bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomy of Neomuscina Townsend (Diptera, Muscidae) from Brazil
Authors: PEREIRA-COLAVITE ALESSANDRE , DE CARVALHO CLAUDIO J. B.
Published: April 2019

Neomuscina Townsend includes 41 species distributed throughout the Nearctic and Neotropical Regions. Although the genus has a large number of species, it has been ignored and its taxonomy is confusing and has many flaws. In this work we analyzed the following species recorded for Brazil: Neomuscina atincta Snyder, N. atincticosta Snyder, N. capalta Snyder, N. currani Snyder, N. douradensis Lopes & Khouri, N. goianensis Lopes & Khouri, N. inflexa (Stein), N. instabilis Snyder, N. mediana Snyder, N. mimosa Lopes & Khouri, N. neosimilis Snyder, N. nigricosta Snyder, N. paramediana Lopes & Khouri, N. pictipennis pictipennis (Bigot), N. ponti Lopes & Khouri, N. sanespra Snyder, N. schadei Snyder, N. similata Snyder, N. stabilis (Stein), N. transporta Snyder, N. vitoriae Lopes & Khouri and N. zosteris (Shannon & Del Ponte). Neomuscina nigricosta and N. transporta are new distribution records for Brazil. Three new species are described: Neomuscina anajeensis sp. nov. from Anagé (Bahia), Neomuscina maculata sp. nov. from Botelhos (Minas Gerais) and Neomuscina snyderi sp. nov. from Mata de São João (Bahia). An identification key based on the morphological characters of both male and female is provided. Species distributions are discussed and updated, and the number of species now recorded for Brazil is 29.
A new genus of Scolebythidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from the Early Cretaceous of China
Authors: CAI YAPING , ZHAO YUNYUN , SHIH CHUNGKUN , REN DONG
Published: April 2019

A new genus Mirabythus Cai, Shih et Ren, gen. nov. (type species, M. lechrius Cai, Shih et Ren, sp. nov.) and M. liae Cai, Shih et Ren, sp. nov. from the family Scolebythidae are described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Huangbanjigou Village, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. These findings extend the existence of Scolebythidae to the Early Cretaceous of China, while providing evidence to support Engel and Grimaldi’s hypothesis that the family was widely distributed throughout the Cretaceous. Our two new species with clear venation also provide a comprehensive understanding of the venational changes from the Early Cretaceous to now. A key to the fossil and extant genera of Scolebythidae is provided.
Billions and billions sold: Pet-feeder crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), commercial cricket farms, an epizootic densovirus, and government regulations make for a potential disaster
Authors: WEISSMAN DAVID B. , GRAY DAVID A. , PHAM HANH THI , TIJSSEN PETER
Published: April 2019

The cricket pet food industry in the United States, where as many as 50 million crickets are shipped a week, is a multi-million dollar business that has been devastated by epizootic Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDNV) outbreaks. Efforts to find an alternative, virus-resistant field cricket species have led to the widespread USA (and European) distribution of a previously unnamed Gryllus species despite existing USA federal regulations to prevent such movement. We analyze and describe this previously unnamed Gryllus and propose additional measures to minimize its potential risk to native fauna and agriculture. Additionally, and more worrisome, is our incidental finding that the naturally widespread African, European, and Asian “black cricket,” G. bimaculatus, is also being sold illegally in southern California pet food stores. We assayed crickets of all five USA and European commercial species for presence of the AdDNV to document extent of the infection—all five species can be infected with the virus but only A. domesticus is killed. Based on its already cosmopolitan distribution, apparent inability to live away from human habitation, and resistance to AdDNV, we suggest that Gryllodes sigillatus is the best-suited replacement cricket for commercial production.
Prochristianella Dollfus, 1946 (Trypanorhyncha: Eutetrarhynchidae) from elasmobranchs off Borneo and Australia, including new records and the description of four new species
Authors: SCHAEFFNER BJOERN C. , BEVERIDGE IAN
Published: April 2019

