bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locomotion of a multi-link non-holonomic snake robot with passive joints
Authors: Dear Tony , Buchanan Blake , Abrajan-Guerrero Rodrigo , Kelly Scott David , Travers Matthew , Choset Howie
Published: January 2020

Conventional approaches in prescribing controls for locomoting robots assume control over all input degrees of freedom (DOFs). Many robots, such as those with non-holonomic constraints, may not require or even allow for direct command over all DOFs. In particular, a snake robot with more than three links with non-holonomic constraints cannot achieve arbitrary configurations in all of its joints while simultaneously locomoting. For such a system, we assume partial command over a subset of the joints, and allow the rest to evolve according to kinematic chained and dynamic models. Different combinations of actuated and passive joints, as well as joints with dynamic elements such as torsional springs, can drastically change the coupling interactions and stable oscillations of joints. We use tools from nonlinear analysis to understand emergent oscillation modes of various robot configurations and connect them to overall locomotion using geometric mechanics and feedback control for robots that may not fully utilize all available inputs. We also experimentally verify observations and motion planning results on a physical non-holonomic snake robot.
Pluralising geographies of refuge
Authors: Cole Georgia
Published: January 2020

This article explores why certain spaces of refuge continue to be excised from global maps of forced migration. It first reviews why this exclusion happens, before synthesising work on the movements of forced migrants to states that are not signatories to the dominant refugee law frameworks. This exposes the partiality of geographies of refuge that rest on Western legal-normative conceptualisations of hospitality and humanitarianism. It argues that a focus on alternative sites and forms of refuge is nonetheless critical for 1) sketching accurate experiential and geopolitical maps of forced migration and 2) challenging dominant moral geographies of asylum and responsibility-sharing.
The automatic revolution
Authors: Wimmer Christopher
Published: January 2020

Digital capitalism produces knowledge as a commodity. Machines and algorithms manage the value chain and concrete human labour is less and less necessary – allegedly. According to the predictions of Karl Marx, the system should be by now on the brink of collapse. Is that correct? Why or why not?
Left ventricle assist device pulsatility index at the time of implantation is associated with follow-up pulmonary hemodynamics
Authors: Schaefer Jacob J , Sajgalik Pavol , Kushwaha Sudhir S , Olson Lyle J , Stulak John M , Johnson Bruce D , Schirger John A
Published: January 2020

HeartMate II left ventricular assist device controllers provide data including pulsatility index, reflecting the relationship between pump function and hemodynamics. We propose that a higher pulsatility index at hospital discharge following implant may be associated with less vascular congestion and improved clinical outcomes. A retrospective analysis of 40 patients (age 59.2 ± 10.3 years) supported with the HeartMate II devices was conducted. Data revealed moderate Pearson correlations between pulsatility index at discharge and right atrial pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, respectively, post-surgery (median of 377 days), demonstrating a stronger relationship when analyzed for the EPC controller (n = 28) only (r = −.57, p < .01; r = −.38, p < .05; r = −.59, p < .01; r = −.47, p = .01 and r = −.53, p < .01, respectively). The pulsatility index derived from the EPC controller was associated with the significant risk of re-hospitalization within 1 and 2 years after the implantation of left ventricular assist device; hazard ratio = 0.557 with 95% confidence interval (0.315–0.983), p = .04 and hazard ratio = .579 (0.341–0.984), p = .04. A higher pulsatility index at discharge was associated with greater volume unloading, lower pulmonary pressures, and lower risk of all-cause re-hospitalizations within 1 and 2 years post-surgery. As such, pump-derived data may provide additional value in predicting left ventricular assist device hemodynamics.
Prevalence of Exposure to Sexual Orientation Change Efforts and Associated Sociodemographic Characteristics and Psychosocial Health Outcomes among Canadian Sexual Minority Men
Authors: Salway Travis , Ferlatte Olivier , Gesink Dionne , Lachowsky Nathan J.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

Sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), or “conversion therapy,” are pseudoscientific practices intended to suppress or deny sexual attraction to members of the same gender/sex. There are currently no data available to inform estimates of the prevalence of SOCE exposure in Canada. The objective of this study is therefore to describe the prevalence, social–demographic correlates, and health consequences of SOCE among Canadian sexual minority men.

Methods:

Sex Now 2011 to 2012 was a cross-sectional nonprobability survey of Canadian sexual minority men. Respondents were asked about lifetime SOCE exposure. We estimated prevalence of SOCE exposure by sociodemographic characteristics and examined psychosocial health outcomes among those exposed to SOCE.

Results:

Of N = 8,388 respondents, 3.5% (95% confidence interval, 3.2% to 4.1%) reported having ever been exposed to SOCE. Exposure to SOCE was higher among gay men (as compared with bisexual men), transgender respondents (as compared with cisgender respondents), those who were “out” about their sexuality (as compared with those who were not “out”), Indigenous men (as compared with White men), other racial minorities (as compared with White men), and those earning a personal income <$30,000 (as compared with those earning ≥$60,000 CAD). Exposure to SOCE was positively associated with loneliness, regular illicit drug use, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt.

