bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Tropical Cyclone as a Divergent Source in a Background Flow
Authors: Ryglicki David R. , Hodyss Daniel , Rainwater Gregory
Published: August 2020

The interactions between the outflow of a tropical cyclone (TC) and its background flow are explored using a hierarchy of models of varying complexity. Previous studies have established that, for a select class of TCs that undergo rapid intensification in moderate values of vertical wind shear, the upper-level outflow of the TC can block and reroute the environmental winds, thus reducing the shear and permitting the TC to align and subsequently to intensify. We identify in satellite imagery and reanalysis datasets the presence of tilt nutations and evidence of upwind blocking by the divergent wind field, which are critical components of atypical rapid intensification. We then demonstrate how an analytical expression and a shallow water model can be used to explain some of the structure of upper-level outflow. The analytical expression shows that the dynamic high inside the outflow front is a superposition of two pressure anomalies caused by the outflow’s deceleration by the environment and by the environment’s deceleration by the outflow. The shallow water model illustrates that the blocking is almost entirely dependent upon the divergent component of the wind. Then, using a divergent kinetic energy budget analysis, we demonstrate that, in a full-physics TC, upper-level divergent flow generation occurs in two phases: pressure driven and then momentum driven. The change happens when the tilt precession reaches left of shear. When this change occurs, the outflow blocking extends upshear. We discuss these results with regard to prior severe weather studies.
Sensitivities and Responses of Land Surface Temperature to Deforestation-Induced Biophysical Changes in Two Global Earth System Models
Authors: Liao Weilin , Liu Xiaoping , Burakowski Elizabeth , Wang Dagang , Wang Linying , Li Dan
Published: August 2020

While the significance of quantifying the biophysical effects of deforestation is rarely disputed, the sensitivities of land surface temperature (LST) to deforestation-induced changes in different biophysical factors (e.g., albedo, aerodynamic resistance, and surface resistance) and the relative importance of those biophysical changes remain elusive. Based on the subgrid-scale outputs from two global Earth system models (ESMs, i.e., the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model and the Community Earth System Model) and an improved attribution framework, the sensitivities and responses of LST to deforestation are examined. Both models show that changes in aerodynamic resistance are the most important factor responsible for LST changes, with other factors such as albedo and surface resistance playing secondary but important roles. However, the magnitude of the contributions from different biophysical factors to LST changes is quite different for the two ESMs. We find that the differences between the two models in terms of the sensitivities are smaller than those of the corresponding biophysical changes, indicating that the dissimilarity between the two models in terms of LST responses to deforestation is more related to the magnitude of biophysical changes. It is the first time that the attribution of subgrid surface temperature variability is comprehensively compared based on simulations with two commonly used global ESMs. This study yields new insights into the similarity and dissimilarity in terms of how the biophysical processes are represented in different ESMs and further improves our understanding of how deforestation impacts on the local surface climate.
The Diurnal Temperature Range in CMIP6 Models: Climatology, Variability, and Evolution
Authors: Wang Kang , Clow Gary D.
Published: August 2020

The diurnal temperature range (DTR) is an identifiable and sensitive indicator of the synchronicity of changes in diurnal temperature extrema, but capturing DTR dynamics is challenging for climate models. This study investigates the climatology, variability, and changes of DTR in recent models participating in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The results show that the CMIP6 models underestimate DTR climatology relative to observations. Most individual models overestimate December–February variability, particularly at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The models show substantially different changes over land surfaces and do not fully capture the observed spatiotemporal evolution of DTR. Large intermodel differences seem to be controlled by daily minimum air temperature. In the Northern Hemisphere, precipitation and cloud longwave and shortwave radiative effects appear to make important contributions to the intermodel discrepancies. Evaporative fraction is an important factor contributing to the intermodel differences in DTR during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In general, CMIP6 models have not improved their ability to simulate temporal DTR changes in a consistent way over the entire analysis period (1901–2005) relative to their CMIP5 counterparts. For periods of rapid DTR decline (e.g., 1951–80) CMIP6 models are typically better than the CMIP5 versions at simulating DTR, whereas for other periods CMIP6 models underperform their CMIP5 counterparts.
Climatology of Severe Local Storm Environments and Synoptic-Scale Features over North America in ERA5 Reanalysis and CAM6 Simulation
Authors: Li Funing , Chavas Daniel R. , Reed Kevin A. , Dawson II Daniel T.
Published: August 2020