Prochristianella cairae n. sp. is described from the spiral intestines of two species of bamboo sharks, Chiloscylliumpunctatum Müller & Henle and Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin) (Hemiscyllidae) off the coast of Malaysian Borneo. Thespecies is distinguished from congeners by enlarged microtriches covering the whole scolex peduncle, a uniquearrangement of hooks on the basal swelling, a dissimilar number of hooks in each principle row in the metabasal armatureand hook files 1 and 1’ not being distinctly separated. Prochristianella jensenae n. sp. is described from the spiralintestines of three species of whiptail stingrays, Pastinachus solocirostris Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto, Pastinachus atrus(Macleay) and Pastinachus gracilicaudus Last & Manjaji-Matsumoto (Dasyatidae) from coastal waters off Indonesianand Malaysian Borneo and Western Australia, from Himantura uarnak (Gmelin) (Dasyatidae) off Nickol Bay, WesternAustralia and from Rhinoptera neglecta Ogilby (Myliobatidae) off Weipa, Queensland, Australia. This species lacksgland-cells within the tentacular bulbs, one of the most distinctive features of this family. Prochristianella kostadinovaen. sp. is described from the spiral intestines of Himantura uarnak 2 (Dasyatidae) (sensu Naylor et al. 2012) from the Gulfof Carpenteria. It differs from congeners in its metrical data, a metabasal tentacular armature with 10 hooks per principlerow, hooks 1(1’) being uncinate with an elongate base and widely spaced and hooks 4(4’) smaller than neighbouring hooks3(3’) and 5(5’). Prochristianella scholzi n. sp. is described from specimens of the Taeniura lymma species complex(Dasyatidae) (sensu Naylor et al. 2012) from three localities in Malaysian and Indonesian Borneo. This species has arraysof billhooks on the basal swelling, but differs from similar congeners in having very few, tiny gland-cells within thetentacular bulbs and a metabasal tentacular armature with 9–10 hooks per half spiral row and hooks 4(4’) being muchsmaller than the neighbouring hooks 3(3’) and 5(5’). Examinations of new material from northern Australia andIndonesian and Malaysian Borneo provided additional information on Prochristianella aciculata Beveridge & Justine,2010, Prochristianella butlerae Beveridge, 1990 and Prochristianella clarkeae Beveridge, 1990. In total, 17, 7 and 29(respectively) new host records and 14, 9 and 28 (respectively) new locality records are added. These records extend thegeographical range of all three species in the Australasian region and also represents the first record of P. aciculata fromAustralian waters and the first record of P. butlerae from the Indo-Malayan region. Prochristianella clarkeae is the least host specific taxon within Prochristianella, infecting 43 different host species.
First records of peracarid crustaceans from the Cayo Matias Ocean Blue Hole, SW Cuba, with the description of two new species
Authors: ORTIZ MANUEL , WINFIELD IGNACIO , VARELA CARLOS
Published: April 2019

First records of peracarid crustaceans obtained from the Cayo Matías Ocean Blue Hole, southwestern Cuba, aredocumented. In addition, two new species of isopod and amphipod are herein described. Gnathia micheli n. sp. (Isopoda,Gnathiidae) and Boca normae n. sp. (Amphipoda, Aristiidae) were associated with filamentous algae at a depth of 20 m.Both represent the first report for a blue hole and the amphipod constitutes the first record of the genus for Cuba and theCaribbean Sea. Three other isopods, i.e. Gnathostenetroides sp., Cirolana parva, and Cirolana crenulitelson, and the cumacean Procampylaspis sp. are documented for the first time from the same blue hole.
Description of a new species of Pareiorhina (Siluriformes: Neoplecostominae) from Rio São Francisco basin
Authors: ROXO FÁBIO FERNANDES , DE SOUZA DA COSTA E SILVA GABRIEL , MEHANNA MAHMOUD , OLIVEIRA CLAUDIO
Published: April 2019

A new species of Pareiorhina (Neoplecostominae) from the Rio São Francisco basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, is de-scribed. The new species is distinguished from its congeners (Pareiorhina brachyrhyncha, P. carrancas, and P. rudolphi)by traits related to small plates covered with odontodes randomly distributed on the abdomen, minute lateral cusps on theteeth, pointed odontodes covering pectoral, pelvic, and anal-fin first rays, caudal-fin being completely dark with one hy-aline bar, absence of a ridge on the postdorsal surface of trunk, shape of premaxillae and dentaries, and by the absence of odontodes at the ventral tip of the snout.
Systematics of the Dendrophidion nuchale complex (Serpentes: Colubridae) with the description of a new species from Central America
Authors: CADLE JOHN E. , SAVAGE JAY M.
Published: April 2019

We review the systematics of the Dendrophidion nuchale complex in Central America and northern South America andrecognize three species. The names D. nuchale (W. Peters) and D. clarkii Dunn apply to two of the species. The third isdescribed as a new species, D. rufiterminorum. It differs from D. clarkii and D. nuchale in coloration and hemipenial char-acters but all three species of the nuchale complex are very similar in scutellation characters. Dendrophidion nuchale isdistributed in the coast ranges and adjacent foothills of northern Venezuela, and in a seemingly disjunct population in theSerranía de Perijá in western Venezuela. The name clarkii was recently applied to all populations of the nuchale complexfrom Belize and Guatemala in the north to western Colombia and Ecuador in the south. Herein, we restrict the name D.clarkii to populations in lower Middle America (Costa Rica and Panama) and west of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador.Dendrophidion rufiterminorum is distributed in northern Central America (Belize, Guatemala, northern Honduras) fol-lowed by a broad disjunction without records of the species throughout most of Honduras and Nicaragua; thereafter, a fewspecimens and photographs document the presence of D. rufiterminorum on the Caribbean versant of southern Nicaraguaand Costa Rica, and uplands of northwestern Costa Rica (Pacific versant). Two localities of sympatry between D. rufiter-minorum and D. clarkii are known in Costa Rica (one on the Atlantic versant, the other on Pacific versant). Nonetheless,there is sparse documentation of either species in Costa Rica. The populations referred to D. clarkii in southwestern CostaRica, the eastern half of Panama, and western Colombia and Ecuador need further study. Hemipenes of species of thenuchale complex are described. All three species have a pair of enormously enlarged sulcate spines and a regular lineararray of enlarged spines (spinose annulus) encircling the base of the apical region. These characters are also shared with D. dendrophis sensu lato but not other members of the dendrophis species group.
A new species of Parachute Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: genus Ptychozoon) from Kaeng Krachan National Park, western Thailand
Authors: SUMONTHA MONTRI , PAUWELS OLIVIER S.G. , KUNYA KIRATI , LIMLIKHITAKSORN CHAIWAT , RUKSUE SIRICHAI , TAOKRATOK APIRAT , ANSERMET MICHEL , CHANHOME LAWAN
Published: April 2019

