bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term Evaluation of Meniscal Tissue Formation in 3-dimensional–Printed Scaffolds With Sequential Release of Connective Tissue Growth Factor and TGF-β3 in an Ovine Model
Authors: Nakagawa Yusuke , Fortier Lisa A. , Mao Jeremy J. , Lee Chang Hun , Goodale Margaret B. , Koff Matthew F. , Uppstrom Tyler J. , Croen Brett , Wada Susumu , Carballo Camila B. , Potter Hollis G. , Rodeo Scott A.
Published: August 2019

Background:

Artificial meniscal scaffolds are being developed to prevent development of osteoarthritis after meniscectomy. Previously, it was reported that 3-dimensional (3D) anatomic scaffolds loaded with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) achieved meniscal regeneration in an ovine model. This was a relatively short-term study (3 months postoperative), and outcome analyses did not include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Purpose:

To evaluate long-term outcome of meniscal replacement with growth factor–laden poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Anatomically shaped ovine meniscal scaffolds were fabricated from PCL with a 3D printer based on MRI data. Skeletally mature sheep (N = 34) were randomly allocated to 3 groups: scaffold without growth factor (0-µg group), scaffold with CTGF microspheres (µS) (5 µg) + TGF-β3 µS (5 µg) (5-µg group), and scaffold with CTGF µS (10 µg) + TGF-β3 µS (10 µg) (10-µg group). Unilateral medial meniscal replacement was performed. Animals were euthanized at 6 or 12 months. Regenerated meniscus, articular cartilage status, and synovial reaction were evaluated quantitatively with gross inspection, histology, and MRI. Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests were used to compare the 3 groups.

Results:

Remnants of the PCL scaffold were evident in the 6-month specimens and were decreased but still present at 12 months in most animals. There were no significant differences among groups in gross inspection, histology, or MRI for either meniscal regeneration or articular cartilage protection. All experimental groups exhibited articular cartilage degeneration as compared with control (nonoperated). In terms of synovitis, there were no clear differences among groups, suggesting that growth factors did not increase inflammation and fibrosis. MRI revealed that meniscal extrusion was observed in most animals (82.7%).

Conclusion:

Previously, the combination of CTGF and TGF-β3 was shown to stimulate mesenchymal stem cells into a fibrochondrocyte lineage. CTGF and TGF-β3 did not aggravate synovitis, suggesting no adverse response to the combination of 3D-printed PCL scaffold combined with CTGF and TGF-β3. Further work will be required to improve scaffold fixation to avoid meniscal extrusion.

Clinical Relevance:

A significant advantage of this technique is the ability to print custom-fit scaffolds from MRI-generated templates. In addition, average-size menisci could be printed and available for off-the-shelf applications. Based on the 1-year duration of the study, the approach appears to be promising for meniscal regeneration in humans.
An Examination of the Links Between Organizational Social Capital and Employee Well-Being: Focusing on the Mediating Role of Quality of Work Life
Authors: Ko Myeong Chul
Published: August 2019

Although organizational social capital (OSC) is widely considered a potential resource for improving organizational performance, extensive research has paid limited attention to how employee well-being may be a positive outcome of OSC. Drawing on social exchange theory, need satisfaction, and spillover approaches, this study explores the effects of OSC on subjective well-being (SWB) through quality of work life (QWL) and job-related outcomes, such as organizational commitment and turnover intention. Using survey data obtained from public employees in South Korea, the results show that QWL mediates not only the association between OSC and organizational commitment but also the relationship between OSC and SWB. These findings highlight the importance of OSC as an intangible asset that can generate both organizational outcomes and employee well-being. In practice, these findings also imply that organizational resources and work environments should favorably respond to employees’ human needs to ensure improved employee well-being.
Study Activities That Foster Generative Learning: Notetaking, Graphic Organizer, and Questioning
Authors: Ponce Héctor R. , Mayer Richard E. , Loyola M. Soledad , López Mario J.
Published: August 2019

Fourth graders were asked to read a text and either to fill in a compare-and-contrast graphic organizer, answer a set of structured questions, take notes, or simply read the text. Both the graphic organizer and questioning groups outperformed the read-only group on a comprehension test ( d = 1.24 and 1.22, respectively) and a memory test ( d = 0.54 and 0.53, respectively). No significant differences were found between the notetaking and read-only groups on the comprehension test ( d = 0.30) or the memory test ( d = 0.20). Results showed more integrative eye movements between paragraphs for the graphic organizer ( d = 1.53) and the questioning groups ( d = 1.90) than the read-only group, but not for the notetaking group ( d = −0.06). On all three measures, the graphic organizer group and the questioning group exhibited a generative learning strategy, whereas the notetaking and read-only groups exhibited a linear learning strategy.
Association Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Motor Function in Ambulant and Nonambulant Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients
Authors: Gocheva Vanya , Schmidt Simone , Orsini Anna-Lena , Hafner Patricia , Schaedelin Sabine , Rueedi Nicole , Weber Peter , Fischer Dirk
Published: August 2019