Severe local storm (SLS) activity is known to occur within specific thermodynamic and kinematic environments. These environments are commonly associated with key synoptic-scale features—including southerly Great Plains low-level jets, drylines, elevated mixed layers, and extratropical cyclones—that link the large-scale climate to SLS environments. This work analyzes spatiotemporal distributions of both extreme values of SLS environmental parameters and synoptic-scale features in the ERA5 reanalysis and in the Community Atmosphere Model, version 6 (CAM6), historical simulation during 1980–2014 over North America. Compared to radiosondes, ERA5 successfully reproduces SLS environments, with strong spatiotemporal correlations and low biases, especially over the Great Plains. Both ERA5 and CAM6 reproduce the climatology of SLS environments over the central United States as well as its strong seasonal and diurnal cycles. ERA5 and CAM6 also reproduce the climatological occurrence of the synoptic-scale features, with the distribution pattern similar to that of SLS environments. Compared to ERA5, CAM6 exhibits a high bias in convective available potential energy over the eastern United States primarily due to a high bias in surface moisture and, to a lesser extent, storm-relative helicity due to enhanced low-level winds. Composite analysis indicates consistent synoptic anomaly patterns favorable for significant SLS environments over much of the eastern half of the United States in both ERA5 and CAM6, though the pattern differs for the southeastern United States. Overall, our results indicate that both ERA5 and CAM6 are capable of reproducing SLS environments as well as the synoptic-scale features and transient events that generate them.
Reconstructing Flood Events in Mediterranean Coastal Areas Using Different Reanalyses and High-Resolution Meteorological Models
Authors: Senatore A. , Davolio S. , Furnari L. , Mendicino G.
Published: August 2020

Reliable reanalysis products can be exploited to drive mesoscale numerical models and generate high-resolution reconstructions of high-impact weather events. Within this framework, regional weather and climate models may greatly benefit from the recent release of the ERA5 product, an improvement to the ERA-Interim dataset. In this study, two different convection-permitting models driven by these two reanalysis datasets are used to reproduce three heavy precipitation events affecting a Mediterranean region. Moreover, different sea surface temperature (SST) initializations are tested to assess how higher-resolution SST fields improve the simulation of high-impact events characterized by strong air–sea interactions. Finally, the coupling with a distributed hydrological model allows evaluating the impact at the ground, specifically assessing the possible added value of the ERA5 dataset for the high-resolution simulation of extreme hydrometeorological events over the Calabria region (southern Italy). Results, based on the comparison against multiple-source precipitation observations, show no clear systematic benefit to using the ERA5 dataset; moreover, intense convective activity can introduce uncertainties masking the signal provided by the boundary conditions of the different reanalyses. The effect of the high-resolution SST fields is even more difficult to detect. The uncertainties propagate and amplify along the modeling chain, where the spatial resolution increases up to the hydrological model. Nevertheless, even in very small catchments, some of the experiments provide reasonably accurate results, suggesting that an ensemble approach could be suitable to cope with uncertainties affecting the overall meteo-hydrological chain, especially for small catchments.
Perioperative Antibiotic Selection and Surgical Site Infection in Elective Colon Surgery
Authors: Aziz Madiha , Beale Jack , Sheehan Brynn , Bandy Nicholas , Martyak Michael
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The highest rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) are associated with colorectal operations (up to 30%). A sentinel paper showed that the use of intravenous (IV) cefazolin and metronidazole was associated with decreased rates of SSI compared with cefoxitin (6% vs 13%). We reviewed the association of SSI with prophylactic antibiotic choice. We specifically investigated the regimens of ceftriaxone and metronidazole IV, cefoxitin IV, or ertapenem.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 532 colon surgeries between 2016 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were patients 18-89 years of age undergoing elective colon surgery who received ceftriaxone/metronidazole, cefoxitin, or ertapenem for prophylaxis. All emergent cases were excluded. This resulted in 241 elective colon cases for review. The primary endpoint was to determine if the use of ceftriaxone/metronidazole decreased the rate of SSI.

Results

In total, there were 241 elective colon cases with 21 SSI. We compared SSI rates in the ceftriaxone/metronidazole group to those patients receiving either cefoxitin or ertapenem (4.5% vs 12.2%; P = .035). We then compared SSI in ceftriaxone/metronidazole to SSI in cefoxitin (4.5% vs 10%; P = .13). Finally, we compared SSI in the ceftriaxone/metronidazole group to SSI in the ertapenem group (4.5% vs 14%; P = .03). Comorbidities and underlying factors were similar across all antibiotic groups.

