bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproductive toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of the flowers of Acmella oleracea and spilanthol in zebrafish: In vivo and in silico evaluation
Authors: de Souza GC , Viana MD , Goés LDM , Sanchez-Ortiz BL , Silva GA da , Pinheiro WB de Souza , Santos CB Rodrigues dos , Carvalho JC Tavares
Published: October 2019

Hydroethanolic preparations of Acmella oleracea is used in the north of Brazil as a female aphrodisiac. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the action of the hydroethanolic extract of Acmella oleracea (EHFAo) flowers (21.873 and 44.457 mg/kg) and spilanthol (3 mg/kg) administered orally on reproductive performance and effects on the embryonic development of zebrafish F1 generation. It was observed that in the groups in which males and females received EHFAo and spilanthol, the spawning was interrupted, whereas in the groups in which only the females were treated, spawning occurred during the 21 days. Thus, in the histopathological evaluation of the gonads, it was possible to observe that the percentage of mature cells in the spermatozoa and females was significantly reduced. Only the embryo groups in which parental generation was treated with EHFAo showed lethal and teratogenic effects. On the other hand, the parental groups treated with the spilanthol presented only the lethality. Spilanthol and some metabolites showed good oral availability and important toxicological properties. Thus, it is suggested that the treatment of parental generation of zebrafish with EHFAo and spilanthol caused severe changes in the gonads and on fertility. However, on the embryo, the most striking effects in the development were recorded in the groups in which the parental generation was treated with the EHFAo, while the spilanthol influenced the lethality of the embryos.
Effect of alkali treatment on mechanical properties of jute fiber-reinforced partially biodegradable green composites using epoxy resin matrix
Authors: Singh Jai Inder Preet , Singh Sehijpal , Dhawan Vikas
Published: October 2019

In this work, partially biodegradable green composites have been developed with the help of compression molding technique. Jute fibers were selected as a reinforcement and epoxy resin as matrix material. The influence of alkali treatment on various mechanical properties of jute/epoxy composites was investigated, with concentrations ranging from 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% NaOH solution. Various test results indicate that with an increase in concentration, tensile and flexural strength increases up to 5% concentration of NaOH, thereafter both the properties decrease, but impact strength increases up to 7% concentration and thereafter decreases. The results of mechanical characterizations were further validated through the study of morphology with scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The optimal concentration of 5% concentration for alkali treatment of fibers have been suggested.
An Atlantic divide? Mapping the knowledge domain of European and North American-based sociology of sport, 2008–2018
Authors: Tian Enqing , Wise Nicholas
Published: October 2019

The sociology of sport has become a burgeoning subdiscipline in the 21st century. To assess knowledge domains and the status quo of the field in Europe and North America, this study uses CiteSpace (a bibliometric visualization software) to analyse 870 academic articles published in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Journal of Sport & Social Issues and Sociology of Sport Journal from 2008 to 2018. By mapping/examining core contributors, keywords, high citations/cited authors, major clusters and citation bursts, the findings echo John W. Loy’s ‘risk of critical mass’ calling for various citation analysis approaches. The study expands Jon Dart and Ørnulf Seippel’s recent topic model studies on subdisciplinary development in recent decades, contributing to informed discussions of geographical politics and research directions in the field. The scale and scope of this analysis is highly generalizable to assess pre-existing state-of-the-art research on the sociology of sport.
Ultrasonographic Assessment of Deltoid Ligament Integrity in Ankle Fractures
Authors: Rosa Isabel , Rodeia Joaquim , Fernandes Pedro Xavier , Teixeira Raquel , Saldanha Tiago , Consciência José Guimarães
Published: October 2019

Background:

Regardless of fibular status, the presence of a superficial deltoid ligament disruption or a combination of deep and superficial deltoid ligament disruption is central to the decision-making process in treating ankle fractures. The aims of the present study were to test whether ultrasonography can assess deltoid ligament integrity and to determine its validity and reliability by comparing it with gravity stress radiography.

Methods:

A consecutive series of 81 eligible patients with a nondisplaced or minimally displaced fibula fracture identified on a standard radiograph were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent gravity stress radiography and ultrasonography. Image analysis included the layer type, integrity, and tear site of the deltoid ligament. Ultrasound validity and intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed by the interpretations of the first author and an independent observer who were blinded to the results.