A new species of Parachute Gecko, Ptychozoon kaengkrachanense sp. nov., is described from montane evergreen forest in Kaeng Krachan National Park, western Thailand. It differs from all known Ptychozoon species by having three dark dorsal chevrons between limbs insertions, homogeneous dorsal scalation without enlarged scales, original tail without long terminal flap, supranasals widely in contact, a continuous series of 14–19 enlarged precloacofemoral scales, bearing 13–17 pores in males, the absence of a predigital notch in the preantebrachial cutaneous expansion and the presence of cutaneous expansions on sides of head. It is the eighth species described in the genus and the only species of Ptychozoon endemic to Thailand.
Using Surgeon Hand Motions to Predict Surgical Maneuvers
Authors: Azari David P. , Hu Yu Hen , Miller Brady L. , Le Brian V. , Radwin Robert G.
Published: April 2019

Objective:

This study explores how common machine learning techniques can predict surgical maneuvers from a continuous video record of surgical benchtop simulations.

Background:

Automatic computer vision recognition of surgical maneuvers (suturing, tying, and transition) could expedite video review and objective assessment of surgeries.

Method:

We recorded hand movements of 37 clinicians performing simple and running subcuticular suturing benchtop simulations, and applied three machine learning techniques (decision trees, random forests, and hidden Markov models) to classify surgical maneuvers every 2 s (60 frames) of video.

Results:

Random forest predictions of surgical video correctly classified 74% of all video segments into suturing, tying, and transition states for a randomly selected test set. Hidden Markov model adjustments improved the random forest predictions to 79% for simple interrupted suturing on a subset of randomly selected participants.

Conclusion:

Random forest predictions aided by hidden Markov modeling provided the best prediction of surgical maneuvers. Training of models across all users improved prediction accuracy by 10% compared with a random selection of participants.

Application:

Marker-less video hand tracking can predict surgical maneuvers from a continuous video record with similar accuracy as robot-assisted surgical platforms, and may enable more efficient video review of surgical procedures for training and coaching.
Prescribed performance control of morphing aircraft based on switched nonlinear systems and reinforcement learning
Authors: Gong Ligang , Wang Qing , Dong Chaoyang , Zhong Kewei
Published: April 2019

The prescribed performance control of a morphing aircraft with variable sweep wings is investigated based on switched nonlinear systems and reinforcement learning. Switched nonlinear systems in lower triangular form are first adopted to describe the longitudinal altitude motion, and an error transformation is applied to handle the prescribed performance bound. Then, the designed controller is divided into the basic part and supplementary part. For the basic part, the backstepping method with involvement of the modified dynamic surface control technique is utilized to avoid the “explosion of complexity” problem. Improved disturbance observers inspired from the idea of extended state observer are then designed to estimate the disturbances and combined with radial basis function neural networks to develop the common virtual control laws. Moreover, by using the error variables defined in the backstepping design, the reinforcement learning–based supplementary part controller is devised with the critic-action neural network structure, which can adjust its parameters online and further decrease the altitude tracking error. It is proved that all signals of the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded, and the prescribed performance bound for convergence of the altitude tracking error can be satisfied. Finally, comparative simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.
Power Plays and Balancing Acts: The Paradoxical Effects of Chinese Trade on African Foreign Policy Positions
Authors: Carmody Pádraig , Dasandi Niheer , Mikhaylov Slava Jankin
Published: April 2019

There has been substantial focus on China’s influence in Africa in recent years. Some argue that China’s growing economic ties with African states have increased its political influence across the continent. This article examines whether trade with China leads African states to adopt more similar foreign policy preferences to China in the United Nations. We examine foreign policy similarity using voting patterns in the United Nations General Assembly and country statements in the United Nations General Debate. The analysis demonstrates that more trade with China has paradoxical effects on foreign policy positions of African states—it leads them to align more closely with US foreign policy positions in the United Nations, except on human rights votes. Our findings suggest that African states are engaged in balancing behavior with external powers whereby African elites seek to play off rival powers against one another in order to strengthen their own autonomy and maximize trade.
Voice and Quality-of-Life Outcomes of Diode Laser for Tis–T1a Glottic Cancer
Authors: Şencan Ziya , Cömert Ela , Tunçel Ümit , Kılıç Caner
Published: April 2019