This cross-sectional study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in ambulant and nonambulant patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and explored the association between health-related quality of life and clinically assessed motor function. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scale and PedsQL Neuromuscular module were completed by 34 parent-child dyads. Association between PedsQL scores and overall motor abilities and the transfers and standing posture domain measured by the Motor Function Measure were examined. Child self-reported and parent proxy-reported mean PedsQL scores for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were lower than those for healthy children for the physical and psychosocial health-related quality of life. Fifty-six percent of patients reported clinically impaired psychosocial health-related quality of life scores. Several aspects of the generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were positively associated to overall motor function and transfers and standing posture domain. Associations remained stable when adjusted for age and corticosteroid use. The Motor Function Measure is clinically meaningful in the context of a patient’s day-to-day life.
An improved model of contact collision investigation on multi-body systems with revolute clearance joints
Authors: Lou JingJun , Li ChaoBo
Published: August 2019

An improved contact collision model for the impact analysis of a slider–crank mechanism with revolute clearance joints is presented and discussed in this paper. Clearances in revolute joints are inevitable due to wear, machining tolerance, and local deformations. In view of the energy loss and the stiffness changes during collision, which modifies the coulomb friction force, an improved contact collision force model is established. The influence of clearance size, speed, and friction on the acceleration of slider is analyzed, and the simulation results are compared with the experimental data. The results demonstrate that the parameters of clearance joints have obvious effects on dynamic characteristics, and the improved model can accurately describe the dynamic characteristics of joints with clearance.
Explanatory integration, computational phenotypes, and dimensional psychiatry: The case of alcohol use disorder
Authors: Colombo Matteo , Heinz Andreas
Published: August 2019

We compare three theoretical frameworks for pursuing explanatory integration in psychiatry: a new dimensional framework grounded in the notion of computational phenotype, a mechanistic framework, and a network of symptoms framework. Considering the phenomenon of alcoholism, we argue that the dimensional framework is the best for effectively integrating computational and mechanistic explanations with phenomenological analyses.
One-decade study of distinct features, morbidity and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (an update on systemic lupus erythematosus in the Fars Province of Iran)
Authors: Esmaeilzadeh E , Khodamoradi Z , Nazarinia M A
Published: August 2019

Objective

The objective of this article is to investigate the distinct features, morbidity and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients registered in rheumatology tertiary centers of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2008 to 2018.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted on registered patients by reviewing their medical records. The clinical presentations were classified based on each organ’s distinct involvement.

Result

Data of 1322 patients with a mean age of 40 at the time of the study were reviewed. The most common primary manifestation of the disease was arthralgia (37.5%), and the most common clinical presentation in course of the disease was skin involvement (61.8%). The most common cause of hospital admission was disease flare (27.8% (108/388)), and mortality was mainly due to pulmonary complications (27.5% (8/29)). Patients who had hypothyroidism had statistically significantly lower rates of constitutional symptoms ( p = 0.006), gastrointestinal involvement ( p = 0.024), hypertension ( p = 0.002), headache ( p = 0.019), depression ( p = 0.049) and anemia ( p = 0.014). Patients who presented with malar rash and photosensitivity in their course of disease were detected to have statistically significantly lower ages of disease onset ( p = 0.013 and 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

This study is an update to an epidemiologic study conducted in 2008 in the south of Iran. By comparing results between the two studies, we have tried to investigate the change in morbidity and mortality of SLE during these years.
How to obtain valid tests and confidence intervals after propensity score variable selection?
Authors: Dukes Oliver , Vansteelandt Stijn
Published: August 2019

The problem of how to best select variables for confounding adjustment forms one of the key challenges in the evaluation of exposure or treatment effects in observational studies. Routine practice is often based on stepwise selection procedures that use hypothesis testing, change-in-estimate assessments or the lasso, which have all been criticised for – amongst other things – not giving sufficient priority to the selection of confounders. This has prompted vigorous recent activity in developing procedures that prioritise the selection of confounders, while preventing the selection of so-called instrumental variables that are associated with exposure, but not outcome (after adjustment for the exposure). A major drawback of all these procedures is that there is no finite sample size at which they are guaranteed to deliver treatment effect estimators and associated confidence intervals with adequate performance. This is the result of the estimator jumping back and forth between different selected models, and standard confidence intervals ignoring the resulting model selection uncertainty. In this paper, we will develop insight into this by evaluating the finite-sample distribution of the exposure effect estimator in linear regression, under a number of the aforementioned confounder selection procedures. We will show that by making clever use of propensity scores, a simple and generic solution is obtained in the context of generalized linear models, which overcomes this concern (under weaker conditions than competing proposals). Specifically, we propose to use separate regularized regressions for the outcome and propensity score models in order to construct a doubly robust ‘g-estimator’; when these models are sufficiently sparse and correctly specified, standard confidence intervals for the g-estimator implicitly incorporate the uncertainty induced by the variable selection procedure.
Understanding the Neighbourhood Concept and Its Evolution: A Review
Authors: Baffoe Gideon
Published: August 2019