Conclusion

In our experience, the use of ceftriaxone/metronidazole is associated with a decreased SSI rate. Furthermore, ceftriaxone/metronidazole use is superior to the use of ertapenem, with a trend toward superiority over cefoxitin. Based on this study, we recommend ceftriaxone/metronidazole as antibiotic prophylaxis for elective colon surgery.
You Say You Want an Antitrust Revolution? The Paradox of Modern Merger Control
Authors: Kwoka John
Published: August 2020

Over the past twenty years, merger control has made what appear to be substantial advances in concepts and methodology, claiming the mantle of a “revolution.” This essay observes, however, that over this very same time period, merger control has in fact weakened and concentration risen throughout the economy. It reexamines two of the most heralded new methodologies—market definition and unilateral effects. It shows ways in which these have had the paradoxical effect of actually weakening merger control rather than strengthening it.
A Revolution Ignored?
Authors: Ghosh Shubha
Published: August 2020

Celebrating The Antitrust Revolution, the author points to the diverse range of methodologies that the research volume consistently brings together. Courts and advocates need to pay more attention to this important series.
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it: How callings influence constructive voice delivery
Authors: Romney Alexander C
Published: August 2020

How employees communicate their ideas at work shapes how their ideas are received. When employees constructively communicate their ideas, the value of those ideas can be more readily recognized. Conversely, ideas that are not communicated constructively may be overlooked, ignored, or rejected, regardless of their potential value to an organization. This research contributes to the employee voice literature by introducing the concept of constructive voice delivery and examining its relationship with callings. In this endeavor, two field studies explored the influence of callings on constructive voice delivery. The first study examined these relationships from the employee perspective, identified organizational attachment as the mechanism driving the relationship, and highlighted the role psychological safety plays in strengthening the relationship. The second study explored the relationship between callings and constructive voice delivery from managers’ perspectives, revealing a negative relationship between callings and managerial ratings of constructive voice delivery and emphasized psychological safety’s role in strengthening this negative relationship. Furthermore, constructive voice delivery suppressed the positive effect callings have on employee performance. Taken together, the results of both studies demonstrate that constructive voice delivery is an important aspect of speaking up at work.
Impact of resource reconfiguration on total factor productivity of service industry
Authors: Hu Yanhui , Wang Mengmeng
Published: August 2020

Using the Chenery-Syrquin model, this paper investigates the effect of resources reallocation on the TFP of China’s service industry from 2003 to 2016.The main findings are as follows: there are significant structural changes in the production factor configuration of various industries within the service industry. The growth of service industry is still driven mainly by factor input. The resource reconfiguration effect has not yet become the main force driving the growth of TFP of the service industry. However, the structural dividend has become more and more obvious after 2008. The marginal production of capital in most service industries has reached a stage of total reduction and rapid convergence, and there is a convergence of marginal returns of capital within the service industry. The marginal production of labor in most service industries is on the stage of decrease in growth rate and increase in the total amount. Although the marginal production of labor still exhibits divergent characteristics, it has begun to show signs of convergence at the end of the study period. There are phenomena of “mismatching resources”, and the state control or monopoly industry is more serious. The government should improve the property rights system, expand openness, and formulate supporting policies to different industries to promote the optimal allocation of resources.
Religion is ever present in the theatres of violence: Elnathan John chats with Isidore Diala
Authors: Diala Isidore Okeawolam
Published: August 2020

The Nigerian writer Elnathan John (born 1982) has become a preeminent commentator on the complex human drama at the core of the experience of the Boko Haram insurgency in northern Nigeria. John is renowned for the caustic humour characteristic of his satirical treatment of virtually every facet of Nigerian life, as his Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide (2019) magnificently illustrates. In the corpus of his fictional accounts of Boko Haram insurgency (as epitomized in his debut novel Born on a Tuesday [2015]) he has been preoccupied with the necessity for a nuanced understanding of the Boko Haram phenomenon and underscoring a usually neglected or at least deemphasized human dimension at the heart of that experience. In this interview, John complicates a simplistic account of ostensible doctrinal violence by painting a telling backdrop of a dysfunctional postcolonial Nigerian state that blights the wellspring of responsible creative social life, and more crucially impoverishes and exploits religion and politics, ideally meant to foster communal rather than egotistical aspirations, by advancing other interpretations of these social constructs that gratify human greed and the will to power.
Doctors Are Aggrieved—Should They Be? Gross Negligence Manslaughter and the Culpable Doctor
Authors: Robson Michelle , Maskill Jon , Brookbanks Warren
Published: August 2020

