated variables in the total sample were being male, being White, lower education, having a substance-use disorder/treatment, having an externalizing or psychotic disorder, being from a rural county, being younger, and shorter length of hospital stay. Among tobacco users ( n = 1,153), correlates of amount of tobacco consumption were being male; being White; lower education; having an internalizing, externalizing, and psychotic disorder; using cigarettes; and living in a county without a smoke-free policy. Psychiatric patients should be screened for specific associative variables as part of tobacco-use assessments. Future research may expand on the current findings to develop strategies to enhance tobacco treatment among psychiatric patients.
Approach to pneumothorax surgery: a national survey of current UK practice
Authors: Asghar Nawaz Muhammad , Apparau Denish , Zacharias Joseph , Shackcloth Michael
Published: January 2019

Background

Pneumothorax is a common condition with various management options. We aimed to determine the current surgical practice in the United Kingdom.

Method

An online questionnaire regarding surgical strategy was sent to all consultants who were members of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (80 thoracic).

Results

Fifty-six consultants, mainly thoracic, responded to the survey. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was unanimously the preferred approach, the majority (59%) using 3 ports. Regarding the timing of surgery, 53 (95%) surgeons would intervene at first presentation with persistent air leak and/or lung collapse, 41 (73%) for a first bilateral pneumothorax, 22 (39%) only for recurrent pneumothorax, and 18 (32%) for the first computed tomography evidence of bullae. Apical bullectomy + pleurectomy was the preferred technique for 26 (46%) surgeons, and apical bullectomy + apical pleurectomy + pleural abrasion was the choice for 13 (23%). Some surgeons were concerned about talc and avoid it. The majority (70%) used a single apical drain with or without 24–48 h suction. Regarding chest radiography, the response was variable but 48% performed immediate postoperative and/or daily chest radiographs. Currently, most surgeons (59%) use digital drains and feel it monitors air leaks better. The perceived chronic pain (1%–3%) and recurrence rates (0%–3%) were stated by 59% and 86%, respectively.

Conclusion

There is variability in the surgical management of pneumothorax among surgeons across the UK, but they all use video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as the intervention of choice for pneumothorax surgery, and there is a shift towards early surgical intervention.
Arterial switch operation in non-facing coronary artery ostium
Authors: Subtaweesin Thaworn
Published: January 2019

The arterial switch operation was performed on a 38-day-old infant with d-transposition of the great arteries and abnormal origin of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries from a non-facing sinus. A vertical aortic tube flap was established to lengthen the abnormally originating coronary arteries, by transecting part of the ascending aorta 2 cm above the coronary orifices. Both coronary arteries were transferred to the neoaortic root in a single extended tube.
Surgical outcomes of early-stage small-cell lung cancer: single-center experience
Authors: Sayan Muhammet , Satir Turk Merve , Celik Ali , Cuneyt Kurul Ismail , Irfan Tastepe Abdullah
Published: January 2019

Background

Small-cell lung cancer is a highly aggressive and metastatic epithelial lung malignancy. A small percentage of these tumors can be detected at an early stage and may be appropriate for surgical treatment. We analyzed the data of patients with early-stage small-cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Methods

Between January 2011 and December 2016, 26 patients with early-stage small-cell lung cancer underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection and were included the study. The mean age was 60.9 years and 18 (69.2%) were male. Patients with increased uptake of 18 F-fludeoxyglucose in mediastinal or distant organs on positron-emission tomography computed tomography, or lung resections other than lobectomy, were not included in the study.

Results

The most common tumor location was the right upper lobe. The diagnoses were achieved by intraoperative frozen section study in almost all patients (92.3%). Mean overall survival was 58.5 ± 6.7 months (range 45–71 months) and the 5-year survival rate was 53%. We found that a statistically significant correlation between lymph node metastasis in N1 or N2 stations and survival. There was also a significant relationship between N2 nodal metastasis and recurrence.

Conclusion

As stated in the current guidelines, lung lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node resection should be considered in early-stage small-cell lung cancers. Survival outcomes of surgery for early-stage small-cell lung cancer are similar to the results in non-small-cell lung cancer.
The spark, the spread and ethics: Towards an object-orientated view of subversive creativity
Authors: Mould Oli
Published: January 2019

This paper articulates the subversive and political potential of an object-orientated view of urban creativity. Drawing upon object-orientated philosophies, it further develops the political and subversive potential of the creativity rhetoric to argue that nonhuman material agency is an important factor in propelling subversive behaviour into sustained political change. By focusing on the agency of objects and their ability to challenge our own behaviour in the city, the paper posits a three-stage articulation of subversive creativity; the spark, the spread and ethics. From this, the paper argues that creativity can be posited less as a mechanism of change that is all too often co-opted and reappropriated by normalising forces, but as a subversive force that has a potential to create alternative and sustained political subjectivities.
A review of the current business rates scheme in Wales and the effects of a potential local retention
Authors: Kapitsinis Nikos
Published: January 2019

The shape of local government finance in the United Kingdom is changing. The UK Government has been promoting fiscal devolution in the context of austerity following the 2007 global economic crisis. Consequently, local government finance is becoming an increasingly important issue. According to the current regulation, the revenues from business rates, a local tax on non-domestic properties, are pooled to the Welsh Government and then redistributed to the councils, based on their adult population. In the context of fiscal devolution, and following England and Scotland, which adopted retention of business rates income, the discussion for the local retention of business rates revenues in Wales is topical. This paper looks at the organisation of the current business rates system in Wales and the impacts of a potential local retention. It provides a rigorous review of the current state of business rates scheme and the features of the councils according to the net difference between business rates, settlements and contributions. The findings suggest that the current system financially backs the economically disadvantaged Welsh councils, whereas a local retention of business rates income would possibly polarise the uneven allocation of local funding.
Executive Functions and Interpersonal Skills in Preadolescents With High Family Risk: Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention Program
Authors: Gómez-Pérez M. Mar , Calero M. Dolores , Mata Sara
Published: January 2019

Growing up in a high family risk (HFR) environment is accompanied by difficulties in executive functions (EFs) and interpersonal skills (IS) that may persist into adulthood. Because preadolescence is a critical period, this study will assess a multicomponent mediational intervention program, to determine the possibility of improving these skills. There were 61 preadolescent participants, between the ages of 8 and 12; 34 were associated with HFR and 27 were associated with low family risk (LFR). All the participants were tested with EF and IS measures. Results showed that, prior to treatment, the HFR preadolescents had poorer performance on EF and IS than did the LFR preadolescents. In the posttreatment measures, to assess the utility of the multicomponent program, the HFR preadolescents group was able to match the scores of those in the LFR group. In addition, intervention effects in the HFR group were maintained in the follow-up assessment.