bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint Position Sense Testing in Young Children
Authors: Gray E. M. , Tomlison K. G. , Kileny S. , Leber S. M.
Published: December 2018

The standard physical examination evaluation for a proprioception abnormality depends upon the patient’s ability to follow directions and respond to the examiner, a skill not yet developed in toddlers. This study demonstrates a new proprioception examination method that may allow for better localization of lesions and determines whether healthy toddlers would cooperate with this test. By placing stickers on children’s hands, covering their eyes, and then moving their hands, the examiner can see whether the children reach for where their hands and stickers were previously located or to their new location, which serves as an indicator of proprioception ability. When tested on 12- to 36-month-old children without known neurologic issues, we found that older children were more cooperative during the test but that the ability to successfully find the sticker did not depend on age. We have optimized the test for efficient usage in a clinic setting and propose that this is a useful test that can be applied in children, with no change in confidence based on age. No children with known deficits in proprioception were tested, so sensitivity could not be assessed.
Management Strategies for Intracranial Pressure Crises in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Ravishankar Nidhi , Nuoman Rolla , Amuluru Krishna , El-Ghanem Mohammad , Thulasi Venkatraman , Dangayach Neha S. , Lee Kiwon , Al-Mufti Fawaz
Published: December 2018

Objectives: Standard management strategies for lowering intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury has been well-studied, but the use of lesser known interventions for ICP in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains elusive. Searches were performed in PubMed and EBSCO Host to identify best available evidence for evaluation and management of medically refractory ICP in SAH. The role of standard management strategies such as head elevation, hyperventilation, mannitol and hypertonic saline as well as lesser known management such as sodium bicarbonate, indomethacin, tromethamine, decompressive craniectomy, decompressive laparotomy, hypothermia, and barbiturate coma are reviewed. We also included dose concentrations, dose frequency, infusion volume, and infusion rate for these lesser known strategies. Nonetheless, there is still a gap in the evidence to recommend optimal dosing, timing and its role in the improvement of outcomes but early diagnosis and appropriate management reduce adverse outcomes.
Perpetration of Electronic Intrusiveness Among Adolescent Females: Associations With In-Person Dating Violence
Authors: Doucette Hannah , Collibee Charlene , Hood Erik , Gittins Stone Daniel Ian , DeJesus Brett , Rizzo Christie Jade
Published: December 2018

Electronic intrusiveness is a form of cyber dating abuse that includes monitoring a partners’ location, whom a partner is talking to, and other private information via technology and social networking sites. The aim of this study was to further explore the prevalence of electronic intrusiveness, as well as to assess how electronic intrusiveness relates to in-person dating violence while controlling for known risk factors for in-person dating violence, namely, depression, emotion regulation, and acceptance of couple violence. Data for this study were drawn from the baseline assessment of a larger clinical trial. A sample of high-risk adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 17 with a lifetime history of prior dating violence victimization or perpetration was used. Participants completed self-report measures for all study variables. Findings demonstrate that perpetration of electronic intrusiveness within the past 3 months is common among a sample of high-risk adolescent females, with rates across various modes of technology ranging from 30% to 57%. Results also revealed electronic intrusiveness is associated with in-person dating violence perpetration after accounting for known risk factors. This study highlights the need to increase awareness of electronic intrusiveness and to better incorporate electronic intrusiveness into theoretical and empirical models of dating violence.
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Among Parturient Women in Shanghai: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Li Tengteng , Guo Nafei , Jiang Hui , Eldadah Maher
Published: December 2018

Background:

Breastfeeding self-efficacy has been shown to be a strong predictor of breastfeeding initiation and duration; however, factors associated with breastfeeding self-efficacy in China are unclear.

Research aims:

The aims were (a) to describe the breastfeeding self-efficacy of parturient women in Shanghai, China and (b) to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional retrospective descriptive study. Through convenience sampling, breastfeeding mothers ( N = 801) were recruited to assess breastfeeding self-efficacy before discharge from the hospital. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the sociodemographic and perinatal characteristics, level of breastfeeding self-efficacy, and correlations between them.

Results:

In the process of breastfeeding, 52.2% ( n = 418) of participants encountered breastfeeding problems, 37.1% ( n = 297) perceived an insufficient milk supply, 82.4% ( n = 660) reported attending breastfeeding classes, but only 37.1% ( n = 297) chose exclusive breastfeeding. Chinese mothers reported a moderate level of breastfeeding self-efficacy, with an item mean score of 3.67 (score = 1–5). Whether or not encountering breastfeeding problems, infant feeding pattern (fully breastfeeding, partial breastfeeding, no breastfeeding) in the previous 24 hours, whether or not perceiving insufficient milk, and main caregiver’s positive attitude toward breastfeeding (ranging from 1 to10, higher score indicating more positive attitude) were correlated with participants’ breastfeeding self-efficacy score. (The correlation coefficients were −0.432, 0.377, −0.364, and 0.353, respectively.)