Doctors may also be criminals. Mercifully, this is a rare event but no health professional is infallible, mistakes happen and the challenge is to distinguish inadvertence from wilful disregard for the consequences. Healthcare professionals are uneasy about the readiness of the current law to attribute criminal responsibility accompanied by a failure to recognise the highly pressurised context in which sub-standard practice occurs. This article argues that the offence of gross negligence manslaughter is improperly defined and fails to target those doctors whom society should criminalise. Alternatives to gross negligence manslaughter to include culpable homicide adopted in Scotland and the major departure test favoured by New Zealand are considered before advocating a more radical approach—the sliding scale of negligence. Using existing tests in civil and administrative law, a more objective test of gross negligence is proposed, with culpability as a mandatory requirement for a doctor to be convicted of a crime. It is contended the law must move away from the stance a patient’s death is required for medical negligence to become a crime, an outcome bias, to a conduct biased offence. There is no underlying reason why culpable gross negligence causing serious harm should not also be subject to criminal sanction. The recent sentencing guidelines demonstrate the law is sophisticated enough to distinguish reprehensible conduct from careless behaviour. It is now time for the legal test to also acknowledge all the circumstances of the alleged crime.
The Effects of Residential Mobility on Criminal Persistence and Desistance during the Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Widdowson Alex O. , Siennick Sonja E.
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

Prior research has documented that residential mobility has the potential to trigger both criminal persistence and desistance, with frequent moving often predicting persistence and long-distance moving predicting desistance. However, less work has considered this possibility during the transition to adulthood. To address this shortcoming, we assessed the effects of different residential moves on offending during this period in the life course.

Methods:

Using 15 waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort, a sample of youth followed from ages 12 to 32, we used mixed-effects models to examine whether frequent moving, between-county moves (a proxy for long-distance), and moving distance are associated with within-individual change in self-reported offending and arrest.

Results:

Findings indicated that frequent moving was not associated with persistent offending. In addition, individuals who made between-county moves showed significant within-individual reductions in self-reported offending and arrest, with those reductions emerging immediately after the move and persisting over time. Finally, individuals who moved further in distance were more likely to experience reductions in self-reported offending, although any moving distance reduced arrest.

Conclusions:

A long-distance residential move may serve as a turning point that facilitates reductions in self-reported offending and arrest.
Student and Teacher Perceptions of Goal Attainment During Intervention With the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Hicks Tyler A. , Raley Sheida K. , Pace Jesse R. , Rifenbark Graham G. , Lane Kathleen Lynne
Published: August 2020

A major instructional focus of interventions designed to promote self-determination, such as the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI), is to engage students in learning to set their goals, identify action plans, and evaluate their performances. However, little is known about how students define their goal attainment outcomes, or the degree to which students and teachers agree on the attainment of goals set using the SDLMI in inclusive general education classes. This study examined the relation between student and teacher ratings of goal attainment during the first semester of a longitudinal, cluster randomized controlled trial of the SDLMI, as well as the impact of student disability status and teacher supports for implementing the SDLMI (i.e., online resources vs. online resources + in-person coaching) on goal attainment. Findings suggested the feasibility of engaging students with and without disabilities in rating their goal attainment process during SDLMI in secondary schools, with kappa analysis indicating that, when credit is given for at least partial agreement between students and teachers, there is a fair amount of interrater agreement using conventional interpretation criteria. Importantly, however, conclusions drawn about the impact of student (i.e., disability status) and teacher factors (i.e., teacher implementation supports) on goal attainment outcomes are impacted by whether student or teaching ratings of goal attainment are utilized as the outcome measure. Implications for future research and practice are described.
Maternal Health Behaviors and Infant Health Outcomes Among Arab American and Non-Hispanic White Mothers in Massachusetts, 2012-2016
Authors: Abuelezam Nadia N. , Cuevas Adolfo G. , Galea Sandro , Hawkins Summer Sherburne
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The health profile of Arab American mothers and infants may differ from that of non–Arab American mothers and infants in the United States as a result of social stigma experienced in the historical and current sociopolitical climate. The objective of our study was to compare maternal health behaviors, maternal health outcomes, and infant health outcomes of Arab American mothers and non-Hispanic white mothers in Massachusetts and to assess the role of nativity as an effect modifier.

Methods

Using data from Massachusetts birth certificates (2012-2016), we conducted adjusted logistic and linear regression models for maternal health behaviors, maternal health outcomes, and infant health outcomes. We used Arab ethnicity as the exposure of interest and nativity as an effect modifier.

Results

Arab American mothers had higher odds than non-Hispanic white mothers of initiating breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.61; 95% CI, 2.39-2.86), giving birth to small-for-gestational-age infants (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18-1.39), and having gestational diabetes (aOR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.20-1.44). Among Arab American mothers, non–US-born mothers had higher odds than US-born mothers of having gestational diabetes (aOR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.33-2.44) and lower odds of initiating prenatal care in the first trimester (aOR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.33-0.50). In linear regression models, infants born to non–US-born Arab American mothers weighed 42.1 g (95% CI, −75.8 to −8.4 g) less than infants born to US-born Arab American mothers.