Though the concept of neighbourhood continues to remain relevant both in scholarship and in policy circles, it remains fluid and contested, as there is no agreed definition on what exactly it is. It has variously been defined as a place, a community and a policy unit. This article, which is based on the review of relevant literature, reviews how it has evolved both as an academic concept and research unit and how it has been construed by scholars, in addition to understanding its relevance in policy and research circles. By synthesizing literature in these critical areas, the review provides a condensed knowledge, which help to shape our current theoretical understanding on the neighbourhood perspective.
Health Beliefs of Nurses in Northern Thailand: A Q-Methodology Study
Authors: Guptarak Marisa , Conway Jane , Stone Teresa Elizabeth , Fongkaew Warunee , Settheekul Saowaluck , Baxter Emily
Published: August 2019

Introduction: Northern Thailand has a distinct culture and set of health beliefs. Nurses’ beliefs influence approaches to care affecting health care outcomes. This study explored the content, origin, and sociocultural influences on health beliefs of Northern Thai nurses and how they influence clinical practice and education. Method: Q-methodology was used in this study. Data were collected with interviews using Q-cards, Q-sort distribution board, and a semistructured interview guide. Results: Data were collected from 30 clinical nurses and 30 nurses working in academia. Q-factor analysis produced three factors accounting for 48% of variance: personal experience, Thai and Buddhist beliefs, and contemporary beliefs. Discussion: Participants who felt strongly rooted in their culture and beliefs were homogeneous in recognizing the need for evidence-based practice. Nurses aware of the nature and sources of their beliefs and those of patients are well-placed to balance maintenance of cultural traditions with the need to provide evidence-based practice.
Family Incarceration and Bullying Among Urban African American Adolescents: The Mediating Roles of Exposure to Delinquent Peer Norms, Trauma, and Externalizing Behaviors
Authors: Lee Jeoung Min , Johns Shantalea , Smith-Darden Joanne P. , Hong Jun Sung , Voisin Dexter R.
Published: August 2019

The present study examined whether having had an incarcerated adult family member was associated with youth bullying perpetration. The study also examined whether exposure to delinquent peers’ norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors mediated the link between adult family member’s incarceration and bullying perpetration. The study sample consisted of 638 African American adolescents, aged 13 to 21, in Chicago’s Southside. Major findings indicated that 46.8% of the study participants reported bullying perpetration (i.e., at least 1 to 2 times in the past 30 days). Moreover, an adult family member’s incarceration history was found to be positively associated with having peers who endorsed delinquent norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors, which were linked to youth’s bullying perpetration. Programs addressing youth bullying need to consider the family dynamics.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation Processes in Dying Patients With Cancer
Authors: Renz M. , Bueche D. , Reichmuth O. , Schuett Mao M. , Renz U. , Siebenrock R. , Strasser F.
Published: August 2019

This article studies forgiveness and reconciliation (F/R) in patients with cancer. It focuses on the end of life, when family conflicts resurface and unfinished business challenges patients and causes spiritual distress. Forgiveness and reconciliation may intensify patient–family relationships and facilitate peace of mind and peaceful death. Existing forgiveness models and interventions focus on coping in life, yet no study has examined F/R processes until death. Our mixed-method exploratory study hypothesized that F/R processes occur in phases, repeatedly, and are spurred by approaching death. Three interdisciplinary units at a major Swiss hospital observed 50 dying patients with cancer experiencing severe conflicts with relatives, themselves, and/or with fate/God. Participant observation was combined with interpretative phenomenological analysis and descriptive statistical analysis. A semi-structured observation protocol was developed based on a 5-phase model. The protocol included space for notes (emotions, interventions, effects on dying processes). It was assessed by 20 professionals for 1 year. Analysis was supported by international interdisciplinary experts. We found that conflicts were complex and involved relational, biographical, and spiritual layers. In 62% of patients, F/R processes occurred repeatedly. Many patients died after finding F/R (22 within 48 hours). Patients indicated that imminent death, a mediating third party, acceptance, and experiences of hope motivated them to seek F/R. Although deep relationships may support F/R processes, our limited data on near-death experience/spiritual experiences restrict interpretation. Forgiveness and reconciliation processes oscillate between 5 phases: denial, crisis, experience of hope, decision, and finding F/R. Understanding F/R processes, empathy, hope, and a neutral third party may support patients in seeking forgiveness.
Multidisciplinary Approach for Treating Malocclusion of Patient With Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Inoue Sayuri , Kurosaka Hiroshi , Lee Donghoon , Yamashiro Takashi
Published: August 2019

