bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nursing Home Administrator’s Job Satisfaction, Work Stressors, and Intent to Leave
Authors: Nelson H. Wayne , Yang Bo Kyum , Carter Mary W. , Monahan Erin , Engineer Cyrus
Published: January 2020

This study examines how job satisfaction in six subscales and select stressors and demographic covariates influence nursing home administrator’s (NHA) intentions to quit. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 311 NHAs in five states. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the ordered logistic regression models indicated that NHAs with satisfying work demands, rewards, and coworkers, and who experienced less role conflict and had fewer prior nursing home jobs had lower turnover intentions. Although generally satisfied, roughly 24% reported intending to quit. Surprisingly, NHAs reporting higher job skills were more likely to consider leaving, suggesting that talented NHAs may choose career advancement eased by stigma-free job-hopping in an industry with high mobility norms. Qualitative data suggested that job satisfaction/dissatisfaction was influenced by a more nuanced interpretation of satisfying and more taxing job facets and quitting triggers, including themes such as helping residents and struggling with regulations.
The in vivo biocompatibility of novel tannic acid-collagen type I injectable bead scaffold material for breast reconstruction post-lumpectomy
Authors: Baldwin Andrew , Uy Lisa , Frank-Kamenetskii Anastasia , Strizzi Luigi , Booth Brian W
Published: January 2020

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women worldwide. Surgical removal of the breast tumor and subsequent reconstructive surgery can result in complications such as infection or necrosis of transplanted adipose tissue. Breast cancer recurrence is also a serious concern for patients. Our group has developed a tannic acid/collagen bead material that has the potential to be used as an injectable adipose tissue regenerative device to replace lipofilling. Tannic acid is a polyphenol with anticancer and antibiotic properties. The objective of this study was to establish the biocompatibility of an injectable tannic acid/collagen bead implant material in an in vivo rat model. The injection of the tannic acid-collagen type I bead device was minimally invasive. No symptoms of infection, tissue necrosis, or widespread chronic inflammation were observed. After 12 weeks, implants showed incorporation into native tissue with no fibrous encapsulation. Despite the presence of inflammatory cells in the remaining beads, fat tissue growth and collagen redistribution were observed within the beads over 12 weeks, showing incorporation within native subcutaneous tissue and indicating good biocompatibility and bioactivity of the implant. Our results demonstrate that the tannic acid/collagen bead scaffold has good biocompatibility and works as an adipocyte tissue regeneration and reconstructive device.
Relationship Dynamics and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Chinese College Students
Authors: Du Jingshuai , Stith Sandra , Durtschi Jared , Spencer Chelsea
Published: January 2020

In China, most intimate partner violence (IPV) research focuses on male perpetration and female victimization, whereas studies on dating violence and female IPV perpetration are less common. Although research on female IPV perpetration in China has surfaced recently, there have been limited studies examining factors related to female perpetration in dating relationships in China. In the current research, we sought to examine how relationship factors, including anger management, communication problems, relationship conflict, and relationship distress, are linked with female physical and psychological IPV perpetration. We included 857 female college students in three regions in China from the International Dating Violence database. We found that Chinese women’s anger management skills and communication problems were both significantly associated with physical and psychological IPV perpetration on both minor and severe levels. Furthermore, we found that relationship conflict was significantly associated with minor and severe physical abuse perpetration and severe psychological abuse perpetration. Anger management skills moderated the negative effects of relationship conflict on minor physical IPV perpetration as well as minor and severe psychological IPV perpetration. Anger management skills also moderated the negative effects of relationship distress on minor and severe physical IPV perpetration among Chinese women. Our findings suggest that it may be important to explore the role of college women’s anger management skills, communication problems, and conflict resolution skills in their dating relationships, as well as to develop female-based intervention programs to increase Chinese college women’s relationship skills to reduce their levels of IPV perpetration.
The Royal Commission into Family Violence: Trends in the Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking Behavior
Authors: Satyen Lata , Toumbourou John W. , Heerde Jess , Supol Meu , Ranganathan Archna
Published: January 2020

There is a dearth of research investigating whether public inquiries such as Royal Commissions trigger community behavior change or awareness about targeted health and social issues within the general community. This study examined trends in the reporting of intimate partner violence (IPV) and help-seeking behavior before and during the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. Six hundred seventy-seven women across Australia, including 172 migrant and 505 nonmigrant women, completed surveys on their experience of IPV and help-seeking behavior over a 4-year period. Prevalence estimates were weighted to the Australian Census data to reflect the Australian population breakdown for age and migrant status. Results showed levels of IPV reported by participants significantly increased during the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence in 2015. Similarly, the perceived need to seek help for abuse significantly increased from the start of the Royal Commission; this was, however, evident for nonmigrant, but not migrant women. The findings are discussed considering the influence of the Royal Commission into Family Violence, its public profile, and the pervasiveness of the information about family violence during this time that could have led to an increasing trend in knowledge about family violence and the perception of requiring assistance in the general community. It is recommended that future Royal Commissions prepare for predictable changes in community behavior and institutions organize their resources to address the potential increased disclosure of the problems addressed.
Rewards Strategy: A Key Driver of Service–Profit Chain
Authors: Madhani Pankaj M.
Published: January 2020