Conclusions:

SOCE exposure remains prevalent and associated with substantial psychosocial morbidity among sexual minority men in Canada. All levels of government in Canada should consider action to ban SOCE. SOCE survivors likely require intervention and support from the Canadian health-care system.
From Walkable Communities to Active Lifestyles: Exploring Causal Pathways through a Case Study in Austin, Texas
Authors: Zhu Xuemei , Yu Chia-Yuan , Lee Chanam , Lu Zhipeng
Published: January 2020

Walkable communities have been associated with improved physical activity, but the underlying causal pathways and related social benefits are understudied. This retrospective “pre–post” survey study ( N = 446) examined “how” moving into a walkable community in Austin, Texas, affected residents’ neighborhood walking, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion using structural equation modeling. Results showed direct and indirect (mediated by environmental barriers or social support) impacts of neighborhood environments and residential self-selection on neighborhood walking; influences of pre-move conditions on their post-move counterparts; and positive associations between neighborhood walking, social interactions, and neighborhood cohesion. Findings demonstrated complex pathways for walkable environments to promote physical activity and social health.
Aging Affects the Capacity of Photoperiodic Adaptation Downstream from the Central Molecular Clock
Authors: Buijink M. Renate , Olde Engberink Anneke H. O. , Wit Charlotte B. , Almog Assaf , Meijer Johanna H. , Rohling Jos H. T. , Michel Stephan
Published: January 2020

Aging impairs circadian clock function, leading to disrupted sleep-wake patterns and a reduced capability to adapt to changes in environmental light conditions. This makes shift work or the changing of time zones challenging for the elderly and, importantly, is associated with the development of age-related diseases. However, it is unclear what levels of the clock machinery are affected by aging, which is relevant for the development of targeted interventions. We found that naturally aged mice of >24 months had a reduced rhythm amplitude in behavior compared with young controls (3-6 months). Moreover, the old animals had a strongly reduced ability to adapt to short photoperiods. Recording PER2::LUC protein expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus revealed no impairment of the rhythms in PER2 protein under the 3 different photoperiods tested (LD: 8:16, 12:12, and 16:8). Thus, we observed a discrepancy between the behavioral phenotype and the molecular clock, and we conclude that the aging-related deficits emerge downstream of the core molecular clock. Since it is known that aging affects several intracellular and membrane components of the central clock cells, it is likely that an impairment of the interaction between the molecular clock and these components is contributing to the deficits in photoperiod adaptation.
CikA, an Input Pathway Component, Senses the Oxidized Quinone Signal to Generate Phase Delays in the Cyanobacterial Circadian Clock
Authors: Kim Pyonghwa , Porr Brianna , Mori Tetsuya , Kim Yong-Sung , Johnson Carl H. , Diekman Casey O. , Kim Yong-Ick
Published: January 2020

The circadian clock is a timekeeping system in most organisms that keeps track of the time of day. The rhythm generated by the circadian oscillator must be constantly synchronized with the environmental day/night cycle to make the timekeeping system truly advantageous. In the cyanobacterial circadian clock, quinone is a biological signaling molecule used for entraining and fine-tuning the oscillator, a process in which the external signals are transduced into biological metabolites that adjust the phase of the circadian oscillation. Among the clock proteins, the pseudo-receiver domain of KaiA and CikA can sense external cues by detecting the oxidation state of quinone, a metabolite that reflects the light/dark cycle, although the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the antagonistic phase shifts produced by the quinone sensing of KaiA and CikA. We introduced a new cyanobacterial circadian clock mixture that includes an input component in vitro. KaiA and CikA cause phase advances and delays, respectively, in this circadian clock mixture in response to the quinone signal. In the entrainment process, oxidized quinone modulates the functions of KaiA and CikA, which dominate alternatively at day and night in the cell. This in turn changes the phosphorylation state of KaiC—the central oscillator in cyanobacteria—ensuring full synchronization of the circadian clock. Moreover, we reemphasize the mechanistic input functionality of CikA, contrary to other reports that focus only on its output action.
Imaging-Based Surrogate Markers of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Local Perspective
Authors: AlGharras Abdulaziz , Kovacina Bojan , Tian Zhe , Alexander James W. , Semionov Alexandre , van Kempen Léon C. , Sayegh Karl
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To identify computed tomography (CT) features of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma in Canadian population and whether imaging-based surrogate markers of EGFR mutation in our population were similar to those found in the Asian population.

Materials and Methods:

Pretreatment CT scans of 223 patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung (112 with EGFR mutation and 111 without mutation) were retrospectively assessed for 20 specific CT features by 2 radiologists, who were blinded to the status of EGFR mutation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses as well as areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were performed to discriminate characteristics of EGFR-activating mutation features.