Conclusion:

The misperception of insufficient milk and main caregiver’s attitude toward breastfeeding were important factors for breastfeeding self-efficacy. Greater efforts should be made during breastfeeding education and support.
Explaining perceptions of autonomy in the last chain of delegation
Authors: Silva Patrícia , Jalali Carlos
Published: December 2018

This article explores the impact of consolidated principles of delegation on top civil servants’ perceptions of autonomy in management and policy-making processes across European parliamentary democracies. Particular attention is devoted to the extent to which bureaucratic capacity can be equated as a principle of delegation, considering the lenses and perspectives of bureaucrats instead of relying on politicians’ formal mechanisms to control bureaucratic activities. Empirically, this article is based on a large-scale study survey of senior public executives applied in eight European countries. While consolidated principles of delegation seem to be able to explain perceptions of autonomy across parliamentary democracies, results also suggest the importance of including bureaucratic capacity as a predictor of autonomy in the last chain of delegation. This emerges as one of the strongest explanatory variables of perceptions of managerial autonomy, regardless of the hierarchical position of respondents. However, it does not impact on bureaucrats’ perception of policy autonomy, as respondents’ position within the administrative state and the distinct traits of national public bureaucracies in Europe have a greater impact on the delegation of authority.
A novel poly(arylene ether nitrile) ultrafiltration membrane for water purification and its antifouling property with in situ-generated SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Wenluan , Wang Zijun , Liu Xiaobo
Published: December 2018

In this work, poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) was utilized to fabricate a separation membrane to remove dye molecules and oil/water emulsions for the very first time. Specifically, 15 wt% polyethylene glycol ([Formula: see text] = 800 Da) was added to the casting solution as a pore-forming agent to enhance the flux. In situ-generated SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were utilized to improve the membrane surface hydrophilicity by the hydrolyzation of tetraethyl orthosilicate under weak acid conditions. However, the surface hydrophilicity improvement was not significant. It may be because the strong mechanical strength of PEN caused most of the SiO2 NPs to be buried within the polymer matrix or SiO2 NPs were lost by dissolution in the acidic water bath. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to study the membrane surface chemical features. Scanning electron microscopy images were obtained to observe the membrane cross-section morphology.
Study of thermal cycle, mechanical, and metallurgical properties of friction stir welded aviation grade aluminum alloy
Authors: Verma Shubham , Gupta Meenu , Misra Joy Prakash
Published: December 2018

This research work presents the study of thermal cycle during friction stir welding of aviation grade aluminum alloy. In addition, mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction stir welded joints are conceptually discussed. Experimentation has been conducted in two stages. Stage I experiments has been conducted as per one-factor-at-a-time approach with varying tilt angle and dwell time. It was concluded that maximum ultimate tensile strength is obtained at 2° tilt angle and 30 s dwell time by one-factor-at-a-time approach. On the basis of stage I results, full-factorial design is used for conducting main experiments by fixing the tilt angle and dwell time. Stage II has been attempted to optimize the most influencing friction stir welding parameters: rotational speed and traverse speed. It is observed that rotational speed is predominant factors for ultimate tensile strength and traverse speed for microhardness. In addition, eight thermocouples (L-shaped k type), four on the advancing side and four on the retreating side, are placed at equal distance from the centerline for measuring the temperature during the process. The optical microscope and energy beam scattered diffraction analysis have been carried out for scrutinizing the macrostructure and microstructure of friction stir welded joints. It is evident from energy beam scattered diffraction analysis that the grain size of nugget zone decreases as compared to base metal.
Effects of water ingestion on the tip clearance flow in compressor rotors
Authors: Yang Lu , Zhang Hai , Lin Aqiang
Published: December 2018

The tip region of compressor rotors may be filled with water when aircraft is flying in heavy rain environment. In order to explore the effects of water ingestion on the compressor performance and the characteristics of tip clearance flow, the Euler–Lagrange method has been utilized to simulate the two-phase flow inside a transonic rotor (NASA rotor 35). The typical trajectory of water droplet in compressor has been introduced firstly to simply understand the situation of water ingestion and to verify the reliability of some special droplet breakup models. The simulation results show that water droplets will change the distribution of airflow parameters along the span direction, which leads to the decrease of mass flow rate and the increase of attack angle at the tip region, as well as the separation of boundary layer on the suction surface. Furthermore, the momentum losses caused by droplet impingement and breakup directly causes a sharp increase in the static entropy at the blade tip region. On the other hand, the ingestion of droplet brings an external disturbance to airflow, and although it has some dissipated effects on the turbulence kinetic energy, it aggravates the unsteady characteristics of turbulent flow seriously at the tip region. Finally, by comparing the compressor performance under wet and dry states, it can be concluded that the pressure ratio and adiabatic efficiency of compressor decrease after water ingestion, and the compression efficiency drops by 1–2% on the whole while the operating point moves forward and the stable working boundary becomes narrow.
The concept of (depth) cues: An exemplification of homuncular language in vision science
Authors: Pagel Robert
Published: December 2018