The research deploys service–profit chain model to underscore the impact of effective rewards strategy on contribution and performance of employees in enhancing customer service and, thus, business performance. The service–profit chain postulates that higher employee satisfaction levels lead to high customer satisfaction and ultimately affect consumer loyalty and profitability. Therefore, human resource managers should implement better internal service quality practices, such as effective rewards strategy that focus on employee satisfaction, operational excellence and service orientation, to enhance firm performance. The research emphasizes that the service–profit chain begins with internal service quality triggered by financial and nonfinancial rewards and ends with business performance in terms of revenue growth and profitability. The research highlights that with effective rewards strategy, companies should take care of their employees first, because doing so will result in employees delivering a better customer experience and creating loyal customers who generate greater profits.
Does the CSR Message Matter? Untangling the Relationship Between Corporate–Nonprofit Partnerships, Created Fit Messages, and Activist Evaluations
Authors: Maktoufi Reyhaneh , O’Connor Amy , Shumate Michelle
Published: January 2020

This study unpacks the complex relationship between corporate–nonprofit partnerships, corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication, and stakeholder evaluations of fit. We move beyond the fundamental question of whether partner fit matters to questions about what types of messages matter, under what conditions, and to whom. We conducted an online experiment ( N = 966) to test created fit messages’ ability to influence stakeholder perceptions of corporate–nonprofit partnership fit. Grounded in the symbiotic sustainability model, we find that created fit messaging results in stakeholders having more favorable evaluations of corporate–nonprofit partnership fit. However, we also identify differences in the effectiveness of created fit messaging across potential partnerships. In addition, we find, beyond message type and level of partner congruity, the degree of CSR activism influences stakeholders’ responses to created fit messaging in counterintuitive ways.
Utilization of Medications With Cognitive Impairment Side Effects and the Implications for Older Adults’ Cognitive Function
Authors: Do Duy , Schnittker Jason
Published: January 2020

Objectives: Many medications have cognitive impairment, memory loss, amnesia, or dementia as side effects (“cognitive side effects” hereafter), but little is known about trends in the prevalence of these medications or their implications for population-level cognitive impairment. Method: We use data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2016) to describe trends in the use of medications with cognitive side effects among adults aged 60+ ( N = 16,937) and their implications for cognitive functioning (measured using word learning and recall, animal fluency, and digit symbol substitution assessments). Results: Between 1999 to 2000 and 2015 to 2016, the prevalence of older adults taking one, two, and at least three medications with cognitive side effects increased by 10.2%, 57.3%, and 298.7%, respectively. Compared to non-users, respondents who simultaneously used three or more medications with cognitive side effects scored 0.22 to 0.27 standard deviations lower in word learning and recall ( p = .02), digit symbol substitution ( p < .01), and the average standardized score of the three assessments ( p < .001). Limitation: Dosage of medications associated with cognitive side effects was not measured. Discussion: Concurrent use of medications with cognitive side effects among older adults has increased dramatically over the past two decades. The use of such medications is associated with cognitive impairment and may explain for disparities in cognitive function across subgroups. These findings highlight the need for cognitive screenings among patients who consume medications with cognitive side effects. They also highlight the synergic effects of polypharmacy and potential drug-drug interactions that result in cognitive deficits.
Development of an automated non-axisymmetric endwall contour design system for the rotor of a 1-stage research turbine – Part 2 computed and experimental results
Authors: Bergh Jonathan , Snedden Glen , Reddy Daya
Published: January 2020

In this paper, we present the computed flow results for those endwall designs produced using the automated non-axisymmetric endwall design procedure and target objective functions detailed in Part 1 of this paper, and where available, compare these with experimental measurements made using the CSIR low-speed research turbine used as the test case for the designs. Experimental measurements were taken immediately aft (X3) as well as downstream (X4) of the rotor row using a drilled 5-hole elbow probe, and both the computed as well as physical results were processed identically to ensure as high a degree of comparability between the computed and physical datasets. For the two initial cases (the η tt- and C ske-based designs), the results of the experiments confirmed the predictions of the simulations, although unexpected flow separations which were not predicted by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) resulted in poorer agreement for the two remaining contoured cases. In general, the results of the CFD, as confirmed by the experiment, showed that the best metric for the design of the endwall contours for this rig was that based on the rotor total–total efficiency although importantly, the well-known coefficient of secondary kinetic energy ( C ske), even when formulated using a reasonably simple approach, was able to produce closely competitive results to the efficiency-based metric. These findings are significant firstly because, to date, the use of efficiency is not widespread for the design of non-axisymmetric endwall contours, and secondly, because in cases where the efficiency might be difficult to measure and/or predict, the C ske may form a robust if only slightly less effective alternative.
Developments of attitude determination and control system of microsats: A survey
Authors: He Liang , Ma Wenjie , Guo Pengyu , Sheng Tao
Published: January 2020