Results:

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive adenocarcinomas were more frequently found in female ( P < .03), less than 20 pack-year smoking history ( P < .001), smaller tumor ( P < .01), spiculated margins ( P < .05), without centrilobular emphysema ( P < .001), and without lymphadenopathy ( P < .05), similarly to the Asian population. Multivariate logistic regression analyses of combined clinical and radiological features identified less than 20 pack-year smoking history, smaller tumor diameter, fine or coarse spiculations, noncentral location of the tumor, and lack of centrilobular emphysema and pleural attachment as the strongest independent prognostic factors for the presence of an EGFR mutation. These combined features improved prognostic ability area under the curve to 0.879, compared to 0.788 for clinical features only.

Conclusion:

Several CT findings may help predict the presence of an activating mutation in EGFR in lung adenocarcinomas in our Canadian population. Combining clinical and radiological features improves prognostic ability to determine the EGFR mutation status compared to clinical features alone.
Use of Multiphase CT Protocols in 18 Countries: Appropriateness and Radiation Doses
Authors: Rastogi Shivam , Singh Ramandeep , Borse Riddhi , Valkovic Zujic Petra , Segota Doris , Diklic Ana , Jurkovic Slaven , Ali Antar , Mohammed Kharita Hassan , Al-Naemi Huda M. , Alkalbani Jokha , Al-Rasbi Amaal , Gershan Vesna , Galic Stipe , Yusuf Mohammad , Avramova-Cholakova Simona , Zulkipli Ili Majidah Binti Hj , Shein Nilar , Teferi Seife , Rehani Madan M. , Vassileva Jenia , Kalra Mannudeep K.
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To assess the frequency, appropriateness, and radiation doses associated with multiphase computed tomography (CT) protocols for routine chest and abdomen–pelvis examinations in 18 countries.

Materials and Methods:

In collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, multi-institutional data on clinical indications, number of scan phases, scan parameters, and radiation dose descriptors (CT dose–index volume; dose–length product [DLP]) were collected for routine chest (n = 1706 patients) and abdomen–pelvis (n = 426 patients) CT from 18 institutions in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Two radiologists scored the need for each phase based on clinical indications (1 = not indicated, 2 = probably indicated, 3 = indicated). We surveyed 11 institutions for their practice regarding single-phase and multiphase CT examinations. Data were analyzed with the Student t test.

Results:

Most institutions use multiphase protocols for routine chest (10/18 institutions) and routine abdomen–pelvis (10/11 institutions that supplied data for abdomen–pelvis) CT examinations. Most institutions (10/11) do not modify scan parameters between different scan phases. Respective total DLP for 1-, 2-, and 3-phase routine chest CT was 272, 518, and 820 mGy·cm, respectively. Corresponding values for 1- to 5-phase routine abdomen–pelvis CT were 400, 726, 1218, 1214, and 1458 mGy cm, respectively. For multiphase CT protocols, there were no differences in scan parameters and radiation doses between different phases for either chest or abdomen–pelvis CT ( P = 0.40-0.99). Multiphase CT examinations were unnecessary in 100% of routine chest CT and in 63% of routine abdomen–pelvis CT examinations.

Conclusions:

Multiphase scan protocols for the routine chest and abdomen–pelvis CT examinations are unnecessary, and their use increases radiation dose.
Efficacy of Intraprocedural Superior Hypogastric Nerve Block in Reduction of Postuterine Artery Embolization Narcotic Analgesia Use
Authors: Park Peter J. , Kokabi Nima , Nadendla Pallavi , Lindsey Towanda , Dariushnia Sean R.
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective treatment for the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of superior hypogastric nerve block (SHNB) in reducing narcotic analgesia use for postprocedural pain after UAE.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 88 consecutive patients with symptomatic fibroids who underwent UAE between August 2015 and August 2018 was performed. A total of 44 patients had intraprocedural SHNB and 44 patients had no SHNB. They were placed on a morphine patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) pump after the procedure and were admitted for overnight observation. The total amount of PCA narcotic analgesia received was recorded for each patient. Additional factors including fibroid size, fibroid location, and patient age were evaluated to determine the predictors of narcotic use reduction after SHNB.

Results:

The mean amount of postprocedural morphine use was 51.7 mg in patients who did not receive an SHNB versus 35.9 mg in patients who did receive an SHNB ( P = .008), resulting in a 47.2% reduction in narcotic analgesia use in the SHNB cohort. A significant reduction in morphine use with SHNB was associated with fibroid size greater than 5 cm ( P = .009), intramural fibroid location ( P = .04), and patients 45 years or younger ( P = .006).