The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the voice and quality-of-life outcomes of microscopic diode laser surgery (MDLS). The study was conducted on a series of 46 patients with Tis–T1a glottic carcinoma treated with microscopic endolaryngeal diode laser surgery. Patients were asked to complete the Voice Handicap Index and quality-of-life questionnaires of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. When comparing the pre- and postoperative scores, there were significant difference on the physical scores ( P = .014) of the patients who underwent type III cordectomy and functional ( P = .022), emotional ( P = .002), and overall scores ( P = .005) of the patients who underwent type IV cordectomy, in the direction of better quality of voice after MDLS. The postoperative functional, physical, emotional, and overall scores of groups were significantly increased with the extension of resection.
Maxillary Giant Cell Granuloma: A Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Arthur, MD Drake Mc , Palacios Enrique , Nguyen Jeremy
Published: April 2019

A case of a 32-year-old female with a known diagnosis of Turner syndrome who presented with complaints of chronic progressive right-sided facial pain and sinus pressure and who was afebrile. On physical examination, there was eye proptosis on the right and significant increased fullness in the right infraorbital and maxillary regions. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large expansile space-occupying lesion in the right maxillary area that histologically turned out to be a giant cell reparative granuloma. The lesion was completely removed, and of interest, the patient was followed up both clinically and on imaging for 10 years with no signs of recurrence. A discussion on this entity, as well the clinical and imaging differential diagnoses, is discussed.
Short-Course Pentoxifylline Is Not Effective in Post-Traumatic Smell Loss: A Pilot Study
Authors: Whitcroft Katherine L. , Gudziol Volker , Hummel Thomas
Published: April 2019

It has been suggested that systemic pentoxifylline may be beneficial in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction. The postulated mechanism of action involves nonselective competitive phosphodiesterase inhibition, leading to increased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate and consequent increased olfactory neuron activity. This should in theory lead to improved olfactory function. We describe a pilot case series from our tertiary referral center of patients treated with oral pentoxifylline for olfactory dysfunction. Six patients with post-traumatic impairment who were treated with systemic pentoxifylline were included. Patients were treated with 200 mg of oral prolonged release pentoxifylline, 3 times a day for 21 days. Olfactory function was tested pre and post-treatment for odor threshold (T), discrimination (D), identification (I) and composite 'TDI' score using a psychophysical test battery, the “Sniffin’ Sticks.” Oral pentoxifylline was well tolerated and all patients completed the treatment period. There was a small improvement in odor threshold and identification scores, but these did not reach statistical or clinical significance. There were deteriorations in discrimination and composite TDI score, which did not reach significance. While our case series was small, systemic pentoxifylline did not appear to be beneficial in the treatment of hyposmia in this patient group.
Against realism: Hegel and Adorno on philosophy’s critical role
Authors: Ferro Bernardo
Published: April 2019

Key representatives of the dialectical tradition, Hegel and Adorno conceived philosophy as a critical tool, directed both at the naive realism of ordinary reason and the more sophisticated realism of modern scientific discourse. For the two authors, philosophy’s main task is to question received ideas and practices and to expose their underlying contradictions, thereby enabling meaningful forms of cultural and political change. But while for Hegel this procedure takes the form of a systematic enquiry, leading from a spurious to a true account of reality, Adorno rejects the idea that reason and reality can be reconciled. On the one hand, he praises Hegel for having developed a truly dialectical form of criticism, set into motion by the immanent unfolding of reality’s intrinsic contradictions. On the other hand, he views Hegel’s emphasis on systematic integration as a form of dogmatism, which must itself be criticized. Instead of a ‘positive’ or ‘closed’ dialectic, fuelled by the expectation of a final overarching synthesis, Adorno calls for a ‘negative’ or ‘open’ dialectic, radically averse to all forms of unification. In doing so, however, he is led to question the very limits of conceptual reason, leaving criticism vulnerable to new forms of attack.
Cultural Preferences or Financial Constraints? Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Family Attitudes and Parental Coresidence in Young Adulthood
Authors: Cepa Kennan , Kao Grace
Published: April 2019

Establishing an independent household is a key marker of adulthood. Yet, the proportion of young adults who remain in the natal home has increased, with large variations across racial and ethnic groups. We test the role of cultural preferences versus financial constraints in accounting for variation in coresidence by examining young adults’ and parents’ family attitudes in conjunction with measures of financial resources. Using longitudinal data, we explore parents’ and children’s family attitudes when youth are in high school and their relationship to youths’ coresidence behavior a decade later. Though attitudes about family vary by race and ethnicity, these attitudes shape young adult living arrangements in White families and are not just influential among Latinx and Asian families. This highlights the relevance of parents’ views for the transition to adulthood and refocuses attention on the ways that financial constraints in young adulthood drive racial and ethnic differences in living arrangements.
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma Staging with a Novel Nominal Basis: An 18‐Year Study in a Tertiary Center
Authors: Abdelwahab Mohamed , Overdevest Jonathan B. , Elmokadem Ali , El‐sisi Hossam , El‐Kholy Noha Ahmed , Zaki Hesham , Kamal Elsharawy , Khafagy Yasser , Tawfik Ali , Eldawoody Hany , Hwang Peter , Rakha Abdelwahab
Published: April 2019