Conclusion

Although Arab American mothers engage in positive health behaviors, non–US-born mothers had poorer maternal health outcomes and access to prenatal care than US-born mothers, suggesting the need for targeted interventions for non–US-born Arab American mothers.
The Epidemiology of HIV Among People Born Outside the United States, 2010-2017
Authors: Kerani Roxanne P. , Satcher Johnson Anna , Buskin Susan E. , Rao Deepa , Golden Matthew R. , Hu Xiaohong , Hall H. Irene
Published: August 2020

Objective

Although some studies have reported a higher incidence of HIV infection among non–US-born people than among US-born people, national data on this topic are scarce. We compared the epidemiology of HIV infection between US-born and non–US-born residents of the United States and examined the characteristics of non–US-born people with diagnosed HIV infection by region of birth (ROB).

Methods

We used a cross-sectional study design to produce national, population-based data describing HIV infection among US-born and non–US-born people. We analyzed National HIV Surveillance System data for people with HIV infection diagnosed during 2010-2017 and reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We compared data on demographic characteristics, transmission risk category, and stage 3 infection (AIDS) classification within 3 months of HIV diagnosis, by nativity and ROB.

Results

During 2010-2017, 328 317 children and adult US residents were diagnosed with HIV infection and were reported to CDC: 214 973 (65.5%) were US-born, 50 301 (15.3%) were non–US-born, and 63 043 (19.2%) were missing data on country of birth. After adjusting for missing country of birth, 266 147 (81.1%) people were US-born and 62 170 (18.9%) were non–US-born. This group accounted for 15 928 of 65 645 (24.2%) HIV diagnoses among girls and women and 46 242 of 262 672 (17.6%) HIV diagnoses among boys and men. A larger percentage of non–US-born people than US-born people had stage 3 infection (AIDS) at HIV diagnosis (31.2% vs 23.9%). Among non–US-born people with HIV diagnoses, 19 876 (39.5%) resided in the South.

Conclusions

Characterizing non–US-born people with HIV infection is essential for developing effective HIV interventions, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations.
Structure optimization of an ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification tag thread based on the normal mode helix dipole antenna
Authors: Zhang Yong , Hu Jiyong , Yan Xiong , Yang Xudong
Published: August 2020

This paper describes the design of a novel ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID) tag thread that mainly consisted of the common yarn and the normal mode helix dipole antenna. The linear dipole antenna for the UHF RFID tag thread was too long to miniaturize the tag. In order to maximize the read performance and miniaturize the size of the tag, the basic antenna structure parameters, such as the helical pitch and single arm length, were optimized by analyzing the radiation parameter S11 of the normal mode helix dipole antenna based on simulation experiments. The simulation experiments started with optimizing the single arm length to obtain the minimum of the S11 parameter at resonant frequency, then the helical pitch was further optimized to limit the resonant frequency to the UHF range. The simulation results showed the resonant frequency rises with an increase of helical pitch and declines with an increase of single arm length. Furthermore, a series of UHF RFID tag threads with good performance from the simulation cases were prepared, and the performance of the optimized tag was validated. Generally, the UHF RFID tag thread with optimized helix dipole antenna could reduce the axial length of the tag by 57% and improve the reading range by 500%, and its performance was greatly superior to that of the UHF RFID tag thread with the classical linear dipole antenna.
Balancing Narrow and Broad Public Service Professionalism: Experience With the New Zealand G-REG Qualifications Framework
Authors: van der Heijden Jeroen
Published: August 2020

For many years, governments around the globe have been called on to increase the professionalism of their public services. The New Zealand Government Regulatory Practice Initiative (G-REG) is an illustrative example of a network of government agencies responding to this call by providing a program of standardized training for public servants. This article maps, explores, and interrogates this example to obtain a better understanding of whether a standardized program can help to nurture and increase the professionalism of a community of public servants. It finds that the main challenge of such an undertaking is finding a balance between narrow professionalism (technical expertise and knowledge) and broad professionalism (acting proficiently and ethically).
Learning to keep the faith? Further education and perceived employability among young unemployed
Authors: Mühlböck Monika , Steiber Nadia , Kittel Bernhard
Published: August 2020

To keep up job search motivation and maintain re-employment chances, it is important that unemployed individuals do not stop believing in their ability to (re)gain satisfying employment. This article examines whether further education during unemployment has a positive effect on perceived employability (i.e. the subjective assessment of one’s chances to obtain the desired job), based on a panel survey of unemployed young adults in Austria. The article finds that educational activities – either on own initiative or as part of an active labor market program – indeed help to sustain or even increase perceived employability. However, only for long-term programs do the effects persist beyond the duration of the activity. This study thus identifies substantial psychological side effects of active labor market policies involving further education, which could be used to increase actual employability.
Genetic Polymorphisms in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: An Update
Authors: Corazzi Virginia , Ciorba Andrea , Bianchini Chiara , Pelucchi Stefano , Skarżyński Piotr Henryk , Hatzopoulos Stavros
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Most of the SSNHL cases still remain idiopathic, and several etiopathogenetic hypotheses, including a genetic predisposition, have been proposed.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted using different databases: Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All databases have been searched from May 2016 to April 2020.

