bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Steady-State Energetic and Exergetic Performances of Single-Phase Natural Circulation Loop With Hybrid Nanofluids
Authors: Sahu Mayaram , Sarkar Jahar
Published: May 2019

Energy and exergy performances of natural circulation loop (NCL) with various water-based hybrid nanofluids (Al2O3 + TiO2, Al2O3 + CNT, Al2O3 + Ag, Al2O3 + Cu, Al2O3 + CuO, Al2O3 + graphene) with 1% volumetric concentration are compared in this study. New thermophysical property models have been proposed for hybrid nanofluids with different particle shapes and mixture ratio. Effects of power input, loop diameter, loop height, loop inclination and heater/cooler inclination on steady-state mass flow rate, effectiveness, and entropy generation are discussed as well. Results show that both the steady-state mass flow rate and energy–exergy performance are enhanced by using the hybrid nanofluids, except Al2O3 + graphene, which shows the performance decrement within the studied power range. Al2O3 + Ag hybrid nanofluid shows highest enhancement in mass flow rate of 4.8% compared to water. The shape of nanoparticle has shown a significant effect on steady-state performance; hybrid nanofluid having cylindrical and platelet shape nanoparticles yields lower mass flow rate than that of spherical shape. Mass flow rate increases with the increasing loop diameter and height, whereas decreases with the increasing loop and heater/cooler inclinations. Both effectiveness and entropy generation increase with the decreasing loop diameter and height, whereas increasing the loop and heater/cooler inclinations. This study reveals that the particle shape has a significant effect on the performance of hybrid nanofluids in NCL, and the use of hybrid nanofluid is more effective for higher power.
Pre-thrombectomy intravenous thrombolytics are associated with increased hospital bills without improved outcomes compared with mechanical thrombectomy alone
Authors: Hassan Ameer E , Kotta Hari , Garza Leeroy , Preston Laurie , Tekle Wondwossen , Sarraj Amrou , Qureshi Adnan I
Published: May 2019

Objective

To investigate whether significant differences exist in hospital bills and patient outcomes between patients who undergo endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) alone and those who undergo EVT with pretreatment intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA).

Methods

We retrospectively grouped patients in an EVT database into those who underwent EVT alone and those who underwent EVT with pretreatment IV tPA (EVT+IV tPA). Hospital encounter charges (obtained via the hospital’s charge capture process), final patient bills (ie, negotiated final bills as per insurance/Medicare rates), demographic information, existing comorbidities, admission and discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and functional independence data (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) were collected. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Of a total of 254 patients, 96 (37.8%) underwent EVT+IV tPA. Median NIHSS score at admission was significantly higher in the EVT+IV tPA group than in the EVT group (p=0.006). After adjusting for NIHSS admission score, patient bills and encounter charges in the EVT+IV tPA group were still found to be $3861.64 (95% CI $658.84 to $7064.45, p=0.02) and $158 071.29 (95% CI $134 641.50 to $181 501.08, p < 0.001) greater than in the EVT only group respectively. The EVT+IV tPA group had a higher complication rate of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (p=0.005). The EVT and EVT+IV tPA groups did not differ significantly in median discharge NIHSS score (p=0.56), functional independence rate at 90 days (p=0.96), or average length of hospital stay (p=0.21).

Conclusion

Patients treated with EVT+IV tPA have greater hospital encounter charges and final hospital bills as well as higher rates of ICH than patients who undergo treatment with EVT only.
A canine model of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke
Authors: Brooks Olivia W , King Robert M , Nossek Erez , Marosfoi Miklos , Caroff Jildaz , Chueh Ju-Yu , Puri Ajit S , Gounis Matthew J
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To develop a preclinical model of stroke with a large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

Materials and methods

An ischemic stroke model was created in dogs by the introduction of an autologous clot into the middle cerebral artery (MCA). A microcatheter was navigated to the clot and a stent retriever thrombectomy was performed with the goal to achieve Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia (TICI) 2b/3 reperfusion. Perfusion and diffusion MRI was acquired after clot placement and following thrombectomy to monitor the progression of restricted diffusion as well as changes in ischemia as a result of mechanical thrombectomy. Post-mortem histology was done to confirm MCA territory infarct volume.

Results

Initial MCA occlusion with TICI 0 flow was documented in all six hound-cross dogs entered into the study. TICI 2b/3 revascularization was achieved with one thrombectomy pass in four of six animals (67%). Intra-procedural events including clot autolysis leading to spontaneous revascularization (n=1) and unresolved vasospasm (n=1) accounted for thrombectomy failure. In one case, iatrogenic trauma during microcatheter navigation resulted in a direct arteriovenous fistula at the level of the cavernous carotid. Analysis of MRI indicated that a volume of tissue from the initial perfusion deficit was spared with reperfusion following thrombectomy, and there was also a volume of tissue that infarcted between MRI and ultimate recanalization.