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) is a rare genetic disorder that can be caused by mutation of multiple genes, including PTCH1, PTCH2, and SUFU, in an autosomal dominant manner. The symptoms include some craniofacial features such as keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs), macrocephaly, and cleft lip and/or palate. Although comprehensive orthodontic treatment is frequently required for some of these craniofacial deformities, there are few reports that show the outcomes of comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Here, we report a case of BCNS with multiple KCOTs, macrocephaly, skeletal class III malocclusion, asymmetric dental arch, and mandibular crowding, which was successfully treated with comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Prone Versus Nonprone Body Positioning With Polysomnography in Infants With Robin Sequence
Authors: Hong Hanna , Wee Choo Phei , Haynes Karla , Urata Mark , Hammoudeh Jeffrey , Ward Sally L. Davidson
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Management of obstructive sleep apnea in infants with Robin sequence (RS) includes prone positioning during sleep, which conflicts with safe infant sleep data. We examined changes in polysomnography (PSG) parameters for prone versus nonprone body positions in these infants.

Design:

Pre–post interventional, nonblinded study.

Participants:

Infants with RS referred for PSG were recruited from craniofacial clinic and inpatient units at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a tertiary pediatric center. Fourteen infants were recruited, and 12 studies were completed on both body positions; 11 studies were used in the analysis.

Interventions:

The PSG was divided into nonprone and prone sleep, moving from their usual sleep position to the other position midway in the study.

Main Outcome Measures:

Data was collected in each position for obstructive apnea–hypopnea index (oAHI), central apnea index (CAI), sleep efficiency (SE), and arousal index (AI). Signed rank test was used to evaluate the change in body position.

Results:

All infants were term except 1, age 7 to 218 days (mean: 55 days; standard deviation: 58 days), and 8 (57%) of 14 were female. From nonprone to prone sleep position, the median oAHI (16.0-14.0), CAI (2.9-1.0), and AI (28.0-19.9) decreased ( P = .065); SE increased (67.4-85.2; P = .227).

Conclusions:

Prone positioning may benefit some infants with RS. However, even those with significant improvement in obstructive sleep apnea did not completely resolve their obstruction. The decision to use prone positioning as a therapy should be objectively evaluated in individual infants.
Decentralized control mechanism for body–limb coordination in quadruped running
Authors: Fukuhara Akira , Koizumi Yukihiro , Suzuki Shura , Kano Takeshi , Ishiguro Akio
Published: August 2019

As a mechanism for survival, quadrupeds have obtained skills involving coordination between limbs and the body (i.e. body–limb coordination), providing fast and adaptive locomotion compared with motion using only limbs. Several bio-inspired robotics studies have resulted in the development of legged robots that utilize a flexible spine, similar to cheetahs. However, the control principle of body–limb coordination has not been established to date. From the perspective of a decentralized control scheme, a minimal body–limb coordination mechanism is proposed in this study, in which body parts aid each other via a sensory feedback mechanism. The two-dimensional simulation and hardware experiments reveal that bilateral sensory feedback between limbs and body is essential for the robot to adaptively generate a body–limb coordination pattern and achieve faster locomotion speed than that by only limbs in efficient manner.
Plastic Adaptation to Pathology in Psychiatry: Are Patients with Psychiatric Disorders Pathological Experts?
Authors: Amad Ali , Expert Paul , Lord Louis-David , Fovet Thomas , Geoffroy Pierre A.
Published: August 2019

Psychiatric disorders share the same pattern of longitudinal evolution and have courses that tend to be chronic and recurrent. These aspects of chronicity and longitudinal evolution are currently studied under the deficit-oriented neuroprogression framework. Interestingly, considering the plasticity of the brain, it is also necessary to emphasize the bidirectional nature of neuroprogression. We review evidence highlighting alterations of the brain associated with the longitudinal evolution of psychiatric disorders from the framework of neuroplastic adaptation to pathology. This new framework highlights that substantial plasticity and remodeling may occur beyond the classic deficit-oriented neuroprogressive framework, which has been associated with progressive loss of gray matter thickness, decreased brain connectivity, and chronic inflammation. We also integrate the brain economy concept in the neuroplastic adaptation to pathology framework, emphasizing that to preserve its economy, i.e. function, the brain learns how to cope with the disease by adapting its architecture. Neuroplastic adaptation to pathology is a proposition for a paradigm shift to overcome the shortcomings of traditional psychiatric diagnostic boundaries; this approach can disentangle both the specific pathophysiology of psychiatric symptoms and the adaptation to pathology, thus offering a new framework for both diagnosis and treatment.
Fluoropyrimidine-induced toxicity and DPD deficiency.. A case report of early onset, lethal capecitabine-induced toxicity and mini review of the literature. Uridine triacetate: Efficacy and safety as an antidote. Is it accessible outside USA?
Authors: Lampropoulou Dimitra Ioanna , Laschos Konstantinos , Amylidi Anna-Lea , Angelaki Ariadni , Soupos Nikolaos , Boumpoucheropoulos Sotirios , Papadopoulou Eirini , Nanou Evgenia , Zidianakis Vasilios , Nasioulas George , Fildissis George , Aravantinos Gerasimos
Published: August 2019