Results:

Genetic susceptibility could represent a key element in the pathogenesis of SSNHL. A number of genetic polymorphisms related to (1) inner ear microvascular disease and endothelial dysfunction and (2) to inner ear oxidative stress and inflammation have been addressed in the current literature.

Conclusions:

The potential identification of a genetic profile related to SSNHL could provide a more accurate prognostic evidence of idiopathic SSNHL (ISSNHL), offering to the patients not only early-prevention strategies but eventually information on various inheritance modalities.
Preservation of Internal Branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve during Surgery for Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Sun Wei , Wen Wei-Ping , Zhu Xiao-Lin
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

This study was performed to evaluate the significance of intraoperative preservation of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (ibSLN) during surgery for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC).

Methods:

Twelve patients with HSCC underwent surgery between January 2017 and December 2018. Sensation in the hypopharyngeal mucosa was tested using a flexible laryngeal endoscope on postoperative day 5.

Results:

Surgeries were successfully performed in 10 patients with HSCC arising from the internal wall of the pyriform fossa and in 2 patients with HSCC arising from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. The main trunk of the ibSLN was preserved in all patients. Testing of sensation in the hypopharyngeal mucosa revealed the presence of the cough reflex in all patients. All patients achieved a full normal oral diet at a median of 8.5 days (range, 6-11 days) and removal of the tracheal tube at a median of 10 days (range, 7-12 days).

Conclusions:

Our results showed that preservation of the ibSLN during surgery for HSCC is feasible and important in the recovery of sensation in the hypopharyngeal mucosa.
Frozen elephant trunk usage in acute aortic dissection
Authors: Okita Yutaka
Published: August 2020

This review discusses the clinical applications of the frozen elephant trunk procedure for patients with acute aortic dissection. Sub-analysis of the multicenter Japanese Frozenix study, J-ORCHESTRA, are presented, and recent reports of frozen elephant trunk usage for acute aortic dissection are discussed.
Adsorption behaviors on trace Pb2+ from water of biochar adsorbents from konjac starch
Authors: Li Yinhui , Peng Longfei , Li Weixin
Published: August 2020

Biochar adsorbents used to treat different heavy metals in water are efficient and low-cost. Appropriate raw materials, excellent selectivity and detailed adsorption mechanism are of important for research on biochar adsorbents. In this work, konjac starch was dispersed in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution to prepare different sizes hydrophilic carbon spheres (HCSs) by hydrothermal synthesis method. Adsorption kinetics of the HCSs towards Pb2+ is described perfectly by the pseudo-second-order equation. With the temperature increasing, adsorption thermodynamics are more consistent with the Freundlich model. The calculated ΔG, ΔH and ΔS shows the adsorption of the HCSs towards Pb2+ is a spontaneous, endothermic and entropy increase process. In addition, HCSs have excellent selectivity for the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+. HCSs prepared from konjac starch make full use of natural biomass resources, they can be used as a potential adsorbent material in treatment on heavy metal ion from water field.
Basic survey on children and teachers in special classes for children with low vision in Japan
Authors: Nishimura Takahiro , Doi Kouki , Sawada Mayumi , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: August 2020

Through a questionnaire survey of teachers of special classes for children with low vision in Japan’s primary and lower secondary schools, this study aims to clarify the basic data of children in these classes, the realities of their learning situations, and the realities of the instruction they receive from their teachers. A special class for children with low vision is a class specially organised in primary and lower secondary schools to deliver an education that is appropriate to children with low vision. Basic data items for children covered grade, sex, and visual acuity and also the written characters, low-vision devices, and textbooks that they use in their studies. The survey also elicited responses about the information and communication technology (ICT) devices that teachers use in their teaching, their number of years’ teaching experience, their number of years’ experience teaching children who are visually impaired, and the content or topic of training that they desire to improve their specialisation in the education of children who are visually impaired. In addition to obtaining statistics on basic items related to children’s sex and visual acuity, the results revealed change in children’s actual situations over the years through comparison with the results of previous studies. Specifically, the percentage of children with visual acuity under 20/66 increased, and the usage rate of braille decreased. We also learned that while usage rates of enlarged textbooks and ICT devices are increasing, the rate of using low-vision devices is decreasing. In addition, it was revealed that a majority of teachers had less than 3 years’ experience in education for children who are visually impaired, regardless of general teaching experience, and that there is a considerable need for training in basic knowledge.
The pervasive relevance of COVID-19 within routine paediatric palliative care consultations during the pandemic: A conversation analytic study
Authors: Ekberg Katie , Weinglass Lara , Ekberg Stuart , Danby Susan , Herbert Anthony
Published: August 2020

Background:

The importance of caring for children with complex and serious conditions means that paediatric palliative care must continue during pandemics. The recent pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides a natural experiment to study health communication during pandemic times. However, it is unknown how communication within consultations might change during pandemics.