Conclusion

We describe a large animal stroke model in which mechanical thrombectomy can be performed. This model may facilitate, in a preclinical setting, optimization of complex multimodal stroke treatment paradigms for clinical translation.
The Genetics of Human Skin and Hair Pigmentation
Authors: Pavan William J. , Sturm Richard A.
Published: May 2019

Human skin and hair color are visible traits that can vary dramatically within and across ethnic populations. The genetic makeup of these traits—including polymorphisms in the enzymes and signaling proteins involved in melanogenesis, and the vital role of ion transport mechanisms operating during the maturation and distribution of the melanosome—has provided new insights into the regulation of pigmentation. A large number of novel loci involved in the process have been recently discovered through four large-scale genome-wide association studies in Europeans, two large genetic studies of skin color in Africans, one study in Latin Americans, and functional testing in animal models. The responsible polymorphisms within these pigmentation genes appear at different population frequencies, can be used as ancestry-informative markers, and provide insight into the evolutionary selective forces that have acted to create this human diversity.
Mangroves in the Leaves: Anatomy, Physiology, and Immunity of Epithemal Hydathodes
Authors: Cerutti Aude , Jauneau Alain , Laufs Patrick , Leonhardt Nathalie , Schattat Martin H. , Berthomé Richard , Routaboul Jean-Marc , Noël Laurent D.
Published: May 2019

Hydathodes are organs found on aerial parts of a wide range of plant species that provide almost direct access for several pathogenic microbes to the plant vascular system. Hydathodes are better known as the site of guttation, which is the release of droplets of plant apoplastic fluid to the outer leaf surface. Because these organs are only described through sporadic allusions in the literature, this review aims to provide a comprehensive view of hydathode development, physiology, and immunity by compiling a historic and contemporary bibliography. In particular, we refine the definition of hydathodes.We illustrate their important roles in the maintenance of plant osmotic balance, nutrient retrieval, and exclusion of deleterious chemicals from the xylem sap. Finally, we present our current understanding of the infection of hydathodes by adapted vascular pathogens and the associated plant immune responses.
Current Status of Potato Cyst Nematodes in North America
Authors: Dandurand Louise-Marie , Zasada Inga A. , Wang Xiaohong , Mimee Benjamin , De Jong Walter , Novy Richard , Whitworth Jonathan , Kuhl Joseph C.
Published: May 2019

The potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida are internationally recognized quarantine pests. Although not widely distributed in either the United States or Canada, both are present and are regulated by the national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) of each country. G. rostochiensis was first discovered in New York in the 1940s, and G. pallida was first detected in a limited area of Idaho in 2006. In Canada, G. rostochiensis and G. pallida were first detected in Newfoundland in 1962 and 1977, respectively, and further detections of G. rostochiensis occurred in British Columbia and Québec, most recently in 2006. Adherence to a stringent NPPO-agreed-upon phytosanitary program has prevented the spread of PCNs to other potato-growing areas in both countries. The successful research and regulatory PCN programs in both countries rely on a network of state, federal, university, and private industry cooperatorspursuing a common goal of containment, management/eradication, and regulation. The regulatory and research efforts of these collaborative groups spanning from the 1940s to the present are highlighted in this review.
The Effect of Mouse Strain, Sex, and Carcinogen Dose on Toxicity and the Development of Lung Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Mice
Authors: Riolobos Laura , Gad Ekram A. , Treuting Piper M. , Timms Andrew E. , Hershberg Elliot A. , Corulli Lauren R. , Rodmaker Erin , Disis Mary L.
Published: May 2019

In order to translate new treatments to the clinic, it is necessary to use animal models that closely recapitulate human disease. Lung cancer develops after extended exposure to carcinogens. It has one of the highest mutation rates of all cancer and is highly heterogenic. Topical treatment with N-nitrosotris-(2-chloroethyl)urea (NTCU) induces lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with nonsynonymous mutation rates similar to those reported for human non–small cell lung cancer. However, NTCU induces lung cancer with variable efficacy and toxicity depending on the mouse strain. A detailed characterization of the NTCU model is needed. We have compared the effect of three different NTCU doses (20, 30, and 40 mmol/L) in female and male of NIH Swiss, Black Swiss, and FVB mice on tumor incidence, survival, and toxicity. The main findings in this study are (1) NIH Swiss mice present with a higher incidence of SCC and lower mortality compared with Black Swiss and FVB mice; (2) 30 mmol/L NTCU dose induces SCC at the same rate and incidence as the 40 mmol/L dose with lower mortality; (3) female mice present higher grade and incidence of preinvasive lesions and SCC compared with males; (4) NTCU-induced transformation is principally within the respiratory system; and (5) NTCU treatment does not affect the ability to elicit a specific adaptive immune response. This study provides a reference point for experimental designs to evaluate either preventive or therapeutic treatments for lung SCC, including immunotherapies, before initiating human clinical trials.
High School Teachers’ Sense-Making of Response to Intervention: A Critical Practice Analysis
Authors: Kressler Benikia , Cavendish Wendy
Published: May 2019