Conclusion:

The use of SHNB could significantly reduce the amount of narcotic analgesia required for pain control after UAE with larger intramural fibroids and younger patients as predictors of increased efficacy.
Too Much on Your “Plate”? Spectrum of Pathologies Involving the Tectal Plate
Authors: Gandhi Niket , Tsehmaister-Abitbol Vered , Glikstein Rafael , Torres Carlos
Published: January 2020

The tectal plate comprises the posterior portion of the midbrain, borders the quadrigeminal cistern, and includes the superior and inferior colliculi. Benign and malignant pathologies occurring in this location may lead to aqueductal stenosis, obstructive hydrocephalus, and Parinaud syndrome. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can be used to further characterize lesions involving the tectal plate. In this pictorial essay, we review various tectal plate lesions and their imaging features.
Economic Costs of Violence Against Women in Mozambique
Authors: Tchamo Sílvia , Mucambe Mauro , José Generosa , Manuel Beatriz , Mataveia Gracinda
Published: January 2020

Huge efforts have been made to make society aware of the concerns of violence against women (VAW). Hiding this phenomenon creates obstacles to quantify and clearly understand related aspects as well as leads to barriers to undertake actions for the reduction or elimination of VAW. The aim of this study is to estimate costs associated with VAW and produce data that will help in the design of strategies for the reduction or elimination of VAW. The economic cost of VAW was calculated for the cities of Maputo, Matola, Beira, and Nampula, for a time horizon of 4 years (2005–2008). Calculation of economic costs of VAW considered costs for health care, judicial costs, the assistance provided by the justice services, and support from civil society organizations offering services to women subjected to violence. The economic cost of VAW in Maputo, Matola, Beira, and Nampula, for a time horizon of 4 years (2005–2008), was US$1,473,828.7, with the health sector absorbing about 81% of the amount, justice 17%, and organizations working in the area of prevention with 2%. Although calculated costs represent an estimate, it is clear that VAW consumes a significant amount of the state budget. Estimated value is much higher than the budget allocated to the National Action Plan for Prevention and Combat of Violence Against Women. The improvement of collection of statistical data may lead to producing more robust estimates and have more absolute and comparable data.
Future Directions in Intimate Partner Violence Research: An Intersectionality Framework for Analyzing Women’s Processes of Leaving Abusive Relationships
Authors: Barrios Veronica R. , Khaw Lyndal Bee Lian , Bermea Autumn , Hardesty Jennifer L.
Published: January 2020

Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has increasingly focused on women’s processes of leaving abusive partners. This article aims to develop a theoretical understanding grounded in intersectionality of the decision-making process involved in leaving an abusive partner. An intersectionality framework was used to analyze interviews with 25 abused mothers. We theorize that the leaving processes are complex and shaped by intersections of various individual, familial, and sociocultural factors that affect one’s access to resources and decision-making. We make recommendations for future research regarding data collection and analysis to further facilitate the use of intersectionality within IPV research. The implications of this work urge researchers to account for diversity across individuals, their families, and sociocultural environments to have a more socially just stance while working with IPV survivors.
Workplace Well-Being Factors That Predict Employee Participation, Health and Medical Cost Impact, and Perceived Support
Authors: Grossmeier Jessica , Castle Patricia H. , Pitts Jennifer S. , Saringer Colleen , Jenkins Kristi Rahrig , Imboden Mary T. , Mangen David J. , Johnson Sara S. , Noeldner Steven P. , Mason Shawn T.
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

This study tested relationships between health and well-being best practices and 3 types of outcomes.

Design:

A cross-sectional design used data from the HERO Scorecard Benchmark Database.

Setting:

Data were voluntarily provided by employers who submitted web-based survey responses.

Sample:

Analyses were limited to 812 organizations that completed the HERO Scorecard between January 12, 2015 and October 2, 2017.

Measures:

Independent variables included organizational and leadership support, program comprehensiveness, program integration, and incentives. Dependent variables included participation rates, health and medical cost impact, and perceptions of organizational support.

Analysis:

Three structural equation models were developed to investigate the relationships among study variables.

Results:

Model sample size varied based on organizationally reported outcomes. All models fit the data well (comparative fit index > 0.96). Organizational and leadership support was the strongest predictor ( P < .05) of participation (n = 276 organizations), impact (n = 160 organizations), and perceived organizational support (n = 143 organizations). Incentives predicted participation in health assessment and biometric screening ( P < .05). Program comprehensiveness and program integration were not significant predictors ( P > .05) in any of the models.

Conclusion:

Organizational and leadership support practices are essential to produce participation, health and medical cost impact, and perceptions of organizational support. While incentives influence participation, they are likely insufficient to yield downstream outcomes. The overall study design limits the ability to make causal inferences from the data.
Job-Related Characteristics and Obesity in Australian Employees: Evidence From a Longitudinal Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Keramat Syed Afroz , Alam Khorshed , Gow Jeff , Biddle Stuart J. H.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between 9 job-related characteristics and obesity among Australian employees using a nationally representative sample.