Aim:

This study, a sub-study of a larger project, aimed to examine real-world instances of communication in paediatric palliative care consultations prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how clinicians and families talk about the pandemic.

Design:

Paediatric palliative care consultations prior to, during, and immediately following the initial peak of COVID-19 cases in Australia were video recorded and analysed using Conversation Analysis methods.

Setting/participants:

Twenty-five paediatric palliative care consultations (including face-to-face outpatient, telehealth outpatient and inpatient consultations) were video recorded within a public children’s hospital in Australia. Participants included 14 health professionals, 15 child patients, 23 adult family members and 5 child siblings.

Results:

There was a pervasive relevance of both serious and non-serious talk about COVID-19 within the consultations recorded during the pandemic. Topics typical of a standard paediatric palliative care consultation often led to discussion of the pandemic. Clinicians (55%) and parents (45%) initiated talk about the pandemic.

Conclusions:

Clinicians should not be surprised by the pervasiveness of COVID-19 or other pandemic talk within standard paediatric palliative care consultations. This awareness will enable clinicians to flexibly address family needs and concerns about pandemic-related matters that may impact health and wellbeing.
Popular conspiracy theories in Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Authors: Panczová Zuzana , Janeček Petr
Published: August 2020

The study presents popular conspiracy theories spread within the Czech and Slovak language milieu. Along with the growth in the number of internet portals disseminating this type of texts, their reflection in public opinion is also visible in the way almost every major foreign policy issue or domestic case is commented upon in public internet discussions. The authors seek to identify the narrative and rhetorical sources of conspiracism in these countries since the rise of modern nationalism in the 19th century, focusing on the events accompanying the creation of the common state of the Slovaks and Czechs, the period of the Second World War, the rule of the Communist regime, the events related to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the “Velvet Revolution” in 1989 up to the present. The paper focuses attention on group-shared images of the enemies and on mutual interactions between the interpretations of local events and global conspiracy theories, as well as updates or later reinterpretations of older conspiracy motifs.
To Screen or not to Screen: Criterion-Related Validity of Math and Reading Curriculum-Based Measurement in Relation to High-Stakes Math Scores
Authors: Anselmo Giancarlo A. , Yarbrough Jamie L. , Tran Van Vi N.
Published: August 2020

This study analyzed the relationship between benchmark scores from the newly published Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills Math (i.e., Acadience™) math probes and student performance on math and reading sections of a state-mandated high-stakes test. Participants were 420 students enrolled in third, fourth, and fifth grades in a rural southeastern school district. Specific to this study was the calculation of the predictive validity of benchmark scores obtained in the spring from curriculum-based measurement probes measuring math computation, math application skills, and reading ability. Results of the study suggest that math application probes have strong predictive validity. The study also provides evidence that even at early grades the skill of reading is associated with performance on a high-stakes math test. The study provides some evidence that calculation skills are needed, but do not account for as much of the variance as reading ability does in grades as low as third grade. Implications for practice are discussed as it relates to multiple gating screening procedures at the elementary level.
Gender-Based Violence and Factors Associated with Victimization among Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wieten Carlijn Willeke , Chhoun Pheak , Tuot Sovannary , Brody Carinne , Yi Siyan
Published: August 2020