The term “depth cue” is fundamental to and widely used in vision science. However, despite the prevalence and importance of that concept, there is virtually no study on its theoretical foundations and coherence. This article aims at filling that gap by investigating both its historical development and its current use within the predominant computational approach to vision. Against the backdrop of Wittgenstein’s therapeutic approach to philosophy, it is shown that both traditional and current characterizations of depth cues suffer from a serious logical flaw known as “homunculus” or “mereological fallacy.” It is suggested that the problem of homuncular language impedes critical thinking and theorizing in vision science since it obscures the matters at issue by disguising explanatorily empty expressions as explanatory hypotheses. Furthermore, it is argued that homuncular language is not confined to the concept of depth cues but typical of current cognitive science in general since it is linked to its most fundamental assumption of the brain being an information processing system. In conclusion, resulting implications for cognitive science and cognitive scientists are considered.
Moral Wounds and Moral Repair: The Dilemmas of Spirituality and Culturally Sensitive Practice
Authors: Sullivan W. Patrick , Starnino Vincent R.
Published: December 2018

As our understanding of trauma is expanding, greater consideration is being given to factors such as moral injury and spirituality. Moral injury appears to be especially pertinent in the case of war-related trauma, as one may not only be the victim of, or witness to, troubling events but also be the perpetrator of acts that run counter to personal values. For some, moral beliefs and values and key elements of the assumptive world are intertwined with spiritual and religious matters. This article discusses moral injury and repair in the context of spiritually and culturally sensitive practice. Strategies for addressing issues such as moral anguish, loss of meaning, identity disturbance, guilt and shame, forgiveness, and spiritual struggle are discussed.
Developmentally Distinct Learning Experiences Among Adult English Language Learners
Authors: Ouellette-Schramm Jennifer
Published: December 2018

Many adult English language learners (ELLs) aspire toward postsecondary educational programs but do not go on to obtain college credentials after beginning classes in Adult Basic Education (ABE) or community college English as a second or other language classes to prepare for college-level English. Understanding how adult ELLs experience learning in such programs may help programs support adult ELL persistence. A lens that has illuminated qualitative differences in adult learning experience is that of constructive-developmental theory (CDT). This small qualitative case study used a CDT lens and grounded theory to investigate developmental perspectives and learning experiences among nine ABE ELLs in a college preparation class. Data included two qualitative interviews per participant, demographic questionnaires, and reading scores. Findings included notable developmental diversity among participants and qualitatively distinct learning experiences related to finding motivation, ways of learning, and navigating challenge. This article discusses these different learning experiences, including supporting developmentally diverse adult ELLs.
“If I Want to Feel My Feelings, I’ll See a Bloody Shrink”: Learning From the Shadow Side of Experiential Learning
Authors: Clancy Annette , Vince Russ
Published: December 2018

This article discusses the value of learning from a psychodynamic approach to experiential learning. This approach is used to help students experience and understand the emotional and relational complexity of leading and managing within organizations. From this perspective, experiential learning means engaging with emotions and with embedded relations of power, to unsettle expectations of how organizations work. Here, we consider the professor’s role, which is to help students work with and through the emotional dynamics generated in work relationships, even when those dynamics are difficult to bear and the overriding impulse is to avoid or defend against them. In this way, students are being supported to better understand how organizations are emotional places, not how individuals within organizations can “manage” emotion.
Intense regulated pulse light for the meibomian gland dysfunction
Authors: Karaca Emine Esra , Evren Kemer Özlem , Özek Dilay
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

To assess the effect of intense regulated pulse light (E-Eye; E-Swin, France) on the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Setting:

Health Sciences University, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology.

Methods:

A total of 26 patients underwent intense pulsed light treatment (E-Eye; E-Swin), with homogeneously sequenced five light pulses delivered to one eye at 1, 15, and 45 days following baseline evaluation. At each visit, subjective clinical parameters (ocular surface disease index questionnaire and standard patient evaluation of eye dryness questionnaire) and objective clinical parameters (Schirmer I test scores, tear break-up times, Oxford grading, lid margin abnormality score, secretion quality and expressibility degree) were recorded. The subjective and objective parameters at Days 15 and 45 were compared with baseline values.