Results:

Of all patients, 64 (79.0%) had a deltoid ligament disruption; most of the tears were of both the superficial and deep layers, partial and proximal attachment tears, and only 8 (12.5%) were complete tears. Patients with an intact deltoid ligament had a mean medial clear space (MCS) value of 2.7 ± 0.5 mm, and those with deltoid ligament tears had a mean MCS value of 5.9 ± 3.4 mm ( P < .001). In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively. The intra- and interobserver reliability was evaluated as almost perfect in all conditions. In a comparison between ultrasonography and gravity radiography, we found a sensitivity of 100% versus 97%, a specificity of 90% versus 100%, a positive predictive value of 97% versus 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% versus 90%, respectively.

Conclusion:

Ultrasonography proved to be an accurate tool, allowing the identification of deltoid ligament disruption and the involved components in a more dynamic fashion. Its relative ease of use and lack of ionizing radiation make it a useful and confident technique that can be performed by an orthopedist.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.
Development of a Survey to Assess Latino Fathers’ Parenting Practices Regarding Energy Balance–Related Behaviors of Early Adolescents
Authors: Zhang Youjie , Reyes Peralta Alejandro , Arellano Roldan Brazys Patricia , Hurtado Ghaffar Ali , Larson Nicole , Reicks Marla
Published: October 2019

Latino adolescents face challenges to performing energy balance–related behaviors (EBRBs) to prevent childhood obesity, including healthy dietary intake, adequate physical activity, and limited screen time. Fathers are underrepresented in family-based obesity interventions but could be influential in shaping the EBRBs of Latino children. Three types of parenting practices (setting expectations/limits, role modeling, managing availability and accessibility) have shown relatively consistent positive relationships with children’s EBRBs in studies that have mostly involved mothers. The purpose of this study was to develop measures to assess Latino fathers’ parenting practices based on existing measurement instruments, focus groups and cognitive testing. Criterion validity of the measures (40 items) was examined with Latino fathers and their early adolescents (10-14 years old, n = 96 dyads) who were predominantly from low-income, two-parent households. Criterion validity was indicated by significantly higher intakes of fruit and vegetables; lower intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets/salty snacks and fast foods; more weekly physical activity hours; and fewer daily screen time hours among adolescents who reported high versus low levels/frequencies of supportive parenting practices. In addition, nearly all scales of adolescent-reported paternal behavioral modeling and availability/accessibility practices were significantly correlated with adolescents’ corresponding EBRBs (r = 0.22 to 0.54). However, poor validity and agreement with early adolescents’ reports were found for most father-reported parenting practices. Overall, this study indicated that the measures were acceptable for assessing adolescents’ report of Latino fathers’ parenting practices around EBRBs. The findings also indicate the importance of including early adolescents’ reports in measuring paternal parenting practices.
Barriers and Motivators of Bicycling by Gender Among Older Adult Bicyclists in the Midwest
Authors: Grimes Amanda , Chrisman Matthew , Lightner Joseph
Published: October 2019

Introduction. Physical activity (PA), particularly low-impact activities like bicycling, can improve health in older adults. However, bicycling rates are lower in the Midwest than other regions in the United States. Therefore, it is important to identify unique social, personal, and environmental factors that inhibit or promote bicycling, and how these are associated with PA. The influences of these factors were explored using the social ecological model. Method. A cross-sectional online survey was developed using previously validated local and national bicycling questionnaires, then distributed to Midwestern bicyclists 50 years and older. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to understand the influences of social, personal, and environmental barriers and promoters on bicycling patterns. All models were conducted separately by gender, and accounted for age, race, education, marital status, income, and employment. Results. Social promoters (B = 0.386, p = .002), such as having friends/family that bicycle were associated with greater PA. Personal promoters (B = −0.311, p = .006) such as needing to lose weight were associated with reduced PA. Environmental factors had no associations with PA. However, individual environmental components, such as number of vehicles on the roads, were significantly associated with PA for both males and females. Females reported more barriers than males. The overall model accounted for 16.1% of the total variance in PA levels. Conclusion. Interventions to promote PA via bicycling in older adults should focus on social factors, while also reducing personal-level factors for males. Interventions for females could focus on reducing specific personal, social, and environmental barriers.
Multiple myeloma: an overview of management
Authors: Bird Sarah Anne , Boyd Kevin
Published: October 2019

Multiple myeloma represents 2% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United Kingdom and accounts for 2% of all cancer deaths. In the past few decades, there have been huge improvements in life expectancy which have been driven by novel therapeutic agents, autologous stem cell transplants and intensified supportive care. This review will discuss the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma, current management approaches and the direction of future treatments. In addition, this review will highlight the high burden of symptoms that patients experience and therefore the great benefits that can be gained from specialist palliative care input.
How ‘The Daily Mile™’ works in practice: A process evaluation in a UK primary school
Authors: Harris Jennifer , Milnes Linda Jane , Mountain Gary
Published: October 2019