This study surveys the developments in satellite attitude determination and control system, especially for microsats. This survey is not intended to be complete but is limited to the most significant developments of sensors, actuators, and algorithms in the last two decades. First, attitude determination methods including algorithms and sensors together with actuator-based control methods are introduced. Furthermore, current problems in alignment error, flexible satellites, and low redundancy of microsats attitude determination and control system are discussed. Moreover, developments of some deep-neural-networks-based methods, which have great potential in solving current problems, are summarized.
Recognising the broad array of approaches available for the diagnosis of ancient tuberculosis: Comment on ‘Infectious diseases and Neolithic transformations’ (Fuchs et al. 2019 The Holocene 29: 1545–1557)
Authors: Minnikin David E , Lee Oona Y-C , Wu Houdini HT , Besra Gurdyal S , Donoghue Helen D
Published: January 2020

The characterisation of ancient tuberculosis is not totally dependent on the recovery of intact genomes. Judicious combinations of ancient DNA fragments and specific lipid biomarkers provide unambiguous diagnosis and these protocols are capable of refinement and extension. Currently, there is no direct evidence for exclusive co-evolution of humans and tuberculosis. A developing body of data suggests that the initial evolution of tuberculosis may readily have taken place in a range of Pleistocene megafauna.
Prehistoric human activity and its environmental background in Lake Donggi Cona basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Gao Jingyi , Hou Guangliang , Wei Haicheng , Chen Youcheng , E Chongyi , Chen Xiaoliang , Lancuo Zhuoma
Published: January 2020

Lake Donggi Cona is a key area for the exploration of the prehistoric settlement of the inner Tibetan Plateau because of its location in the joint of the higher inner Tibetan Plateau and the upper Yellow River valley. Here, we carried out archeological investigation on the lake basin, and a total of 256 pieces of stone artifacts were collected from the surface of the DJCN 3-2-2 site on the northern shore terraces of the lake. In addition, AMS14C and OSL dating were performed on hearths and section (DJCN 3-2-2), respectively; meanwhile environmental proxies, including grain size, charcoal, magnetic susceptibility, fungal spore, and pollen, were analyzed. The results indicate that the AMS14C ages of the charcoal range between ~5.4 and 5.0 cal. ka BP, consistent with OSL dating from the charcoal layers in the DJCN 3-2-2 section (~5.5 ka BP). The functional analysis of the stone artifacts and dating results showed that the site was a seasonal, relative long-term, and central camp which was used for processing of stone artifacts, cutting and consuming food and the production of daily necessities. Charcoal, magnetic susceptibility, and fungal spores from the DJCN 3-2-2 section revealed that prehistoric human activities began at ~5.8 ka BP and significantly intensified during the period of ~5.6–5.5 ka BP and then gradually weakened. Pollen assemblages indicated that the vegetation was dominated by alpine steppe during the period of ~5.8–5.0 ka BP, indicative of a relatively warmer and wetter climatic condition during this period. Taken together, we infer that under the impact of the Neolithic culture in lower altitude of upper Yellow River valley and Microlithic culture in the higher altitude inner Plateau, a Neolithic-Zongri culture had emerged in the transitional region between these two cultures during middle Holocene.
Dust deposition tracks late-Holocene shifts in monsoon activity and the increasing role of human disturbance in the Puna-Altiplano, northwest Argentina
Authors: Hooper James , Marx Samuel K , May Jan-Hendrik , Lupo Liliana C , Kulemeyer Julio J , Pereira Elizabeth de los Á , Seki Osamu , Heijnis Henk , Child David , Gadd Patricia , Zawadzki Atun
Published: January 2020

The Puna-Altiplano plateau represents a regionally significant dust source, which is critically located at the nexus between the tropical and sub-polar synoptic systems that dominate the South American climate. Dust emissions in this region would therefore be expected to be sensitive to changes in these systems, in particular the strength and position of the South American Summer Monsoon (SASM). Here, we present a late-Holocene multi-proxy study where changes in dust flux, reconstructed from a high-altitude peat mire, are examined in light of climate variability and human impacts. Results show that for most the 4300 cal. yr BP record, dust flux sensitively tracked changes in SASM activity. Prior to 2600 cal. yr BP relatively high dust flux implies dry conditions prevailed across the Puna-Altiplao in association with reduced SASM activity. The chemistry of dust deposited at this time matched the large endorheic basins on the Puna, which host ephemeral lakes and terminal fans, indicating these were actively supplying dust to the airstream. After 2600 cal. yr BP, SASM activity increased while dust flux decreased and the dust chemistry changed, collectively implying the shutting down of the Puna-Altiplano as a significant dust source. Dust flux increased after 1000 cal. yr BP during the ‘Medieval Warm Period’, associated with a return to drier conditions and reactivation of dust sources across the endorheic basins of the Puna. Natural variability in dust flux was dwarfed, however, by the very significant increase in flux after 400 cal. yr BP following Spanish Colonisation and associated changing landuse practices. This finding attests to the globally significant role of humans on dust emissions.
Mental Health Services for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Perceptions and Experiences of Professionals and Refugees
Authors: Kerbage Hala , Marranconi Filippo , Chamoun Yara , Brunet Alain , Richa Sami , Zaman Shahaduz
Published: January 2020