Results:

Patients underwent three sessions of intense pulsed light treatment. Schirmer test and tear break-up time improved significantly from baseline to Day (D) 45 (8.53 ± 4.31 mm vs 12.6 ± 3.14 mm, 4.53 ± 1.33 sn vs 11.07 ± 2.87 sn, p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). Ocular surface disease index and standard patient evaluation of eye dryness scores improved from baseline to D15 and baseline to D45 (all with p < 0.05). All the subjects reported reduced symptoms by D45. There were no cases of adverse ocular effects. There was no significant change in Oxford grading, lid margin abnormality score, secretion quality, and expressibility degree.

Conclusions:

Intense regulated pulse light seems a safe treatment procedure for meibomian gland dysfunction, improving tear film quality and reducing symptoms of dry eye.
Melanosis Coli: A Helpful Contrast Effect or a Harmful Pigmentation?
Authors: Abu Baker Fadi , Mari Amir , Feldman Dan , Suki Muhammad , Gal Oren , Kopelman Yael
Published: December 2018

Background:

Melanosis coli, a brown discoloration of colonic mucosa, is considered as a benign condition mainly observed in patients under chronic anthranoid laxatives. Recent data link this condition with an increased adenoma detection rate. Moreover, its tumorigenic potential and possible association with the development of colorectal cancer remains uncertain. We conducted this study to compare the polyp detection rate and colorectal cancer diagnosis in patients with melanosis against matched control group without melanosis.

Patients and methods:

A retrospective single-center study. Patients diagnosed with melanosis coli on colonoscopy over a 15-year period were included. Each melanosis coli patient was matched with three controls by age, gender, setting (inpatient/outpatient), and procedure’s indication. Polyp detection rate and diagnosis of colorectal cancer were recorded and compared between the groups before and after adjustment for bowel preparation.

Results:

A cohort of 718 patients with melanosis and 2154 controls were included. The polyp detection rates were 33.4% and 21.8% of melanosis and control groups, respectively ( P < .001). Melanosis coli, however, was associated with less diagnosis of colorectal cancer than controls (0.3% vs 3.9%; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, melanosis diagnosis on endoscopy was significantly associated with higher polyp detection rate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.986, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.626-2.425; P value < .01).

Conclusions:

Melanosis coli is not associated with increased diagnosis of colorectal cancer. It is associated, however, with enhanced polyp detection likely due to chromo-endoscopy-like effect.
Revisiting the Balassa–Samuelson effect: International tourism and cultural proximity
Authors: Tubadji Annie , Nijkamp Peter
Published: December 2018

This article focuses on a neglected part of the well-known Balassa–Samuelson (B-S) effect in international trade, namely, the specific role of tourism in equilibrating the purchasing power parities across areas. The article aims to highlight in particular the cultural bias in destination choice by foreign tourists and its importance as a barrier for eradicating economic inequality between countries. We consider international tourism here as a mixed type of tradable service that leads to – short-time, but potentially massive – cross-border movements of people that can impact income redistribution among countries. Our claim is that this short-time movement is positively biased towards culturally closer localities. The recognition of this role of cultural proximity in the tourist choice destination can help fine-tune empirical models of international goods or services to reality. To test our hypothesis, a unique big data set for the EU28 and all the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries (4031 observations on the shares of outbound tourists per country) is composed for the year 2014. We use data from the UN World Tourism Organization, Centre d’Etudes Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales (CEPII, Paris; especially on linguistic proximity), and the six well-known Hofstede indices of cultural dimension: individualism, power–distance relationship, masculinity, uncertainty, indulgence and long-term orientation. To fully specify our tourist destination model, we include also climate-related explanatory variables, reflecting sun, rain and wind differences between sending and recipient countries. Regression analysis with fixed effects and a hierarchical (multilevel) model both lead to consistent empirical estimates. Our results clearly demonstrate that tourism is a significant counter-balancing factor for the B-S effect that seems to be present and related to non-trade sectors and wages across the countries involved. Moreover, we find that linguistic proximity is statistically and economically the most powerful quantitative proxy for cultural factors, which determine the outbound tourists’ destination choice.
The international tourism effect of hosting the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup
Authors: Vierhaus Christopher
Published: December 2018