Fluoropyrimidine-based regimens are among the most commonly used chemotherapy combinations for the treatment of solid tumors. Several genetic polymorphisms that are implicated with fluoropyrimidine anabolism and catabolism have been associated with the development of life-threatening toxicities. Uridine triacetate is an FDA-approved antidote for 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine overdose and early-onset, life-threatening toxicity within 96 h of last chemotherapy dose. To date, it is not accessible for Greek patients as per the current summary of product characteristic's time restrictions. We report and discuss the course and outcome of capecitabine toxicity in a 66-year-old female colorectal cancer patient with heterozygous dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. This paper highlights the difficulty in timely access of this lifesaving medication for Greek and possibly other European patients.
Ivosidenib induction therapy complicated by myopericarditis and cardiogenic shock: A case report and literature review
Authors: Hernandez Burgos Paula , Patel Jaymin , Chen Allan
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Ivosidenib is a novel oral inhibitor of mutated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 approved for the treatment of refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia in patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutations or as first-line agent in patients unable to tolerate chemotherapy. It is known to commonly cause differentiation syndrome, but an association with cardiovascular complications is not well established.

Case report

We present the case of a 34-year-old female with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia post-allogeneic transplant who developed ivosidenib-induced differentiation syndrome complicated by myopericarditis and cardiogenic shock.

Management and outcome

Ivosidenib was discontinued, and aggressive management was pursued with high-dose steroids, ventilatory and pressure support and diuresis. She had significant improvement and later tolerated reintroduction of ivosidenib without recurrent episodes of differentiation syndrome or cardiac complications.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of myopericarditis and cardiogenic shock related to ivosidenib use. This case highlights the high index of suspicion required to recognize early signs of targeted therapy-related complications and exemplifies the beneficial collaborative role a cardio-oncology team provides in improving patient care.
Nivolumab-induced lichen planus
Authors: Yilmaz Mesut , Mese Sermin Guven , Celik Ugur
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Renal cell carcinomas account for 90% of all malignant neoplasms of the kidney. The most common types of renal cancer in adults are clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma; sporadic cases of renal carcinomas containing chromosomal translocations are rare, more usually occurring in children and young adults. Nivolumab (a fully human immunoglobulin G4 PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor antibody) has received the Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in patients who have received prior antiangiogenic therapy. Skin reactions are the most common side-effects under treatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies and play an important role for patients.

Case report

We report a nivolumab-induced lichen planus as an immune-related adverse event in a young woman who was treated for advanced renal cell carcinoma. After the ninth dose of nivolumab treatment, she was consulted to the dermatologist because of skin lesions, and lichen planus was diagnosed.

Management and outcome

She was treated with topical corticosteroids and clobetasol propionate cream. Her lesions regressed after the local therapy within one month, allowing for uninterrupted nivolumab therapy.

Discussion

Skin adverse events are the most common side-effects under immunotherapy and play an important role for patients and usually develop early in the course of treatment. The most frequent skin reactions are rash, pruritus, and vitiligo. Serious skin adverse events are rare and do not usually require dose reductions or treatment discontinuation. We report a nivolumab-induced lichen planus after the ninth dose of nivolumab.
Police Income and Occupational Gender Inequality
Authors: Luo Xiaoshuang Iris , Schleifer Cyrus , Hill Christopher M.
Published: August 2019

Research has found a meaningful income gap between males and females across several occupational settings, and this is also true within law enforcement. As more female workers enter the criminal justice system, it is important to revisit and update these patterns of gender inequality to account for the changing gender dynamics within this occupation. Using Current Population Survey data, we document the gender differences in pay among police over the past 28 years. Police officers experience income advantage compared with the general working population, but they also show a stable gender gap in pay. While this stable inequality is better than other public-sector jobs—which have experienced a growth in the gender pay gap—it represents a continued disadvantage for police women, despite the growing number of women working in law enforcement and the rules governing public-sector employment. We further decompose the gendered pattern in police pay by whether these individuals work for federal, state, or local agencies, and find that those working for state government show stark declines in the gender gap in pay while those working for local or federal agencies experience little to no change in this gender income inequality over time. We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications of our findings and directions for future research on gender inequality within law enforcement occupations.
Consumer usage of online travel reviews: Expanding the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 model
Authors: Assaker Guy , Hallak Rob , El-Haddad Rania
Published: August 2019