We applied semi-structured and in-depth interviews to explore the perceptions and experiences of 60 practitioners/policymakers and 25 Syrian participants involved in mental health services for refugees in Lebanon. Refugees were found to view their distress as a normal shared reaction to adversity while professionals perceived it as symptomatic of mental illness. Practitioners viewed Syrian culture as an obstacle to providing care and prioritized educating refugees about mental health conditions. Policymakers invoked the state of crisis to justify short-term interventions, while Syrian refugees requested community interventions and considered resettlement in a third country the only solution to their adverse living conditions. The therapeutic relationship seems threatened by mistrust, since refugees change their narratives as an adaptive mechanism in response to the humanitarian system, which professionals consider manipulative. We discuss the implications of our findings for mental health practice in humanitarian settings.
Caregiver-Reported Barriers to Quality End-of-Life Care in Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Armstrong Melissa J. , Alliance Slande , Corsentino Pamela , Maixner Susan M. , Paulson Henry L. , Taylor Angela
Published: January 2020

Objective:

This study investigated barriers to quality end-of-life (EOL) care in the context of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the most common degenerative dementias in the United States.

Methods:

The study consisted of telephone interviews with caregivers and family members of individuals who died with DLB in the last 5 years. Interviews used a semi-structured questionnaire. Investigators employed a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze interview transcripts and identify common barriers to quality EOL care.

Results:

Thirty participants completed interviews. Reported barriers to quality EOL experiences in DLB pertained to the DLB diagnosis itself and factors relating to the US health-care system, facilities, hospice, and health-care providers (physicians and staff). Commonly reported barriers included lack of recognition and knowledge of DLB, lack of education regarding what to expect, poor coordination of care and communication across health-care teams and circumstances, and difficulty accessing health-care resources including skilled nursing facility placement and hospice.

Conclusion:

Many identified themes were consistent with published barriers to quality EOL care in dementia. However, DLB-specific EOL considerations included diagnostic challenges, lack of knowledge regarding DLB and resultant prescribing errors, difficulty accessing resources due to behavioral changes in DLB, and waiting to meet Medicare dementia hospice guidelines. Improving EOL experiences in DLB will require a multifaceted approach, starting with improving DLB recognition and provider knowledge. More research is needed to improve recognition of EOL in DLB and factors that drive quality EOL experiences.
Operative Results of Plantar Plating for Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fracture
Authors: Young Ki Won , Kim Jin Su , Lee Hong Sup , Jegal Hyuk , Park Young Uk , Lee Kyung Tai
Published: January 2020

Background:

The treatment of fifth metatarsal stress fractures can be challenging. Various operative fixation methods have been reported for fracture management. Among them, intramedullary screw fixation has become increasingly popular. However, recent reports have described failures after screw fixation in athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of clinical and radiographic healing, time to return to sport, and complications of elite athletes with proximal fifth metatarsal fractures treated with plantar plating.

Methods:

Thirty-eight athletes with fifth metatarsal stress fractures treated using a plantar plating technique in 3 hospitals from 2013 to 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, radiographic evaluation, and the time until union and return to sports activities were collected and analyzed. A total of 38 patients underwent the plantar plating for a fifth metatarsal stress fracture with a mean follow-up of 23 (range, 12-49) months.

Results:

The mean time to the radiologic union, as determined by plain radiography, was 9.3 (range, 8-16) weeks. Although there were no nonunions or delayed unions during follow-up, 4 refractures developed (10.5%). All but 1 patient were able to return to their previous levels of sporting activity at 22.2 ± 4.5 (range, 12-40) weeks.

Conclusion:

With a minimum of 1-year follow-up, the described plantar plating technique could be an alternative method for the operative treatment of fifth metatarsal stress fractures without nonunion problems.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Return to Weightbearing and High-Impact Activities Following Jones Fracture Intramedullary Screw Fixation
Authors: Bucknam Ryan B. , Scanaliato John P. , Kusnezov Nicholas A. , Heida Kenneth A. , Dunn John C. , Orr Justin D.
Published: January 2020

Background:

Although the benefit of primary intramedullary (IM) screw fixation of fifth metatarsal Jones fractures in athletes is clear, limited data support its use in conventional patient populations. This study evaluated radiographic and functional outcomes following primary IM screw fixation in a series of Jones fractures to determine if similar excellent outcomes were achievable.