Over 75% children in the United Kingdom fail to achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Successful implementation of ‘The Daily Mile™’, a school-based physical activity intervention, could promote activity. We examined factors instrumental to replication and/or wider implementation of ‘The Daily Mile’ through application of a two phase multi-method process evaluation. Phase one: 75 children (mean age seven years eight months) from one East Midland primary academy trialled the intervention. Data collected were self-report logs, perceived exertion scores and structured observation. Phase two: a sub-sample of 18 stakeholders participated in focus groups which were analysed using framework method. Teachers delivered ‘The Daily Mile’ on 93.6% of school days. An average of 95.2% of students participated, 94.2% completed recommended 15 minutes, 94.3% to a moderate-to-vigorous level. Three themes emerged in focus groups; embedding ‘The Daily Mile’ into practice, creating the right physical environment and building relationships/promoting a supportive climate. With systematic organisation and planning, ‘The Daily Mile’ could emerge as an integrated means of increasing physical activity. A supportive climate and factors that promote resilience are key facilitators. Further research is needed to establish outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Bottom-up nationalism and discrimination on social media: An analysis of the citizenship debate about refugees in Turkey
Authors: Bozdağ Çiğdem
Published: October 2019

This study analyzes social media representations of refugees in Turkey and discusses their role in shaping public opinion. The influx of millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey has created heated debates about their presence and future in the country. One of these debates was triggered by President Erdoğan’s statement that Turkey would issue citizenship rights to Syrians in July 2016. Due to a lack of critical voices about refugee issues in Turkey’s mass media sphere, social media has become a key platform for citizens to voice their opinions. Through a discourse analysis of tweets about the issue of refugees’ citizenship, I will map different perceptions of refugees in Turkey. I argue that despite contesting discourses about Syrians, the debate on social media reinforces nationalism and an ethnocentric understanding of citizenship in Turkey. As the number of refugees and migrants increases rapidly worldwide, they become the new ‘others’ of national imagined communities. Social media becomes a key communication space where the nation is discursively constructed in a bottom-up manner through manifestations of ‘us’ and ‘them’. The analysis shows that social media contributes to trivialization and normalization of discrimination and hatred against Syrian refugees through disseminating overt discourses of ‘Othering’. Social media also enables more covert forms of discrimination through ‘rationalized’ arguments that are used to justify discrimination through the basis of false/non-verified information. Thus, Twitter becomes a space for critical, bottom-up, yet nationalistic and discriminatory statements about refugees.
Measurement of mobility and physical function in hospitalised trauma patients: A systematic review of instruments and their measurement properties
Authors: Calthorpe Sara , Kimmel Lara A , Webb Melissa J , Gabbe Belinda J , Holland Anne E
Published: October 2019

Introduction

It is well recognised that organised trauma systems reduce trauma patient mortality. As established systems mature, there is an increasing need to better understand the patient recovery trajectory. Mobility and physical function are key aspects of recovery, but the optimal instruments for measurement in the acute hospital setting remain unclear.

Methods

A systematic review was undertaken to identify and describe mobility and physical function instruments scored by direct patient assessment, in adult trauma patients in an acute hospital setting. Databases were searched with no date restrictions. Instruments that were specific to subgroups or related to individual conditions, diseases or joints were excluded. The consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments checklist was used to assess risk of bias where relevant. Clinimetric properties were reported where possible, including reliability, validity and responsiveness.

Results

Fourteen thousand one hundred and fourteen articles were identified with 37 eligible for final review, including six instruments. None had been specifically designed for use in a heterogeneous range of trauma patients. The Functional Independence Measure was the most commonly cited (n = 10 studies), with evidence of construct validity, responsiveness and minimal floor/ceiling effects (<3%). The Acute Care Index of Function (n = 1 study) was found to be valid and responsive whilst the modified Iowa Level of Assistance (n = 2 studies) was reliable and responsive, but ceiling effects ranged from 26% to 37%. Little clinimetric data were available for other measures.