This study analyzes whether hosting mega-sporting events is a useful marketing platform for countries to promote international tourism on a longer term basis. Our model adopts the gravity equation of international trade to bilateral international tourist arrivals. We find a country-level tourism effect only for the Summer Olympic Games. Hosting increases international tourist arrivals significantly in the 8 years before, during, and in the 20 years after the event. In contrast, hosting the FIFA World Cup is overall ineffective in tourism promotion despite higher tourist arrivals in the event year. We attribute these differences in international tourism legacy to the level of strategic planning in promoting tourism, the impact of media on the broadcasting audience, and the participating countries.
Do tourists have different motivations for online travel purchasing? A segmentation of the Russian market
Authors: Albayrak Tahir , Dursun Aslıhan , Ünal Caner
Published: December 2018

This study investigates online travel purchasing (OTP) motivations of Russian tourists as a neglected research topic in the literature. Data were collected from 403 Russian tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey. Convenience, hedonic, socialization and economic motivations were identified as the main underlying OTP motivations. Furthermore, cluster analysis on OTP motivation dimensions yielded three market segments: multi-benefit seekers, convenience lovers and utilitarian benefiters. Differences among the segments in terms of their demographic profiles and online purchasing behaviours were additionally tested by cross-tab analyses with χ2 tests. Finally, study findings revealed that influences of OTP motivations on behavioural intention to buy tourism-related products might differ across the segments.
Review of the literature on self-injurious thoughts and behaviours in gender-diverse children and young people in the United Kingdom
Authors: E Mann Georgina , Taylor Amelia , Wren Bernadette , de Graaf Nastasja
Published: December 2018

International literature suggests that gender-diverse people are at increased risk of thoughts and acts of self-injury compared to their cisgender peers. The current review aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours (SITBs) among children and young people (CYP) in the United Kingdom identifying as a gender not typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth and, further, to examine relevant prevalence rates of SITBs reported both in academic and grey literature. In total, seven studies were included in the review and indicated an increased prevalence of SITBs among gender-diverse CYP compared to the general population. However, methodological limitations and significant heterogeneity in the rates of SITBs reported require that the available literature be interpreted with some caution. Important factors to consider when interpreting SITB rates, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Female Emotional Labour in Turkish Call Centres: Smiling Voices Despite Low Job Satisfaction
Authors: Narlı Nilüfer , Akdemir Ayşegül
Published: December 2018

This article discusses Turkish women workers’ experiences in Turkey’s growing call centre sector, focusing on the emotional labour they perform in relation to job satisfaction and gendered work patterns within the Turkish labour market. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative data generated from six Turkish cities. Our findings demonstrate that pecuniary emotional labour is a large requirement of women employees in the call centre business, and that performing such labour under time constraints harms their well-being. Low material rewards and lack of support in their relations with customers make it even more difficult to deal with the stress of emotional labour and lowers job satisfaction. Employees’ capacity to resist the negative aspects of work are largely limited by the conditions in Turkey such as high rates of unemployment, extensive employee circulation and lack of job security.
Taking the dialectical stance in reasoning with evidence and proof
Authors: Bex Floris J , Walton Douglas N
Published: December 2018

We present a computational argumentation approach that models legal reasoning with evidence and proof as dialectical rather than probabilistic. This hybrid approach of stories and arguments models the process of proof in a way that is compatible with Allen and Pardo's theory of relative plausibility by adding arguments that can be used to show how evidence can support or attack explanations. Using some legal cases as examples, we show how criteria for assessing explanations connect arguments and evidence to story schemes. We show how this hybrid dialectical approach avoids the main problem of the probabilistic approaches, namely that they require precise numbers to be applied in order to decide legal cases. We provide an alternative method that allows fact-finders to reason with evidence holistically and not in the item-by-item fashion proposed by the probabilistic account.
Shared core meanings and shared associations in bilingual semantic memory: Evidence from research on implicit memory
Authors: Francis Wendy S
Published: December 2018

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

The degree of overlap across languages in bilingual semantic memory has been debated in the cognitive bilingual literature for decades. This paper focuses on theory and recent evidence addressing the questions of whether translation-equivalent words in a bilingual person’s two languages access common core-meaning representations and whether long-standing semantic/conceptual associations among words are language-general or language-specific.

Design/methodology/approach:

We explain a theoretical approach to this problem and review recent evidence that addresses it. The empirical work cited used primarily memory tasks in which the languages of the word stimuli or responses changed from encoding to test.

Data and analysis:

Several studies are reviewed. In most cases, data were analyzed using an analysis of variance.

Findings/conclusions:

Robust between-language priming was observed for concrete nouns, abstract nouns, verbs, and adjectives using a variety of specific tasks, indicating that the semantic representations of translation equivalents overlap. The reduction in priming relative to within-language conditions could be explained in some cases by repetition of language-specific processes in the within-language conditions. Results of repetition-priming and false-memory experiments that involved semantic associations showed that category–exemplar, noun–verb, antonym, and other semantic relationships are shared across languages in a common semantic system.