Objective

To develop a systematic method for anatomic mapping of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) tumors to standardize communication, facilitate surgical planning, and convey prognosis.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Following Institutional Review Board approval, we performed a retrospective review of radiologic and angiographic data of patients with JNA presenting to the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Mansoura University, from 2001 to 2017. All patients underwent angiography with embolization and had >1‐year follow‐up. Based on frequently involved anatomic sites and factors predictive of prognosis, the NSF‐COR staging system (nose/nasopharynx, sinus, fossa‐cranium, orbit, residual internal carotid artery supply) was developed to explicitly convey anatomic site of involvement and presence of residual vascularity. We validated the NSF‐COR staging system against other systems with Pearson chi‐square test based on risk factors and clinical outcomes of blood transfusion volume, recurrence, and JNA resectability.

Results

Fifty‐four patients met inclusion criteria, where all primary cases (100%) demonstrated nose/nasopharynx involvement, followed by sinus (85.2%), natural fossae (85.2%), intracranial (26%), and orbital involvement (16.7%). These sites, with assessment of residual internal carotid artery vascular supply, were used to develop the NSF‐COR anatomically based staging system. The components COR showed significant association with clinical outcomes of blood transfusion and recurrence. Contingency coefficients between the NSF‐COR staging system and available staging systems showed significant correlations (P <. 05) for prognosis.

Conclusion

The NSF‐COR staging system conveys a communicable anatomic map of JNA tumors that integrates residual vascularity of the tumor and demonstrates strong concordance with current staging systems to assess clinical outcomes.
Rethinking Malignancy Risk in Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules with Positive Molecular Studies: Southern California Permanente Experience
Authors: Cohen David S. , Tongson‐Ignacio Jane E. , Lolachi Christopher M. , Ghaderi Vanessa S. , Jahan‐Parwar Babak , Thompson Lester D. R.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To recognize that thyroid nodules with atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS; Bethesda III) have different risks of malignancy based on genetic mutation and to consider molecular testing of nodules with AUS/FLUS to help avoid unnecessary morbidity or cost.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Multiple locations within Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

Subjects and Methods

Patients included those with indeterminate thyroid nodules and AUS/FLUS on 2 separate fine‐needle aspirations with positive ThyGenX testing from 2014 to 2017 who underwent thyroid surgery. Patients were classified as having benign or malignant disease. Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary‐like nuclear features was considered benign.

Results

A total of 231 patients had repeat AUS/FLUS with positive molecular testing and surgery. The most frequent type of malignancy was papillary carcinoma, followed by follicular carcinoma. The overall prevalence of malignancy in nodules with mutations was 74.0%, although there was considerable variation: BRAF = 100%, RET = 100%, PAX8‐PPARγ = 84.6%, HRAS = 70.7%, NRAS = 63.4%, and KRAS = 33%—a statistically significant finding (P <. 001).

Conclusions

Not all molecular mutations in thyroid nodules with AUS/FLUS have a high risk of malignancy. Of note, patients with BRAF and RET mutations in our population had a 100% risk of malignancy. Patients with PAX, HRAS, or NRAS mutations had a high risk of malignancy, while patients with KRAS mutations had a lower risk of malignancy. Further studies are needed to determine if the presence of certain molecular mutations can help personalize care and aid in the decision for thyroid surgery.
Feasibility of Intensive Ecological Sampling of Tinnitus in Intervention Research
Authors: Gerull Katherine M. , Kallogjeri Dorina , Piccirillo Marilyn L. , Rodebaugh Thomas L. , Lenze Eric J. , Piccirillo Jay F.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To assess whether adults with bothersome tinnitus will complete multiple ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) per day, including those during a therapeutic intervention trial. EMA is defined as repeated sampling of subjects’ current behaviors and experiences in real time.

Study Design

Twelve‐week longitudinal cohort study conducted from August 28, 2017, to December 14, 2017.

Setting

Online only.

Subjects

Thirty adults with self‐reported bothersome nonpulsatile tinnitus of >6 months’ duration.

Methods

Participants completed 2 weeks of EMA text surveys 7 times per day (preintervention), followed by 8 weeks of EMA questions 4 times per day (during intervention), concluding with 2 weeks of EMA questions 7 times per day (postintervention) for a total of 420 surveys over 12 weeks. During the 8‐week intervention period, participants used a commercially available auditory‐intensive online cognitive brain training program for 20 minutes per day, 5 times per week (total, 800 minutes). The primary outcome measures were compliance with EMA surveys, as measured by survey response rates, and participant‐reported effects of EMA on their tinnitus bother.