Design:

Longitudinal research design.

Setting:

Workplace.

Participants:

This study was conducted by pooling 2 cross-sectional surveys of nationally representative longitudinal data collected across 2-time points in 2013 and 2017. This study limited the sample to current employees aged 15 to 64 years. The total number of observation included in the analysis is 16 980 of 11 521 employees.

Measures:

The outcome variable is weight status and the main exposure variables are 9 job-related characteristics (work hours per week, work schedule, job type, employment contract type, firm size, supervisory responsibility, paid sick leave, self-perceived job stress, and self-perceived job insecurity). Generalized estimating equation logistic regression was employed to explore the association between job-related characteristics and obesity.

Results:

This study found that 59% of Australian employees were either overweight or obese. Employees working more than 40 hours per week were 1.11 times (odds ratio [OR]: 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.21) and 1.07 times (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13) more prone to become overweight and obese, respectively, compared to their counterparts who work 31 to 40 hours per week. The study also revealed that self-perceived job insecurity was positively associated with obesity (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04). However, this study did not find evidence that work schedule, job type, employment contract, firm size, supervisory role, paid sick leave, and self-perceived job stress were associated with obesity.

Conclusions:

Working more than 40 hours per week and self-perceived job insecurity were significantly associated with obesity among Australian employees. A better understanding of why prolonged work hours and self-perceived job insecurity are associated with obesity may help policy makers to implement workplace wellness policies and for employers to take measures to tackle the obesity problem of their employees.
Improved IMC-filter design and IMC-PI equivalence: Application to quadrotor under gust of wind
Authors: Bouzid Yasser , Siguerdidjane Houria , Zareb Elmehdi
Published: January 2020

As known, internal model control is equivalent to a PI or a PID controller provided that the mathematical model associated to the process to be controlled is of first or second order respectively. So, to go beyond these particular cases and to make an extension in bringing more theoretical results, the article proposes a method to reach the equivalence between an internal model control and a PI controller regardless of the model order. To this end, the key idea consists of using a specific filter that exhibits superior robustness level compared to the classical filter and further leads to get a structure of a PI controller whatever the order of the model is. The developed procedure constitutes the main contribution of this article. To meet given set of specifications, the controller parameters are tuned through a straightforward analytic way using the dynamics of the tracking error. The proposed tuning strategy constitutes another contribution of the article. Furthermore, to evaluate the efficiency level of this procedure, an application to control an autonomous vehicle is described and the simulation results are shown to be satisfactory confirmed by a series of experimental tests.
Care situations demanding moral courage: Content analysis of nurses’ experiences
Authors: Kleemola Emmi , Leino-Kilpi Helena , Numminen Olivia
Published: January 2020

Background:

Nurses encounter complex ethical dilemmas in everyday nursing care. It is important for nurses to have moral courage to act in these situations which threaten patients’ safety or their good care. However, there is lack of research of moral courage.

Purpose:

This study describes nurses’ experiences of care situations demanding moral courage and their actions in these situations.

Method:

A qualitative descriptive research design was applied. The data were collected with an open-ended question in the questionnaire used in validation of the Nurses’ Moral Courage Scale. The sample consisted of 286 nurses from four different clinical fields in a major university hospital in Finland, providing a total of 611 answers. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Ethical considerations:

The study followed the commonly recognized principles of good scientific practice. The use of data was authorized by the developer of the instrument, the data collector, and the participating hospital. Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee.

Findings:

Nurses acted morally courageously in most situations but sometimes they failed to do so. Although situations demanding moral courage varied, they could be categorized into seven main domains relating to colleagues, physicians, patients, relatives, nurses themselves, managers, and organizations. Nurses acted in the situations in different ways. The main acts in solving the situations were verbal communication or immediate action, such as interrupting of action.

Conclusion:

Care situations demanding moral courage focus on good and safe patient care and the patient’s good is at the center of attention. The situations are mostly related to the activities of other healthcare professionals. Findings may be applied in developing ethical nursing care through basic and continuing nursing education. Research is needed on the moral courage of physicians and managers, as well as on patients’ and their relatives’ experiences of care situations demanding moral courage.
Socio-psychological Implications of Public Harassment for Women in the Capital City of Islamabad
Authors: Ahmad Naila Masood , Ahmad M. Masood , Masood Ramsha
Published: January 2020

The study explores the phenomenon of street harassment and its socio-psychological implications on women living in the capital city of Islamabad, Pakistan. Street harassment represents a form of gender violence that violates human dignity by making the female victims feel vulnerable and insecure in public spaces. The findings have been compiled on the basis of empirical analyses of the views of 200 female students from eight different universities of Islamabad, Pakistan. The study reveals that objectification, street harassment and abuse are incontrovertible parts of women’s lives in Pakistan. Despite constituting more than half of the population in the Pakistan, women continue to live in a patriarchal milieu that thrives on harassment, discrimination and oppression against them in both public and private spheres. The study concludes that the menace of street harassment entails devastating emotional, physical and psychological impacts and recommends that policy interventions be undertaken to curb this heinous act perpetrated against women.
Childhood Trauma and Attachment
Authors: Toof Jennifer , Wong Justina , Devlin James M.
Published: January 2020