Methods:

We reviewed the data of 32 consecutive patients who underwent Jones fracture primary IM screw fixation by a single surgeon. Demographic risk factors of interest (age, gender, tobacco use, pertinent medical comorbidities, military service status, and prior nonoperative management) were collected prospectively. Primary outcomes included times to return to full weightbearing, radiographic union, and resumption of high-impact or restriction-free activities. Complications including reoperations were recorded. Categorical data are reported as frequencies, and statistical means with P values are reported for continuous variables. Mean age for the 32 patients was 33.4 years.

Results:

All 32 fractures healed uneventfully, and at mean follow-up time of 24.2 months, overall patient-reported satisfaction was 100%. Overall mean postoperative outcomes are as follows: 3.7 weeks return to full weightbearing, 10.8 weeks to radiographic union, and 13.0 weeks to resumption of restriction-free activities. Among the risk factors assessed, only preoperative peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) and active duty military service resulted in significantly increased and decreased time to resumption of restriction-free activities, respectively, but did not impact overall weightbearing or union times. Patient age, gender, and tobacco use had no effects on radiographic or functional outcomes.

Conclusion:

Primary IM screw fixation was a safe, reliable option for all appropriate operative candidates with Jones fractures and may result in similar early weightbearing, osseous healing, and expeditious return to full activities consistently reported in high-level athletes.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Preliminary Experience With SPECT/CT to Evaluate Periarticular Arthritis Progression and the Relationship With Clinical Outcome Following Ankle Arthrodesis
Authors: DeSutter Christopher , Dube Vincent , Ross Andrew , Boyd Gordon , Morash Joel , Glazebrook Mark
Published: January 2020

Background:

Single photon emission computed tomography combined with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) could potentially aid in diagnosing periarticular arthritis/activity and progression, facilitate effective treatment options, and evaluate the effect surgery has on the clinical outcome of patients with ankle arthritis. The goal of our study was to assess SPECT/CT activity in the ankle and periarticular joints before and after ankle fusion surgery and determine whether it was associated with clinical pain and function scores.

Methods:

Thirty-four patients recruited into this study underwent either arthroscopic or open ankle fusion. X-ray (XR) and SPECT/CT imaging was obtained as well as completion of patient Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) and 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Ankle, subtalar, and talonavicular joint arthritis grading on XR and CT, along with SPECT/CT activity, was evaluated by 2 nuclear medicine radiologists. Data were assessed for normality and analyzed with the appropriate comparative test. P value was set at <.05. Thirty patients (31 ankles) completed follow-up and were analyzed.

Results:

SPECT/CT activity showed no significant difference in the ankle joint at 6 months postoperatively while periarticular joint activity significantly increased ( P < .05). Six months postoperatively, patients had significant improvements in their AOS and SF-36 scores ( P < .05). SPECT/CT grading of all joints analyzed, however, was not associated with AOS or SF-36 scores preoperatively or at 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

In this study, intensity of activity as evaluated by SPECT/CT in periarticular hindfoot joints in patients who had ankle arthrodesis was not associated with clinical/functional scores at 6 months postoperatively.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, diagnostic study.
Chaos control in six-dimensional power system via adaptive synergetic approach
Authors: Wang Jiangbin , Liu Ling , Liu Chongxin , Zhu Ziwei , Wang Yan
Published: January 2020

In view that researchers only control some low-dimensional chaotic power system models, this paper aims at controlling chaos in a complex six-dimensional power system model. By introducing the dynamic model of an energy storage device and static synchronous compensator, an adaptive synergetic control scheme is proposed for the model to suppress its chaotic oscillation. Since the designed controller will inevitably contain complex derivative terms of a controlled power system according to the conventional controller design process, a novel adaptive synergetic control scheme is proposed. The presented adaptive controller for the chaotic power system can completely suppress its chaotic oscillation. The prominent advantages of the proposed control scheme are that it can avoid complex derivative terms of the controlled system and can avoid chattering as in the sliding mode control method. Simulations validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed scheme.
Robust sliding mode observer design for simultaneous fault reconstruction in perturbed Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems using non-quadratic stability analysis
Authors: Asadi Samira , Khayatian Alireza , Dehghani Maryam , Vafamand Navid , Khooban Mohammad Hassan
Published: January 2020