Results

Of the 30 participants in this study (20 women and 10 men; median age, 54 years [range, 47‐64 years]), 25 participants completed the study protocol (83%). Participants completed a median 87% of EMA surveys (range, 67%‐99%). Qualitative analysis of free‐text responses found that participants did not report negative side effects of the EMA.

Conclusion

Excellent participant compliance can be achieved with multiweek temporally rigorous EMA sampling. EMA sampling can successfully be conducted during an intervention. EMA is a promising sampling methodology in tinnitus research.
End‐of‐Life Costs and Hospice Utilization in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Chen Michelle M. , Rosenthal Eben L. , Divi Vasu
Published: April 2019

The Quality Oncology Practice Initiative has several metrics related to end‐of life (EOL) care, including hospice enrollment ≤3 days, with lower scores signaling better performance. Of privately insured patients with head and neck cancer, 3.5% were enrolled in hospice prior to death and 21.3% spent ≤3 days in hospice, indicating aggressive EOL care. Patients with late hospice enrollment had higher spending in the last 30 days of life (DOL). Patients in hospice ≤3 days spent $37,426, while those in hospice >3 days spent $24,418 (P =. 002). The largest portion of this difference was attributable to inpatient services. Patients in hospice ≤3 days spent $22,089 on inpatient services in the last 30 DOL, while those in hospice >3 days spent $8361 (P <. 001). Further research is needed to determine if more high‐value care can be provided with earlier hospice enrollment and to ensure that goal concordance is included in defining high‐value care.
Investigation into the Oxidative Aging of Asphalt Binders
Authors: Liang Yanlong , Wu Rongzong , Harvey John T. , Jones David , Alavi Mohamad Zia
Published: April 2019

Oxidative aging is caused by oxygen diffusion into the binder when an asphalt pavement is exposed to the atmosphere. Aging can lead to increased susceptibility to pavement damage (i.e., raveling, cracking, and moisture damage). Investigation of the aging mechanism advances the understanding of these pavement distresses, and prediction of the aging progress improves structural design and prediction of pavement performance. Previous studies have proposed a dual-rate aging model that divides the aging progress into a short, fast-rate phase and a long constant phase. This paper further investigates the constant rate aging phase of unmodified, polymer modified, and asphalt rubber binders. The chemical composition (carbonyl, sulfoxide, ether, and ester) and the rheological properties (shear modulus and viscosity) changes were tracked to analyze the binder aging mechanism. As expected, the carbonyl component was found to consistently increase with aging time. The widely used aging model with kinetics parameters estimated from the accelerated laboratory test predicted the field-aging progress reasonably well. A linear correlation between the logarithm of viscosity change and the carbonyl change was found to be valid for a wide range of loading temperatures and frequencies. Furthermore, the slope of this linear correlation was found to be in perfect linear correlation with the loading frequency. These findings point to a generic framework for studying aging and its effect on asphalt binders, as well as asphalt concrete mixes.
Validating the Adaptability of Travel Time Reliability Measurements using Probe Data
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Liu Xiaoyue Cathy , Farnsworth Grant , Burns Kelly
Published: April 2019

Travel time reliability (TTR) is considered a critical piece of information in highway performance evaluation. The L02 project from Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) has developed a holistic method using statistical probability functions of travel time as the TTR measure to build highway performance evaluation and monitoring systems. Compared with single-value reliability measures, the L02 measure is able to identify sources of unreliability and quantify their associated impacts. To validate the adaptability of L02 measure, TTR analysis on the I-15 freeway corridor in Salt Lake City, Utah using probe data has been conducted. The result is compared against output from the quadrant-based TTR measure that is currently used by the Utah Department of Transportation. Through cross-validation, it is determined that the two suites of measures demonstrate good consistency in relation to reliability assessment and unreliability source diagnoses. In addition, the study provides a method to calibrate the quadrant-based TTR measure, and new critical values were developed based on the cross-validation.
Investigating Effect of Driver-, Vehicle-, and Road-Related Factors on Location-Specific Crashes with Naturalistic Driving Data
Authors: Ashley Grace , Osman Osama A. , Ishak Sherif , Codjoe Julius
Published: April 2019

According to NHTSA, traffic accidents cost the United States billions of U.S. dollars each year. Intersection accidents alone accounted for 23% of the 32,675 motor crash deaths in 2014. With the advent of the largest naturalistic driving data set in the United States collected by the SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study project, this study performs a crash-only analysis to identify driver-, vehicle-, and roadway-related factors that affect the driving risk at different location types using a machine learning tool. The study then analyzes the most important factors obtained from the machine learning analysis to identify how they affect crash risk. The results, in order of importance of variables, were driver behavior, locality, lane occupied, alignment, and through travel lanes. Also, drivers who violated traffic signals were four times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers who did not. Those who violated stop signs were two times more likely to be involved in crashes than those who did not. Drivers performing visual-manual (VM) tasks at uncontrolled intersections were 2.7 times more likely to be involved in crashes than those who did not engage in these tasks. At nonintersections, drivers who performed VM tasks were 3.4 times more likely to be involved in crashes than drivers who did not. These findings add to the evidence that the establishment of safety awareness programs geared toward intersection safety is imperative.
Horizontal Instability of the Acromioclavicular Joint: A Systematic Review
Authors: Aliberti Gianna M. , Kraeutler Matthew J. , Trojan Jeffrey D. , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common and should be suspected in patients who have shoulder pain in the region of the acromion and clavicle. Injuries to the AC ligament can cause horizontal instability and are often neglected or underdiagnosed, which can lead to poor patient outcomes.