Response to intervention (RtI) is touted as an equity-focused provision of special education policy that holds promise for reducing overrepresentation and providing academic opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. However, teachers working to implement RtI have encountered complex challenges that stifle equitable outcomes. Employing the zone of mediation (ZOM) as the critical practice analysis framework, this qualitative study examined six high school teachers’ sense-making and engagement within an RtI framework, with specific attention to their data-based decision making (DbDM) for CLD students. We used an inductive analysis approach and developed three themes: (a) limited understanding, training, and support; (b) top-down accountability pressures; and (c) deficit views on student performance. These findings situated within the ZOM framework underscore complexities that render the promise of equity for CLD students impotent within an RtI model.
Building Sustainable Models of Veteran-Engaged Health Services Research
Authors: Wendleton Leah R. , Martin Lindsey A. , Stewart Steffensmeier Kenda R. , LaChappelle Kathryn , Fehling Kelty , Etingen Bella , Ray Cara , Carnevale David , Hardie Carol , Grimes Irisa , Ono Sarah S.
Published: May 2019

Engaging veterans in research has gained momentum in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in recent years. Engagement ensures that health services research is more relevant and tailored to the unique needs of veteran populations. VHA research centers promote engagement through the development of veteran engagement groups (VEGs). Members engage with researchers in organized meetings to review research proposals or projects, and provide individual feedback to improve veteran-centricity. This article shares important lessons learned in implementing VEGs locally from the liaisons who serve as a bridge between researchers and the veterans involved in these groups. Five steps in the VEG formation process are discussed: (1) regulatory considerations (e.g., compliance issues, ethics); (2) recruitment of VEG members (e.g., group size, demographic characteristics); (3) structure and governance (e.g., meeting logistics, participation, and privacy/confidentiality); (4) orientation and training (e.g., orienting veterans and researchers to the engagement process); and (5) evaluation and feedback (e.g., the effectiveness of engagement and tracking the incorporation of veteran feedback in the research). While all VEGs go through identical steps in the formation process, local implementation varies contextually by research center location. To illustrate the diversity in the formation methods, we present a series of case studies throughout this article: Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Hines, Illinois; West Haven, Connecticut; Iowa City, Iowa; and Houston, Texas. Normalization of veteran engagement in VHA health services research will require a cultural shift to one that embraces veterans’ perspectives and results in a more collaborative partnership between VHA leadership, researchers, and veterans.
Albert Camus, Ernest Becker, and the Art of Living in Existential Paradox
Authors: Hawkins Mark A.
Published: May 2019

Albert Camus and Ernest Becker were both concerned with the effects of existential paradox (the paradox of the absurd) on human behavior and how the ability to accept this paradox may alleviate much individual, societal, and even planetary suffering. Their respective works focus on different aspects of existential paradox and I propose a comparison of their main themes leads to a deeper and more robust understanding of existential paradox and its effects. Thus, this article is an exploration of how a comparison of Camus and Becker’s work may enrich our understanding of existential paradox, its effects on human behavior, and provide a way to live with it. I conclude from this comparison that the creation of absurd works of art may be integral for promoting the ability to live in existential paradox without appeal.
A Dialogue on Understanding
Authors: Mantzavinos C.
Published: May 2019

This paper written as a dialogue between two interlocutors, Julie and a Student, deals with Understanding and its role in the social sciences. The fictional dialogue takes place in Hannover, Germany, and the interlocutors are exchanging arguments about Verstehen and how it should be conceptualized in the philosophy of the social sciences. A range of different approaches is discussed and a naturalistic strategy emerges as a defensible alternative.
Redundant Group Agency
Authors: Moen Lars J. K.
Published: May 2019

According to group-agent realism, treating groups as agents with their own intentional states, irreducible to those of the group members, helps us explain and predict the groups’ behavior. This paper challenges this view. When groups judge logically interconnected propositions, group members often have incentives to misrepresent their beliefs concerning propositions they care less about in order to increase the probability of their groups adopting their view of propositions they consider more important. Aggregating such untruthful judgments may lead to the group forming false beliefs. Treating groups as agents will then not help us explain or predict their behavior.
Neighborhood Qualities and Parenting Among Mothers With Young Children: Variation by Relationship Status
Authors: Riina Elizabeth M.
Published: May 2019