Conclusion

Evidence from a few studies show promise for the use of the Functional Independence Measure, Acute Care Index of Function and modified Iowa Level of Assistance to measure mobility and physical function in trauma patients, however comprehensive clinimetric data are lacking. Future research should test these scores in specifically designed clinimetric property studies in defined trauma patient populations. This would enable the identification of a gold standard measure for evaluating treatment effectiveness, enabling benchmarking between centres, allow prediction of recovery pathways and optimise trauma patient outcomes.
Infrastructural surveillance
Authors: Gekker Alex , Hind Sam
Published: October 2019

This article proposes a new model of privacy: infrastructural surveillance. It departs from Agre’s classic distinction between surveillance and capture by examining the sociotechnical claims of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) as requiring totalising surveillance of passengers and environment in order to operate. By doing so, it contributes to the ongoing debate on the commodification and platformisation of life, paying attention to the under-explored infrastructural requirements of certain digital technologies, rather than its business model. The article addresses four distinct characteristics of infrastructural surveillance: the aggregation of data, initialisation of protocols limiting possible actions, the prioritisation of distributed modes of governance and the enclosure of the driver in a personalised bubble of sovereign power. Ultimately, unlike previous modes of computer privacy in which activities are being constructed in real time from a set of institutionally standardised parts specified by a captured ontology, we observe the creation of new ontologies.
Business news in a Loyalist Press environment
Authors: Gibbs Joseph
Published: October 2019

Several legal mechanisms regulate and influence domestic business journalism in the United Arab Emirates and encourage it to conform within a Loyalist Press environment. These include Article 81 in Federal Law 15 of 1980 (Concerning Publications and Publishing) directly addressing business coverage, and portions of Federal Law 3 of 1987 (Concerning the Penal Code) that broadly define defamation. Another significant law, Federal Decree-Law 5 of 2012 (On Combating Cybercrimes), established a number of potential limitations on journalistic digital media use and content. Domestic business journalism also contends with a low number of publicly traded firms – hence there is little systematically disclosed financial data – and a region-wide tradition of discretion in business matters.
The effects of scandalization in political news messages on political trust and message evaluation
Authors: Graβl Paul , Schaap Gabi , Spagnuolo Flavia , Van ’t Riet Jonathan
Published: October 2019

Recent decades have seen an increase in the frequency of ‘scandalization’ in political news, a practice in which journalists try to persuade the public that there is a scandal, sometimes by exaggerating the importance of minor mistakes or improprieties. At the moment, little is known about the effects of this practice on news consumers. In this study, we investigated the effects of scandalization on news consumers’ evaluations of the politician involved in the scandal, as well as the news message itself. We expected that such responses would be contingent on the perceived severity of the alleged transgression. We conducted an experiment in which we randomized participants (128 undergraduate students at a Dutch university) into a 2(mild versus severe transgression) X 2(scandalization versus control) between participants design. The results showed that, in the mild transgression condition, a scandalizing message caused participants to perceive the alleged events as less serious than a control message, and that scandalization resulted in lower levels of perceived message appropriateness and message trust. No effects of scandalization were found in the severe transgression condition. We conclude that scandalization does not inevitably lead to lower levels of political trust and increased political cynicism. It can, however, lead to lower levels of trust in news reporting when the transgression is seen as mild.
Book review: Myers, Garth. 2016: Urban Environments in Africa: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Politics
Authors: Oliveira Eduardo
Published: October 2019

Myers, Garth. 2016: Urban Environments in Africa: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Politics. Bristol: Policy Press. xiv + 214 pp. £19.99 (Hardback). ISBN: 9781447322917.
Book review: Calkin, S. 2018. Human Capital in Gender and Development
Authors: Marzi Sonja
Published: October 2019

Calkin, S. 2018. Human Capital in Gender and Development. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. 190 pp. £115 (hardback). ISBN: 9781138697348.
Ethnic residential segregation and identificational assimilation: An intergenerational analysis of those claiming single (heritage) and dual (with Australian) ancestries
Authors: Forrest James , Johnston Ron , Siciliano Frank
Published: October 2019

Faced with increasing flows of immigrants from countries with very different ethnic and cultural compositions, identity has become an important part of the public debate on immigration and minority ethnic group assimilation. Yet, identificational assimilation, associated with the emergence of a new social identity as ethnic immigrant groups merge with host society members while often retaining some ‘inner layer’ of heritage ancestry or background, is among the least studied of assimilation sub-processes. Like other aspects of assimilation, it is an intergenerational process, but one which occurs unevenly among immigrant groups from different cultural backgrounds. Spatially, there is an underlying assumption that those more identificationally assimilated will be less segregated from host society members. Focusing on ancestral identification, whether heritage (ethnic or cultural background) only or dual (heritage-Australian), we analyse three generations of a cross-section of ethnic immigrant groups in Sydney, Australia’s largest immigrant-receiving city. Results highlight a major identificational shift in the third generation plus the ways in which intergenerational identificational assimilation, though seemingly inexorable, progresses unevenly among ethnic immigrant groups, with results affecting their spatial assimilation.
Micro-crack detection method of steel beam surface using stacked autoencoders on massive full-scale sensing strains
Authors: Song Qingsong , Chen Yu , Abdoli Oskoui Elias , Fang Zheng , Taylor Todd , Tang Guangwu , Zhao Xiangmo , Ansari Farhad
Published: October 2019