Purpose:

To perform a systematic review of the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of horizontal instability of the AC joint.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

The authors performed a systematic review using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for studies that investigated diagnosis, treatment, and failure of operative management of acute and chronic AC separations. Studies that did not specifically evaluate AC joint injuries, were not written in English, or were specific only to vertical instability of the AC joint were excluded.

Results:

Overall, 23 articles met the inclusion criteria and were therefore included in this systematic review. Diagnosing horizontal AC instability is difficult using plain radiographs; dynamic views were shown in some cases to better detect horizontal instability than with static views. More than 60 procedures for treating AC joint injuries have been published, but many focus on vertical rather than horizontal instability. Modifications to current surgical procedures to incorporate reconstruction of the horizontal component showed improved patient outcomes. Such modifications included additional AC joint suture cord cerclage, combined AC and coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction, and the Twin Tail TightRope triple button technique. Failure after surgical stabilization of AC joint separation has been reported to occur in 15% to 80% of cases.

Conclusion:

No consensus is available regarding the best practices for diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of acute or chronic horizontal instability of the AC joint. Moreover, horizontal instability injuries are often neglected or poorly understood, making diagnosis difficult, which may lead to high complication rates and failure after surgical stabilization.
Insights and Recommendations From Parents Receiving a Diagnosis of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis for Their Child
Authors: Hebert Danielle , Geisthardt Cheryl , Hoffman Holly
Published: April 2019

Forty-two parents of 41 children reported on their experiences receiving a diagnosis of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis for their child through semistructured phone interviews. Time to diagnosis ranged from 8 hours to 16 years, with the mean age at diagnosis of 13.7 years. The most common initial symptoms included visual disturbances and numbness. The mean number of medical visits to receive a diagnosis was 3.6. Parents reported feeling frustrated and overwhelmed during the diagnosis process, as well as shocked when told their child had multiple sclerosis. Parents emphasized the need for more awareness of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Numerous parents reported encountering physicians who believed multiple sclerosis did not occur in childhood, contributing to a longer time to diagnosis. Parents preferred physicians first share the diagnosis with the parents without the child present. Finally, parents appreciated when physicians provided a variety of resources to help them cope with the diagnosis.
Maternal Dairy Consumption and Hematochezia in Exclusively Breastfed Infants
Authors: Lazare Farrah B. , Brand Donald A. , Fazzari Melissa J. , Noor Asif , Daum Fredric
Published: April 2019

Background:

When an exclusively breastfed infant develops hematochezia, the pediatrician may recommend elimination of dairy and soy products from a mother’s diet, but there is limited scientific evidence to indicate that altering the maternal diet will lead to resolution of the problem.

Research aim:

To estimate the likelihood that maternal dairy and soy avoidance will resolve rectal bleeding in an exclusively breastfed infant.

Methods:

This was a prospective, longitudinal, one-group pre/post study involving mothers of exclusively breastfed infants at least 2 weeks but less than 6 months of age with a positive stool guaiac test in the absence of an intestinal lesion or other explanation for the blood. Participants agreed to follow a dairy and soy elimination/rechallenge protocol, maintain a food diary, and have their infant re-tested at 3-week intervals to determine the outcome of the dietary changes. One participant was lost to follow-up, leaving a final sample size of N = 19.

Results:

All infants continued to test positive for blood in the stool after their mothers eliminated foods containing dairy or soy. Therefore, 0% (0/19) of infants responded to their mother’s restricted diet, 95% confidence interval (one-sided [0%, 15%]).

Conclusion:

Given these results, we must call into question the rationale for advising breastfeeding mothers to eliminate dairy and soy from their diet in response to their infant’s unexplained rectal bleeding.
System fluidity in English school governance: Reflections on the implications for senior leaders of closed hierarchies
Authors: Riddell Richard
Published: April 2019

Drawing on continuing research, and in particular, interviews during 2017-18 in two contrasting local authorities, this article reflects on changing power dynamics and their implications for state schools, local authorities, multi-academy trusts and DfE officials at all levels. In the light of changes recently announced by the Secretary of State, with potential radical implications for school governance and leadership, rapidly implemented without the need for secondary legislation because of the (now) highly centralised nature of the English Education State, the article considers the implications for longer term stability in a depoliticised system.
Characterization method for continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic strands
Authors: Domm Matthias , Schlimbach Jens , Mitschang Peter
Published: April 2019