This study investigates associations between neighborhood social processes and parenting qualities among mothers of young children and tests variation according to relationship status. Data come from Year 3 of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study ( n = 3,535). Aim 1 is to examine associations between neighborhood collective efficacy and social disorder and parenting qualities (parenting stress, parental efficacy, harsh discipline, and neglect). Aim 2 is to test relationship status (married, cohabiting, or single) as a moderator of links between neighborhood social processes and parenting. Results showed significant associations in expected directions; collective efficacy was related to more positive parenting qualities, and social disorder had negative implications for parenting. Interactions by relationship status revealed that neighborhood social processes had stronger implications for single relative to married or cohabiting mothers. Discussion centers on the importance of identifying neighborhood risk and protective factors for parenting qualities among mothers with young children.
Beyond NPM to Post-NPM? A Study of China’s Government Reforms Over the Past 40 Years
Authors: Xiaolong Tian , Christensen Tom
Published: May 2019

This article examines China’s government reforms over the past 40 years from an instrumental–structural and a cultural–value perspective with the aim of exploring the supposed shift from New Public Management (NPM) to post-NPM. It finds that some aspects of the Old Public Administration (OPA) have been combined with NPM and post-NPM features in a layering process, resulting in new hybrid organizational forms and value orientations. In particular, the analysis shows that China’s post-NPM-oriented reforms have focused on positive coordination in the sense of super-ministries and networks on the one hand and value-based governance with a service orientation on the other hand.
“If It Wasn’t for Ethics, I Wouldn’t Go Near Him”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Caring for Patient-Prisoners in Kenya
Authors: Muiruri Peninnah Njeri , Brewer Gayle , Khan Roxanne
Published: May 2019

Those caring for patient-prisoners experience distinct challenges that may impede effective treatment. Previous studies have investigated these issues from the perspective of forensic or correctional nurses, yet overlooked the lived experiences of nurses based in public health hospitals caring for patient-prisoners. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurses caring for patient-prisoners in public hospitals in Kenya. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes were identified: fear of patient-prisoner, time constraint, labelling, and optimism on recidivism. The fear of patient-prisoner theme included two sub-themes: perceived dangerousness and communication hindrance. The time constraint theme included three sub-themes: workload, short hospital stay, and task-oriented system. The labelling theme contained the loss of individual identity and representative of a group of sub-themes. Optimism on recidivism involved two sub-themes: reformation and rebuilding one’s life. Future research should investigate the extent to which these impact on the patient-prisoner experience.
Older Adult Lifespace Varies by Driving Status and Residential Population Density
Authors: Phillips Christine B. , Freed Sara A. , Ross Lesley A.
Published: May 2019

Individual- and environmental-level factors may explain differential trajectories in lifespace mobility in older adults. The current study tested whether driving status was associated with lifespace, whether lifespace change varied by driving status, and whether residential context moderated the relationship between driving status and lifespace. Participants were 2,792 older adults aged 65 to 94 (mean = 73.6 + 5.9) enrolled in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Study. Lifespace and driving status were assessed at baseline and first, second, third, and fifth annual follow-up visits. Residential population density was measured as the population density for participants’ enrollment site counties. Two sites were categorized as low density (<600 per square mile) and four sites were categorized as high density (>1,200 per square mile). Multilevel longitudinal models tested relationships between driving status, residential population density, and lifespace over five years. After controlling for potential confounders, results indicated that non-drivers had smaller mean lifespace than drivers across five years. Rates of lifespace decline did not differ between drivers and non-drivers. Non-drivers at baseline residing in low population density areas had smaller lifespace than non-drivers in high population density areas and all drivers regardless of population density. The findings suggest that residential context plays a role in older adults’ travel behaviors and choices. Further research is needed to understand what residential characteristics support or hinder lifespace maintenance for older adult non-drivers, such as availability and usability of transportation and walkability.
Trajectory-Based Measurement of Signalized Intersection Capacity
Authors: Fourati Walid , Friedrich Bernhard
Published: May 2019

Capacities of road intersections are a limiting factor and crucial for the performance of road networks. Therefore, for purposes of intersection design and of optimal signal timing, numerous methodologies have been proposed to either estimate or directly measure the capacity of single movements at road intersections. However, both model-based estimation and direct measurement suffer from the large effort that is needed to gather the relevant data. Even worse, once the data are collected they only represent a snapshot of the capacity over time. This paper proposes an alternative approach to estimate capacity of signalized road intersections over time using only automatically generated trajectories of probe vehicles. The obtained capacity can be used to evaluate the effective degree of saturation using real demand, or to assess hypothetic different conditions in demand or signaling. The cyclic operation of signalized intersections allows for the accumulation of trajectories, and thus in practical applications for the compensation of potentially low penetration rates. Within a sequential process the intersection’s cycle time and the approach green time and saturation flow rates are determined. The determination of the cycle time and the green times is based on an existing approach. The derivation of the saturation flow rates relies on its direct dependency to the saturation time headway and uses two parameters to be calibrated. Testing with a commercial dataset on an intersection in Munich produced a good signal timing estimation and saturation flow values that are comparable to a calculation based on the German guideline.
Do People Desire to Walk More in Commuting to Work? Examining a Conceptual Model Based on the Role of Perceived Walking Distance and Positive Attitudes
Authors: Hatamzadeh Yaser
Published: May 2019