Appearing faults in a practical system is dispensable, and if it is not compensated, it results in poor system performance or even dysfunction of the system. The fault detection has become a promising challenging issue to guarantee the safety and reliability of systems. In this paper, a novel fuzzy-based sliding mode observer for the simultaneous actuator and sensor fault reconstruction of nonlinear systems subjected to external disturbance is proposed. The proposed approach employs the Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model, sliding mode observer and non-quadratic Lyapunov function. First, by filtering the system output, a fictitious system whose actuator faults are the original actuator and sensor faults is constructed. Then, by considering the [Formula: see text] performance criteria, the effect of disturbance on the state estimations is minimized. It is proved that the estimations asymptotically converge to their actual values for non-perturbed systems. In the process of designing the observer gains, some transformation matrices are obtained by solving linear matrix inequalities. The proposed approach has some superiority over the existing methods. First, considering the non-quadratic Lyapunov function leads to relaxed results and good estimation performance. Second, using the sliding mode observer makes the proposed approach insensitive to the uncertainties and unknown inputs and determines the shape and size of the fault. Third, assuming the premise variables are immeasurable makes the presented approach more applicable. In conclusion, two practical systems are considered and simulation results illustrate the merits of the proposed approach in comparison with the recent methods from the fast and precise fault detection performance viewpoints.
A case of mitoxantrone extravasation
Authors: Chang Abraham
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Mitoxantrone is a chemotherapeutic agent approved for various diseases. The literature has been conflicting in classifying mitoxantrone as a vesicant or irritant.

Case report

We report a patient who had an extravasation of mitoxantrone. Mitoxantrone was administered in 50 ml normal saline. After mitoxantrone was completely infused, the site appeared edematous and the blue color of mitoxantrone developed beneath the skin. The patient reported pain. Management and outcome: The extravasation was treated with dexrazoxane and cold compresses. The pain improved each day. However, blistering developed five weeks later and the patient ultimately required surgical intervention for debridement and grafting.

Discussion

Extravasation events are rare and there are few controlled studies. Because of the similarities in chemical structures and mechanism of actions between mitoxantrone and anthracyclines, mitoxantrone extravasation is often treated similar to anthracyclines. Mitoxantrone's classification is unclear, as some literature classifies it as a vesicant and others as an irritant. Our case supports the categorization of mitoxantrone as a vesicant.
Scattering of a shear horizontal wave by a circular cavity in a piezoelectric bi-material strip based on guided wave theory
Authors: Qi Hui , Xiang Meng , Guo Jing
Published: January 2020

The scattering problem of a shear horizontal guided wave in a piezoelectric bi-material strip is analysed by means of the "mirror method," the Green’s function method and guided wave theory. A harmonic out-of-plane line-source force is applied at the junction of two-phase materials. Then, the bi-material strip is divided into two parts, and a pair of in-plane electric fields and a pair of counter-planar forces are applied to the vertical boundary. According to the boundary conditions, the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind is established by using the conjunction method. By effectively truncating the integral equation, the integral equation is simplified to an algebraic equation. The electric field intensity concentration factor and dynamic stress concentration factor around the circular cavity are obtained. The research content of this article is of great reference value in non-destructive testing, providing a reference for the judgement of the reliability of a piezoelectric bi-material strip.
Mechanisms of Change in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Adults With ADHD
Authors: Geurts Dirk E.M. , Schellekens Melanie P. J. , Janssen Lotte , Speckens Anne E. M.
Published: January 2020

Objective: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been demonstrated to be effective in adults with ADHD. The aim of the current study was to examine its possible working mechanisms. Method: In the context of an randomized controlled trial (RCT), MBCT + TAU (treatment as usual) ( n = 43) versus TAU ( n = 51), we used mediation analyses to examine whether reduction of clinician-rated ADHD symptoms and improvement of positive mental health at 6-month follow-up had been mediated by change in mindfulness skills, self-compassion, and executive functioning over the course of MBCT. Results: Increase of self-compassion mediated improvement of positive mental health at 6-month follow-up. Improvement of mindfulness skills or self-compassion did not mediate the reduction in ADHD symptoms. Additional analyses suggest that self-reported inhibition did. Conclusion: The effect of MBCT on ADHD symptoms and positive mental health thus occurred via different mechanisms of change, that is, by improvements in inhibition and self-compassion, respectively.
Risk factors for ocular complications in adult patients with uveitis
Authors: Prieto-del-Cura Mar , González-Guijarro Juan Jacobo
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To report risk factors for ocular complications in adults with uveitis.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study of 653 patients with uveitis (869 eyes) followed up for at least 1 month attended between May 1989 and December 2012.

Results:

After a median follow-up of 16 months (interquartile range = 3–59), 43.5% of patients developed one or more complications, including cataract formation (25%), iris alterations (20%), and macular edema (16%) as the most frequent. Older age, intermediate uveitis, chronic course, and uveitis activity >3 months were significantly more frequent among patients with complications. In the multivariate analysis, age ⩾65 years (hazard ratio = 2.76, 95% confidence interval = 1.72–4.4), chronic course (hazard ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.23–259), and uveitis activity >3 months (hazard ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval = 1.33–2.84) were predictors of complications.