Accurate micro-crack detections on the whole surface of civil structures have great significance. Distributed optical fiber sensor based on Brillouin optical time-domain analysis technology exhibits great facility to measure strain distributions along the whole surface of structures with a high spatial resolution, thus providing a potential and competitive solution to the detection problem. However, mainly due to low signal-to-noise ratio in measurements, such sensor system is still limited in crack detection–based structural health monitoring applications. How to extract high-quality micro-crack feature representations from the low signal-to-noise ratio–distributed strain measurements is crucial to solve the problem. It has been demonstrated in field of pattern recognition that deep learning can automatically extract high-quality noise-robust feature representations from mass chaos data. Therefore, a micro-crack detection method is proposed herein based on deep learning to analyze the full-scale strain measurements. Each measurement is normalized and segmented into a set of equal-length subsequences. Autoencoders, a typical kind of building block of deep neural network, are stacked layer-wise into a deep network and then exploited to automatically extract feature representations from the subsequences. Each extracted feature representation is labeled as one of the two categories by a Softmax regression. One category originates in the subsequences acquired from structure sections with crack defects and another from sections without any cracks. The micro-crack detections are achieved by solving such a crack/non-crack binary classification problem. A 15-m-long steel I-beam with artifact crack defects is built up in laboratory to verify the proposed method. Experimental results demonstrate that the minimum size of detectable crack opening width reaches to 23 μm, and besides, the proposed method is significantly better than traditional Fisher linear discriminant analysis method and classical support vector machine on the detection accuracy.
Mitigation of even harmonics in the Fourier components of vertical illuminance around a reference point
Authors: Mangkuto RA , Paramita B , Utami SS
Published: October 2019

The use of Fourier components analysis has been recently proposed by Lynes to describe harmonics in vertical illuminance at various azimuth angles around a reference point. In cases with multiple light sources, it has been argued that the removal of even harmonics in the resulting Fourier components may correspond with good lighting practice. This paper therefore aims to demonstrate optimisation methods to mitigate even harmonics in Fourier components of vertical illuminance around a reference point due to two and three point light sources, by adjusting maximum vertical illuminance and subtended angles between the sources using sensitivity analysis and genetic algorithms. The results suggest that the genetic algorithm method yields more precise optimum solutions compared with the sensitivity analysis method, particularly for scenes with three point sources. For two point sources, the smallest root mean square value of even harmonics is achieved when the vertical illuminance due to the second source is 0.92 (relative to the vertical illuminance due to the first source) and the subtended angle is 90°. For three point sources, the optimum vertical illuminance due to the second and third sources is respectively 0.81 and 0.78, whereas the optimum subtended angles for the second and third sources with respect to the first are 64.4° and 116.8°, respectively.
Client Perspectives and Experiences With HIV Patient Navigation in the United States: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Roland Katherine B. , Higa Darrel H. , Leighton Carolyn A. , Mizuno Yuko , DeLuca Julia B. , Koenig Linda J.
Published: October 2019

Patient navigation is increasingly utilized to link and (re)engage persons with HIV to care. Understanding client experiences with HIV patient navigation can facilitate intervention design and translation of evidence to practice. We conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis of client experiences with HIV patient navigation. Data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. We identified seven relevant studies; all collected data via in-depth interviews with persons with HIV who participated in HIV patient navigation. Four interrelated themes emerged from analysis that pertain to (1) the complexity of the health and social service environment and the holistic approaches taken by the navigator, (2) the profound significance of the client–navigator relationship, (3) client reluctance to end the navigation program, and (4) client self-efficacy and feelings of hope and psychological change as a result of their navigation experience. The unifying theme across all studies was the value and impact of the client–navigator relationship on client experience and quality of life. Programs should consider hiring navigators who possess strong relational skills and are peers of the clients, and clearly delineating the role of the navigator. Research should examine the impact of the client–navigator relationship on client outcomes and further investigate how participating in patient navigation affects client self-efficacy, client resiliency, and the role of posttraumatic growth to achieve improved HIV outcomes. This review underscores the significance of the relationship within intensive, multilevel interventions for individuals and communities marginalized and isolated from health and social service systems.
A Vascular Malformation in the Carotid Sheath at the Carotid Bifurcation Mimicking Carotid Body Tumor
Authors: Gao Xixiang , Li Yang , Meng Liang , Tong Zhu , Guo Lianrui , Zhang Jian , Gu Yongquan
Published: October 2019

Background:

The carotid sheath contains clinically important and vital anatomical neurogenic, vascular, and lymphatic structures that allow for a great variety of lesions. Vascular anomalies found in the carotid sheath are rarely reported and may be easily misdiagnosed as arterial aneurysms, neurogenic tumors, paragangliomas, or lymphatic masses.