Women working in the entertainment industry are confronted with various forms of gender-based violence (GBV). However, their vulnerability remains understudied, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aims to examine the prevalence of GBV among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia and identify factors associated with victimization. We conducted a cross-sectional study in November 2018 for the impact evaluation of a randomized controlled trial. We used a stratified random sampling method to recruit 600 FEWs from different entertainment venues in the capital city and three other provinces. Female data collectors administered a structured questionnaire, and we performed multiple logistic regression analyses. Of the total, 60.5% had experienced a form of GBV during their lifetime; of whom, 37.5% experienced the GBV in the past 6 months. The prevalence of emotional abuse, forced substance use, physical abuse, and forced sex was 51.5%, 25.0%, 20.6%, and 2.9%, respectively. Forced substance use and forced sex were mainly perpetrated by clients, physical abuse by intimate partners, and emotional abuse by others such as entertainment establishment owners or managers. FEWs victimized by clients (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.07, 0.53]) and others (RRR = 0.11, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.44]) were less likely to be married compared with victims of intimate partner violence. Factors associated with sexual harassment were working in beer gardens (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.39, 95% CI = [1.20, 4.73]) and restaurants/cafés (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = [1.01, 2.69]), and having higher acceptance of violence against women (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.24]). FEWs in Cambodia experience high levels and unique forms of GBV as they are confronted with different types of perpetrators. Interventions need to be tailored to fit the specific needs of FEWs. Interventions aimed at reducing client-perpetrated violence should specifically focus on forced substance use and forced sex, while physical abuse by intimate partners should also be addressed.
“I Have Since Repented”: Discursive Analysis of the Role of Religion in Husband-to-Wife Abuse in Ghana
Authors: Adjei Stephen Baffour , Mpiani Anthony
Published: August 2020

Religion has long been recognized as a powerful tool capable of shaping the lives of people in many societies. In this study, we draw insights from discursive psychology to explore the influence of religious beliefs and practices on the perpetration of husband-to-wife abuse and the entrapment of victims in Ghana. Semi-structured focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 40 participants, comprising 16 (60%) perpetrators (men), 16 (60%) victims (women), and eight (20%) key informants from rural and urban Ghana. Participants’ discursive accounts suggest that both perpetrators and victims invoke religious instructions on gender norms to legitimize male authority over women in marriage. While perpetrators construct husbands’ conjugal authority over their wives in terms of prescriptive religious norms, victims construct their entrapment in abusive relationships in terms of proscriptive theology of divorce in the bible. The double-edged role of religion in providing both motivational and inhibitory support for wife abusers is also discussed.
“Does Džeko Live in Bosnia and Herzegovina?”: Demographics as a Hostage of Ethno-politics in the 2013 Census
Authors: Žíla Ondřej , Čermák Petr
Published: August 2020

In ethnically divided societies and political systems organized according to the principles of consociationalism, demography plays a crucial role as a powerful tool for promoting ethno-political interests. The aim of this article is to evaluate to what extent the first post-war 2013 census in Bosnia and Herzegovina became a hostage to the principle of ethno-politics. This study is grounded in Horowitz’s analysis of censuses in deeply divided societies, which assumes that ethnic identity in fragmented societies provides an explanation of who people vote for, and the reverse. We use the data on ethnic voting in 2014 as an indirect estimate of the ethnic structure of the population to verify the 2013 census findings. To do so, we determine the extent to which people enumerated as residents in the 2013 census actually live at the places they were counted, as required by the census law. Although we found that the indirect estimate of ethnic demography based on ethnic voting is largely in line with the census results, we also identified specific structural discrepancies between census results and voting patterns that indicate possible flaws in the census data in general. The method we used revealed significant territorial discrepancies, bringing into question the validity of the census data about the presence of Bosniak and Croat returnees in the Republika Srpska, and especially for Croats across Bosnia and Herzegovina. We argue that these discrepancies may have significant political consequences for the fragile Bosnian power-sharing system based on ethnic quotas and proportionality.
Optimization of wavy cylinder for aerodynamic drag and aeroacoustic sound reduction using computational fluid dynamics analysis
Authors: Karthik K , Jeyakumar S , Sebastin J Sarathkumar
Published: August 2020

Motivated by the requirement to lessen the aerodynamic drag and aeroacoustic sound of the bluff bodies, the present paper is devoted to a numerical analysis of the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics related with the flow past wavy circular cylinders. Based on the efficient flow control method, as has been presented by preceding researchers, the existing work embarks upon an investigation on the wavy cylinder at a various wavelength and amplitude conditions. Computations are performed for a circular cylinder of the length-to-diameter ratio ( L/ D) of 25 at a Reynolds number ( Re) of 97300 using large eddy simulation and Ffowcs Williams- Hawking’s acoustic analogy. Firstly, the cylinder without waviness is subjected to a uniform incoming flow is considered for validation against measurements. Secondly, various collection of wave shape parameters, specifically dimensionless wavelength λ/ D (=1 to 2.5), and wave amplitude a/ D (=0.05 to 0.2) have been taken into consideration. It is disclosed that the proper selection of shape parameters could significantly reduce the drag and sound emission levels, compared to the normal cylinder. Finally, a multi-objective particle swarm optimization was performed using the radial basis neural network to simultaneously reduce the aerodynamic drag and sound emission, with λ/ D and a/ D as design variables. We recognized a critical λ/ D and a/ D for the wavy circular cylinder at the considered subcritical Re.