Originality:

Many of the results are interpreted with respect to questions that have not been addressed in previous work.

Significance/implications:

The nature of semantic system integration is important for understanding bilingual cognition. Episodic memory tasks can be a useful way to study the organization of core-meaning representations in bilinguals, and indicate that these representations are shared across languages. However, these procedures do not capture other aspects of semantic representation that may differ across languages.
Random vibrations in unmanned aerial vehicles, mathematical analysis and control methodology based on expectation and probability
Authors: Abdulrahman Al-Mashhadani Mohammad
Published: December 2018

The analysis of the random vibrations that occur during the flight of the unmanned aerial vehicles is important, as these random vibrations have random characteristic properties and have the ability to decrease the endurance of such systems. The accuracy of data collected from sensors in the unmanned aerial vehicle system is important for the flight control system. The transferring of these data among different sensors such as inertial measurement unit, axis accelerometers, GPS or cameras is usually affected by many factors. One of the important factors is the random vibration, which is usually caused by aerodynamic excitation or air turbulence. The problem of random vibrations has been studied for a long time and explained in many text books. In this study, the author introduces a mathematical analysis for random vibrations that are independent of their sources by considering these vibrations as a random and non-stationary process and designs a control methodology based on expectations and probability theory to reduce the effect of these vibrations. The analysis used in this research is based on the assumptions of practical approximation techniques.
Values congruence, organization-based self-esteem, and employee responses: Evidence from Sri Lanka
Authors: Gardner Donald G , Wickramasinghe Vathsala , Pierce Jon L
Published: December 2018

Expatriate managers are often advised to adapt their leadership styles and organizational cultures to the culture of the country in which they operate. This advice appears to be reasonable, but it has rarely been empirically tested. In this study, we examine the degree to which congruence of organization and individual cultural values affect employees. We collected data from business managers and executives in Sri Lanka, a country that has not been well studied by international management scholars. We hypothesized that personally embraced values that are consistent with broader cultural values would have relationships with self-esteem. Further, because people are also motivated to verify and enhance their levels of self-esteem in culturally consistent ways, we hypothesized that self-esteem at work would mediate relationships of values with prosocial motivation and intent to maintain membership in the organization. We found that culturally consistent, self-transcendence personal values did relate uniquely to organization-based self-esteem (OBSE). In addition, OBSE mediated the relationships between self-transcendence values, and work-based prosocial motivation and intent to stay. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that strong values fit weakened the mediating effect of OBSE on self-transcendence—outcomes and conservation—outcome relationships, contrary to our hypotheses. It appears that the advice to modify organizational culture to fit local culture should be qualified by also recommending that such changes are not conflict with the organization’s existing, successful culture. Our study also sheds some light on the cultural values of Sri Lanka. This is the first study to explicitly examine these relationships within a work context as well as one of few studies to examine personal values in Sri Lanka.
Mechanics-based algorithms to determine the current state of a bridge using quasi-static loading and strain measurement
Authors: Pitchai Pandi , Saravanan U , Goswami Rupen
Published: December 2018

Knowing the current state of a bridge is of interest for a variety of reasons. Some parameters that determine the current state of a bridge are the material properties and boundary conditions. Using strain measurements obtained from a slow-moving vehicle on a bridge, the boundary condition and material properties are determined through a mechanistic-based approach. Observing that the sign of the curvature would change at locations near the support when a load passes over a bridge with end rotational restraints, a methodology for determining the boundary conditions is proposed and validated. The linear elastic properties of the material that the bridge is made up of is determined from the strain measured at locations where the stress is independent of the material property. In this procedure, the structure is analyzed assuming some material properties and the stress at the measured point is determined. Then, the material parameters in the isotropic Hooke’s law are determined so that the stress estimated from the experimentally determined strains agrees with that obtained from the analysis with arbitrarily assumed material parameters. A prestressed high-performance concrete pi-shaped girder tested under a three-axle slow-moving load with strains measured at different locations is used to bring out the efficacy and appropriateness of the proposed methodologies. The mean value of Young’s modulus of the prestressed concrete bridge agrees well with the experimentally determined Young’s modulus.
Effect of Age on Leukopenia Following Renal Transplantation at a Single Center
Authors: Yang Yanmen , Guerra Christina M. , Sumrani Nabil
Published: December 2018

Introduction:

Leukopenia in renal transplant recipients occurs commonly within the first year following transplantation; however, literature on the effects of age on leukopenia is scarce.

Design:

A single-center, retrospective review was conducted on 141 recipients transplanted from January 2011 to December 2015. Transplant recipients were characterized by age <60 years (n = 94) or age 60 years and older (n = 47) for analysis.