While transportation planning professionals are interested in exploring ways to increase walking in daily travel, it would be interesting to know whether people desire to walk more or not. This paper addresses a gap in the literature by designing a conceptual framework in which it was hypothesized that commuters’ perception of the walking distance and their attitudes towards walking take a central role in forming their desire to walk more in traveling to/from work while considering the effect of various objective travel/environmental characteristics and individual/socioeconomic characteristics. Using data collected in 2015 from 432 working commuters in the city of Rasht, Iran, a structural equation model using an observed endogenous variable approach was applied to examine the conceptual framework of the study. Results showed that, as the perceived walking distance increases, the desire to walk more decreases. The total travel time to/from work, as an objective measure of travel, was found to have the greatest effect on someone’s perception of the walking distance. Results show that individuals with positive attitudes towards walking desired to walk more. Having positive attitudes towards walking also modified the negative effect of perception as individuals with higher positive attitudes towards walking also perceived the walking distance between their homes and work to be shorter. Among various factors, having at least one walking trip in traveling to/from work was found as the main determinant of commuters’ desire for more walking.
Multi-Step Heuristic Method for Bus Terminal Location Problem
Authors: Zamanian Mohammad Hossein , Peiravian Farideddin
Published: May 2019

Bus terminals are one of the main facilities that have a key role in the collection and distribution of passengers within an urban transportation network. The location of a bus terminal strongly affects its performance. Owing to the increasing demand, it is sometimes necessary to add a new bus terminal to the existing urban bus network. Finding a proper location, however, is a challenge that is influenced by different transportation and socio-economic considerations, which in turn affects the surrounding land-use and traffic patterns. In this paper, a new multi-step heuristic method is proposed for the bus terminal location problem to identify a new bus terminal location based on the existing network as well as other transportation considerations and constraints. This is achieved by identifying the existing bus stops that have the greatest potential to be turned into a bus terminal. Other factors taken into consideration are the locations of the existing bus terminals, adjacent land-use, construction costs, node connectivity, and system accessibility. Owing to the multi-objective nature of the problem, a goal programming approach is used to formulate the objective function. To evaluate the proposed model, it was applied to the city of Shiraz in Iran. The results show that the model can provide acceptable and reliable outcomes.
Identifying Contributory Factors to Heterogeneity in Driving Behavior: Clustering and Classification Approach
Authors: James Rachel M. , Hammit Britton E.
Published: May 2019

Previous research efforts using aerially collected trajectory-level data have confirmed the existence of inter-driver heterogeneity, where different car-following model (CFM) specifications and calibrated parameter sets are required to adequately capture drivers’ driving behavior. This research hypothesizes that there also exist clusters of drivers whose behavior is sufficiently similar to be considered a homogeneous group. To test this hypothesis, this study applies a 664-trip sample of trajectory-level data from the SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study to calibrate the Gipps, Intelligent Driver Model, and Wiedemann 99 CFMs. Using the calibrated parameter coefficients, this research provides evidence of the existence of homogeneous groups of driving behavior using the expectation maximization clustering algorithm. Four classification algorithms are then applied to classify the trip’s cluster ID according to driver demographics. Driver age, income, and marital status were most commonly identified as important classification attributes, while gender, work status, and living status appear less significant. The classification algorithms, which sought to classify a trip’s behavioral cluster ID by the driver-specific attributes, achieved the highest accuracy rate when predicting the desired velocity car-following parameter clusters. This effort illustrates that some drivers drive sufficiently alike to form a cluster of similar behavior; moreover, it was confirmed that driver-specific attributes can be utilized to classify drivers into these homogeneous driver groups.
Economic Insecurity among Gay and Bisexual Men: Evidence from the 1991–2016 U.S. General Social Survey
Authors: Chai Lei , Maroto Michelle
Published: May 2019

Although a sizeable body of research has examined the labor market outcomes for sexual minority men, suggesting that gay and bisexual men earn less than their heterosexual counterparts, fewer studies have addressed whether any apparent earnings disadvantages for sexual minority men extend to economic insecurity more broadly. Using 1991–2016 U.S. General Social Survey (GSS) data, we examine three measures of economic insecurity—household income, perceived financial satisfaction, and views about family income—among gay and bisexual men. We find that most sexual minority men experience multiple types of economic insecurity with larger disparities present for bisexual men. Consistent with the labor market literature, we observe that family structure and human capital acquisition primarily accounted for economic insecurity disparities for gay men, and family structure partially explained disparities for bisexual men.
Development and Initial Validation of Cultural Competence Inventory–Preservice Teachers
Authors: Yang Yan , Cox Cody , Cho YoonJung
Published: May 2019