Method:

We present a 60-year-old woman with a vascular malformation arising within the carotid sheath at the right carotid bifurcation, which mimics carotid body tumor.

Result:

The mass was excised successfully with an uneventful postoperative course, and histological analysis suggested a vascular malformation with thin-walled blood vessels, lined by endothelial cells and separated by fibrous tissue. The patient was in good clinical condition without signs of relapse of the mass at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion:

Vascular malformation is a rare but existing possibility of pathology in the carotid sheath, which can be effectively removed by meticulous surgery.
Sentimental Avatars: Gender Identification and Vehicles of Selfhood in Popular Media From Nineteenth-Century Novels to Modern Video Games
Authors: Mendelman Lisa , Ratan Rabindra A. , Fordham Joseph , Knittel Megan , Milik Oskar
Published: October 2019

This article examines how the embodied experience of contemporary avatar use overlaps with 19th-century American sentimental literature and cultural assumptions about gender and readerly identification in that period. Drawing on recent quantitative and qualitative research on avatar use and ongoing scholarship on nineteenth-century literature, we offer theoretical insights about the resonance between historical and contemporary understandings of media consumption as it intersects with cultural notions of sex and gender differences. Theories of sentimentalism help us to reconsider how gender is conceptualized in quantitative studies of avatars. Our cross-disciplinary study of embodiment and visceral experience thus argues for expanding modes of inquiry within quantitative games scholarship to more fully capture the interplay between gender identity and individual factors in avatar experiences. We conclude with three strategies for quantitative games scholars to consider as a means to enrich our understanding of the complexities of gender in modern game contexts.
On fragile democracy: Contemporary and historical perspectives—Introduction
Authors: Conway Martin
Published: October 2019

The concept of fragility provides an alternative means of approaching the history of democracy, which has often been seen as the ineluctable consequence of Europe’s social and political modernisation. This is especially so in Scandinavia, as well as in Finland, where the emergence of a particular Nordic model of democracy from the early decades of the twentieth century onwards has often been explained with reference to embedded traditions of local self-government and long-term trends towards social egalitarianism. In contrast, this article emphasises the tensions present within the practices and understandings of democracy in the principal states of Scandinavia during the twentieth century. In doing so, it provides an introduction to the articles that compose this Special Issue, as well as contributing to the wider literature on the fragility of present-day structures of democracy.
Detection of contributing object to driving operations based on hidden Markov model
Authors: Hashimoto Kohjiro , Yamada Tetsuyasu , Tsuchiya Takeshi , Doki Kae , Funabora Yuki , Doki Shinji
Published: October 2019

With increase in the number of elderly people in the Japanese society, traffic accidents caused by elderly driver is considered problematic. The primary factor of the traffic accidents is a reduction in their driving cognitive performance. Therefore, a system that supports the cognitive performance of drivers can greatly contribute in preventing accidents. Recently, the development of devices for visually providing information, such as smart glasses or head up display, is in progress. These devices can provide more effective supporting information for cognitive performance. In this article, we focus on the selection problem of information to be presented for drivers to realize the cognitive support system. It has been reported that the presentation of excessive information to a driver reduces the judgment ability of the driver and makes the information less trustworthy. Thus, indiscriminate presentation of information in the vision of the driver is not an effective cognitive support. Therefore, a mechanism for determining the information to be presented to the driver based on the current driving situation is required. In this study, the object that contributes to execution of avoidance driving operation is regarded as the object that drivers must recognize and present for drivers. This object is called as contributing object. In this article, we propose a method that selects contributing objects among the appeared objects on the current driving scene. The proposed method expresses the relation between the time series change of an appeared object and avoidance operation of the driver by a mathematical model. This model can predict execution timing of avoidance driving operation and estimate contributing object based on the prediction result of driving operation. This model named as contributing model consisted of multi-hidden Markov models. Hidden Markov model is time series probabilistic model with high readability. This is because that model parameters express the probabilistic distribution and its statistics. Therefore, the characteristics of contributing model are that it enables the designer to understand the basis for the output decision. In this article, we evaluated detection accuracy of contributing object based on the proposed method, and readability of contributing model through several experiments. According to the results of these experiments, high detection accuracy of contributing object was confirmed. Moreover, it was confirmed that the basis of detected contributing object judgment can be understood from contributing model.
Health care provider’s experiences, practices, and recommendations for interventions and screening of cystic fibrosis patients with disordered eating: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Quick Virginia , Chang Grace
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To investigate health care providers’ perspectives on their experiences and practices with cystic fibrosis patients exhibiting disordered eating behaviors and their recommendations for interventions and screening of this population.