The present study examines a comprehensive model of travelers’ use of online travel reviews as a form of user-generated content (UGC) through an expanded unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework. The UTAUT2, which includes Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), Facilitating Conditions, Hedonic Motivation (HM), Price-Saving Orientation, and Habit, within this study incorporates two new variables: Trustworthiness and Homophily. We empirically examine the expanded model on a sample of 200 residents in the United Kingdom. The partial least squares–structural equation modeling analysis revealed that Homophily, PR, and Price-Saving Orientation are the strongest predictors of individual usage intentions’ of UGC. Moreover, the dimension of Habit, operationalized as a subjective measure of impulsive and automatic use of UGC, was found to be the strongest predictor of travelers’ actual UGC usage. This study enhances our understanding of the explanatory variables driving the usage of online reviews (e.g. contrary to prevalent knowledge from previous works, Trustworthiness in the present study was nonsignificant), thus providing far-reaching theoretical and practical recommendations for tourism researchers and practitioners.
Why becoming a national treasure matters: Elite celebrity status and inequality in the United Kingdom
Authors: Greer Chris , McLaughlin Eugene
Published: August 2019

This article presents the first academic analysis of ‘national treasure’ as a status designation for an elite category of British celebrities who hold a unique position in the Great British hall of fame. The emergence of this status designation is situated in the context of two intersecting processes of cultural change in the post-War period – the rise of celebrity culture and the popularisation of the state honours system. It is proposed that national treasure status results from the accumulation of three interlocking forms of validation: peer, state and media. After reviewing these underpinning forms of validation, we consider one of Britain’s most celebrated national treasures – Dame Judi Dench. The aim is to illustrate empirically the status elevation and sedimentation processes through which particular elite celebrities become national treasures, and the various ways in which they might respond to this status designation. Although the term ‘national treasure’ for many – including those so-designated – may seem a trite term of endearment, we argue that it is in fact an ideological assemblage invested with significance. On one hand, national treasures help revalidate the notion of the authentic celebrity within an apparently meritocratic system that recognises and rewards talent, hard work and dedication. In the context of a relentlessly bleak news cycle, they are a wholly virtuous expression of national identity, signifying all that is great about Britain. On the other hand, although national treasures are constructed as being ‘of the people’, by authenticating the underpinning institutional forms of validation, their status transformation contributes to the legitimation and reproduction of status hierarchies, cultural authority and inequality in the UK.
Beyond the post-political: Exploring the relational and situated dynamics of consensus and conflict in planning
Authors: Legacy Crystal , Metzger Jonathan , Steele Wendy , Gualini Enrico
Published: August 2019

This Special Issue explores the problematique of the consensus and conflict binary that has emerged in the critical analysis of the post-political urban condition. Focusing on the interstitial spaces existing between consensus and conflict reveals a more relational dynamic that positions consensus and conflict as co-constitutive and continuously being shaped by the performance of politics by state and non-state actors. Critiques of the post-political tend to fail to engage with the conditions that lead to citizen actors acting in political ways beyond the formal processes of planning and decision-making, or when consensus or conflict is used by oppressive politics to produce exclusion and reproduce inequality. In addition to introducing the five papers appearing in this special issue, in this opening editorial, we argue the need to cast attention towards the new expressions of political participation generated by different citizen actors. Critically engaging with these varied expressions may reveal new ways of conceptualising participation that can create new informal spaces where injustices and inequalities are voiced and the structures and hegemonies created are exposed.
Hydrodynamic performance analysis of a shore fixed oscillating water column wave energy converter in the presence of bottom variations
Authors: Mohapatra Piyush , Sahoo Trilochan
Published: August 2019

In this study, the effect of the stepped sea bed on the hydrodynamic performance of an oscillating water column device is investigated using computational fluid dynamics . This investigation is performed in a numerical wave tank modeled using ANSYS Fluent, which incorporates a transient, multiphase volume of fluid method to track the air–water interface. The power take-off unit is modeled as a porous zone in the flow field to produce the pressure jump versus flow characteristics that of a real air turbine. The efficiency of the chamber with and without the stepped bottom is analyzed and compared with known results in the literature. The flow parameters such as the temporal evolution and distribution of the pressure field, velocity field and free surface are studied to understand the performance of the proposed model. The study reveals that there is an improvement in hydrodynamic efficiency with the inclusion of the stepped bottom beneath the oscillating water column chamber, which is in agreement with the previous studies carried out using analytical and boundary integral equation methods. Moreover, the computational fluid dynamics model helps to understand the flow dynamics inside the oscillating water column chamber in a more intricate manner compared to the potential flow-based studies pursued in the literature. The formation of vortices within the oscillating water column chamber, near the front wall and stepped bottom could be captured, which affects the chamber performance to a certain extent. Overall, the study could be useful in the initial design stage of shore fixed oscillating water column devices.
Equal Revenue Sharing and the Optimal Distribution of Talent in the N-Team Leagues
Authors: Fujimoto Masaki
Published: August 2019