Results:

A greater incidence of leukopenia was seen in the older cohort compared to the younger cohort (64% vs 55%). Of those patients who developed leukopenia, the older cohort (n = 30) had a higher incidence of hospitalization for leukopenia (30% vs 23%) but a lower incidence of hospitalization for infection (20% vs 25%) compared to the younger cohort (n = 52). Additionally, one month following mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) discontinuation, the older cohort had reduced recovery of their white blood cell count (+263.8% vs +272.5%) and experienced less recurrent leukopenic episodes (50% vs 67%) and rejection episodes (0% vs 22%) compared to the younger cohort, alluding to the need for less immunosuppression.

Conclusions:

Age at transplantation was not associated with the development of leukopenia; however, older patients had a higher incidence of leukopenia and hospitalization for leukopenia. Dose reduction or discontinuation of MMF should be considered in older kidney transplant recipients who develop leukopenia.
Factors Influencing Georgia Legislators' Decision-Making on Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
Authors: Clement Desireé Mullis
Published: December 2018

The state of Georgia faces challenges in providing access to care, largely due to rural hospital closures and physician shortages. Although nurse practitioners (NPs) could help address Georgia's urgent health care needs, the state remains restrictive with respect to NP scope of practice (SOP). This study examined factors that influence Georgia legislators' decision-making on NP SOP. In June 2016, after the January through March legislative session, a questionnaire was e-mailed to 49 state legislators on the Committees on Health and Human Services in Georgia's House of Representatives and Senate. The questionnaire was adapted from a legislative questionnaire previously used in research on state educational policy. Nine of 49 (18%) Georgia legislators responded. The majority of nine respondents were Republicans having served less than 15 years in the legislature. The number of respondents was approximately equal between Senate and House of Representatives. The respondents rated expert testimony and hearing from constituents as most likely to influence their decision-making on NP SOP. They reported that media and concerns about reelection were least likely to influence their decision-making about NP SOP. Therefore, nurses who aim to influence state policy should consider legislator preferences, such as speaking personally with constituents and receiving expert testimony. In-person communication could enhance interactions with legislators, potentially improving policy outcomes. Future research is necessary and should be conducted by NPs to determine the forms of communication and content in testimony most effective in influencing state lawmakers about NP SOP and examine if results vary by state political or other contexts.
Entitlement and Perceived Racial Discrimination: The Missing Links to White Opinions Toward Affirmative Action and Preferential Hiring and Promotion
Authors: Mangum Maruice , DeHaan LaTasha
Published: December 2018

This article seeks to explain why some White Americans support affirmative action while others do not. Much of what has been written on White opinions on affirmative action is from an oppositional lens. This analysis seeks to add balance to the ways political science understands White opinions toward affirmative action. In so doing, this study identifies correlates of support for affirmative action not just rationales for opposition. Unlike most studies that examine White opinions by testing one or two theories, we examine the determinants of White opinions by testing several theories and hypotheses simultaneously (stereotypes, racial discrimination, racial resentment, and realistic group conflict theory). Using data taken from the 2004-2005 National Politics Study, we find that many Whites support affirmative action to combat racial discrimination experienced by racial minorities. However, we also find that many of them oppose affirmative action due to a sense of entitlement.
Prevalence and Causes of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in a Population-Based Cohort From Northern Portugal
Authors: Ruano Luis , Araújo Natália , Branco Mariana , Barreto Rui , Moreira Sandra , Pais Ricardo , Cruz Vítor Tedim , Lunet Nuno , Barros Henrique
Published: December 2018

Background:

Vascular disease may play an important role in the epidemiology of dementia in countries with high stroke incidence, such as Portugal.

Objective:

To assess the prevalence and etiology of cognitive impairment in a population-based cohort from Portugal.

Methods:

Individuals ≥55 years (n = 730) from the EPIPorto cohort were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Those scoring below the age-/education-adjusted cutoff points were further evaluated to identify dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to define its most common causes.

Results:

Thirty-six cases of MCI/dementia were identified, corresponding to adjusted prevalences of 4.1% for MCI and 1.3% for dementia. The most common cause of MCI/dementia was vascular (52.8%), followed by Alzheimer’s disease (36.1%).

Conclusion:

These findings highlight the importance of vascular cognitive impairment in the epidemiology of dementia in Portugal and carry an important public health message regarding its prevention and management, possibly extending to other countries with a high-stroke burden.
Differences in characteristics and outcomes after endovascular therapy: A single-center analysis of patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion due to underlying intracranial atherosclerosis disease and embolism
Authors: Zhang Xuelei , Luo Gang , Jia Baixue , Mo Dapeng , Ma Ning , Gao Feng , Zhang Jingyu , Miao Zhongrong
Published: December 2018

Background

Therapeutic strategies and outcomes vary with stroke subtypes for patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusion (VBAO). This study aimed to compare characteristics and outcomes of VBAO due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) and embolisms and identify baseline predictors of ICAD.