Despite the critical role of emotions in multicultural teacher education, no attempt has been made to develop an instrument including affect as a dimension in measuring cultural competence for preservice teachers. To bridge this gap, the present three-study research used three distinct samples of 456 preservice teachers to develop and estimate the reliability of scores and validity of inferences for Cultural Competence Inventory–Preservice Teachers (CCI-PT), an 18-item instrument including three subscales: emotional cultural competence (ECC), behavioral cultural competence (BCC), and cognitive cultural competence (CCC). The three-factor model was supported using exploratory factor analysis ( N = 203) in Study 1 and confirmatory factor analyses ( N = 199) in Study 2. Correlation results provided preliminary evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of CCI-PT in Study 1, and regression results in Study 3 ( N = 113) provided initial evidence of predictive validity of inference for the instrument. Further, the scores of cultural competence assessed through three independent studies also provided initial evidence of the reliability of CCI-PT.
Influence of thermo-oxidative aging on flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of long glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites filled with organic montmorillonite and intumescent flame retardant
Authors: Zhou Ying , He Weidi , Wu Yifan , Xu Dinghong , Chen Xiaolang , He Min , Guo Jianbing
Published: May 2019

In this work, the effect of thermo-oxidative aging on organic montmorillonite/intumescent flame retardant/long glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites was investigated for different exposure times at 140°C. Limiting oxygen index, Underwriters Laboratories-94 tests, cone calorimeter test, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to evaluate the flammability and thermal stability. The results of limiting oxygen index values, Underwriters Laboratories 94 test, and cone calorimeter test show that aging performs negative effect on the flame retardancy of organic montmorillonite/intumescent flame retardant/long glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites. Thermal oxidation aging markedly changes the decomposition process of organic montmorillonite/intumescent flame retardant/long glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites. The scanning electronic microscopy images of the external surface of composites indicate that many ground particles and micro-scale cracks are scattered in the surfaces of the composites after aging. The sharp micro-scale cracks and crazing formed on the surface promote the heat and oxygen to penetrate into the bulk of polypropylene matrix. According to the mechanical test results, the thermal oxidation aging reduces the tensile, flexural, and notched impact strengths of organic montmorillonite/intumescent flame retardant/long glass fiber–reinforced polypropylene composites.
Fighting Against Intimate Partner Violence With Hairstylists: A Pilot Study of Korean Immigrants in New York City
Authors: Kim Chunrye
Published: May 2019

This study aims to explore the potential role of hairstylists in helping intimate partner violence (IPV) victims in the Korean immigrant communities using a cross-sectional survey design that includes open- and close-ended survey questions. In all, 47 Korean hair salon stylists were surveyed on their experience with their clients related to IPV. The findings of this study reveal that a high percentage of clients disclosed their and their friends’ IPV victimization to the hair salon stylists. Some of the hair salon stylists’ characteristics, such as years of working and the length of residence in the United States, were statistically associated with IPV disclosure among their clients. Most hair salon stylists were willing to help their clients in general, but they were not well-prepared to help IPV victims due to a lack of resources and knowledge. We conclude that hair salons have a great potential to increase IPV-related knowledge in immigrant communities (including the Korean community) and help IPV victims pending appropriate training aimed at improving their knowledge and competencies regarding IPV identification and intervention.
“I’m Not Really 100% a Woman If I Can’t Have a Kid”: Infertility and the Intersection of Gender, Identity, and the Body
Authors: Bell Ann V.
Published: May 2019

Despite establishing the gendered construction of infertility, most research on the subject has not examined how individuals with such reproductive difficulty negotiate their own sense of gender. I explore this gap through 58 interviews with women who are medically infertile and involuntarily childless. In studying how women achieve their gender, I reveal the importance of the body to such construction. For the participants, there is not just a motherhood mandate in the United States, but a fertility mandate—women are not just supposed to mother, they are supposed to procreate. Given this understanding, participants maintain their gender by denying their infertile status. They do so through reliance on essentialist notions, using their bodies as a means of constructing a gendered sense of self. Using the tenets of transgender theory, this study not only informs our understanding of infertility, but also our broader understanding of the relationship between gender, identity, and the body, exposing how individuals negotiate their gender through physical as well as institutional and social constraints.
A Community-Wide Walking Promotion Using Maps and Events for Japanese Older Adults
Authors: Kubota Akio , Matsushita Munehiro , Arao Takashi , Merom Dafna , Cerin Ester , Sugiyama Takemi
Published: May 2019