This article shows that if a certain symmetric property of contests is assumed, then the ratio of equilibrium talent levels under equal revenue sharing maximizes the total league revenue and profits in the n-team model. This result holds irrespective of the types of conjectural variations, “Walrasian” or “Nash.”
Functionalized polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber webs containing β–cyclodextrin/Vitamin C inclusion complex
Authors: Okur Nazan , Saricam Canan , Gocek Ikilem , Kalav Berdan , Sahin Umut Kivanc
Published: August 2019

In the present study, the electrospinning method was used to develop β–cyclodextrin functionalized polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber webs. The electrospinning parameters were adjusted in order to obtain uniform nanofiber webs by incorporation of varying concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol and β–cyclodextrin in the solutions. Subsequently, β–cyclodextrin/Vitamin C inclusion complexes were added into the polyvinyl alcohol solution, and adjusted parameters were used in the electrospinning process of functionalized polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber webs containing β–cyclodextrin/Vitamin C inclusion complexes. The formation of nanofiber webs was demonstrated by using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The presence of the inclusion complex in the functionalized electrospun polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber webs was proven by using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy. Consequently, it was achieved to functionalize polyvinyl alcohol electrospun nanofiber webs by incorporating β–cyclodextrin/Vitamin C inclusion complex, which might be considered to have useful applications in cosmetics, personal-care products, and topical drug delivery.
Calibrating Trust in Automation Through Familiarity With the Autoparking Feature of a Tesla Model X
Authors: Tenhundfeld Nathan L. , de Visser Ewart J. , Haring Kerstin S. , Ries Anthony J. , Finomore Victor S. , Tossell Chad C.
Published: August 2019

Because one of the largest influences on trust in automation is the familiarity with the system, we sought to examine the effects of familiarity on driver interventions while using the autoparking feature of a Tesla Model X. Participants were either told or shown how the autoparking feature worked. Results showed a significantly higher initial driver intervention rate when the participants were only told how to employ the autoparking feature, than when shown. However, the intervention rate quickly leveled off, and differences between conditions disappeared. The number of interventions and the distances from the parking anchoring point (a trashcan) were used to create a new measure of distrust in autonomy. Eyetracking measures revealed that participants disengaged from monitoring the center display as the experiment progressed, which could be a further indication of a lowering of distrust in the system. Combined, these results have important implications for development and design of explainable artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Finally, we detail the substantial hurdles encountered while trying to evaluate “autonomy in the wild.” Our research highlights the need to re-evaluate trust concepts in high-risk, high-consequence environments.
Promoting Physical Activity in a Primary Care Practice: Overcoming the Barriers
Authors: Jones Mitul , Bright Philippa , Hansen Lucia , Ihnatsenka Olga , Carek Peter J.
Published: August 2019

Along with proper diet and avoidance of tobacco use, physical activity is extremely important to maintain and improve overall health of the individual and population. Despite evidence for the cost-effectiveness of physical activity counseling in primary care, only one-third of patients report that they received physical activity counseling by their primary care physician (PCP). Both PCPs and patients face numerous barriers to addressing insufficient physical activity. To assist patients in overcoming their barriers to regular physical activity, the PCP should assess and address the patient’s specific barriers to physical activity and counsel patients about the most common general barriers, such as lack of time, knowledge, and motivation. Numerous benefits and barriers are present, and the PCP should understand them and use the information to better counsel patients regarding the benefit of and need for regular physical activity. Brief counseling is an efficient, effective, and cost-effective means to increase physical activity and to bring considerable clinical benefits to various patient populations.
Using Archival Data to Examine Interview Methods: The Case of the Former Slave Project
Authors: Roulston Kathryn
Published: August 2019