Due to increasing demand for flexibility and individualization, additive manufacturing (AM) is increasingly finding its way into industrial production processes. However, especially for the AM of polymers, the application possibilities are strongly limited by the achievable mechanical properties. One approach to overcome this disadvantage is the integration of reinforcing fibers. For easy handling and to decouple the time-consuming impregnation step from the AM process, it is advisable to use already impregnated semifinished products. Since the reliability of the AM process hardly depends on the quality of the semifinished products used, this study presents a quality analysis process for continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic strands. The analysis procedure consists of 20 different quality criteria relating to geometry, fiber-matrix composite and mechanics. For easy comparability, the criteria can be calculated to a single quality index. The weighting of the criteria allows a simple transfer of the analysis process to various applications.
The role of academic major and academic year for self-determined motivation in cooperative education
Authors: Wild Steffen , Neef Christoph
Published: April 2019

Using self-determination theory, this research explores the characteristics of the basic needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University, one of the largest institutions for cooperative education in Germany. By comparing the results from two different academic majors and two academic years, the authors examined different cultures at the university. They collected data from 426 students in a cross-sectional study. Using an analysis of variance approach (repeated-measures designs), the results show differences between relatedness with the highest characteristic values and the two other basic needs. Multivariate analysis of variance shows the significant effect of academic majors (partial η 2 = 0.10) and academic years (partial η 2 = 0.05) on all basic needs. The results are discussed in the context of different academic cultural backgrounds. Recommendations are made for improving teaching and curricula in the field of cooperative higher education.
Understanding the Nuances of Employees’ Safety to Improve Job Satisfaction of Employees in Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Joshi Meha
Published: April 2019

Safety of employees is one of the important concerns of the manufacturing organizations and needs to be addressed carefully. It was once, not in ambit of focus but the realization of making safety management as an integral part of the organization is gaining pace. The research article attempts to study the influence of safety perception of the employees on their job satisfaction level in selected small and medium manufacturing enterprises of Uttarakhand in India. A self-developed 29 items scale was used to determine the safety level of employees and job satisfaction inventory by Paul and Spector was used for assessing the job satisfaction level of employees. Linear regression analysis was used to find the degree of influence of safety on job satisfaction level of employees. Stepwise multiple regressions were used to identify the safety factor which contributes the most for employee’s job satisfaction. The research highlights positive influence of safety perception of employees on their job satisfaction level and draws attention towards safety as predictor of job satisfaction. Training and supervision and work procedures were identified as the most contributing factors to enhance job satisfaction of the employees. This study could be helpful for organizations to identify most contributing safety factor which lead to improving the level of job satisfaction among employees.
Integrative Family Counseling
Authors: Devlin James M. , Toof Jennifer , West Linda , Andrews Nicole , Cole Jessica
Published: April 2019

The use of integrative models in family, marriage, and individual counseling continues to show promising therapeutic results. The basic concept of theoretical integration involves a purposeful combination of principles, practices, and common factors from different theories. This form of therapy has been employed for the past 50 years and has provided therapists with numerous techniques which have shown to be effective for a variety of clinical issues. The present article provides clarity on what integrative therapy is, its history, and coverage on its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, a literature review of existing integrative models and contemporary family models is provided. The article further covers Dr. Jay Lebow’s integrative systemic therapy, its importance, modes of operation, barriers, and its implication and future in marriage and family counseling.
Participant Reflexivity in Organizational Research Design
Authors: Cassell Catherine , Radcliffe Laura , Malik Fatima
Published: April 2019

Despite the considerable interest in researcher reflexivity within the organizational literature, little attention has been paid to participant reflexivity, here defined as the reflexive considerations of research participants that are stimulated by their involvement in research. Our argument is that engagement in the research process is a context where such reflexive thinking is likely to happen and that through certain methodological approaches, participants’ reflexive thinking becomes more conscious and therefore potentially accessible to the researcher. In identifying the participant reflexivity that emerged as part of a photo-elicitation study of work-life balance and conflict, we outline the kinds of reflexive dialogue that participants reported as being stimulated by involvement in the research and explore the link between emotion and reflexive practice. Hence our paper contributes to our understanding of qualitative research and reflexivity first by highlighting empirically the kinds of internal dialogue reported when participants engage in self-reflexivity as part of the research process; second, by outlining how we can access participant reflexivity methodologically, including through emotions; and third, by explicating the value for researchers in accessing participant reflexivity.
Acceptable in the EU? Why some immigration restrictionists support European Union mobility
Authors: Blinder Scott , Markaki Yvonni
Published: April 2019

Why do some Europeans support immigration from within the European Union, while rejecting immigration from elsewhere? Acceptance of intra-European Union mobility—even by those who wish to restrict immigration more generally—is important for popular support for the European Union itself. This paper identifies and attempts to explain the preferences of “EU-only inclusionists”: EU nationals who support relatively high levels of immigration, but only from within the European Union. We analyze an underexplored experimental module in the European Social Survey to explore European Union inclusionism in relation to other preference profiles. We find that identification with the European Union helps explain specific support for European Union mobility, while subnational (racial and religious) identities are associated with a preference for European migrants over non-Europeans, but not with specific support for intra-European Union movement.