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of a community-wide walking intervention (involving walking maps and events) on older residents’ walking and environmental perceptions. Method: In this nonrandomized quasi-panel study, older adults living in an intervention and control site were recruited at baseline and follow-up. All households in the intervention site received maps and were invited to participate in a walking event monthly. The intervention lasted for 21 months. The outcomes were walking frequency, duration, and perceptions of local environments. Results: We did not find a significant improvement in walking frequency or duration in the intervention site relative to the control site. However, there was a significant increase in the awareness of others being active and a marginal increase in the perception of aesthetics in the intervention site. Discussion: The increased awareness of others being active may be a positive step in the stages of change toward engagement in physical activity.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 1996, Marino Institute Dublin, ‘Being Women: Ways of Knowing’
Authors: Condren Mary
Published: May 2019

In her paper ‘Mercy Not Sacrifice: Toward a Celtic Theology’ delivered in Dublin in 1996, Mary Condren began by addressing the problem of ‘a way of knowing’, that is, the concept of knowing and the relationship between power and knowledge, asking, ‘When we yearn for a Celtic or female way of knowing what is the fundamental impulse behind it, what is the longing behind it? What is the myth behind it?’[1]Is it possible to look to the Celtic past for answers or does any epistemology emanating from a colonized people, (including a women’s way of knowing) need to be examined carefully in regard to the inherent power politics and the question as to who owns the past? Can the myth of a pristine past be used to empower?
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 1998, The College of St Mark and St John Plymouth, ‘Women Facing the Boundaries of Difference’
Authors: Grey Mary
Published: May 2019

In her paper Expelled Again from Eden: Facing Difference through Connection, delivered in Plymouth in 1998, Mary Grey said the story of the Garden of Eden was a dilemma for Feminist Theologians. This because it both bears responsibility for the Fall of relationship between God and Man and the misogyny that has ensued through the ages but also underpinning the desire to return to a supposed golden age of matriarchy with the re-emergence of the Goddess and a related ecological and egalitarian epoch of harmony. Grey makes a connection between the Lost Garden myth and the second wave feminist ideal of global sisterhood of the 1960s. Reflecting on her paper and updating it later, Grey concluded she still felt the challenge of years ago: the sense of rightness of connection and mutuality, yet the crucial need to embrace difference.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 2004, University of Bristol, ‘Embracing Diversity: Seeking Harmony’
Authors: Christ Carol P.
Published: May 2019

The article presents a dialogue between Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow. It argues that a process metaphysic provides an alternative to the Christian liberation paradigm and could help feminists in religion to articulate alternatives to the concept of God as a dominant male other found in classical theism. A shared metaphysic could help feminists in different religious traditions to recognize common concerns and commitments, to guard against claims of uniqueness and exclusivity of religious traditions, and to engage with the complexities of diversity.

Anticipating arguments against a feminist process paradigm, the dialogue addresses further questions: Is the idea of divinity as unfailing sympathy too good to be true? How do we explain bad things happening – is divinity evil as well as good? How does a process idea of divine sympathy differ from the traditional notions of God as love? Other issues considered are: self-sacrifice as love; the place of anger in a relational theology; co-creation and power with versus over. In conclusion the author suggests that the foundation of a shared spiritual feminist ethic would be understanding that life in the body is to be enjoyed by all and accepting responsibility to co-create a more just and harmonious world.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 2006, Harriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, ‘What’s God got to do with it? – Politics, Economics, Theology’
Authors: Goldenberg Naomi
Published: May 2019

The article reflects on a 2006 keynote about sex and religion discussing a topic the author has addressed as a central issue. Although the author has been involved in what has been known as the field of women and religion for decades, theory that is now emerging under the rubric of what is at times called ‘critical religion’, has led her to a different approach to the topic. The article reflects on the past and moves forward to introduce this trajectory of theory. The hope is to convince the reader that thinking critically about sex and religion together is a new and necessary adventure.
Measuring Entrepreneurship: Do Established Metrics Capture Schumpeterian Entrepreneurship?
Authors: Henrekson Magnus , Sanandaji Tino
Published: May 2019

We compile four hand-collected measures of high-impact Schumpeterian entrepreneurship (venture capital-funded IPOs, self-made billionaire entrepreneurs, unicorn start-ups, and young top global firms founded by individual entrepreneurs) and six measures dominated by small business activity as well as institutional and economic variables for 64 countries. Factor analysis reveals that a great deal of the variation is accounted for by two distinct factors: one relating to high-impact Schumpeterian entrepreneurship and the other relating to small business activity. Except for the World Bank measure of firm registration of limited liability companies, quantity-based measures tend to be inappropriate proxies for high-impact Schumpeterian entrepreneurship.
When More Is Better: Multifamily Firms and Firm Performance
Authors: Duran Patricio , Ortiz Marcelo
Published: May 2019