Methods

Experienced health care providers (N = 17) were recruited from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation listserv to participate in a semi-structured interview via phone. Two trained qualitative researchers independently coded audio-recorded interview scripts. Major themes were generated from questions inquiring health care providers’ perspectives on their experiences and practices with cystic fibrosis patients exhibiting disordered eating behaviors and their recommendations for better interventions and screening of disordered eating.

Results

The most prominent disordered eating behaviors observed by health care providers in cystic fibrosis patients were misusing pancreatic enzyme medication (53%), food restriction behaviors (47%), binge eating (29%), and skipping meals (29%). Over half (53%) of health care providers reported not having policies or procedures for disordered eating of cystic fibrosis patients. All health care providers thought it would be beneficial to have a cystic fibrosis-specific disordered eating screening tool. Recommendations by health care providers included developing a national standard protocol for cystic fibrosis disordered eating and educational training for health care providers.

Discussion

Ongoing development of evidence-based guidelines for screening and treating disordered eating among cystic fibrosis patients is warranted including development of a cystic fibrosis-specific disordered eating screening tool.
Improving dissemination of study results: perspectives of individuals with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Christofides Emily , Stroud Karla , Tullis Diana Elizabeth , O’Doherty Kieran C.
Published: October 2019

The practice of communicating research findings to participants has been identified as important in the research ethics literature, but little research has examined empirically how this occurs and what research participants’ views are in this regard. We interviewed 21 adults with cystic fibrosis who had previously participated in research and 2 research coordinators at a cystic fibrosis clinic. We aimed to better understand research participants’ views on receiving research results, types of findings they are interested in, how they would like to receive this information, and the impact this might have on future participation. Participants reported that they do not generally recall receiving study findings, though many reported that they would like to receive them. While some participants were not interested in receiving results, all participants felt that these results should be provided when desired by participants and believed that receiving study findings would support future participation. Participants felt that an accessible format, such as a lay summary, would be most helpful. This study supports calls to make study findings available to participants, though the format in which they are provided requires consideration. Participants rarely recalled receiving findings despite the clinic in which this study was conducted returning them regularly. Therefore, questions pertaining to the provision of study findings must focus less on whether to share the findings and more on how to share them with participants most effectively. The logistics of providing study findings may be challenging in some cases, but participant support for the practice highlights its importance.
China’s sovereignty violations in the East and South China Seas: How should Europe respond?
Authors: Southgate Laura
Published: October 2019

The EU has been content to remain a marginal actor in the maritime sovereignty disputes in the East and South China Seas. It has adopted a diplomatic strategy that stresses the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and confidence building between the states party to the conflict. As argued here, this approach does not take account of the crucial interests Europe has at stake in the conflict. It is made even less tenable by China’s increasingly assertive behaviour towards securing its sovereignty in the region. Europe is at a crossroads: the EU may seek to overcome internal and external challenges to enhance its hard power capabilities, or it may continue to pursue a wholly soft power approach. Either way, how the EU deals with the current dispute will determine, in large part, its future role as a global security actor.
A comparative analysis of emotional intelligence and intelligence quotient among Saudi business students’ toward academic performance
Authors: Khan Sania
Published: October 2019

Understanding the determinants of student learning outcomes and their academic performance is never being easy. Most of the studies examined the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) and intelligence quotient (IQ) on academic performance discretely, and their combined influence was not studied. The study identifies various dimensions of EI and IQ and investigates their impact on university business students’ academic performance comparatively among private and public university students. The data relevant to this study were collected from 416 students of various Business Colleges of Saudi central province universities, using online survey questionnaire. Structural equation modeling analysis using SPSS AMOS was used to evaluate the data. The private students possess a significant IQ, and their academic performance is primarily driven by IQ and with high EI; whereas public sector students possess moderate EI with insignificant IQ levels and tend to perform average in their academics. All the measurement items of EI and IQ explained only 43.6% of variance in public student’s performance and 56.3% in private student’s performance. The study argues the cognitive intelligence is very purposive in academics but narrow in nature and does not extend the horizon of student’s lifelong learning. Therefore, EI is vital and plays a prominent role in supporting their IQ as well. The study is limited to only business students; therefore, findings may not be generalized to other academic domains and for master level students. It suggests to conduct further studies to explore relationship among various exogenous variables.
Single-Bed or Multibed Room Designs Influence ICU Staff Stress and Family Satisfaction, But Do Not Influence ICU Staff Burnout
Authors: de Matos Liane Brescovici Nunes , Fumis Renata Rego Lins , Nassar Junior Antonio Paulo , Lacerda Fabio Holanda , Caruso Pedro
Published: October 2019

Objective:

To compare the impact of single-bed versus multibed room intensive care units (ICU) architectural designs on the stress and burnout of ICU staff and on the stress and satisfaction of family visitors.