Conclusion:

In the present series of patients with uveitis, advanced age, chronic uveitis, and inflammatory activity >12 weeks were risk factors for complications.
Synthesis, Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Computer-Aided Design of Novel Quinazolin-2,4-dione Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors Against Vibrio cholerae
Authors: El-Naggar Mohamed , Mohamed Mahmoud Eldeeb , Mosallam Ahmed Mohamed , Salem Wesam , Rashdan Huda RM , Abdelmonsef Aboubakr Haredi
Published: January 2020

Cholera is a bacterial disease featured by dehydration and severe diarrhea. It is mainly caused by alimentary infection with Vibrio cholerae. Due to the wide applicability of quinazolin-2,4-dione compounds in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, a new series of N-containing heterocyclic compounds was synthesized. We used the in silico docking method to test the efficacy of quinazolin-2,4-dione compounds in the prevention of cholera in humans. The newly synthesized compounds showed strong interactions and good binding affinity to outer membrane protein OmpU. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic properties of the newly synthesized compounds, such as absorption, distribution, metabolic, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), were predicted through in silico methods. Compounds with acceptable pharmacokinetic properties were tested as novel ligand molecules. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antibacterial activity properties against Gram-negative Escherichia coli O78 strain using the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) method. Compounds 2 and 6 showed reproducible, effective antibacterial activity. Hence, our study concludes that the quinazolin-2,4-dione derivatives 1 to 8 may be used as promising drug candidates with potential value for the treatment of cholera disease.
Comparison Between Larval Survey Index and Positive Ovitrap Index in the Evaluation of Populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) North of Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Nascimento Kauani Larissa Campana , Silva João Fernando Marques da , Zequi João Antonio Cyrino , Lopes José
Published: January 2020

Aedes ( Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) is one of the world’s most widely distributed mosquitoes and is the vector of the dengue virus, one of the most important reemerging diseases. Besides dengue, A. aegypti can also transmit urban yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus, making it of great medical importance. Thus, it is of extreme importance to find reliable methods to evaluate the presence of A. aegypti in urban areas. In Brazil, rapid index surveys of Aedes aegypti by means of larval survey (LIRAa) is the official method to estimate the Breteau (BI) and property infestation (PII) indexes, which indicates how many infested containers with larvae of A. aegypti were found by the total number of properties surveyed and the proportion of houses infested, respectively. As the LIRAa requires access to private residences and trained personal to find breeding sites and do not reveal the mosquito’s presence when in low density, it has not demonstrated efficacy in determining the presence of A. aegypti. To evaluate an alternative method, the LIRAa method was compared with an oviposition trap, made with hay infusion and a hardboard pallet, to evaluate the BI and the PII. The 2 methods were carried out simultaneously through 4 surveys, sampling 60 homes per survey. To evaluate the best configuration of ovitraps for surveillance of A. aegypti, the ovitraps were installed in intradomicile and peridomicile areas, with 1 to 5 traps per residence and with 1 to 3 pallets per trap, and these different configurations were compared using the positive ovitrap index (POI) and egg density index (EDI). The ovitraps showed greater sensitivity for detecting the presence of A. aegypti, with a BI of 72.5% and PII of 54.2%, whereas the LIRAa revealed only 2.1% for the BI and 1.3% for the PII. Therefore, the use of sentinel traps can provide information in a more rapid and precise manner. As there were no differences in the ovitraps distributions patterns, the ovitraps can be installed in the peridomicile area, with 2 traps per surveillance point and 1 pallet per trap, making their installation easier and more cost-efficient, facilitating the work of health agents in future surveillances complementing LIRAa’s actions for efficient monitoring.
Embodied ethnography in psychology: Learning points from expatriate migration research
Authors: Schliewe Sanna
Published: January 2020

Interviews and observation are often the preferred methods when psychologists conduct fieldwork. However, psychology can learn from recent developments in anthropology and sociology. Here researchers use their own embodied sensations in participatory research as a way to investigate less verbalized, more hidden, sensorial, and affective aspects of the life-worlds they are studying. In this article, I use case examples from research on privileged migrants (expatriates) to demonstrate how significant insights can emerge when we apply an embodied approach in our research. Migration is not only behavioral, social, verbal, or imaginative events but includes the migrant’s body—its sensory experiences and emotions. Thus, we need to embrace additional methods to investigate multifaceted psychological processes such as migration.
The relationship between the internal condition and the ventilation environment in a modular building
Authors: Li Yangluxi , Chen Lei
Published: January 2020