Methods

Patients with VBAO who received endovascular therapy (EVT) were retrospectively analyzed. Participants fulfilling the criteria were classified as the ICAD group (focal stenosis of >70%, or fixed stenosis >50% in addition to either flow and perfusion impairment on angiography or an evident reocclusion tendency) and the embolism group (defined as no evidence of focal significant stenosis after thrombolysis or thrombectomy). Baseline characteristics and outcomes after EVT were compared between the two groups, and logistic regression was performed to explore the factors associated with ICAD.

Results

Among the 133 patients enrolled, 95 (71.4%) patients were categorized in the ICAD group, and 38 (28.6%) in the embolism group. A history of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio (OR) 0.142; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.028–0.707), p = 0.017), distal basilar artery occlusion (OR 0.107; 95% CI (0.040–0.289), p < 0.001) and V4 segment occlusion (OR 3.423; 95% CI (1.172–9.999), p = 0.024) were independently associated with ICAD. Patients with VBAO due to ICAD had a lower rate of recanalization (81.1% vs 100%, p = 0.004), but the 90-day good clinical outcome was comparable (41.1% vs 50.0%, p = 0.347).

Conclusions

The occlusion sites and a history of atrial fibrillation might be helpful in predicting ICAD in patients with VBAO. Patients with ICAD who were treated by EVT had a lower rate of recanalization but comparable 90-day good outcomes.
Modeling and analysis of impact based on numerical and experimental approaches
Authors: Wang Xupeng , Zhang Yan , Gao Zhu , Ji Xiaomin , Li Lin
Published: December 2018

Impact is a universal phenomenon and has serious influences on the dynamic characteristics of mechanical system, so it is critical to accurately describe the effects of impact. In this work, a numerical and comprehensive method is presented to calculate the impact force in clearance joint during impact process, which has higher effectiveness and accuracy than the most popular used L-N model. Different from traditional contact models, where the coefficient of restitution is assumed to be a constant value nearly to 1 during impact process, the improved model in this work sets up the model of restitution coefficient related to two important parameters for impact phenomenon, which are initial impact velocity and the yield strength of the materials in clearance joints. A great number of numerical and experimental results are introduced and compared to validate the improved contact force model; it needs to be highlighted that the numerical results are based on the improved model and the most popular impact force model presented by Lankarani and Nikravesh, and the experimental results are based on two typical pendulum experimental test rigs. It can be concluded that (1) when compared to the experimental results, the numerical results based on the improved model are in better agreement than those based on Lankarani and Nikravesh impact force model; (2) the numerical results based on the improved model are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results, and the relative errors of impact force and restitution coefficient are all no more than 10% between numerical and experimental results; and (3) the improved contact force model is effective and can exactly describe the impact effects between two bodies in mechanical system.
The credibility of acted screams: Implications for emotional communication research
Authors: Engelberg Jonathan WM , Gouzoules Harold
Published: December 2018

Researchers have long relied on acted material to study emotional expression and perception in humans. It has been suggested, however, that certain aspects of natural expressions are difficult or impossible to produce voluntarily outside of their associated emotional contexts, and that acted expressions tend to be overly intense caricatures. From an evolutionary perspective, listeners’ abilities to distinguish acted from natural expressions likely depend on the type of expression in question, the costs entailed in its production, and elements of receiver psychology. Here, we investigated these issues as they relate to human screams. We also examined whether listeners’ abilities to distinguish acted from natural screams might vary as a function of individual differences in emotional processing and empathy. Using a forced-choice categorization task, we found that listeners could not distinguish acted from natural exemplars, suggesting that actors can produce dramatisations of screams resembling natural vocalisations. Intensity ratings did not differ between acted and natural screams, nor did individual differences in emotional processing significantly predict performance. Scream duration predicted both the probability that an exemplar was categorised as acted and the probability that participants classified that scream accurately. These findings are discussed with respect to potential evolutionary implications and their practical relevance to future research using acted screams.
Incorporating point-of-care ultrasound into daily intensive care unit rounds: Another source of interruptions?
Authors: Olusanya O , Wong AVK , Kirk-Bayley J , Parulekar P
Published: December 2018

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is the use of bedside ultrasonography by the treating clinician, incorporating those images into direct clinical decisions. While there are a number of different techniques and training pathways in this relatively new modality, there has been little discussion around the logistics of integrating POCUS into the standard critical care “business day” of ward rounds, procedures and meetings. This article explores some of these aspects and presents data from an online survey of POCUS practitioners.