This article describes the relationship between trauma in early childhood and attachment style, with the goal that clinicians can more effectively tailor individualized interventions to their clients. Recognizing how and why trauma influences attachment styles will provide the clinician with a more thorough understanding of the client and the client’s family system and will allow the clinician to select the most appropriate treatment interventions. Implications are provided for marriage, relationship, and family counselors. Furthermore, recommendations for future research are provided.
Luschka Ducts of the Gallbladder in Adults: Case Series Report and Review of the Medical Literature
Authors: Handra-Luca Adriana , Ben Romdhane Habib Mohamed , Hong Seung-Mo
Published: January 2020

Luschka ducts (LD) of the gallbladder (GB) are rare congenital lesions. They are defined as bile ducts that connect directly the hepatic bile duct system to the GB. We aimed to present the characteristics of 55 cases of GB LDs as diagnosed on cholecystectomy specimens. Surgically resected GBs (55) were analyzed for LD morphological features (length, morphological pattern, and epithelial lesions) as well as for immunohistochemical features. The age varied between 24 and 88 years. The gender ratio was 30:25 (female–male). The diagnosis was acute and subacute/chronic cholecystitis (21 and 34 cases, respectively). GB abnormalities of Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus, adenomyoma, septate, and subserosal-liver types were present in 36, 6, 22, and 12 GBs, respectively, while adenocarcinoma was present in 2 GBs. A history of renal cyst, pancreatitis, and colon diverticulosis was observed in 8, 11, and 4 cases, respectively. The LDs were detected at subserosal, resection, or both sites (25, 4, and 26 cases, respectively). The length varied between <1 and 36 mm. Duct-type LDs were observed in 17 cases, complex-type LDs in 5 cases, and mixed-type LDs in 33 cases. Mucosecretion was seen in 12 LDs and cystic dilatation in 8 cases. Epithelial atypia was observed in 2 cases and meganucleoli in 15 cases. Presence of LD-angulation correlated with chronic cholecystitis, while LD-nuclear atypia correlated with acute cholecystitis. In conclusion, LDs may harbor varied aspects, from duct-like or cystic, to nodular, biliary adenoma-like complexes. GB abnormalities of Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus, septa, or subserosal-liver types and extra-GB lesions such as renal cysts, pancreatitis, and colon diverticulosis were associated.
City Government Capacity and Patterns in Urban Development Project Governance
Authors: Noring Luise , Ohler Laura Prisca , Struthers David
Published: January 2020

This article explores the mutual influence between a city government’s jurisdictional capacity (its ability to plan and implement policy) and its interactions with other governance actors. It does so by quantifying, categorizing, and analyzing the composition of governance actors at various levels (national, regional, local) and of various types (public, private, civic) that are active in large-scale urban development projects in three cities: Hamburg, Manchester, Pittsburgh. Considering these findings in the context of national governance infrastructures, the article argues that divergent arrays of jurisdictional capacity (linked to multilevel distributions of state power) influence how city governments engage with other governance actors and influence which governance actors they engage with. This not only impacts project outcomes but also ultimately reinforces the kinds of governance strategies in which cities engage.
Prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors in an urban, ophthalmic population
Authors: Mayro Eileen L , Murchison Ann P , Hark Lisa A , Silverstein Marlee , Wang Olivia Y , Gilligan John P , Leiby Benjamin E , Pizzi Laura T , Casten Robin J , Rovner Barry W , Haller Julia A
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in an adult ophthalmic patient population and to delineate correlates.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Participants:

Adult patients (⩾18 years) were approached in general and sub-specialty cornea, retina, and glaucoma ophthalmic clinics. A total of 367 patients from the four clinics were enrolled.

Methods:

Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A cut-off score of ⩾10 was used to indicate clinically significant depressive symptoms. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores were used to evaluate bivariate relationships between depressive symptoms and distance visual acuity, ocular diagnosis, diabetes status, smoking status, demographic information, and medications.

Results:

The majority of patients were female (52.9%) and Caucasian (48.6%). The mean age was 52.0 years (standard deviation: 16.7). Clinically significant depressive symptoms were present in 19.9% of patients overall; this rate varied slightly by clinic. Patients with low vision and blindness (visual acuity worse than 20/60) were more likely to have depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 2.82; 95% confidence interval: 1.90–4.21). Smoking and diabetes were also associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 3.11 (2.66–3.64) and 3.42 (1.90–6.16), respectively).