This study explores the interaction between the indoor ventilation environment of a modular building and internal building elements, including relative position of modules, number and location of windows and standardized bathroom modules. The computer hydrodynamics technology was used for this research. The model was divided into three parts to simulate the ventilation environment: (i) the relative position of the module, (ii) the number and position of windows, and (iii) the position of the standardized bathroom module. The results of the simulation illustrate the need to balance the balcony space for indoor ventilation, which should be considered comprehensively during the actual design. From the perspective of the whole living unit, the ventilation condition is more advantageous when the four openings are along the external wind direction. In addition, it can improve efficiently the overall ventilation quality in the low wind speed zone by taking full advantage of the bathroom location in modular interior. In the process of a modular unit design, the relationship between standardized modules, window location, number and indoor comfort should be fully considered. With the simulation results, a relatively optimized standard of modular interior organization was established. In future, these variables can be adjusted according to actual needs.
Experimental study on heat transfer of soil with different moisture contents and seepage for ground source heat pump
Authors: Wang Rong , Yang Chenlei , Ni Long , Yao Yang
Published: January 2020

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and is leveraged by ground heat exchanger (GHE) which is a key element of ground source heat pump (GSHP). The performance of GHE is significantly affected by soil thermal properties. To explore the heat transfer characteristics of soils with different moisture contents (MC) and seepage, a well-controlled sandbox was established and a series of experiments were performed. The results demonstrated that the soil with higher MC had stronger heat dissipation capacity, especially when seepage occurred. The temperature sensor 25 cm from the sandbox-centre detected temperature changes at the 452nd, 206th and 297th min under dry, unsaturated and saturated conditions, respectively. Moreover, the dominant mode of heat transfer in soils with different MCs was conduction, and the elevated heat-releasing rate enhanced heat propagation by moisture transfer. Furthermore, the size of the thermally affected zone was proportional to the thermal diffusivity, which was 2.14 × 10−7, 5.18 × 10−7 and 4.74 × 10−7 m2/s under dry, unsaturated and saturated conditions, respectively. Overall, these results indicate that the MC is a critical factor in characterizing soil heat transfer. This study provides guidance in choosing the installation environment for GHE and confirms the importance of matching soil characteristics with the GHE load.
Isolated or integrated? Evaluation of ageing-friendly communities in Old Beijing City based on accessibility, social inclusion and equity
Authors: Wang Fang , He Peiwen , Yuan Congcong , Wang Shunyi
Published: January 2020

Due to a rapidly growing ageing population, China is experiencing a rapid urbanisation, resulting in the uneven construction of public facilities. Therefore, the elderly have disproportionate access to public facilities and services. These problems are much more serious in old cities because of a fierce contradiction between society and land use. However, elderly populations are significant to the old city because they are the soul of the old city. Importantly, the old city is a container of memories of their lives as well as an environment they are acquainted with and unwilling to leave. Therefore, whether the urban space in the old city is ageing-friendly and whether the elderly are isolated or integrated in the current urban environment are questions addressed by this study. Based on the World Health Organization’s concept of an elderly-friendly city, this study constructed an elderly-friendly urban space evaluation system based on accessibility, social inclusiveness and equity and analysed four types of ageing facilities in 25 blocks of Old Beijing City. The results showed that the ageing resources in Old Beijing City are insufficient and uneven, and revealed that the development of the old city has a positive impact on the construction of an elderly-friendly community.
Trust in context: National heuristics and survey context effects on political trust in the European Union
Authors: Brosius Anna , van Elsas Erika J , de Vreese Claes H
Published: January 2020

Trust in the European Union is strongly related to trust in national political institutions through extrapolation, i.e. cues from national politics. Most evidence for this mechanism, however, is based on surveys using question blocks that present several institutions at once in non-randomized order. We conducted six split-ballot survey experiments in five European countries, asking about trust in national and European Union institutions (a) separately or in the same question block and (b) in different question orders. Our findings demonstrate survey context effects: asking about two institutions within the same question block increases the correlation of reported levels of trust in these institutions. Furthermore, our findings indicate that national primes decrease reported trust in the European Union, providing novel micro-level evidence for extrapolation and cue-taking from national politics in the formation of public opinion about the European Union.
Beyond the formal/informal enterprise dualism: Explaining the level of (in)formality of entrepreneurs
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Shehryar , Williams Colin C , Martinez Alvaro
Published: January 2020

Rather than portray formal and informal sector entrepreneurs as discrete groups, an emergent scholarship has conceptualized a continuum from wholly formal to wholly informal entrepreneurs. The aim of the article is to advance a degree of (in)formality approach by evaluating whether the institutional determinants found to explain whether an enterprise is formal or informal are also valid when explaining the level of (in)formality of enterprises. To do so, a 2017 survey of 500 retail microenterprises in the city of Lahore in Pakistan is reported. The finding is that higher levels of formality are more significantly associated with individual-level characteristics of the entrepreneur and enterprise, such as educational level and sales, than with formal and informal institutional conditions, as proposed by institutional theory. The article thus concludes by offering new theoretical implications and exploring some innovative policy measures to tackle informal entrepreneurship.