Unlike historians, qualitative researchers’ engagement in studies in which archival sources form the core data corpus is less common than the exploration of newly generated data. Following scholars who have argued for secondary analysis of qualitative data, in this article, I illustrate how qualitative researchers might explore archival data methodologically. Examinations of archival records help us think about how research methods change over time and compare approaches to current practice. This article draws on records from the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP), one of the New Deal initiatives launched by President F. D. Roosevelt in the United States. The FWP was a work relief program administered during the Depression years in the 1930s that employed 6,500 white-collar workers as fieldworkers, writers, and editors to solicit stories from 1,000s of men and women across the country, including stories of over 4,000 former slaves. This article focuses on the role of interviewing in the Former Slave Project, examining methodological issues of concern observed by administrators and critics of the project, along with what we might learn and how we might think about these issues in contemporary interview research.
Natural convection flow of Rivlin–Ericksen fluid and heat transfer through non-Darcy medium with radiation
Authors: Ewis Karem Mahmoud
Published: August 2019

The natural convection of non-Newtonian fluids between parallel plates has many engineering applications such as heat exchangers, cooling of electronic equipments, nuclear reactors, solar devices, polymer processing industries, food industries, and petroleum reservoirs. Numerical solution is introduced to solve the governing equations of natural convection of non-Newtonian (Rivlin–Ericksen) fluid flow and heat transfer under the influences of non-Darcy resistance force, constant pressure gradient, dissipation, and radiation. The novelty of this article is to solve this problem between parallel plates channel instead of one plate. The fluid flows between two heated parallel plates that are kept at constant temperatures. Second-order accurate finite difference schemes transform the coupled non-linear differential (momentum and energy) equations to linearized system of algebraic equations. Some comparisons are made to study the convergence and stability of the present results. Effects of parameters of fluid and heat on the velocity field, temperature, skin friction factor, and Nusselt number are illustrated and discussed. The present results and their comparisons with available results are listed and shown in tables and figures. The present results show that the numerical solution is of good agreement with previous analytical and numerical solutions.
Human-like trapezoidal steering angle model on two-lane urban curves
Authors: Jiang Haobin , Zhou Jie , Li Aoxue , Zhou Xinchen , Ma Shidian
Published: August 2019

With the rapid development of automated vehicles, there is currently a significant amount of automated driving research. Giving automated vehicles capabilities similar to those of experienced drivers will allow them to share the road harmoniously with manned vehicles, especially on two-lane urban curves. To represent the steering behavior of experienced drivers, a series of curve feature distances are proposed, which is determined by multi-regression. These series of curve feature distances are used to generate a trapezoidal steering angle model which imitates the steering behavior of the experienced test drivers. To verify the feasibility and human-likeness of the proposed trapezoidal steering angle model, the model is used with constant vehicle speed to plan a human-like trajectory which is tracked using model predictive control. The simulation results show that the proposed trapezoidal steering angle model is human-like and could be used to give automated vehicles human-like driving capability when driving on two-lane curves.
Differential motor learning via reward and punishment
Authors: Song Yanlong , Lu Siyuan , Smiley-Oyen Ann L
Published: August 2019

Visuomotor adaptation involves multiple processes such as explicit learning, implicit learning from sensory prediction errors, and model-free mechanisms like use-dependent plasticity. Recent findings show that reward and punishment differently affect visuomotor adaptation. This study examined whether punishment and reward had distinct effects on explicit learning. When participants practised adapting to a large, abrupt visual rotation during reaching for a virtual visual target, visual feedback of the cursor was not provided. Only performance-based scalar reward or punishment feedback (money gained or lost) was used, thereby emphasising explicit processes during adaptation. The results revealed that punishment, compared with reward, induced faster adaptation and greater variability of reaching in the initial phase of adaptation. We interpret these findings as reflecting enhanced explicit learning, likely due to loss aversion.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-O-substituted 1-benzyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazine derivatives
Authors: Shainova Roza S , Gomktsyan Tiruhi A , Karapetyan Armen V , Yengoyan Aleksandr P
Published: August 2019

On the basis of 2-benzyl-6-hydroxypyridazin-3(2 H)-one, a series of its novel O-substituted (including 6-(1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)oxy) derivatives is prepared. It is proven that the substitution reactions in the initial compound occur mainly at the oxygen atom of the hydroxy group. On the basis of the obtained oxy-aceto(propane)hydrazides, the corresponding azides and anilides are synthesized. A series of 2-[(1-benzyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)oxy]- N′-(substituted benzylidene)aceto(propane)hydrazides is obtained via the reaction of various aromatic aldehydes with the same hydrazides. Heterocyclization of the latter affords compounds with a combination of pyridazine and 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings in the molecule. The reaction of oxy-acetohydrazide with potassium thiocyanate and a mixture of CS2/KOH leads to potassium salts of 2-{[(1-benzyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)oxy]methyl}hydrazine-1-carbothioamide and 2-{2-[(1-benzyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)oxy]acetyl}hydrazine-1-carbodithioic acid, respectively. Acid hydrolysis of the latter affords 2-benzyl-6-[(5-thioxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)methoxy]pyridazin-3(2 H)-one.