Conclusion:

In a sample of urban ophthalmic adult patients, depressive symptoms were highly associated with low vision, smoking, and diabetes. This information can be used to target interventions to those at greatest risk of depressive symptoms.
A secondary iris cyst with 3 years of asymptomatic period following a blunt ocular trauma
Authors: Li Hong-Yang , Li Mei-Jun , Xu Zhi-Yi , Li Jia-Hui , Zheng Wen-Lin , Wu Yi , Pan Hong-Wei
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To present a relatively uncommon case with a secondary iris cyst in the anterior chamber and its successful management with an anterior chamber mass excision surgery.

Case report:

A 46-year-old Chinese woman presented with a dark shadow in her left eye for 6 months without any other discomfort. She had a history of blunt ocular trauma by a badminton strike 3 years ago. Slit-lamp examination showed a small, nearly circular, sharply demarcated, and movable mass in the anterior chamber OS, which could change its position with head tilt. The anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed a well-circumscribed cystic lesion in the anterior chamber with higher reflective outer layer and lower internal reflectivity. An anterior chamber mass removal surgery was performed without recurrence up to 1 year.

Conclusion:

Secondary free-floating iris cyst following a blunt trauma is rarely reported. It is relatively stable and nonprogressive so it may remain asymptomatic for a long time. Appropriate imaging techniques are necessary for facilitating diagnosis and therapy. Therapeutic management should be considered if visual symptoms arise, especially when complications occur.
Clinical and angiographic characterization of choroidal neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Singh Sumit Randhir , Parameswarappa Deepika C , Govindahari Vishal , Lupidi Marco , Chhablani Jay
Published: January 2020

Background:

To report the clinical and angiographic characteristics of choroidal neovascularization in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Methods:

Patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with presence of choroidal neovascularization in at least one eye were retrospectively analyzed. The study eyes were divided into three groups based on presence (active or scarred) or absence of choroidal neovascularization (fellow eyes). Imaging characteristics of active choroidal neovascularization were recorded using optical coherence tomography, fluorescein, and indocyanine angiography. Central macular thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and large choroidal vessel layer thickness were compared at baseline and final visit.

Results:

Our study reports the prevalence rate of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (0.27%; 36 out of 13,382 eyes). A total of 64 eyes of 32 patients (age, mean ± standard deviation: 68.5 ± 9.3 years) with baseline visual acuity of 0.69 ± 0.69 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (Snellen equivalent 20/100) were included. Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (57 eyes) comprised the majority followed by proliferative diabetic retinopathy (7 eyes). Eyes with choroidal neovascularization (36, 56.25%) included both active (25) and scarred (11) choroidal neovascularization, with bilateral choroidal neovascularization in 4 patients. Type 1 choroidal neovascularization was the most common subtype of choroidal neovascularization on optical coherence tomography. Common etiologies for active choroidal neovascularization included age-related macular degeneration (3; 12%), myopia (1; 4%), and inflammatory choroidal neovascularization secondary to chorioretinitis (1; 4%). In the remaining 20 eyes, choroidal neovascularization formation was primarily due to diabetic choroidopathy.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with diabetic retinopathy is very low, with a lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration. Diabetic choroidopathy plays a significant role in formation of choroidal neovascularization in eyes with diabetic retinopathy.
A lifelong perspective for growing music teacher identity
Authors: Chua Siew Ling , Welch Graham F
Published: January 2020

The article discusses a lifelong perspective for growing music teacher identity, particularly related to the in-service development of music teachers. It presents a theoretical framework which is developed from literature reviews on teacher identity development and construction and from case studies of the transformative learning journeys of serving music teachers in Singapore. Seven themes – personal self, activist identity, music, teaching, students, social relations, and the ecology of the social world – are found to interact and contribute to the transformative learning of music teachers.
Health mindsets as a predictor of physical activity and body mass index in American Indian college students
Authors: John-Henderson Neha A , Tintzman Courtney S , Counts Cory J , Mueller Claudia M
Published: January 2020

American Indians are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease in adulthood, and levels of physical activity and body mass index associate with cardiovascular disease risk. Recent research indicates that one’s mindset may play a role in determining health behaviors and outcomes. In a sample of 105 American Indian college students, greater growth health mindset associated with lower body mass index. Bootstrapping analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of health mindset on body mass index through levels of physical activity. These findings suggest that interventions aiming to promote growth health mindsets may be successful in reducing risk for cardiovascular disease in American Indian college students.
Uncovering, creating or constructing problems? Enacting a new role to support staff who raise concerns about quality and safety in the English National Health Service
Authors: Martin Graham P , Chew Sarah , Dixon-Woods Mary
Published: January 2020