Does the presence of multiple and unrelated family controllers improve firm performance? Drawing on both agency and behavioral agency theories, we argue that multifamily firms outperform single-family firms since families in multifamily firms actively monitor owners’ socioemotional goals. Additionally, we suggest that a balanced distribution of control among the owning families facilitates the monitoring process. Finally, we argue that the focal relationship follows an inverted U-shaped pattern depending on the number of families controlling the firm. We test our hypotheses using a sample of Chilean publicly listed family firms. Our study extends current knowledge of the uniqueness of multifamily firms.
Needs of Military Families: Family and Educator Perspective
Authors: Classen Audra I. , Horn Eva , Palmer Susan
Published: May 2019

Limited research has focused on the unique needs of military families and their preschool-age children and even less work focused on military families whose preschool children have special needs or disabilities. Researchers implemented a multicase qualitative research design conducted at two sites to gain the perspectives across all service ranks. The study included two groups of participants from each site including (a) early educators working for the school district associated with each military base, and (b) families who had been deployed within the past 5 years and had a child with a disability, or who was at risk for developing a disability, younger than the age of 8 years. Researchers used a semi-structured question protocol to align with the study’s overarching purpose, theory, extant research on military families, and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) recommended practices for serving children with special needs and their families. Based on the data gathered, researchers describe professional development needs related to developing transportable detailed Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs, using family-centered approaches, and creating a collaborative partnership between school leadership and military command.
Nursing Home Eligible, Community-Dwelling Older Adults’ Perceptions and Beliefs About Sleep: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: McPhillips Miranda V. , Dickson Victoria V. , Cacchione Pamela Z. , Li Junxin , Gooneratne Nalaka , Riegel Barbara
Published: May 2019

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in older adults; little is known about sleep in those who remain living in the community despite qualifying for nursing home placement. We conducted a concurrent, nested, mixed-methods study to describe sleep characteristics and sleep disturbances in this population. Our final sample ( n = 40) was Black (100%), female (85%) older adults with a mean (± SD) age of 72 ± 9.5 years. Of these, 35 had objectively measured short or long sleep duration, and 30 had subjectively reported poor sleep quality. Our evidence suggests that sleep disturbances are common in this group, and these older adults had adjusted their expectations and adapted to their sleep disturbances. Given that at-risk older adults may not perceive their sleep disturbances as problematic, clinicians must proactively assess sleep and educate about the importance of sleep. These results reveal modifiable factors with potential to improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Medication Adherence and Its Associated Factors in Laotians With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kang Younhee , Hur Yujin
Published: May 2019

This study aims to explore diabetes mellitus (DM) medication adherence and its associated factors in Laotians with type 2 DM by determining the relationships among DM-related characteristics, diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, diabetes locus of control, and DM medication adherence. The participants of the study were 175 patients who visited the DM clinics in Vientiane. The mean score of medication adherence was 6.26 ± 1.57 ( M ± SD), corresponding to a medium adherence level. In the regression model, a total variance of medication adherence explained was 11.4%. Employment status, duration of illness, and self-efficacy were significant factors for predicting medication adherence. Self-efficacy was found to be the most important factor in explaining the variance of medication adherence. These findings indicate the need to develop an intervention program and clinical strategies in Laos promoting diabetic medication adherence that include diverse methods for enhancing self-efficacy.
Efficacy of Capsaicin for the Treatment of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: McConachie Sean M. , Caputo Ryan A. , Wilhelm Sheila M. , Kale-Pradhan Pramodini B.
Published: May 2019

Objective: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by cyclic vomiting, abdominal pain, and alleviation of symptoms via hot showers in chronic cannabinoid users. Capsaicin is recommended as a reasonable first-line treatment approach for CHS despite limited clinical evidence regarding its use. The objective of this study is to systematically review the efficacy data for capsaicin in CHS. Data Sources: A literature search using keywords related to cannabinoids, emesis, and capsaicin was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE from inception through March 31, 2019. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies and published abstracts in which capsaicin was used for CHS and clinical outcomes were reported were eligible for inclusion. Data Synthesis: A total of 241 articles were screened, of which 5 full-text articles and 6 conference abstracts were included. Full-text case reports (n = 3) and case series (n = 2) found capsaicin to be effective in a total of 18 patients. Published abstracts were in the form of case reports (n = 1), case series (n = 3), and retrospective cohort studies (n = 2). Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Capsaicin use was described as beneficial in all case series and case reports; however, both retrospective cohort studies were unable to find a significant benefit for capsaicin on primary outcomes (emergency department length of stay). Conclusion: Current data for capsaicin efficacy in CHS is of low methodological quality. However, the limited data on alternative antiemetic therapies and capsaicin’s favorable risk-benefit profile make it a reasonable adjunctive treatment option.