Background:

There are countless architectural variations among ICUs, but all involve single-bed or multibed rooms. Although it is well known that ICU design affects important patient outcomes, the effect of ICU design on family and staff has been insufficiently studied.

Methods:

Among ICU staff and family visitors, stress was evaluated with Lipp’s Inventory of Stress Symptoms. ICU staff burnout was evaluated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Family visitor satisfaction was evaluated with Molter’s Critical Care Family Needs Inventory.

Results:

Among 156 ICU professionals who were interviewed, similar burnout rates were observed between ICU staff who worked single-bed versus multibed rooms. However, stress reported by ICU staff within the previous 24 hr was higher among the ICU staff who worked in single-bed rooms (14.3% vs. 4.7%, p = .04). Among 176 family visitors who were interviewed, a similar level of stress was reported by family members who visited patients in single-bed or multibed rooms. However, the satisfaction of family members visiting patients in single-bed rooms was higher (96.0% vs. 84.6%, p = .02).

Conclusions:

Single-bed ICU design was associated with greater satisfaction of family visitors yet with higher levels of stress for ICU staff. Meanwhile, similar burnout levels were observed for ICU staff who worked in single-bed or multibed rooms.
Mate Preferences in Three Muslim-Majority Countries: Sex Differences and Personality Correlates
Authors: Atari Mohammad , Chaudhary Nabiha , Al-Shawaf Laith
Published: October 2019

Cross-cultural research on long-term mate preferences in Muslim-majority countries is scarce. The research described here aims to examine the KASER (kindness/dependability, attractiveness/sexuality, status/resources, education/intelligence, and religiosity/chastity) model of mate preferences in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey ( N = 1,089). We examined structural validity, measurement invariance between men and women, sex differences, cultural differences, and Big Five personality correlates of these dimensions of mate preferences. Findings supported preregistered hypotheses regarding sex differences in mate preferences. Multilevel models suggested that the magnitude of sex differences was invariant across cultures. Personality correlates of mate preferences varied across cultures, but agreeableness consistently predicted the preference for kind and dependable partners across cultures. In sum, sex differences in mate preferences within and across three Muslim-majority countries described here replicate previous findings, but evidence for personality correlates of mate preferences is mixed, variable across cultures, and in need of further examination in non-Western samples.
School Deferred: When Bias Affects School Leaders
Authors: Jarvis Shoshana N. , Okonofua Jason A.
Published: October 2019

In the classroom, Black students are disciplined more frequently and more severely for the same misbehaviors as White students. Though teachers have influence over disciplinary actions, the final decisions for exclusionary discipline (i.e., suspensions and expulsions) are principals’ responsibility. We test how principals make disciplinary decisions in a preregistered experiment. Principals endorsed more severe discipline for Black students compared with White students across two time points. Further, this discipline severity was explained through Black students being more likely to be labeled a troublemaker than White students. Future efforts should focus on principals in order to mitigate the negative impacts of the school-to-prison pipeline.
Health-promoting lifestyles of Japanese expatriates residing in the Philippines and Thailand
Authors: Nakai Ai , Imoto Chie , Miyai Nobuyuki , Yamada Kazuko , Morioka Ikuharu
Published: October 2019

Background:

The number of Japanese expatriates has increased, many of whom undertake lifestyle changes to improve their health.

Purpose:

We aim to clarify the health-promoting lifestyles of middle and older age Japanese expatriates.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study. Participants comprised 95 long-term Japanese expatriates residing in popular destinations: the Philippines and Thailand. Health behavior was evaluated using a Japanese version of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II and participants were compared with a group living in Japan. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the factors that correlate with the score of physical activity, a Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II subscale.

Results:

The expatriates had significantly higher scores of physical activity and nutrition than the group living in Japan. Factors positively related to physical activity were communicative literacy, information on health management before leaving Japan, no history of hypertension, and sufficient English proficiency.

Conclusion:

The Japanese expatriates we studied were physically active and were careful about nutrition. To further increase their physical activity, better access to health information and enhancement of communicative literacy and of English proficiency are desired.