Employee voice is an important source of organizational intelligence about possible problems in quality and patient safety, but effective systems for encouraging and supporting those who seek to speak up have remained elusive. In the English National Health Service, a novel role known as the ‘Freedom to Speak Up Guardian’ has been introduced to address this problem. We critically examine the role and its realization in practice, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 51 key individuals, including Guardians, clinicians, managers, policymakers, regulators and others. Operationalizing the new role in organizations was not straightforward, since it had to sit in a complex set of existing systems and processes. One response was to seek to bound the scope of Guardians, casting them in a signposting or coordinating role in relation to quality and safety concerns. However, the role proved hard to delimit, not least because the concerns most frequently voiced in practice differed in character from those anticipated in the role’s development. Guardians were tasked with making sense of and dealing with issues that could not always straightforwardly be classified, deflected to the right system or escalated to the appropriate authority. Our analysis suggests that the role’s potential contribution might be understood less as supporting whistleblowers who bear witness to clear-cut wrongdoing, and more as helping those with lower-level worries to construct their concerns and what to do with them. These findings have implications for how voice is understood, imagined and addressed in healthcare organizations.
A predictive critical flutter wind speed modeling for long-span bridges
Authors: Lin Kun , Wei Minghai , Liu Hongjun , Wang Huafeng
Published: January 2020

In this article, a two-dimensional Lighthill aerodynamic model is first extended to three-dimensional space, and then combined with the larger Von Karman plate deformation theory, a model for predicting the critical flutter wind speeds of long-span bridges in the primary design is proposed. The predictions of the presented model are compared to the results of wind tunnel tests for five long-span bridges with different main girder section forms. After that, based on the proposed model, the effects of width to span ratio and thickness to span ratio on the critical flutter wind speeds of long-span bridges are investigated. The results show that the differences between the proposed model and wind tunnel tests are only 7%–14%. Therefore, the presented model can assess the flutter wind speed in preliminary design stages of a bridge. The results also reveal that width to span ratios between 1/30 and 1/10 and thickness to span ratios between 1/300 and 1/100 are optimal for long-span bridges.
Gender- and age-stratified analyses of ADHD medication use in children and adolescents in Finland using population-based longitudinal data, 2008–2018
Authors: Vuori Miika , Koski-Pirilä Anna , Martikainen Jaana E. , Saastamoinen Leena
Published: January 2020

Aims: This study examined medication use for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents by gender in Finland during 2008–2018. Methods: Aggregated data on medication use for ADHD from 2008 to 2018 were extracted from the nationwide register on reimbursed prescriptions. The annual prevalence of ADHD medication use was calculated as the number of children (6–12 years) and adolescents (13–17 years) per calendar year with at least one ADHD medication purchase divided by the number of children and adolescents in the population. Population prevalence for children was also examined by birth month. Results: In 2008, the prevalence rates for males were 1.26% in children and 0.93% in adolescents, and for females 0.21% and 0.14%, respectively. In 2018, the prevalence rates for males were 4.42% in children and 4.21% in adolescents, and for females 0.99% and 1.28%, respectively. Male-to-female ratios decreased during the study period from 6.0:1 to 4.5:1 (children) and from 6.6:1 to 3.3:1 (adolescents). ADHD medication use was more common among males and females (aged 6–12 years) born in May–August or September–December than among males and females born in January–April. Conclusions: The prevalence of ADHD medication use has continued to increase in Finland. Although use has increased more rapidly among females resulting in lower male-to-female ratios, medication use among females is considerably lower compared with males. Consequently, gender discrepancy in 2018 was relatively large, particularly among children. Future studies should also consider reporting annual prevalence by children’s birth month.
Numerical investigation of oil droplet combustion using single particle ignition cell model
Authors: Ullal Ankith , Ra Youngchul , Naber Jeffrey D , Atkinson William , Yamada Satoshi , Oda Yuji , Hiraoka Kenji , Nomura Kazutoshi
Published: January 2020

Pre-ignition in internal combustion engines is an abnormal combustion phenomenon which often results in structural damage to the engine. It occurs when an ignition event takes place in the combustion chamber before the designed ignition time. In this work, a numerical study was done to investigate the pre-ignition with potential application to natural gas marine engines. This was done by simulating experiments of lube oil–induced ignition and subsequent combustion in a constant volume combustion chamber using an in-house version of the KIVA4-CFD code. Initial conditions of the chamber gases are obtained from the pre-burn process of a known composition of C2H2/oxidizer mixture. Natural gas was injected from a single-hole injector at an injection temperature and pressure of 300 K and 105 Pa, respectively. A rotating fan was modeled, as is in the experimental setup. Oil droplet of known size and velocity is injected into the constant volume combustion chamber. For accurate prediction of oil droplet ignition, the computational cells that contain the droplets are to be refined. Combustion calculations are then carried out on the refined grid. Ignition delay times of both lube oil and methane/air mixtures were calculated. Parametric studies were also conducted by varying droplet conditions, and their results are also presented.